In Case You Wanted More Work...

Posted on Fri Jan 5th, 2018 @ 9:30pm by Captain Michelle Bartlett & Major Hailey Weston

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: July 4, 2399 @ 0800

The usual rigamarole had been gone through, arrival on the bridge, the request and granting of entry to the sanctum sanctorum of the Captain. And so Hailey found herself again in the presence of the CO a day after she'd been there before. She slid a PADD over the desk to the other woman, "I went ahead and sent out the invitations to a few people and I suspect we'll get a couple here in a couple weeks or so. I also talked to Lieutemant Valentine and formally took command of the detachment." She sat actoss the desk from Michelle without invitation this time.

"I hope she's okay with it." Michelle said. "Given how senior everyone else was, it didn't seem right to place her in that position. Not that she's a bad Marine by any scope of the imagination."

"She was a bit concerned, but once I explained a little of why, I believe she understood. Besides which, she's used to following orders from people higherbin the food chain thatn her." Hailey chuckled once, "Hell, ma'am, on Tial, she started out commanding a Company, something senior First Lieutenants or Captains would command in the Corps. She couldnhandle a larger fight better than me, no doubt, but small unit tactics are lacking, which are what we need."

To be honest, the detachment, before Lo'Mah and his group, was barely platoon-sized, something that a cherry Second Lieutenant would command. I understand that an officer needed to be assigned, even with a higher rank to give them a seat at the senior officers table, but a Colonel with a Major exec was... Wierd. An exec should have been max a First, but probably a Second Loo, ma'am." Hailey settled back. We aren't even a half platoon, so two officers is even overkill, which."

The Marine gave a half smile, looking more like a smirk, "She should make a good officer, in the future. For now, and I talked to her and explained it, I want to 'promote' her to Staff Sergeant, probably with a quick bump to Gunnery after my claws really get settled in her. It will help her get the experience of a real marine troop and can get her used to the small unit we actually have. She may like it and want to remain an NCO, butnI would want her permanent rank to remain as a First Lieutenant in her file, because if this doesn't work ouf, I would have her transfer to a much larger unit with a large solid command chain and learn there." Hailey nodded, "And yes, I checked, you are authorized to do what I suggested, under the prerogatives of a unit on the field and with the concurrance of their immediate superior officer."

"To be fair, Colonel Blanchard had only been promoted about 6 months prior. He spent years in the corps." Michelle said. "He was actually rather charming beneath the rather gruff exterior he had." she paused a moment, a little saddened even still by what was such a brutal and senseless end to his career. "But... Back to the matter at hand. "Though I'm still a bit puzzled around what seems like busting someone down to an enlisted rank. This isn't because of the situation with her planet, is it?"

Hailey gave Michelle a very flat look, "Ma'am, I don't care if she's a Neuter from the Subterrainians of Reshtan. I was their at her duel with that twat of a Tialan, and I would be an idiot to use the planet that has exiled her in a way to insult her." She shook her head, glanced down, then looked back up, "It's because she isn't in the right unit for her rank and experience as well as learning in the wrong culture, not being from that culture. Oh, I can work with her to teach her how to be a Lieutenant, no problem, but that means she needs to learn what is is to be a MARINE, not a war priestess of Tial."

"I more meant if there were any concerns from brass regarding her being commissioned. But... She does have a ways to go in learning our protocols and our ways." Michelle said. "Honestly, from what I've seen and heard of her world, I think this will do her some good."

"Ma'am, I would never have made the recomendation if I thought it would be harmful to her or her career. Hell, worst case, my father, adopted technically, but more a father to me than my biological one, is Commanding General of the Third MarDiv. I think I can get some strings pulled ifnit really came down to it." Hailey made that commitmwnt, "And well, I've been an officer for the last six years myself since the Corps sent me to the Academy, but I was an NCO before that. Didn't do me any harm."

"I suppose you're right. It will give her some more time. And hopefully help her settle in a bit more. Take some of the responsibility off her shoulders that she was dealing with the last two weeks. It wouldn't have been fair to her any more than it would to put a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the captain's seat." Michelle responded. "I take it the detachment is finally starting to come back together after all this?" she asked.

"It will, ma'am." Hailey promised, "I'm going to run who we have left through a few exercises to evaluate them. After that, ma'am, I'll prepare any transfer papers papers needed for your authorization. We can get replacements for routine transfers and I can vet any replacements before their given to us."

"I'll look forward to those... Or hopefully not have to see any." Michelle said. "I've a meeting later with the presiding judge in the court-martial. I trust you've sent all the necessary documents and reports over to him?" she asked.

Hailey nodded, "Everything I could find, the Major didn't leave much in the way of documents, but I did a brief interview of the remaining Marines and included those reports to the General, along with the recommendation that Lieutenant Valentine be deposed for evidentary matters. The rest have only hearsay type knowledge "

"Excellent. There is another matter I need to bring to your attention but I think you may actually enjoy this one." she said as she pulled a small box from the replicator.

A slight shift of weight towards the ground from her legs brought Hailey sitting up to the edge of the chair, curiosity at the box. It was the right size for..."Well cover me in honey and feed me to the bears..." She whispered

"When I placed my note in the ship's log that I had appointed you as Marine Commanding Officer, I also made another note... That I was also promoting you to the rank of Major." she added. "Congratulations, Major."

"Thank you, ma'am." Hailey's left hand shook slightly as it took the box, but her right shook Michelle's firmly, "I thought it would take a couple more years at least to get these..."

"In ordinary circumstances, you're probably right." Michelle said. "I remember the days when things were ordinary..." she said almost longingly. "I guess we don't get that luxury just yet."

"We will at some point, ma'am." Hailey promised, "It may take us a while, but we'll get there. Perhaps some of us earlier than others, but we will get there. Part of my job is to make sure others get those ordinary times."

"I have another way you may be able to assist doing that. Before the corps chain of command got interrupted, you assisted Colonel Blanchard occasionally when Lo'Mah wasn't around, did you not?"

"Yes, ma'am, I was making sure he was being updated with the most recent tactical and political situations from around the rest of the Federation as I received reports from alternative sources.We also discussed tactics that could make the unit more effective, precision maneuvers, tsking advantage of the small unit size and such." Hailey wondered where this was going.

"I think that will do quite well then for what I need." Michelle said. "With Lo'Mah no longer around and with your promotion to Marine CO, I'm afraid I'm not done with surprises yet." she added. "I've taken a look at the crew's record and command experience and there's no way I can justify making most of them Second Officer at this time." she added. "I'm asking you to fill that role."

Of everything, that was the least likely thing that Hailey would have expected to be asked to do. Suddenly, the weight of the new insignia in the box she was holding doubled, then doubled again. Without conscious thought, her weight dropped back into the back of the chair and her mouth opened, then shut with a clop. But she had been taught that when responsibilty wss offered, it needed an answer and if you were... All of thisbhappened over the cpurse of a second, which stretched to two, then threw and Hailey went back to the edge of the chair, "Ma'am, I would be honored to accept. I won't fail in your trust." Fact, none of the 'try not to', just 'won't fail'.

"I wouldn't expect you to." Michelle said. "Colonel Blanchard likely would have made you exec had his superior not made that decision for him." she added. "He cursed a lot about it in one of his logs."

Hailey chuckled, tension releasing as she reached up and started to remove the Captain's bars, "You know, ma'am, I was assigned here to be a doctor, not to take over the detachment and be third in command of a Fleet ship."

"I was assigned here to negotiate peace treaties, attend receptions and eat fancy lunches." Michelle said. "How do you think I feel?"

"The 'You're Volunteered' command staff?" Haileyraised an eyebrow, "Good to know we have all of this in common." She finished attaching the new insignia, "How do the look, ma'am?"

"Like the most natural part of this whole thing." Michelle said. "I know you'll do fantastic with the Marines. And with this position."

"Yes, ma'am." Hailey agreed, hopeful at the very least, "Well, then... Where do I start as the Second Officer on a ship? They never taught me that in med school." She quirked a half-smile.

"For now, worry about the Marine detachment. I'll start you on bridge watch tomorrow night on the Delta Shift." Michelle said. "It'll be enough to at least let you get settled in. Especially since we're not en route anywhere." Michelle said. "Does Ms. Valentine need to speak with me at all about what we discussed earlier?"

"Actually, once I explained to her my thoughts, I think she understood." Hailey shook her head, "If later on she starts getting concerned and she needs to, yeah, I'll send her to you, but she's a good troop and will eventually make a good officer, once she learns how to be a marine"

"I tend to agree." Michelle said. "I'll be sending a memo to Lieutenant Tink encouraging her to make time available for all crew members who may need counseling.... I'd encourage Nyx to take it as well if needed."

"And I'll pass it on, absolutely." Hailey thought for a few seconds, "But it may turn out she might confide in me more than a counselor... She's a warrior by nature, it's really her only identity and she lives by it. I'm not sure a counselor would be the right choice, but if there were another say... Weapons master she could talk to?"

"Off the top of my head, I'm not sure. Perhaps Lieutenant Barnaby in Security?" she asked.

"We can at least approach him to see if he's amenable to the thought." Hailey nodded, "Would also make for some good relations between the security forces and my troops."

"We could definitely use that." Michelle replied. "I've heard rumours of some verbal sniping back and forth about the whole incident."

"Well, ma'am, you can guarantee that I'll put a stop to that." Hailey's smile turned feral, Whatever happened is now in the past and if there are any of my people who keep going on with it, they'll be off the ship on the next shuttle."

"I can sign transfer orders all day long for stuff like that." Michelle replied. "Best to deal with it before something stupid happens. I suppose though that I should let you get on with your day."

"Yes, ma'am, I have a few things I need to wrap up, others to reschedule... One last question, ma'am?" She got a nod, "What do I do on Bridge Watch?"

END

Captain Michelle Bartlett
Commanding Officer
USS Wellington

Major Hailey Weston
Marine Commanding Officer/Second Officer
USS Wellington