CAG and the XO

Posted on Monday 31 October 2016 @ 22:11 by Commander Save'ena (Sav) Tillatix & Commander Cale Llewellyn DSci & Major David Scarlet

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: USS Merlin, Deck 39, CAG Office, Drop Bay Upper Level
Timeline: MD9 Late Morning
3935 words - 7.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

==== USS Merlin, Deck 39, CAG Office ====

Sav leaned back and stretched. She debated about getting up to walk around when Crewman Wyn Rhoderick put a fresh cup of coffee in front of her. Sav churred out gently, "Thanks, Crewman Rhoderick. I am needing that." She took a sip, then churred out in pleasure as she beamed a smile up at her CAG Assistant. "This is one outstanding cup of coffee, thanks."

Crewman Rhoderick's whiskers moved forward as her tail flipped twice in receipt of the praise. Wyn was a Boda, a race from Rigel IV, and the Boda's looked like humanoid Rats to Terrans. The young Marine was so happy to have been assigned as CAG assistant, especially as the CAG was a rare Mephetian Race, well, very rare in the Federation. While her ears were not as expressive as the CAG's, Wyn's whiskers were, as well as tail body language being more so than Sav's. "Thank you, Ma'am. Glad you love it. How goes the red tape?"

Sav harmphed out in humor, "Red tape, as usual. There are so many different training exercises to get done by squad members, and those require specific scenario parameters to where you have to get them in when conditions allow, yet, they are 'ding' marks on your record till done. Catch 22 for the pilots, to be sure."

Sav stood up, then stretched one side, the other, forward, and backwards. However, as she did, when she got to farther stretching, she would slow down and seem to grimace at a certain point, then return upright. Finished, she took in a deep breath, then let it out, in almost a trembling sigh. Sitting down, she picked up the next padd to correlate with the training regimens on the main planning desk before her.

Wyn had caught the light whimpers coming from Sav during the stretches, as well as the signs of physical pain and trepidation of that pain. She knew a Terran probably would not have seen it, but, it was there, obvious to her. "Ma'am? Are you okay? Do you need a corpsman?"

Sav blew out a cleansing breath, "I'm okay, Wyn, and no corpsman needed. Just an 'injury' I'm not recovered from yet. I'll be okay."

Wyn's tail jerked in surprise at hearing the animosity within the spoken word 'injury'. Something happened, something bad, really bad, and it looked like the CAG was keeping mum about it. She was glad the CAG did not notice her tail movement. "Alright, Ma'am, if you're sure. I'll be standing by." Wyn went over to her desk with its meetings and schedules to coordinate what the CAG's day would be.

Cale was making rounds on the ship when he noticed a light coming from under one of the doors that lined this deck. He had never been this far down on the ship by way of the main corridors and decks. When he and Melody were skulking through the Jeffries tube network back when he was the Chief Science Officer. It seemed like a lifetime ago. He stopped at the door with the light on inside and rang the door chime and waited to be bid enter.

Upon hearing the door chime, Sav looked over at Wyn. Wyn looked as surprised as Sav did as Wyn's tail flicked side to side to show no one on the schedule. Sav nodded to Wyn as Wyn hit the door open at her desk. Wyn called out, "Come on in, Visitors welcome."

Wyn came to attention, calling out, "XO on deck," as she saw the XO of the Merlin, Commander Cale Llewellyn, come through the doors into the CAG Office.

Sav immediately came to attention, a light 'Churrr' sounding from her at finally meeting the XO of the Merlin. The churrs gently quieted as she looked over the rather striking Terran that had come into the deep recesses of the Merlin and into her offices. She had not seen white hair on a young Terran before, and his smooth complexion and striking blue eyes masked what his age was. At least, she thought he was Terran. Maybe not?

At noticing the XO remained in an 'at ease' stance, Sav realized this was just a social call. She called out, "At ease," and came around the table to greet Cale. As she did, her tail flicked once as her ears shifted slightly to the side and back to the fore.

Wyn, having seen the signal for coffee, moved over to the CAG's personal coffee set and brought it over, the crystalline-ceramic set looking striking in the room. She began brewing fresh coffee for the pair while Sav engaged the XO.

Sav smiled to Cale, "Greetings Sir, I am Lt. Tillatix, the new CAG on board. I'm so happy to finally meet you, Sir. What brings you down? Sit rep? Personnel concerns? A pleasant visit, perhaps? And, how would you like your coffee?" As she said the last, the smell of fresh roasted real coffee began permeating the office air.

"Thank you, Lieutenant but I'm more of a hot chocolate man myself. I was just looking around the ship by more conventional means," he laughed about that thinking back to when he and Melody were fresh recruits and they learned the Jeffries tube network. "I am pleased to finally meet you, as well, Lieutenant. I apologize for taking so long but I am still getting used to being XO. I started out as Chief Science Officer. I am completing my doctorate now. And you, Lieutenant? What is your background?"

Sav churred gently, "Wow, a CSO background and getting your Doctorate, that is so Coolio, Sir." She motioned to Wyn who brought out an organic dark chocolate powder with natural plant sweeteners. "Before my background, first, my Tea Set has the accouterments to make you some hot chocolate if you want one?"

"Yes Lieutenant that would be most kind," Cale said feeling grateful.

Sav flicked her ears and tail once and Wyn began to work on a cup of rich, dark chocolate for Cale. As Wyn worked on that, Sav launched into her background. "I trained as a Bridge Command Specialist in the Academy, and then rescued a Starfleet Ship Repair tug out of an asteroid field with a Nova Class research vessel during my Cadet Cruise. I guess the brass were more impressed with my hotdogging in the rescue than what I took in the Academy and next thing I know, I am assigned here as the CAG." Sav churred gently, "Of course, nobody holds a candle to the flying Prowess of the illustrious Lieutenant Melody Jones, but I am trying to earn the far distant second spot."

"Most impressive , Lieutenant. You are quite right there. She is second to none. Can you tell me what happened between you and Lieutenant Jones, please?"

This question caught Sav totally unawares. Her body and face reacted in surprise as her ears flicked multiple times. She tilted her head slightly to the right as she tried to think of what Cale was talking about. "Ummm, Sir, I am not sure I follow you in 'what happened'. She and I have become great friends. It started with a drink in the round table, then she helped me unpack in my quarters, then... oh, I get it. The night before. You see, she had trouble sleeping, called me up, and then came to my quarters. I let her talk out her concerns about her Mom and Dad, what had happened in the past with them, and then helped her feel protected and we slept together on the couch, her and Nibbles tucked in with my tail. Is that what your asking about, sir?"

During the CAG speaking, Wyn had finished the cup of Cocoa and put it down onto the desk surface for when the XO was ready for it. She returned to her desk to be at the ready.

"Don't play coy with me, Lieutenant. You know full well what I am referring to. I want your side of what led to the slap Lieutenant Jones gave you," Cale said in his best authoritarian voice cultivated from Captain Barstow."

Once again, Sav's face and body reacted with total surprise, her muzzle and face showing an complete 'WTH' expression.

Meanwhile, in the background, Wyn hit the recorder in the CAG office for just in case. She had not heard any scuttlebutt about the 2O hitting another officer, and this could be a test by the XO to see how the CAG handled false accusations, or could be something happening hush hush among the brass and needed recorded anyway.

Sav shook her head in a short, quick burst as she tried to clear her thoughts and wrap her mind around what Cale just said. She was not sure what was going on, but as Cale had assumed an authoritarian attitude, she came to full attention as she now assumed this visit was part of the drills and training the Brass were putting Melody through, as far as she knew.

Sav answered as best she could, trying to help her friend out without making it obvious she was. She stated, "Sir. The Second Officer of the USS Merlin has never slapped me or caused any harm to me. She is an exemplary Officer and would never do such to another Officer without due cause, Sir."

"Then kindly explain why my Second Officer has been confined to quarters! I already know what happened, Lieutenant. I just wanted to see if you would put in all in perspective for me. But I see that you lack that kind of integrity. This visit is over and I strongly advise you to give me a wide berth from here on out."

Sav's total body showed shock. Her being on review for Melody's drills faded to concern for her friend. She exclaimed out, "WHAT are you talking about? Melody confined to QUARTERS? I was TOLD she was in Training and Drills for being Second Officer. What the HELL happened? WHY for this visit and WHY am I being kept in the DARK?"

Cale was taken aback by this little verbal/emotional outbreak. He almost fell over. He wondered how she had suffered amnesia. He decided to try something and reached out with his mind and tried to probe her emotional center. Then he thought about something. Starfleet Command took a dim view of probing another officer's mind even if said probing was done by a rank amateur. So he stopped.

Sav's face grew more confused at the sudden look on Cale's face, even as she felt the touch of someone trying to read her mentally. While her race was telepathic, her telepathic ability was wrapped into itself creating a naturally strong mental shield and allowing for her 'offshoot' of her cyberapathy. To initiate telepathic contact, a person had to touch her and initiate it, then it would work. However, she could always tell if someone tried, and Cale had just tried, without asking, meaning ill intent.

She jerked and backpedaled away from Cale, putting some distance between them. Fear was now upon her face and muzzle as thoughts of Cale maybe being a mole for Diostros on the Merlin. Her tail shook in a particular way to alert Wyn to call security.

At her desk, Wyn used her tail to push the call for Security, keeping her hands in plain view as she was not sure what was going on, but the CAG was fearful and the XO had been intimidating and had issued a veiled threat to her.

--Meanwhile--

Scarlet had been reviewing the staff shifts when the alarm beeped at his desk. As he saw that it was the CAG office, his eyes widened.

=/\= Computer, who is in the CAG office?=/\=

The computer voice paused for a second before listing off the people in the office.

"Shit." Scarlet nearly jumped over his desk to get through the door quicker. In the hallway he saw one of his crew and motioned for them to follow as he ran toward the turbolift.

Last thing anyone needed was for Lieutenant Tillatix to go feral on someone, especially the XO.

-- CAG Office --

Sav now whispered out, "You're... Telepathic?" She placed the desk between them as she continued, her voice a little louder. "Most telepaths ask if they can initiate, and YOU didn't... Why are you here? Maybe on orders from Fed Council? Using Melody as a ruse to get to me?"

Her body was trembling in fear, her eyes were wide open, and her ears were tucked in and back. Her claws were still sheathed. After all, this was still a 'fellow' crewmate. And, while the questions were kind of generic, they had to be as the overlays wouldn't let her ask exactly what she needed to say about Diostros. Besides, hopefully, they would buy time for Security to get there before this agent took her out and hid her on the Merlin till Diostros could get his bedding he had paid 5 million for.

"I'm not telepathic, Lieutenant. I apologize for initiating the mind link. It seemed so easy I just went with it. I"m sorry I'll leave. Again I'm sorry."

Sav was now confused, besides being scared. Maybe he knew Security was on the way? She called out, "Wait, Not Telepathic? Mind Link? And what about Melody?"

The door to the CAG office swished open as Scarlet and Ensign Lane quickly entered the room. While they didn't have their phasers drawn, each of them rested a hand near them.

Scarlet quickly looked at the three and was relieved at the lack of blood. "What is the problem here?"

Sav was so relieved to see Security having arrived. She was still slightly trembling from fear, but knew that would go away as Security would sequester them to ask questions.

"There's no problem, I was just leaving. Good day to the three of you," Cale said as he backed out the door panting.

To Scarlet, the XO couldn't have looked and sounded more guilty than if he'd been holding a sign saying 'I DID IT!'. Scarlet frowned as Cale left but without knowing the full story it would be unwise to keep him in this room.

Sav's lower jaw dropped open as the second officer, just nonchalantly backed out the door and left. Her confusion grew worse as she tried to get a handle on what the hell was going on. She looked across to security, her ears now out to each side as her countenance held complete confusion upon it.

Scarlets gaze fell on Lieutenant Tillatix, his hand still resting near his phaser. "What happened?" He paused and then looked down at his hand next to the phaser. Scarlet nodded to Ensign Lane and then crossed his arms over his chest as Lane adopted an easy posture. "Since the alarm was sounded I'll need to make a full report."

Sav's mouth worked momentarily without any words coming out, then she reached over and grabbed the desk, trying to calm herself and get some words out. "Sorry... I'm still trying to figure that out myself. Please, give me a second to get calmed.. his actions frightened me." Sav, being Mephetian, put a lot of automatic stock and trust into the chain of command and the officers residing in them. That the XO had done this had really rocked her to her core.

Scarlet glanced at Ensign Lane and nodded toward the door, indicating the young Ensign should leave. There was no signs of Tillatixs programming kicking in so he should be fine. He looked back to her and sighed. "Take your time and tell me what happened in your own words. Don't worry about being official, if it comes to that... that's my concern right now."

Sav took in a breath, then slowly released it. Standing up, she looked at David, "Commander Llewellyn came in for a visit. It seemed normal at first, XO getting to meet the CAG for the first them. Then, he asked about what happened between me and Melody, and I thought it was referring to the other night when I helped her with a dream about her Mother. However, then he asked me about what led her to slapping me. She never has, and so I thought it is part of the drills she is undergoing. Then.. he said she is confined to quarters and as I lack integrity, to give him a wide berth, giving cause for concern, and then he tried to read me with his mind somehow. That is when I got fully scared and gave the signal to Crewman Rhoderick to call for security. I peppered him with questions, trying to buy you time, and then, you're here, and... he's gone."

Scarlet bristled and glanced back at the door. XO or not, he had nearly frigged everything up. Regardless of if he agreed with the assessment from Wolf or the Commander, this was the decided course and he would ensure it was followed through. "I'll have to investigate, but in the meantime... don't let him back in here. At least not without him being escorted by myself or the Commander." Venom was dripping from every word as he spoke.

Sav noticed the glance, and then the anger behind David's words. She felt some of her fright, and adrenaline going away. She knew she would have the shakes after this. While she was now a department head, she was still a young officer and this was her first time for something like this since joining, and her body and mind were reacting, doubly so due to it having been with the XO. "I'll try sir. However, as XO, he can override anything I can put into place. As Chief of Security you would have to perform the access denied at the door." She shook herself, then asked, "Why.. does he blame me for what is happening to Melody? She is under training... isn't she?"

Scarlet had told Tillatix only the night before that he would protect this ship and her crew regardless of his personal feelings, he just didn't think it would come to this as quickly as it had. "There is an explanation Lieutenant." He said more calmly. "Unlike the XO who decided to go off half-cocked, I am going to speak with the Commander about what to share with you." He looked into her eyes and sighed. "Lieutenant, I can genuinely say that you have done nothing wrong here and that I will make sure this mess is cleaned up before someone else tries to stir up shit with you."

Upon the 'What to share with you', Sav brought a hand up to her chest, right below her throat, while her eyes opened wide to show concern. David's words just confirmed something had happened when she blacked out, and they were keeping it mum from her. Her fright began changing from scared of Cale to scared for Melody, the crew, and it was all because of her. David's next words caught her off guard, though, except for the pointed 'here' and 'with you', at least, pointed for what she heard in her current state of emotions. She managed to respond to David, "Thank you, Sir." Right now, she felt really small, and lost.

Wyn spoke up, "Sir, I started recording right after the XO told the CAG to tell her side of the story about the slap. I can replay it for you.?."

Scarlet looked over at Wyn, forgetting she had been present. "Very good, download it to my padd so I can review on my way to see the Commander and then show him as well if required."

Wyn immediately began typing across her console, which stopped the current recording and then sent the entire spiel, from Sav's response to the question to David requesting the video, along with personal, signed observation notes about what she had heard being asked from Cale to her CAG. She could tell Sav was having a hard time of it, and probably would need to sit for a spell after this just to get her bearings.

The console beeped and Wyn said, "Downloaded Sir, along with my signed observances of what was said to start this incident by the XO." She glanced at Sav, "Do you have any objections of me getting Lieutenant Tillatix to her quarters for some rest before she resumes her duties?"

Meanwhile, Sav was still standing there, like a deer in headlights, with her hand still upon her upper chest, watching, yet not seeing, what was happening between her assistant and Lieutenant Scarlet. She was still in light shock over what happened, especially as it was the XO who had caused this, and also that she WAS the cause of what was occurring to Melody, to her friend. That is what hurt even more, and she was having trouble wrapping her mind around everything.

Scarlet looked back and forth between Wyn and Tillatix. His eyes stayed on Tillatix a bit longer. While he still had his own opinions about this whole mess, it was his job to keep the crew safe. He had to wonder if the damage had already been done. He looked back to Wyn one last time and nodded. "Do it."

Wyn came to full attention, "Yes Sir, I'll get it done."

Remembering from the video, how she had seemed to come back to herself, Scarlet decided to try a different tact with Tillatix. "Lieutenant, you have a job to do." He said firmly. "You are an officer, act like it."

Sav at first did not really hear David as he had been talking with Wyn. Now, though, that David was looking at her she realized what he had said was to her. She was able to focus on him and managed to ask, "Sir?"

He stood firm at attention when he addressed her now. "You were given those pips. Show that you earned them soldier. Get yourself together and get back to work. Am I understood?" While he knew he could be abrasive, the words he was saying seemed foreign to him. Usually when he gave someone to talking down it was much less formal. But even he knew that swearing at Tillatix and berating her would only make this worse.

Sav looked at David's bearing, heard his words, and reacted to them. She came into attention as well, using him as a focus to work on throwing off the shock and getting her 'head back into the game' as it were. She nodded, "Sir, Lieutenant Scarlet, understood." She turned to Crewman Rhoderick, but as she using her duty to pull herself back together, she addressed Wyn in such a fashion. At least, for now. "Crewman Rhoderick, it is almost lunchtime. Let's get this wrapped up and current files stowed, then get to lunch."

Wyn nodded, realizing Sav was using her duty and commitment to it to get herself together and get them both out of here so Sav could have some time to come out of her shock and the adrenaline running rampant through her body. "Yes Ma'am, CAG, on it." She smiled to David, her whiskers and Tail flicking to him in thanks for getting the CAG moving again.

OFF:

Lieutenant Commander Cale Llewelyn
Executive Officer
USS Merlin NCC-84401

Lieutenant Save'ena A. Tillatix
CAG / Uroboros Squadron Leader
Bridge Command Specialist
USS Merlin

Crewman Wyn Rhoderick
CAG Personal Assistant
Fighter Maintenance Tech
USS Merlin

Lieutenant LG Scarlet
CTSO
USS Merlin