====== CO's ready room, USS Chimera ====== Shane was standing with the back to the door and watched the stars through the tall window embedded in the wall. He's called for 1LT Cortez a while ago and was expecting him to come every moment. The news for Cortez will be like a cup of dark chocolate ... sweet and bitter the same time. Shane wasn't happy about his decision regarding Major Walsh and the Command of the ODA but everyone carries his own pack of responsibility and Shane's was heavy as the Chimera herself. He could not put the need of a few (or one) in front of the need of the many ... Richard didn't like being summoned to the captains quarters. In fact, he didn't really like the Captain. Too soft and too in love with his XO. Traits that Richard never wanted to have. Never show your emotions, that was his motto. Emotions make you weak. He pulled down on his tunic and scratched the back of his neck as he stepped onto the bridge. All of the faces looked familiar, but foreign at the same time, and Richard did his best to ignore them all and stepped up to the Captains ready room. He pressed the chime and after a brief wait Guzman called for him to enter and he did. Still not turning, Shane said: "Please take a seat Lieutenant and tell me whats the status of the ODA unit". Richard did as instructed and took a seat, sitting straight and stiff. "Sir the ODA is currently at 60% efficiency", he began, "We had three KIA on Sidos, and three more are still recovering from wounds received". He paused, "However moral is high and I expect the team to recover quickly". Shane turned and looked at the ODA XO. Cortez was quite an archetype of a soldier ... a marine. It is hard to describe such a man with words, but you just have to look at him and you know that he's either a bodyguard, security officer or a marine. A closer look at him would reveal a certain behaviour pattern. He was self-confident and vigilant ... always expecting troubles but still decent in a formal way and used to comply to orders. Suddenly Shane realised that he knew very Little about the man. Of course, he knew that fact that were in Cortez's file, but besides the evaluations from the base camp and marine academy and several reports from his ex-commanding officers ... his ODA XO was a stranger to him. The trouble was that Cortez was not a mere exception ... there were other key officers Shane almost didn't know. "You and your team did well on Sidos Lieutenant" Shane said crossing his arms on his chest while sitting down in his chair, "I see that your combat and leadership abilities are decent. Now I have an another question for you" He paused for a moment: "You've said that the morale is high. I serve with marine personal now for almost five years and I've learned that its not that easy to keep you marine guys content. Please don't understand me ... I know that the performance of the ODA is and will always be exceptional, but now I speak about the "mood" of the ODA unit. I would like to know what my marines and my ODA Commanders expect from the Command of this ship ..." "The Marines", Richard replied, "don't expect anything sir. They do what they are told, when they're told and they don't ask questions about it". He paused, "They may complain or gripe to a certain extent during there own personal time, but never in the presence of an officer." He looked directly at Commander Guzman, "We don't have any illusions about what we're here for sir, we're all volunteers, and If moral was anything but high, the responsibility would rest solely on mine and Major Walsh's shoulders to correct the problem." Shane took a PADD from the desk and put it in front of Cortez. "As you most probably know, Major Walsh's health status isnt that well. I've got a recommendation from the CMO to remove the Major from duty ... at least until his medical status will improve. I've been told that it can take weeks ... or months ... even years. If I will agree with that recommendation and remove the Major from the duty, I will be an ODA CO short. Do you have a suggestion for me what to do about it?" It was a little hard to press the man for answers, but Shane had to be sure that Cortez WAS the right man ... in the right spot. Cortez blinked, his face turning blank, he had been conditioned not to point out his own opinions and now that the CO was actually asking him for it, he didn't know what to say. "With all due respect sir, I don't think I'm really the person to answer that question.", he took a breath, "If you or starfleet feels the need to replace Major Walsh, even temporarily, there is nothing I can say about it. I'm sure whoever the new CO is will be just fine.", Richard finished up the statement with a lie. He knew about the truckloads of incompetent rank seeking officers that Starfleet had just waiting for a position like this one to open up. Everyone knew that the fastest way to gain rank, was to see combat. And the ODA saw a lot of combat. Shane knew that Cortez thought different then he's said. He served with marines long enough to know their opinion about navy 'button-pusher' officers and their ability lo lead man in combat. He knew that to appoint a non-marine in charge of the ODA would mean troubles ... a lot of troubles. True was that Starfleet Operations regularly did send him 'commendations' for vacant places ... especially higher ranking ones, but till now no one challenged the CO's right to shape his own crew. Partially it was thank to Shane's father ... Ambassador Guzman. 'The old man' had enough influence in federation's diplomatic corps to shy all but the most senior officers away from the thought to press on the Ambassador's son. "I will be honest with you Lieutenant" Shane said after a while of silence, "I have you in mind as replacement for the Major ... temporary of course. But I am not fully convinced about your abilities to be a department head on board this ship. Now I would like to hear a honest answer from you Lieutenant" Shane used the sort of tone that General Bretam used for pestering some of the crew: "Will you do your best to lead the ODA and resolve my concerns or should I look elsewhere for the ODA CO position?" There wasn't much for Richard to say. He didn't particularly want the job, but didn't see that he had much choice. Not loosing his blank face he answered shortly, "No Sir, I'm your man, I can do it". Shane smiled a bit. He could well remember Captain McElester and her 'promotion trial speech' when he was a little Ensign on SB 742 and she promoted him from ATAC to CTAC. He was not a great fan of such trials but the fresh appointed department heads had to understand that being a department head means a LOT of more responsibility then being an assistant. Besides excellence in duty ... you have to lead a whole department as well ... folks with different needs and troubles. Being a department head is a REAL challenge ... and not all pass it with flying colors. "Very well Lieutenant" Shane said and stood up from his chair. "Attention Lieutenant" he said and waited till the surprised 1LT stood to attention. "Hereby I promote you to Acting ODA Commanding officer. Congratulations" he said and offered his hand for a shake. Richard snapped to attention and shook Shane's hand. "Thank you, sir", he added behind a polite smile. Shane nodded and said: "One more thing Lieutenant. Since we have no Operations specialist you have to find and choose someone for the ODA XO position. I don't say you have to appoint someone tomorrow, but the sooner, the better" Richard nodded, "I understand sir", still at the position of attention. Shane smiled again and said: "At ease Lieutenant. Dismissed!" Richard then did a quick about face and exited the room. Once the door had closed shut behind him he let his shoulders relax and stepped into the turbolift. Not quite sure exactly what he'd just gotten himself into. -=/-\=- End Log -=/-\=- Commander Shane Guzman Commanding Officer USS Chimera 1st. Lieutenant Richard Cortez ODA Commanding Officer USS Chimera