Post by tanithmacleod on May 10, 2008 21:30:42 GMT -5
Captain Tanith MacLeod stood with her back to the admiral. Not a politically correct move but she had exhausted the last of her restraint in accepting the departure of her bondmate on his latest diplomatic mission.
Admiral Toranaga waited. He knew that he had not delivered the news that she had been anticipating. Two beats later, he cleared his throat emphatically. MacLeod twirled around and assumed a position of attention. The Admiral graciously chose to ignore the moisture that made her eyes, the color of the ocean, become bright and glassy. Her shoulders were back, her arms at her side in that easy grace of long practiced attention. She looked at a spot just above the Admiral's head.
"Captain, I know that you have been anticipating moving into the diplomatic corps," he began. There was a pause as he searched for the words, "However.." a diplomatic pause, "you are currently a liability for that duty assignment." He waited for her protest or at least inquire. None came and he continued, "It is common knowledge that your ...attitude...toward Klingons is ..shall we say...less than welcoming."
He waited again. Still nothing, he muffled a sigh. "Therefore, I have decided to assign you to the I.K.S. SuvwI' batlh under the command of Aj Garan Rajuc, an honored warrior of the empire."
She bit the inside of her cheek, hard. Her nails dug into the palms of her hands. This is NOT what she anticipated. It was the last thing that she wanted.
Toranaga leaned over and looked at a duty roster. "I see that there is an old shipmate of yours assigned there. The Qel is la K'Lest." He glanced up at her, curious to see her response.
This time it came, a micro expression; a muscle in her right cheek flexed. Her biceps tightened slightly under her uniform. Stiffly she replied, "Indeed, Admiral, we have served together. But that is long past now. Permission to address the admiral?"
Toranaga relaxed back in his high backed chair, his hand toyed with a stylus. "Permission granted."
"This officer respectfully requests assignment to another Klingon vessel, Sir," the request was quiet, direct, and without explanation.
Toranaga knew that he had hit pay dirt. MacLeod's grudge against Klingons had been long held. It had appeared to soften as she began to develop a personal friendship and experience in serving with them on Fleet vessels. But there had been an..incident..and when Comander K'Lest returned to the Empire, the bitterness about Klingons had become cemented. And it was not a bitterness that escaped MacLeod's professional performance. Hence, what psychological services had recommended..immersion desensitization.
He looked directly at MacLeod, "Permission denied. You are dismissed, Captain."
For a moment, he thought she would object, that she would press her case. She leaned over, picked up the PADD from his desk with the orders, turned smartly and strode out of his office. Only the echo of emphatic footsteps belied her feelings.
Admiral Toranaga waited. He knew that he had not delivered the news that she had been anticipating. Two beats later, he cleared his throat emphatically. MacLeod twirled around and assumed a position of attention. The Admiral graciously chose to ignore the moisture that made her eyes, the color of the ocean, become bright and glassy. Her shoulders were back, her arms at her side in that easy grace of long practiced attention. She looked at a spot just above the Admiral's head.
"Captain, I know that you have been anticipating moving into the diplomatic corps," he began. There was a pause as he searched for the words, "However.." a diplomatic pause, "you are currently a liability for that duty assignment." He waited for her protest or at least inquire. None came and he continued, "It is common knowledge that your ...attitude...toward Klingons is ..shall we say...less than welcoming."
He waited again. Still nothing, he muffled a sigh. "Therefore, I have decided to assign you to the I.K.S. SuvwI' batlh under the command of Aj Garan Rajuc, an honored warrior of the empire."
She bit the inside of her cheek, hard. Her nails dug into the palms of her hands. This is NOT what she anticipated. It was the last thing that she wanted.
Toranaga leaned over and looked at a duty roster. "I see that there is an old shipmate of yours assigned there. The Qel is la K'Lest." He glanced up at her, curious to see her response.
This time it came, a micro expression; a muscle in her right cheek flexed. Her biceps tightened slightly under her uniform. Stiffly she replied, "Indeed, Admiral, we have served together. But that is long past now. Permission to address the admiral?"
Toranaga relaxed back in his high backed chair, his hand toyed with a stylus. "Permission granted."
"This officer respectfully requests assignment to another Klingon vessel, Sir," the request was quiet, direct, and without explanation.
Toranaga knew that he had hit pay dirt. MacLeod's grudge against Klingons had been long held. It had appeared to soften as she began to develop a personal friendship and experience in serving with them on Fleet vessels. But there had been an..incident..and when Comander K'Lest returned to the Empire, the bitterness about Klingons had become cemented. And it was not a bitterness that escaped MacLeod's professional performance. Hence, what psychological services had recommended..immersion desensitization.
He looked directly at MacLeod, "Permission denied. You are dismissed, Captain."
For a moment, he thought she would object, that she would press her case. She leaned over, picked up the PADD from his desk with the orders, turned smartly and strode out of his office. Only the echo of emphatic footsteps belied her feelings.