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Post by Lieutenant Victor Springfield on Dec 19, 2016 17:06:44 GMT -5
Victor stared at his computer screen for a long while before simply shutting it off and closing the lid. He tapped his combadge.
"Commander Arnimane, are you available to talk?"
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Post by Captain Shantal Arnimane on Dec 20, 2016 12:56:24 GMT -5
Shantal answer rather promptly, "Sure, Victor, vwith the mission mostly completed I am available to talk."
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Post by Lieutenant Victor Springfield on Dec 20, 2016 14:30:25 GMT -5
Victor responded. "Very good, then. I'll report to your ready room."
After some minutes, there is a chime at the door...
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Post by Captain Shantal Arnimane on Dec 20, 2016 15:49:03 GMT -5
"It's open"
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Post by Captain Shantal Arnimane on Dec 28, 2016 11:10:31 GMT -5
Awkward moments passed as Shantal stared at the door and tried again with a sigh, "Enter."
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Post by Lieutenant Victor Springfield on Dec 29, 2016 13:31:46 GMT -5
After what seemed like a week, Victor Springfield walked into the room, PADD tucked under his arm.
"Good afternoon, ma'am. I wanted to talk to you about how I can best serve the ship. When I had returned to the bridge to present my report on the diplomatic situation that we will soon be facing, I was informed by the tactical officer that I was no longer allowed on the bridge. I assume that I must have done something offensive, so I wanted to talk about that. I know that the crew of the Sentinel is probably predisposed to suspicion of intelligence officers, but I'm trying to give this assignment one-hundred-percent."
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Post by Captain Shantal Arnimane on Jan 5, 2017 11:40:29 GMT -5
Shantal's obsidian gaze bore into him as she motioned for him to have a seat, "Have a seat Victor." She waited a moment as he sat. "I would say that we on that Sentinel having a predisposed to suspicion of intelligence officers is an understatement add to this you were covertly placed aboard under false pretense and some of yours actions ...let us just say you did not help your cause."
She paused for a moment, "Let us start with the basics and why you think your were restricted from the bridge recently?"
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Post by Lieutenant Victor Springfield on Jan 5, 2017 12:25:14 GMT -5
Victor sat down and crossed his legs. "To be perfectly frank with you, Commander, I do not know. I assumed that I must have been disruptive somehow, but I can't recall anything of that nature. I was hoping you could explain this." He paused for a moment.
"Ultimately, I do most of my work in a conference room, but it makes my job far easier to have access to the bridge. If you issued that order because you have some negative suspicion about me, well, I can assure you that I'm not spying on bridge activities or anything of that nature."
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Post by Captain Shantal Arnimane on Jan 5, 2017 13:24:24 GMT -5
"You were on the bridge earlier, correct? What was the reason you were there at that time?"
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Post by Lieutenant Victor Springfield on Jan 5, 2017 13:58:33 GMT -5
Victor nodded. "I had been on the bridge that morning, yes. I was there to keep myself in the loop on the progress of the mission, so I could be prepared for when we reach Bosh. The Boshian situation is somewhat delicate and I wanted to make sure that I was up to date on our current activity so that I would be prepared to deal with it. Was this wrong, Commander?"
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Post by Captain Shantal Arnimane on Jan 5, 2017 18:29:59 GMT -5
Shantal folded her hands together on the desk, "This not the USS Dowhateveryouwant. The bridge of the Sentinel is also not a place to just chill out in to "stay in the loop". It is the vessel's prime command and control center. Officers and crew present on the bridge are there for a reason and as such do not get to come and go as they please. Everyone on the bridge has protocol and conduct to adhere to, including me, yet you just decided to vanish without a trace. So you either had no real business on the bridge in the first place, or you did and went AWOL because you were doing whatever you wanted again. I chose the lesser of those evils and took action as such."
She paused a moment as she leaned back, "Victor, you already realize you are fighting an uphill battle here, yet you continue to do things to make that climb even steeper. Why? If you are serious about trying to find your place here with us, why do you keep doing things to jeopardize it?"
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Post by Lieutenant Victor Springfield on Jan 6, 2017 12:09:35 GMT -5
Victor nodded along as he considered his response.
"Commander, I've been with the Diplomatic Corps for years, and in the course of that work, I've been on many ships. I've found that being on the bridge allows me to perform my job effectively. Situations can develop rapidly, and if I'm not on the bridge, I may not be able to get up to speed in time. So I must disagree that I was... just chilling out."
"I can understand why you wouldn't want to take my word for that, though. Hell, if I was in your place, I probably wouldn't trust me either. But I'm committed to doing my job within the parameters you set, even if I object to it. I'm just looking for a clear stance, Commander. First I was allowed on the bridge, then I was barred. Then I was allowed again. Then I was barred again. I'd like a clear set of expectations so I can perform as desired."
"So, in other words, I'm not trying to be difficult. I just want to do this job. If you really feel uncomfortable with me on your ship, I'm sure Admiral Compton would entertain a transfer. The only reason it was denied last time was due to the Chorus situation. I somehow doubt that I'll receive the same kind of protection if you want to push for it again. Really, I'm looking for some stability here. If you want me to stay on the ship and work with the crew, I would gladly do that. If you want me to go, I'd gladly do that too. The uncertainty is making things difficult on both of us right now."
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Post by Captain Shantal Arnimane on Jan 6, 2017 16:24:07 GMT -5
Shantal leaned forward, her obsidian gaze bore into Victor as she spoke with a carefully measured husky, melodic voice,"You seem to have selective hearing and memory recall, Victor. Admiral Compton assigned you to the Sentinel as an intelligence officer and our Starfleet Intelligence Liason, yet you keep going on about the diplomatic corps. Now you are telling me being on the bridge is critical to your job function and that you in fact went AWOL recently, are you aware of the punishments possible for leaving one's post without authorization, but not intending to abandon the post?
After a brief pause Shantal continued, "And what of this vaunted diplomacy experience and skill? I was there to witness it first hand with the Travanyei, not the most impressive display. I believe at the time you were removed from the bridge for being disruptive and clearly not handling the situation well. I have no clue what you are intending to accomplish diplomacy wise since you do not have authority to speak on behalf of the Federation or the Sentinel herself."
Shantal settled back as she concluded, "You certainly give lip service to the idea that you starting in the hole and have a hard course ahead to earn trust with us, but your actions have not backed it up. You also have not shown me you are willing to take the hard knocks to earn that trust. So why do you deserve another chance and what is in it for me and more importantly what does the Sentinel get in return?"
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Post by Lieutenant Victor Springfield on Jan 6, 2017 17:32:40 GMT -5
Victor leaned back in his seat. "I'm aware of the punishments for leaving one's post, Commander. But I was not aware that I had a bridge posting. Simply having access to the bridge doesn't mean I have a post on the bridge. I'm hoping you can clear this up for me."
He smiled and spoke in a conciliatory tone. "All I want to do, Commander, is serve with honor to this ship. That's why I wanted to have this meeting with you, so we could establish certain parameters for my service. Certainly it all came to a head with the bridge issue, but I want a global resolution. Something we can both be happy with going forward. If you think that I'm not deserving of a second chance, I don't know what to tell you. If you doubt my utility to this ship, then you doubt my utility to this ship, and I'm not sure that giving a rousing speech would make you budge on this point. I think you've made your opinion on me abundantly clear. It's up to you Commander -- cut me loose... or keep me here. But if you keep me here, I think we both owe it to the crew of this ship to have a clear understanding on what exactly you want me to do and the protocol you want me to abide by."
Victor sighed. "I want to be on the same team as you. Do you want to be on the same team as me?"
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Post by Captain Shantal Arnimane on Jan 6, 2017 17:45:07 GMT -5
"I asked a serious question what you hope to bring to the Sentinel and I expect an answer."
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