Loyalty

Posted on 03 Aug 2013 @ 10:10am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Jonathan Holliday

2,134 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1, Main Bridge
Timeline: MD -02 - 2040 hrs

[ON]

Sitting in her quarters looking through a recent list of communiques on her desk's LCARS console, she paused and felt a twinge of apprehensiveness when she began to read through a recent memo from her XO. Lirha had been slightly on edge the past few days ever since John had come to her seeking advice about a pending transfer available to him. Though she didn't often show it, she was terribly fond of the man and the last thing she wanted was for him to depart from her ship and take on a new assignment. It was a selfish sentiment, she had admitted to herself, but it all came hand-in-hand with being an emotional Orion. Sometimes her feelings got the better of her, despite her best attempts.

As she read through the memo, a wave of relief washed over her and she smiled to herself. From what she had just read, he had decided to stay aboard Galileo as her XO...for the moment, anyway. Not content to simply type a reply, Lirha rose to her feet and departed her quarters to speak to him in person, and to let him personally know how grateful she was that he had denied a career advancement in favor of remaining on the tiny Nova Class.

The trip to the bridge did not take long, and less than a minute later the turbolift doors swished open and she stepped out into the command center. It was strange being on the bridge during Beta shift with officers present who she normally didn't interact with while on Alpha.

"Hello, commander." she said in a light voice as she strolled over to the captain's chair where John was seated and stood next to him. "Do you have a moment to talk?"

"Ma'am!" John almost leapt from the command chair as he heard his captain's voice break through the dull quiet of the Bridge Shift. She had finished her shift long ago, and he had not expected to see her until their usual meeting tomorrow morning.

"Yes of course. Your ready room?" He responded, catching his thoughts and extending a hand to direct her towards the office.

"Please." she answered with a friendly smile, attempting to convey that the request was not urgent. "My apologies for startling you. I am not often on the bridge at this hour." she confessed as she walked with him into the private office, then took a seat on the couch.

John's thoughts were equally perplexed - usually if the captain was coming to the Bridge this late she would either have been summoned, or she would have announced her presence over the comm before heading up. Tentatively he took a seat next to her, waiting to see exactly what had brought her up here.

"It's ok Ma'am...it's your Bridge after all. What can I do for you?"

Looking at John with affectionate green eyes, Lirha folded her hands in her lap while she turned to face him. "I received your message...about staying on board Galileo." she began, then paused for a moment to consider her upcoming words.

"I am very grateful you chose to remain with us. With me." she said with a warm smile. "It is not often that we - the command staff - are presented with opportunities such as your recent one, and I want to let you know I am very grateful for your dedication and loyalty. It...must have been a hard choice..." her voice trailed off as she looked over his features and attempted to judge his upcoming reaction and thoughts.

Had John not had the level of military training that he did, it was likely that he would have blushed like an embarrassed schoolgirl at his captain's comment. He was not used to receiving thanks, everything he did was in the line of duty, for what he thought was best, not because he expected to be gratified.

"I...thank you Captain. It seemed the best choice to make. Galileo is a young ship with a larger complement of scientists than soldiers. It made the most sense to have a First Officer who was more comfortable in the weapons locker than in a laboratory."

Lirha did her best to suppress a grin, but to little avail. "Oh, come now, commander. That cannot be the only reason you decided to stay..."

The commander felt even more uncomfortable than he had done a few minutes before, his captain was obviously wanting to press the matter a little further, and with some indignation, John was forced to reply.

"I have become..attached, both to this ship, and to the crew. As much as it pains me to say it, I enjoy serving here. I didn't want to have to start afresh somewhere else just for the sake of a bigger posting."

"She is a lovely ship, no?" the Orion mused with a soft sigh of content. "I admit that I also had my reservations with taking command of a Nova Class when I was first assigned. And...we have had some strange officers walk through our corridors over the past months. Nevertheless, I feel the same way as you: devoted to this ship and her crew. A very fine crew, if I might add." she beamed with bright green eyes.

John couldn't find anything to disagree with her on. The Galileo was indeed a fine ship, and she had committed herself with all she had on more than one occasion. The crew might not have always been the XO's cup of tea, but he had come to trust them with his life.

"She's not a bad crew at all. And you're shaping up to be a pretty good Captain if I do say so myself....suffice to say I never took Intelligence types to be more than pencil pushing whisperers."

Lirha blushed at the compliment, her green cheeks turning a dark olive hue. "Thank you. It has taken me a while to adjust to my new role as commanding officer - which you have no doubt noticed - but I finally feel comfortable with the position. Most importantly, it helps to have someone who I trust and can depend on working right beside me." John's vote of confidence meant a lot to her, especially coming from a highly disciplined tactical-minded officer.

"Speaking of which...do you have any suggestions for me? Things I could possibly improve upon?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

Taken slightly aback by the comment, John took a few seconds to compose himself. Usually his criticism of superior officers was given willingly and without hesitation, although usually on his terms rather than because he was asked to give a critique.

"Apart from having a more 'shoot first, ask questions later' kind of attitude? No ma'am, nothing that I would say on the record as being a weakness in your command style."

Lirha had generally impressed John from the moment they had left Earth - he had always expected her to be weak, limited, diplomatic, but he had come to appreciate that she had a bite to go with her bark.

"Not that I have much experience with Orions. You are the first I have served with since I left the Academy."

"I am glad you approve." she replied with a wry grin. "There are sadly not many of us in Starfleet...perhaps when my career here is over, I will be able to serve as a liaison between the UFP and the Orion Empire, and help involve my homeworld more in galactic affairs."

"A worthy goal." John nodded in admiration. There were not many Starfleet officers that were happy to work alongside Orions - they had always had a rather negative reputation from the moment an Earth vessel first encountered them. A history of piracy and deception took a lot of work to convince others to trust the Orion Empire.

"Providing they don't decide a Starfleet Captain is a worthy hostage. The Orion Empire still aren't the friendlist group out there if my galactic politics is up to date?"

Adjusting her legs and delicately crossing one over the other, Lirha let out a soft sigh accompanied by a slight shrug. John's question had been a relatively common one through Lirha's Starfleet career, and in fairness, it was a justified one. "I suppose." she answered quietly, her eyes drifting across the various decorations in her ready room.

"Orions do not have the best reputation in the quadrant, but that is mostly due to the actions of the Syndicate. They do not represent all of us and only compose a small fraction of Orions...but their prolonged piracy has taken a toll on the image of all of us." she lamented. "Despite our perceived image, most Orions are actually very friendly and care-free. We enjoy the simpler things in life - arts and entertainment, cuisine, family, friends, ...mating..." she tried to explain with a sheepish grin.

"The Orion reputation for the latter is understated at best. I cannot think of a world in the Alpha or Beta quadrants that are not aware of the Orion...appetite."

John replied, clearing his throat and coughing a few times as if something had become jammed. He was not exactly comfortable discussing his captain's species in this manner in front of her. The Commander was in fact acutely aware that were it not for her injections, every male of every species on this ship would be fighting over her as a result of the pheremonal potion she produced.

"All I can say is thank goodness for modern medicine."

"Yes, indeed." Lirha agreed somewhat absentmindedly as her thoughts briefly wandered to recent memories of her and Siren together. "Speaking of which, I have spoken with our new assistant medical officer, Lieutenant Warraquim. She believes she may be able to produce a more long-lasting suppressant for my sister and I, and I look forward to seeing her results. Needless to say, it is tiresome to have to report to sickbay every week for my injections."

"Tiresome, but extremely necessary don't forget ma'am." John replied. He was glad that there might finally be a light at the end of the tunnel for his Orion CO - she had often complained to him that she was less than excited about her weekly medical treatment, and the idea that something might relieve that brought a little warmth to the XO's military heart.

"I will be interested to see how the Lieutenant progresses....I can see the merit in only having to be injected on a more extended timeframe. It would certainly increase your flexibility aboard ship."

The captain nodded. "Yes, I agree. But there is also a side effect of the medicine which I unfortunately do not think can be resolved. Because it works to suppress my body's natural pheromones, it inherently targets my hormones directly and reduces the overall production. The feeling is strange, one which I cannot really describe to someone who is not an Orion, but it tends to make me feel subdued and not quite like myself. At least, for the first few days." she elaborated.

"Ma'am...speaking frankly...you mean you have a hormonal hangover of sorts?" John was a little bemused by the condition, although after a moment's thought it became obvious that a species which put such great biological effort into maximising their ability to reproduce would probably be affected by anything reducing that, the same way that a Klingon would feel strange without cranial ridges, or a Vulcan without logic.

She rolled her eyes at the crude yet slightly analogy. She should have known better...of course that was how a Human male would interpret it. "For the sake of simplicity...yes, a hormonal hangover."

John couldn't help but smirk at his captain's discomfort. She should have expected him to have such a limited response, but it had given him the chance to jib his captain for the first time in a while.

"Well...here's hoping for less subdued Orions in the future in that case?"

"Indeed." she replied with a friendly nod, then unfolded her legs and slowly stood from her seat. "Well, I must return to my quarters for a shower and I do not want to keep you from your duties. Again, it is nice to have you on board. Loyalty goes a long way with me."

Watching in response to his Captain rising from the sofa, John leapt to his feet as protocol dictated. Loyalty was a personality trait that both halves of the Galileo's main command team shared, and the XO was clear to hear it.

"Yes ma'am. Goodnight ma'am."

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

CMDR Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

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