"Look, Council-Woman Vinyaya, you just can't fire Holly and Root!"
"We weren't talking about firing them. We were thinking of retiring Commander Root, or at least sending him back to a desk job. Captain Short would be fired, yes, or put behind a desk but she causes too much trouble in the field."
"It's not her fault! Except for the Hamburg thing all of her troubles were special circumstances."
"Lieutenant Colonel Kelp," she spoke sharply, "in this line of work everything is a special circumstance and if you can't handle it then you must leave. The same goes for every officer. She's quite unorthodox. Besides, she's a reckless pilot."
Trouble had to admit that Holly held the LEP record for core diving; core-diving was against the rules but the pilots did it anyway. Holly's record-breaking dive had earned her a suspension and a fine. "But, she's still the best pilot we've got."
"Be that as it may I don't feel we have a choice. The council has discussed this thoroughly and you have been in with us on a number of the discussions. I know you and Captain Short are dating but that's no reason to make excuses for her."
"Were, Council-Woman Vinyaya. We broke up. But that's beside the point. She's a great officer. She can think on her feet and she's a sure shot. There's no other officer I'd rather have at my back out there in the field."
"Kelp."
"Please, just give her a second chance. After being shot by someone the council had working undercover without telling her she still managed to rescue Aquarius and Commander Root!"
"Yes, and she smashed the rules and regulations to bits along the way. I'm sorry, but she's through."
"Please, just give her a second chance!"
"Would like me to remind you how many second chances she's had?"
"Council-Woman Vinyaya, she."
"For your sake, Lieutenant, she shall have one last chance. I'll call her in to speak with me as soon as she gets back from her vacation. She will have to repeat all her basic training again. If she passes, she can stay. But she will be reassigned elsewhere."
Trouble sighed with relief, Holly may not follow all the rules but she did know all the rules. "Thank you. What about Commander Root?"
"That is yet to be decided by the Council. You are dismissed."
Trouble started to get up and leave but turned back at the door. "You might want to speak to Holly sooner rather than later if it's convenient with you. I'm sure she will have realized by now that something's afoot."
She nodded curtly and left.
"We weren't talking about firing them. We were thinking of retiring Commander Root, or at least sending him back to a desk job. Captain Short would be fired, yes, or put behind a desk but she causes too much trouble in the field."
"It's not her fault! Except for the Hamburg thing all of her troubles were special circumstances."
"Lieutenant Colonel Kelp," she spoke sharply, "in this line of work everything is a special circumstance and if you can't handle it then you must leave. The same goes for every officer. She's quite unorthodox. Besides, she's a reckless pilot."
Trouble had to admit that Holly held the LEP record for core diving; core-diving was against the rules but the pilots did it anyway. Holly's record-breaking dive had earned her a suspension and a fine. "But, she's still the best pilot we've got."
"Be that as it may I don't feel we have a choice. The council has discussed this thoroughly and you have been in with us on a number of the discussions. I know you and Captain Short are dating but that's no reason to make excuses for her."
"Were, Council-Woman Vinyaya. We broke up. But that's beside the point. She's a great officer. She can think on her feet and she's a sure shot. There's no other officer I'd rather have at my back out there in the field."
"Kelp."
"Please, just give her a second chance. After being shot by someone the council had working undercover without telling her she still managed to rescue Aquarius and Commander Root!"
"Yes, and she smashed the rules and regulations to bits along the way. I'm sorry, but she's through."
"Please, just give her a second chance!"
"Would like me to remind you how many second chances she's had?"
"Council-Woman Vinyaya, she."
"For your sake, Lieutenant, she shall have one last chance. I'll call her in to speak with me as soon as she gets back from her vacation. She will have to repeat all her basic training again. If she passes, she can stay. But she will be reassigned elsewhere."
Trouble sighed with relief, Holly may not follow all the rules but she did know all the rules. "Thank you. What about Commander Root?"
"That is yet to be decided by the Council. You are dismissed."
Trouble started to get up and leave but turned back at the door. "You might want to speak to Holly sooner rather than later if it's convenient with you. I'm sure she will have realized by now that something's afoot."
She nodded curtly and left.