Attitude Gets You Everywhere
Posted on Fri Oct 16th, 2026 @ 8:29am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble & Petty Officer 2nd Class Sofia Cipriani & Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen & Brigadier General Seamus O'Rourke
Edited on on Fri Oct 16th, 2026 @ 9:07am
2,473 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Episode 18 - The Edge of Darkness
Location: Ready Room - Deck 1 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 1300 hrs
Brigadier General Seamus O'Rourke marched onto the Bridge, making a beeline for the Captain's Ready Room. He activated the door chime, but entered before receiving permission to enter.
Sofia sat at the smaller workstation to one side of the ready room, working her way through the administrative debris that seemed to follow every crisis aboard the Pioneer. The Commodore’s schedule had already been rearranged twice, three reports from Camp Nostromo still needed routing to the right departments, and somebody had apparently decided that marking a message urgent meant it should leap ahead of everything else on her desk.
Usually, she rather liked this part. There was comfort in taking something messy and making it orderly again. Today, though, she kept finding herself rereading the same lines. Too much had happened down at Nostromo, and too many names she knew had been attached to reports she would rather never have seen in the first place. Even with everyone back aboard, there was still an odd feeling around the ship, the sort Sofia had learnt never appeared on a duty roster but somehow found its way into every conversation.
The ready room chime sounded and Sofia looked towards the door, expecting whoever it was to wait.
They did not.
The doors opened almost immediately and Brigadier General O’Rourke came through with enough purpose that Sofia was out of her chair before she had really decided to stand. “General,” she began, surprise colouring the word before training caught up with her. “The Commodore hasn’t actually said you can come in yet.”
Her eyes flicked towards Tyler, then back to O’Rourke. She straightened slightly, suddenly very conscious that she was a Petty Officer telling a Brigadier General how doors worked.
“Sir.”
"Commodore Malbrooke, I am here to discus Lieutenant Commander McGowen." Seamus said.
Sofia’s mouth closed before the rest of the sentence could escape. For a second she simply stood there, looking at O’Rourke as he spoke straight past her as though she were part of the furniture. Her brows lifted almost imperceptibly.
Va bene. Molto educato. (Alright. Very polite.)
She did not say it aloud.
Instead, Sofia straightened the front of her uniform and stepped back towards her workstation, the movement neat enough to pass for nothing more than returning to her duties. If the General had decided she was beneath acknowledging, fine. She had schedules to manage, reports to route and, apparently, a front-row seat to whatever had brought him storming into the Commodore’s ready room.
Her fingers settled over the console again, though she was no longer reading the report in front of her.
"General have a seat." He motioned to the couch where Neil had already been seated. Tyler and Neil had a few crew rotations and evaluations to go over. But the General was a welcome distraction from the paperwork. "What is the issue with Commander McGowen?"
"She is insolent and does not seem suited to her current position." Seamus began. "She claimed that she was unaware of my inspection, as an excuse for not wearing her dress uniform, though her all her staff were wearing theirs."
"Is it not the job of the Chief Intelligence Officer to be aware of what is going on aboard their ship?"
Glancing at Tyler, Neil said. "You would think she'd have kept up with the briefings. Though to be fair, they're really not supposed to monitor the crew actively unless someone has become a threat."
"Agreed..." Tyler began in response to his First Officer. "But, she is a member of the Senior Staff and should have been prepared." He then turned toward the General. "General. May I ask what she did that was insolent? With all respect not being aware, and not wearing a dress uniform is not grounds for a reprimand of that magnitude."
"Has she had a recent psyche evaluation?" Seamus asked. "Captain X'tal detected a mixture of strong emotions radiating from her."
There was a brief moment of silence as Tyler exchanged a look with Neil. Her last evaluation was the same time as his. "She was evaluated and cleared just a few months ago." He thought it best to not go into the particulars of what happened. There was no need for the General to know that.
Neil frowned and said, "With all due respect General, radiating emotions is not against regulations. May I ask specifically how the Commander's conduct was out of line? If we're going to submit charges and remove a department head, we'll need specifics." He didn't add, as you well know, or should
"I'm not a monster, I understand she has been through a lot lately, form what I can glean from Pioneer's mission reports. I know its not my place to say, but perhaps she requires more time to process things and the emotions attached." Seamus sighed. "I apologise to you both and to Petty Officer Cipriani, I burst in here like a rabid dog. I assure you my only motive was the safe running of this vessel."
Sofia looked up when the apology reached her.
For a moment she didn’t answer. The sting of being ignored was still there, small but stubborn, and she hated that it had bothered her as much as it had. She was used to being junior, used to senior officers looking through her when something important was happening, but that didn’t mean she had to enjoy it.
Still, he had apologised.
Her eyes moved across the room afterwards. Tyler looked tired. Neil looked like he was already turning the situation over in his head. O’Rourke had come in angry and was now trying, however awkwardly, to pull himself back from it. The whole room felt too tight.
Sofia hesitated, then pushed herself up from the workstation.
She crossed to the replicator and ordered drinks, choosing them with a little more thought than she normally would have. Tyler’s the way he liked it. Neil’s without needing to ask. For O’Rourke, something simple and hot.
When she set the General’s cup down, she paused just long enough to meet his eyes and offered him a small smile. Not quite forgiveness, because there wasn’t really enough there to forgive. More an acknowledgement that she had heard him, and that she was willing to let the moment go.
Then she returned to her desk.
It was easier to work when the room felt less angry.
Neil looked at Sophia as she set a mug down in front of him and said, "Thank you, Petty Officer."
Then he looked back to the General and said, "Yessir. But what exactly did the Commander do? I'm getting whiffs of unprofessionalism or conduct unbecoming but specifics leave a lot to be desired, sir.' Neil tried to keep his face calm but wondered why it was like pulling teeth to get at what had gotten the generals goat.
"I aware my claims might not fit the specifics needed to remove Commander McGowen, but I've led a lot of men and women, and I fear her unprofessionalism might be symptomatic of a deeper problem. I will settle for her receiving further counseling and a lighter workload." Seamus replied.
"So," Neil pressed. "What you're saying General is you recommend she be given more counseling than she is currently getting. Suggesting a lighter workload. Which for an officer leading an intel group is problematic." Neil scrubbed at his face and sighed. Glancing at Tyler, he said. "Sweet Thraggling universe. Looks like I need to be the one to say it. We've got to stand her down. Transfer the Commander out as medically unfit."
When Sofia handed Tyler the cup he smiled softly. It was amazing how well she had gotten to know him. "Thanks Sof." he said and took a sip as Neil spoke. Tyler savored the warmth of the coffee with his eyes closed, it was ritualistic the way he drank his cup. But then, Neil reached the end of his statement. "I would hate to say it gentlemen but Neil is right. Rowena is part of the family and I would hate to see her let go. However, because she is family she needs the help."
Tyler paused and sipped again, this time he thought about his own run in with the entities and how it affected him, his crew, his family. It could easily be him that this conversation was about. "I believe the help that Rowena needs is more than what counselling can offer. I think it is the kind of help that only family can offer. Additionally, something like a transfer for counseling can ruin a career. All of that said, Rowena's Godmother is in command of the Starfleet Paranormal Unit, Captain Rowena Mazumdar. I can arrange a transfer to the SPU and she can get the help there. Something like this would go over quickly with another Flag Officer behind it. So, General if you agree put this in an official report with that recommendation. Colonel Tremble and I will do the same." He leaned back in his chair and took another sip of coffee. Coffee had a habit of clearing his mind. He gave Sofia a subtle smile of thanks
"I will be happy to do so, Commodore." Seamus said. Turning to Sofia he added. "Thank for the coffee, Petty Officer."
Neil looked at the two senior officers and said quietly, "For my part. She should not have an opportunity to be in charge of anything more than a weather station on a gas giant. And should have her security clearances pulled. That's going in my recommendation." He didn't add that the soft approach Tyler was suggesting got people killed.
Tyler smiled and was glad that the General took to the idea. He looked toward Neil. "I wouldn't have it any other way. But, I think this is in the best interest of everyone including Starfleet." He tapped his comm badge. "Malbrooke to McGowen. Please report to my Ready Room."
"On my way, sir." Came the voice of Rowena over the com system.
On her way over Rowena wondered what the Commodore wanted to see her about. She was quite busy at the moment, but orders were orders.
Not long after Rowena arrived at the ready room. She pressed the chime and waited to be let in. Almost immediately she heard the confirmation and the door swished open. Before stepping in she looked around the room and eyed everyone seated there. She took a deep breath and then stepped into the room. Somehow this felt worse than walking into the principal's office.
"Commander. Grab a cup and pull up a chair." Tyler gestured toward the server with the coffee etc on it. "We have noticed a change in your demeanor, and your work habits. I think I know why as I have gone through something similar. Although Vura has helped through most of it. That said, we need someone who is one hundred percent on all the time when running Intelligence." Tyler paused to sip his coffee. "Rowena, there is no easy way to put this. We are going to transfer you to the Paranormal Unit. I think that you can get the help you need there."
Rowena poured herself a cup and sits down quietly. She didn't say anything as she was quiet a long time. She slowly took a sip and looked at everyone present. Her gaze then settled on Tyler. She then slowly put her half empty mug down. She remained calm. "I understand, sir. I won't argue. I think Captain Mazumdar knows how to help me."
Tyler was unsure how to react. He expected to have to explain things, expected her to put up a fight of some sort. Yet here they were. "Perhaps in due time we can welcome you back to the Pioneer again. Once a Pioneer always a Pioneer." He knew it was hokey, but Tyler thought the woman could do with being made to feel like she was part of the family.
Sofia had gone quiet at her workstation once Rowena entered. This wasn’t really her conversation anymore, and she knew it. Still, hearing the words transfer you made her fingers pause above the PADD in front of her.
She didn’t know Rowena well. A handful of messages, Intelligence PADDs passed through to Tyler, brief encounters in corridors and offices. Even so, watching someone be told they were leaving the Pioneer felt different from seeing a personnel change written neatly on a roster.
At Tyler’s once a Pioneer, always a Pioneer, Sofia glanced towards Rowena and offered her a small, warm smile. Nothing that demanded a response. Just something there if she happened to look.
Then Sofia lowered her eyes to her work again. There would be transfer orders eventually, schedules to change, access lists to update and a dozen other little pieces that would make the decision real.
For the moment, though, she left the PADD untouched.
Seamus was relieved Rowena took it so well, and he admired her for that. He hadn't done this out of animosity, he had done it to insure the proper running of a department, and that she got the help she needed.
Neil was content to let Tyler handle the communication part and was glad it was done. As soon as Rowena had accepted the transfer, the program he'd written triggered and her access to the SCIF and other most secure locations was updated, the list scrolling over his HUD to await his authorization.
"Well, that's done," he commented. "Thank you, Rowena. Good luck to you."
"Yes, Good luck, Commander, I trust there are no hard feelings?" Seamus said.
Tyler expected there to be more of a fight, expected Rowena to ask not to be transferred, it was as if she expected it. She needs to find her reason for being here again. he thought. "Well that's that then. It seems I have a favor to ask."
A Joint Post By
Petty Officer Second Class Sofia Cipriani
Yeoman, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Battalion Commander, The Cure
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Brigadier General Seamus O'Rourke
Commanding Officer, Camp Nostromo
Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen
Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
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