You did what

Posted on Sun Apr 19th, 2026 @ 12:06am by Captain Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Commander Etan tar-Lexros

Mission: We are sick of this.

Toni was going through the reports of the day as she always did now before going off duty. It was the very last report that had her almost swallow her tea wrong.

Etan walked into the Captain's Ready Room quietly, dropping off a PADD with the addenda to the day's reports. Toni would probably realize that he was gradually shifting from giving her all of the Ops reports to bringing them to Dr. Rutherford as XO. He was doing it gradually, of course, so that she didn't feel she was being cut out of the loop. As he dropped off the PADD, he saw her expression change. Unlike his usual quiet, where he'd pass in and out of the office like a shadow, he spoke in a concerned tone. "Ma'am? Is something wrong?"

"Can you explain this?" She held up the order for Kay's brevet rank.

Etan looked at it and nodded, speaking quickly. "I can, Ma'am. It's a brevet promotion for First Lieutenant London so she can act at the rank of Lieutenant during the mission ahead."

The silent beat that followed was proof of Etan actually having a sense of humor, incredibly dry as it was. All she'd asked was if he could explain it, after all.

Still, Etan recognized the quizzical look in her eyes, and straightened up after a moment. "Her experience is sufficient to the rank, and her ability to liaise between Security and Counseling will be necessary to deal with the colonists. This single step up in rank gives her an increased security access level and the ability to give and receive orders as needed." He glanced aside. "And, it skips her being called 'Captain', ma'am, so that the merits and valors she earns during this mission can be applied to her permanent promotion to Major in her current track."

"And you did not think to come and talk to me about this first?" Her voice had gone very soft. "To find out if I am behind it and if there are reasons she has not been promoted yet?"

Etan looked at Toni with a level expression and took a breath. Voices softening like that usually meant danger - and often, secrets. He appreciated neither. And the way he was looking at her, it was obvious he was about to defy her. Still, his respect for her wasn't just a function of rank and regulation. "Permission to speak freely and in confidence, ma'am?"

"Of course." Toni invited him, besides she was truly curious what he had to say. It had better not about just promoting his girlfriend.

Etan nodded and pulled out a PADD from a pocket inside his uniform, calling up Kay's service file with the same efficiency he displayed with any other crewman, and pulled up his own beside it. He put it down in front of Toni and spoke quietly, but firmly. He'd obviously expected this pushback, and was ready and willing to stand up about it. It was in the moments where he needed to defend others that he could put his own issues aside. In spite of the occasional odd sound or quaver in his voice, he addressed her directly. "Captain, First Lieutenant London believes that your... seeming refusal to promote her now, and your prior unwillingness to suggest her for promotion as XO, is partly personal and biased based on your shared family history. I'm not advising any form of special treatment. However, looking at her file compared to my own, or any other officer I've met, there is no reason I can see for her going unpromoted except for the intention to skip a rank. I am aware that skipping the Marine Captain rank is not uncommon on mixed-service vessels such as the Resolution. She also doesn't believe that she's being valued, in spite of being able to serve as a liaison and coordination officer between multiple departments. That's why the brevet is in my name as Ops chief - she can work with the two departments who will be mission-critical, and which I am least comfortable guiding or directing. I don't need her in the Ops department directly. Regardless of my affection for her, I need a Lieutenant in the exact role she will be most capable of filling on-site for this mission - not a J-Grade."

He took a breath, making a brief noise in his throat before continuing. "I am aware that both of the next full promotions for her could present challenges. The nominal issue with the Marine Captain rank, and the fact that the Major rank is the lowest Command-eligible rank. If you are intentionally holding her back, then I must ask you to please enter the complaints on her record or file punitive actions with JAG. Secrecy, 'soft demerits', and similar mistreatment are not conducive to a positive environment as a whole." He narrowed his eyes and spoke, firmly. "If you doubt her ability to be responsible as a command-level officer, ma'am, please show me where that belief is justified based on her personnel file. An abdominal piercing before either of you were in Starfleet should not be the deciding factor in her career."

"I have never refused to promote her!" Toni had to reign her temper back in. "I think captain Casey had orders not to, but I have not been in command long enough to look into the matter. I have been just a bit busy since I took over. If Kay thinks I am working against her then that is childish. I have never had anything but her back, but I can't be seen to make exceptions for her either." She sighed again. "You obviously don't know why she was sent here by her former marine commander. And I am going to tell you in confidence." She waited to see if he really wanted this information.

Etan looked at Toni and raised an eyebrow. As her temper briefly spiked, his own appearance turned stony and unemotional. He wasn't going to take the bait and turn this from a disagreement into a fight, after all. "My understanding of the transfer was that it was made at Field Marshal Sorrel's request, since First Lieutenant London was trained to be a combat-focused counselor - a role needed aboard this ship, ma'am." He knew bringing up the old man wasn't a fair shot, but at the same time, the documentation was there to justify what he'd said. Still, he shifted his shoulders and nodded. "If there was a valid reason for her transfer - especially if she's not aware, I would like to know."

"She is aware and I think my granddad came up with that as he is very fond of Kay, always has been" She leaned back in her chair. "Her colonel sent her here because she was causing problems when not on duty. On duty her record was exemplary but off duty she was causing problems by getting into pub brawls being drunk and getting into fights. He thought that she was unhappy and or needed some more time to mature. That is why she was sent here to work as a counsellor and to isolate her from marine mates. Kay may feel embarrassed about this, so I apologize for telling you. Only the captain and I knew and god knows how my granddad found out. I have noticed that you have a very good influence on her off duty behaviour. She has seemed to stop drinking all together."

The Ops officer nodded, and picked up the PADD again, closing his own file and making sure Kay's was in full view. He placed it back on the desk. "Compared to the pattern of behavior you're discussing, there are very few demerits for conduct unbecoming, drunkenness, or assault here. I'm inclined to question whether someone was covering for her, or if you've been given an exaggerated view of the situation. I want to make it clear, I'm not implying that anyone lied, though there may have been strategic omissions on her record." He took another moment, and looked back up at Toni. "I generally don't drink, because it's contraindicated with the psychiatric medications I take when needed. Confidentially, the most I have seen Kay drink is some variety of syntheholic wine or a synthbeer. She doesn't talk about her previous assignments frankly - so I assume it was a negative experience. Even in light of that, I point back to the record since she joined this vessel. I have my own behavioral issues, as you well know - you and Commander Doctrine talked me through a panic attack in a crisis situation. I would be highly incredulous if anyone made the assertion that Kay and I are the only two individuals aboard with such challenges, behavioral demerits, or that Kay is the only officer aboard who's seen the inside of a brig cell." He paused again. "Confidentially, I would say based on what you've told me and my own observations that Kay should not be placed on a Marine-led base or ship, because of the prevailing culture there. Frankly, if this brevet is a step toward her moving to the naval track, so much the better for her."

He took another breath and looked down, considering his next words. "Ma'am, if her former Marine CO chose to cover up her indiscretions, I believe there was a reason behind it. Kay has saved lives aboard this ship. She has also been a strong support across departments. She may have had issues in the past. Those have seemingly been resolved. A brevet is a test rank, a temporary elevation of responsibility and authority. The task I've requested of her is entirely within her skillset. She was not ready for a promotion in the past. Give her a chance based on the person she is now, not the person she was in a different environment."

"You think someone tried to sabotage her career?" Toni said. "I thought my family and hers were the only ones who are paranoid and I did not think of that." Etan could almost see her think. "I will certainly look into that. "It all seemed so plausible. Also given her family history." She seemed to be forgetting she was talking to a junior officer now. "Her dad had a period when he was out of control with fighting and drinking when he was around her age. We all thought.... damn!" She looked up at Etan. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, commander. You are really turning into the officer I thought you could be all those months ago."

Etan nodded and his shoulders shifted. As was so common on this ship, the situation between professional and familial blurred. It was exactly what he'd advised against - but he could do nothing to stop it. He took a breath and looked at her, using her private name. "Toni, I believe someone was trying to hide her history. She's mentioned her father - rarely. I really do believe she's found a way past it." He stepped toward Toni's desk, resting his hands on the edge of it. "Please. I can't do what Kay does best - and no one in the Ops department proper can. I need a Lieutenant in that role. If you say that the brevet ends at the end of the mission term, I'll accept that freely. But, give her a chance to be better. Judge the officer she is here, not your history."

"I agree. I will accept the brevet and I will keep a close eye on how she does. But I will also investigate if someone in the marine corps was trying to sabotage her career. Don't tell Kay that, that little fact can stay between the two of us."

Etan smiled slightly, not out of nervousness this time. "I am already making similar inquiries, Captain. There are few things I despise more than secrets, Captain. That's why I impressed my need for information on Commander Doctrine. Thank you for accepting the brevet for First Lieutenant London. Her success means a great deal to me. If she needs deferred demerits for conduct unbecoming or otherwise, I'd rather it be in the open, rather than scuttlebutt. We all have issues. We all have made mistakes. She deserves the grace we are each owed."

"Of course, you are totally right. I just did not question the information I had before, I guess that was naive, and it will not happen again." Toni affirmed. "Anything else on your mind?" She rather had it all in the open if there was.

Etan thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Nothing relevant, ma'am, thank you." He smiled. "Though on a personal note, a brief message congratulating her on the brevet might help to begin easing the tension between you and Kay. If Lieutenant Jansen-Carey disagrees, then I defer to her judgment, I'm not a counselor." He stepped back from the desk, trying to visibly ease up.

Toni fought back the urge to smile. "The way you are going you may want to consider transferring to counselling, commander. I will get in touch with Kay."