*** Pakosii's Office, SB UNITY ***
Stephen Jacobs interlocked his fingers and released a long
breath as he settled back into a slightly new position on
his chair, thinking that the reaction this event generated
was expected but still worthy of note.
Two of the four marines turned their heads to look at him
with cold stares.
The other two had had him in their line of sight since he
arrived in the office over an hour earlier and now set their
attention on him fully.
Pakosii too looked up from his seemingly endless work at his
desk. He was used to officers waiting for the valuable time
of the Commodore, but it was not common that they had to
wait like the Chief counselor.
Stephen glanced at them all in turn before returning his
attention to a line drawing picture of Unity which he now
knew inside out but they all seemed to relax if he stared at
it instead of them.
Finally, Pakosii's console indicated green for the visitor
and Pakosii addressed the doctor. "Doctor Jacobs, the
Commodore is now awaiting you …"
"Thank you." Stephen said, getting to his feet and
acknowledging Pakosii with an inclination of his head.
"Gentlemen." he added glancing at the marines in turn and
walked to door, tapped softly upon it and went inside.
"Commander" Shane said in greeting as Jacobs entered the
room. "Please take a seat. Anything to drink?"
"Commodore...good of you to see me." Stephen replied and as
he approached the offered seat, requested a cup of black
coffee, no sugar.
Placing the requested drink on the table in front of Jacob,
Shane asked: "So, what's the reason for your visit
Commander?"
" Thank you." He touched the saucer briefly and waited until
Shane was seated too. " A query." he said. " I understand
that you have carried out certain 'security' checks on one
of my staff. May I ask why?"
He observed Shane for the first time, having seen him
previously only from a distance. He knew the Commodores
career history, in fact he had gone to some lengths to
access counseling reports.
Now he spoke in a friendly manner and his expression was
pleasant enough as he made his request but he took in every
tiny fragment of 'body language'
"News spread fast" Shane said and leaned a bit back in
his seat. "You are right, Lieutenant Nyx is a subject of
counter intelligence investigation, but the actual reasons
are classified." He ended the sentence with no explanation
at all and waited if the Chief counselor would be happy with
his answer.
"I respect that of course Commodore." Stephen replied. "I
too have certain things that must remain confidential unless
under very exceptional circumstances.." He lifted his cup
and took a sip of the strong coffee.
" The Lieutenant in question is still under training but in
my line of work..as in yours. the learning never ends. I
hope you will keep that in mind." He watched Shane as he
took another sip.
Shane scratched his chin and replied: "Now I am not sure
what you mean doctor, but I am glad you understand my
reasons. I can assure you that once the investigation is
over and all is fine, there will be no further
"attention" from Intel on that Lieutenant."
"Attention from Intel is a way of life here." Stephen said "
Trust no one?" He gave a small smile.
"I'll be honest with you, doctor" Shane said looking
straight at his chief counselor, "Since I was Chimera's
XO and later CO, I was used to a small group of senior
officers I knew I could trust. Since I became task force CO,
the group changed somewhat, but a great deal of my ex-senior
staff became my advisors. But now … on UNITY, there are
way too many new faces in many positions and it will take me
time to learn to trust them. I was used to a single
counselor for long years … Commander Wellington. She was
more then a counselor, she was a friend. For you … and now
I mean all of your department, it will take a lot of effort
to get to at least some level of trust and working
relationship that I had with Commander Wellington."
" I appreciate your honesty Commodore." Stephen replied.
"..and I should add that it works both ways. Some of us have
been here on Unity for a long time and its you who are the
newcomer who we have to trust."
His smile widened as though he had an inner joke that he
kept to himself. "My junior counselor is a young lady who
has not yet learned to think on a wider scale. If you choose
to hear her counsel then I will not interfere. I am not
warning but merely advising and whether you choose to listen
is of course your own decision."
"Oh, I have not made my mind yet, doctor" Shane replied.
"As you said right, I am the new one on this station and
it will need time to know each other." He grinned: "But
taking your and mine position, the CO is always the
responsibility of the head counselor …"
A light starter to blink on Shane's console and with a
slight sigh, he turned back to Jacob's and said: "If
there is nothing else, doctor, I must excuse myself now"
" Thankyou for your time Commodore. Its been a pleasure to
meet you and I hope we will do so again." He held out his
hand.
"The pleasure is mine, doctor" Shane replied and shook
the offered hand.
====== End of log ======
Commander Stephen Jacobs
Chief counselor
SB 234: UNITY
&
Commodore Shane Guzman
CO, SB 234: UNITY
CO, 1st TF, SSF Command
