> >Looking up from a report on something or other, Lasiter said, "Please have
a seat and make yourself comfortable. John Black checked in this morning
while we were goofing off at that staff meeting down stairs. He reports
that he has just sent Captain Polath and a good team through the rift into
Felinid space. Their recon mission is scheduled to last 48 hours, and
will
be followed up with other missions. It also seems as if the Klingons sent
some re-enforcements as well. Once they heard that Black was in command
out there with the blessing of the CinC and their most trusted friend at
SF
Command, youself, they decided to send a pair of spec ops craft to be
commanded by Captain Polath. I have a call into the Chancellor to thank
him for his support, and I thought you would like to know the
developments." He said rather pleased with the turn of events- progress
on
the Felinid front and greater cooperation between the Federation and the
Klingons. A great day so far.
She was pleased as well, and she granted him a rare, full-teeth smile.
"That's excellent news, sirrr. I am verrry pleased to hearrr it. But I
could have picked up that rrreporrt when I got back to my office," she
said, fishing a little.
>"You are quite correct, that is not the reason that I wanted to see you.
The *real* reason concerns M'Rrenn. I understand that he wants a transfer
to the field. Some BS notion that he can't be a real captain if he does
not have more field command experience. Also heard that he spoke to you
about this. Any thoughts on his real motives?" Samuel said honestly
curious, and not the least bit sarcastic.
She rubbed at her eyes. "I *did* talk to him about it sirrr, and he's definately got
his hearrrt set on it. The firrrst thing he asked me about was trrransferring to
Black's command on the felinid frrront."
"He is not ready for that kind of combat mayhem. Not yet."
"I know, I know - he'd be cannon fodderrr therrre, and I told him so. He's got no
experrrience orrr trrraining in combat and even SpecOps veterrrans arrre getting
pounded out therrre. He wouldn't surrrrvive a month. At least he listened to
rrreason and backed off of that idea. But to be honest, sirrr, I think the rrreason
he wants to go is that he's going stirrr-crrrazy herrre."
Lasiter regarded her quizically. He was not quite sure he understood.
"This is all totally speculation, of courrrse, but I think he believes he's stuck in
the 'followerrr' position. He's one of the best aides in the entirrre fleet, and he
knows that, but it's not the best rrresume builderrr. I think he feels like he's
falling into a typecast, and he'll neverrr be able to brrreak out of it unless he gets
some fleet experrrience
and a chance to be a leaderrr himself, instead of always being behind the scenes. In
shorrrt, he's the backstage hand who wants to get on the stage and act." She couldn't
fault him for that, really.
"I see.", said a contemplative man behind the desk. "At the moment I can ill afford
to lose him, but at the same time...." He decided not to complete the thought aloud.
"Thank you for your insight. I take it things went well last night?", he said
changing topics, referring to the faction meeting the previous evening.
{response}
GM- SPD & JSOC
