240101.29.0900

Aryanna followed the commodore down the hallway past several offices and what she knew to be larger meeting/briefing rooms.

<<” What the hell is going on? Did you do something that I don’t know about?”

“I have no idea, and you of all people would know if I did something. 

“Not saying much, is he?

“Nope, which has me starting to think.”

“About ?”

“Sssssshhhhhhh, not now.”>>

The Commodore looked down at the PADD as he heard a beep. “Good, good. He should already be here.” he stopped in front of a door, looked at the room number, and entered. She followed him in.

The room was a rather small briefing room, probably only meant for a group of no more than five or six with a circular table in the middle and window panels facing the outside of Bravo station.

As they entered and she was able to step up beside the commodore she saw that the only other person in the room was a Red tunic’d Caitian wearing the pips of a Lieutenant Commander, who stood as they entered.

<<” Ok, this is a bit strange. A Lieutenant Commander in command red, the Commodore, and you. 

“ Ummm, Why do I think I’m in the wrong color, all of a sudden?”

“You don’t think?”

“I’m starting to, why else bring us here?”

“Yaa but why like this, why not on the ship?”

“That’s the question, now isn’t it.”>>

Kr’Antren stood as he saw the commodore enter followed by a female Trill Lieutenant Commander wearing the gold tunic of operations. “Hmmm, younger looking than what I would have thought after reading her file, though you can see that spark, that fire, that tenacity that got her here today. surviving when many would have given up. This is going to be interesting if I do say so, still not happy with the decision.” He thought to himself. 

The Commodore looked at the two of them and gave a nod toward Kr’Antren.

Kr’Antren looked over the Gold Tunic’d Lieutenant Commander, then looked outside to the openness of space, took a deep breath letting it out slowly, ears twitching as he stroked his beard. “I could still say no, nothing is set in stone yet. I may not get the Osiris back but maybe another command. What would mom and dad do?” He then remembered an old story his dad once told him, smiled, took another deep breath turned back towards the Commodore, and nodded.

<<” Ok something is going on, that was a bit strange.”

“Not right now, I’m trying to figure out what that was about.”

“You couldn’t read his body language and the tone in the room, that Caitian just made a decision that he didn’t think he would have to make. I’m guessing he has spent some time in the center chair and…”>>

The commodore took a seat and placed the PADD he was carrying on the table in front of him after he received the nod in reply to his non-verbal question. “Lieutenant Commander Rigras meet Lieutenant Commander Kr’Antren. Lieutenant Commander Kr’Antren this is  Lieutenant commander Rigras. Well now that we have that out of the way, take a seat, both of you so we can get down to why we are here.”

They both took a seat on opposite sides of the table. “Kr’Antren how is the Osiris? Everything went ok when you arrived?”

“Yes sir, Lieutenant Commander Talibah officially took the center chair about an hour ago. Looks like they may be here for about three to four weeks, maybe less according to the space dock engineers that met us upon our arrival.”

<<” See, told you.”

“I heard.” she looked over at Kr’Anten with a raised eyebrow.

“You understand what this means?”

“I do, from both angles. Now, what do we do?” She looked back at the Commodore.

“That is the question, isn’t it? Do we accept the center chair knowing that he will always be there waiting, watching, and wondering? Or do we decline it and offer to be the executive officer? The question is, is this coming from higher up, the commodore or the Taskforce command staff?”

“Watching him during that brief moment, I would guess he got the word as soon as he arrived. Obviously, he was given our file to look over.”

“Obviously, and obviously he was given a choice.”

“Obviously, The question now is why? Why would he choose to give up the center chair? What was he offered?”

“Hmmmmm, those are answers we may never get. So what do we do? Aryanna, you realize there is one more angle to this.”

“Yes, yes I do. I was just thinking about that one.” she switched her gaze from being solely on the Commodore to looking at them both. Clinching and unclenching her gloved hand. “Damn it.”>>

 “Good, Good. You did an excellent job with her and I’m quite happy that you were able to bring that issue to rest during the Blood Dilithium operation. Nice work, very nice work.”

“Thank you, sir”

Aryanna looked her gaze back on the Commodore and slapped her gloved hand on the tabletop. “You have got to be shitting me, sir. You expect me to believe that he is giving up the center chair to be my Executive Officer.”

“Excuse me, commander? First things first I will not tolerate that type of language being directed at me. You have been warned.” he cocked an eyebrow at her. “Secondly, yes that is exactly what I expect.”

She looked at the two of them. “Tell me, commander. How long did you have to read my file?”

Kr’antren started to brush his hand through his beard. “About thirty minutes. And to answer your next questions. Yes, and just now.”

Aryanna nodded. “That’s what I thought, thank you for being honest, commander.”

The Commodore looked at the two of them and let a slight smile creep across his face. “So, Commander Rigras, the ball is in your court as they say.” As he starts to slide the PADD in front of him toward her.

Ayranna looked at the PADD and back at Kr’Antren. “Tell me, Commander, what type of leader are you? Would your crew follow you knowing it was towards their possible death?”

Kr’antren sat back in his chair, looked at the Commodore noticing the smile creeping across his face, nodded, and then turned his gaze back toward Commander Rigras. “I’ll answer the second question first, yes I do believe those that I have commanded would. As for the first question I would like to think I’m somewhat of a transformational/participative leader if that makes sense.”

Aryanna nods. “It does. Are you loyal to your crew, all of them? Would you… “ She looked down at her hand. “Would you do what is needed even if it meant bodily harm to yourself or even your death to protect and save your crew?”

He too looked at her hand as he stopped stroking his beard and locked eyes directly with her across the table. “Yes, my crew is my family and Yes I would without question or a second thought I would do what is needed to be done to make sure my family lived to see another day.”

<<” I believe he would, Aryanna.”

“So do I. So do I”

(chuckle) ”You did say any seat.”

“I did, didn’t I”>>

She looked at the commodore. “Damn it” as she looked at the PADD and slid it across the table to Kr’Antren. “Commander, you have read my file. I’m sure you read the medical and psychiatric recommendations. I would like to offer myself for consideration to be your executive officer.”

“Well that was interesting and not what I expected.” the Commodore said with a slight chuckle. “Well, Commander Kr’Antren the choice is yours on both issues.”

“What the hell, I was not expecting this to happen. Not after reading her file. I figured she would have jumped at the chance. That event on the Concord and what she went through afterward must have changed something.” He thought as he looked at the PADD then back at Commander Rigras then toward the Commodore. He accepted the PADD being slid over and then looked back at Lieutenant Commander Rigras. I accept your offer Commander and will gladly have you as my executive officer. Something changed after the incident, didn’t it? Something changed within you. After reading your file I would have thought there was no way you would have turned down the center chair.”

Aryanna looked at him and nodded. “Let’s just say that it gave me plenty of time to think about things, gave me a chance to look at myself in the proverbial mirror. Your right before the incident I wouldn’t have even given it a second thought, hell I don’t think he would have even had to ask.” as she nodded toward the Commodore. “But now, things are different.” 

They both slowly turned to face the Commodore, as Kr’Antren nodded. “Sir, I believe this means you have a command team.” he slid the PADD back to the Commodore.

The commodore sat back in his chair, looked at the two of them, and steepled his hands in front of him. “Yes, I believe we do. And I would bet that this one will end up being one of the good ones. Given some time I believe you two will find out that you are just what the other needs to become a better leader.”

The commodore typed something on the PADD, and not waiting for anything else to be said, stood. “Follow me, commanders” and made his way out of the room. “I’ll hold onto this for a few more minutes, don’t want to ruin the surprise now do we.” as he walked out the door, PADD in hand.