"What was it that you wanted to talk to me about, sir?"
He did nto answer right away. He just took the small boat out in to the
bay. After they had well cleared shore and were in the middle of the bay he
....
"I wanted to talk to you about quite a many things. What are your plans for
your career in Starfleet? Do you even plan on making Starfleet a career?
What your thoughts are on the structure of ST Command? What do you think of
the Venasians? That kind of thing." Lasiter answered her.
The questions were not easy questions. Some of them had easy answers, but
many were the type that the answers were not clear cut. She decided to
start
with her future in Starfleet. "Well, sir, I went into Starfleet as a career
choice. It has always interested me. There are so many option. You and
and
the rest of the team on Spacedock are perfect examples of the possibilities
when you do your best. I plan on working my way up in the ranks until I am
forced into retirment."
Lasiter liked what he was hearing. He liked to think that he was
still in a profession, Starfleet, that was atttractive to people throught
the Federation.
"That is good to hear, Ms Firehawk. I am very pleased to hear that
you like Starfleet enough to call it a career. Of course you may change
your mind, as is your right as a sentient being. However, it is my hope
that the work that we, all of us at SF Command, will be under taking ofer
the next few years. Now, I do hope to include you in that effort,
Commander...." He wanted his reply to give her a sense that he had plans
for her, big plans. If she would just have faith and patience.
Audra considered the Command Structure of Starfleet. "Well, sir, it all
looks good on paper. You have experienced and proven people working their
way up into the Admiralty. They in turn both lead and mentor younger
officers, or at least that is what the idea is. Unfortunately, I think
sometimes people forget what that means. They get more concerned about
their
own personal goals and successes that they forget that true success is
achieved from a job well done. That is what I see is wrong with Starfleet
and the command structure. We have gotten selfish and self-serving."
Her thoughts to his question impressed him the most. It served only to
validate his choice to promote her so quickly and giver her so much
responsibility. He indeed had been right with his choice, and that made his
week.
"I fully understand what you mean, Commander, I mean Ms Firehawk.
We are off duty on vacation and ranks are not approperiate. " he said
thinking of what Brennan would say if he knew that Firehawk was here with
him 'fishing'.
"Your answer impresses me greatly. It shows that you look and
listen to what happens around you, and that is a very good trait to have.
Especially in a commanding officer of a starship. Keep thinking for
yourself, and you will go far in this universe." he replied again very
pleased with what she said.
"As for the Venasians, I tend to view them like a view most species as a
whole. There are some good ones and bad ones. Ambassador D'amondra seems
quite trustworthy, but I am not so sure about General Aamon. They are
important to the power struggle in this quadrant, but we must not be too
quick to judge them as a whole. Judging a multi-system power such as they
cannot be done with one sentence."
"You are quite correct in what you say. However, I have something to
tell you. Something that must remain between the two of us for the time
being. I see the Venasians as a potiential great friend and neighbor. I
see good things coming from a lasting friendship between us and them.
However, I also see a distrust that is building both within the Federation
of them and from within the Venasian people toward us. That will only serve
to plunge us into another costly war, a war that we can afford to have. We
must do what we can to improve relations, to build that link of trust. If
we do not... I fear the consequences for our own arrogance. The official
party line is we are friendly towards them, but distrustful. That comes
from the political leaders. I do nto share that particular point of view.
I value our realtionship with the Venasians, and for that reason I want to
you to resolve this shuttle non-sense and the murder of Chief Investigator
Telax. It is very important that you resolve that quickly. Now what I am
about to tell you is not widely known. Especially intell.
There is a rift in the Venasian government. There is a militant
sepratist movement that distrusts the Federation and will do anything to
break the treaty. Even frame innocents or worse kill them. I assume that
they are not above making friends within the Federation to do their dirty
work. Friends who would do their killing for them so they do not get their
hands dirty. Friends that are not nearly as careful at the Venasians are,
if you know my meaning. The other faction in Venasian is friendly towards
the Federation, but they are losing their numbers to the other side.
Solving these cases will help us win support in that key faction. So, I am
just saying that I have confidence in your abilities....." he replied
hinting heavily about what he wanted and providing a little extra info along
the way...
{response}
"Back to this Starfleet question..... How would you go about fixing the
problem? If you were in my place just how would you address the issue that
officers are self serving and not looking after their flock....."
