Overworked, Overstressed

Posted on 09 Jul 2020 @ 6:55pm by Lieutenant Madalene Sabine & Lieutenant Sovok

1,622 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Ab Intra
Location: Bridge
Timeline: MD 01 - 1230 hours

=/= Begin Log =/=

The meeting that went on for ever was finally over, welcoming back the operations officer that was in a come, over. Now the bridge, as she leaned against the wall of the lift Madalene once again felt her foot tapping. Faster and faster and faster, as if the tapping of her foot will make the lift go even faster.

Right before she was about to get really annoyed with the apparently slow lift, it stopped and doors swished open. Stepping off and just a few steps she arrived at the operations console and just shooing the officer away. "Ensign I am very aware of the situation we are in, after all I am the chief," Madalene said curtly with the ensign looking at the chief.

Sovok was seated in the Captain's chair. His posture, like always, was impeccable. The Vulcan officer was scanning through a stack of PADD's as well as toggling through information on the command station of the Captain's chair. Information was being processed at an alarming rate, but to any who had spent time among studious vulcans, or Sovok for that matter, this was not unusual. Vulcans read and processes information at a speed exceeding humanity's ability to do the same, but that was not something vulcans brought up often.

What may have seemed odd was that Sovok did not greet his peer as she walked on the bridge as was customary. Sovok seemed to be preoccupied with his work. Whatever he was reading, he seemed almost excited about it. No smile was on his face, but neither was the dull, static look he was known for. His eyes seemed more alive, but perhaps this is just what Sovok looks like when he is reading something that actually interests him.

"Computer." Sovok addressed in a even, quick tone. "Display Odin's active security grid and shield specifics and transfer the data to the command chair's display and my personal PADD. Authorization code 2-3-7-4-7-1-7-9-Delta-Sierra-9-Tango-Nebraska-Golf-6-7-3-0: Lock."

Hearing what Sovok was asking for did not make Madalene happy, she wasn't sure why, but maybe it was because part of her...err their plan required the shields to be set to specific frequency to help protect the ship from an feedback loop. "Lieutenant Sovok, may I ask what you are doing with the shields?" Madalene asked.

Sovok did not cease his work as he responded. His tone was dry, dispassionate, but that is not so far out of the norm for the man. "There is nothing to be concerned about, Lieutenant Sabine." He began as he flipped through the specifications on the chair's display. "I am merely making sure everything is in place for our away team. Is there a problem?" He asked.

"Yes, actually," Madalene said sounding agitated, "we have the shields at a precise frequency to help avoid a catastrophic feedback loop," Madalene said as she worked on getting the shields back into frequency to help capture the excess energy and move it to the EPS relays and if need be back into space.

"I'm well aware of that, Lieutenant." Sovok said evenly in contrast to his peer's agitation. "I am well aware of this mission's details, of what is at stake, and the lives that are on the line. My request to see the information was to make sure the parameters were being met. While I sit in this chair, no detail will be overlooked. Not if I can help it. No changes have been made. No deviations. And in the future, you would do well to trust in my integrity and speak to me with more respect. I would not have been placed with this posting if the Captain did not think me capable."

For whatever reason Madalene didn't trust this statement, even though looking over the diagnostics Madalene started to run, he was right nothing had changed. "Yes of course," Madalene said through gritted teeth as she got to work on getting the deflector dish ready not liking what she was seeing from the storm.

Sovok stood from the Captain's chair and turned around. He peered at Madeline and her station. He watched her run the diagnosis and stood silently with his hands clasped behind his back as he waited for her to draw the conclusion that had come. He would not be so foolish as to change something in such a brazen way. Changes would be subtle, they would be indirect, if they were even needed at all.

Sovok's expression did not change. As he spoke, it was as even as it had always been, though such a direct confrontation had not been seen by the command officer, but then again, none had sought to question his command decisions. The red uniformed officer peered at his peer in yellow. His eyes were keenly set upon her. He did not appear to be aggressive but ready to respond to any further disruptions. "Satisfied, Lieutenant?" He asked directly. He spoke loudly enough to garner the attention of the remaining bridge crew. A few remained at their postings and dedicated to their work, but many eyes were upon the Lieutenants. "Or shall I run each and every single aspect of my command detail by you before I make them?" He paused for a brief moment, but spoke swiftly enough to interrupt any answer to his rhetorical question. "You would not show the Captain or the First Officer such disrespect. You will not show it to me again, for if you do, you will be escorted off the bridge. Am I clear, Lieutenant?"

Madalene looked up fighting against all of her instincts right now, "Yes, perfectly crystal clear," Madalene said unable to keep the venom out of her words glaring at the, most annoying Vulcan in the goddamn universe.

Sovok looked at his peer and her agitated state. It was unusual for her. It was an unknown variable. Sovok's memories were of no help here. He had never encountered her anger before. It was an unknown, unacceptable variable that slowed down the work, and worst of all, there was no counter to it at the moment. "Lieutenant." Sovok said after Madalene spoke. The venom in her words were heard by many. Sovok gave her a moment to recant, but when she did not, he sought a way to end this and maintain his cover. "You are relieved of duty. Get some sleep. Report back in for your next shift. I will make a note in the log but this shall not reflect on your personal record. We are under a lot of stress, Lieutenant, and it is understandable to have it affect your work." Sovok gestured to the turbolift, his tone and posture indicating this was not up for debate.

Madalene was shocked at this, "we can't afford to be down another chief, not with the away team in potential danger," what is the danger, Madalene didn't know, but all she needed to know was that they were in danger. "I am the only one that knows the plan, to keep communications with the away team possible," Madalene said knowing full well that wasn't true, but in her mind she was the only one.

"You are of no use to me like this, Lieutenant. Rest and get back to us refreshed. You are not the only one who knows the plan and the specifics." He said as he walked up to her station. His voice quieted with each step till only the pair could hear his final words. "Don't make me call security."

Madalene's fists clenched, she could feel her nails digging into her palm, before finally deciding that being locked up was not gonna be a good for anyone, "fine!" Madalene said quietly, but still with venom in her voice, as her fist unclenched leaving some small cuts. And, with that Madalene walked away from her console and back to the lift.

Sovok watched Madealene head towards the lift. As she got on board, the vulcan made his way back to the command chair. He entered into the log the time, date, and reason for dismissal of duty. He placed the record in the Misc. category. In an explanation, he put that the Lieutenant had worked for too long and required rest. The questioning of her superior officer and her agitation were left out of the logs. If any were to read such a report, it may seem odd. Sovok was nothing if not thorough.

"Crew." Sovok announced to those working upon the bridge. "We have work to do. You know your roles. You know your mission. I want updates on the members of this ship not on board every ten minutes. I want status updates on the shields and security grid every five. If any of the systems deviate more than a factor of point o-seven, inform me. Let's be sure to be worthy of the uniforms we are wearing.

As his back was turned to the turbolift, the being that was controlling Sovok relaxed. A flash of pain hit him after the door closed. Internally, Sovok wrestled with his captors. The vulcan's limited psychic abilities were no match for the beings within him, and with a cocky voice one spoke out loud with his Sovok's voice. "Now, now, little vulcan. You are such a rude host. Keep quiet or it is this crew I will punish, not you." And with that, an eerie sight began. If any on the bridge were not of the same predicament, if they were in their right minds, the sight would chill them to the bone.

As he sat down in the Captain's seat once more, Sovok smiled devilishly.

=/= End. Log =/=

 

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