<<Obviously this goes before the fire fighting starts>> === Conference lounge, just after the Senior officers meeting, USS Chimera === Rangi watched the last officer leave the briefing room and the murmur of conversation died away as the door slid shut with a soft hiss. Turning her head, she looked at Athena. "You wanted to see us?" she asked switching her attention to Shane "Was there something else you need to brief us about?" Athena watched as the others left the room. {Wonder what else he needs to tell us.} She hadn't made eye contact with either of the other officer's until she heard her thoughts voiced aloud by Rangi. Athena looked up at Shane and awaited his answer. Shane knew exactly what was the issue he wanted to talk about. Rumours spread with transwarp around the ship and even Shane had heard about the growing antipathy between the CMO and the counselor. From the few last conversations with Rangi, Shane knew even the reason for the antipathy ... him. Shane wasn't a man who would step between the two woman, he would let them two to clarify this issue, but now with the current mission he saw a danger lurking there. He needed that the two woman would cooperate tightly and efficient and this was now endangered. Personal feelings could be here of a great importance ... and a failure in the cooperation between Rangi and Athena could endanger the whole ship. Another reason why Shane decided to talk with the two woman was a personal one. He loved Rangi and was a good friend with Athena, Athena and Rangi used to be good friends as well ... and all this was threatened. The last issue was his brother Martin. He realized from Martin's words that he had approached both Rangi and Athena before he end up with Oriana and it might be a bit odd for all three of them to work in a tight group. He looked at Rangi and when Athena raised her head, he looked at her. "Ladies," he started softly, "let's forget about rank for a while. I would like to speak with you not as your Commanding officer but just as a friend" He paused for a moment before continuing: "You, yourself Rangi told me that you have an issue with Athena and now even the crew learned that. I would be really happy if we could solve that problem here and now ..." Rangi felt decidedly uncomfortable, realizing that the problem lay with her and not Athena or Shane. "Of course," she replied quietly looking into his eyes and reading the concern there. "Shane...before you say anything..if you think it best to remove me from the acting XO position then I can understand it." She turned away a little very aware of Athena's presence. "I'm absolutely sure though that I can carry out the responsibilities." Athena mentally shook her head as Shane voiced his concerns. As Rangi spoke Athena wished she were someplace else. When both of them looked at her as though they expected her to give some kind of analysis, Athena wished she could just disappear. Finally very softly Athena replied, "Rangi's problem with me doesn't prevent either one of us from doing our job." {Rangi can't help it if the pollen is still affecting her and I'm the target. This mission will put us in much closer Together than I hoped but I know Rangi and I are making progress even if it is terrible slow. At least the last time we talked it ended well.} Shane nodded to Athena and turning back to Rangi he said softly: "Darling, you are the ship's second officer and from all the senior crew on board you are the best choice for the acting Executive post. I have full confidence in you and, " he shook his head slightly, "we are not talking about posts and ranks at the moment. As I see it ... we are talking about us three." Shane felt quite uncomfortable at the moment. He was quite an introvert person and to sit there and talk about personal matters ... about a triangle ... IN a triangle ... was almost more then he could manage. But he didn't want to endanger the ship and the crew and he didn't want to loose his beloved or his friend. Looking from one woman to the other he said: "Look, I know you two could manage to work together, but work is not like work. I would really wish we could trust each other as we did not too long ago. Rangi, Athena what's the problem here?" Looking at both woman he added: "Is it something I did or said, or ..." "No, no, no," Rangi reached across the table top and clasped her hand over Shane's. "Its nothing you've done. It's my fault. As I explained to you...its an after effect of the pollen. I just have to learn to control my feelings for a while." She looked at his worried face and squeezed his hand. In a feeble effort to make the situation lighter she said, "If Vulcans can do it....then I might, too." She glanced at Athena and back to Shane. Athena looked at the ceiling and rolled her eyes at Shane's last question and further wished she could just disappear when Rangi responded. Athena ignored the couple trying to give them as much privacy as possible since she hadn't been dismissed. She knew that no matter what Shane had said about wanting to talk as friends she was still required to be part of this meeting. Athena thought about the summaries she need to write, the things she would need to do to prepare for the up coming mission and succeeded in closing out the other two people in the room. Shane smiled at Rangi and then asked: "But my darling, there must be something that caused the core of the problem. You explained to me once that the pollen only strengthened one's already existing fears and dreams. So, I take it there IS something ... and there is Athena involved?" Rangi looked at him without a word. {Don't ask me this} she thought {I can't explain it here...now...not with her sitting there.} She met Shane's gaze steadily, her eyes growing cold. "The problem is imagination," she said somewhat frostily not liking at all having to explain her deep fears to Shane in front of the woman who caused them and feeling that he was forcing her into an impossible situation. "I don't know what Athena thinks of course," she added and removed the hand that covered Shane's as she switched attention to the counselor. It took a few minutes before Athena became aware that the CO and the CMO were staring her as if waiting for an answer to some question. "Personally I don't have a problem with either of you, " she tried and hoped that answered the question that was asked. Shane sighed: "I trust you, Athena, but on the other hand you have to admit that there IS a problem on the table ... and maybe you can explain it to us. You are after all a telepath and a counselor. You know us both quite well in the years we three serve in the same place. What's the problem in your opinion, Athena?" Athena looked at the stricken look on Rangi's face but gave nothing away herself. "Shane, I'm sorry but as you know whether you are the CO or a friend I cannot discuss an on going case that I have unless I believe the person to be a danger to themselves or the crew at large. I've already stated that Rangi's capable of doing her job and I trust her with my life. So, I don't see a problem unless you can't live with that." Athena looked at Shane as the last statement left her lips. She rose form her seated and started walking toward the door. "Excuse me, I have things to do." Since this was supposed to be a meeting between friends she didn't figure Shane could stop her from leaving. {What was he thinking? Did he even consider how Rangi might feel discussing that in front of me? Does he really have such little faith in my abilities?} Athena wasn't aware of anything else going on once she excused herself as she was totally lost in her own thoughts. Rangi stood up and looking at Shane's slightly surprised face said. "If this isn't official...just a meeting of friends..then you'll have to excuse me too." She stepped away moved a few paces but stopped. She turned to face him, not moving back but searching his face. "How could you ask me things like that?" she asked in a half disbelieving voice. He looked mystified at her question and Rangi's lips formed a tight line of displeasure. Not waiting further for a reply, she turned on her heel and walked swiftly to the door. Shane just stared on each of the woman who just left the room. "What did I say?" he asked himself as the door behind Rangi closed. For an another moment he continued to stare at the door, like expecting it being a joke only ... with Rangi and Athena returning back laughing. But none came ... He hit the table with his fist hard: "Dammed!" {You cant live with a woman but without one neither}. He looked at the little stream of blood on his knuckles and sighed. "If I'll lead the diplomatic negotiations with the Kzenti like this ... Bretam will kick me back to the nearest moon ..." === End Log === Cmdr. Shane Guzman ACO & LtCmdr. Rangi Summers CMO & Lt. Athena Wellington Counselor