===== Near ODA offices, USS Chimera ====== Shane walked through the coridor towards the ODA Commander office. It was located in the security area, next to the ODA rooms ... a place that was not regarded as a place good for lingering without a cause. Entering the ODA room, Shane noded to the several marines there and nearing the ODA COmm room he pressed the chime and awaited Walsh's reply. Jack was sitting in his office, still chuckling to himself over his encounter with the new Chief Engineer in the mess hall. If Jack was totally honest he didn't know the Lieutenants brother, Angus, but his friend James Finn was one of Angus' best friends and Jack had heard Finn mention him in letters and such. Flipping though a report from Cortez on yesterdays training sim he was rewarded with a chime at the door of his office. Calling out for whoever was on the other side to enter he saw the Executive Officer waiting on the other side. "Commander" Jack, didnt get up. "What can i do for you?" Shane wasnt a common guest in the ODA Commander's office. Walsh was a marine and in charge of the ODA units on board and this branch of ship's business was more close to the General, so it was him who dealed with Walsh most of the time. Shane wasnt surprised about the fact that the fresh backed major didnt stood up but marked it as a trait he should not forget. "Major" he said in greeting, "I came here to discuss a certain point with you. I should do it weeks back but well, better late then never." Looking directly at Walsh he continued standing: "Its your action while on the Kzenti homeworld when you attacked a romulan emissary." he waited a moment before continuing: "Do you want to say me anything that wasnt in the report about the accident?" Jack groaned slightly inside. He couldn't believe that the XO was still on his back about that, but then that was fleet for you. They were always bean counters and sticklers for doing things on the book. Sometimes to get the job done you have to go off protocol to get results. "Well Commander" Jack took his feet off the table to show some degree of respect. "My team and I needed some tactical information on the Kzenti soldiers, I didn't feel that I could be best used on a diplomatic mission so I used the fight as an opportunity to gather Intel on the soldiers" he said stone faced to the XO. Shane noded like expecting an answer like that from the fierce marine. It was a public secret the the ship's XO wasnt a friend of marine ways and it showed from time to time. He shook his head slightly and asked: "So next time you will beat up a ferengy smuggler when you think you can gather some intel info for your favour?" Jack smirked at the brashness of the Executive Officers comment. "Well If its the only thing we can do. Yes, I won't have any problems doing what needs to be done. Frankly I'd think you would know that by now Commander. We're special forces, we do what Starfleet Officially can't. My hunch about the Kzenti paid off didn't it? It was just a means to an end" Shane noded calmly, till now Walsh was just the marine type Shane expected him to be. "Quite right Major. We are SSF ... but till I am very wrong, every SSF officer has to obey his orders the same as in the Fleet. And who the hell you think you are when YOU will decide whats good for the mission and whats not. I was leading the team and with YOUR action you could have endagered a plan I had in mind. How did you knew that it wasnt just a theatre from LT. Wellington's side?" "I didn't!" Jack stood, not liking the Executive Officers change in tone towards him. "Things play out Commander, sometimes for good and sometimes for bad. I am the ODA Commander, I'm in charge of security on this ship and have a vested interest in operational success in the field. Don't forget that its MY men doing all the grunt work, MY men putting their lives on the line. They're MY men, I'll lead them as best I can, and If I happen to feel that we needed to get that data then put me up for court martial but that's what I'll have to do!" Shane shook his head in disbelief. He didnt like marines for several reasons and this Walsh prooved many of them as right. Taking two steps closer to Walsh, Shane rises his hand and softly darted his finger in Jack's chest. "You are wrong Major. None of the man are yours. During the mission it was me who was ACO and it was MY crew ... inclusive all marine and naval personal ... from my AXO to the lowest crewman in waste disposal duty. You seem to forget that you are only the ODA Commander and you have three superior officers on the ship. Unfortunately for you Major I am one of them and MY oders have to be followed. To be honest i dont care if you think they are good or not ... that are ORDERS. Do you understand the word 'ORDERS' Major?" Jack stood fast looking square at the finger which the XO had placed on his chest. "Commander You may be my boss but I can honestly guarantee you that if you touch me in such a way again I can't be held responsible for my actions, regardless of my career. I understand orders clear and simply, does not mean that I don't know how to carry them out, does not mean that I agree with them, and it does not mean that I don't make a backup plan for when your plan goes balls up, frankly. I don't agree with the way you do things. I'll fall into line though, after all that's why I'm the Major and you're the Commander." Jack replied. "As for my men, If you think they're yours, you're sorely mistaken where their loyalties are placed." Shane's finger didnt moved an inch away when he replied in an cold tone usually reserved for his father only: "I dont need you to agree with my orders Major, what i need is the confidency that you will carry them on. Think what you want, make backup plans you want but never again disregard my orders or distrup a mission i am leading." Glancing at Jack Shane continued: "Your promotion was long due, but if i would have written my report a bit other way then i did, be sure that your bars would be rapidely shrinking. Anyway ... dont think that i would give you to the court martial ... thats too good for you, but this ship needs a leader for the waste disposal group, remeber that. Retracting his finger back from Walsh's chest Shane continued: "Now you can run to the General and complain or you will write a note saying: "Guzman is the boss" and pull it anytime you will think you can thing better then me. Understood Major?" Jack looked the man square in the eye. "I don't know how you do things Commander, but you may go crying to the 'General' whenever something does not meet with your approval. I'd bet there's a report on his desk about me right now, Frankly I don't care. If I'm to be bumped down to Captain again, that's for the General to decide. Don't doubt for a moment my ability to do my job and I'll see to it that your orders are carried out in the future." Jack took note of the finger which had been removed from his chest. "As for this 'note'." he paused. "Off the record, go to hell." Shane shook his head again: "Wrong again Major. If i would write a complain about you i wouldnt bother go down here and waste my time with a man like you. You should learn to listen Major, I havent doubted your abilities ... just your way of thinking and handling. You have handled wrong on the planet and its only up to me to judge that action. I havent allowed you to speak freely Major but this one time you wont get a reprimant in your records. Let me repeat myself again: "The next time you will disregard the orders of a higher ranking officer on board, beeing it the General, me or Commader Summers ... it will be the last time you disregarded an order on this ship. For this time i'll ONLY assign you for a week of waste disposal duty UNDER the command of PO Alfonz. " Glancing at Walsh he added: "Dont even think of trying NOT to obey my order this time Major ... Disregarding an direct order means court martial ... but the choice is yours" ===== End of log ===== Major Jack Walsh ODA CO USS Chimera & Cmdr. Shane Guzman XO USS Chimera