The Transfer Request
Posted on Mon Dec 14th, 2020 @ 5:24pm by Captain Luka Mahone & Lieutenant Theodore Winslow
1,010 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Frizzle
Location: Captain's Office, Command Center
Timeline: MD -10 : 1421 Hrs
The request had slipped across Luka's desk multiple times over the course of the past twenty four hours. At one point, he might have carried it home with him along with the other piles of paperwork he had to get through in order to see if he could expedite the process. He could. If he spoke to the right people and asked the right questions, he might have had this transfer request in the hands of a more suitable assignment.
He may not have wanted to see Theo leave, but Luka was not unaware of the flack that his Chief of Security had gone through this past year. What was one bad decision led to multiple foul steps, and how the blame was pointed so quickly had Luka caught up in a series of events that led to the Lieutenant's tarnished reputation.
A foul step. It reminded him of the pang of guilt he still felt surrounding the cold case that was the Io's sabotage. Was that truly what they were calling it now?
Those we're all details he would have to worry about for another time.
But, as Luka's gaze fell upon the paperwork again, he decided it was best to obtain the perspective of the one making the request. Which was why he made a point of appearing in his office for this meeting. This would be official. He would do at least this right.
And, as Theo sat in front of Luka, the young Captain couldn't help but ask the obvious question. "... So, before I make sure this gets to the right place and the right people... Can you confirm for me the reasons you're making this request?"
Theodore knew this was coming when the request had not come back in the day and had been expecting it all day but it did not make it any easier to explain his rationale for wanting and needing to leave. "Because Sir how can I work to better this colony when I am viewed as the bad guy?" He wondered leaning back in the chair indicating the other seat across from him wishing the man would sit down.
"I... had to ask." Luka's attention turned to the request resting atop his desk. Neither of them had left any stone unturned in regards to the Io's investigation, but it had turned into such a roundabout that the case went cold. And, without answers, the people of Haumea seemed content to turn on the one officer who had any suspicion on him to begin with. Even if such suspicions were removed and his alibi maintained.
But he stood, too antsy for his own good in such a situation. Such confrontations were not in the ideals of Luka Mahone. But instead of 'wishing,' and 'hoping' that there were things he could do, it was time to admit when the battle had been lost.
"I can't say it won't be bittersweet to see you go. You've been instrumental to our initial set-up and you've been an important part of the crew... but I also won't hold you from bettering your own life and career."
Theodore could give many reasons why he wanted transferring but he was seeing the signs of something in him that was not happy with the colony and the colony was not happy with him. "I was but then someone, somewhere let me down and told people I was a suspect. That cloud is now inside of me and I need a fresh start." He had not taken his depression to medical wishing to just move on and get rid of the cause but Luka at least deserved to know.
"Mm..." Luka leaned against the desk, brow furrowing. There was something about what Theo said that gave him a spark of concern, but surely he had been seeing Sofia or another counselor. He brushed aside the impulse to turn around and ask the man the obvious mental health question in front of him. For now, at least. He had to remain neutral to the situation, to refrain from making it worse.
"Well, the least we can do is get this through for you. Where did you want this paperwork sent to?"
"Command. I have nowhere in mind. I will go wherever they send me." He had no destination in his head other than somewhere without him being a suspect. He would miss his little house and his little garden and the life a colony offered but he had no connections it would be so easy to fade.
Luka gave the lieutenant a sideways tilt of his head. Pressing this further may have had a negative side effect. Or at least, something somewhat undesirable. "Well, it should be done by the end of the hour. I'll make sure Davna looks over it as well, to make sure I don't miss anything."
He gave pause, eyes downward as his guilt set in. "This was quite a mess, wasn't it..." the Captain let out with a dejected sigh. "I do apologize for it."
Theo let out a long breath and finally decided on a shrug. "It is. I just hope that my replacement gets a better ride than me." He said simply. He was not going to offer advice on the replacement but he would leave a good handover.
"I'm hoping they will as well," Luka commented. In order to keep the silence brief, the Captain tapped on his PaDD, sending the request to Davna for review. "We'll get it in motion nonetheless, and make sure your send off is at least a good one. If... there's nothing else, Lieutenant?"
"Nope. I am good with all of that Sir." He assured thinking of the packing that he could now finish up and move on with.
Giving a half-hearted smile, Luka stood from his seat. "Then let me be the first to say, Lieutenant, that it has been a pleasure working with you, and I hope your next assignment sees you the success you deserve."
RSS FeedCredits | Privacy Policy