Draw the Line

Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2020 @ 4:22am by Captain Nycolas Temple & Cailus Griffin
Edited on on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 7:45am

Mission: New Moon Rising
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: 0800 hours

It was the morning after the Tzenkethi crisis had occurred and Nyx was back in his Ready Room, getting prepared to meet the day's demands. Though he had hated to leave his sleeping wife, the duties of a Captain were calling. There had been one minor issue pressing on Nyx's mind since yesterday, something he needed to have clarified first before he could proceed with his regular tasks. That was, of course, the sudden arrival and none-too-clear reputation of their new Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Mindo.

Deciding to get intel from someone he could trust to be impartial and honest, Nyx had called Lieutenant Griffin to his Ready Room to discuss the situation.

First thing in the morning, the lieutenant was (by his standards) relatively content, the stress of the previous day lost in the night. Strolling onto the Bridge a few minutes earlier than usual, he made directly for the Captain's Ready Room, tapping the chime without hesitation.

At being allowed entry, Cailus took three precise steps inside before putting his hands behind his back, the back ramrod straight. "Reporting as ordered, Captain."

"And not a minute to spare," Nyx remarked with an eyebrow raised, "Please, take a seat."

Sitting down stiffly, Cailus restrained a brief flash of concern; being asked to sit down with the captain, alone, was rarely a sign of good tidings.

"Lieutenant, as I'm sure you are aware by now, we have received new crew members from the USS Tornado," Temple began, "Suffice to say, I'm becoming increasingly concerned about what exactly went on at your old ship."

Looking straight back at the captain, Cailus simply nodded, realising where this was going. "Yes sir," he said simply in reply.

"Lieutenant Mindo has more addendums to his service record than you do," Nyx replied, trying not to sound too stern, though he was obviously worried, "Anything you can tell me about your time together on the Tornado that I need to be concerned about?"

Cailus' expression was utterly blank as he considered, subconsciously clasping his hands together. "Captain," he said stiffly, "many of the events that took place on the Tornado were heavily classified. I am aware that Lieutenant Brennan has confided in you, sir, but there is more that she could not tell you. Information was voluntarily provided to us in the strictest confidence, and as such we are bound to stay true to that."

Nyx leaned back in his chair, "Classification is a matter of context, Lieutenant. I've spent enough time within the Intelligence community to see many surprising things, both withheld and released from classification. And I could reach half a dozen Admirals on subspace comms to grant me whatever I need. But that would just give me reports. Reports aren't what I'm after."

"It's your opinion that matters to me," Nyx concluded, "Is there anything you believe I need to be concerned about?"

Sitting very still for a moment, Cailus gave it some very, very serious thought before leaning forward, nodding reluctantly as he rubbed his bearded chin. "There's junk in Mindo's past, sir. That much is obvious. Having investigated him at length, however, I am prepared to say that Mindo presents no threat to this ship or the crew. He was...innocent." Pausing, Cailus frowned. "Moreover, Captain, I've seen Mindo's technical scores and what he can do in Engineering. He's young and inexperienced, but in terms of raw talent, he is also the best starship engineer I've ever seen. In either century."

Nyx nodded along as he listened; believing that Cailus was being as truthful as he could be. However, a pause in a sentence could say a million things that words could not, and he certainly noticed the Security Chief's hesitation before the word "innocent" was said.

"If that's your opinion, Lieutenant, then I shall abide by it," Temple replied, "I trust your assessment of the crew. Do you think approaching Mindo about his past issues would be worthwhile? If not directly with me, perhaps with our Counselor Dr. Oakley?"

Cailus was already shaking his head even before Nyx had finished speaking. "I wouldn't recommend that, sir. Mindo isn't particularly trustful of authority figures, or even counselors. For that matter, he most certainly doesn't trust me. In all three cases, I don't really blame him." Hesitating, he rubbed his chin as he considered. "However, captain, you're by far the most...friendly...CO I've ever met, and I suspect your instincts are much sharper than mine in this regard. Mindo is very informal, as well. Even without discussing his past, it would help to give you a sense of the man."

'Again with the pauses.' Nyx thought wrly.

But he shrugged, "I will try the friendly approach then, thank you for the advice. My main aim is to draw a line under the events of the Tornado and start fresh here on the Pandora. Do you believe that's possible?"

At that, Cailus' eyebrow raised in a purely sarcastic, Vulcan manner. "We're Starfleet, captain. If I remember the motto correctly, the impossible is our business. Despite everything...I suspect that Mindo has it within him. With a little help. Given that Shae is trying to do something very similar, I have to believe it's possible."

The captain smiled, albeit briefly, "Indeed, we will certainly help them as best we can." It was his turn to pause now. "Without wishing to appear critical of a fellow Captain, I will not allow the Pandora to descend into such... irregular behaviour. I am entrusting you to uphold Starfleet regulations to the letter and even the hint of impropriety by an officer, I expect to be notified."

His spine stiffening, Cailus nodded curtly, privately glad to hear such a clear order given. For all his oddities, Temple's attitude was a refreshing one. "Heard and understood, aye Captain. I'll keep a weather eye on things."

Temple relaxed a little and sighed, "I trust your capabilities, Lieutenant, I do, and I'm sorry to sound so anxious about this. But I don't want anyone under our care coming to the same distress that occurred on the Tornado. It's not the standard of behaviour I want the Pandora to be known for. As Captain, that's on me to prevent."

There was a brief silence as Cailus glanced out the viewport, as grim and serious as ever. "Captain, are you familiar with the Battle of Khitomer, back in 2293? Where they ended up signing the Accords?"

"Of course," Nyx replied, "One of the pivotal moments in Federation history. Though I hope you're not about to suggest there are similar conspirators onboard the Pandora?"

"No, sir, of course not," Cailus said with a shake of his head as he leaned back in his seat. "My point is that...well, I was on the old Independence back then, on the edge of the Klingon Neutral Zone. One day, we were preparing to invade their space and support the Enterprise's rescue mission. The next day, after we got word about what had nearly happened at Khitomer, Captain Ciliax assembled seven of us in the ship's cargo bay. Two engineers, three science officers, the ship's doctor and myself."

Cailus' tone became bitter as his eyes met Nyx's. "An hour later we had arrested half the command staff for treason, and the rest of the crew was confined to quarters because their innocence could not be conclusively proven. We brought the Indy back to Starbase 12 with only eight of us manning the ship, and Starfleet Security spent the next three weeks making sure there were no other traitors aboard. Given what happened back then, Captain, and what happened on the Tornado a few months ago...I don't think there's any such thing as 'too anxious' or 'paranoid'. Even out here."

"Wow," Nyx replied, the breath leaving his body for a moment as he contemplated Griffin's story. "I'm not sure I find that terribly comforting. It would be too much to hope for that we had moved on from those days of disloyalty and secret agendas. Though I suppose the one reassurance I can get is that you are indeed a trustworthy officer, Lieutenant. Back then and now."

Cailus shifted uncomfortably at that, as uncomfortable as ever at Nyx's odd manner. Such clear trust actually stiffened his back his little, retreating to formality as a comfort. "That's the job, sir. To be loyal. For what it's worth, it is reassuring that you take a hard line on that kind of nonsense, even if I may not express that in an obvious manner."

Frowning, he continued reluctantly, "I am aware that I have a stick up my rear end, as people in Sec/Tac say, especially when compared to the rest of the senior staff. Lieutenants Brennan and Mindo are very friendly and amicable, for instance, whereas I am not. Please understand that this is not out of disloyalty, or excessive paranoia, or out of dislike for yourself or anyone else on the crew. Nor is it because I am a closet Vulcan at heart. It's just that such informality was much more uncommon in the Starfleet that I knew, especially for captains and XOs in a professional setting."

Nyx couldn't help but smile at the Lieutenant's comment, "I understand, Mr. Griffin, and I will likely continue to make you uncomfortable with my informality for as long as we serve together. But that's an issue for another day. Thank you for coming to see me, Lieutenant, I appreciate your honesty once again."

OFF