A Brief Meeting

Posted on Wed May 15th, 2024 @ 3:57am by Lieutenant Commander Annalise Faulkner & Lieutenant Commander Andrei Petrov

Mission: S1 Episode 8: Resolutions
Location: Ready Room; Vengeance
Timeline: Date 2371-11-11 at 1200
957 words - 1.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Following the Briefing, Captain Faulkner had asked Andrei to meet her in the Ready Room so that they could have a chat about things going forward. He had agreed, of course, after making some excuse for not coming right away. The entire situation was still a shock to him, and surreal, if he was honest, but he wasn’t known to be honest about such things.

He pressed the chime outside what he supposed was her new office, his fist clenching tightly for a moment before he forced it to release. He would get through this by doing his job well, and he would find a cure if it was the last thing he ever did. His greatest hope was that Annalise Faulkner wouldn’t stand in his way.

“Come in.” Annalise called out, knowing it was Andrei so there was no tone of curiosity behind it. She was up on her feet standing near the couch and viewport with a PADD in her hand. All of Ivan’s belongings had been taken out at the man’s request, so the ready room was looking like the Vengeance had just rolled out of the shipyards. When the door opened, she turned, and offered a nod of greeting to Andrei.

“Commander, please come and have a seat. Would you like some coffee or tea?” She asked, gesturing toward the couch.

“No, I’m perfectly hydrated. Thank you.” He answered, and came in as he had been bid. He sat down in the chair across from her desk and adopted an informal positioning, leaning with his arms on his legs. “I can see you’ve got a lot of decorating to do.”

Annalise gave an internal sigh as Andrei pointedly sat away from where she had indicated. She had wanted to keep this a bit more casual, but if he was going to resist it, she would deal with it. She returned to the desk and took a seat behind it. “I’ll get to it in time. For now I wanted to have this meeting to hear any concerns you might have.”

“Well, the first thing is how you plan to proceed in the next few days.” He said, not bothering to hear around the bush. “When we break orbit, what are your intentions?”

“We will be setting our course back for the Alpha Quadrant. We’ll keep an open line of communication to the… colony… for as long as we are able in case anything was forgotten.” She crossed her legs and sat back in the chair, her delicate hands resting on the arms. It was a far cry from the imposing figure Ivan projected when he sat there.

“And then?” He asked, his face neutral, but his visible eye mooting hers with stark silver intensity. “What is your plan to find a cure for this virus. The Vidiians and the Kazon will pose a threat to the Away Team the longer they remain on the planet. I would suggest we fall in A Vidiian ship and take the information from their computers. I can have Lieutenant Nyseth and Commander Cassiel in the lookout for one right away.”

This time, the sigh Annalise gave was audible. She looked away from Andrei and out toward the planet they were still orbiting. “Commander… I know this is a very difficult time for you with the loss of your family and my heart breaks for the people down on the planet, but I cannot endanger the lives of so many others for them.”

“This isn’t about your heart breaking, Captain, it’s about saving Terran lives. And it isn’t about my feelings either.” He shot back quickly, his tone direct, commanding, and hot. But then he paused, leaned back in the chair, and took a breath. When he spoke again, it was softer. “The command is yours now, Annalise. You have the power to save our people. There isn’t a person on this ship that’s comfortable leaving them behind. We at least have to try. You have a responsibility to try.”

“You would see me sacrifice nearly two-hundred souls in the name of sixteen?” Annalise challenged, her voice calm even in the face of his heat. “How is that a responsible decision?”

“We risk our lives all the time, for money, for power, and to get home.” He said to her, answering without needing to think. “It’s good enough to save our own crew. There are loved ones and superior officers down there.”

He eyed her, his mind moving, but he said nothing more.

Annalise didn’t point out that the only loved ones and superior officers down on the planet were his own family, but she looked at him with a meaningful coolness for a moment. “We are not going to go out of our way and risk the destruction of this fleet for sixteen people. I know this is difficult for you especially to come to terms with, but with time I am sure you will understand. Is there anything else?”

“I understand. I understand perfectly well.” Andrei said, standing up with his jaw and both fists clenched. He was full of tension and his large frame seemed primed and ready to destroy something in mere seconds. He didn’t bother gracing her with more words; her mind was made up. “Permission to leave, Captain?”

“Dismissed, Commander.” Annalise replied and looked away from him. She’d give him time. Right now things were very raw and she wouldn’t be offended by his manner.

Andrei turned and stormed out of the room like either a petulant child or a warrior on the rampage; only time would tell which one.

END