<[Sounds like you have a real plan worked out. That is very good, sir. How
long do you think that you will will be off station?]>
<[I don't know,]> she admitted. <[There are too many variables to give you
an accurate estimate.]>
<[Let me know if you sense any difficulties from the Old Man about you being
off station. I can run interference for you if you think it will help.]>
She smiled, clapping him gently on the back. <[Thank you, old friend.]>
<[There is one other thing..... In tomorrow's meeting you will be asked to
list a few problems with your department. Issues that you consider to be
your top 5. You may want to brush up on those. Just a hint, but Operation
Clean Slate is about to kick off. Basically, everyone gets a clean slate in
order to show that they are working to improve their respective divisions
and departments. However, for those that do not show progress or do to take
it seriously enough for the CinC the old slate full of their problems will
come back. Come back to be used to kick them out of Starfleet. Lasiter
thinks that much of the problems with the fleet can be solved by holding
officers accountable and a 'back to basics' approach.
The Lasiter you will see tomorrow will not be the one that you know and
love, but one that is on a mission. And anyone that gets in the way of
progress will get trampled to death. You should have nothing to fear, he
likes you. However, rumor has it that you made some command changes in Spec.
Ops.....]>
<[Yes, well, they needed to be made. My front line people are in positions
where anything can happen, anytime, and lives are on the line. I wasn't
going to let good people be killed because some boot-licking incompetant
fools had weaseled their way into places they should never have even been
near. I know Lasiter said to wait, but by waiting, I could have lost
irreplaceable personnel, and I refuse to have their blood on my hands
because of some damned plan.]> She was really serious about this and she'd
have it out with Lasiter if she had to.
<[Your convictions are admirable, but in the staff meeting I would
suggest that you refran from using that particular logic. It may not be as
received well, particularly the part about 'some damned plan'. You know as
well as I do that it could be very easily confused with not following some
damned orders. Hey, do not misunderstand me, I happen to agree with you
150%, it is just that some may not see it that way.]>
<[I have a reputation as, how do the humans say it... a maverick. No one
will think anything of it. New in the position, trying to make a name for
myself - that's what the political view will be. I think it helps him more
than hurts him. Took some of the scrutiny off him and his plans by making a
spectacle of myself,]> she grinned. <[And I wasn't even drunk.]>
The male caitian gave her a big feline, fanged smile. <[You certainly did
that. I fielded calls from no less than one fleet commander and 2 area
commanders who were howling mad. ]>
