Debriefing Hazards with an Orion

Posted on Fri Jan 20th, 2023 @ 4:35am by Commodore Mardel Shayron-Connor

2,247 words; about a 11 minute read

Joint log
Admiral Caitlin Hanson
Admiral Rigel Mason
Commodore Mardel Shayron-Connor

Mardel watched as her ship was emptied person by person. She was left sitting in her command chair, waiting. Finally, the skeletal crew from Starfleet Command and the repair teams were the only ones on the ship besides herself. Then she felt the tingle of the transport and she was whisked away. She didn’t even get to see who would be doing her debriefing as everyone else had been. She did her self soothing exercises to remain calm.

Admiral Caitlin Hanson had deliberately waited until the last possible moment to gather Mardel for the debriefing. She had read the record of this woman and had some issues with it and with Mardel. The rest of the crew would be treated as friends and such and Caitlin was told to do the same with Mardel, but Caitlin had other ideas. She still wasn’t comfortable having a full blooded, wild bred and raised Orion in such a position and she didn’t care how many others vouched for her, she was still Orion and they were not to be trusted.

Mardel looked around the formal office she was beamed into. The only open seat was one that would have been better used as a punishment for a criminal, was made of wood that was visibly splintering, hard back, no arm rests, no padding or coverings. It sat across from a desk that was a mess with piles so high, she couldn’t see who was sitting behind it. She could feel the hostility toward her rolling off of whomever it was sitting in the semi-darkness. She stood where she was and waited to be acknowledged.

Caitlin looked her over and besides hair that would never be tamed, and that was now acceptable in Starfleet, Commodore Connor was all professional in uniform and demeanor. This made her even more angry as it seemed to taunt her with Mardel’s appearing to make fun of Starfleet. She was about to say something when Admiral Mason walked in and stopped. Caitlin bit back her retort.

“I do hope you are not intending for the Commodore to sit in that mess, Admiral.” Rigel said simply and commanded the computer to turn up the lights and end the hologram of the cluttered desk. “You were given very clear instructions, Caitlin. If you cannot follow them, then you will be replaced in this assignment.” His voice gave the impression that Admiral Hanson had better change her attitude or more than just this assignment would be changing.

Caitlin stared at Rigel for a moment, her anger rolling off of her in almost visible waves. When he didn’t melt or give in, she visibly gave in. “Then I respectfully ask that she be reassigned.” She looked directly at Mardel. “You are Orion, and I do not trust you, nor do I believe that you are all that everyone says you are. Orions are born deceitful and conniving. And I have to be honest with myself and with others or I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”

Rigel sighed. “I thought we had talked about that and worked through it. I guess you need more time, Caitlin. Very well, I will do it. Commodore Connor, please come with me so we can do this debriefing.”

Mardel watched all this unfold and gathered what had happened. She paused before following Admiral Mason and looked at Admiral Hanson. “Admiral Hanson, for the record, you don’t have to like the people you are required to work with, but you do have to respect their rights and you still have to do the duties assigned to you. I would be a fool to think that I was universally liked, and I am not a fool and know that there are more like you than those who will give me a chance. I am not angry about it, I forgive you for your malice and hope that you will be able to fully heal the pain in your heart and mind and soul that causes such bitterness against people you do not know personally.” Then she moved to stand next to Admiral Mason and allow him to lead the way.

Admiral Hanson stared at Mardel and then picked up her coffee mug and hurled it at the Orion, who had just moved so it missed her and shattered on the floor. “You Bitch!!” she screamed at Mardel. “How dare you! No one does that to me!”

Admiral Mason tapped his com and asked for security to Admiral Hanson’s office. He kept his body between Mardel and Caitlin, who was still screaming at Mardel and throwing items at her, or trying to, but none of them contacted either Mardel or Rigel. Security arrived, saw what was happening and stunned Caitlin and took her away. Rigel put his hand in the small of Mardel’s back and gently led her from that office into another that was much more comfortable and brightly lit with comfortable chairs and couches available. “I apologize for Caitlin’s behavior. She’s had a breakdown recently and blames others for it and it was on trial that she was given this assignment. She still needs more time in counseling and rehab”

Mardel took the chair offered to her and sat down. “No need to apologize, Admiral. I can see the signs of trauma on her and I sincerely hope she gets the help she needs. I hope she doesn’t hurt herself, or anyone else, in her delusions.”

Rigel smiled and took his own seat. “She will be getting the best of care. But now for your debriefing. We will be informal, if you please, Mardel. And this isn’t a normal debriefing as we do not want to talk about what happened, but rather what will happen next.”
Mardel paused for a moment and then nodded slowly. “That actually makes sense. I was wondering how we were going to keep the panic from hitting the populace once they learned of the Fury. I gather there is a cover story you want me to use?”

Rigel sat back and laughed. “Killian told me you would react this way, I didn’t believe her. I guess I owe her breakfast, again. And yes, there is a cover story you are to use. First though, you are able to speak with any Starfleet Command Personnel, Captain House and Commander Starr about the Fury, but no one else. The reason for those two being given clearance is so that you can have someone to talk to as needed, the same with them. The cover story is that it was the Borg using a new covert means to attempt to assimilate the Federation. The Aldrin was able to discover it and warn us so that we can defend against it. Can you do that?”

“Oh yes, easily. It makes sense, the enemy you know is a lot less frightening than the enemy you don’t know. I can make it very believable if anyone asks me. And thank you for allowing Dean and Teaya to have clearance to speak of the Fury, it will help.” Mardel said. “Rigel, do you mind if I get something to drink?”

Rigel looked surprised and then abashed. “Of course, go get anything you like. I’m sorry I didn’t offer when you first arrived.” He watched as she got up and at the replicator got a bowl full of something she called ginjan fruit and a glass of paua juice and then returned and sat down, placing the bowl so he could reach it as well and set the glass down next to her after taking a long draft of it. “May I ask what that is?”

Mardel smiled and offered him the bowl. “These are from my home. Ginjan is a delicacy in the tribes and has always been my favorite treat. They also help with digestive issues and helps calm down raw nerves. Not that my nerves are raw, but I have been rather tense and could use some calming. And Paua is also from home and is very versatile and is used in many ways, but I enjoy the juice as it promotes well being.” She then lifted one of the ginjan to her lips and popped it in her mouth and chewed it slowly, savoring it. “Oh, that is good.”

Curious, Rigel took one of the small fruits that looks almost like mini coconuts but with a soft shell not a hard one, and followed Mardel’s example and popped it in his mouth and started to chew it slowly. His eyes widened and he smiled. It was hard to pin down the exact flavor, but it was delicious. “Oh yes, that is good. Thank you, Mardel.” He then noticed his stomach settling after dealing with Caitlin and that issue and he began to feel calmer. “I’m surprised more people don’t know about these and eat them, they are a miracle.”

Mardel laughed. “I’m glad you like them, Rigel. And I am trying to introduce more Orion foods to the Federation, but it’s difficult as many are tired of always trying new foods and just want to eat their traditional comfort foods. So, aside from the cover story, what else is going to happen?” She prompted. She liked Rigel, and liked talking about her home, but right now, she wanted to get back to Daniel and the twins as soon as possible.

“Oh right,” Rigel started. “You will be required to have counseling. I am not sure how many days you will need, ten is offered if you want them, but I have a feeling that after the first day or so, you would be the one counseling the counselor. Are you okay with this?”

“Of course I’m okay with it. I am glad to get counseling. I could use someone to talk to and get this burden off of my shoulders and let it go. I will even be a good client and not intimidate whoever is my counselor. Anything else?”

Rigel blinked at her for a moment. “I owe Killian more than just breakfast. Mardel, may I say this is not the chore I thought it would be. You are far too reasonable and easy to talk to. The communications blackout will continue for you until after the first session with your counselor, unless the counselor believes it should continue longer. And after the counseling, you will have at least three weeks of shore leave. Some are fighting for more time and some say the three weeks are enough. So we will let you know how much time you will have when it’s been decided.” He looked through his notes and found a padd and took the information from it and put it on a clean padd and handed it to Mardel. “This is your quarter assignment while here at Headquarters. You will be sharing it with your husband and children and the children’s nannies. Do you have any questions for me?”

Mardel took the padd and looked at it and smiled. “Not really, Rigel. It was nice speaking with you. And thank you for this, I will be able to do more cooking and relaxing since my only duty will be to go to counseling for a while. I will get to spend more time with my family.”

Blushing, Rigel waved his hand at her. “It’s nothing, we have tried to make everyone of you comfortable. And again, you can speak with any of your crew that you wish, just no one else until the communication blackout has been lifted for you. And Mardel, I too, have enjoyed meeting you and having this conversation. If you ever need anything else, at any time my door will always be open for you. And I know Killian’s is open for you as well. But I think I will count myself lucky to be able to call you friend.”

“Yes, Rigel, I would think we are now friends. And thank you for the invitation. You have a nice day. And please, when you think it will be well received, tell Caitlin it was nice to meet her as well.” Mardel said, standing up and shaking hands with Rigel.

Rigel walked her to the door and wondered for a moment what just happened. It was more like she was debriefing him, but he knew it was the other way around. He looked at the readings from the hidden tricorder in his office and shook his head. She truly was psi null and no one would be able to get information from her that she didn’t want to divulge. But now that it was over,, he wished he could have made it last longer as Mardel was such an upbeat person to be around, making everyone around her feel better, more relaxed and comfortable, and happier. He wished her luck and happiness with her husband and children and then pushed her from his mind with some difficulty.

Mardel went to her assigned quarters and smiled when she walked into the family quarters and heard the twins arguing over whose turn it was in the swing. She kicked off her shoe and sat down on the couch and closed her eyes for a moment and then fell asleep.

RSS Feed