The Trials of Command

Posted on Sun Dec 28th, 2025 @ 9:16am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Vice Admiral Cornelius Harrington
Edited on on Tue Dec 30th, 2025 @ 5:43am

1,676 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Ward Room 2 - Deck 11 - Habitat Ring - Empok Nor
Timeline: MD003 0800 hrs

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The hum of Empok Nor’s systems filled the silence as Neil stood by the viewport, hands folded neatly behind his back. Two years ago, he might have been on Poseidon, giving orders or dealing with the Aquil. Now, his battles were fought with words, regulations, and the weight of consequence.

He’d read the reports: all of them. As he stared out into the void, Neil couldn’t help but think back to President Roth’s words: “The necessity of keeping discipline in any chain of command.”

It had been a bold, reckless maneuver and one that could have started a war just as easily as it had averted one. He didn’t like what he was about to do, but duty rarely cared for comfort. Drawing a slow breath, he tapped his comm badge. “Computer, location of Commodore Malbrooke.”

Tyler had no idea who had been sent, all he was told was a member of Starfleet brass was sent all the way from Earth to meet him. They had been at Empok Nor for two days already. He was ready to face the music for his actions. All he wanted was to keep the bridge of his ship, and now all that seemed to be in danger. He arrived at the Ward Room and rang the chime.

When the order to enter came the doors opened and there stood Vice Admiral Cornelius Harrington. It had been some time since Poseidon Station and the last time that Tyler had seen the Admiral that he come to call friend. Tyler came to attention before Harrington, with a smile on his face. "You wanted to see me sir."

One thing Neil had never been good at was keeping things professional. He would have listed it as a weakness if anyone ever asked. Everyone was a friend and that trait hadn’t always served him well.

“Commodore,” he said curtly. “At ease.”

He didn’t return the smile. His eyes stayed fixed on the man before him as he waited for Tyler to move, then took his own seat. A single PADD landed on the table between them with a quiet thud. It contained every report, every transmission, every log that had spiraled from Malbrooke’s decision.

“I’ll be blunt,” Neil began. “Unauthorized access to a ship. Unauthorized departure. A direct violation of orders.” He leaned back slightly, the leather of the chair creaking under the motion.

“You’ve left the Council with one hell of a cleanup,” he said, his tone sharp but after a breath, it softened. “But…” He turned the PADD to face Tyler. “You also accomplished what no one else could. You prevented a war.”

Neil studied him for a long moment, the weight of both duty and friendship pressing between them. “So here we are,” he said quietly, “at a crossroads between triumph and insubordination. And I’ve been sent to decide which one defines you.”

He let the silence drag on only the hum of Empok Nor filling the space. Then, finally, “Tell me, Commodore… was it worth it?”

The start to the conversation was not what Tyler expected. He expected to meet his old friend with a smile. However, the tone used as well as the words changed all of that. Tyler stood a bit straighter, as he realized exactly what this was. Was he about to lose his rank? His command? Without a moment more hesitation he responded. "Yes sir! Avoiding a war and loss of life is worth anything and everything. For the record I informed my crew what my intentions were and gave them an out. They chose to remain, to save many, and to avoid the heavy losses that would have followed." Tyler felt that he should hold his tongue when it came to arguing the insubordination. He was never ordered not to go, and there was no insubordination. But that was a story for another time.

Neil didn't answer right away. He studied Tyler for a moment before responding. "Worth anything and everything," he echoed. Standing up he leaned forward, "you know I believe you, I do." He walked around the table.

"And I believe you prevented something far worse. But that doesn't erase what you did, or the position it put you, or me, in." He stopped in front of Tyler.

"You acted alone, Tyler. No authorization. No outreach. No trust in the chain of command. You should know how that looks." He snorted a small laugh, "I'm not here to take your head off. But someone of your rank should have known better. And they sent me to decide if you were heroic or reckless."

"So tell me more then 'yes, sir'. Why did you believe there was no other option?"

"The Silence are xenophobic, so xenophobic in fact that they have evolved a natural biofield that makes you forget they exist the minute you turn away from them. It appears that we had met them before and simply forgotten, this was verified by my former Chief Science, who remembers the meeting, but I digress. They reached out to the only people they knew, they were dying, being eaten to be exact. Starfleet has an obligation to help anyone who asks. I had to go, as I saw it there was no other choice." Tyler stepped forward tentatively. He realized what was at stake here, however, Tyler Malbrooke had the courage of his convictions. He would stay the course even if it meant them busting his rank down to Ensign.

Neil exhaled slowly, as Tyler spoke. He took a few moments before he replied. "You saw a people being erased and knew that if you waited, no one would remember they existed long enough to save them,” he said quietly, nodding once. “That’s the kind of problem Starfleet regulations were never written to handle, and I won’t pretend I would’ve found an easy answer myself.” He looked at Tyler trying hard to hide his emotions, “But understand this, Commodore: you didn’t just take a ship, you took responsibility for every life tied to that choice, and you forced the rest of us to justify it after the fact. You succeeded, and might I saw brilliantly, but success doesn’t absolve process. It only buys you the right to stand here and explain yourself, which you’ve done. There are those who will see both the hero and a risk.”

Neil’s expression turned reflective as he spoke. “I’ve made personal mistakes that cost me rank, trust, and years of my career, and I clawed my way back from them, so believe me when I say I recognize the difference between reckless ambition and a commander choosing to live with the consequences to do what they think is right.”

"Sir, I agree that there are often things we face out there that regulations were never written to help us with. The Silence have agreed to open diplomatic channels with the Federation. Lieutenant Vura, and Lieutenant Commander Maren have been appointed as liaisons to the Silence. I am here to take responsibility for my actions. I do not enjoy being forced into any situations, so I try not to force anyone else. My only request is that your report show that I made this decision. My crew should be absolved of any wrongdoing here. Their objections to my orders were logged in." Tyler did not want anyone else to be in hot water over this.

Neil looked at Tyler for a bit, letting Tyler's request hang there for a while, perhaps a bit too long. Finally, he reached for his padd and deactivated the display and recording. "Insofar, as I am able, your crew will not be charged. I can promise you that. Your logs are complete, and they reflect the crew's objections and frankly the Council has no desire to punish Officers for following their Commander into an impossible situation. This decision was yours and the record will show that."

He smiled, "You've proven you can act under pression and also that when you believe the stakes are high enough, you will do what's needed." He winked, "even if you bypass every know safeguard. This time, Commodore, you were right. However, next time.." he let the sentence trail off.

"The official findings will commend your action, and acknowledge your outcome." His demeanor shifted, "Privately, there will be a notation placed in your record, not a reprimand, but a ceiling. You will retain your command and rank. But this event," he gestured to the pips on his collar, "will end your upward trajectory. Commodore is as far as Starfleet will ever trust you to climb. You will not be placed in a position where decisions are made for the entire Federation."

His voice softened again. “Tyler…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “You chose life over legacy. That’s not something I can, nor would I ever, punish.” He placed a hand briefly on Tyler’s shoulder. “They said the same thing to me, years ago.” Neil tilted his head slightly toward his own pips. “So… anything is possible. In time.”

“As far as I’m concerned,” he finished, “this matter is closed.”

Tyler could hug him, but he knew this was neither the time nor the place. He really did not have any interest in rising higher than Commodore anyway, so this was ideal in a way. Tyler extended his hand and shook Harringtons. In the moment he felt a kinship of sorts as he knew the Vice Admiral's past. "Thank you sir."

Tyler's face changed and he smiled. "So, I know you know Mickey and the White Stag. He moved here when Poseidon closed. Come lets have a drink."

---

A Joint Post By

Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer


Vice Admiral Cornelius Harrington
Director of Starfleet Operations

 

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