The requirement

Posted on Monday November 7th, 2022 @ 10:43pm by Lieutenant Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Commander Niali Deval Dr

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: XO's office
Timeline: Current.

[ON]
The requirement of any new or returning officer to any Starfleet vessel was to check in with the Command Team and present their transfer orders. Finchley had them on the PADD in his hand and sighed as he thought about what he and Karadis had gone through in the last ten days and hwy they were back on the Oberon again.

Looking at Karadis he said "You look like hell..."

"Looked in a mirror recently Bird?" Karadis replied "You look like hell when it's been trampled, scrunched up, set on fire then doused."

Finchley laughed, he actually laughed, the first time in a while he'd done so. He could always rely on Karadis to come back with some quick quip, and this time was no difference.

"Touché" he said back "Well, we better get this transfer back done, shall we?" he added, offering for Karadis to lead the way.

A few minutes later, they arrived outside the Executive Officers office. There was little point in either of them trying to make themselves look presentable, they were still in combat gear, mudded, the odd tear here and there and they hadn't washed in a while.

"You all set?" Karadis asked Finchley.

"No, but when's that ever mattered when protocol needs to be observed" Finchley replied, pressing the chime and waiting.

Niali had been standing by the window looking out. She had seen the transport dock and knew who it brought. She took a deep breath and turned, “come in.” She said.

The doors opened and both Finchley and Karadis walked in. Stopping a couple of feet from the desk, Finchley, with Karadis a pace behind, stretched out his arm holding the transfer PADD and said, "Lieutenants Kerr and Karadis reporting in as required Commander, here are our transfer orders,"

Niali broke into smile when she saw Karadis. “KARADIS!” She exclaimed and ran towards the Klingon woman enveloping as much as she could of her in a bear hug. “I am so happy to see you.” Where have you been you look, and smell like shit!” Niali exclaimed. She turned to look coldly at Finchley. “Lieutenants, welcome back” she took the proffered PaDD and returned to her desk and sat. For a moment there was silence as she scanned the orders. “These are all acceptable, I expect you would like to go to quarters to get clean. They are the same ones you had before. Any questions?”

Karadis stiffened as the XO hugged her and as she made her comment replied, "That information is classified Sir, and you too would look and smell like shit if you'd been through what we have!"

Finchley made no comment as the icy cold stare came at him from the Executive Officer. He waited patiently as she read the transfer orders and was about to say something in regard to them going to their quarters to clean up when Karadis erupted "These are acceptable..fucking acceptable!!! is that what you have to say you jumped up arrogant little fu..."

"KARADIS!" Finchley roared, turning on the Klingon "THAT'S ENOUGH!!"

Karadis glared at him, anger tearing at her to say something else, but instead she gulped down her reply and snapped her head back round and stared at the wall ahead of her.

Finchley tuned back to the XO and said "Thank you Commander, my apologies for that outburst...we're both a little tired after the last ten days and I think going to our designated quarters to clean up would be a very good idea. For the time being, neither of us have any questions" he added, turning again to look at Karadis, then again turning back to the Executive Officer.

Niali stood her “My question was rhetorical Lieutenant Karadis.” She turned to Finchley and nodded. I understand Lieutenant, you both must be tired.” Niali wondered what the hell she had done to Karadis in order to deserve that outburst. She turned away then turned back. “Lieutenant Karadis, I may be arrogant and jumped up but that should be arrogant and jumped up Sir, If I hear an outburst like that again you will be resting in the brig. Dismissed. She turned back to the window and a single tear escaped. Damn Finchley looked good even covered in mud but what did he expect, he had left her without a word, she had loved him and he had left without a word. She waited for them to leave.

Finchley turned to see Karadis about to reply but slashed his finger across his throat in a universal sign to 'shut up', then forcefully pointed towards the exit, telling her to leave, and quickly.

As they both reached the door, he waited till Karadis was in the corridor, then turned back round "I get you're mad at me, most likely hate me, for leaving before, and not saying anything. Before you judge me, you should know that I was ordered to leave by Starfleet Intelligence HQ immediately, they needed me and Karadis for an insertion, swoop and grab. If I'd refused, and not left straight away me and Karadis were going to be court-marshalled. I was also ordered to say nothing because it was such a delicate situation. Be mad at me, don't be mad at me, I didn't leave here to piss you ff and the sooner you get that, the sooner you can get off your high horse...Sir."

With that, he left the office and caught up with Karadis.

Niali walked to the door and called, “Lieutenant Kerr a word before you go please?”

Both Finchley and Karadis stopped, but Finchley said to her "You go on, I'll catch you up."

Karadis looked at Finchley, then turned and glared daggers at the Executive Officer before turning round and walking off.

"What can I do for you Commander?" Finchley asked

She stood behind the desk hoping it would give her some cover. “You need to get over the smart ass attitude if we are going to work together. You left me, what if we had been married, or had children would that have been my life, you vanishing into the night with me never knowing if you would ever return?”
She hit the desk with her fist, “GOD DAMNIT FINCHLEY, I loved you and thought you loved me.” She sat down unable to go on.

Finchley stood there listening to the 'pity me' speech. "Let's get one thing out the way here Sir, DROP THE EMMOTIONAL PERSECUTION AND WITCH HUNT OF ME!" and he banged his own fist on her desk "I just told you that I had no choice but to go. Do you think for a single second I was going to give up my career, all that I'd built up, all that I'd worked for? Just say I had refused, just say I had stayed, been court-marshalled and drummed out of Starfleet. Would you have stood by me eh, would you have given up your career, hell NO, absolutely no chance! Even if you said yes, what would we have done, how would we have survived? There're not many opportunities for dishonourably discharged former Intelligence officers out there. I don't have a smart-arse attitude, I have a job to do, and I'm just of the back of the worst ten days of my life so give it a fucking break. You want to burst my balls, you want to put me in the brig, you go ahead, otherwise, get off my arse and leave Karadis alone. You ever talk t her again like that you'll have me to deal with. Are we done...Sir?"

“No we’re bloody not…” Niali said trying to keep her voice down. “what do you mean, what did I say to Karadis that was so wrong?

"When you used your holier than though attitude saying the transfer orders were only 'acceptable', what was that meant to be about?" Finchley hit back "When you've been in our shoes, then you can be cold and flippant, Karadis was reacting to what we'd been through and your dismissive attitude. Don't you ever threaten to put her in the brig again for being honest with her emotions. You're a Counsellor, you should have known better, and don't give me any crap about being the Executive Officer now, big woop. I'm done with you throwing me under the bus because I had to leave, now, I'm leaving before I say something I'll really regret. Either arrest me for going or we convene this when later when you can finish blaming me for doing my duty" and with that he turned away.

She let him leave, he obviously didn’t respect her and he was turning everything she said around to suit his and Karadis’ own agenda. As he walked away she stood looking at him. “I love you” she whispered.


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Lieutenant Commander Niali Khorial
Executive Officer
USS Oberon
&
Lieutenant Finchley Kerr
Intelligence Officer
USS Oberon
&
Lieutenant Shr'Nesh Karadis
Infiltration Specialist/Intelligence Officer
USS Oberon