Retrospective

Posted on Wed Aug 25th, 2021 @ 1:02am by Captain Liarra Von

Mission: Who Watches The Watchers
Location: Admiral S'iraa's Office

The trial was over and General Lowe had been sent to Earth for medical evaluation and to answer for his actions. However, his actions had in turn cast a dim light on Captain Von and her own actions of late. He was less than pleased with what was brought into light during the trial period and even more so on its implications that it happened under his nose. There had been an air of coldness about him since Lowe departed, in the one hand he wondered how he'd missed such events while in the other he balanced it knowing that his 'Flag' was on the station, his presence in Operations was not necessary.....at least he thought so...

He had instructed the computer that the Admiral requested her presence in his office. It was away from his quarters and thus a more professional setting which this situation demanded.

The recent events rolled through Liarra's mind as she made her way to S'iraa's office. It seemed like it wasn't that long ago that he had invited her to his quarters for a less formal meeting. Given the near disaster that was her court martial at the hands of General Lowe, she expected this summons to be anything but a social call. Von had escaped by the skin of her teeth. Lowe's case against her was a strong one, and if his health problems and ulterior motives for targeting her hadn't have been revealed, it's very likely that her Starfleet career would have been over. Or at the very least she would have lost the station. As she walked to S'iraa's office, all she could think about was whether or not he had been right, and if she really had been pushed into command before she was ready.

Von stopped by the admiral's yeoman when she arrived at S'iraa's office complex. "Hello. I was told that Admiral S'iraa wanted to see me," she said, though it was more of a question than a statement.

"Right this way." The yeoman spoke leading the Captain to where the Admiral waited. She pressed the button to the door allowing both to slide apart from each other and permit entry. S'iraa stood at the end of the long table looking out to the stars and planet below, his back to the door and the Captain, his large hands clasped behind him coupled with the gentle swap of his tail. "Do you know who I am Captain?"

Liarra was a little confused about what the admiral was getting at, but she was in no position to refuse playing his game. "You're Admiral S'iraa."

"Do you know what I am?"

"You're the executive officer to Fleet Admiral Quinn, making you second in command of the Eleventh Fleet, sir."

"Captain my status here on board this station operationally means very little to the daily running of this station. I have my own duties that keep me busy and as a case of causality I am not often permitted to garner myself with the knowledge of what it going on on board as a result." His voice held a colder, distant tone to it which seemed amplified by his back to her as he gazed left and right to the stars.

"The trial with General Lowe was a messy business." More stating a fact than a question.

Von couldn't argue with that. "It was indeed, sir." She almost started to defend herself, but there had been enough of that during the failed court martial.

"Captain." S'iraa turned round to face the small figured female before him at the other side of the table. "By choosing to place my flag here on this station is both an honour for you and a privilege. That said however what happens here is also a reflection on myself, my reputation and my judgement. What was revealed at the court martial was an embarrassment for me, something I do not take kindly to." There could be no doubt that even with the universal translator doing its thing, it didn't hide the inflection in his tone of voice.

"While I have little doubt the demands on being the Commanding Officer of a station are many and often complex I will not have my standing here tarnished by the short falls highlighted at the trial." There was a pause. He'd made his case, laid out the cards on the table. "I am willing to permit you to work to redeeming yourself however...."

Now the crutch.

"Should you fail I will relocate my office to your Ready Room in Operations, there I will be able to pay closer attention to the goings on on this station and I assure you, very few enjoy the presence of my scrutinizing gaze." S'iraa knew that losing her Ready Room would be an embarrassment to the Captain, but, she had wronged him and he was more than willing if wronged again to return the favour.

Liarra swallowed. She tried not to show fear, or nerves, or any other emotions in this moment, though how much she was able to hide them was open to interpretation. She tried to find some strength from her past hosts, but none of them had ever experienced a situation quite like this one. Six lifetimes of memories filling her head, and yet at this moment she had never felt so alone. "Understood, sir."

If there was any potential sliver of doubt lingering somewhere as to how angry S'iraa was over the situation and the damage caused, his next remark would make it plain to see. "Get out." While his tone was not threatening, it was clear he would not ask a second time.

"Aye, sir," Von replied, taking her leave before S'iraa had a chance to change his mind. While the conversation could have been worse, he had still given her a lot to think about. General Lowe had managed to not just turn her world upside down, but also exposed every flaw and every poor decision that she had ever made since taking command of the station. And now that she had S'iraa's attention, the admiral was going to scrutinize every action and every decision she made. If she had felt like she was being watched before, she was certainly going to feel a steely gaze now. S'iraa had put her in the hot seat, and Liarra had a bad feeling that it was only going to get hotter.

---

Admiral S'iraa [P: S'er'in'e]
Executive Officer
Eleventh Fleet

Captain Liarra Von
Commanding Officer
Starbase 332