TECH CONFERENCE:: Perfection is an aspiration

Posted on Sat Jul 4th, 2020 @ 6:31pm by Commander Alexis Agrax (*) & Commodore Ledeya ‘Ed’ Ehestri (*) & Commander Christopher Mitchell

Mission: Cosmos
Location: Starbase 621, Main Promenade
Timeline: 2396
1695 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Coffee would be the only thing that could wake her up now. She was not drinking, she was trying to be healthy, it would be the only way she would get over everything that had happened in her life in the last years. The up and downs were over she had a fresh start even if she was now running late for a meeting with the new Executive Officer, Gavin Holtztenn had been easy he never wanted a face to face meetings but the new guy did and it was not even on the ship. He wanted to meet in the promenade of all places of a massive base in the middle of a tech exposition. She stopped outside the coffee shop that she was meant to meet him by and looked around before glancing at the mini PaDD she carried to check the details.

"Alexis Agrax." Chris waved to her from a tiny round table he'd already claimed for them. "Recognised your face from the personnel file. What can I get you to drink?"

Alexis turned at the sound of someone calling her name and moved through the crowds to the small table where a man was waving at her. "A lot of people say that." Alexis murmured thinking for the 50th time she needed to get that photo updated. "Um just the biggest coffee that they serve here if possible sir."

"No problem." Chris motioned to the waitress, ordered a pair of large cups, and returned his attention to the striking woman in front of him. She was pretty small, but having read her file he imagined that was deceptive. "I'm not so formal about the 'sir' part, by the way," he noted. "We're both equivalent rank, and although when we're on the bridge in the thick of it that's appropriate, I'm not attached to titles quite so hard in this context." He offered a warm smile on top of the delivered coffee.

The woman nodded and slid into the chair gracefully. She stared back and looked at him intently trying to work him out and why he would request to meet her there instead of somewhere more formal. Her personnel file would have been an interesting read after the year she had spent on the Cassiopeia as Executive Officer and how it had left her broken physically and mentally. "I understand." She said offering a smile to the waitress who brought back the coffee allowing her to settle down.

"Thanks." He took a moment to properly acknowledge the waitress, then settle on Alexis. "So. You've been with the Commodore a little while now. What's the low-down on her? Anything I should know before I put my foot in it?"

"Three months or so. Since the refit." The woman said quickly. It did not feel like a long time when the woman was as layered as Ehestri seemed to be. "I cannot say I have the low down but I know she is a good woman and thinks very highly of her crew. She is not your usual Betazoid as she does not have telepathy." She picked up her coffee and started to pour some sugar into it. "I always think it is best for people to put their foot in it sometimes so to speak around people. Perfection is an illusion."

"Perfection is an aspiration," he corrected, a twinkle in his eye. "The way I see it, we can always be better than we are. That's probably a very human way of thinking, but it's a motto I think has gotten us pretty far in the universe." He sipped his own mug. "So what does a 'good woman' look like in your opinion? Virtuous? Kind?"

"Maybe for you," She offered ignoring the twinkle rather taking a big gulp of her coffee. She knew everyone could try better or be better but it was very human and she was happy stuck in her rut. She sat up a little better as she thought about what a good woman looked like. Betazoid and Humans were going to differ on what a good woman looked like. "The qualities of a good woman are the same as the qualities of a good person in my opinion. However, women are usually faced with different challenges than men no matter how far the universe has come to equality."

Chris shook his head. "Forgive me; wasn't my meaning at all. I meant what would a good Officer look like - male or female, of any race. What are the qualities you're referring to?" he asked.

Alexis' lips worked just slightly that she had rattled him just a little. "Everybody defines leadership differently but I really like the way John C Maxwell defines leadership, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” She shrugged that was her opinion but it was showing him a little that she was not just a pretty face or what people expected of Security Officers.

Chris nodded, smiling in agreement as he held the cup near his mouth. "Sounds like we're on the same page, then. You feel the Commodore fits that description?"

"She would not have stepped into play Chief Medical Officer of this base last time we were here if she did not. It is pretty inspiring." She assured quickly as she saw he would not be able to argue. "So is that all you asked me here for Sir to see how the Commodore works?"

"If I said yes, would you be annoyed?" he laughed. "It's not just the Commodore I'm interested in. The rest of the crew; the senior staff. I'm interested in your take. Call it a listening tour: I'm getting the lay of the land before I decide what to do next."

"Completely." She said answered sounding serious for a moment before she smiled at him and settled back into the chair properly. "You do not need the lay of the sand Sir and you do not need it from me at all. I am not the best person to give opinions of people but it seemed to be a good crew. We have survived this far." despite the sea base and bombings, she added mentally.

"You're a former XO yourself, and certainly someone with extensive experience. I'd be foolish not to consult with you." He smiled, feeling as though he might be able to wear down her tough outer shell eventually. "Survival is fine. But the real challenge is to make sure the people who serve with you truly flourish. Help them reach their potential. Don't you agree?"

"Former for a reason Sir." The woman said quickly. She did not sound bitter but there was certainly something there that hurt about that situation. "I agree," Alexis said knowing there would be nothing gained by not agreeing to that statement as everyone should reach their potential or at least have the opportunity to do that.

"I'm glad you agree..." he nodded. "Shame I can't get you to stop calling me 'sir'. I did ask nicely." He grinned.

"I guess you will have to keep reminding me," Alexis commented with a small smile as her PADD beeped distractingly. She pulled out and paled as she read the message. "We might want to finish up here. Seems there has been a situation at the conference." Alexis commented already on her feet downing her coffee.

"Lead the way, Commander," Chris nodded, his hand outstretched to allow her to go first.

It did not take long to find where the incident was with the robot, screaming bystanders and the four commanding officers tackling it. "Well that is something you do not see every day." Alexis said accessing the situation as she made her way through the crowd hoping that Chris was keeping up.

Chris, for his part, grabbed a bewildered-looking Ensign and told him to start moving the crowd on. "What happened here?" he asked, pushing through bodies to catch up with Alexis.

Alexis did not happen for a long moment before she realised that they might not actually be needed as the robot fell down and all three commanding officers who had been hanging on to the thing looked bewildered and battered. "Not a clue but let's go check on our commanding officer hmm?" She pointed to the woman sat on the floor.

Chris hadn't seen Ledeya until Alexis had pointed her out. Spotting a giant looking Orion Captain and another man steadily hauling himself away, he figured something had gone down. "Commodore?" he asked, pushing to the front of things and approaching her. "We came as soon as we heard. What..." he glanced at the torn-up robot next to them. "What happened?"

Ledeya looked up from the floor she had been pretty much staring at and blinked at the man. “It went crazy.” Was all she could rationale as she tried to focus on her new Executive Officer. This was not a good example at all.

Chris gave her a quick look over, not seeing any significant injuries. He turned his attention to Alexis. "Station security should be all over this. Remind them they've endangered at least one flag officer by not having adequate measures or response times here. Make sure their commander knows it, too. See what you can do to help disperse this crowd so an investigations team can get in and do their thing." He looked back at Ledeya. "Let's get you checked over, Commodore."

"Already there, Sir." Alexis threw over her shoulder once she was sure that the man had the Commodore in hand and was handling the commanding officers. Despite the incident and it involving something as it had Alexis was thrilled to get back to something she could control.

"Good. Because I sure as hell want to know who is responsible for this mess," Chris remarked as he helped Ledeya find some air away from the rest of the chaos.


OFF::

Commander Alexis Agrax
Chief Of Security
USS Cosmos
(PNPC Gregnol)

Commodore Ledeya ‘Ed’ Ehestri
Commanding Officer
USS Cosmos / TG 72-B
(PNPC Gregnol)

Commander Christopher Mitchell
Executive Officer
USS Cosmos
(PNPC Jake)