Unexpected Promotion

Posted on Wed Apr 10th, 2024 @ 2:48am by Lieutenant Dr. Daniel Brasken & Ensign Mika Petrova
Edited on on Wed Apr 10th, 2024 @ 2:48am

Mission: In-Between (S1:E7-S1:E8)
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Date 2371-09-23 at 1330
2178 words - 4.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Promotions were completed and Daniel had been able to take the time to process the changes on the ship. Between the recent attack and the subsequent personnel shuffling and promotions it was almost like being on a brand new ship. Granted the command crew was mostly in place, but the rest of the ship was taking time to file away as the doctor was always sure to study anyone that would be in his general vicinity for an extended period of time. Their health being his responsibility was arguably a reason for it as well.

Now though, it was time to get to dealing with the changes to his own department.

Namely the child and sister of the aforementioned command structure; Mika’s assignment as his direct assistant would require more energy and attention than others just to make sure that there wasn’t another problem like from her final exam.

“Ensign Petrova, please join me in my office.” Daniel sent out the COMM summons, assuming she wouldn’t be too far away with her first shift soon to start.

Mika was standing in corridor outside the main sickbay entrance speaking with two nurses in low voices. They were exchanging pleasantries and talking about her promotion, but she was trying her best to keep the apprehension out of her voice. The tense relationship between her and Brasken had settled, mostly because she had done everything in her power to avoid him. She knew that would no longer be possible. When the comms produced his voice calling her, her heart dipped.

“Yes sir. I’ll be right there.” She said with a pressing of her delicate lips. She gave a fearful goodbye to the nurses and then entered Sickbay.

“You called me, Doctor?” She asked, pausing at the threshold of his office.

A muscle in Daniel’s jaw twitched slightly at her question as he resisted the sharp retort that came to mind. They would be working closely together now and even if he thought her appointment was largely influenced by her family, it wasn’t anything he could do anything about. Might as well play politics at this point.

“Indeed. Come in and have a seat.” Daniel moved an arm to indicate one of the chairs opposite him.

Mika moved in as requested and sat down in the chair on the other side of his desk. She placed her hands on her legs, then moved them into her lap in a silent display of self-consciousness. She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak first.

“As you are now a full officer and assigned to sickbay, I wanted to get an idea for what you were looking to get out of this assignment.” Daniel leaned forward, resting his forearms on the edge of his desk as he looked at Mika. His demeanor was relaxed but still he wanted to make sure she understood this was a meeting as superior and subordinate, not colleagues.

“I wasn’t ..” she started, as her mind searched for the answer to his question. “I wasn’t expecting this promotion at all, honestly. It feels..a bit premature to me. I guess what I really need is to learn how to lead. That will be required of me in my role as a shift leader.”

She looked at him, wondering if she had given the answer he was looking for.

“How to lead?” Daniel nodded. Being as young as she was, proper leadership ability would be important if she wanted to be taken seriously or anything resembling respect. Age and experience being the primary ways to get respect in the Empire, though bloodline was something in her favor whether he liked it or not. “Reasonable plan. Premature or not is something yet to be determined, though others I’m sure will have already made their own minds up. What do you think of that?”

She wanted to be honest with him about her hesitations and anxieties, but her past experiences with him told her showing that vulnerability might do less in her favor than she would hope. She frowned, thinking about what it might be liked to be resented for her station. It wasn't really something she had experienced much outside of academics.

"I was the first in my class until I came to the Delta Quadrant. I'm smart enough, and I worked very hard. I sacrificed everything, really. And some others were resentful of me. They were mean, of course, but I mostly just ignored them. I'm concerned I won't be able to ignore such behavior as Assistant Chief. And I can't simply call for help every time a personnel concern arises."

"Correct." Daniel smirked slightly at her overall body language. She was surprisingly accurate for how naive she somehow was. "Observation of those under your command is quite important. Learning how each reacts to different stimulus as well as their likes and dislikes can be particularly important."

"I admit to pushing you possibly harder than was necessary during your testing. I am not apologizing, mind you. The lesson I was trying to impart is important." Lyra had chastised him after that encounter and he wanted to make sure another blow up like that wouldn't happen again. "Learn what people want from you, but know your limits as well."

Mika was fascinated by the admission, more confused than anything else about how he could acknowledge he had been heavy handed and excessive in his evaluation of her and still not be apologizing. Her brows faltered, and her pretty features flashed stress at the subject being broached.

"Thank you, Doctor. I'm sure you knew what you were doing, and I trust I experienced things the way I did for a reason. Hopefully, I can take what you teach me and apply it as a leader in this department." she said, petting her exposed thighs with her well-manicured hands, comforting herself. "Is there anything you think I should know before I get started?"

Daniel thought about this to himself for a good few seconds. In his opinion there wasn't much of leadership that could be taught outside of experience and situational moments. So he settled on shaking his head and finally breaking his firm physical seating and sat back in his chair. "Some things you have to see in action or experience to truly understand the nuances. I think we will leave it at that for now."

Mika frowned momentarily. She had honestly been hoping for more, but she supposed he knew what he was doing and would tell her if there was something he thought she should know. That is, assuming he bore her good will and wanted to see her succeed. She smiled, pretty and innocent.

“Thank you, Doctor. I don’t want to take up any more of your time. I’ll let you know if I have any questions.” Mika said, and went slightly awkward. “Permission to leave, sir?”

Daniel caught the frown and could easily see it was from disappointment that he didn't have more for her. Perhaps his brevity on the subject was unfortunate in her opinion, but now he saw a teachable moment. "Disappointed, Ensign?" He sat forward a little, his forearms on the edge of the desk and his hands laced together.

"I thought I explained my thoughts and reasoning fairly succinctly, yet you frown because you expected more? Or is it that you feel you deserve more?" He paused only a moment before continuing. "Either is understandable, however, as a leader you must be mindful of what you show to others. Even more so since your position far exceeds your experience and rank. None of this is news to you considering your family, so I am a bit concerned as to why you are so easy to read."

What did he want from her, exactly? Was it because she didn't make him feel helpful? Mika felt a wave of both frustration and anxiety at her superior's sudden flip from a friendly and passive approach to a rather more aggressive and personal one. She looked toward the exit, a clear subconscious signal that she wanted to get away from him.

"My family taught me to be respectful, sir." she said, not intending it to sound biting, but it did. "Are you upset with me because I wanting you to.."

She stopped herself, shook her head, and the expression drained from her face. The irritation in her eyes, however, went nowhere.

"I will have to learn to hide myself a bit better, sir." she said, looking to the exit again. "In the past, it has been enough simply to be competent, diligent, and responsible. I was taught that was what was required of a good doctor."

Daniel noted the change in her anxiety level and mentally gave a long sigh. The girl was so skittish and this was something that could be taken advantage of by a subordinate that wants to just pressure her into giving them what they want whether it is the right option or not. Outwardly though his face was neutral as he held up a hand in a calming gesture.

"I think perhaps our wires are getting a bit crossed in delivery and reception. I am not meaning to be aggressive, just direct." He sat back to help make his stance more relaxed.

"Well then I will try to be direct as well, following your lead." she said, tapping the foot of her crossed leg in the air. "I came to you for proactive help to better myself as a doctor and leader of doctors. I'm aware I'm green, and I know you have things to teach me. I didn't expect not being readable to be one of them and, to be honest, Doctor, it doesn't really seem like you were particularly interested in helping me until you saw a glimpse of disappointment from me."

"To be clear. I did not see a lesson that was readily apparent to teach you until you showed disappointment. Are you really so set in your idea of me being the villain that you are actively choosing to ignore what I have already said?" Daniel sat back further and rubbed his eyes. It was a good thing that she was a competent healer because those were needed on this voyage of the damned. If she were not then accidents might start happening to her just to get her reassigned elsewhere. "I have every intention to help you and indicate where you might be able to improve and learn, but to sit here and just run through the same information that can be learned from a textbook is a waste of both of our time."

Daniel continued without letting her speak. "You are intelligent and shrewd enough to be able to study said texts on your own and come to me if you have specific questions. I will be happy to discuss your thoughts on any matter and as stated I will direct you as I see situations in our duties as I can. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a teacher. I hope in our limited interactions that you have been able to glean why that is."

She understood exactly why. He was fragile and impatient. She had hurt his pride when she wasn't happy with him, even though he still wasn't lifting a finger to help her. Mika had put up with Brasken's combative knit-picking of her character for as long as she'd wanted to, but conflict wasn't her preferred way of dealing with people; even people like him.

"Perhaps a list of books then, sir?" she asked with a tight jaw. She wasn't happy, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of having something else to bawl her out about. "If you can't do that, sir, then I'll just ask another department head for their help since you aren't a teacher."

He quashed the instinct to respond physically and simply picked up a PADD to load up a quick list of leadership based books. Daniel was willing to work with the girl, but if she wasn't willing to see his effort then he would just be happy for this encounter to be done with. Perhaps working actively in the department would show her the reality that applying theory isn't so cut and dry.

He stood and offered the PADD to Mika. "I'll expect you to have this list read in a month. That should allow you to keep up with your work. Dismissed."

Mika accepted the PADD and looked down at it. The recommended books weren't familiar to her and there were quite alot of them, but she was studious and she would no-doubt bend over backwards to get them read in time. It was a good think her romantic interest was so-often unavailable.

"Thank you, sir." she said, avoiding eye contact with him and offering the Terran salute. "Glory to the Empire."

She turned then and walked out of the office with surprising speed, not hesitating for even a moment.

END