ILLUMINARRPG: (4-1647) CSec/Tac - Lt. Commander T’Mur

[Al Muir]

Mission: for Honor

Day: 4

Stardate: 2446.04.28



(USS Illuminar - Deck 3 - Long’s Quarters – CSec/Tac - Lt. Commander T’Mur – 1647)


“No, ma’am. I apologize for my outburst.”



T’Mur raised an eyebrow, “Indeed. Your tantrum made several erroneous accusations towards me, Ensign. I understand humans say many things that they later regret in emotional situations.  But my experience has been that they are often the truth. If your desire is to not resign then perhaps you should, at least, be honest.”


“I do think that my desires or apology will matter much for the outcome, ma’am,” Long said.  “What is that phrase?  The good of the many, outweighs the good of the few? If the death of Joy Chinlo was my fault, logic demands that you remove me from the department to increase effectiveness. Prevent my incompetence from causing further damage.”


T’Mur consider responding but realized that Long had more to say. She stopped herself and let the woman’s rage follow its course.


“If the death of Crewman Chinlo was your faut then there is the simple fact that the rarer a resource, the more valuable it is. There are less Lieutenant-Commanders than Ensigns, ergo Lieutenant-Commanders are more valuable to Starfleet. And Starfleet promotes people based on merit. I am an Ensign, you are a Commander. So you are a better security officer. Both logic and strategy demand that you resolve this issue with the smallest loss of resources and investment.”



Long stopped looking at her and turned to stare out her window, “Compassion is not an option. A crewmember died, Starfleet Command or Captain Sekal will “bring down the hammer on the department if there is no sacrifice. Analyzing who is responsible is a waste of time and resource and will not change the outcome.”


Long stopped talking but did not turn back. T’Mur’s eyes narrowed. There was so much wrong with what she had just said and the Vulcan could not see how she hadn’t seen it before. She knew she was going to have to reevaluate her entire staff, including a full psychological evaluation.


If T’Mur allowed Long to continue to wallow in this self pity that they would not only lose her as an officer, but she might lose herself in the process. Her voice suddenly hardened.


“Ensign Long,” she said harshly. “Stand up and face me.”


(reply Long)


“How long have you served on this ship?” she asked still in a hard voice.


(reply Long)


“In all that time when have you ever noted that myself, or Captain Sekal, had surreptitiously denied anyone their due process? Have you ever seen me, personally, act in a manner that would be considered unfair?”


(reply Long)


“When have you noted that our lives are any more important than anyone else’s?” she continued her questions.


(reply Long)


“Now,” she said finally, “has anyone ever accused either of us as being compassionate?”


(reply Long)


“Then what makes you think this will start now?” She asked but did not give her time to answer. “Do you think that either of us have never lost someone under our command?  Of course we have. It is part of the job. We take responsibility for it, and do not make the same mistake a second time.”


“The axiom of the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, though at first apparently logical, it does not preclude any other circumstances. In fact, historically, it has been disproved as much as proved.”


T’Mur moved to the sofa and sat on the arm. “You made mistakes today. And yes, it cost someone their life. That cannot be denied. You did not follow clear protocols set up. And you are going to have to live with that.”


She paused for a moment then said, “But I was the command officer that cleared you for this duty. In the end,” she thought how Sienna would say it, “the buck stops here.  Although I’m not certain what a male deer has to do with anything. The meaning is that I am as responsible because I cleared you for the duty when, by the evidence, you were not ready. As you put it, that is on me.  The logic is irrefutable. But rest assured that I am not going to sit around for the rest of my life saying “Poor me. I killed someone.””


She stood up and put her hand on the woman’s shoulder and said, “Because the truth of the matter is that you did not actually kill her. That has not yet been determined. However, you are responsible for the circumstances, as am I.”


She stepped back and took a breath, then said, “Be that as it may there are two items. One, you are relieved of duty until I have had time to fully train you and ensure that you are familiar with all security procedures. You will perform administrative duties until that your training is complete. Do you understand?”


(reply Long)


“Secondly, I will be contacting the counseling department and you are to go through a full psychological evaluation. This will be required of everyone but you get the opportunity to be first. If you accept these conditions then I see no reason for your resignation. If not, then you will be allowed to disembark when we return to Federation space. What is your desire?”


(reply Long)

(posted by Al Muir)


NRPG: I apologize for the series of questions but hopefully I have given you room to answer any way you choose.



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