by TC Blane, William Lindsay and Salvek
90201.1300
…continued from part one…
-=Temporal Investigaitons Headquarters, Earth=-
90201.1300
…continued from part one…
-=Temporal Investigaitons Headquarters, Earth=-
“The Captain would never insist on leavin’ an’a’one behind. Any answer I could give ya would be pure speculation.” O'Sullivan replied decisively.
“And if I did ask you to speculate, Commander?”
“I’d tell the good First Officer it’s time to request legal counsel.”
Liis grinned as she stared at the table. Keiran was right, and Lassiter knew it. The question she had asked would never hold up in any sort of legal proceeding before a Judge Advocate.
“You’ve told me, Commander, that you accepted Salvek decision to stay with Taris, even if you would have done things differently. Simply put, do you believe this to be a lapse in judgment, or a case of gross negligence that unnecessarily endangered the away team?”
“I believe when the threat was under control, it was in the best interests of the away team to return to the Sera. At that time Commander Salvek believed every Romulan was either dead or captured. If he had any reason to believe there was still a threat, I’m sure he woulda’ left the ship with us.”
Lassiter turned her focus from Keiran to Liis. “And Captain Zanh, as you’ve pointed out, the final decision to stay behind was yours. You could have transported Salvek against his will, or simply left him alone. But you chose not to.”
“Knowing my record of service, Admiral, do you honestly expect that I ever would have considered leaving a single member of my crew, not to mention half of TI’s team of golden boys over there? Let alone Salvek, the very target that I spent years, lifetimes trying to protect from the very woman who lay dying on the deck before us? Not a chance.”
Zanh shook her head until her earring jingled. “I was going to see the job through, to the bitter end. The end of Taris’ life, or the end of mine.” Liis stared at Lassiter intensely. “ As for the transporters, Reece was getting the rest of my crew off the Romulan ship, so he was a little bit busy at the time.”
Will Lindsay pushed off the wall, and stepped up to the table, standing between Liis and Salvek.
He had a confidence to his step that said he had more than just high hopes up his sleeve. He’d been debating what he was about to do but given that Lassiter seemed determined that someone has done something wrong over there he could only conclude that he really didn’t have a choice. He exchanged a glance with Liis, knowing she’d have read his letter but unsure if she’d have figured it out. Something told him she had.
Lassiter looked over at him, “Do you have something you wish to add, Captain Lindsay?” Lassiter asked, stressing his rank to indicate that they were not on a first name basis here and that no favours would be done. She didn’t want to seem harsh, but this inquiry would be run by the book and that was something Will didn’t have the best history of appreciating.
“That I do, Admiral,” Will said with a nod, making direct eye contact with Lassiter but sounding as though he was addressing the room as he spoke to her. There was clear frustration in his voice at the fact that there was even seen to be any need for this inquiry when they’d all already provided their statements. “For starters, I have’ta say that I entirely support Commander Blane’s account of the events on the Romulan ship.”
TC’s face offered no sign as to whether he appreciated this support but Will didn’t turn to look it.
“Yes, your report matched very well with his,” Lassiter commented. Had she not known Will as well as she did, and been so familiar with Blane’s file then she would have thought the similarities between their reports indicative of coordination, probably due to a cover up. Knowing them though she realized it was just two men who knew the system well enough to know exactly what and what not to say in their reports.
“I’d also like to say that Commander Salvek’s decision was entirely acceptable given the circumstances,” Will added. He made sure to maintain constant eye contact with Lassiter not only to show her how sincere he was but also to watch for her response. She didn’t seem impressed, looking back down to her PADD.
“Your opinion is noted, Captain,” Lassiter replied, feeling she had to make sure he understood. “But it is the place of this inquiry to determine whether his actions were or were not acceptable, not yours.”
“Ah, now you see that’s where we get to a bit of a point of contention,” Will said casually. Keiran gave him a warning glance to remind him he was addressing an Admiral here, but Will continued, speaking with that bold confidence that you either hated or loved about him.
“You see, multiple Temporal Investigations ships, as well as several Temporal Investigations officers, both current and former, were involved in this incident. For this reason, I believe that as my first official act as Interim Director of Temporal Investigations,” he looked around the room, offering nods of his head to confirm that it was correct. “I should declare the matter classified.”
The general mood was suddenly quite unreadable due to mixed reactions all around. For most it was simple shock at this sudden turn of events as they processed what had just happened, with Liis trying to make sure she seemed adequately surprised herself. Lassiter was if anything annoyed, mostly because she wanted to inform the Sera’s crew of Will’s new position herself at the appropriate time. As far as what Will had just done, she wasn’t sure whether to be angry or proud at how he chose to use his new power. Beneath his centered Vulcan exterior Salvek definitely felt something but from out here it was quite unreadable.
“You do not believe there should be an investigation first?” Lassiter asked, more a test to his motives than a genuine enquiry. If Will was just abusing his position to protect Salvek then she’d find out about it, even if there was little she could do about it.
“There was no loss of life and I am satisfied that the officers used their discretion,” Will said, walking slowly around the table towards Lassiter and speaking with equal lack of haste. “Leadin’ me to conclude that there really is no issue to investigate.”
He stopped standing directly in front of the Admiral. If he didn’t believe this justification then he was sure making one hell of a convincing show of it.
Lassiter sighed, handing the PADD back to her aid, secretly concluding that she was proud of Will. “In that case, I believe I must declare this inquiry…” she almost said closed but thought better, “suspended.”
Will smiled, most of them did.
Lassiter turned to Salvek “Commander, you are free to go,” then back to everyone, “Thank you all for your time.”
Keiran quickly rose from his seat, and held up Salvek by the shoulder. “Are ya all right with this?” He asked, knowing Salvek probably would have preferred to be absolved of all wrongdoing.
“The matter has been sufficiently dealt with in accordance with the rules and regulations of Starfleet and Temporal Investigations. Those with the authority to do so have deemed that I should be allowed to return to duty. That was my only goal for these proceedings, and it has been realized. I am, therefore, ‘all right’ with it.”
Keiran had no doubt Salvek was being honest with him, but the First Officer’s eyes still seemed pained.
Liis indicated she was ready to go, and lead the way out of the room with Keiran at her side, and Blane and Salvek behind. Lassiter called for Lindsay to hold back a moment, and dismissed her aide from the room.
Once the room was clear, she rose from her seat, and stood eye to eye with Will Lindsay. Any hint of affection she ever had for the man was nonexistent for the moment.
“If you ever, do anything like that to me again, in front of a group of officers…”
“You gave me the job, and it’s my aim ta do it. Unless ya’d like to reconsider yer offer?”
Lassiter stood silent, and Will waited for a reply that never came.
“Good day, Gem.”
Lindsay stepped away from Lassiter, and out of the room.
*****************************
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Serendipity NCC 2012
Captain William T. Lindsay
Interim Director
Department of Temporal Investigations
and
Commander Salvek
Executive Officer
USS Serendipity NCC 2012
NRPG: Brilliant, Gentleman, the lot of you. Simply brilliant. ~ZL
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Serendipity NCC 2012
Captain William T. Lindsay
Interim Director
Department of Temporal Investigations
and
Commander Salvek
Executive Officer
USS Serendipity NCC 2012
NRPG: Brilliant, Gentleman, the lot of you. Simply brilliant. ~ZL