BACKSIM: Lt. Commander Whittaker: Uncharted Territory (NT)

[Michael Meir-Wright]

The Raven, Starbase 118

Time Index: During Tatash: Breaking Down

:: At the top of the stairs, Theo turned around sharply and looked Tatash in the eye who was several steps below him- the Gorn's imperious height making up for the distance between them. ::

Whittaker: :: bluntly :: Tatash, you need to calm down.

Tatash: Cal...

Whittaker: :: cutting him off :: I hadn't finished talking, Major. :: his tone was final. He was firmly in First Officer mode ::  Before you go off on some quest to avenge Captain Hughes, you need to stop and take a deep breath.

Tatash: ::Growling:: It's not a question of revenge, Theo. He was a good man.

Whittaker: You're damned right he was a good man and he was an even better officer. :: beat :: But you are better still Tatash. If you go all disruptor's blazing, you could end on the same mortuary slab as Raymond and that- :: the sternness in his voice dissolved instantly :: - is something that I could not handle.

:: There was a pause for a moment, Theo wondered if the Gorn was planning to rip him apart with those ferocious looking claws. He was skirting dangerous territory with the man. In their friendship, Theo had never needed to pull him up about anything. Until now. This was uncharted territory for both of them. ::

​Tatash: I'm...

:: For the first time, the Gorn seemed lost for words... and worse. He was defeated. He slumped his shoulders and the guard went down. It elicited a barely audible gasp from the XO. Uncharted territory indeed. ::

Tatash: Theo I don't know what the hell i'm doing anymore.

Whittaker: :: frowning :: I don't follow you.

Tatash: I've lost nine marines on the last mission, now I've lost one of the best operators in the fleet. I sent him alone, and you know what? I screwed up Theo. I screwed up bad, and now ten people are dead.

::He slumped back against the wall, still stood in the middle of the thankfully abandoned staircase and peering up a the ceiling to hide the sorrow on his face.::

Whittaker: Tatash, none of those deaths could have been prevented. No amount of tactical planning could have brought those men and women home. :: beat :: You could have know that there was a hidden section of the station or that there would be weapons emplacements. Just like you could not have known the ferocity of the mob on Tilanna.

Tatash: Remember the Columbia? All I had to worry about was a single ship, with an already veteran crew. Then my job was just 'aim phasers, press button'. Now i've got a thousand men and women looking up to me for guidance and you know what? I'm drowning. I'm trying my best, I really am I promise you, but this station was supposed to be 'safe' compared to a starship.

Whittaker: :: sighing, Theo dropped his head for a moment before looking up. :: Do you remember the Haz Arrihman mission? :: shaking his head :: What am I saying, of course you do. During the battle, the Stormcrow fired on the Albion's drive section and caused a massive hull breach that killed forty two engineers. Right in front of me. On my first mission as CEO of the base. :: beat :: And then Sal promotes me to Executive Officer. Imagine how that made me feel. Forty two officers dead on my watch. :: pause :: I realised pretty soon after that I couldn't have done anything, but during that battle- I wanted to board the Stormcrow and rip Haz Arrihman limb from limb.

Tatash: I'm not going to go get myself killed for petty revenge. I'm furious Theo, as much with myself as I am with whoever is behind all this, but I promised you i'd be around to protect you.

Whittaker: You're damned right you did. :: smiling sadly :: I know how you feel. You'll be fine. Maybe not today, tomorrow or next week- but you'll get through this.

::Tatash managed a thin yet sad smile. ::

Tatash: I've been putting off my psych evaluation for a long time. Maybe I should make sure I'm not nuts?

Whittaker: :: shaking his head :: You're not nuts, you're flawed. Like the rest of us. :: beat :: And sometimes I think you're the most human person I've ever met. :: smiling :: A scaly, 7 foot reptilian human. :: he reached forward and placed one supportive hand on his massive shoulder. :: Buckle up soldier, because it's not over. :: stiffening his posture, Theo nodded to him. :: Carry on Major.

:: After placating Tatash somewhat, Theo hurried down the other service stairs back onto the sodden dancefloor. As he approached those returned from 'the Below' his eyes met Ensign Greyson. ::

(OOC: This then leads into my previous post ::​

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Lieutenant  Commander Theo Whittaker
Executive Officer

Starbase 118 Operations

C239203TW0