Post by miller11b on Aug 4, 2016 21:39:20 GMT
OFFICE OF ADMIRAL QUINN
STARFLEET COMMAND
SAN FRANSISCO, EARTH
The mood in Admiral Quinn’ office was tense. Rear Admiral Charlotte O’Hare glared at Read Admiral (Lower) Justin Spence. The two had never gotten along, but after yesterday’s incident, it was a wonder no one had picked phasers at noon. Quinn looked passively between the two.
O’Hare picked her rant back up. “You had no right, no right! This was the biggest scientific discovery since warp drive! How dare you singlehandedly decide to destroy it! Do you have any idea what you did?!”
“I saved the entire quadrant from reverting to a pre-warp civilization, that’s what!” Spence stood up and pointed a finger at O’Hare. “You were going to meddle in things well outside your jurisdiction! The safety of an entire quadrant trumps anything you may or may not have discovered. This was an Operations decision, not Science Corps.”
Quinn turned to Spence. “Justin, take your seat.” Spence stood his ground. “Now,” Quinn said with an edge in his voice. The younger admiral stared for a moment, then sat down as his resolve waivered. “Charlotte, I agree with you. This was something that should have been studied. However, I cannot reprimand Justin for following protocol. The Omega Directive exist for a reason, and he did his duty in ensuring the destruction of the Omega particles. According to the reports I have read, the Avalon took detailed scans. You should have full access to that data, and that information, combined with the information from Enterprise, Voyager, and the Lantaru reports should be of benefit for you. I trust you will, of course, use the utmost discretion when it comes to who you allow access to the material.”
O’Hare shot one more glare at Spence before answering. “Yes, Admiral. I will personally handle it.”
“Very good, Charlotte. You’re dismissed.” Quinn waited for O’Hare to leave the room, then he sealed the door. Spence paled slightly as the admiral turned on him. “You know I am aware that you’ve been studying those particles for some time now.”
Spence swallowed. “Sir, I don’t-”
“Justin, I have access to everything, including your classified files. I know what you’ve been doing out there, and I know that you’ve had the Zaitsev handle most of the work. While I’m not overly happy that you have these projects, for the most part I’m inclined to let them slide. What I am not inclined to let slide is your use of other assets. The 146th Fleet, Deep Space Nine, they are not your playgrounds. This is the second time that I am aware of that you have misappropriated the Avalon. This is the third time another command has complained about your actions.”
The younger man sat there, waiting for the tirade to continue.
“Justin, you’re a good man. But you put your own conscience over the greater good.” Quinn reached into his desk and produced the rank pips of a Rear Admiral (Upper). “Your promotion was confirmed, but there were some doubts. You almost didn’t make the cut. Here. Now, return to your office, and try not to throw it all away. Dismissed.”
Commander Higgins fidgeted outside of Quinn’s office. Admiral O’Hare had stormed by a few minutes earlier, and the commander feared what the Commander in Chief was saying to Admiral Spence. After a moment, Spence exited Quinn’s office. Higgins fell in step with his boss, one step back and to the left as protocol dictates. As they walked, the commander waited patiently for the admiral to speak.
They walked in silence until they reached an outer garden. After checking to make sure they wouldn’t be overheard, Spence addressed his aide. “Well, it seems I’ve been promoted.”
“Congratulations, sir.”
“Hmm. I almost wonder if they’re going to use that as a means to send me elsewhere. Quinn’s aware of some of our projects, but not all.”
“Should I destroy the data?”
“No. That would be too obvious. Get with our Intelligence assets, have them do a security check, see where we’re breached. We’ll leave anything that has been accessed, and move everything else offsite. Wait until tomorrow though, we don’t want it to be too obvious that something’s up. In the meantime, go through today’s workload, act like it’s business as usual.”
“Aye aye, sir.” Higgins snapped to attention and marched off, leaving the admiral alone with his thoughts.
“It’s for the greater good.”
STARFLEET COMMAND
SAN FRANSISCO, EARTH
The mood in Admiral Quinn’ office was tense. Rear Admiral Charlotte O’Hare glared at Read Admiral (Lower) Justin Spence. The two had never gotten along, but after yesterday’s incident, it was a wonder no one had picked phasers at noon. Quinn looked passively between the two.
O’Hare picked her rant back up. “You had no right, no right! This was the biggest scientific discovery since warp drive! How dare you singlehandedly decide to destroy it! Do you have any idea what you did?!”
“I saved the entire quadrant from reverting to a pre-warp civilization, that’s what!” Spence stood up and pointed a finger at O’Hare. “You were going to meddle in things well outside your jurisdiction! The safety of an entire quadrant trumps anything you may or may not have discovered. This was an Operations decision, not Science Corps.”
Quinn turned to Spence. “Justin, take your seat.” Spence stood his ground. “Now,” Quinn said with an edge in his voice. The younger admiral stared for a moment, then sat down as his resolve waivered. “Charlotte, I agree with you. This was something that should have been studied. However, I cannot reprimand Justin for following protocol. The Omega Directive exist for a reason, and he did his duty in ensuring the destruction of the Omega particles. According to the reports I have read, the Avalon took detailed scans. You should have full access to that data, and that information, combined with the information from Enterprise, Voyager, and the Lantaru reports should be of benefit for you. I trust you will, of course, use the utmost discretion when it comes to who you allow access to the material.”
O’Hare shot one more glare at Spence before answering. “Yes, Admiral. I will personally handle it.”
“Very good, Charlotte. You’re dismissed.” Quinn waited for O’Hare to leave the room, then he sealed the door. Spence paled slightly as the admiral turned on him. “You know I am aware that you’ve been studying those particles for some time now.”
Spence swallowed. “Sir, I don’t-”
“Justin, I have access to everything, including your classified files. I know what you’ve been doing out there, and I know that you’ve had the Zaitsev handle most of the work. While I’m not overly happy that you have these projects, for the most part I’m inclined to let them slide. What I am not inclined to let slide is your use of other assets. The 146th Fleet, Deep Space Nine, they are not your playgrounds. This is the second time that I am aware of that you have misappropriated the Avalon. This is the third time another command has complained about your actions.”
The younger man sat there, waiting for the tirade to continue.
“Justin, you’re a good man. But you put your own conscience over the greater good.” Quinn reached into his desk and produced the rank pips of a Rear Admiral (Upper). “Your promotion was confirmed, but there were some doubts. You almost didn’t make the cut. Here. Now, return to your office, and try not to throw it all away. Dismissed.”
************
Commander Higgins fidgeted outside of Quinn’s office. Admiral O’Hare had stormed by a few minutes earlier, and the commander feared what the Commander in Chief was saying to Admiral Spence. After a moment, Spence exited Quinn’s office. Higgins fell in step with his boss, one step back and to the left as protocol dictates. As they walked, the commander waited patiently for the admiral to speak.
They walked in silence until they reached an outer garden. After checking to make sure they wouldn’t be overheard, Spence addressed his aide. “Well, it seems I’ve been promoted.”
“Congratulations, sir.”
“Hmm. I almost wonder if they’re going to use that as a means to send me elsewhere. Quinn’s aware of some of our projects, but not all.”
“Should I destroy the data?”
“No. That would be too obvious. Get with our Intelligence assets, have them do a security check, see where we’re breached. We’ll leave anything that has been accessed, and move everything else offsite. Wait until tomorrow though, we don’t want it to be too obvious that something’s up. In the meantime, go through today’s workload, act like it’s business as usual.”
“Aye aye, sir.” Higgins snapped to attention and marched off, leaving the admiral alone with his thoughts.
“It’s for the greater good.”