Hot Water

 Episode Name:  Hot Water

   Written By:  Starfleet

         Cast:  Ghorev, Park, Poole, Starfleet and Tyler.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Starfleet

     Aired On:  Wed May 21 01:33:31 2003

     Stardate:  53229.3

Time: Thu May 15 17:30:55 2003

Stardate: 53216.5

Ghorev is standing at his viewport, staring out into the void, as folks file in.

Poole moves straight in, takes a seat. She settles in, looking over to Ghorev by the window.

Tyler steps in behind Poole, with Park along side of her. She gives him a little look before moving to attention in front of the desk and focusing on the back wall.

Park allows Tyler to preceed him into the room, remaining standing behind her until they are recognized.

Ghorev turns around, moves to the desk itself. "At ease, all of you, and have a seat." He doesn't look thrilled.

Poole , being already seated, remains so. The British side of her family is out today, calm and reserved. She gives Ghorev her full attention.

Park takes a seat in between Poole and Tyler, offering both Gwen and Ghorev a smile.

Ghorev says, "Fortunately, I've had a few days to calm down about this, so nobody is going to get stuffed into a torpedo casing *today*." He is frowning, though. "However, I am still going to point out the standing order for this little meeting: The first person other than me to utter a peep before I'm done speaking had better be ready to do brig time. You two have both had your say in this matter, extensively and insultingly. Now I'm going to have mine. When I am done, if Aaron wishes to mediate further between you two on this matter, he'll have my leave to do so. Now, I'm going to presume this is clear unless someone shakes their head to the contrary."

Tyler's not winning any smiling contests today for her part. She relaxes at Ghorev's order, and eases herself down into a chair. "Aye, sir," she says. She's not so much given a glance Poole's way, instead focusing her attention on Ghorev.

Poole simply doesn't move. Or twitch. Or anything. Just sits. She may or may not be listening. Her eyes are on Ghorev still.

Tyler remains silent, giving a nod at Ghorev's order.

Park folds his hands into his lap.

Ghorev says, "Now, I want to get one thing out of the way up front: Lieutenant Tyler, whatever injury you feel you were done by Lieutenant Commander Poole in the tone of her reply, that hardly warranted sending a complaint immediately past me, where it should have gone as per SOP, all the way up the chains of command. I was under the impression from the last time we had to sit down seriously about this sort of thing that you knew my mind, that you understood that my personal opposition to the moral philosophy behind the formation of Timefleet would *not* interfere with my duty. I thought we had done remarkably well in sorting things out. Apparently, I was wrong, but the least you owed me was to *tell* me we hadn't, in fact, resolved matters. And so on that note, I was very disappointed to see you go from maneuvering thrusters to Warp 9 in the blink of an eye. I feel for the sake of our attempts at a working relationship, *you* owed *me* better than to leap right past me to the Admiralty on this one."

Tyler raises her hand slightly, indicating she wants to speak, but doesn't utter a word. She's not spending time in the brig tonight, so is going to make sure she gets permission.

Ghorev holds up a finger. "Just a moment. Let me finish before I yield the floor on this. That said, I have to stress that since our chat, I have not been made aware of any problems. If they *are* still occuring, I would like to address them. I feel that is my right and responsibility here. Let me address some further remarks to Mister Poole, and then I'll take comments from the both of you."

Poole takes a breath then goes back to being still. She's still watching Ghorev, apparently she is listening.

Tyler nods a single time and drops her hand. She casts brief look to Park, then returns her attention to Ghorev.

Park glances to Tyler, giving her an encouraging smile and then turns his attention back to Ghorev.

Ghorev says, "As for you, Gwen," He shakes his head. "I understand why you felt the original complaint as less absolute and grounded than has been portrayed. While I do not deny the possibility that Mister Tyler's feelings in this matter have some grounds, and I'd like to see those grounds seen to, I understand that you felt things were coming on strong, and you needed to make a definitive reply back. However, the recent incidents with Ambassador Meridian should have taught us all the value of being someone less vehement and more careful in the words and tone of our disagreements. I think you were, frankly, out of line in the way you responded. I think a casual dismissal in extremely poor taste and poor judgement. Especially since the complaint has come from someone to whom you have often times clearly been a role model, older sister, and strong friend, I felt you owed her better, just as she owed me better. Now, that said," -- he looks back to Wendy -- "Mister Tyler, you wanted to say something."

Poole nods to Ghorev, "I agree, sir." She looks to Tyler, the beginnings of an apologetic look on her face. Still, she keeps quiet here, it's Tyler's turn to speak.

Tyler clears her throat and sits up. Her tone isn't confrontational, but informational. "I apologize for jumping you, sir. However, I should inform you that I am obligated under orders to note any personnel problems, singularly or as a group, that the TRT encounters and pass them up to both Starfleet Command and to Timefleet Command. These orders come from Admiral Fukazima and Admiral Jorgensen, and were underscored by my recent meeting with President Kor. Until several days ago, I had yet to file any formal complaints with them as a courtesy to command staff on the station, because until that time I felt that any problems could be resolved locally. My first attempt was locally, within SOP, and within the chain of command. When it became clear that my complaint was not going to be taken seriously, I decided it was time to exercise my orders to report problems. That decision was made in haste, however, and I apologize for jumping your authority sir. I should have stuck it out locally until it went up to Captain Balin. That would have been the courteous thing to do, by you, and by the station commander as well. I apologize, sir." She goes quiet again.

Ghorev says, "Now, that said, I'd like to *hear* what problems are still existing, because I'll tell you, from where I sit, there haven't been any since we settled the joint command procedures. I've worked with Dr. Malloy on one of his pet projects, I've watched you all get honors and promotions from President Kor's own hand the same as the rest of us, and last I checked, every single Timefleet officer except perhaps Mister Stewart was both regarded and loved by a good-sized handful of Starfleet peers. Misters Turtledove and Takamura especially are well-regarded, Mister Golden has sat in for both Gwen and for Dakin Rann in senior meetings ... " He spreads his arms wide, helplessly. "I'm at a loss, here, so please tell me where these problems have been occuring. Because as it stands now, I don't *like* the idea that two Admirals are going to breathe down my neck about problems about which I'm just now hearing."

Poole raises her hand this time. "Permission to speak, sir."

Ghorev says, "I finished my initial lecture," to Poole. "At this point, nobody need ask permission so long as they bear simple politeness in mind, and don't interrupt anyone else."

Tyler remains silent. She glances towards Poole over Park before turning her attention back to Ghorev.

Park has remained quiet, listening intently to what is being said. Fortunately, there is nothing he needs to interject.

Poole nods and says, "I will." She looks between Ghorev and Tyler now, "I apologize for my overbearing... in the report. The stress of the mission had gotten to me, and I only just now realize that I had... been a little too strong in my wording and my argument. This is why I prefer face to face talks." Pausing there, she says, "As Joint Operations Manager, if Tyler or the TRT were having difficulties or problems... or were being treated poorly, I believe I should have been notified, right?... No report passed my desk, nor was I taken aside and talked to about it. For my own behavior, I have never participated in such abuses. Certainly not since I took up the Second Officer's position again. And, also, it should be noted, that I was your friend... before this started, and I consider Malloy, Takamura, Turtledove, Stewart and Golden all friends as well... I had no idea they thought I wasn't." Another pause, then, "And as far as the original report, Tyler... I was put in command and made my choices. It's not your place to criticize them. If I were to have failed, then I fail... you could have waited until I had gotten back and we could have spoken about it and your concerns. It upsets me that you chose that medium instead."

Tyler clears her throat. "A report did pass your desk, sir, with the concerns I had addressed. They were dismissed. In short, I have informed my officers to grin and bear it, as the saying goes, when they are treated with disrespect. We've tried everything in our power to fit in among the crew. In that very report, I was not questioning your choices, Commander, nor was I criticising them. I was using the recent decision as an example." She looks back to Ghorev, and says, "I've been approached on one occasion for my personnel to be used in a Starfleet mission. Just once. And I rejected it, because the plan for that operation was, well, in short, insane. I'm surprised the operation was pulled off without loss of half the away team on it, sir," she says to Ghorev and spreads her hands. "Our team is constantly derided. I've had junior officers be openly hostile to me. A junior officer once told me one time that it was 'no wonder that everyone is afraid of me', whatever that meant. We are not treated as equals among the crew, we're constantly looked down upon, and I'm not going to issue orders about grinning and bearing it any more. I've bent over backwards, sir, to not cause waves, to try and have my crew fit in. And I'm not bending any more. I would like resolution to this. I want senior officers to treat us professionally, and junior officers to treat us with respect. Sir."

Poole leans forward, "Wendy... who was that junior officer?" She seems genuinely interested.

Tyler shakes her head. "Respectfully, sir, I don't want to point out individuals, because I do not want to get anyone specifically in trouble. I will divulge it if you order me to, but I would prefer not to say."

Park clears his throat, "If I might interject here."

Ghorev says, "Please, else I'll be jogging us all in circles."

Poole adds, quickly, "I'm on your side, Tyler. Give me a chance." And then she quiets.

Park glances over to Poole. "I wanted to clarify what you wanted to see, Gwen. At first, you stated that you were upset about a report of this nature coming to you instead of Wendy discussing it with you. Shortly after, you said that you hadn't seen any reports of the TRT officers being mistreated. So that we're all on the same page, how would you like these types of incidents handled? By a verbal report to you or written correspondence?"

"Verbal. I hate written correspondence," Poole answers softly, in those subtle tones she has. "And, make no mistake, if I /had/ seen them, I would have addressed them. I still consider the TRT as part of the fleet. Even if they aren't. And I'm protective of my own."

Park nods and smiles, "I know that you would have." He turns to Tyler. "Wendy, this is a time when steps need to be made to curtail the problems that the TRT has been experiencing. The officer who was disrespectful to you needs to be spoken to, as it sets a bad precedent for the rest of the officers on the station. Just as you would want to know if a member of your team was disrespectful to Gwen, she wants to know who was disrestpecful to you."

"Ensign Summer," Tyler says, quite reluctantly. "It was a few months ago, though. But it's not just her. There are crew members on this station that are barely professional in their dealings. It just... It just gets old." She looks over to Poole. "I'm sorry, Gwen."

Ghorev says, "Can you point to any recent acts of disrespect by *anyone*?" He shakes his head. "Please understand that at this point, I, too, am under orders on this. And so I don't mean to belittle your concerns, but I need to have something recent and tangible to take action."

Park nods approvingly at the direction things are going now.

"A few weeks ago..." Tyler says, even more reluctantly. "He implied a threat." She swallows and looks at her lap.

Ghorev says, "Who?"

Park looks QUITE surprised at this.

"I'm sorry for that, Wendy... And I'm sorry about my harshness in the report," Poole says, without hesitation. Then, at the mention of a threat, she says, "Someone threatened you?"

"A senior officer, sir," Tyler says. She looks up to Ghorev. Please don't make me say it, her eyes say.

Ghorev says, "What was the substance of this threat?"

"He... I..." Tyler sighs softly. "At the end of the conversation, sir, I had the distinct impression that I would come to physical harm if I did not cease and desist in an activity with a member of his immediate family. That activity was potential recruitment for Timefleet, which was not even an official approach, as it was said off-duty, on the holodeck, just sort of... talking."

Poole blinks, her jaw dropping a second before she closes her mouth again. She looks down at her lap. Gah... she's been put inbetween family and duty.

Ghorev just listens. He's handed the ball over to Park for now, after all.

Poole stirs, at this point, "Sir. May I please handle this one?"

Ghorev makes a negatory gesture. "Mister Tyler, do you *honestly* believe that this will happen again?"

Poole quiets then and lays back, looking Tyler's way.

"I will never approach the individual about possible RRT membership, no," Tyler says.

<CONTEST> Ghorev contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Ghorev says, "Then for now, we'll consider that specific matter closed. If you feel the threat credible, or if it occurs again, you will advise your superior in the joint chain of command." He gestures to indicate Poole, "if you feel it is a matter of simple lack of discipline in a moment's heated discussion, and she will address it. If you feel it credible, or in any way worthy of a formal complaint, it comes to me. Directly. Is that clear?"

Poole nods to Ghorev and adds, as well, "If you feel a matter needs addressing... any at all, Wendy... Please bring it directly to me. Please."

Tyler swallows and breathes a sigh of relief. She fidgets with her hands for a moment before catching herself at it, and rubs her hands down her thighs to wipe the sweat from her palms. She looks over to Poole and nods. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry, again. I... Do still look up to you, sir."

Poole 's eyes cloud over a little, so that she has to sorta look away, because she is /not/ crying in front of Akeen. "And I'm still your friend."

Ghorev says, "Now, as for Timefleet personnel and their general inclusion in Starfleet missions under RRT cover, I want to add the following idea: Perhaps, as Administrative Officer for the team, Mister Tyler, you might go through the Timefleet roster, and make a serious list of what each officer has as his specific strengths, specific skill-sets, and specific 'wish lists' for *building* strengths. I can't speak for other departments, but I know when I look at my own people, I keep such a list in mind at all times to determine who's of use to me where. It's why I interviewed Mister Roxsati regarding his general engineering skills, and not regarding his combat engineering skills, for instance."

Tyler reaches over the Chief Medical Officer and offers her hand to Poole, palm down. It's not too sweaty since she wiped off her hand. "That means a lot to me," she says earnestly. She sniffs, for her own part, trying to hold back her own emotions on this one. Looking at Ghorev will fix any leaks in her eyeworks she has, so she does, and he speaks to her. "Yes, sir. I keep a database of such that you have described on my PADD. I keep track of it, but Mr. Golden is in charge of making sure they get the proper training they require."

Poole accepts Tyler's hand and clasps it tightly. She looks Tyler in the eye and nods, then looks to Ghorev. All quiet now.

Park tries to stay back as far as possible, since they're hand holding over the top of him and all.

Park says, "It might not be a bad idea for all of us to get together once in a while to just talk."

Ghorev says, "In any event, are we settled as far as things go for now?"

Tyler looks up to Ghorev as she drops her hand down. "If you can assure me, sir, that we will be at least considered for potential away missions that we may be suited for, whether individually, or as a unit. And that if we, as officers, are disrepected or are treated unprofessionally, that something will be done of it."

Ghorev says, "If I'm notified of it, something will be done about it. And as for suitability, let me be clear: I would never promise that I'll blithely hand off missions. When a Timefleet officer is as suited for, or better suited for, a mission than a Starfleet counterpart, that officer will be considered, certainly."

"That's all I ask, sir," Tyler says, giving the Andorian a nod. "I will retract my request to dissolve the JOC, in light of our new understanding of cooperation, sir."

Ghorev says, "Very well. If you and Mister Poole wish to discuss further, claim the ward room, or take it to quarters, or dinner, or what-have-you. I've got some subspace transmissions to send." He pushes away from his desk. "Dismissed, all."

Park stands wordlessly, waiting for Tyler to preceed him out.

Tyler pushes up from the chair, nodding to Ghorev. "Aye, sir," she says softly, and moves out the door without another word.