Joint Log | FAdm. Malone & RAdm. Denterius | "Pissing off the Boss"

Posted on 241409.25 @ 7:38pm by Rear Admiral Kassandra Harper & Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone

Mission: Insurrection [Fleet Plot]

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Her gaze hadn't left the twinkling lights of the ships that were around them as her thoughts had wondered over everything that had happened. But now, as she stood upon the transporter, she knew it was time to face the music before everyone... everyone that hadn't been there. She'd spent enough time looking out the windows of her quarters procrastinating after Fischer told her they had arrived.

A slight nod was given to the officer. "Transport"

"Aye, Admiral" Was all the Marine said before moving his hand over the console.

Lost into the blue space, she found herself once more back together on Malones ship.

The customary aide was waiting for her in the transporter room. "Welcome aboard Admiral." Smiled the nice blonde Lieutenant Commander. "Follow me, Admiral Malone is expecting you."

That didn't surprise her... "Lead the way." Kassi said as she moved from the transporter pad over to where the other woman stood. One hand gripping the cane, her other holding tight to the PaDD she'd brought with her. She walked silently with the woman, not bothering to look around to all that they passed. Only giving subtle nods of her head to those that came to attention in the process. This wasn't the first time visiting the man, and knew well the routine that they had to go though. Though for her, the longer the process the more time she had to work on keeping her head on straight for this meeting.

The journey to the Admiral's office wasn't a particularly long one, and in no time at all, they'd arrived. "Please go in, Admiral." The aide said, smiling brightly still.

As they stood in front of the office she sighed, damn.. it hadn't been long enough. "Thank you." She said softly to the Aide before stepping away from her and into the office.

Lack of sleep and eating right probably wasn't helping the pained look in her blue eyes as she looked at Kerry. "Figured I better check in, Admiral." She said simply, likely at a loss for anything better to say at the moment.

Kerry looked up, and was actually shocked at the bedraggled and strained appearance of Admiral Denterius. "That was kind of you." He replied. "Dear God Kassi, you look terrible!"

"And here I tried putting on my best Uniform." The very weak comeback was about the best she could come up with as she looked at him.

"When was the last time you slept, and when was the last time you ate?" He asked, alarmed, moving up from behind his desk to stand in front of her in his own office.

She nipped lightly on her lower lip as she pondered that. "I had a granola bar last night." Likely only because Jace had threatened to take her to sickbay and let the CMO deal with her if she hadn't, and she hadn't been about ready to let some CMO try to take her off duty again. "As for sleeping, I doze here and there. I'll be fine Sir."

"Once you're done here, you'll report to sickbay." He instructed. "I'm going to leave orders that you not leave until you've had 24 hours rest. Am I clear, Admiral? You're of no use to me in this state."

She didn't answer right at first, as she tried to decide of she wanted to argue that point, though deciding that it likely would be a wasted effort she sighed softly and tried not to mutter. "Crystal clear, Admiral."

"Good." Malone said, moving to go sit back down behind his desk. "Now then, in your opinion, what went wrong at Zetari?"

"I didn't foresee Captain Sa'Tak pulling the stunt he did. We should have gotten a team on the Station to shut the computers down, or figured out a way to stop the self destruct from happening." Kassi knew that logically that still might not have worked, but it was the only plan she could have thought to try. "Other than that, everything was going smooth... well, as smooth as a fight can go."

"I have reviewed the sensor data that you transmitted to us, and have seen an analysis of everything you had available to you." Malone said, calmly, forming a steeple with his hands on the desk. "There was no way you could've prevented the self-destruct, and had you beamed a team over, you would've needlessly killed said team, and would no doubt feel worse than you do right now."

He sighed and looked at her. "There was nothing you could've done to prevent it, Kassi. No one could've done it any better than you did. Not me, not Sharpe, no one. I'm sorry you had to experience what you did - but there is nothing you can reproach yourself for."

"I suppose, still doesn't make this all any easier." She said softly as her gaze dropped a little. She knew what he said was true, but she also knew it would take time for her to move on from this. A hand lifted to brush a strand of hair from her face as she looked back to him. "So now what?"

"Now, we make those bastards sorry that they were ever born, Miss Denterius." Kerry said, smirking. "We're going to hit them with everything we have, at multiple places, at the same time."

She had to admit that the idea of getting back at them was a good sounding idea, and something she would enjoy seeing happen... She was scared, and even more so unsure of what Kerry was meaning by we. "I was meaning for me... and those that managed to make it back."

"Once you're back on your feet, you and your forces will be assigned to the liberation of Alpha Centari." Malone said, calmly. "Shouldn't be too difficult, just sporadic defenders and possibly some resistance on the ground. Nothing major, and nothing you can't handle."

Wait... she blinked and just looked at him like he'd lost his ever loving mind. "You think you are sending me back out there to lead this thing again? No, not happening. You can find someone else, someone with better luck at this stuff." Kassi said with a shake of her head, of course leave it to now for her anger to pop up and show itself.

Kerry looked up from the PADD he'd been reading, and stared at Kassi. "Why do people think I go around giving suggestions, Admiral? I gave you an assignment."

Malone could feel his irritation rising, all those months of impotent rage at the attrocities that had been committed by his own people. His anger overflowed, and he snapped at Kassi. "You're a Rear Admiral in the United Federation of Planets Starfleet - act like it, or cash in your pips right here. I don't have the time or the inclination to hand-hold you through your emotional bullshit right now. Go get some sleep, something to eat, then get your ass on the Vesuvius, and get to Alpha Centari."

Well damn if that didn't cause all the emotional running thoughts in her brain to come to a halt as she looked at him wide eye. Surprisingly, the handing in her pips didn't even register to her... as if that wasn't even an option. Likely one that she'd be questioning herself about later when she wasn't still in shock of Malones chewing out. Granted, she'd asked for it but hell she running scared right now. Then again, perhaps this was what she needed?

Swallowing hard as her body seeming to straighten up more before him, blasted Marines had been rubbing off on her on that part it seemed. Looking at him more fully, her voice soft yet crisp as she spoke. "Aye, Admiral."

"Go to sickbay, Denterius. Dismissed." He said, firmly and with a hint of annoyance at her.

With a slight nod, unsure what else if anything was needed to be said, she turned and headed out. Though she wasn't thrilled with the idea of sickbay, she wasn't about to try and avoid it now, the last thing she needed to do was piss off Malone even more... and maybe some sleep and food would be helpful.

= End Log =

Fleet Admiral Kerry Malone
Starfleet CinC

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Rear Admiral Kassi Denterius
TaskGroup CO
TaskGroup 1.4