>Lorin realized maybe he misspoke..."Thank you Admiral. As
I said I am going to double the >size of the department. I am not
making wholesale personnel changes at this point unless >it
becomes absolutely necessary. Any changes will be made as a team."
>The natives relaxed a bit, but Lorin knew that one of his
first tasks was to calm fears of >wholesale repalcement of staff. But that
would wait until he officially took over. One of >the assistants took
the opertunity to ask a question.. "I want to know what everyone here
>is dying to know but won't ask. What is your opinion of R&D? Why is
there a command change >now? How are we viewed by others outside of
Starfleet Engineering?" a very dangerous set of >questions. It was likely
that this particular aide was a hard core devotee to the work that >R&D
does and to Hutchinson. It was highly likely that he was a troble maker as
well. But >what he asked was no less valid than the other
questions. Perhaps this was one of those >individuals
that could either make Lorin successful or a utter failure with this
command...
"I'm sorry I don't know your name?" He said honestly.
"Deven Franks, Assistant Director for Propulsion
Systems Research." answered the civilian.
"I'll be honest....I don't listen to what's said about
specific departments. I have never play the gossip game and I won't do it here
either. There are varying opinions of R&D at this time-they don't matter
to me. What matters right now is our relationship with our funders and how to
revive that relationship. As to command change, the CinC Admiral Lasiter
asked me to step in. As I told Admiral Hutchinson"-Hutchinson wasn't getting
away that easily, "I hate seeing a good man move on but that's what is
happening. I am going to work closely with Admiral Hutchinson during the
transition to ensure a smooth transfer."
"Thank you sir, but you still have not answered my first
question. What is your opinion of R&D?"
{response}
