"This should have been Lexi's problem," Ryder grumbled under her breath. "Her idea, her problem. Makes perfect sense to me. But nooooo. Hand all the dirty jobs to the Pathfinder. It's not like she has enough to do."
Ryder, you've all been pushing yourselves too hard for too long. Meridian is won, don't you think it's time you all had a rest? And I mean a decent rest, not a few days of shore leave. Ryder snorted at the memory. Lexi always sounded so concerned, so professional; Ryder was sure she had an ulterior motive, however. Lexi had certainly been quick enough to put in her request, after all, before the plan had even been officially approved.
Ryder paced the conference room on the Tempest, waiting with some nervousness for her crew to arrive. She anticipated that they would all have arguments about this plan, and no problem in voicing them. Well, it couldn't be any harder to convince them than it had been to convince Director Tann.
Ryder shuddered slightly at that memory. Lexi had been so set on her plan as to go ahead and make an appointment to discuss it with Tann - for Ryder. Lexi had glibly pointed out that it was Ryder's responsibility to see to the health and well being of her crew. Ryder hadn't had time to argue the point - Lexi had wisely left just enough time between the appointment and when she told Ryder about it for the necessary tram ride from the docks. Next time she needed to plan a tactical strike, Ryder was making Lexi figure it out - she clearly had talents in that area.
Three months of down time. That was Lexi's plan. Three months for every member of the Pathfinder team and the Tempest's crew. Ryder had known immediately that it would never fly - no one in the Initiative had taken any sort of vacation since their arrival in Andromeda, there was simply too much to do if they wanted to survive. She had presented Lexi with an alternative. Three months of groundside work; no combat, regular hours and regular meals. Lexi had accepted so willingly that Ryder was suspicious, but she was stuck with the plan now.
She had pitched it to Tann as "outreach" and gaining an on-the-spot perspective on what the colonies and station really needed. She doubted that the practical arguments had swayed him much, but when she offered him the publicity and credit for the idea, he agreed readily enough.
As her team and crew trailed into the conference room, Ryder stopped pacing, and took her station on one side of the large table. When everyone had arrived, she began.
"Our doctor thinks we've been working too hard, lately." She paused, smiling at the good natured laughter and facetious denials. "She wanted us to take a three month vacation, but since we can't do that, Director Tann and I have agreed to a compromise that satisfies her. We will all spend three months at various Initiative establishments. We will be contributing, but it will be much less stressful - no combat situations, for instance.
"Tann has accepted my proposal, and we'll start dropping you all off at your stations as soon as we're ready to fly." Ryder's eyes swept over her team, taking in the looks of disbelief and doubt.
"Do we really have time for this? The Initiative could send anyone to do that - we're needed in the field!" Liam's objection came quickly enough, and most of the others were nodding.
"This is an opportunity to see how all our hard work is paying off. And to see what the colonies and outposts need that we haven't been hearing about through leadership. Besides, we won't get anything done if we make mistakes because we're tired or hurt, will we? So, here are your assignments.
"Liam and Cora, you'll be on Prodromos; I'm sure Bradley will be glad of your presence. Vetra and Peebee, we're taking you to Kadara; please stay out of trouble. Jaal, I want you to check in with the outpost on Voeld; see how the angara and the Initiative are really getting on in such close quarters. Lexi will be staying on Nexus. Drack, I'm sending you to Elaaden; please check in with the Initiative colony, and make sure that they're getting along with New Tuchanka well enough. Gil, Kallo, Suvi, you're staying with the Tempest, but you'll be doing supply runs for the colonies, so you'll have an easy go of it."
She listened as they talked among themselves at this news, and fielded the few questions. No one had any strong objections, which was fortunate; she had put a lot of thought into where they should all be stationed, and it seemed she had chosen well. It was Peebee, naturally, who caught the single omission in her plan.
"Where will you be? You get to loaf around on the Tempest doing supply runs, too?"
Ryder smiled grimly. "No indeed. The moshae has requested that there be an Initiative liaison to the Resistance. That will be me, at least for the next three months."
There was silence in the conference room. Then Jaal ventured a slightly tentative, "And what does Evfra think of this plan? Has he given it his approval?"
Ryder sighed. "The moshae said she would tell him. By which I assume she hadn't done so before speaking to Tann about it. So I don't know if he has, though I doubt he'll be thrilled about it."
Jaal folded his arms, looking both thoughtful and amused. "The moshae never acts without cause, Ryder. Evfra was her student, once; she knows him well. If she has proposed this endeavor it is with some specific goal in mind."
"Yes, to 'further understanding and communication between the Initiative and the Resistance,' she said. Also so I could observe your top commander in action; she seems to think I could use some more formal training."
Gil and Vetra laughed at her sour tone. "Additional training is always beneficial, Pathfinder," Cora ventured.
"Yeah, but with Evfra? She's going to come back all grumpy and silent and scowl-y," Peebee pointed out; then added with a certain amount of glee, "I wonder who will lose their temper first?"
"I'll take bets on that!" volunteered Gil, naturally.
Ryder shook her head at them all, trying not to look too unhappy at the prospect of three months spent working closely with Evfra. She was a professional, surely she could handle this mission.
Liam was the first to wander down the conference room ramp, talking about packing. The others soon followed. Jaal left last of all, pausing to offer hopefully, "Evfra is an excellent leader, Ryder. I am sure your time on Aya will not be wasted. And he may learn something from you in turn."
"Respectfully, Moshae, this is a horrible idea!" Evfra was well aware that 'respectful' was not a word that could be used to describe either his tone or his words, but he was past caring.
"Moshae, the last thing we need is an alien spying on the Resistance! We are the most powerful military force in Andromeda, now that the kett are gone - would you truly risk losing that just so we can play nice with them? Now is the time to solidify our position, not weaken it!"
Moshae Sjefa sat calmly while Evfra paced in front of her desk. This was the most animated she had seen him in some time; generally, he kept his emotions so tightly controlled that she could see the tension rising off him in waves. It was unusual in an angara, but had been his way ever since he joined the Resistance. She could only imagine how much further his studied control would crack when she told him the rest of the plan.
"Evfra. The Initiative is not interested in spying on us, or undermining the Resistance. They are most grateful for our assistance in the battle for Meridian."
"And they demonstrate that gratitude by shoving a spy on us! Even if this liaison doesn't deliberately spy on us, they may go talking about things they see in the wrong places and compromise us unintentionally. I do have extensive security checks in place for everyone admitted to Resistance leadership, you know. Now you want me to ignore those to play nice with the Initiative? Pah! You don't know the risk you're taking."
"It is not so great a risk as all that, Evfra." Sjefa was still serenely calm, despite Evfra's agitation. "Did you think I would request someone who wouldn't understand these concerns? I put a great deal of thought into this."
Evfra was staring at her in growing horror. "When you proposed? When you proposed?! So this isn't some transparent plot by the Initiative. No! We have our own moshae to thank for this ridiculous scheme!"
Moshae Sjefa's eyes narrowed, her temper finally pricked by Evfra's stubbornness. "Sit down, Evfra. And calm down." She watched his internal debate; finally he flung himself into the chair with poorly hidden annoyance.
"I considered our safety, and in every way, our safety is only increased by bettering our relationship with the Initiative. We have fought a losing battle for more than eighty years, Evfra! With their help, the kett are gone. Together, we are stronger than alone. It is not a reflection of your abilities, or the determination of the Resistance. It is simply fact.
"And truly, did you think I would allow any civilian Tann wanted to send us into Resistance HQ? Of course not. I have spoken with Andraknor, whose opinion surely even you will respect, and I was fortunate enough to get his first choice appointed as our liaison for three months. After that, we will decide what we will do."
Evfra frowned thoughtfully at the mention of the Hesscarl. The moshae was correct, he had great respect for Andraknor's experience and opinion. Suddenly, Evfra's thoughts ground to a halt. He lifted his eyes to the moshae, already shaking his head as he recalled a particular report from Andraknor, suspicion rising in him as to who the Hesscarl would have recommended.
"Moshae, you did not. Tell me you did not."
Moshae Sjefa nodded cheerfully. "Of course I did. I was surprised to find that it was possible, but how could I ignore the opportunity? You can't claim that she doesn't have a respect for our operation - or our security. She is well respected within the Resistance, as well as within the Initiative. What possible objection could you have?"
Evfra sputtered. His objections were strong, but their foundations were weak - they wouldn't stand up to the moshae's determination.
Finally, he ground out the only objection he thought might sway her. "She is used to being in command; she will destroy my authority."
Even this, though, didn't phase the moshae. "I doubt that. Simply explain that while she is here, you outrank her, and I am sure she will be perfectly respectful. To be honest, Evfra, she could benefit from your experience as a leader; as near as I can tell, she was not trained to lead, and while she has been incredibly successful so far, it is all instinct. And you are well aware that instinct without knowledge is dangerous.
"This is your chance to strengthen the person in the Initiative most likely to be fighting beside you and the Resistance. How could you truly be doing your best for the Resistance if you allow the Initiative to put their safety, and by extension ours, in someone who is not as solid as possible?"
Evfra scowled at her, his jaw set. That was an undeniably good point. She had turned the conversation from a question of whether he would tolerate the Initiative liaison, to being a question of whether he would be derelict in his duty to his people.
Snorting in disgust, Evfra shoved himself out of the chair and left without another word. She had outmaneuvered him and they both knew it. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction of telling her so.
As he stalked back toward Resistance HQ and his own office there, Evfra considered the moshae's words. So… Pathfinder Ryder would be subject to his authority, would she? He doubted her ability to follow orders - despite the moshae's assurances, he doubted Ryder was much used to being anyone's subordinate. Well, he could certainly give her plenty of experience in that area. In fact, he already knew what his first order would be.
Smiling grimly, Evfra turned his attention to the never-ending reports that cluttered his desk.
Ryder stood at the back of the large meeting room at Resistance Headquarters, listening to the third morning briefing of her stay on Aya. Only eighty or so more to go, she told herself with a sigh.
Evfra dismissed the meeting, and Ryder watched with a certain envy as the Resistance leaders stood and filed quietly out of the room. No arguing with their orders; no requests about something extra they wanted to do. She knew she could never be happy using a leadership style like Evfra's, but sometimes she wished she could manage similar results.
When the last of the angara had filed out of the meeting room, Ryder pushed away from her wall and followed Evfra to his small office in Resistance HQ. She was in for another long day of silently watching Evfra work, and she was heartily sick of it. Not that the Resistance needed her help, per se, but the enforced idleness and silence offended her sense of practicality. She had too much respect for the chain of command here to argue against his orders, though; even if his sole order had amounted to "sit down, shut up."
Much to her surprise, when Evfra had settled himself behind the desk, he looked at her and spoke abruptly.
"So, Pathfinder. Are you learning anything useful while you snoop around Resistance HQ?"
Ryder arched an eyebrow at him, biting her tongue to resist the urge to snap back at his accusation. She was here to learn how to work with him, after all. Patience, apparently, would be her most cultivated skill. Buying time to get her temper firmly under control, Ryder leaned against the wall across from him and folded her arms casually across her chest.
"Well, I do wish my crew were as orderly as your Resistance leaders. It must be nice to tell them what is going to happen and have everyone just go do it. Without questions or complaints or anything. To be honest, I'm sorta jealous."
He watched her steadily, his customary half-scowl firmly in place. "My subordinates do not offer personal opinions about my orders. Ever."
"Oh, I believe it!" She grinned wryly.
Evfra's scowl grew. "Why would you doubt my word?"
Ryder blinked, uncertain if he was making an attempt at humor or had really taken her literally. She waved a hand, brushing the words away.
"I just meant, that I can't imagine them arguing with you, that's all. Everyone on my team seems to have some different information or issue that they save until the middle of a meeting to mention. As if I don't already have more work than I could ever manage in three lifetimes."
Evfra's stern expression nearly cracked at that. "Hmph. I always have more work than I will ever get to as well. I don't have any personal issues among those I lead, however. Why do you?"
Ryder tried to keep her expression even. Evfra was actually talking to her? And more, listening? Surely the world was about to end. She didn't want to discourage him, however, so she answered calmly, keeping her surprise out of her voice.
"Oh, you know. Everyone is trying to find their place, and they all have their own interests and concerns. I encourage them to bring those to me, because I want to help, but some days, it drives me crazy! Don't your people have things they worry about outside of their work with you?"
"I am certain they do, but I do not encourage them to make those things publicly known. They are personal issues, and may be dealt with personally. When they are under my command, they should focus on greater needs." He turned his attention to the datapads waiting on his desk, seemingly finished with the conversation.
Knowing she was pushing her luck, but hoping to keep him talking, Ryder spoke up again.
"I don't know, though… I have a small team, and working together on something that's personally important brings us together. We work better as a team on the big things. Builds trust, you know?"
Evfra looked up at her, datapad temporarily forgotten. "That is a… valid consideration."
Ryder was so surprised by this admission that she grinned, unable to resist poking him just a bit. "Does that mean you're going to try it?"
Evfra snorted expressively. "Certainly not. Respect and experience also build trust. I prefer it that way, rather than getting too closely attached to those under my command."
Despite the return of his scowl - or perhaps because of it - Ryder's grin widened. "Well, it was worth a shot!"
Evra looked at her, his eyes sweeping over her before meeting her gaze. His expression was completely blank. "Most people would not consider questioning my command decisions to be worth getting shot."
Ryder arched an eyebrow, studying him in turn, trying to read his expression. "Hmm. I can't tell if you're making a joke, or if you didn't understand the phrase." She added a winning smile, "Help?"
Evfra snorted and turned his attention firmly back to his datapad. "It is widely accepted that I do not have a sense of humor."
Ryder waited a moment, fighting a laugh, but he didn't look back up. "That's... actually not helpful. At all. Well played."
He didn't look up again, but Evfra did pick up one of the datapads and hold it out to her. When she hesitated, he wiggled it impatiently.
Ryder crossed the room, her face carefully expressionless, and took the datapad. Settling herself in a chair, she began reading the reports from Resistance scouts on Voeld. She glanced up at Evfra; he was completely absorbed in his work, he didn't seem to spare her a second thought. Ryder smiled to herself; he had been more talkative this morning than in the last three days combined. Maybe there was some hope for this liaison business after all.
She turned her attention fully to the datapad in her hand, feeling more cheerful than she had in days.
A/N: Hey folks. This is a bit of an experiment for me (longer chapters, different dynamic, more conversations, etc) so while I will update steadily, it won't be as regularly or as quickly as LATAS updated. Just a warning. I hope you enjoy the story!