The bridge of the Surprise was a nexus of activity, as technicians and engineers swarmed her inside and out, completing the last minute checks required for a ship embarking on a cruise. Pavlik was parked in the centre seat, signing off on a steady stream of progress reports coming in from all sections. Smyne was off somewhere, probably engineering, troubleshooting in person with Lieutenant Ferris in tow. Petrovic, in contrast, was on the bridge, checking the readiness of the defense systems. It had been a couple of days, but she was still unable to look him in the eye.
I suppose Command Petrovic is not used to hearing 'no,' he thought to himself as he glanced over at her. Although in all honestly, if I looked like her, I would be too.
Before his thoughts could refocus, Kristen Ferris arrived on the bridge and approached him.
"Sir, Dr. Valru, Ensign Luciani and Lieutenant Vokoun have just beamed aboard from the Colorado," Ferris reported. "The commander is seeing them to their quarters. You told me that once the senior staff was aboard that I was to schedule a meeting. I was thinking the observation lounge in an hour, at 1430?"
"Sounds good," Pavlik replied.
Captain Pavlik was the first to be waiting in the observation lounge, having left the bridge ten minutes before the scheduled start time. Kristen Ferris too was early, showing up five minutes before 1430. The rest showed up within a minute or two of the exact time, punctuated in the middle by Dr. Valru's precise time of arrival. Predictably it was Commander Smyne who was the last to arrive and take his place at the captain's right hand.
Pavlik traded glances with his first officer – the former disapproving, the latter apologetic – before Pavlik's eyes took in his audience. On his immediate left was Petrovic, still looking moody, in the spot due to the second officer. Beside her was Lieutenant Ferris, sitting with a posture that made her look as small as possible. This was her first senior staff meeting and it didn't surprise him that she was nervous. Opposite her was Lieutenant Vokoun, the chief engineer. His blonde hair was slicked back and his posture ramrod straight. The slightly pudgy engineer was the oldest human at the table even though he was still only a lieutenant. In fact, he had started his career a crewman and had been given a battlefield commission during the war. After its conclusion, he spent some time at the Academy to make his commission permanent. Since then he had become a rising star, averaging a promotion a year. Pavlik figured Vokoun would retire an admiral.
Beside him was the expressionless Vulcan doctor Valru, a typical example of a Vulcan beauty. She had come highly recommended by her previous CO, and her performance evaluations, year after year, contained the note that she had a surprisingly good bedside manner, a racial epitaph that while subtle was somewhat jarring to read in a personnel file. Pavlik was a little surprised a doctor of her calibre – his top choice for CMO, but also undoubtedly a leading candidate for the position on a Galaxy- or Sovereign-class vessel – would agree to such a small practice on a ship with only average facilities, but he was glad to have her. Across the table, back to the left of Ferris, was the youngest looking ensign in the service: one Anton Luciani, Chief Science Officer. He was the leader of a cabal of four young energetic science officers Pavlik had picked from the Academy's most recent graduating class. Luciani, a fellow mathematician, was the natural choice to head the department of sciences.
Beside the doctor was Lieutenant Antipin, the primary pilot and Pavlik's pick for third officer. Although strong-jawed with dark hair and darker eyes, Antipin had the face of a prize fighter and was by far the least handsome man at the table. He was due for a promotion to lieutenant commander and maybe even an XO job of his own, likely before the unorthodox Smyne was given a captain's chair. While Pavlik figured that Antipin's stay aboard the Surprise would be brief, he was determined to get the most out of the pilot as he could.
Sitting at the opposite head of the table from Pavlik was the Ship's Counsellor, Paul de Vries. When the two made eye contact, de Vries smiled politely while Pavlik had to supress a grimace. De Vries was a former PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam in xenopsychology who had finished all his requirements but his dissertation, quit school and, for whatever reason, ran off to join Starfleet. His specialty earned him a commission and his master's degree had earned him an extra half-pip on his collar, but he had declined taking a spot in the Academy's Accelerated Officer Training Program, designed for officers that already had the equivalent of a bachelor's degree or better. This meant, however, that de Vries had no right – by either training or tradition – to be considered a part of the senior staff. Pavlik decided to deal with that after the meeting.
"For our latest arrivals, I would like to welcome you to the Surprise," he said, smiling graciously. He received the same from his crew, apart from Valru who simply ascended her head agreeably. "I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss my command philosophy and lay out my expectations of my senior staff and the crew in general.
"Those of you who have served aboard a starship before, particularly a one larger than Surprise, may be used to a strict chain of command. However, given the size of our crew and the general mission profile we have been given, I would prefer to run the ship in a more collegial manner in her daily operations. Of course we cannot do away with respect for the chain of command entirely, as during moments of crisis we will need to make quick decisions by ranking officers. I expect that you make clear this distinction when you meet with your departments.
"To better facilitate our collegial setting, I will maintain an open-door policy with the entire crew. It can be done either by appointment, or during times I will set aside for drop-ins. Crew members will be free to discuss anything that they wish, only limited by whatever professional confidentiality that may apply. You are also to communicate this to your subordinates as well as my personal guarantee that there will be absolutely no grumbling about going over one's head and if I so much as catch wind of it, I will come down on the officer in question like a ton of bricks.
"I also wish to make it clear that I expect that all of my officers defer to those with the greatest expertise, even – no, especially – if they be non-commission officers. Starfleet's non-commission officers are the backbone of its field operations, and on Surprise they have, compared to the commissioned officers, on average twice the number of years of service. They may lack the well-rounded background of a regular officer, but in their area of expertise they are second to none. They are also professional enough to know when not to offer suggestions, so pulling rank on a NCO is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it.
"As for professionalism, I expect from all of you know how to behave according to Starfleet regulations. The only additional caveat that is generally left to a Captain's prerogative is that of fraternization. As I know it is simply impossible to prevent, I must acquiesce to this point in general and satisfy my concerns by imposing certain restrictions that I feel are self-explanatory. Rule number one: officers must not enter a physical relationship with direct subordinates. Rule number two: members of the senior staff can enter a relationship with fellow senior staff members, if they absolutely must, but relationships with the rest of the crew are a one-way ticket to assistant head of your respective departments. So take a look around you; if you were hoping to get lucky this tour you're looking at your options."
The joke, while failing to induce laughter, lightened the mood and Pavlik noticed a few grins on his officers. He took a moment to gauge his team. As expected, Ferris and Vokoun seemed entirely on board – the latter no doubt responding well to Pavlik's comments on NCOs – and took Valru's relatively unguarded expression to mean that she was as well. Petrovic's grimace seemed to take on a new flavour and confirmed Pavlik's suspicion that the former marine would be uncomfortable with the idea of his collegial style. This discomfort seemed to be mirrored by the pilot, Antipin, and the recent graduate Luciani. Pavlik had earlier caught de Vries sizing him up and in order to hide his displeasure at the presumption, he avoided making eye contact with the counsellor.
"I think I should also talk about my management philosophy. I trust each of you to run your respective departments efficiently, fairly and under the guidelines I have given you. I also expect that you are capable to deal with any issues and problems that come up, but I strongly believe that, as Captain, I must be kept informed of all problems that do arise – whether they be technical, logistical or personal – even if they have been resolved without my input. This is not to assert my authority over yours – only in the rarest scenario would I even consider countermanding any of your decisions – but rather to gain an idea of what orders are reasonable and what aren't based on practical limitations, such as personnel or material, and to make sure the right hand always knows what the left hand is doing.
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask any time. I have a written version of my guidelines available in the ship's database if you wish to refer to it at a later date. That is all I'd like to say about my general directives and now, let's move on to specifics.
"The ship is in the midst of its final series of tests and we are currently on schedule for a departure by the end of the week. That reminds me; Lieutenant Vokoun, I have put Commander Smyne on point with regards to the preparations done in Engineering, so you can refer to him for any changes the specifications you had sent ahead and he'll be delighted to explain everything he's done. Mr. Luciani and Dr. Valru, you can get up to date with the status of your departments by talking to Lieutenant Ferris.
"As for our mission, the details have yet to be finalized, but I have been told that we will be stationed in the former DMZ and further co-ordinate with the Federation's developmental efforts in the region. Lieutenant Ferris will schedule another meeting of the senior staff when we have more to discuss. In the meantime, I will leave you to getting settled on Surprise and getting yourself acquainted with your teams.
"With the exception of Lieutenants Ferris and de Vries, you are dismissed."
The Surprise senior staff stood up and headed off to the door, the more social officers, like Smyne, taking the time to introduce himself to the new arrivals. Lieutenant Ferris, horrified at being asked to stay, sat meekly in her chair. The counsellor returned to his seat only after saying hello to Vokoun, Valru and Luciani. The trio did not speak until the others had left the room.
"What can we do for you, Captain?" de Vries asked as he clasped his hands and rested them on the table. The young man was neither handsome nor repulsive, a true representative of an average human male strictly in terms of aesthetics. He was below average in height, but not weight, and there was no illusion that he might be a fighter. He was an academic and had the same pot-belly that Pavlik grew in his first couple of years out of the academy that were spent primarily in a lab.
"Kristen, while there may have been a benefit to inviting Mr. de Vries to the first senior staff meeting, I wanted to make sure that you know that he will not be a regular attendant, as he is not a member of the senior staff," the captain said, looking kindly at Kristen first, then levelling a more guarded look at de Vries.
"Understood," Kristen replied quietly. Felix nodded at her and dismissed her.
"That comment was meant for me wasn't it?" de Vries said dryly once only the two remained. Pavlik had rolled his eyes before he could check his annoyance.
Of course it was meant for you, Pavlik silently fumed. I think a Starfleet lieutenant can keep track of who is on the senior staff.
"How could you tell?" Pavlik asked as soon as he could do so neutrally.
"Well, sir, I have familiarized myself with your file," de Vries replied conversationally. When Pavlik didn't reply, de Vries shifted in his seat. "I have been under the impression that many ships, like the Enterprise, include a ship's counsellor as part of her senior staff."
"Some ships include their counsellor in senior staff meetings," Pavlik corrected. "And while have I have the utmost respect for your academic studies – I myself spent the first few years of my Starfleet career earning advanced degrees from the Daystrom Institute – when choosing my senior staff I was obliged to note that those ship's counsellors that have that special status also have special talents – such as telepathy – or extensive experience aboard a starship or, most commonly, both. And that's not to mention that they are either certified for bridge duty or very close to it."
"That seems to be a rather convenient argument," der Vries noted, crossing his arms. "I thought it was strange to be picked over more seasoned applicants for this position. Now I see: you picked a young, inexperienced counsellor so that you could put him in a corner, out of your way."
Pavlik narrowed his eyes. "If you've familiarized yourself with my file you would have known that I have been as cooperative as possible with my counsellors and I have completed every session."
"In the manner of someone who sees it as an inconvenience, you have."
"I also have the resource of a first officer that is entirely candid with me and a doctor that is unable to lie," Pavlik continued, his face growing darker and more menacing. "They both agreed with my assessment that you, virtually the only counsellor available for this assignment, were not suited for a senior role aboard Surprise and that we would re-evaluate our position once you had spent the years required to gain experience as both a counsellor and an officer that might warrant a place amongst the senior staff.
"If this situation is unacceptable to you, you can put in your request for immediate transfer and in lieu of you we can use the EMH Mark III as our primary ship's counsellor. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal, sir."
"Then you are dismissed."
Pavlik glowered at der Vries as the young lieutenant stomped out of the room with absolutely no regard for naval etiquette. The captain was unsure what exactly his counsellor was hoping to accomplish, and that upset him. He took a moment to compose himself before he took his place on the bridge.
"What was that about?" Smyne asked him as he took the center chair. Pavlik grunted.
"A famous Earth philosopher once said, 'Being frustrated is disagreeable,'" Pavlik said. He paused as much to settle into the comfortable center seat of the Surprise as for effect.
"'But the real disasters in life begin when you get what you want.'"