Captain Michele Winters - Lets not hold back
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((First Officers Office, Deck 3, USS Octavia E. Butler))
The doors to the XO’s office hissed open and Michele’s jaw tensed up as she looked in on the very person she was there to discuss with the OEB’s First Officer. A slight bit of relief crossed her mind as she realized that Lieutenant Commander Sherlock was also in attendance. Someone Michele knew and had worked directly with on the bridge.
Winters: (stepping in and towards Jack) Jack. (beat, looking to each other officer) Commander’s.
Kessler: Michele, good to see you.
Michele clasped her hands behind her back and looked towards Lieutenant Commander Promontory, the ships new first officer.
Sherlock: Captain Winters. I assume this isn't a social visit?
Promontory: (giving in to the inevitability of a parade of officers needing things) What can we do for you?
Winters: (looking at Jack) I’m sorry Mr. Kessler but this involves official ships business for the XO. I am going to have to ask that you leave.
Jack eyed Michele who stood with my expression on her face. No welcome, no remorse, nothing. It was as if she seriously did not want to acknowledge him at all. Jacked held her eye a moment longer than he should have and then looked to Promontory and Sherlock.
Kessler: I’ll take my leave then sirs.
Sherlock: Thank you, Lieutenant. Just make sure you get your checks.
Promontory: We’ll review the rest of your request after that point.
Avander gave Jack a nod and felt the tension drop (slightly) at the man’s departure. Michele, however, stood at attention and purposefully did not acknowledge Kessler’s departure. More was at stake here than their friendship and Michele was not ready to apologize for laying him out earlier.
Sherlock: At ease Captain, have a seat.
Michele continued to stand and for all intents and purposes had no desire to play the formalities that were normally afforded this situation. Instead, she dove headfirst into the very reason she was here.
Winters: I assume Mister Kessler was here requesting permission to be reinstated and no doubt back in Tactical?
Sherlock: Tactical is where he's most experienced and his last occupational specialty. Is it a problem?
Winters: Yes sir it is.
Promontory: (enunciating his words carefully) We take our acting tactical chief’s opinions on the matter seriously. (beat) This is a professional concern, not a personal one?
Michele leveled her gaze at Promontory completely ignoring the fact that anyone else was in the room for the moment.
Winters: Is not the safety of the ship and crew both professional and personal for you sir? (beat) It is for me but if you want a distinguishable difference. This is professional.
Sherlock: Response
Promontory: I see.
Did he. Michele knew Jack and the XO were closer friends than she was with the XO. Jack had been aboard the ship when Promontory joined the Oumuamua and they had even taken shore leave together. Maybe Michele was about to be barking up the wrong tree with the wrong person.
Winters: Do you sir? He spent five months as a prisoner of the Zet. How compromised do you think he is? I’m sure you ordered a full medical review and psych review as well but we both know that can be fooled.
Sherlock: Response
Winters: I strongly protest his reinstatement at any level. He is a danger to this ship and crew.
Promontory: (firmly) I said, we’ll take it under advisement. (beat) Now is there anything else you feel we ought to know?
Winters: Only that you are putting the ship at risk by reinstating him.
Promontory/Sherlock: Response
Winters: Sir, Jack is compromised whether you want to admit it or not. He convinced you and Commodore V’Airu to allow an unsanctioned mission to rescue supposed Starfleet personnel from Zet forces. A mission that was driven by his desire to find his parents. (beat) What do you think was foremost on his mind?
Promontory/Sherlock: Response
Winters: No sir, that drive is still very much alive in him. Jack does not back off from anything. Especially family. He’ll put more people in danger to go back after them if he found any evidence at all that they are alive.
Promontory/Sherlock: Response
Winters: With all due respect Commander, I am not sure that it is not you who is not thinking clearly on this matter.
Promontory/Sherlock: Response
Michele did not hesitate or pause as either of the two officers spoke up. She was not going to back down and was not going to let anyone else fall victim to Jack’s pursuits.
Winters: Out of line…you bet I am. If a Marine is not out of line in defense of their post then they are not doing their job. Or did you forget what Greaves taught you sir? (beat dropping both hands from her back and placing them on Promontories desk) If you want an officer who is going to say ‘yes sir’ and play nice then go ahead and reinstate Jack. I won’t be that officer.
Michele stood upright again and looked back to Sherlock, giving the Second officer a slight nod and then stepped back and placed her hands behind her back again.
TBC/TAGS
Captain Michele Winters
Acting Chief Tactical Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
T239901JK1