Ensign Lera Michaels — Questions and More Questions

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((First Officer’s Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Khitomer))

Lera stood outside the door to the First Officer's Ready Room. Though she could not make out any of the words spoken on the other side of the door, and wouldn't have paid any particular attention even if she could, she was certain that the conversation was not a pleasant one. When Ras walked out of the office, his mood virtually sucked any positive feelings that might be hovering around. With swelling anxiety, she decided to go full Vulcan for this session and stepped through the doorway before the door closed.

Michaels: Excuse me, sir. I understand that you wished to speak with me?

She read Lt. Commander Hobart's expression as being a bit surprised with some residue anger fading. Like what must have preceded, this was not promising to be a pleasant discussion.

Hobart: Um, yeah, sure. Have a seat, Ensign. How are you feeling?

As suggested, Lera sat in one of the two visitor chairs opposite Hobart's chair. She took a shallow breath and focused on remaining expressionless. Though she was tempted, she carefully avoided looking around but looked solely at Hobart. His question was appropriately gracious.

Michaels: Thank you, sir. My medical conditions were essentially trivial requiring nothing more than some supplemental oxygen and rest.

Hobart: Good. I don’t want to take too much of your time. Can you tell me what got you to the shuttlebay and aboard the Ouachita?

Her stomach started doing flips, but her expression was frozen. The opening was over. Now the hammering could begin, assuming that was what was coming.

oO Steady, girl. Steady. Oo

Michaels: I was on Ouchita because those were my orders from Lt. Commander Dewitt.

Hobart: He ordered you to get on the shuttle?

Lera nodded.

Michaels: Yes, sir. I can quote his order verbatim if you would like. He said, "Commander Hobart is about to send a shuttle to get a hold of the probe. Get to the shuttle bay, they’re going to need an engineer." Absent the use of tractor beams, 'get a hold of the probe," directly implies being at the probe. After I suggested it might be dangerous to bring the probe aboard Khitomer, he said, "Top priority will be that the probe does not fire on the ship again. If you can deactivate it, that’d be the preferred option." Logic dictates, given the communication difficulties we were experiencing, 'deactivation' could only be positively accomplished at the probe.

Hobart: And did you convey your orders to Lieutenant El’Heem? Or did you personally commandeer the runabout?

Michaels: I did not directly discuss my orders with the Lieutenant. I asked if he was in charge of the operation and if it was ready to go. I can not say what he might have inferred from our discussion. Lt. El'Heem is my superior. Commandeering the shuttle would be both illogical and improper. I also inquired about the status of the shuttle. Ensign Prix informed me that it was, I believe her words were 'We are good to go."

Hobart: And when you informed Lieutenant El’Heem, did he mention his orders?

Michaels: He did not. When Ensign Prix asked if we should go, Lt. El'Heem gave the command to 'take us out.'

Hobart nodded and picked up his PADD. There was a short bit of silence that puzzled Lera momentarily. She had expected him to come down hard on her. That should have been at this time. It seemed that Ras was his primary focus. But why? What had he done? Disobeyed an order? That was it. That was the point of the questions. Ras had ordered the shuttle away, contradicting an order. But if Commander Hobart had not wanted the shuttle to go to the probe, why had the events played out the way they did? Perhaps she was completely misreading this situation.

Hobart: Thank you, Ensign. That's all I need.

Michaels: May I ask a question or two of you, sir?

Hobart: Response

Michaels: I... sensed that Lt. El'Heem was not 'happy' when he passed me in the corridor. Is he in trouble?

Hobart: Response

So. Ras was in serious trouble. That left the question of why the events happened. Obviously, Commander Hobart was not obligated to discuss the matter with her, but Lera's curiousity demanded that she ask.

Michaels: The ship was in unusual condition, but did not the bridge crew know that the shuttle had departed?

Hobart: Response

Michaels: If you were aware that Ouchita had left the ship and you did not wish it to do so, why did you not order us to return to Khitomer? :: beat :: Perhaps you did issue the order to return, and Ouchita did not receive it due to the communication difficulties we were experiencing.

Hobart: Response

TBC
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Ensign Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2