It's A Trap!

Posted on Monday, 25 May 2020 - 8:27pm by Captain Barret Stillwater & Commander Soral & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: USS Fontana | Deck 04 | Counselor's Office
Timeline: MD 9

T’Lanna had called both Soral and Victrix to her office, she’d got them both arriving on a fools errand and had a plan of her own to get them talking. Now all she had to do was wait.

Soral was first to arrive. He stood outside the door to her office and rang the chime. He knew the door would be unlocked and he could just let himself in but he couldn't get out of the habit of ringing the chime.

When DeVala turned the corner of the corridor, she looked up from her PaDD to see Soral standing there. Victrix checked the PaDD again. This was the time she wanted to meet she thought to herself. "Commander," she said pleasantly. "I have a meeting scheduled with Lieutenant Vali."

“Actually you both do” T’Lanna smiled as she stood in the doorway. “Please come in.” She waited for them both to enter, motioning them to the seats. “Computer ... lock the doors.” She turned to face both her senior officers. “Right ... neither of you is leaving this office until I’m satisfied that you have cleared the air between you!”

Victrix looked at Soral. "Damn it, Soral! It's a trap!" proclaimed Victrix. "She's going to make us talk about the dirty Vulcan e word" added Victrix. She playfully looked at Vali. "This is mutiny, T'Lanna, pure sadistic mutiny."

T’Lanna looked at Soral. “You can hate my for this later but right now I’d like to see the two people who have become my friends and mentors talking to each other again as friends and not just Starfleet Officers.”

Soral stayed silent through the whole ordeal and the chit chat. He then turned to Vali. "You and I had this conversation Lieutenant. I am a Starfleet officer and will do my duty professionally regardless of my personal impressions and regardless of the Commanders behaviour."

T’Lanna nodded. “Yes Sir, we did and you can reprimand me later. Right now I think the two of you should discuss this before Commander Victrix leaves and you don’t have chance.”

He just fixed her with a stare.

“Comm ... Soral, please!” T’Lanna gave him an almost pleading look. “I know I don’t know as much about Vulcan honour as I should, but I do know regret.” She looked at Victrix. “Commander might I suggest you start.”

Victrix looked at Soral "There's only one way out of here, Commander. We clearly have to appease our tormentor" she said with a small smile. "I have a problem, Commander. It was one I have been struggling with for years and I really should not have been consuming alcoholic beverages during comedy night. The problem is that when I do, I lose a lot of my control and I say things I would not normally do. Some things which may have offended you and maybe a dozen of others. I cannot change what I said, but I am still the same person you came to not too long ago and said you would not be dissatisfied if finding Stillwater took much longer."

It wasn't lost on Soral that she admitted to nothing really nor did she apologize. "Yes Commander. You did offend. But perhaps did more damage then that." He didn't know what she remembered. "You proceeded to spill your drink on my pants an then on my way out you stopped me and announced to everyone that I had wet my pants and insinuated that I had bladder issues which you called a yellow alert. You in effect not only inflicted what by Federation standards would have been a public humiliation, you insulted not only my dignity but that of the Vulcans two of which have requested a transfer at the earliest convenience. There is also the damage to the way the crew may see me, and undermine of my authority. One that Starfleet, had I done it to a department head, would have me severely reprimanded. In essence the message conveyed was that I was that I was an XO but worthy of disrespect from my CO."

He paused and let that sink in. "It is of no consequence. As you say you will be gone when Stillwater is back and I will be here still perhaps dealing with regaining respect from your...joke." He shrugged. "It is what it is. It has happened and cannot be reversed. We will move on from this. I am a Starfleet officer and I will go as long as I see fit and if this is something that can be corrected it will be if not I always have the option of resignation or transfer." He sat down. He knew Vali had her heart in the right place but this had been unnecessary.

“Thank you Soral” T’Lanna had hated more or less making Soral confront Victrix with his grievances. At least now they were out in the air for Victrix to respond to. “Commander” T’Lanna looked to Victrix. “Do you have anything to say in response?”

Soral spoke up again. "Do not misunderstand Counselor. I am not upset or mad. It would be illogical to allow for that. I am simply stating facts that I know to be true. This event simply is that. Something that happened and something I must deal with." He address Vali and not Victrix. While that was true Vulcans did feel and for a moment he was that bullied child on Vulcan.

“I was hoping that by bringing the two of you together, you could share your opinions and hopefully understand both the consequences of actions ...” She looked at Victrix, “But also start to forgive.” She looked at Soral. “Perhaps a public apology would go some way to healing this rift? If you are willing Commander?” She looked at Victrix once again.

"Soral, though I do apologize for my actions because they have embarrassed you...or at the very least made you appear weak in front of the crew, I assure you that was not my intent. You gave the greenlight for this comedy night and it was in your own way 'punishment' for some members of the crew like the Doctor who had to host it. Comedy is no more my specialty than advanced warp mechanics. I went with what came naturally. A friend of mine during my academy years exposed me to 'slapstick' and the yellow alert incident was slapstick" she explained.

"Most the crew have probably forgotten about it and the ones that haven't probably thought you were one of the more entertaining performers of the night. Nobody believes you actually have a bladder problem any more than people would believe I'm naturally a red head" she added. "I have no problem issuing a public apology if it would mean something to you or the other Vulcans."

T’Lanna looked at Soral. “Commander would that go some way to healing this rift?”

There was so much to address in that. He started with the obvious. "Indeed it was a form of punishment, one meant to teach team building, to get officers who were shy out of their comfort zone and to add something in uniting the crew." It had not embarrassed them in any way.

This morning when he'd assisted one of the department heads with discipline he'd heard he young ensign murmur 'if the CO doesn't take him seriously why should I.' Her suggestion that most had probably forgotten it had holes in it. He said nothing though. "A public apology would undermine your authority and it is not logical. The crew must see a leader in their captain. A mentor so that in times when fear and doubt rule they have someone to look to." He would not do that to anyone. Her apologizing would make her weak to the crew. Two weak commanders did not bode well.

"As I have stated I see nothing as being altered. You are the commanding officer I am a Starfleet officer and I will execute my duties to the ship and to you despite what happened that evening." He looked at Vali. "Logic would demand nothing less. We Vulcans do not, what is it Human' say?... ah yes. We Vulcans do not hold grudges. It occurred and I am attempting to move it on. Very few things have changed in that respect. All is the same except for a couple logical consequences. One being that I must endeavour to earn the crews respect again, at least for those that have lost at in me." The other things that were out of line were his trust in Victrix. It had been shattered and it would not be easy to rebuild. He trusted her as an officer would a commander but the trust with the personal was gone for now.

T’Lanna simply remained quiet and let the two talk. This was what she’d brought them together for.

"If that is how you..." Victrix began, but opted not to use the word feel. "Stand, then that is how it will be" she finished.

Soral looked at Victrix. "We all have vices that we must fight. When we take solace in that vice even if we think that it is alright and when there are consequences we learn, we gain strength to renounce that vice just a little more." He said referring to he comment about the problem she'd been fighting. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "It is vital that you do the best you can."

T’Lanna nodded in agreement. “Wise advice.”

Victrix wasn't sure she wanted Soral's hand on her shoulder, but she didn't react to it in a hostile nature. "I suppose we are done here, Lieutenant Vali? I've apologized and Soral is being his Vulcan self."

Soral studied her. "It appears I have now offended you. We may be hostages again." He sighed. "Perhaps you think I am being too Vulcan in this?"

“Perhaps it is I who am in error here” T’Lanna looked at both of them. “Maybe I shouldn’t have insisted on this meeting after all.” She offered a brief smile. “Perhaps my trying to be a Counsellor in this instance wasn’t such a good idea.” She paused. “Computer ... unlock the doors. You are both free to go when you choose.”

He looked at Vali. "You did what was logical. I believe that we just need time."

Victrix gestured to Soral to exit. She looked at Vali. "You were not in error."

T’Lanna nodded and offered a brief smile. She still felt like she was wrong nonetheless.