Shocking News

Posted on Sun Aug 22nd, 2010 @ 3:07pm by Vice Admiral Iluvar & Commander Fala Awen

Mission: Episode 1.3 - "The Time of Trial"
Location: Admiral Tavez's Office, Starbase 386
Timeline: Prior to MD01, 0820

ON: [[Admiral Tavez's Office, Starbase 386, Prior to MD 01, 0820]]

Andrew (NPC) rounded the corner at a brisk pace and approached the doors leading to the office suite of Horizon Fleet's Chief of Staff, Admiral Olivia Tavez (NPC). His pace did not slow as the doors began to part to admit him. By the time they had opened enough to allow him entrance, he was already crossing the threshold. Immediately, he began to survey the front office until his gaze fixed upon the desk where the admiral's yeoman was working.

The young woman looked up, startled, as a man in a black uniform walked in. Based on his rank, she knew he had to be Rear Admiral Hawkins. "Can I help you sir?"

"Is Admiral Tavez in," Andrew asked, perhaps a little more curtly than he normally would have liked. Ordinarily, he would have made an appointment or at least called ahead, but life sometimes created situations where that just wasn't possible. As much as he would have liked to make things easy for the young woman, he knew that what he needed to tell the admiral was more important.

She nodded, "Yes, sir. There's nobody else in right now. Would you like me to let her know you're here?"

"Please," Andrew replied. He waited patiently as the yeoman went about her job. It was quite possible that the admiral would be busy, but he hoped that she would at least have enough time to spare a few moments for him. He hadn't had the opportunity to meet her since arriving and these probably weren't the best circumstances to be making a first impression. Hopefully, he would at least be able to make this run somewhat smoothly.

After her brief conversation with Admiral Tavez, the young woman looked back up at Rear Admiral Hawkins, "Go ahead, sir, she's waiting for you."

"Thank you," Andrew said with a smile. He nodded once to the young woman and started down the short corridor that would lead him to the admiral's office.

[[Inside Admiral Tavez's Office]]

Olivia glanced up as Andrew walked in, "Good morning, Admiral, how can I help you?" Visits from JAG weren't usually good, but every once in awhile it wasn't something too terrible. Time would tell which this was.

"I am sorry to disturb you, admiral," Andrew said from where he stood in the doorway, "Could I borrow a moment of your time?"

"Of course," Olivia said, "come in."

"I was hoping that we would be able to meet under better circumstances, admiral," Andrew began as he moved to stand before the woman's desk, "but I've just learned some very startling news that I think you should be aware of." He held out his hand, offered a medium-sized PADD to Tavez, and waited to see what her reaction might be.

Apparently this was one of those bad visits. Olivia sighed and motioned towards a chair, indicating that Andrew should have a seat. As she read the PADD, she raised an eyebrow, "Did you just find out about this?"

"Yes, ma'am," Andrews replied, knowing just how shocking the information he had given her was. Though he had not had the privelage of meeting Rear Admiral Iluvar in person, the man's record certainly seemed to speak for itself. His actions during the recent engagement at Altorus as well as his participation during the subsequent standoff at Starbase 386 were fresh in everyone's minds, thanks to the efforts of the Federation News Service.

Olivia wasn't entirely sure how to take the news. She had to admit to being rather surprised, however. Though she couldn't claim to know Iluvar as well as some, she had met the man on a few occassions; from those meetings and his reports, Olivia hadn't noted anything concerning. That, coupled with his position as Task Force Commanding Officer, made the inquiry all the more troubling. "What is your opinion of this, Admiral? A witch hunt or a justified inquiry?"

"It is difficult to say, admiral," Andrew said slowly, "I have not had the opportunity to meet Rear Admiral Iluvar since I was appointed, so I cannot speak of him personally. All I know is what I have read in reports."

Nodding her head slowly, Olivia frowned, "Based on my knowledge of him, I have to admit I find this difficult to believe. Have the presiding officers been chosen?"

Andrew was not at all surprised to hear the admiral's spoken confidence in Iluvar. A true officer supported those around them to the best of his or her ability. Given Iluvar's reported performance, Andrew was pretty sure that he would have just as much confidence if he were in Tavez's position.

"If they have, then they haven't been announced, ma'am," Andrew replied, slightly disappointed that he did not yet have the information she was requesting. It was unusual for a Board of Inquiry to be convened without a formal announcement of the presiding officers, but there had been no such announcement as of yet.

"Given your experience, Admiral, I suppose you understand how troubling I find the idea that presiding officers have not been selected as of yet," she said. "Has a date or location been set?" Truthfully, Olivia would be even more disconcerted if either of those details were already confirmed without the presiding officers being chosen. She hoped that that was not the case.

"For as public a matter as this inquiry would appear to be, I find it concerning that there isn't much information on the actual proceedings," admitted Andrew as he continued to ponder the situation, "I've been able to determine that the inquiry will be held at Deep Space Four, which is the closest facility to where the USS Pandora was last reported to be. As for when...that would depend entirely on the time it would take the Pandora to arrive at the location."

"Perhaps Admiral Bullock (NPC) will have some information then..." The more she heard about the inquiry, the less she liked. "Has Rear Admiral Iluvar been informed?" Olivia was doing her best to retain decorum, but was finding it more difficult. She sincerely hoped they weren't planning on letting the Pandora arrive at DS 4 only to find that their Commanding Officer would have to face an inquiry.

Andrew shook his head. With the way things were going, he had no way of knowing whether or not Iluvar or any of his crew had been informed. Even he hadn't received any kind of official notice yet, despite the fact that the case involved one of the higher ranking members of the Eighth Fleet and was occuring within his jurisdiction. It made him feel cut out of the loop and, quite frankly, he didn't enjoy having to hunt around for the pieces of the puzzle. Unfortunately, even if he left now, it would take him at least two weeks to reach Deep Space Four. By that time, the proceedings could be well underway or, at the pace things seemed to be going, concluded.

Olivia raised an eyebrow, "The more I hear, Admiral, the less I like it. Unfortunately, it would appear that there isn't a whole lot we can do at this point. I would prefer that Rear Admiral Iluvar not find out about this upon his arrival though; I would appreciate it if you could look into the matter and determine whether or not he's been informed. Other than that, it would seem the best we could do is monitor the situation from here..." She hated to say it, but once the inquiry notice had been sent, it would be difficult to stop - at least without causing more issues.

"Yes, ma'am," Andrew replied, nodding once to show that he understood. As much as it pained him to do so, he was going to have to watch this one from the sidelines. He knew that when he accepted the position as the Eighth Fleet's Judge Advocate-General, he would not be participating directly in as many of the routine investigations and proceedings. It was part of the reason that he'd requested such an assignment in the first place. At the same time, it was cases like these that always had him on the edge of his seat.

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention," she said gratefully. This was certainly not the kind of situation she wanted to hear about after it was all over. "If I find out any pertinent information, I'll pass it along."

"I'd be much obliged," Andrew said gratefully, bowing his head ever so slightly, "I apologize for being the bearer of bad news this morning. When I find out anything more, I will be sure to forward it to you."

Olivia gave him a smile, "No need to apologize. I'm just glad I didn't find out after it was all over. Perhaps between the two of us we can piece the situation together... In any event, it was a pleasure meeting you, Admiral; welcome aboard." She wasn't convinced how welcoming it was, considering this inquiry, but he was here and he was welcome.

OFF

A JP by

Admiral Olivia Tavez (PNPC)
Chief Of Staff
Horizon Fleet
Played By: LtCmdr Fala

and

Rear Admiral Andrew Hawkins (PNPC)
Judge Advocate-General
Horizon Fleet
Played by: RAdm Iluvar