Changing of the Guard - Part Four

Posted on Fri Sep 30th, 2022 @ 5:06am by Grand Admiral T'Sara McKnight

Mission: Mission 108: Grains of Sand
Location: Various Locations - Starfleet Command
Timeline: 0800Hrs - December 2nd, 2393

Grand Admiral T'Sara McKnight entered her new office. She shifted her attention from left to right as a gentle smile appeared on the Vulcan woman's face. She turned her attention to her new aide as she carefully removed the smile from her lips. T'Sara knew that her smiling was distracting, to say the least. "So... Ryan. I am to work here?" she inquired.

"Yep. This is your office ma'am." Chief Petty Officer Ryan Munroe answered the Vulcan woman before him. "Mine is outside and I will handle your administration needs." he commented. "Since you are the new Chief of staff. You'll be required to attend a lot of meetings at various times." Munroe paused. "I will try to keep things from getting too insane for you," he added.

"Okay," T'Sara answered with a nod of her head. "All of that sounds good to me." the Vulcan added, after a moment. "What's my first order of the day?" she inquired as she turned her head. She looked at Munroe over her left shoulder as she waited for his answer.

Munroe regarded McKnight. He raised an eyebrow as he felt somewhat confused about how she was acting. "The first order of the day is your first meeting with Master Admiral Pasha Andreyev as he welcomes you to Earth," he commented. "That meeting is in less than twenty minutes time," he added for clarification.

McKnight turned to face the man as she slid her lithe form into a chair. "Lovely. Politics..." she commented. "This reminds me of why my husband refused promotion past Colonel." she then let out a soft sigh while she looked up at her yeoman as he towered over her.

"I'm sorry Admiral," Munroe answered. "I'm just trying to do-" was as far as he got when she cut him off. "I know," she answered quietly. "I am used to working a certain way" she clarified for him. "Also. I am not used to having many aides assist me with work... I am used to doing most things myself." she added. "I am told I will have six aides assisting with my efforts." McKnight paused. "That does seem like overkill."

"Perhaps so ma'am." Munroe agreed with McKnight as he looked down at the smaller framed woman sitting before him. "I somehow doubt you are used to such a political setting ma'am," he commented evenly.

"No. I am not." McKnight answered. "Sit down," she added the second statement quietly while she indicated the chair across from her. "You will serve as the man in charge of all my day to day administration needs. You'll see to the handling of the other yeomen assigned to me and so forth." McKnight knew she was giving this man unparalleled access to her but she didn't think he would do anything stupid on the matter.

Munroe nodded his head. "Aye Admiral. I can handle affairs of state for you. Same as I did for your predecessor." he explained. What he left unsaid was that he hoped this would be an easier assignment than working with the previous Admiral. One that he had considered half crazy and half unreasonable. He had read T'Sara McKight's file and her paperwork said that she was anything but.

"I know it's not good to ask but... Just how did you tolerate my predecessor anyway?" McKnight asked. She slowly smiled after a moment of hesitation.

"I did because I had a job to do. It was as simple as that ma'am." Munroe answered quietly. "Some people let their personal feelings get in the way. I have my standards and I will not violate them for anyone. No matter who asks or what needs to be done." Munroe was drawing a line in the sand and the look in his eye said as much. McKnight had seen her husband do this many times over the course of his career and raising their children alongside T'Sara. She respected this idea and she nodded. "Agreed." she knew she needed to placate him and quickly. "I'm not going to call on you to come in at oh dark thirty to handle stupid stuff that can wait," she commented. "If I can't see the fires from orbit then it can wait. Consequences to me be damned," she added.

"Alright," Munroe answered quietly. "I had to be sure. ma'am... I apologize for my outburst." he commented since McKnight was his boss and he needed to ensure good relations.

McKnight was overjoyed with this turn of events. She could not be more pleased with how this meeting was turning out. "You owe me no apology, James. You were making a statement." McKnight responded. "In your shoes. I'd have done the same," she commented.

"Fair enough," Munroe answered. "Do I have your continued permission to speak freely?"

"Make it a habit, James. As I said earlier. You will be handling all my affairs. booking my various appointments and meetings and making sure I don't screw it all up." McKnight answered. "Which means I need to maintain good relations with you and the rest of my yeoman. Since you guys make sure I'm able to handle matters on my end. It requires me to behave myself." she commented. "You can be assured of that."

Munroe smiled in response. "I think we will get along just fine." and with that, he let out a soft breath he didn't realize he was holding back. A sigh of relieff.

McKnight smiled but opted to say nothing.