A Matter of Loyalty

Posted on Thu Dec 30th, 2010 @ 1:55pm by Commander Fala Awen & Lieutenant JG Hannah Andeti

Mission: Episode 1.4 - "Confusion in the Cluster"
Location: XO's Office
Timeline: Day 1, 1800

OFF: Backpost

On:

[XO's Office, Day 1, 1800]]

Andeti had been intending to visit the Pandora's 'new' XO for the past few months but considering what she had been up to, somehow she never managed to find the time. It wasn't that she distrusted the woman or believed that she were particularly in need of counseling, but there was no denying that her appointment to the position hadn't been under the most regular of circumstances.

The counselor approached the office door and pressed the chime. It was strange, she had been here so many times when Earlond had been XO but had found no reason to come down here in the past five months. If she really thought about it, it probably had a lot to do with the fact that it had been his office, but she wasn't about to start psychoanalysing herself now.

The call came for her to enter and the counselor obeyed; approaching the desk with her usual smile she took the opportunity to appreciate the changes the woman had made to the room. Although still business-like it was certainly...warmer and Andeti felt herself relax.

"Good evening, Commander."

Tapping on the console screen to mark her place, the Bajoran watched the counselor and managed to return a slight smile, "Good evening, Lieutenant. Have a seat." Truthfully, Awen was a bit surprised the counselor hadn't either stopped by or requested her presence prior to this, but she wasn't about to argue.

The counselor slid into the pro-offered seat and made an effort to keep her empathic ability unblocked. It was good that the commander had been expecting her but Andeti didn't relax. Expected or not she didn't think Cmdr Fala would open up to just anyone. "Thank you." She allowed a beat of silence to pass in which she hoped that the Bajoran would offer her a coffee but when it didn't immediately come she plowed onwards. "I'm sorry I haven't been to see you sooner, Commander." She laughed. "I don't think I would have recognised this office even if I had, you seem to have settled in quite well."

Awen raised an eyebrow, "I suppose so...mostly I just moved what was in my previous office in here. I generally try not to spend too much time here anyway, though. I'd rather be moving around and keeping busy." Actually she rather missed running security drills with her...well, former, department. It had been invigorating, in a way. Even researching in stellar cartography or astrometrics or the regular science labs would have been welcome; she'd enjoyed those when she had been a science officer. But being in the command department was an entirely different matter.

"Yes, I can understand that. Sometimes I wish I could get out of my own office more often." The Commander's discomfort with her position was obvious but Andeti wasn't eager to push her for an explanation. Instead she tried to start with something shallow. "This is your first time in command, isn't that right?"

"That is correct," the Bajoran replied. "Until this most recent...assignment, I've been in either the Science or Security/Tactical department only. I never really had the desire to move into the Command department." The thought had actually never occurred to her; she was content with her positions in more specialized areas rather than the more general command department. Awen wondered what those from her Resistance Cell would have thought if they could see her now. Artori and Jorak would likely have been quite surprised. Her family was happy for her; not really understanding why she was so uncomfortable.

"Do you mind if I ask why you accepted the assignment?" The XO's uncertainty about her new position was clear and Andeti regretted that she hadn't been to see her sooner.

Awen shook her head slightly, remembering the day the Admiral had contacted her. "I wasn't given a choice, Counselor. I was told that I would take the Executive officer position along with a promotion to Commander. There was no accepting or rejecting, there was only what the Admiralty told me."

Andeti's eyes widened slightly, she knew the situation had been difficult but hadn't known that the position had been forced upon her. "That surprises me, sir. I wasn't aware that Starfleet was in the habit of forcing people into unwanted positions."

"Nor was I, at least not until it happened to me. I've certainly heard of them offering someone a higher position, but from what I understood those officers got the chance to refuse. I was not given that option," the Bajoran replied. Worse yet, they wanted her to spy on Iluvar and the Pandora - something she hadn't told a soul. Would anyone believe her even if she did? Most had a difficult enough time believing she'd been forced into her new role. "I did assure the Captain that I would still perform the duties to the best of my abilities, regardless of the circumstances."

"I'm sure." Frankly, Andeti was appalled. That wasn't the Starfleet she had signed onto and the lack of personal respect for Commander Fala was disturbing. "Do you have any idea why they would feel the need to force the position on you? Surely there must have been other officers more than willing to take the job."

Awen smirked, "That's exactly what I pointed out. It fell on deaf ears. They really didn't give me a specific reason, per se. My best guess is that considering the various changes taking place on the Pandora, they felt it best for someone already familiar with the crew to take on the Executive Officer position." The Bajoran shrugged. Truthfully, she felt it was a bit deeper than that - she already understood the 'players' so to speak and would have an easier time spying. Not that she had done that, thus far. Really, with the assignments the Pandora had been given, there hadn't been any chances for issues to arise anyway.

The counselor didn't entirely believe that, but she nodded just the same. There was something that the Commander wasn't saying that poked at Hannah's curiosity but she did her best to push it aside for the time being and returned to the commander herself. "How are you handling the new position?" She would have preferred a different word than 'handling'...it too much implied that the commander couldn't handle things, but under the circumstances it seemed the best choice.

"I suppose I'm making the best of the situation," Awen replied, with only the slightest hint of hesitation. While she had been a leader - even while with the Resistance - she'd never thought of herself as someone suited for the command track. Awen had been content helping out in the background. "I'd still rather be in Security/Tactical, or Science, but for now that's not an option for me, it seems. It's frustrating to be put in this situation, but there's nothing more I can do, from what I can ascertain."

"Do you have any idea how long you're going to be in this position?" The counselor was more than a little concerned. Although the commander seemed to be taking things in stride, she wasn't content with her position and, as Andeti had seen all too often, when such situations continued, they rarely came to a good end.

The Bajoran shook her head, "I have no idea. The Admiral didn't exactly give me an end date...if there's even supposed to be one. But I suppose that considering my background, I should be used to things not going according to plan or being ideal. Certainly the Occupation wasn't."

The counselor laughed, but it was hollow and short lived. "Yes but we aren't under the domineering control of an occupying force here. Starfleet is supposed to stand against such..." she paused, trying to avoid the various impolite adjectives that were occurring to her. "...treatment. Have you tried going over the admiral's head?" Andeti didn't think for a moment that, even if she had, it would do any good, but there was something strange about the situation and she couldn't help but be curious.

"I tried, but the Admirals above the one who contacted me didn't have time to speak with me about such 'trivial' matters," Awen replied. "Even if they did, I doubt it would have done any good. They likely would have just spoken with her and then agreed." It seemed the longer she was in StarFleet, the less faith she had in it. It was, in a way, odd to think about how intrigued and excited she'd been when she had decided to join. Especially considering what she had lived through on Bajor.

Andeti wasn't entirely sure what to say. She was horrified and part of her couldn't help but feel that there had been some terrible mistake. The Starfleet she knew didn't do things like this, but she had to remind herself that that wasn't her primary concern, as much as she was concerned about it. Right now she had to think about the commander and the effects that this was having on her. "May I ask why you are...so calmly taking this?"

"Counselor, it is not my nature to simply turn my back on something because I don't like it. There were assignments and missions I took while in the Resistance that I didn't particularly care for or didn't feel were necessary, but I did them because it was my duty," the Bajoran replied. "Besides, there's little I can do about the situation."

The counselor leaned forward. "I don't mean to question your motives, I just mean that many people in your position would probably have considered turning in their commission over something like this, myself included."

Awen nodded, "Don't think it hasn't crossed my mind; it has. However, for the time being I have decided that I will make the best of the situation. That's not to say I won't change my mind later on, of course. I suppose part of me is hoping that StarFleet will come to their senses." What she didn't add was that in a way she was also trying to protect those on the Pandora. Since the Admiralty wanted someone essentially spying on Iluvar and the Pandora, it was better for it to be her than someone else. Thus far the Bajoran hadn't given them anything, not there was anything anyway, but if someone else were in her position they could potentially do a great deal of harm.

There was still something that the Commander wasn't sharing, but the counselor knew that it would be the wrong move to force her on it. Whatever was going on here had her nervous, had them both nervous, truth be told, and Andeti didn't think the Bajoran was one to trust so easily. She shook her head, obviously dismayed. "I don't suppose there's anything I can do to help?"

"I'm afraid not, Counselor. If I think of something, I'll be sure to let you know though," the Bajoran replied. She wasn't quite sure what else to say; there was certainly a lot on her mind, but nothing she particularly wanted to share with Hannah. Most of it Awen would have to work out for herself.

The counselor nodded. She knew her cue to leave when it popped up and duly rose to her feet. "I'm sorry there's nothing more I can do, commander." She paused. "Would you mind if I were to come and see you again?"

Awen put up her hand and shook her head, "No need to apologize, Lieutenant. It is what it is." The Bajoran paused at Hannah's question. She didn't entirely relish the thought of having another session with the Counselor, but at least she seemed to sympathize with her situation...and this one hadn't gone entirely badly. "I suppose that would be alright. Feel free to do so."

Hannah nodded. "I'd like to say it's been pleasant but . . ." she trailed off, both of them aware of what she meant. She nodded again. "Well, good day, commander."

Nodding Awen replied, "Good day, Lieutenant." She watched silently as the counselor left and then slowly sat back down in her chair. Awen stared at the doors silently, lost in thought, before finally turning back to the information she'd been reading when Hannah had first come in.

OFF:

by

Commander Fala Awen
Executive Officer
USS Pandora

and

Lieutenant jg Hannah Andeti
Chief Counselor
USS Pandora