On Tue, 3 Jul 2001, Greywolf wrote:
>
> >> She got up and got a cup of Caitian coffee from the replicator, then sat
> >> back down to see what else she could glean from the fragmented reports.
> >
> > As she was drinking her coffee and reading she was interrupted by a
> >hrooible sound outside of her office.
> >
> > A nasty squeel, followed by, "Out of my way pig!!!! A captain
> >does not wait for ensigns. Go eat soemthing or whatever else you do."
> >
> > The door opened and in walked an annoyed Aurelius. He looked deep
> >in thought, and once he realized where he was his expression switched to a
> >more pleasant one.
> >
> > "Admiral, I have an idea. A crazy idea, but I think that it
> >will work. It will solve our problem of recruitment and our staffing
> >issues. Let's take over the strike teams from Intel. Seriously, their
> >strike teams only duplicate our work. We can work with Intell, it has been
> >done before and it can be done now. All it would take is a great proposal,
> >some buy in from intell and Lasiter to approve it. It can be done. You
> >told me before that Lasiter wanted you to be able to increase the ranks of
> >Spec Ops quickly after three months, well this would be a good plan for
> >doing just that without going through all of the crap involved with training
> >and getting people up to speed. Besides most of those folks over there are
> >zealots with respect to their loyality and dedication to Starfleet and to
> >the mission we serve. I think it is well worth the attempt." the captain
> >said obviously happy that he found a solution to a few of their current
> >issues.
>
> "Sit," she said, sipping her coffee. She had to smile at the Magna Roman's
> lack of tact with the Tellarite. "I like yourrr idea, but I doubt Intell
> will. It could rrresult in a knock down drrrag-out. But I do like it, and
> you'rrre rrright, it would solve a lot of prrroblems."
>
"That is true, but still it is worth a shot. Let me take a shot
at it, test the waters so to speak. I can talk to Admiral t'Llweiir, off
the record to see where she stands. I will report back to you, and we can
go from there. Or we could have an aide talk to her aide, Y'Toi. That
way we could avoid a turf war by calling it the musings of an aide and not
implicate you or the department in general. Or we could just sell Lasiter
on the idea and he can make the decision and not give anyone a real
choice..." he said kind of toying with his CO.
>
> "Therrre arrre otherrr prrroblems, though," she said. "Getting the staff
> will be a trrremendous step, but we still need to inventorrry all these
> bases and get rrrid of the dead weight. Did you know that our borrrderr
> outposts have up to 50% casualty rrrates on missions?" she asked.
>
"I know that you have been digging,so let me in on what you have
found." the Captain replied hoping to see her point with facts.
>
> "Most arrre the rrresult of rrrepeat missions, like the situation at
> Grrranite. That is sheerrr CO incompetance rrright therrre. We need to
> get rrrid of those people, but it has to be done on a station by station
> basis, so that will take some time, considerrring I only trrrust you and me
> to take carrre of it." She scowled and smacked the desk with her hand, the
> claw tips leaving little scratches on the veneer. "Damn it! I wish
> Lasiterrr would give me the powerrr to take carrre of this now! This is
> drrriving me mad!"
>
"All of what you said is true, but you forgot one thing. The
fastest thing in the known universe is gossip in Starfleet. You have been
to two stations. One you threw out the rubbish and put in some people
that while a pain in the ass will run that station very well. The second
station you gave them what they needed, a real purpose. In both cases you
have displayed a real, genuine concern for the rank and file. You
supported those COs that were trying to do the best that they could, and
wanted to do what ever it takes to make a better contribution. You also
demonstrated that you will not tolerate those that are slacking off, those
that are careless with the lives of the troops on the front lines, and you
will remove them quickly. This will get around. I has already started to
get around. All it will take now is time, and a few more
unscheduled visits. Once the outposts know that you may stop by ayt any
time they will start to shape up on their own. If they do not, well they
will start to look for a way out. Now that will not cure all of troubled
folks, but it will change the attitudes. Admiral, I have been in this
politicla world at SPD and in Spec. Ops for longer than you. Why do you
think I suggested those bases? I sent you there because I know that those
commanders are either watched or are vocal. Granite being the vocal one,
and Pumace being the watched one. Change has already started, it will
just take time. I bet that with a hand full of visits like what you just
did, plus a few well timed calls to outposts you will start to see a
change. It will start slowly at first, but then it will move like a
tidal wave. I ma not just some friendly Magna Roman who is going to work
with you, my good Admiral. I am the Magna Roman who will work you." he
paused to let it all sink in. Then he added, "Provided that I am not on
the business of those claws or fangs..."
{response}
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Chris Salmi the Tiger at UMBC
http://home.earthlink.net/csalmi
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"I love you man..." - Bud Light Commercial
