The peaceful in combat and the combatant of peace

Posted on Friday November 27th, 2020 @ 5:35am by Lieutenant Commander Olivia Lorrietta & Captain Tobias Bishop III

Mission: The Forgotten Outpost
Location: Base commander's office

:: ON ::

Olivia pondered the Commanding officer's file; and the suggestions of a very biased engineer; on the surprisingly short trip to the base commander's office. For such a large base, traversing it was remarkably simplistic.

She frowned. Not simply content with the soldier work of security, the good Colonel has take in upon himself near the end of the Dominion war to grunt himself up some more. Colonel Soldier Man, indeed. The logic behind the concept of Starfleet assigning this specific commanding officer a highly respected diplomat turned vanquisher of pirates began to solidify in her mind. They wanted someone who balanced him while still understanding why he fought.

Armed with this new perspective, she approached his office, hoping he'd be around. Tracking someone all over a giant Starbase when you're entire career has been planets and ships no bigger than an Excelsior refit did not sound like a fun plan. She greeted his assistant. "Commander Lorrietta. Not sure if he's expecting me or even aware I exist." She paused to hold out her ID.

"I don't have you on his calendar, but he does have a few minutes between appointments, Commander, I'll let him know you're here." the assistant answered.

She reached across the desk and lifted the handset of what appeared to be an ancient communications device, and spoke into it. "Colonel, there is a Commander Lorrietta here to see you, Sir."

The answer on the other end was unheard outside of the handset, but the implication was obvious. She replaced the handset and told the Commander, "The Colonel will see you now." as she gestured toward the door of his office.

When the door slid open, the Colonel was standing behind his desk at 'parade rest' with his hands clasped tightly behind his back. "Come in Commander. To what do I owe your visit?" His tone was blank as was his face, but an air of tension hung very clearly in the small room.

Olivia offered the Colonel a salute, while taking a moment to asses his current stance and state of being. "You have missed the paperwork. I understand the station has been in a state of crisis of late." She noted, with a pause. "Commander Othran is being tasked with assisting a scientific mission charting the Shackleton expanse. Starfleet deemed this a higher priority for him, given his background, and the upcoming peace conference." She paused, and withdrew a PADD from her jacket. "Not to worry, however. Starfleet is offering you a specialist of more pressing upcoming matters in exchange for his services." She added, extending the PADD with her transfer orders and personnel file on it.

The Colonel returned the salute, and then listened to the woman's explanations. He took the offered PaDD and scanned its contents. "So they pulled Othran and sent you to replace him, all without letting me know, much less even consulting me?"

"As I understand it, they did send the requests, but the station has been having some trouble with it's communications networks, and you may have missed them." Olivia said, taking a moment to consider her next words. "However, the charting of the expanse is considered a top priority for this sector's security and future development, given the probable, if you'll forgive my confidence, inclusion of one or both parties of the upcoming peace conference into the Federation. Time doesn't stop for unexpected crises, and we are in charge of a great swath of space to protect. Sometimes, things have to be done in haste, and they don't have time to wait around for a misbehaving communications network to be fixed."

"I will give you this, you are well spoken, and have a certain way with words. I presume that comes from spending so much time with and around diplomats?"

Olivia gave a slightly amused look at that. "Oh, no." She shook her head. "I am not one who spends too much time around diplomats. I am one. I did, growing up. Got hooked on the life. Picked up a few other hobbies including smashing up pirate ships on my last posting. Long story."

"It seems you are almost custom crafted 'for a time such as this', and that is both a comfort and a terrifying thought." he answered, quote an ancient axiom.

"I wouldn't quite say crafted." Olivia chuckled at that. "Crafting requires care and diligence and an intended result. I'm more of one of those happy accidents where ingredients that had no place being in the same dish came together to accidentally make a perfect curried gagh." She shrugged. "It wasn't my choice of a career path, but then, is it ever?"

"If you had asked me that a year ago, I would have answered to the affirmative, but now, on this station, I would have to say that there is a certain logic to your 'happy accident' supposition."

"A year ago, I probably wouldn't have agreed. It took a little bit for me to get the taste for it." Olivia paused. "I would say I wouldn't expect you to understand, but if I've got my history right, you would, more than most others on board."

"True. I think I would be the most likely to understand."

Olivia gave a smirk. "You're not accustomed to people checking your files beforehand, I take it?"

"No, I am not. In fact, the opposite is most often true. People report for duty having little to know idea what they are getting themselves into, nor with whom they will be working. I find your attention to detail refreshing actually."

"Attention to detail is my job." Olivia shrugged. "That's how I do everything. I'm a bit of stickler for the minute detail."

"Is there anything you need from me, other than my acknowledging your superior reading skills?"

Olivia chuckled at that. "Just the paperwork signed. Otherwise, no. I'll start familiarizing myself with your staff once I've settled in."

Tobias skimmed through the offered PaDD. After being satisfied that her transfers orders where squared away, he pressed his thumb to it, then handed it back.

"Morning briefing is here, in this office, daily at 0815. Do not be late and do not be unprepared." he said in a very 'matter of fact' tone. "If nothing else, Commander, you are dismissed."

He instantly regretted the tone he had taken, but he was 'less than happy' with the entire situation.

"That's everything. Thank you, Colonel." She nodded, offering him a nod, before departing with a slight nailed it! smile on her face.

---

Colonel Tobias Bishop the Third
Commanding Officer

Commander Olivia Lorrietta
Executive Officer