Demotion

Posted on 19 Nov 2014 @ 5:08pm by Captain Jonathan Holliday

1,069 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo, Captain's Readyroom, Deck 1
Timeline: MD-22, 0800 hours

[ON]

Bright and early, Tyrion was pulled from his cell by two very junior enlisted security men. The two, however were a good hand taller than the Betazoid. "Get dressed," the tallest of the two snapped, tossing the imprisoned man a clean uniform.

Tyrion stood and nervously changed into the clean uniform, not caring in the slightest that the two were watching him like hawks. A small meal was given to him but he ate very little, only drinking some of the offered tea. He wasn't hungry, having eaten the cupcake Piet had given him hours ago.

Once he was done, his hands were cuffed in front of him and each guard grabbed one of his arms, unceremoniously dragging him up to the bridge. They didn't seem to care about the humiliation they were putting the intelligence officer through, they only cared about getting him to the captain's ready room.

Gripping the Betazoid's arm tightly, the shortest of the guards palmed the chime. Tyrion winced at being handled so unnecessarily rough.

"Enter." Came the call, Holliday's hand tapping the control on his console that opened the doors at the end of his office. The situation in front of him was more than a little complex - and as such the Captain had been forced to don his dress uniform to deal with the final outcome. Having to throw this most uncomfortable garb on, as far as John was concerned, was the worst part of the job.

The Betazoid almost stumbled as he was roughly shoved forward, the two guards taking up position outside the room. THey didn't need to be witness to this. Finding his footing, Tyrion just stood there, his head bowed, his gaze lowered in humiliation and despair. "I am summoned," he whispered, "I have no-one to speak for me, so I'll speak for myself if permitted. Sir."

John offered the chair across from his desk to the officer. He had expected something along these lines, and the Captain had been more than a little perplexed by the contents of the reports making their way across his desk.

"You may speak. Please, continue."

Slowly, the Betazoid shuffled to the offered seat and sank down in it. "I know I committed a murder," he started slowly, swallowing a few times and not looking up. "Thanks to a procedure doctors Voutilainen and Mott performed, a part of my memory which had been lacking until now, has been recovered. My greatest wish has been fulfilled, I discovered who killed the man I loved. But it also became my greatest horror, because the man who killed him is me. What I can't fathom however, is why. I know I've done wrong, and I accept any punishment you give me. All I ask, is that I be allowed to remain in Starfleet. It's all I have sir, my service is my life. I know, and understand I have no right to ask for anything, but I do so anyway."

He nodded towards the PADD on the desk. "You've read the report, as well as all my research. I wanted nothing more than have his killer found, and now he's found. I also want you to know that I feel horrible, it tears me apart, this knowledge. I loved him, why would I want him dead. I can't answer that question, and neither can the doctors." The words just tumbled out, between pauses as he sat breathing hard. His face was white with anguish and fear and he looked exhausted. In the two days since his arrest, he had barely slept and there were large circles under his black eyes which had lost all their vibrance. They were just dull orbs in his head.

John picked up the PADD once again and briefly skimmed the first page again. He had read through the same document nearly a dozen times in the past couple of hours, trying to fathom how something like this was even possible, let alone how he would deal with it.

The Captain was in two minds - on the one hand, a member of his crew had committed the most grevious crime one sentient being could commit against another, but at the same time had medical evidence to support that he had not been in control of his actions. Exactly where to go from here, John had a hard time finding the path.

"Ensign Tyrion Faye. I have reviewed the evidence in front of me, and taken counsel from both Starfleet Command and Starfleet Medical. I find it extremely difficult to focus on exactly what has happened here, but I do know that it cannot go unpunished. That is why, effective immediately, I hereby revoke your commission as a Starfleet Officer."

John waited as one of the two security officers deftly reached up and plucked the single pin from the man's collar before continuing.

"However, your actions were clearly not your own, and as such I find it hard to simply dismiss you from service. Therefore I hereby grant you the commission of Chief Petty Officer, so that you may remain in Starfleet."

At first Tyrion's face drained of all colour at hearing he was stripped of his commission. This was the end then, he was left with nothing. Then when the captain continued, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you," he whispered, "thank you... I..." He faltered. "What can I do to never let this happen again? please sir, I need help. I don't ever want this to happen again."

He looked frightened yet relieved at the same time, but he wondered if
he had to return to the brig. His gaze went down to his shackled hands. "What happens now?" he asked softly. "Am I free to go?"

John motioned to one of the security officers to remove the shackles from their prisoner's wrists. There was no longer any need for him to be kept in the Brig, or subjected to any further investigation at this time.

"You are free to go." Holliday confirmed. "You are dismissed Chief."


"Yes sir," Tyrion responded, while rubbing his wrists. He gave a shaky
salute, turned on his heels and left the office. He would need to talk
to someone, soon. But first, he was going to get some rest.

OFF:
CPO Tyrion Faye
Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC T'Vanna ]

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

RSS Feed