Green to Gold

Posted on 23 Apr 2012 @ 11:23am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Tarishiana Barel

2,529 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD 03 - 0900 hrs

[ON]

Staring at the coded message in front of her, Lirha scratched her chin in confusion as she read the screen on her display. The communique had been from a fellow commanding officer, Captain Hiker of the USS Colton. It was a promotion request for his former science liaison, and Lirha's current chief science officer, Warrant Officer Tarishiana Barel. But it made no sense to the captain. Usually such authorization only laid with the crewman's current CO, in this case Lirha. Why such a matter had not been attended to before Tarishiana's transfer was puzzling, and somewhat unorthodox. And even more so was the use of a secure comm frequency to deliver such a casual message.

The Orion captain intended to get to the bottom of it. She didn't like surprises, especially not ones which involved secrets. With a tap on her commbadge, she spoke quietly. "Warrant Officer Barel, this is Commander Saalm. Please report to my ready room." she said, then leaned back in her chair and waited patiently.

Tarishiana had a bad feeling about about what the Commander wanted. It wasn't that she held anything against her Orion CO, it was just a feeling she was having of late. She nodded to her replacement before approaching the door. She took a deep breath and smoothed her uniform before tapping the chime.

"Enter." the captain called out, looking up from her screen which now displayed the chief science officer's service record.

Tarishiana let out the breath she was holding as she crossed to the Commander's desk. "You wished to see me Ma'am." She said smoothly hiding the nervous ripple that ran though her.

"Yes, please have a seat Miss Barel." she responded quietly as she adjusted herself in her chair. "I just received a message from Captain Hiker, your former CO." she began simply enough, waiting to see how the young science chief would respond to the mention of his name.

It was exactly what Tarishiana had been dreading. Nicholas Hiker had not taken the new easily when she had put in for a transfer. He had liked it even less when she actually requested a demotion to return to her enlisted rank. Despite the inner turmoil Tarishiana's face didn't show her dismay to the situation instead a questioningly look crossed her lips, "I beg your pardon Ma'am...but has my service been unsatisfactory?" She was almost preying that Commander Saalm had been the one to initiate contact.

"No, not at all." she answered, "Quite the contrary, I find." she added as she placed her green hands on the desk and folded them together. "And according to Captain Hiker, you performed your duties well enough aboard his ship to deserve a promotion aboard mine." she said simply, staring at Tarishiana with green eyes.

"That is quite unusual isn't it?" Tarishiana asked almost forgetting the formality of this room versus the beach where they had met the first time. "I mean I am flattered, but I was just getting used to be a Master Warrant Officer again." She tried to pass her discomfort off with a smile. She was fairly good at setting pretenses and this was one situation that the less Saalm knew the better.

"Yes, I noticed in your record that you were once a lieutenant, but then...you requested a demotion to master warrant officer? Why?" she asked, tilting her head sideways as she waited for an explanation.

"I was awarded a field promotion to full Lieutenant in 2384 by Captain Hiker." Tarishiana said wit ha grin. "We lost a large number of our senior officers including my direct superior and I was tasked in taking over the department while we were in an active engagement with the Romulans." She cleared her throat before she continued, "When the ship made it back to Starbase 347 the ship was determined lost and her crew was reassigned to the USS Colton with Captain Hiker in command. I put in for a transfer and requested to have my rank restored since the reason for its installment was no longer valid."

"No longer valid?" Lirha asked. "How so? Careers are made from opportunities." she said.

"I was given the rank of Lieutenant because the ship needed officers." Tarishiana explained. She had had the same conversation when she had asked for a demotion. "Once the ship was no longer in need of officers there was no need for me to remain a Lieutenant." She added simply, "With all due respect...my time is Star fleet is not about a career of advancements...I do not chance rank but I gladly except it...when it is earned...Ma'am."

"Starfleet is always in need of good officers. If you performed your duties as well as Captain Hiker stated, your field commission would be a great asset to the ship and the crew." she replied, then leaned back in her chair again. "I suppose I can understand your willingness to return to your original duties at your old position. But sometimes change can be a good thing." she added with a small smile.

Getting back on track, Lirha remembered the original reason why she called her chief science officer into the office. "To be honest, I'm trying to figure out why your former CO is sending me coded transmissions asking for your promotion." she said bluntly. "Apparently, he doesn't want anyone to see his request except for me, and didn't bother to explain himself in much detail." she said then leaned forward on the desk. "I don't like secrets, Miss Barel. Is there something going on between the two of you?" she asked, wanting more information.

"If I may speak freely, Ma'am." Tarishiana started a tad bit hesitantly. "I cannot speak for what Captain Hiker thinks is going on, but as far as I am concerned my service for him ended when I put in for my transfer."She let out a breath, "I have never been comfortable with Captain Hiker's...uh... command style, " She began unsure how best to explain. "I am not against being an Officer Ma'am...I am simply against having something I feel deep down I was given because of something other then my skill and dedication" She knew what she was implying but it didn't make it less true.

"I see." the captain answered curtly. The story was starting to play out for Lirha and she was beginning to understand the complexity of the situation. "Were the two of you...in a relationship?" she asked. Normally she wasn't concerned with such happenings, but the moment the strange and secretive message had arrived on her console, it had become her business.

"No Ma'am." Tarishiana stated. "Captain Hiker's interest in me had nothing to do with romantic entanglement....It was for political or personal advancement." She let out a breath, "I have nothing to confirm my suspicions ma'am. It is just a feeling." She gave the Commander a apologetic look as she tried to explain. "Captain Hiker was a well trained Intelligence Officer. He was much harder to read then many I have met and because of this I could never pin down what it was that he wanted from me. It was one of the reasons I transferred off his ship and requested to have my promotion reversed. It felt almost...dirty...to keep it." She had never explained this part of the story to anyone, not even Lestian. There was something about the commander that Tarishiana wanted to trust.

"And do you think his interest in you has anything to do with this request?" she asked. From what the science officer had just told her, Lirha was now becoming suspicious. Being a former intelligence chief herself, she knew all-to-well about the questionable motives behind some of the department's personnel.

"Absolutely." Tarishiana answered. She knew that without a doubt whatever was going with Captain Hiker it had to do with whatever it was that was on his personal agenda. "I am sorry, Commander." She started with a light sigh. "I thought this would come to an end with my transfer. I am not even sure if my resignation would stop him." She finally admitted.

The captain sat silently for several moments as she considered the situation. Finally, she spoke up. "As strange as this might sound, I'm actually in agreement with his request. I'm impressed with your conduct and performance so far. We've taken on many new personnel in your department, including our entire Planetary Sciences division. I need a commissioned officer to be in charge of such a large operation, not just a master warrant officer." she said. "Do you agree?" she finally asked.

"I do agree that the science department needs a commissioned officer to take the lead." Tarishiana started as she adjusted her posture to be more professional and less intimidated then she actually was by what she was about to say. "Being a non-commissioned officer it is difficult to command respect of officers that out rank me." She paused for a moment, "Ma'am, wouldn't it be more prudent to find a new Chief Science Officer rather then grant me a commission?"

"Prudent?" Lirha replied, then shrugged. "I don't really think so." she said simply, "There are no officers above the rank of ensign currently serving in your department, and you're already settling in nicely to your duties. It would be more a hassle for me to find another crewman, promote them, and expect them to function effectively in a new position on a new ship with new crew." she said in an attempt to briefly explain her rationale.

"I guess I hadn't thought of that." Tarishiana answered honestly. She hadn't thought about the fact that while she was sure Commander Saalm would be able to find a replacement in all of Starfleet she wouldn't be able to find one on the USS Galileo. "I am sorry I interjected, ma'am." She looked down at her boots for a second when a thought popped into her mind. Looking back up she asked her own question, "If I may speak freely... How much of this promotion is backed by Captain Hiker?"

"Please don't mistake me, I'm not considering this only because of your former CO. His message happens to coincide with a decision that I've been pondering for a while. I brought you in here not necessarily to promote you, but to inquire about the situation between you and your former CO." Lirha said.

"I never meant to imply that is was an actual reality." Tarishiana replied without missing a beat. "As I am sure you can understand the idea of having something like this tainted by Captain Hiker give me a rather bad taste in my mouth." She looked over at the Commander as she spoke.

"I understand." Lirha replied with a sympathetic smile. "Rest assured, I would be doing this not because of his wants, but because of mine. They just so happen to coincide with each other." she said, then pulled a small wooden box from her desk and set it on the table.

Dear Lord... Tarishiana's eyes fell on the box and kept them there. It was moments like this she was glad that only a few people could hear her thoughts. The ripple of excitement that ran though her was overrun by agitation but she it it well. "Thank you for your understanding," her voice almost squeaked.

"Give me your pips." Lirha said with a bright look in her eyes, then flipped open the box which contained a set of new ranks.

Tarishiana's finger rose to her collar almost tentatively. Her fingers easily undid the golden enlisted ranks. She knew as she removed them it would be the last time she would display the proud pips of an non-commissioned officer. She let out a sigh as she handed the Commander her pips.

Lirha stood up and walked around the desk and stood next to the science chief with the new ranks in her hand. When Tarishiana was finally on her feet, Lirha smiled at her and stepped close to the Betazoid where she delicately clipped on her two new pips. Satisfied that they were arranged properly, she stepped back. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Junior Grade Barel."

"Thank you, ma'am," Tarishiana said with her practiced smile as the Orion took a step back. "I will do my best not to let you down." She gave the Captain a little nod.

"I'm sure you will." the captain answered with a friendly voice, then returned to her side of the desk and took a seat. "When I was looking through your service record, I noticed that you're almost due for you annual bridge officer evaluation." she added. "I need to speak with Commander Holliday, but in addition I would also like to qualify you for bridge command. The certification process takes three days and it's hard work and study, but I feel that you would benefit from the extra responsibility." she said.

"Thank you." Tarishiana said with a grin. She thrived on stressful situations and this would be no different. "I look forward to the challenge ma'am." She said authentically excited for the first time in most of their meeting. She couldn't help but find the irony in the fact she was going from her first time holding down a bridge station to become bridge command certified. While she was eager to see what it was like, she hoped she would never have to use it.

"Mmm.." Lirha mused to herself as she looked over her science officer. "They look nice on you." she replied quietly, the Orion captain referring to the new pips on the brown-haired woman's neck.

"Thank you, ma'am." Tarishiana said out of practice. It dawned on her that she had been saying that a lot since this meeting had begun. "I am beginning to sound like a recording." She added with a slight laugh.

"A little bit." the captain replied with a grin. "Don't thank me yet, there's a lot of work ahead." she added as she picked up a PADD from her desk and handed it to the blue-collared woman. "I signed off on your duty roster and integrated some of Planetary Sciences' civilian personnel with the enlisted crew. I find it always helps to have someone around who is qualified for starship operations."

Tarishiana stopped herself from allowing the words "Thank you" from escaping her lips. Instead she responded with a nod, "Is there anything else you need from me ma'am?" She didn't want to sound like she was in a rush or anything, but she felt a little out of place.

"No," she replied with a shake of her head, "You're dismissed, Lieutenant. Congratulations." she added.

"Thank you, ma'am." Tarishiana said with a smile and a nod before turning to walk back out the way she had come in. So many things had changed since she had entered the Captain's Ready Room. She had a feeling it was just going to be one of those days.

[OFF]

--

CMDR Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Tarishiana Barel
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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