Changing of the Guard

[Hanna-Beth Rieve 0]

Harper sat in her small office beside the NNC, reading and rereading the transfer orders on the PADD in her hand, and waiting with some trepidation for the arrival of the officer she had asked to see.

 

First Lieutenant Hanna-Beth Rieve put down the tricorder she was working on, and walked into the office straight from the NNC. She had been summoned there by the Colonel, and she didn't intend to disappoint. She entered, and saluted. "Colonel, you wished to see me?"

 

"Yes," Harper said, returning the salute with her free hand. Motioning the young lieutenant to a chair, Harper set the PADD down and

folded her hands on the desk. "Well, I have good news and bad news," she began. "The good news is, Starfleet Command finally listened to my screaming for more officers."

 

Rieve dropped the salute, then followed the Colonel's direction, carefully made her way to the seat and put herself down into it in the unique, rigid style they teach all the Marines at the academy. She listened intently. "That's good, Colonel."

 

Harper nodded a little distractedly. "The bad news is, they're sending us someone who'll come in above you." She waited, her eyes on Rieve.

 

Rieve tried not to display any emotion. Every Marine officer was supposed to crave command and promotion, after all, right? This was the equivalent of a demotion, in some perverted chain-of-command sort of way. But, all she could feel was a weight lifting off her chest. Relief. How, odd. She looked back towards the Colonel, trying not to appear like she was averting her gaze. She stated, pretty matter-of-factly, "I'm sure the squad, and myself, will have no problem adjusting to being under his command."

 

"You're all professionals," Harper agreed. "But..." Her eyes flicked down the the PADD on the desk, then back up. "I wanted to make it clear to you, personally -- this isn't meant to be a reflection on your performance."

 

"Thank you, Colonel. I won't take it that way. The squad needs officers, and we'll work with whoever Starfleet command decides to send." She almost wished it were a reflection on her performance. Not even a year out of the academy, and, already a whole squad of Marines relying on her. Of course, they still would. But, the burden of command was a heavy one. The reality of it doesn't sink in while training. She had no idea how the Captain and Colonel could handle the whole ship.

 

Though pleased the conversation was going so smoothly, Harper was a little concerned. She'd never seen anyone take a de facto demotion so calmly before. "I've been proud to have you as my second," she said, "and I'm certain you're going to make a fine commander in a few years."

 

Rieve looked straight back at Harper. "Thank you, ma'am." A bit quieter, she added in, "maybe, in a few years."

 

Harper sighed internally. It appeared she wouldn't get anything more from Rieve. "Very well. That's all, then -- dismissed." And as she watched Rieve depart, she reflected that this Major Vaos had better be worth the trouble.