An Andorian's Honor

Posted on Fri Nov 1st, 2024 @ 6:03am by Captain Aisling Banerjee & Lieutenant Commander Dar'Kulthislian th'Voluthrianshain

995 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Crew Shakedown
Location: USS Spartacus, Star Base One

Captain Weaver rubbed her eyes and turned to stare out the window of her ready room. This was not the sort of challenge any starship captain wanted to face. Not only would this follow Gunny Dar'Kulthislian around like a dark cloud but it could very well impact his goal to earn his own captaincy. She blamed herself. In the wake of last year's insanity she had fought like hell to keep her senior staff together while officers were being promoted to fill gaps in the chains of commands of other ships. If she had suggested Gunny go to command school when she had the chance....

She sighed. Well, there was nothing else she could do now. The request for transfer was on her desk, waiting for her to sign off on it. She tapped her comm badge, "Commander Dar'Kulthislian, my ready room, if you please..."

Dar'Kulthislian heard the Captain's call and responded into his own comm badge, "Aye aye Captain." He left his terminal and briskly made way to the ready room. He paused for a moment before he tapped on the terminal to alert that Captain that he was outside. He was not looking forward to the conversation to come.

Weaver wasn't the sort to keep people waiting, nor was she the sort to pretend to be busy with work while a person stewed, standing in front of her desk. "Come!" she called out and the doors swooshed open.

Dar'Kulthislian entered the room with miltary precision, His shoulders were back and his back was stiff as a board. "As ordered, Sir" he said while standing at attention.

She set down the PADD in her hand and motioned to the chair opposite her desk, "Sit, Commander. Please," she took a breath, then nodded at the PADD between them and said, "That is a request for transfer, it is unsigned. We have two options. One, I pursue this matter between you and lieutenant Commander Spaak, in which case follows a rather unpleasant court of inquiry. Or I get you off the ship and transferred to another post. I know Jan, he will let the matter drop if there is some light years distance between you."

She paused and added, "I don't know what happened between you. I don't want to know what happened between you. And I have to weigh which officer I can best live without at this point and believe me it was no easy choice but I think I need Spaak a tiny bit more than you," frustration was evident in her eyes, the set of her jaw, emotions that transcended race, "So, Commander, you have a choice: the court, or..."

Dar'Kulthislian did his best to hide his anger. He inwardly thanked Uzaveh the Infinite that his face did not flush like a human although his antennae did begin to twitch. "If you believe that my value is not worth keeping than your choice is clear Captain. I have already allowed multiple insults against my honor go unmet. My offer was to handle this the Andorian way which you refused." He paused for a moment "My honor will not be satisfied in a court."

Weaver gave a tired sigh, "It's...been a hell of a year, Commander. I don't know if perhaps the weight of our added responsibilities simply exacerbated what was already an already underlying condition. I do value you. I wish you could stay. But if you do and this hearing happens then that affects your career, plain and simple. This way both your careers are protected.

"Don't think Spaak is getting away with it. He is going to have to work damn hard to make me forget this incident by the time his next performance review comes around. You aren't the only one who holds aspirations of command. Now please sign the request for transfer and I promise whomever accepts you will get my most glowing recommendation," she smiled crookedly, "I will not even have to lie."

Dar'Kulthislian reached across to take the PAAD and signed the transfer request. Inside he fumed. Why did he have to leave? Why did that lazy, arrogant fool in engineering get to live let alone stay? He wanted to express his rage at the Captain. To tell her how deeply this whole affair has affected him but he couldn't. He did not think that she, being human, would understand. Dar'Kulthislian wished the Old Chief was still here to speak with but there was nothing to be done. "Will that be all Sir?" Dar'Kulthislian asked.

Weaver seemed ready to say more, then with a sigh replied, "No, Commander, that will be all. Once I hear something I will let you know."

Dar'Kulthislian stood up and delivered a curt nod to the Captain before leaving to return to his station. He made sure to walk with his back straight and his head through the corridors. Inside he felt ill, his head ached and he had a deep knot in his stomach, but he would not let it show. He refused to let his honor be diminished.

ONE WEEK LATER...

The star base orbiting Earth was an impressive structure, especially considering it had finished being constructed only a scant couple months ago, replacing the immense structure that had been destroyed a year back. Dar'Kulthislian had arrived only two days ago and the Personnel department assured him they would have a position for him "quite soon". While he was in his quarters his comm chirped...

After quickly put down the PADD he was reading, Dar'Kulthislian stood hit his comm in reply. "Dar'Kulthislian here."

"Commander!" I a voice said brightly, it sounded female, human, "My name is Elle, I am Captain Banerjee's...assistant. Mission specialist. Both. Whatever. We have a sudden vacancy in our Tactical department here on the Kepler and with you being on station we were wondering if you would like the opportunity to come over and speak to the Captain to talk about filling the position..."

 

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