Operation Cold Comfort A quiet word

Posted on 05 Jun 2019 @ 8:38pm by Captain Akio Tachibana & Lieutenant Harry Stevens & Captain Edward Bolingbroke (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War)

Mission: Hahai i na pilikua nui - Hunting Monsters
Location: Marine Briefing room
Timeline: Right after Planning Briefing

[ON]

[Marine Operations ]

Harry still remained in his chair as he looked over at the Marine, He said," Captain Bolingbroke, May I have a few minutes of your time," as he wanted to have a chat with the officer, He continued, " I have this feeling that you don't trust me to be on this operation?" as he finished," and I want to ask this, Do you trust me with this task?"

Bolingbroke looked the man over, it was a honest question and it deserved an honest answer. He was not sure if Stevens could cope with that.

“To be truthful with you, I don’t know” He replied. “I told you several weeks ago that your actions in abandoning your post and responsibilities during the search for the Gorn Doctor showed poor leadership.

So far I have not seen much to change that opinion. You appear unfocused, inattentive and self-centered. You do not listen to what people say, you make up some personal slight and then squabble with other officers.

The matter concerning the Gorn using Topaline to disrupt sensors and targeting systems for example. You did not appear to listen to what was said, about how difficult it was to lock weapons on an enemy ship that you can barely scan.

Instead you went off on some tangent about how fighters could tell you were to fire torpedoes.

I’m no expert, but when the Chief of Science and the Fighter Commander tell you that’s not possible, due to the multiple vectors of all the objects involved, then you listen.

You don’t take that as some personal insult and then challenge a fellow officer’s integrity by daring them to volunteer for a mission.

You also don’t insist that another officer care for your dog instead of fulfilling their duty. I have no idea what your relationship is with Doctor TLara and I don’t care, but you embarrassed both yourself and her with your nonsense about oaths and promises.

Bottom line, her duty as a Starfleet Officer comes before any agreement between her and you! If you don’t understand that, then I suggest you need to go back to the Academy and start over.

Furthermore, you did all of this in front of senior members of the crew, Commander Tolkath, Captain Tachibana and the Commander of the Battle Group’s Marine contingent, Colonel McGruder. You embarrassed the Captain and this ship! I strongly suggest you make an apology to the Captain for that behavior.

To be blunt, you appear to care more about your dog than you do your responsibilities and your fellow crew. I’m sure Sif is a faithful companion and an asset to your work. But she is still a dog!

You have a whole team of Security staff and every other member of this crew who depend on you to keep them safe. You are the senior Security Officer on this ship, so start acting like it.

Right now it appears you don’t care about anyone but yourself and Sif.

So, to answer your question again, I have grave reservations about your suitability to go on this operation, because I don’t know if I can trust you to protect your fellow team members.”

Bolingbroke sighed, “Look, Harry, I’ll give you a chance, why don’t you tell me why I should let you go? Change my mind, convince me I can trust you… “

"Sir, First thing about Sif, is that she is my Partner and yes I do care about her," replied Harry looking back at the Marine, "But as for the suggestion I made had a valid point and that was for the generators to be found a small craft would not be seen and map out the positions for the attack to take them out," as once again he kept his eyes on Bolingbroke. He finished "and No I do not need to go back to the Academy and as for my team members,"

Bolingbroke shook his head, why was Stevrns persisting in talking about ship combat? "l'm sorry, but you are not making any sense. What generators? Map out what positions? This is a fortified ground installation, we are not talking about ship combat. What are you talking about?

"Sir, the ground installation would have shield Generators, Correct and on evac we would need those shields down," replied Harry looking back at the Marine, "also with our ground forces on route to help with the evac they would need to get in am I correct?" as he brought up the lay of the land. He finished," and By having a fly past it is tactical sense that we have them knocked out."

Bolingbroke placed a hand over his eyes for a moment, he found it hard to believe this man could really be that inattentive. He took a deep breath and said levelly "l do believe I covered this in the briefing. The Gorn have installed a shield barrier over the mine and power substation.

We don't need to map anything, we know exactly where it is. Did you not see the images on the viewscreen?

I said, quite clearly, that we could bombard the site from orbit and eventually batter down the shields.

But, we do not want to do that. It would take time, risk civilian casualties either from the attack or underground collapses.

It would also alert the Gorn that we are coming and risk them executing the colonists.

I also clearly stated that we want the facility intact! We want to use it as a safe zone for the colonists. That is why we are cutting the power, not blowing the place up!

The entire point of this mission is to capture the mine, with minimal damage and risk to the colonists, then to keep them safe there.

I find it hard to believe that you can not understand this from a briefing you received just a few minutes ago.

We are not evacuating anybody. Nobody mentioned evac!

Where did you get that from? Again, do you not pay attention, or do you just make things up in your own head?"

Bolingbroke scratched his head in frustration. "I'll tell you what Lieutenant, it is vital that everyone going on this operation understands the plan and their role in it.

To be sure you are aware of what is required, why don't you tell me the three phases of the operation, as they were just set out for you in the briefing, a few minutes ago.

If you can do that, then you can go on the mission. If not, then l think it is better you remain on the ship..." Bolingbroke put the matter entirely in Stevens' hands, either he could demonstrate he paid attention and knew the plan or he could not.

"The first part of the Plan is the Frog squad using the shuttle Aubrey take my team to the mine Posing as Captured Colonists," Harry looked back at Bolingbroke, He continued next part is once we are inside the mine and placed into the workforce and the Shuttle leaves the fighters will stage an attack and fake the distruction of the shuttle.," he continued " the frog squad will make their way to the power station to shut it down," as he leaned back into the chair as it squeaked." The third part of the mission is Once the shields are down the battle group will transport down the Marines to liberate the mine," he finished.

Bolingbroke looked the man over. "Well, you've got the basics at least" He aknowledged, although it had seemed like a struggle for Stevens to recount even that level.

"Very well you can go Lieutenant," He said "But just remember this is a Marine operation, Staff Sarn't Walken is leading the team. You follow his directions, clear?'

"Yes Sir," replied Harry as he looked at the Marine and now he knew why Security officers didn't get on well with Marines, as he knew that he had a feeling that he was going to have to use his intuitive and wing it if it came to it.


Bolingbroke nodded "Carry on Lieutenant. Oh and suggest you stop by the Captain's Ready Room and apologise for your conduct in the briefing"


"Aye Sir," replied Harry again as he headed for the exit of the briefing room and headed straight for the Captain's ready room, he knew the Captain was waiting for him and knew that it was better not keep him waiting any longer. as he tugged at his jacket he hoped that the Captain would be in a favourable mood, as he came to a stop and pressed the door chime.

"Enter!" Akio's voice reverberated through the door.

[Captain's Ready Room]

"Lieutenant Stevens, reporting as ordered Sir," replied Harry as he entered the ready room and came to a halt in front of the Captains desk and put his hands behind his back, He continued, "Sir, I am here to apologise for my actions in the briefing earlier this evening."

Akio was very surprised by Harry reporting to the ready room out of the blue. And also with an apology?

"This is unexpected, Lieutenant. May I ask why you came here?" Akio was genuinely curious.

"Sir, I have been ordered to report to you regarding my actions in the briefing," replied Harry looking back at Akio, he continued, "the Mission led by Marine Captain Bolingbroke and I volunteered for the away mission," as he stood with his hands behind his back, He finished," I made a sudgestion about mapping the base out so the frog Squad knew where they were going and it was dismissed."

Akio was somewhat perplexed and wondered if one of the senior officers had a chat with Harry after the brief.

"I really appreciate you coming to apologize, Lieutenant. As you mature and progress during your career, you will gain more experience to understand how to offer suggestions. There's a reason we wear a certain color on our uniforms, that is our specialty," Akio mentored the young officer.

"Yes Sir, I understand that," replied Harry as he looked back at his commanding officer, He continued, " but as the chief of Security Sir, I felt that by having all the intel of the base would help the Frog Squad know where to go."

"You mean well, Harry," Akio stood and started walking to the window to look at the planet below before turning back to the junior officer. "By the time an operation reaches a senior-level brief like that, though, the operation has been finalized and all the intel available has been obtained.

"I know you are junior, yet maybe it would do you well to be involved in the planning of the next operation, so you're exposed to what happens behind the scenes," Akio wondered aloud.

"I'd like to gain the experience Sir," replied Harry looking back at the Captain, He continued, "as I am always willing to continue to learn and add to my skills set," as he hoped that Akio would accept that of him.

"Sounds good. I will keep an eye open for an opportunity. Anything else, Lieutenant?" Akio inquired.

"I will do my job Sir and that will be to make sure we all come back alive and I also care about everyone else on this ship," he stated looking again at the Captain, He continued, " I joined Starfleet to protect those who can not protect themselves and that is what I am willing to do," he finished," and Captain, I am sorry for the way I acted earlier."

"Very well, dismissed," Akio allowed, showing a slight smile when Stevens turned. Junior Officers never changed.



[OFF]

Akio Tachibana, CAPT, SF
CO

Edward Bolingbroke, Capt, SFMC
BMSOC/CC

Harry Stevens, LT (Jg), SF
Chief Security Officer