[Trek Universe] SD 241207.05 | Duty Log | Gen. Richard Sharpe

[Peter Miller]

"Peter Miller" <peterr...@virginmedia.com> wrote to tre...@ucip.org:

=/\= HQMC, Starfleet Command, Earth =/\=

It had taken Sharpe approximately two minutes to truly appreciate that he
was completely out of his depth. How it had taken him so long remained a
mystery to him, because anyone with any sense would realise quite how
foolish he'd been in taking up this posting. It was unlike anything he'd
ever done. Richard was no stranger to staff posts, it was a necessary beast
in the climb up the greasy pole, but he'd been fortunate enough to have only
held a low-level advisory position for Starfleet's aviation branch, and had
only had limited if any contact with either the press or politicians.

95% of Sharpe's career had been in the field, in one form or another,
commanding marines in combat and out. His tangent to Fleet Command after his
retirement had startled him somewhat, but after a couple of months of
sink-or-swim mentality, he'd settled down into the role, even using it to
take command of the Carrie Eight debacle. He'd gotten used to dealing with
naval captains who had ego's and agendas of their own, but on a much smaller
scale, and infinately less demanding than anything he would now face here.

The cold slap in the face to Richard had been the appointment to his
blooming personal staff of a Public Relations Officer. His own personal PRO.
Oh sure, he'd met them before, and they were good for smoothing over a
crisis, but he'd only encountered institutional PRO's, not personal PRO's.
The fact that his office was so vast and important, and consequently he
himself was that important, that he needed his own PRO, concerned and
alarmed the freshly minted General.

He'd been egotistical, he'd never deny that charge, but he never thought of
himself as important enough to require such a large staff body. He hadn't
had that big a staff when he'd commanded an entire Marine Expeditionary
Force of over fifteen thousand personnel. Mind you, the scope of his new
command covered the entire of Starfleet, so he shouldn't be that suprised.
His staff was so large, he had a Brigadier General as his chief of staff.

"Here are the reports on activity in the Beta Quadrant you asked for,
Richard." Said BGen. Amy Pond, his chief of staff. Richard wanted a
familiarity with his staff, because he'd see them every day, almost all day.
This was something he'd never really encouraged before, except with his
former sergeant major, Patrick. That was only because they were best of
friends.

"Thanks Amy." Richard said, as he took the PADD. "Anything worth noting in
here, before I waste an hour reading it?"

"Nothing really." She said. "Alls quiet on the western front, at least in
the Beta Quadrant. Alpha and Gamma quadrant's are a bit more turbulent, but
no major hotspots anywhere on the grid, at least in regards to the marines.
Starfleet's busy, but then it always is."

Richard nodded and grunted at that, being that 2 weeks previously, he'd been
dealing with those problems for Alpha Fleet.

"We've had a request for a peace keeping force in the Montara system.
Apparently there's a civil war brewing with the Ietians, and since their a
Federation protectorate, the government forces are asking for Federation
peacekeepers to help maintain order in the system, and the representative
made a very impassioned speech to the council." Amy said, reading her daily
digest report.

"Seems reasonable. Has it come as an order from the council or Starfleet
Command?" Richard asked.

"No." She said simply. "Its your decision these days."

"Oh." Richard said, used to actually recieving orders.

"They only issue you orders on rare occasions. Its your job to assign units
and whatnot for the marines. If you decide not to send units there, that's
your decision, but you'll probably have to talk to the representative and
explain yourself." Amy said, explaining his job to him.

"Hmmm... would sending troops there deplete or weaken any other strategic
area of importance?" Richard ask. "Or cause political fallout in another
area?"

Amy consulted the large screen built into the oak panelled wall in Richard's
office, and activated it, showing the Montara system. "Its close to the
Tholian border, but still well on our side, but the Tholian's might see it
as us building up forces in the area as a pre-emptive striking point. As you
know, the Tholian's have never liked us, and always hate when we do anything
near their border."

"So, we can expect the Tholian ambassador to raise a stink." Richard said.
"What would be the fallout if we don't send forces there?"

"Well, the Federation could appear ineffective or uncaring, which would
cause issues for the Palias de la Concorde. Might cause a dip in the opinion
polls, and I expect the President might haul you over the coals." Amy said.

Richard sighed. Damned if he did, Damned if he didn't. "Alright, dispatch
the 82nd MEU, make sure they appreciate the gravity of the situation, and
cut them their orders."

"Yes sir." Amy said, and tapped her PADD so that the communications room
would issue a stand-by for action notice to the 82nd's CO.

"Anything else I need to be made aware of?" Richard asked.

"Only that you'll need to have a meeting with Admiral Drayson from the
Diplomatic Corps, but that's a non-urgent request, and the Chief of
Starfleet Intelligence wants to introduce himself to you, since you and he
will be working together at the JSOC." Amy said. "Again, non-urgent."

"Very well, have Amanda make appointments for me." Sharpe said, indicating
his chief aide, Major Amanda Curtis.

"Okay Richard. That's it from me today." Amy said, smiling. "I have my own
desk of paperwork to deal with. With your leave?"

Richard nodded. "See you for lunch?"

"Always." Amy gave a grin and left.