Canterra - Operation Dust Bowl HR Issues

Posted on 21 Oct 2019 @ 1:06am by Major Terrance West & Lieutenant Jinn Tevran (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & First Lieutenant Gregor Goss (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & First Lieutenant Eleanor Hargreaves (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War)

Mission: Hahai i na pilikua nui - Hunting Monsters
Location: East of Sophiaville
Timeline: T+3 1850 Zulu

ON:

Once the mission parameters had been set, Jinn had decided to broach the topic of what he had sensed in Bernard with the other senior officers. It would be a delicate matter, but one that had to be raised. He approached the three Marines.

"Major West, Lieutenants Goss and Hargreaves," he began. "Before we set off on this engagement, may I have a minute in private? It's important."

"Of course," Gregor assented.

Hargreaves looked guarded at the request, but made no move to disagree. At the very least, the Betazoid had demonstrated that despite his glibness, he was unlikely to request their attention without good cause.

West followed Jinn off to the side.

Once he had all three Marines gathered round, he began. "Normally, when on ship, I tend to keep my abilities centered inward on myself. Having lived amongst races other than Betazoids over the years, I've come to learn that puts people more at ease. However, on mission, I need to be apart and aware to any threats, which includes the motivations of the minds around me. I make no apologies for this, if it makes you uncomfortable, well the mission comes before anyone's comfort."

"Uncomfortable though the idea is," Hargreaves said a little brusquely, "I have to vouch that Lieutenant Tevran's talents have been of significant use on our operation and have been used professionally."

West knew Jinn was Betazoid, so it was not a complete surprise Jinn was 'listening' to their thoughts.

"I just figured you were always listening to us," West smirked, half-jokingly.

"That's probably a good opinion to have, since it means you'll also be guarding your thoughts against any telepathy an enemy may employ. It makes me a more effective operative and allows me to discover potential threats or issues before they arise," he continued. "Case in point, Ensign Bernard. Has he had a proper psych evaluation recently? Because he is currently hearing voices AND having a dialogue with these voices."

West glanced over at Hargreaves since he was attached to her team.

Hargreaves, however, remained a inscrutable in her expression as ever, and if she had anything to say she was beaten to the punch by her fellow Marine lieutenant.

"You know, that's a very serious claim Lieutenant, are you certain bout this?" Gregor questioned the intel officer, eyes level.

Jinn nodded. "I am. My abilities are quite strong. If you want, I can prove it by relaying to the group your current thoughts, but I feel it best we keep this conversation rated PG-13, to be honest."

He gave Goss a wink.

Gregor raised an eyebrow, but said: "Well then, please share your concerns."

"Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but this makes me highly uncomfortable," Jinn added. "And it makes him a liability to the mission, if he's unstable. I can delve deeper and perhaps help the Ensign, but we don't have time. I recommend removing him from duty until such a time as he can be properly evaluated to determine he isn't a threat."

Hargreaves' jaw had tightened through this. "If he's experiencing auditory hallucinations, engaging with them, or something else akin to schizophrenia and this is seemingly untreated and he's not reported this, I have serious concerns about his suitability for combat," she said rather roughly. "No doubt the counsellors in orbit could help him, but I share the Lieutenant's concerns about such a potentially volatile element in a high-risk combat scenario. If nothing else, I should stress that 4MSOT hasn't yet had any protracted engagements with the enemy, only one volley. What we've been through so far hasn't been intense enough for me to want to vouch for him."

"He's under your command Hargreaves, I'm happy to see the matter left to your discretion." Gregor opined, he turned his eyes to look at West and see if he would say any different.

West nodded. "Goss is right. Your call, Hargreaves."

An eyebrow flickered up. "Sir, respectfully, this is your operation and on the matter of an officer not in the Marine Corps chain of command. I had no choice in bringing Ensign Bernard with me; had it been down to me, I would have brought only 4MSOT. Not the ensign, not Lieutenant Tevran here," said Hargreaves, visibly tense now. "So now I've had an unfamiliar entity placed within my unit who it turns out might not be psychologically fit for combat or high stress. If they were part of my team, I'd bench them, for the good of everyone, including themselves. But frankly, sir, I need this to be coming as the word of a Major and the operation commander when the Marine Corps declare a Starfleet ensign unfit to fight alongside us because of their screw-up."

Jinn nodded. "I may not be the biggest stickler for protocol or procedure, but you're the ranking officer here, Major. Lieutenant and Hargreaves and I can pass along the message, but the decision should ultimately come from you, using mine and the Lieutenant's recommendations as your backing."

"I'll take care of it. As you say, it is my call. We can't just leave him alone though. I'll have him stick with me, so if he goes cookoo, it'll be my phaser that stuns him," West decided.

OFF:

Terrance "Terry" West, Maj, SFMC
CO, 3d MRBN

Jinn Tevran, LT, SF
INT

Gregor Goss, 1stLt, SFMC
3MSOT/TL

Eleanor Hargreaves, 1stLt, SFMC
4MSOT/TL