USS PATRIOT: Various ("Chain of Command")

From: Erik (felldoh_at_voyager.net)
Date: Wed Jun 06 2007 - 22:36:28 PDT


"Chain of Command"
continued from
"80"

Location: USS PATRIOT
Stardate: 2.70607.0024
Scene: Captain's Ready Room

{{Commander, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it part of your job 
to keep your captain from exposing herself to unnecessary risk?}} 
Admiral Denagg's eyes were closed in frustration. He didn't rub his 
temples, but it looked like he wanted to.

"Yes, Sir, it is." Ben answered, trying to keep the sigh out of his 
voice. He knew very well Denagg wouldn't appreciate it.

{{Then why didn't you stop her from beaming down to an unidentified 
planet, that we have good reason to believe isn't stable in space?}}

Ben struggled not to show his frustration with the situation. He 
wasn't sure he'd ever forgive her for this. "She didn't inform me of 
her plan, probably because she knew I'd do exactly that." He couldn't 
actually have stopped her even then if she was determined, the worse 
he could have done was log an official protest against her actions, 
unless Tam declared her unfit. He wondered if she was ready for that 
sort of responsibility.

{{Why in the world would she be so reckless.}} The admiral wondered 
half to himself. {{There's nothing in her file to indicate this sort 
of behavior.}}

"Sir, It's possible she was not in her right mind." Ben felt a little 
guilty giving that report when he wasn't sure, but if it was true 
command needed to know. "When the planet first appeared, the PATRIOT 
was well within its gravity well. We had to perform a slingshot 
maneuver to escape. She ordered me to take command, but I believe 
that Tarnak was in charge at that point. I think the experience may 
have brought her back to the crash. That made be why she felt she 
needed to go to the planet."

Denagg's face was grave. {{Do you have a counselor who can confirm that?}}

"Our chief counselor was there when it happened, but she is one of 
the officers who accompanied her down to the planet."

{{Alright. I want you to get in touch with her as soon as possible. I 
need her opinion. If she's not ready to make the call, have her 
observe, but Captain Jones cannot become suspicious. We don't want 
this to get out of hand.}}

"Understood, Sir." Ben replied in a tone that matched the Admiral's.

=/\=
Location: Unknown Planet
Scene: Transporter site

[[Kenta to Ensign Niala.]]

"Niala here." Tam replied, tapping her combadge.

[[Is the Captain with you?]]

"Yes, she's right here." She replied, sharing a confused look with Helice.

Ben cursed silently on the other end of the line. [[I was unable to 
raise her combadge.]] He lied. [[There may be some interference. I 
recommend you return to the ship.]]

"Not yet." Helice answered quickly. "Starfleet Command authorized us 
to investigate, and I still have some questions."

Strike two. [[Very well, Captain. We'll keep an transporter lock on 
you just in case. Kenta out.]]

"Try and stay close together everyone." Helice called when the 
channel went dead. "If they need to contact us  through interference 
the more badges we have nearby the better."

=/\=
Location: USS PATRIOT
Scene: Captain's Ready Room

"You asked for me, Sir?" Cal said dispassionately. She had been 
irritated to be pulled away from her work in astrometrics, but she 
had already gotten over it.

"I need you to take over Ops. I want you to keep a sensor lock on the 
away team."

"Sir, with all due respect, Lt. Sanba is more than capable..."

"I know she is." Ben interrupted her. "I want you to do it. And I 
need you to inform me if Ensign Niala and the Captain split up." He 
gave her a significant look. "Do you understand?" He knew that if 
anyone on the ship could understand why he'd given the order and take 
it in stride it would be her. And he also trusted her to keep silent about it.

Tellah understood now. Ben needed to talk to Tam without the captain 
overhearing. There was only one reason for that. "I understand, Sir"

"Dismissed."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRPG: If the captain is crazy, we'll be ready for it.

Beth: Tag


Erik Walz
Commander Benjamin Kenta
Executive Officer
USS PATRIOT 5781-A

&

Lt. Seloron
Junior ACT Instructor
Starfleet Academy, Earth 


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