A New Position

Posted on Mon Dec 20th, 2021 @ 10:39pm by Fleet Admiral Sturnack & Rear Admiral Sal Andolini

Mission: Episode 2: 18th and Constitution
Location: Starfleet Command, Admiral Sturnack's office
Timeline: Mission Day 23 at 1012

[CinC's Office - Anteroom]
[SFC Complex]
[MD 23: 1012 Hours]

One thing Sal had to get used to was rank and uniforms, gone were his days of comfy sweaters and calling your copy editor an asshole if he cut your best lines. Do that in Starfleet, he was learning, you'd end up in the brig. So he checked his uniform, in a reflective service before approaching the woman at the desk, "Admiral Andolini for Admiral Sturnack."

Commander Marlena Glenn looked up as Andolini approached, offering the Admiral a smile. "Of course, sir," she nodded politely. "Let me just see if he's free?" She stood then, moving from behind her desk to gently rap on the glass door into the Fleet Admiral's office. Frosted and patterned with the SFC logo, the doors did not reveal what was happening inside until Marlena opened the door and stepped in. The shapes of a Vulcan and a human were briefly visible until the door swung shut, leaving the Admiral alone with his thoughts.

After several long moments passed, the door swung open again. Glenn wore a smile on her face as she said, "He's got a couple of minutes before his next meeting. We can squeeze you in, sir. Please," she gestured to the door, "go on in."

That was unexpected, he was supposed to report in, or check in or something, so he never got this far by being cautious, he walked in to the room , "Thank you." He said politelty to the Commander.

"Thank you, Admiral," Fleet Admiral Sturnack said to his human companion, who sat with his backside leaned against the CinC's desk. The Vulcan, for his part, stood near the windows looking out over the bay, his eyes tracing the familiar lines of the Golden Gate Bridge. "Let's plan to reconvene later today once Interstellar Aid's convoy has made their evening check-in."

"Understood, Sir," Rear Admiral Whitford said, rising from the desk and nodding to Andolini. "Admiral," he said first to Sturnack and then the new arrival as means of a goodbye. Then he slid through another door in the room, this one leading directly to his office on the other side. As the Deputy CinC, it was imperative that he was officed close by.

Turning, Sturnack arched an eyebrow at Andolini and nodded. "Greetings Admiral," he said, gesturing him towards a cluster of arm chairs and twin couches in the middle of the room. "Please have a seat," the Vulcan offered, taking his position poised on one of the armchairs. He steepled his fingers together and waited for Andolini to speak.

He dove right in, "I was told to report in as your director of communications today."

"Indeed," Sturnack nodded in response. "And congratulations on your new position. Rear Admiral Ul-Tan has done an excellent job as the acting Director but we are glad to have filled the posting more permanently. How are you settling in, Admiral?" the Vulcan asked, leaning back slightly in his chair. His face was a mask of impassivity though, as his kind went, Sturnack seemed almost...welcoming?

"I'm getting moved in, already had my first staff meeting, I have a good press shop." Andolini continued, "I will say Captain Blake is sharp as a tack."

"Her talents as Press Secretary are, indeed," the Vulcan nodded, "quite extraordinary. I am gratified to hear that you are settling into your new role well," Sturnack said. "Unfortunately the 'honeymoon period,'" he used a human aphorism, "isn't going to be as pleasant as one might like. With the embassy bombing and the ongoing crisis in the Chalvana system, there is much to do. Have you been fully brought up to speed on each?" He assumed that Ul-Tan had fully briefed Andolini before handing over the reins but it did little harm to double check. Leaning back slightly in his chair, he awaited an answer with an expectant look.

Sal paused and recalled the morning briefing, he adjusted in his seat then went over, "With the bombing, right now it's coordination of the release, of information. We're having some trouble coordination with the Romulan Information Bureau, but we can work with that. It's the usual secrecy and having to work with two agencies not just one, any involvement with the Information Bureau involves the Tal Shiar, and there's very little work around." When he worked for the Tribune, he had one contact in the RIB, who was now a subpraetor, but even that connection couldn't bypass the agency that struck fear in to every Romulan's heard.

"As for Chalvana. The fact it's a pre warp civilization is something we'll need to address straight up, there are some prime directive issues, but I'm going to set an appointment with the Judge Advocate to craft a response." Chalvana 1 was the bigger issue Sal thought because of it's being the more seriously affected then Chalvana 3.

"Indeed. Given that we believe the solar event was manufactured rather than occurring naturally," Sturnack began, "we have authorized immediate relief efforts for the denizens of Chalvana I. I understand there are...prickly," he chose the word with care, "issues to work through but, hopefully, the level effort required to do so will be minimal." It seemed that Andolini had, indeed, been briefed on the goings-on and this satisfied the Vulcan. "I know there is much to do. Welcome once again," Sturnack nodded.

"Thank you sir." Half of Sal's brain was already starting to figure out the plot for Chalvana. "I won't take up more of your time."

"It was time well spent," Sturnack noted duly before nodding. He watched as the man turned and left, striding through the double doors that led to the lobby beyond. As the doors slid closed, leaving him in silence, the Vulcan rose from his chair and returned to his desk. There was much to do -- as was always the case -- but it seemed as if time were slipping away from him today. Deciding to dive back into it, he tapped his combadge and said, "Sturnack to Glenn. What is next?"


=/\= A joint post by... =/\=

Rear Admiral Sal Andolini
Director, Starfleet Communications
Starfleet Command

and

Fleet Admiral Sturnack
Commander-in-Chief
Starfleet Command