<USS Avalon> "Taking Out Frustrations" By Cmdr Sierra and Lt. Marksbury

"Taking Out Frustrations" 
By: Commander Javan Sierra and Lieutenant First Class Elissabeth Marksbury
 
 
Could Earth be any further away?  He was positive that not only had they not 
gotten any closer to Earth, but somehow they'd managed to turn themselves 
around and head in the opposite direction.  Things were just starting to piss 
him off in the most horrible way.  He looked over crew reports and physicals 
for his security teams - wow, what harrowing work he was doing.  Javan looked 
up as the chime went off and with a bit of a harsh tone he shouted out, 
"Enter!"  
 
Marksbury stepped into Sierra's office, seemingly unaffected by his shout.  
However, inside she was rather angry.  She worked very hard for him and he 
never seemed anything but grumpy, like she was a bother.  She wasn't working 
for the praise, but she didn't like being yelled at either.  

 
Approaching his desk, she stated rather coldly, "I'm here to speak to you about 
a certain security risk named Ensign Kyle Faust.  Here is his profile."  She 
handed Sierra the PADD.  
 
"Mr. Faust?"  He took the PADD and read over the contents rather briefly, 
"Explain the situation, Lieutenant."  
 
"You are aware of the first incident - caught with peripheral devices while on 
duty.  I reprimanded him myself and sent him to you for further correction.  He 
was returned to duty the next day, replaced a sick member of my team, and was 
responsible for the security breach involving the Rydyn delegate - which was 
all sorts of fun in the middle of the night.  I want something done about him, 
sir."  
 
He narrowed his eyes at her, "Lieutenant, what do you want me to do about it?  
Slap him on the wrists?  Want me to dangle him out an airlock while screaming 
for sympathy?  The best I can do is reprimand him, but you cannot demote below 
ensign and I sure as hell am not sending him to another ship."  
 
"How about relieving him of duty for some remedial training?  He obviously is 
having issues with the basics of security."  Her voice was no longer calm but 
rather icy.  Apparently Sierra was one to make her lose her temper.  She never 
had this problem on the Tempest. Lissi took another step toward his desk, 
obviously angry, but very much in control of herself.  
 
"Remedial training?  You mean relieve him of duty so I can relieve someone else 
of duty to train him?  Holodeck simulations, as I'm sure you're aware of, just 
don't cut it now a days."  He leaned forward on his desk and placed his palms 
on the cool surface, "You want me to relieve a member of your team so you have 
one less person to deal with the delegation?"  
 
"He is not a member of my team.  That, I would have protested from the start.  
I don't care what you do with him, Commander.  I just want him out of security 
before he causes more problems."  While she was speaking she placed her hands 
on his desk, leaning forward as well.  They were staring eye to eye.  Lissi 
hadn't shown that much anger in a very, very long time.  Faust had just grated 
on her every nerve and here was the security commander, not willing to do 
anything about it.  
 
"Well congratulations Lieutenant, because he just became your pet project.  
Effective once we reach Earth to dump the delegates or do God knows what with 
them, you'll get to spend your shifts in the holodeck and wherever else you 
need to go to train him," he smiled internally at his treachery, but she'd 
pushed for it, "I hope it's not an inconvenience."  
 
Lissi just glared at Sierra for over a minute.  It took that long for the fire 
to go out of her green eyes.  She breathed steadily to slow her heart rate and 
respiration, pushing aside her anger at Sierra and at herself for losing her 
temper.  She finally stood back to an upright position.  "Very well, sir.  I 
will train him.  Yes, it is an inconvenience as I have had my hands full with 
this Rydyn delegation you assigned and assume I will be just as busy after the 
stay on Earth.  Though I think you are being highly unfair by taking one of 
your highest officers off duty for such a task because I was the one with the 
courage to stand up to you on this potentially dangerous matter."  Her voice 
was calm and quiet again.
 
"Seeing as how you're one of my, how did you put it, 'highest officers' I see 
no other person better suited.  Secondly, I also stated that you'll commence 
this rescue mission once we've dropped our delegation off at Earth.  On the way 
to our next mission you'll have plenty of time."  He sat down and went back to 
his PADDs, "Is there anything else, Lieutenant?"  
 
"I'd like to know why you dislike me so very much."  
 
"Who said anything about disliking you?"  

"No one but you, just not in so many words.  You see, I am not used to being 
treated so...shabbily by superior officers.  Most of them can recognise an 
excellent job when it is done and appreciate the work behind it.  You, however, 
barely speak to me and when you do, it's as if I am grating on your last nerve. 
 I apologise for speaking so frankly.  I believe in the chain of command and I 
respect it, sir.  But I also know that we could accomplish a lot if we worked 
together, actually speaking on a daily basis.  Then perhaps we wouldn't stand 
here sniping at each other."  
 
He tossed a PADD on the table, "Listen to me, Lieutenant, and listen to me very 
closely.  You do excellent work, I'm not doubting that.  If you want praise, 
you're asking the wrong person.  As for getting on my last nerve, well, you'd 
have to do a hell of a lot better than this.  Speak frankly if you want, 
Lieutenant, I don't care.  I am letting you train him specifically because you 
are the best to do it, I'm not denying that."  
 
"I'm not asking for praise, commander.  I am asking to not be treated as if you 
despise my presence.  I would like us to have a good working relationship and 
not this...this awkward anger brewing.  I don't get angry easily."  She 
slightly laughed at herself.  "I guess you bring that out in me."  
 
"I have that affect on people.  Lieutenant, you're a damn fine officer.  Your 
record shows that," Javan sat down and clasped his hands on the table in front 
of him, "I understand your hostility.  I'll make an effort to better cooperate 
with you as you have asked.  I'm not a close working man.  I supervise and 
delegate and take action when necessary and it has never failed me in the 
past."  
 
"And seems a rather effective process - security on this ship is excellent.  
However, I am from the camp that chooses to be approachable by my 
sub-ordinates.  It facilitates communication and reprimands tend to have more 
effect if they like you enough not to want to disappoint you.  I suppose it is 
only natural for us to butt heads when we are so very different in leadership 
styles.  I apologise, Commander, for getting out of line earlier.  And I don't 
mind training Faust, either.  As irritating as I find him, it will be nice to 
know that he's trained properly."  She gave him one of her sweet and disarming 
smiles.  
 
He nodded and smiled, "Excellent.  I look forward to hearing about his 
progress.  If there isn't anything further, you're dismissed."  
 
Marksbury turned to leave, but stopped herself, "Oh, and thank you for the 
compliment."  She walked towards the door. 
 
Javan smiled as she left, "You're welcome." 



                
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