Okay, Call It In The Air

[Atragon9 0]

::A9 sits down in one of his side chairs in front of his desk in the Ready Room, while Margaux Roget sits in the other one. He takes a moment to collect his thoughts and then meets her gaze:: Margaux, I need your help.

 

::Margaux leans back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other:: That's nothing new, Admiral.

 

::A9 purses his lips, but doesn't take the bait:: I would like your counsel on the Security Department. Precip wasn't in control of his mind when he went insubordinate and not a little crazy on me. Now he's healthy again and the doctors assure me there is no lasting damage from his time "over there." Do I reinstate him as Security Chief and kick out McFly, who's just getting the feel of the job? And if so, what does that do to McFly's morale?

 

::Margaux turns her head slightly and looks just over A9's shoulder:: Yes, it would seem you have yourself quite a dilemma. Was McFly doing a less than stellar job in the position?

 

::A9 shakes his head :: Hmm, he never really had the opportunity to be stellar, so I can't fault him for just having a short run in the post. He barely had time to fail and he definitely never had the opportunity to truly show off. That's what makes the decision so tough to... ::he sits forward, suddenly, getting an evil smirk on his face:: Hey, I know. Why don't you take the job back?! You had it before Precip and built quite a reputation there, no one would question that decision. ::he sits back, waiting to be shot down::

 

::Margaux suddenly looks back at him, looking truly surprised:: Me?

 

::A9 smiles at her, knowing it was just a goof. In the back of his mind, he also hopes that she might actually consider it.:: Hey, you know Me, you know Security, you know Manticore. Heck, you've even had a stint as Counselor, hm? Just think of the possibilities!

 

::Margaux regains her composure and returns to her sphinx-like demeanor, looking thoughtfully at the ceiling:: Oh, I know this ship all right; and I know Security, I know it as well, if not better, than anyone. You too, for that matter, but we're not going to talk about that now. As for Counselor ... you couldn't have gotten a more straight shootin' Counselor than me. ::A9 rubs his jaw in memory:: But, to go back, really?

 

::A9 is pleasantly surprised that she is really considering it:: Don't think of it as going back, think of it as a new beginning, a new path, uhh, through familiar surroundings, but still you can make it all new!

 

::Margaux closes her eyes for a moment and then opens them, meeting his gaze and smirking, plucking at the leather covering her thigh:: And give up this?! You're asking too much of me, mi querido. ::she raises an eyebrow to throw it back to him as a question::

 

::A9 sighs, knowing it wasn't the real reason they were talking. He stands up and goes to the window, watching the activity outside the ship as the Maturin work crews busily heal Manticore's battle wounds:: Yes, Intell does have nice threads, eh? Alright, so I was just looking to avoid the real issue, so - back to it. Precip or McFly; McFly or Precip. One is a Commander with more experience and tenure on the job; the other didn't curse me out on the Bridge during a battle. One is a young officer with a bright future who just needs an opportunity to show what he can do; the other is a battle- and Atragon-tested officer who has already shown me that he can run the department. ::he shrugs and stops talking, noticing that Margaux was just letting him state the obvious pros and cons. He turns back to her and takes his seat again:: Okay, so I seem to be talking me into Precip, but what can I offer McFly to keep him upwardly mobile and happy to be here?

 

::Margaux senses that A9 has already reached his decision and just needs a poke in the back. She shakes her head, smiling slightly:: I can't give you an answer, you know that. In the end, you need strap on the big boy drawers and tell McFly he's out of a job. You can offer him a squadron command, but after being CSEC anything is a step down.

 

:: A9 fires back at her quickly, enjoying their old back-and-forth once again:: Yes, I suppose I do know what I has to be done, and I'm not talking about my drawers here. ::he squints his eyes in thought for a moment:: So, what if it's a step to the side?

 

::Margaux almost talks over A9 as she responds to his first comment:: I don't wear any so who's are we talking about? ::she changes tracks right along with him:: A lateral move would be more acceptable, is such a move available?

 

::A9 is on so much of a roll that it takes him a second for all of her words to register:: What does the ship ne ... ::suddenly, her comment succeeds is stopping him in his tracks:: Doesn't that chafe, especially with the leather?? Oh sorry, where was I? Yesss... What does this ship need that is Security-related? Is there something new and interesting and vital and important and lacking, that he can take command of?

 

::Margaux rolls her eyes at him:: Focus, focus!

 

::A9 lets that comment fly by, just like the image of her... he lets that image fly by:: Marine squad? Special Forces? Special weapons?

 

::Margaux snaps right back into the conversational flow:: Special Forces would be my choice. An elite group of commandos, all trained for high risk, high speed, high skill work. Extractions, assassinations, destabilizations. And he would report directly to you, not work under the umbrella of ship's security.

 

::A9 raises an eyebrow and leans back, rubbing his chin again, but this time in appreciation:: Special Ops Special Forces, it's got a ring to it! Maybe get him something snazzy in a leather uniform, eh? I mean, at least a beret!

 

::Margaux scoffs and answers dismissively:: I vote for a beret.

 

::A9 chuckles at her:: Tsk tsk, you can't be the only one in leather, y'know.

 

::Margaux gets a surprisingly serious look on her face:: Last time I looked, this was standard issue for Starfleet Intellegence. If someone wants to wear leather, tell them to sell their soul and I'll meet them at the tailor. ::She is a little agitated and stands up, moving away from her chair::

 

::A9 doesn't notice her changed mood and chuckles:: Okay then, Precip gets CSEC and McFly is offered Special Forces Command.

 

::Margaux is halfway to the door:: If there is nothing else?

 

::A9 notes the edge to her voice now and wonders how he has offended her, yet again. He speaks earnestly:: No, that's it, thank you, Margaux. I always knew you were a good Counselor.

 

::Margaux pauses at the door and makes a 3/4 turn and looks at him thoughtfully, as though she has something more to say:: You're welcome, Admiral. ::turns and exits the Ready Room::

 

::A9 watches her go and realizes that he has been very tense during the entire conversation, he relaxes back into his chair:: Boyoboy!