Meeting the new CMO

Posted on Fri Jun 3rd, 2011 @ 6:31am by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Commodore Alexandra Harrison

1,050 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 75 - Time of Change
Location: Admiral Bremer's Office
Timeline: Following Bremer's last post

ON:


Mike took a seat at his desk as Captain Harrison took a seat opposite of the Admiral.

"What do you know of her?" Harrison asked.

Mike looked at his Chief of Security, "Very little. She passed all her Starfleet screenings, and I had Commander Tamarith check too, she seems clean. Even the Vulcan Ambassador himself recommended her."

"Really." Harrison was a bit concerned about having a Romulan for a Chief Medical Officer and would remain dubious of the woman, "Interesting."

The door chimed and Mike stood as he said `Enter`.

The doors opened and Centurion Suan t'Khellian. She wore the standard Romulan Navy uniform, black hair and dark eyes, standing there she was the prototypical Romulan Officer.

"Welcome aboard Starbase 400, please have a seat." Mike motioned toward the chair beside Harrison as he sat down, "This is my Chief of Security, Captain Alexandra Harrison."

Harrison nodded to Suan. She sat there, observing the Romulan woman. She wanted to see if Suan was capable of having a decent bedside manner.

Suan stood rather stiff, her hands laced behind her back as she glanced between the two human flag officers. She took the offered seat, and placed her hands on her lap. "Admiral, Captain." She replied as way of addressing them, given each a slight nod of her head. "I am Centurian Suan t'Khellian, formally of the Imperial Romulan Warbird Batten." She paused, keeping it formal as she expected with such senior officers. "I have been assigned, if your Starfleet Intelligence liaison was correct, to serve as your chief medical officer." She assumed they already knew this, probably took her life apart and analysed every decision she ever made; well the Tal Shiar would have done so...

Mike could see Suan was tense, maybe a little more so than necessary. It was already going to be a tough assignment for her. SB400 had a diverse crew. Humans, Betazoids, a Gorn, a few Klingons, and Mike and his brother both half Klingon, couple that with all the trouble with the Romulans lately, and this assignment could easily make any Romulan joining the crew feel...`unwelcome`. Mike wanted to try and prevent that...

"At ease. I'm not sure how much out Intelligence Officer, Captain Mark, informed you, but that is correct. Our Medical Staff is currently undergoing come changes. The Assistant CMO, Doctor Mclintock, is still aboard, as is our Chief Nurse, but the majority of the staff has recently been transferred. Those Officers and the station's EMH can help you settle in and answer any medical questions you may have."

Mike paused a moment, then continued, "Do you have any questions or concerns for me?"

Suan arched a brow at the admiral's comment. "I have many questions, Admiral but it can wait." She paused, "Medical staff being depleted will have short term ramifications and I can deal with this as long as I can carry out what you may think as draconian methods."

She leaned back in her seat. "I know this will be difficult for all involved. Our two people's don't exactly have a cordial relationship. I will do what I can to make it a smooth transition "

Mike nodded, "Sounds good, and my door is always open to my Senior Staff." He paused then looked over at Harrison.

"Do you have anything to add?"

"I'm just a little concerned how people are going to react to you. If by chance you happen to run into any trouble, security is just a call away. Hopefully you won't need our assistance."

Suan placed her hands on the armrest and turned her head to face Harrison. "Captain, I suggest it is not I who needs assistance for I've deal with worse things than dirty looks and comments. In order for us to move forward - As I believe the Federation has been trying to make clear since the tragedy that has befallen my people - It will be your officers that will need to stand proud for the ideals you supposedly hold dearly." The centurion looked between the two. "Was I mistaken to believe the Federation was a democratic society of tolerance and justice or was that merely a clever slogan with no meaning?" Her tone was pure Romulan, even with a battered Empire and a lost homeworld, she was every bit a Rihannsu.

This was the first time that Harrison ever had a real conversation with a Romulan and she was already somewhat annoyed with Suan. She didn't know much about democracy but she did know human nature. In a perfect world, everyone would accept each other and get along no matter what race they were but this isn't a perfect world. She looked over at Bremer with a 'I better let you answer' look.

Mike himself had felt intolerance before, following his return to Starfleet from the Klingon Defense Force when the brief Federation/Klingon war erupted. Being half Klingon, some Starfleet Officers saw Mike as a traitor for leaving Starfleet for the KDF after his graduation from the Academy, and some just looked at him differently. It took time, but though his actions those people changed their opinions.

Mike had kept his eyes fixed on Suan. He'd had plenty of...interactions with Romulans during his career, good and bad. Suan reminded him a lot of Commander Tamarith when she was aboard the Pegasus as his XO just after the Dominion War as a Romulan exchange officer. The thing was, Suan's question wasn't a `bad` one...it was just that Romulan tone.

Standing up, Mike answered, "The Federation as a society is just and tolerant of others, and is an inclusive and diverse group, however as in any group as diverse there will be some that are less tolerant of new people and some that are frightened of change. Do your job well, and you'll earn the respect of this crew, however if you come across anyone that's discriminating again you in anyway, you let us know. Understood?"


Rona stood as well. "Thank you Admiral but I am indifferent to prejudice and see no reason to bother you with such minor nuisances. I will now evaluate your Sickbay. " Having understood 'standing' meant the meeting had concluded, nodded to both Bremer and Harrison. "Admiral, Captain." Addressing them before finally exiting.

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