Debriefing the Hardass

Posted on Fri Jan 20th, 2023 @ 1:59am by Captain Dean House

2,279 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Ghost Hunting Season
Location: Earth
Timeline: Current

Admiral Javik looked at the assignment. “Logical.” was all he said and then beamed to the bridge of the Aldrin. “Captain Dean House, it is time for your debriefing. We shall go now.” Before the Captain could respond, he had them beamed back to his office, the Captain to a seat and he was standing by his desk again. “Very efficient.” He said with a nod. “Captain, if you do not like the seat I have chosen for you, you may select another. That one is, I have been told, the most comfortable of chairs I have for Humans. You may also have access to the replicator if you need something to drink or wish something to snack on. This might take awhile.”

“Also illegal and can be considered abduction. Given there is no legality to the debriefing and if someone were to need more time before finally talking. That’s not the case with me, however, you should probably keep that in check. Admiral.” Dean gave a glance at the chairs, almost rolling his eyes. Almost. Just grabbing the closest one to sit on.

“Actually, it is not illegal nor abduction as it is clearly stated in Starfleet Regulations that debriefings are not like counseling sessions and everyone who is involved is required to attend at the set time. We even gave warning this would happen and I have it on record that Commodore Connor did inform the entire crew that this would be happening. So you had warning and time to prepare should have needed it. However, that is neither here nor there. There is a protocol to this particular debriefing and it must be followed. First, this is to be a bit more informal, so my name is Javik and I need to ask if you mind if I call you Dean.” Javik said in his logical manner, but there was some warmth to his voice which made it a bit more easy to listen to than the cold logic of most Vulcans.

“We have completely different versions of what the regulations are and the Federation, muchless Starfleet citizens slash personnel’s rights. Considering, none of us are under arrest or being charged with something.” Giving a wave of his hand, “At this point it doesn’t matter as you said. Alright, Javik. And yeah, Dean I guess.” There was more of a point now given with one hand though, at Javik’s head. “You’ve got something there,” motioning to himself in the direction of his own ear.
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“Thank you, Dean.” He ignored the taunt about something on his ear. “The second thing you need to know is that any and all information about the Fury is classified and will remain classified until such a time as we can successfully combat them. At the moment, the information we have about the Fury fills a thimble and we need information that overflows an entire solar system. We cannot let anything about the Furies get out and into the populace as it would cause widespread panic, fear, and chaos. One of the reasons that the Furies are finding us so hard to fight is because we do maintain order, safety, peace, and stability for all of our citizens. So this debriefing isn’t so much about what happened, but about what will happen next. The records sent to us on the secured channel by the Commodore are probably some of the best information we have on the Furies to date. Do you understand all of this?” Javik stated and asked. He needed Dean to understand and cooperate.

Dean literally gave Javik a look that said, ‘are you stupid?’ At least he was going to switch to being polite in words. “Yes I understand it. Though since this is not official, I am getting a bit tired of hearing about the Admiral, or even Mardel. How do you think they get their information? It’s not by them doing it themselves most of the time. It’s people under them, or people they have as CI’s, or the like. As well as, I’m sure a lot of them are dead now. How about we give those people recognition in some way.”

Javik looked at Dean a moment and blinked, once. Then he took a simple breath and let it out slowly. His thoughts were not complimentary about this augment. “Dean, let us get one thing clear. We are well aware that Commodore Connor could not gather this information on her own, especially as she is the Commanding officer of her ship and thus regulations say she cannot put herself in danger unnecessarily. And our praise goes to the entire crew for all of their efforts and our thanks go to Commodore Connor for the thoroughness of the records and the praise she liberally gives her entire crew. Can we stop playing the fencing games so we can get on with this? Or do you want to spend a few more hours fencing over things that don’t need to be said because they are implied already.”

“Well since we got that out of the way. What.”

“For the record, Dean, you will not be winning the congeniality award anytime soon. You are more surly than a hungry Tellarite.” Javik said and then started back into the questions. “I would like to know what is anything that still bothers you about your personal encounter with the Fury? And what about your encounters with the Fury have changed you?”

“I’m not looking for an award. As far as the Fury, nothing. It’s exactly the same as anything else that we’ve encountered. Maybe a different way, but still the same. Danger, some try to just kill, some try to play mind games, some use warfare to mess with our heads or feelings. It’s the same thing.”

Javik went to the replicator and got a spiced Enyak’s milk. “Do you want anything, Dean, while I’m here?” He waited for a moment.
“You were the one asking the questions.”

“So, you don’t want anything to eat or drink?” He sipped on his drink and seemed to savor it. Then he went back to his seat and sat down and set down the small mug on the table next to him. “Do you have any questions for me, Dean?”

“No, I’m fine, thank you. I also don’t have any questions. They would be redundant.”

Javik nodded. “Okay. I think that my recommendations will be to have you do the full 10 days of counseling. You tend to over analyze things, second guess everyone else, and stuff things you don’t want to think about or deal with. When you are asked about this past mission, you are not to say anything about the Fury. You can say that you discovered the cause of the Ghost ship and dealt with it and it was tied to the Borg and you stopped them from further incursions. This is to uphold the classified status of the Fury. This is an order you are not allowed to break and you will discuss the Fury with no one except Starfleet Command personnel or people on the Aldrin with proper clearance, which is limited to you, Commodore Connor, and Commander Starr. Do you understand your orders?”

“I’m not entirely sure you even listened to what I said about the Fury previously when you asked. I told you what I thought.”

“Yes, I listened and I heard you. These orders are to make sure the Furies remain classified and mass panic does not spread in the Federation over them. Which is why you are not to discuss it with anyone but who I said you could. If you want to rehash your opinions and ideas, those are the only ones you can do it with. Now, do you understand your orders?”

Dean just shook his head a little, given that what he said about the Fury just being dismissed, or Javik just wasn’t going to acknowledge it farther. “Yes, I understand them. The same I’m sure that everyone else has been told as well.”

“The entire crew of the Aldrin is being told this and been given the cover story of the Borg and an covert attempt to assimilate the Federation quietly and from a distance. And because of your efforts, the Federation have been warned and can defend from this incursion.” Javik sighed at the stubborn set of Dean’s face and body language. “Look, Dean, I understand what you are saying. The Fury, like any other, can be killed and dealt with, however there are other factors in dealing with the Fury, factors that make it impractical to go after them at this time. From the records, you didn’t face the Fury in its natural state, so you did not get the full effect of that race. I know you are an augment and believe you are above and beyond the mere naturally born beings, but when even the Vulcans, Klingons, Romulans, and Cardassians are terrified of the Fury, there is some wisdom in the precautions we are taking and in keeping them strictly classified. Can you, in your augmented brain, understand this?”

“You know absolutely nothing about how I see myself compared to other races. Just that insinuation tells me you are an idiot. We’re done here.” Standing up and moving for the doors. “Your little fake story will be kept.”

“You have not been released yet, Captain.” Javik reminded him. “And if you have gone beyond the normal augments arrogance, then congratulations to you. Very few get over themselves enough to appreciate where they came from. Now sit down so we can finish this.”

Dean closed his eyes for a moment, taking a breath and sitting back down.

Javik sighed and made another notation. “Alright, Dean, we will continue and make it fast. I am recommending you have the full 10 days of counseling before being released to Shore leave.” Javik hands Dean a padd. “This is where your quarters are, your wife and son and his nanny will be there as well. You are still under communications blackout until after your counselor gives you leave and opens up communications for you.” Javik moved to sit on the edge of one of the tables and looked at Dean. “There is more I want to say to you, but I can tell it won’t be received well, so I will simply say, my door is always open to you should you need to talk to someone else. Good luck and I wish you and your family all the best. You may go now, Dean.”

“You can say all you want to. It doesn’t mean that it’ll be true or that I will have to listen to it if it’s suggestions. For example, you making assumptions about how I see myself. Which is odd for a Vulcan to make assumptions like that. You know, logic and all.”

Javik chuckled. “I’m only a quarter Vulcan and while I have gone through the training, I’m much more Human than Vulcan. People aren’t sure what to make of me, most of the time. And I wasn’t making assumptions, I was speaking from how I read you. Of course I cannot read your mind and know how you see yourself, but how you carry yourself and your attitudes shout to me of the normal augment arrogance. And as I said, if you have gotten over that, then congratulations, not many do.”

“I carry myself with confidence because I have to. I also speak my mind, obviously. Nor do I care to be polite when things such as the way this conversation went down hill. I can be a very pleasant person to be around given the circumstances.”

“Of course you can, Dean. I have seen all the records from this last mission. And the way you backed up Commodore Connor’s attempts to calm the crew and give them a morale boost, spoke volumes to me. Not many can pull that off without practice and having someone write it out for them, especially when dealing with a natural born healer from Orion. The fact that Mardel wants you as her backup also speaks volumes to me. I knew her at the academy.” He sighed and shook his head. “I’m just sorry I didn’t take the time to really get to know her and not just through untrue rumors. It was her example and what happened to her in the academy which made me change how I look at people. And I hope I am not nearly as judgmental as I was back then.” Javik said simply. “But this isn’t about me or Mardel, it’s about you. Do you have anything you want to ask me before you leave?”

He shook his head, “No, but I do apologize for losing my temper. Clearly we both said a few things that were out of line.” Standing up again and offering his hand. “I just want to see my wife and son.”

Javik shook Dean’s hand. “I know you do, and I will let you get to them now. Right now, we are planning on about three weeks of Shore Leave after the counseling is finished. But that might change. We will let you know, but plan on those three weeks. Good luck, Dean, and be happy.”

“Good luck with your evaluations, sir.” Now Dean turned and actually left the office to head ‘home.’ as it were for now.

 

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