For the right reason

Posted on Wed Jan 25th, 2017 @ 2:09am by Captain Elijah Michaels & Commander Bertrand Cuprum

Mission: All the Kings Men: Wargames
Location: Ready Room, USS Victory

Elijah had compiled a list of those going with himself and Agent Smith to look for Gates, he had made a note in the Ships log as one final piece of admin. But he looked down at his Desk and one last PADD, he paused for a moment before pressing his Commbadge. "Commander Cuprum a moment please."

There was a pause and then Bertrand appeared at the door. His face was deadpan and he was trying hard to keep out the passionate emotions running wild on the ship at the moment.

"Yes, sir?"

"Take a seat." Elijah said to him, plain and to the point.

Bertrand moved across to the chair in front of the desk. He sat formally, perhaps a little stiffly.

Elijah slid him a PADD. "The full list of every Officer and Crewman who has volunteered to go with me for this mission." He sat back in his chair.

Bertrand took the list and scrolled quickly through it. There were a few grunts as those names he expected appeared, but also a few surprises in there. He finished the list and looked back to the Captain.

"I will register them all as 'temporarily relieved of duty for personal reasons' under your order. Smith has already left the ship. We are receiving the next parameters for the third simulation and Val and Kevin are placing the parameters into the computer. Was there anything else, Captain?"

Bertrand's manner was cool, unusually so. It was obvious he was very disproving of the decision to support Smith.

Elijah handed him another PADD. "A formal letter in which all those volunteers are exempt of any wrong doing and as such are not to be dragged over the coals." He noted something else. "Additionally a letter to my Parents and family should it be a one way trip."

Bertrand's eyes narrowed as he accepted the second PADD. "I see," was all he said.

Elijah looked at him, the man who he had come to see as his XO and his friend. He may disagree with him but he never lost respect for him. "Mordin is a good choice for an XO she has the brains and the patience, and whatever you do keep Kilbane on a very tight leash."

"I have managed hotter heads than his. I once had to subdue a superior officer who was actively trying to paint a certain Admiral's face to the back of his head," Bertrand glanced at the Captain, reliving a shared history. "I may have to restrain the same officer for the same crime again before long."

"You may not agree with my course of action but you can't argue that this man must be stopped." Elijah said as he looked at Bertrand. "I still remember that day on the Madison when Captain Dalax ordered all hands to abandon Ship as Gates fired Quantum torpedoes and severed the Saucer from the Drive section."

Bertrand took a long slow breath. "I have watched people die. I have been on ships that were torn apart. I know very well the passion that evokes... perhaps more even than you... perhaps. We do that because we believe in the Federation. We believe in Starfleet and what that represents. As soon as we say that the regulations are wrong, that the rules that Starfleet was created to protect can be broken, then we are discarding the very thing we claim to protect."

The Captain looked at him, "I have to do this Bertrand."

"No," Bertrand said simply, his face hard. "You choose to do this. It is a choice which is wrong, but it is your choice to make. Everyday we make a choice to follow orders or not. My life has been spent bringing those who felt they were above the process to answer for those actions. As far as I am concerned your actions are no better than when Mickey misused the transporter authority to 'kidnap me', except that you are a higher rank and so have more privileged and more responsibility to do the right thing. I will not excuse you or accept what you are choosing to do. However, I can wish that you are successful, and hope that it will be a consolation to you during your punishment, whatever that may be."

The Captain looked at Bertrand. "I'll embrace that punishment when it comes to me, I'll take myself to wherever they want to punish me without a fight and without resistance, but as long as that man wears this Uniform and directs good people to do his bidding I cannot and will not sit back and allow him to do so."

Bertrand nodded. That he understood.

"Just do me a favour and make sure that the Fleet knows how damn fine a Ship this is." Elijah said to him in a tone of almost acceptance that after this it was likely Victory would be his final Command as a Starfleet Officer.

Bertrand pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

Elijah looked at Bertrand. "Computer please make note that on this current Stardate, Executive Officer of the USS Victory was promoted to the rank of Commander and bestowed all the rights and privileges befitting his position."

Bertrand leapt to his feet suddenly animated, "I BLOODY KNEW IT!"

He stabbed an accusing finger at Elijah, "All this about facing consequences and taking the full blame on yourself. Letters to your kin. Promoting me so I am in the position for the chair. YOU AREN'T PLANNING ON COMING BACK!"

Bertrand suddenly leaned right into Elijah's face, his eyes flashing, and spittle coming from his mouth, "Well, I have news for you, Captain. I am getting very forgetful in my old age, and I am likely to forget you gave me this letter taking the blame, unless you are around to remind me. That means that unless you come back, every one of the crew who go with you face the full brunt of punishment under Federation law. Your crew needs you back here, and this ship does to. So don't give me any more of this noble sacrifice guff. You get yourself an Admiral and get back here so I can personally nail your arse to a wall before Kevin can. Are we clear."

Elijah smirked. "As clear as crystal."

"Now," Bertrand moved around behind the ready room table, "According to this report you are now on leave which makes me Acting CO of this ship. So... you are dismissed!"

Elijah nodded and got up from his Chair and proceeded forward towards the door. "As you wish.....Captain."

As Elijah left the ready room he half thought he heard Bertrand mutter under his breath, "Bloody kids these days... messing up the lawn..."