Rock Steady

Posted on 07 May 2017 @ 8:46pm by Lieutenant David Moreau Jr & Commodore Harvey Geisler

2,162 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: The Finnean Crisis
Location: Security Office
Timeline: MD 2 || 1000 Hours

David finished giving the duty assignments out to the other personnel and led the Captain into his office "Sir?" he asked, certain it was about his pressing the Captain to take a phaser for his office and the matter of the Captain's Mast. While he was a big man and not easily swayed, he felt the weighty presence of the man with the four pips on his collar in front of him and the fact that the Captain had recently lost a ship in combat. Even though Moreau hadn't fully had time - or clearance - to look fully into Geisler's background, there was something in the man's eyes that said he had seen and been through too much and now wasn't the time or place for others to question him openly.

Harvey stood there for a moment, sizing up the well-built man in front of him. Part of him missed his prior Chief of Security, and the other part understood why she did not return. He could not fault Camila for her decisions, especially since it was common knowledge now what all the Consortium had done.

The Captain had lost count of the number of security chiefs that had graced the Black Hawk. In his mind, any number higher than one was too many. Alas, here he was regardless of the circumstances. Based on David's instance of securing the top-most and lower-most decks, Harvey could assume that the new arrival truly did have the ship's best interest at heart.

And, based on the letter he'd received, Harvey could also assume that the man couldn't be trusted. As a Captain, it would be difficult to not trust a member of his senior staff, a matter made difficult thanks to one of Moreau's predecessors. "The Mast," Harvey started. "You had a question about that?"

"Yes, Sir," David said as he gestured towards the two chairs or couch in his office. "Would you like a seat or something before we get started?"

Harvey eyed the chairs, wondering how much was really on the Lieutenant's mind. In the span of a few heartbeats, Harvey elected to employ a chair. He wasn't comfortable to share a couch with just anyone, and had done so with only a handful of souls in the last year. David would have to earn that right, if it were possible.

The big man squeezed behind his desk and sat down when the Captain didn't ask for anything and activated his terminal to bring up the personnel files. "Yes, Sir," he said again. "It's the matter of Petty Officer 1st Class Miller and Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class Gutierrez and the actions which led to the Captain's Mast I noted in their records. Even though Gutierrez is no longer on the ship, I would like to officially make a petition to you to have that scrubbed from their files after a further review of their actions on Deep Space Eleven."

"Oh?" Harvey asked. He remembered the reasons for the mast all too well, having poorly contained a person of great interest in the brig and putting the lives of a nurse in danger. "And what did that review entail, Lieutenant?" Harvey, thanks to Joey, was fully aware of what the two men had done, but seeing how he didn't know Moreau for longer than a few minutes, the Captain was curious to see what the man had to say.

"Just that they were instrumental in saving Lieutenant Corwin," David said. "Granted, they were doing what any good person would do, but they took extraordinary action in a hostile area to save one of their own. Regardless of their past, that makes them extraordinary in my book and they deserve to be given credit for that in some way or another."

"I see," Harvey said. "And what of the circumstances that warranted the mast?"

"I see what you mean, but they paid for it in full after the fact," David said. "It was just a suggestion."

The Captain nodded in agreement. "And it is an appropriate one." Without a second thought, he ordered, "Very well. Consider it stricken." Though Gutierrez and Miller endangered the ship by mishandling a high-profile prisoner, he did note that their actions in saving Lieutenant Corwin aboard Deep Space Eleven also revealed another Consortium operative, one who could have easily caused just as much damage aboard the starbase. The two cases did cancel the other out. Harvey had, in fact, agreed with the idea from the moment it was mentioned, but he was set on understanding why the new Chief of Security wanted to do that.

Harvey, however, didn't have a full answer to his unspoken question. "I do have to know, Lieutenant, aside from noting their actions after the fact, why would you want to do this, especially for a crewman that is no longer on board this ship?"

"Whether someone is on the ship or in another quadrant, personnel files follow them," David pointed out. "How do you think Gutierrez will be viewed on another posting by a Captain who sees that one of his Security personnel underwent a Captain's Mast for something they paid the price in full for several times over? They may not see all the facts or even wonder about them and never give him a second chance. That wouldn't be fair." The man spoke as if he had been through such an ordeal himself and didn't want to a repeat of it.

Harvey cocked his head, somewhat surprised by the reasoning. Despite the vast advancements in technology, a human's past could not be hidden by cosmetic surgery. Every wrinkle, every crease told a story. There was not a single doubt in Harvey's mind that both men in the room were the same age, though two solid pips separated the two. "I take it you've seen this firsthand then," Harvey supposed.

"I'm living it right now even as we speak, Captain," David said and crossed his massive arms over his broad chest.

"Are you suggesting that I am or have judged you based on your record?" Harvey asked. "If that's the case, let me caution you now. I did not select you as my Chief of Security, nor was I given a choice otherwise. Someone out there thought you were worthy of the position."

"Not at all, Sir, but aren't you wondering why I have eighteen years of active service and I'm only a Lieutenant?" David asked him.

"The thought has crossed my mind," Harvey confessed, expecting the Lieutenant to carry on with the explanation.

"For the greater part of my career, I've been Rapid Response," Moreau started. "We get sent in to the nastiest areas, dealing with the nastiest situations. RRT has the highest mortality rate in the fleet and Ensigns led by junior Lieutenants suddenly find themselves in command of a unit without warning. We got shuffled around so much that we're never sitting around so that we can get our proper evaluations beyond a debriefing on one mission, a briefing on another and sent out again. Very little room for promotion."

He took a breath. "But...I did get a promotion to full Lieutenant about eight years ago. Starbase 78. Nice little station with a lot of civilian traffic coming and going. A nice bit of illegal activity happening on a regular basis, too. I was the Assistant Chief of Security there and ended up being demoted back down to junior grade and charged with Destruction of Starfleet Property after using unnecessary force during an altercation with criminals. From there, I got sent back to Earth to train new recruits in Rapid Response until an opening came up on a ship that wasn't asking too many questions and here I am, a Lieutenant once again."

Harvey nodded once more. In many ways, Harvey could relate. At the start of Harvey's career, he was promoted only for an unsurprising success. The promotion meant nothing to him, but it didn't help Harvey's ego either, always landing in hot water with the Chief Medical aboard Starbase 211 or other members of the command staff. Were it not for the war, Harvey would still probably be a lieutenant himself.

"We had a RRT aboard the Delaware," Harvey remarked. "We were always sending them off to one assignment or another, so I can certainly imagine what you had to go through. But, the past is the past, Lieutenant. I judge not by record, but by actions. Thus far, you have surprised me in two ways. The first being expunging a Captain's Mast from a current and a former member of this crew. That, to me, shows that you are an honorable man."

Without giving the Lieutenant a chance to interject, Harvey added, "And the second was challenging me in front of the crew. That demonstrates both persistence and stubbornness. While I can appreciate both, I do not tolerate being challenged in front of the crew. it doesn't just reflect poorly on me, but you as well. If you are to be in charge, then you best consider that."

"I apologize for that, Captain," David said and meant it. "I was merely trying to offer you something in the event that Security couldn't be there to do. I'm used to having a weapon on me at all times and I would feel horrible if something happened to you that I could have prevented. From now on, however, I'll keep things between you and I. So, does that mean you'll take my suggestion?"

"I will consider it," Harvey said, choosing to give the man something that might settle the matter. "Just remember there is a time and place for all things. Many suggestions have a better chance for survival if they are minded."

"That's a mindset that I'll have to remember," David responded. "Being in hellholes like AR-558 didn't allow for the luxury of having a right time and place to consider things. When you spend six months living a nightmare, anything that sounds even remotely reasonable is accepted immediately and put into action."

"I've had my fair share of nightmares," Harvey stated before heaving a sigh. "And it seems my worst is yet to come. I have no idea what we're warping into. Get the team ready, make sure all senior officers are rated with a phaser, and most importantly, do not let this ship fall."

"That's my plan, Sir," David responded. "Especially after the briefing. I'm going to keep an open mind about this, but it sounds very bad and the more we speak about it, the more likely that we'll make something happen." He opened one of the drawers in his desk and pulled out a Type II phaser that looked as if it had been used as a weapon or a rock. It had scratches and marks all over it and looked to be about ten years old before he handed it to Harvey. "This one's not on the official inventory," he said. "I expect it back before I leave, too. Sir."

Harvey looked down at the weapon, noting its rough condition. It wasn't as sleek as the Type II's in circulation today. In fact, its hard lines and thick handgrip dated the weapon around the time of the Dominion War. Harvey again found himself wrestling with whether or not to actually take it. Finally, he looked back up at the Lieutenant. "I do have an inspection to finish and twelve decks to go, Mister Moreau," he said at last. "I do not think it will bode well if I carry that sidearm during the remainder of that process."

"It'll be here for you when you get back, Captain," David said. "Is there anything else you want to cover with me since there's no one else around? Protection detail? Extra Security on the senior quarters deck? Foie Gras avec truffles?"

"I think we've covered it," Harvey plainly stated. "Other than to expect me at least a couple times a week, often unannounced. I perform my inspections in the morning, but rarely in the same places twice."

The big, bald Security Chief nodded. "That's the mark of a good officer and Captain, if I may be so bold," he said. "Keep the people guessing and keep on the move at different times." He made a note to get a sensor lock on the Captain's combadge signal so he would know where he was at all all times after the man left.

"You and I both know that the term unexpected is synonymous with Starfleet," Harvey confirmed, nodding and turning towards the door. "Especially now the information we know about the future, whatever dangers it holds for us."

"And I'll be waiting for whatever it throws at us," David said. "Count on that."

"You can bet on it, Lieutenant," Harvey confirmed. "And I shall leave you to it. Carry on." With that, Harvey left the office and the Security Complex, bound for his next destination.

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