Executive Office

[Captain Shran]

This is the personal office for the Executive Officer.

[LtCol Kiele Christienne]

It would be some time yet before they reached Andoria. She glanced at the screen and double checked their ETA, then exited her office and asked for permission to leave the bridge. It was a formality that few adhered to now, especially in peacetime, but she'd always felt that these courtesies were there for a reason and should continue to be practiced.

"I'm on my way Counselor." She replied, heading for the lift. Even after two changes in position and the transfer, it still felt strange to address someone else by that title.

[LtCol Kiele Christienne]

To: LtCol Andrew Shackleford, XO U.S.S. Pegasus

From: Major Kiele Christienne. XO U.S.S. Aryes

Andy,

Mea culpa. I ought to have stayed in contact with you since the beginning, but I've been working so hard at my new job that correspondence and personal contacts are always put to the side until "later".

Forgive the lapse please and if you have the time, I would very much like to talk with you. Rather than smoothing out, it seems the longer I'm here, the more difficult things become.

Best Regards,

Kiele

(Reposted on Pegasus)

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

(Repost from Pegasus)

Andy looked at the message and a small grin came to his face. He had heard about Kiele's promotion so knew the hectic schedule.


Kiele,

You are never a stranger, and need not apologize for having a career. We have been just as busy and keeping ourselves in more trouble than we have gotten out of. I heard about the promotion and position change. I give you both my congratulations and condolences. I told Charlie and he is jealous though he won't admit it. Anyway if you have something on your mind then I've got the time and could use the distraction.

Andy.

[LtCol Kiele Christienne]

Andy,

Thank you, my friend.
When Captain Shran offered me the position of XO, I never really gave it any thought. It was presented in a logical manner and seemed logical to accept but I really don't know why I chose to. Neither then nor now have I made a conscious decision to seek command. Command is the arena of the Captain. The XO's job is to see that those commands are carried out. It sounds simple enough, doesn't it?

Somewhere, something changed. I'm not sure if it was I that changed when I took the position or having taken the position it's begun to change me. My relationships with the crew have become strained and in circumstances where I used to be certain of my actions, I now find myself questioning them.

You remember that old adage about whom counsels the counselor?Your experience on Pegasus has been similar. I had hoped you might be able to shed some light on my predicament.

Kiele

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

Kiele,

I would have to disagree with one thing you wrote. As an Executive Officer you must always have command in mind. You are as the saying goes 'one heartbeat' from Command. As far as changing you, Absolutely it will change you. Captains tend to look at the larger scope of things which leaves everything else up to you, and thats a lot.

The relationship changed because the dynamic changed. You can balance it, but its always going to be there. As a Counselor your job was to ask :"How can I help this crew member'. As an Operation Officer you asked: What can be done to make the ship work better. As an Executive Officer you have to ask more questions than I can list. In other words, your job got more complicated. You are not responsible for one thing but many. If you have to repremand or punish someone you have to remember part of your job is to make them better officers. I balance it by saying that a true friend is one that is willing to tell you the things you don't want to hear. I don't know if that was what you were looking for, but if you have any other questions or problems I'm here.

Your friend,
Andy

[LtCol Kiele Christienne]

Andy,

I'm not sure myself, what I'm looking for. It could be that these are simply the growing pains I should expect to experience. I suppose I'll have to adopt a wait and see approach. If my performance is truly substandard, I expect too, that the Captain would bring it to my attention.

As for discipline, I'm learning that there are degrees involved and determining what should be applied where and in what amount, will take practice. As you said, the crew is now not just my friends, but my responsibility.

I appreciate the advice and your continued friendship.

Kiele

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

Kiele,

Just because you are moving up in the fleet doesn't mean you still don't owe me. You left before we could spar. Besides, I owe you a drink. You know I never miss a chance at a congratulatory toast. I figured tomato juice. What do you think?

Andy

[LtCol Kiele Christienne]

Andy,

Tomato juice?! What "have" they done to you over there? At your convenience, tea and sparring will do just fine.
En garde!

Kiele

[LtCol Kiele Christienne]

P.S......

Did I mention that was tea in one hand, epee in the other?
First one who spills (tea not blood), loses!

Kiele

[LtCol Kiele Christienne]

Waiting until her shift ended to avoid potential distractions, Kiele sent a message to Lt.Collins to meet her in her office. It was a mixed signal, as she intended it to be. Her office gave the impression of formality, while she chose the word "meet" rather than report to indicate the circumstances were slightly more casual.

[Lieutenant Collins]

Collins tucks at his uniform tunic as he approaches the executive officer's office. He can guess what this might be about, but he still hopes maybe their might be a romantic dinner waiting on the other side of the closed door, but that seems unlikely.

He rings the entrance chime and waits.

[LtCol Kiele Christienne]

Ignoring the standard "Come" or "Enter" that most used to grant permission, Kiele simply activated the door.

The flare of anger she'd felt during the mission had died down.Yelling at either the door or at Collins lacked any real benefit in her opinion.

She gestured for him to take a seat, forestalling the equally unnecessary observation of "You wanted to see me, Ma'am?"

Her expression was neutral, indicating neither approval nor disapproval, a holdover from her psychological training.

"I need an explanation and I need to understand what happened during this last mission. We were a team and were supposed to be working together as one. Twice, you chose to leave and act without permission, opting to do what you thought was best rather than following standard procedure. Why?"

[Lieutenant Collins]

The door opened before Marshal and the science officer walked in taking a seat before listening to what the Major had to say. He raised an eyebrow as she spoke.

I wasn't aware there was any standard operating procedures established for the circumstances of our last mission. It seemed a rather unique situation in my opinion. Starfleet is better prepared than maybe I gave them credit for. He offers her a wide grin. Humor is the best shield.

As to my leaving without permission I was not aware that I was under standing orders to stay by your side at all times. I did not know I needed permission to react to an unfolding situation. I saw a chance where I could help to try and preserve life and I acted. I won't apologize for that.

[LtCol Kiele Christienne]

She studied him a moment. There was no doubt he was completely sincere in his belief that he'd acted correctly.

"Let me widen the perspective for you. Let's say we are instead aboard Aryes. You see something down on the planet that you know for a fact you have the skills and the knowledge to assist with. Do you simply leave your station and go there? No, you notify someone of what you know and how you think you can help and you wait to find out if your idea will be implemented and how. The same applies when we're a team. You don't make the decision for all of us on what is to be done and appoint yourself as executor."

"And although we were a team, we were not all equals in authority. My job was team leader. That gives me the final say on what may or may not be done. The only time you should make an independent decision is when you are acting independently. In leaving the team, you endanger us all by compromising the unit. When you act as you did, it means I can't depend on you. You put your own desires ahead of the team, ahead of us. You can't justify it by saying you were successful and that no one was hurt. The end does not justify the means. Your duty is first to the ship and not to yourself."