===== Captain's ready room, USS Chimera ===== It was hardly 10 minutes after Major Birt left the room when the door chime sounded announcing smeone wanting to speak with the Captain. Shane put the cup of tea he was just siping from on the table in front of him and said: "Come in!" The door hissed open and the tall figure of the ship's ODA Commander walked in. Shane noticed Walsh looking first on the wall behind Shane where the Bretam's old 18" long blade was hanging as the only decoration in the room so far. Jack wasn't too sure why the new Commanding Officer wanted to see him, perhaps his complaint had been logged already with Special Forces Command, and Guzman was about to ask for his Resignation, after all the Chimera crew was very close knit. They all loved and respected Commander Guzman and Commander Summers, Jack was seen as a bit of an outsider because he was constantly at loggerheads. "You wanted to see me?" Jack said dryly as he stood fast. Shane noded: "Yes Major, there is something I need to dicsuss with you" He took a PADD from a small heap of other pads on the table and pushed it on the table towards Walsh. It was the PADD where SSF Operations informs the Chimera Captain about assigning the ODA Commander Major Jack Walsh as the ship's Second officer. "Maybe you can enlighten me a bit about this" he said in an annoyed tone. He wondered if Walsh knew about his promotion to 2XO and what was the 'thing' behind all this. Jack read the PADD and had to use all of his might to hold back the laughter, this was hilarious. He could only assume that in reponse to his complaint SSF Command had seen fit to assign him as Second Officer to keep an eye on things, be the counter balance to the loved up CO and XO. "You tell me Commander, I assume this posting isn't your doing, nor is it to your liking?" Jack asked. Shane saw the amusement on Walsh's face. This was has always been a causing a headache to Shane. It was a bit odd ... his performance has been constanly very high ut his attitude towards certain thing constantly grumpy. He shook his head: "Neighter Major" he stated plainly. "Just 2 days back I received word from the SSF CO that I was free to manage my crew and suddenly you HAVE BEEN appointed as my 2XO. Is there maybe something I should know?" Jack bit his lip. "Permission to speak freely sir?" "Go ahead." "Frankly sir, I don't agree with the Appointment of Commander Summers as Executive Officer whilst shes involved in a relationship with you. In my mind and apparently in Special Forces Commands eyes, it poses an operational risk factor which just isn't acceptable in this line of work. I'm sorry if that infuriates you, but its the way i see things." Jack stood and waited for what the new CO had to say to that. "Thats not required from you Major, you dont have to agree on that but to follow orders." Shane said a bit annoyed that his authority was questioned ... again. "But I must commendate you to put the good of this ship before your own career." Shane said piercing the Major with his eyes. "Rangi and me are 'involved' for some time alrealy and I wonder why SSF Command got interested in that only now ... " "Because I got them involved. Frankly as we're off the record 'Shane' I don't believe you're the right man for this job, something that's been consolidated by the fact that you've assigned your live in lover to be your number two. Tell me this, are you willing to send her to her death? Is *she* prepared to make that choice for the good of the mission? Because I honestly don't think that either of you can, and at the end of the day its MY men who will suffer for it" Shane frowned as he heard that Walsh involved SSF Command in this affair. It was a sort of betrayal to him, but he saw his worries as partly justified. But to involve SSF Command .... "All right ... Jack" Shane started, "nor do I believe that you will give a good 2XO, the Command team is supposed to hold together and I dont see how it shall work it here. But to answer you ... I wont send ANYONE to death, not Rangi, not even you. But I am the CO of thsi ship and the ship has highest priority and I wont let my personal feelings affect my judgement" "Anyway Jack ... are you ready to do the same? Not letting your personal feelings affecting your judgement? Taking orders from me or Rangi like you did from Bretam and do what ordered even if you will think I've gone crazy?" Jack relaxed his shoulders slightly. "I'll take your orders, at the end of the day I'm a marine, its what I do, but if i think you've gone 'crazy', or acting out of the best interests of this ship i'll be damned if i'll take those orders. Too many times has the excuse been 'i was only following orders' Starfleet needs people who will question orders, and thats exactly why I dont think Rangi as your XO will do, because your relationship will get in the way of her being devils advocate." Shane noded glad to know where was Wack standing. "As long as you are prepared to face the consequences of disobeying orders, I cant ask for no more. But I warn you ... if your 'orders questioning' will endanger any of my ... dont forget that Major ... MY crew, I will personally throw you out of the nearest airlock caring a shit about 'proper' punisment for you." He said calmly but in a determined voice. Jack smirked, that was all he was after, a rise out of the new Commanding Officer. It just confirmed what he already knew of Guzman, all talk no action. If roles were reversed he wouldnt have stood for this at all and would have had Jack court martialed straight away for the long list of problems already piled up. Either way Jack would go back to his ODA and contine to watch the love birds try to make the difficult decisions. "Only time will tell, Commander." Jack said, snapping back to attention to signify that the talk was over and they were no longer talking off the record. Shane was sure that the problems will sure come in time. There was quite a tension between Jack and Shane and chances for the two man to become friends were small. Eighter had a quite different vision of Commading. He knew that a bad relation between the CO and 2XO will cause soon or later troubles ... SERIOUS troubles. "OK Major, congratulations to your appointment as Second executive officer. Dismissed!" Jack saluted and turned on his heel and made his way out of the Commanders Ready Room. Things just got interesting. ===== End of log ===== Major Jack Walsh ODA CO / 2XO USS Chimera & Cmdr. Shane Guzman CO USS Chimera