"Setting Down The Law," a Robair Log

[Benjamin Robair 0]

Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Robair

Chief Security Officer

USS Agincourt

 

"Setting Down The Law"

 

Reprimanding someone, especially one of your own officers, must be an event no one wants to truly endure. However, it must be done, for no crime may go unpunished. Yes, I would have preferred to take her word that she would never avoid regulations again in such a manner, however that is not my job. Yes, I would prefer to be friendly with those under my command, but again, this is not my job. I am not here to forgive and forget; as a security officer, especially, I must enforce Starfleet Rules and Regulations. I was told early on in my career that this was not simple in the beginning, and never became easier. I do not enjoy punishing people, especially those I know are sincerely sorry for the mistake, but I know I must do it. I am a chief. With that title, I must act as a mentor to those officers around me, be the voice of reason, know exactly what I'm talking about, and still keep control of both myself and everyone else. It is no easy task, and not always one I enjoy.

 

Lieutenant JoNs is a wonderful officer, ranging from her ability to correspond with others, all the way to her remarkable tactical and combat abilities. It was no easy task setting her down, to tell her she was being reprimanded. And, oddly enough, it wasn't particularly me who told her, which could quite possibly be why I do feel bad about the events that recently unfolded in my office.

 

I had invited the newest member of Agincourt, in effort for to unknowingly drag JoNs across the ground and effectively bring her well-being down to that of mud. I embarrassed her, I ridiculed her, and I was quite possibly mean to her - all by simply asking Midshipman Spitfire questions revolving around the concept of, "Is stealing, even if you feel it is what you should do, the correct thing to do?" And, every time, he answered perfectly, as Lieutenant JoNs mentally sank lower and lower into her chair. There, in my office, I had provoked a midshipman into ridiculing a lieutenant, and it was all my idea. It was what I had intended to do, it is what I did do, and it was flawless.

 

JoNs got the point across, without any problem. But, given her outstanding record and the mission she had just returned from, I was quite possibly too hard on her.

 

No, no, I wasn't too hard on her. She deserved exactly what she got. But, then again, she didn't. This was her first offense, and she had good reason, and yet it may be assumed that - had she taken an additional five minutes - she could have received the goods in proper, Starfleet way.

 

No matter how I feel now, I cannot go back and reverse the harsh reprimand I gave her. I cannot erase the inevitably now-confused mind of Midshipman Spitfire, as he attempted to piece together what exactly Lieutenant JoNs had done. Quite honestly, I shouldn't have gotten someone else involved in what Captain Davies probably considered a "relatively minor" event.

 

However, even as I go back and think about the events that had just unfolded, I admit to myself that, should similar events happen again with anyone, I would do the exact same thing. Even so, I do believe I acted too rash, all things considered. I had to get my point across, and I did that effectively.

 

I have no regrets about the matter.