"Alright Colonel, you have your two minutes. What is it?" the older Andorian on tbe screen said tersly. "Rear Admiral Leeds, I have been informed that overnight, I've lost three of my most senior and vital staff officers. This seems ludicrous to me, so I wanted to make sure the error was corrected as soon as possible," Jeni answered, her voice just as tight as she tried to stay calm. "There is no mistake, Colonel. Those officers were deemed necessary for other missions of higher priority," RAdm. Leeds returned flatly, unimpressed that he had to give two minutes of his valuable time to speak with this.. Colonel. "Is this some sort of joke, Admiral?" Jeni retorted, quickly losing her cool, "I'm in the middle of a rather large and delicate mess, and you take away three of my most important officers, in key roles? What could possibly be more important than what they were doing here?" "This is not for you to know or decide, Colonel, and you should know better," the Admiral returned, voice as cold as ever, "you will be sent replacements in due time, but until then you will just have to make do. Maintain the even strain, Colonel." "Admiral, this is ridiculous. We're under a stressful enough position as it is, but in one fell swoop, I've lost my Intel Director and Political Advisor, not to mention my Deputy Commander," Jeni pressed again, "what am I supposed to do, staff this place with butter bars?" "Watch your tone, Colonel. You will be supplied with replacement officers in due time. Until then, you will have to work with what you have like any other officer in your position would. Your two minutes are over. Good Day." Instantly, the Rear Admiral was replaced with the Federation seal. Jeni reacted with a heavy fist into her desk. Her hand stung, but the pain helped. What kind of a dolt would make decisions like this? In the middle of some potentially disastrous mission assignment, with Federation-wide implications, she loses three key staff officers. Fleet ships didn't lose their XO and two department heads in the middle of a mission, why should she lose her staff in the middle of her mission? Ship Captain's didn't have to deal with this crap.. The Gunny's voice broke through, "Colonel, it's Maj. Horton." "I've got it, Gunny," Jeni answered, tapping the display again, "Maj. Horton." "Colonel," the Major greeted, before diving into business, "we have confirmed Marduk activity in the shipping lanes. Details are being sent now, but the intel has been passed onto operations as well. You requested to be notified..?" "I did, Major, thank you." Maj. Horton nodded and tuned out with nothing else he needed to say. The information was already processed and landed in Operations. MGen. Scott had previously moved in preparation for this situation, and forces would be launched in following with that plan. Jeni didn't need to interrupt and pass it along, it would just slow the process. "Gunny?" "Ma'am?" "Get me LCol. Bourne.. when he has a minute." "Yes ma'am." Jeni huffed out a sigh, as she sat back for a moment. She couldn't help but wonder if things would be different, has the one sitting in this chair, this office, wore stars instead of a bird. Maybe then...