Rage Against the Committee
Posted on Thu Apr 4th, 2024 @ 3:21pm by Isabella Cerin & Rear Admiral Yoshi Minawara
Edited on on Thu Apr 4th, 2024 @ 3:23pm
Mission:
Shakedown Shake-Up
Location: Admiral's Office
Tags: Oversight Committee, Starfleet, Star Trek, USS Vesta
1602 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure
The doors to the Admiral's office opened, and like a tempest set free of its teapot, the members of the oversight committee pushed their way into the room, followed by an Ensign from the Admiral's team who looked horrified and apologetic all at once. "You're okay Ensign," Yoshi said to the Ferengi woman, who bowed her head and quickly departed the room. The Admiral watched as the gaggle of individuals settled themselves at the bottom of the small set of steps leading up to Yoshi's proper office space. Whitlock opened to speak, but Yoshi fixed him with a look that had become something of his signature - cool, impassive, and neutral, belaying a sense of authority he'd only recently found himself. It was starting to dawn on him the reason MacTaryn always looked mildly annoyed if you decided to speak up, it worked to get people to shut up and listen. Pushing back from his spot, the Admiral stood, pouring the rest of the coffee into both his and Isabella's cups, before picking his up and crossing the room silently towards the conference table. Whitlock and Woolsworth were joined by a small group of aides, who all suddenly shrank back a little. "Please, sit," Yoshi said, pulling out the chair to the right of the end of the table out for Izzy, before seating himself at the head of the table. He made no move to put out additional food or drink, and even less to ensure the comfort of the Committee members.
"I'm sure you have questions," he finally concluded with, gesturing to them.
"That would be an understatement." Woolsworth frowned tightly; and unlike the equal-opportunity fire directed at both the admiral and the diplomat in earlier meetings, in this she had a clear focus on Yoshi, barely registering Izzy as if having judged her innocent of the offense at hand and therefore irrelevant and insignificant at the moment. "This is a grave error; one which could have killed everyone aboard."
"An error anyone who has spent time aboard a starbase or starship might know," Yoshi retorted, his tone carrying a hard edge to it. "This entire project had the full backing of Starfleet Sciences, as well as the Vulcan Science Institute and the Denobulan Sciences Academy. A small army of people who have spent their lives studying the principals at play assumed this process was safe, and checked it off at the highest level. Starfleet Command was even aware of the planned test today and had selected our two starbases for being the least in the way and with the lowest count of civilian bystanders." He took sip from his cup, but never once took his eyes off the woman. "This is the life of Starfleet and those around Starfleet. If you find those conditions unwelcome, I am sure there is another desk somewhere safer you can occupy."
"What I do or do not find 'welcome' is not the point." Woolsworth retorted. "Exactly what went wrong, then, to lead to this outcome?" Her tone made it clear that something had best be known as to the cause, or it was possible a very unpleasant letter would be going to whomever at the VSI had signed off on things.
"Deep space sub-space anomaly. The leading theory is a microsingulary was caused somewhere along the field of the test causing an exponential power surge in the system and creating a three way entanglement for the briefest of moments." Yoshi paused, and the edges of his lips curled just enough that someone who knew him might notice. "Since I am sure the science is bit above what is considered standardized teachings, the explanation is rather quite simple. Our devices, which would have allowed the use of their own microsingularities to exist, and the subspace tunnelling to allow for the vast distances of subspace transport found an incredibly unlikely third partner, which was in an active state of decay. That much energy being unleashed so quickly allowed for far more matter to be capable of being transported. Fail safes, put in place to prevent catastrophe, kicked in and attempted to rectify the power surge, swapping the positions of the two stations near instantaneously." He looked to Izzy. "At this moment, unless I am mistaken, there have been zero reported casualties, and at worst a few minor injuries. The biggest issue I believe affects Miss Cerin - in that we find ourselves in a different jurisdiction than previous."
Whitlock took this moment to slip in. "Ah yes, the issue of civil matters. Matters of regional negotiations have changed. Miss Cerin, are you even briefed on this region? Surely it would be best to recall you to your own sector."
"The issue overall is being considered by the appropriate parties." The vague, bland toned statement wouldn't give the asshole anything to get his teeth into, versus anything more specific Izzy might have said. It was too much to hope that someone would recall this pair of overgrown overcoats; but she did have to wonder if they'd be managing to slip some subtle hint of their displeasure with their own superiors for sending them to this job into their report later.
"I'm sure. Starfleet interests in this sector are more contrived," Whitlock added, his own tone a somewhat forced cheerfulness. "And are you up to speed on this region's requirements? Is your team? What resources do you have available in this sector." His smile shifted, somewhat Cheshire in nature. "How can we assist you in this?"
You can fall into a black hole, maybe, thought Izzy acerbically. "At the moment, I believe the necessary processes are already in motion; however we will certainly keep you apprised of any items which come to light that could benefit from such, thank you."
Whitlock looked towards Woolsworth with a look that begged to have her jump in, but when he looked back towards Yoshi, he was met with a look that suggested his patience was wearing thin. "With respect, a lot is going on right now. I know that the Oversight Committee is eager to give us a thorough tongue-lashing, but unless this is actually important, and unless you have a pressing matter regarding something that isn't you needing to be bothering me, I am trying to make sure everything is still operating properly. Do either of you have something actually important, or are you just here to stroke egos?"
Woolsworth fixed Yoshi and Izzy with a penetrating icy stare that she held for a moment before abruptly standing. "We'll continue this later; but mark my words we will." She turned and strode purposefully out of the room, Whitlock following a moment later. As the door closed behind them, Izzy waited a moment, held a finger to her lips to forestall anything Yoshi might say in response, and pulled up the exterior view of the corridor outside the door on the monitor built into one wall, only speaking once she'd verified that the desk lizards weren't still standing on the other side of the door. "....Old habit. Plenty of people will linger outside a conference room to try and hear anything said about them after they leave." Whether she'd picked up the habit during her time in the RSE or during her time at her own agency headquarters wasn't specified, but quite possibly both. "They're going to seriously bite us in the ass if we can't contain them somehow..."
"They're going to bite themselves in the ass if they don't calm down," Yoshi muttered, letting out a long held breath. "I understand the committee is to make the Federation Council feel like Starfleet is being accountable, but at this point it is a serpent eating its own tail. If they keep this up, there isn't going to be an Admiral in the fleet that lets them on their bases and ships..." He sighed again, and stood to grab a pitcher of water, filling two glasses and placing them down. "They nip and bite, and poke and they're going to find themselves getting bit here soon." He quickly downed the glass, placing it on the table and turning to look out to the stars beyond. "Can I ask a favour - a personal favour? Can you find someone who can get a better conversation out of them, find out why they are so firmly stuck with sticks up their asses? Because at this exact moment my report to Starfleet simply said 'A threat to operational stability, recommend withdrawl'. I'd rather not the nuclear option if we have a way to peace first."
"Well, it won't be me; and it probably won't be Kairishana, either; considering they know she reports to me. I'll do some research and see what I can dig up further on them in terms of interests or ins; depending on the results I'll work on finding someone appropriate for the task." Izzy stretched and tucked a stray bit of hair back into her bun with a sigh. "I give at least a 50/50 chance that 'sticks up their assess' is unfortunately just their personality, though. Some jobs attract such."
"And yet, here you are as one of my favourite people to talk to," Yoshi chided, a smile working its way onto his face. "Thank you Izzy. I'll let you go, I am sure you have a pile of paperwork to crunch through, and all kinds of fires to put out. Should you need anything, let me know."
