Posted Sept. 5, 2022, 8:58 a.m. by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) (Lindsay B)
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Eulailia Dacascos (Chief Operations Officer) in Mess Hall- After the Hangovers
Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Mess Hall- After the Hangovers
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Eulailia Dacascos (Chief Operations Officer) in Mess Hall- After the Hangovers
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻(snips)
She wasn’t good at accepting compliments but Shara also had no problem being frank about her skills. It was a strange blend of humbleness and confidence and it didn’t always work in her favour. Right now though, there was a warmth she felt for the younger woman, a sense that maybe she really did have something to offer others as she got older. Perhaps all this painfully hard won knowledge and understanding of the universe was useful somehow.
“A lot of my strength has come from adversity, but that’s not always how it has to be. I hope you don’t have to struggle so much to find your own sense of strength. But I’ll share a bit of advice. Sometimes the most brave thing you can do is stand still when all you want to is run screaming. I have gone in ship weapons blazing into battle and not felt the fear I feel now. Because physical life is only one thing you can lose. It’s the other stuff that costs you more.”
Sipping on her coffee, Shara pondered. “Tit for tat. What’s the one thing you hate more than anything?”
~Shara Calloway, CIO
Laila reflected on the words and the advice Shara had shared.
She laughed and said, “Oh that’s easy. I hate being hated.”
Shrugging her shoulders she added, “I know I shouldn’t care what others think of me, but do. It’s important for me to make friends. My mother maintained that I was too sensitive to enlist in Starfleet and sometimes I think she was right. I didn’t join initiallyfor the combat and secret missions. I had goals of being a diplomat. But now I do want the combat experience.”Dacascos,COO
“Well, I think there is a lot to be said about being well rounded.” Shara rested her arms on the table and leaned forward. “Most diplomats drive me crazy. They can learn all about mediation and conflict resolution, but at the end of the day understanding what it means to truly put yourself on the line, and to test your strengths of your values… you can’t do that from the sidelines, Laila. I thin the people that get it the best are the ones who were there themselves. So if you want to be a diplomat, then go be a diplomat, but be a fighter first, so that when you’re faced with different peoples facing unimaginable situations, you can look at them as people and not just obstacles to manage.” She actually managed to say that all without sounding bitter, much to Shara’s surprise.
~Shara Calloway, CIO
“That makes sense. I know now that I dont want to take an easy path to my diplomatic journey. I don’t want to be on the sidelines anymore. What would you say if I told you I wanted to join the away team on the mission? Do you think I have what it takes, I mean there is no better time than now and someone once said, just go for it. Everything will turn out like it’s supposed to.”
Dacascos, COO
Shara studied Cacascos for a few moment before shaking her head. “No. Not this time. And I say that with full confidence in your ability to do your job. But what we have to do on that Tellerite ship? It changes you, Laila, and you can’t go back. We can’t afford to hesitate even a tiny bit when we’re over there. We have to be ruthless, and you aren’t. That’s a good thing though. But this time I think we need to play to our strengths. I’ve been the bad person before- it won’t alter me to be that way again. It doesn’t mean it’ll be easy or I won’t be affected by it all. But there’s putting yourself on the line, and then there’s being masochistic. I don’t think you need the latter to prove yourself committed to the mission.” She was honest because the stakes were too high and she truly did want people to come out of this intact. “You’ll have your chance, but it shouldn’t be this time.”
~Shara Calloway, CIO
Laila lowered her head dejectedly. “At least you are honest with me. I also understand why you don’t think I would be a good fit for the away team. Honestly, I am kind of glad you are really putting this into perspective. You are right, I am not ruthless, cold-hearted, or callous even when I need to be.”
She quickly wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Also every knows that if I join the away team, I would be the one who would get captured or cause someone else to get captured.” She took a deep breath and sniffedf. “I don’t like people thinking I am the weak link. You know, Shara,” she glanced around, “I didn’t do that great on my academy combat training but I had other skills, communication and by being someone who can be sensitive in dealing with others and achieving peaceful resolutions. This allowed me entry into Starfleet, so in spite of what everyone thought, I got my rank by being efficient at what I know how to do best and not because of who my parents are.”
She pressed her lips together before she said, “But no one is ever going to believe that. Not until I show them I can do everything. That includes being able to go into combat and defend the organization from danger.”Dacascos, COO
Shara folded her arms on the table and leaned in, attempting to catch Dacascos’ gaze. “Laila, I say this with all the understanding and experience of a woman who has existed as a ghost and done things she can’t take back and endured a lot of judgement from other people, but… f* ‘em. You can choose what you care about. If you want to be an asset on an away team in a tricky situation, learn to be one. If you want to be able to look danger in the face and knowingly walk into it, then do that. But think of it like anything else you’ve ever learned. It starts with basic skills that you improve upon. If you want to learn how to be the kind of persona this mission needs, darlin’ you’re looking at the best teacher you could possibly have. Who else on this ship has as much experience being someone they are not in their core and make it look flawless?” she said with a grin. “Just name the time and place. I might not want you with me on this next away team, but after that? We can get you ready. If that’s what you want.”
~Shara Calloway, CIO
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