“Effective immediately and against my firmest objections, all Archanis assets and mission units are being consolidated into a single flotilla alongside Polaris Squadron under your command,” Rear Admiral Nikki Sharpe explained gruffly, her tone leaving no doubt as to her perspective. “You are, as of this moment, responsible – and accountable – for all aspects of this AO.”

“I see…” Fleet Admiral Reyes replied, taking in the news in stride. The expansion in scope did not bother her. She had previously served as Fleet Executive Officer and chair of the Command Council for the Fourth Fleet, and this was still small potatoes compared to that. What did bother her though was the rear admiral’s tone. “I cannot help but sense you are not pleased with the news you’re here to deliver.”

“Whatever gave you that impression?” Rear Admiral Sharpe asked sarcastically. “I assure you that I did everything I could to stop this bad decision from being made.” Unfortunately though, those above her would not be brought to reason, and so here she was.

The rear admiral’s candor caught Fleet Admiral Reyes off-guard. She was not the sort to expect deference to rank, but it was rare for anyone to speak to her in such a manner. This rear admiral didn’t hesitate though. “If I may ask,” Fleet Admiral Reyes posed. “Why do you feel so strongly here?”

Rear Admiral Sharpe did not mince her words. “Because I don’t like you, and I don’t like your methods.”

“Blunt and to the point, I see,” Fleet Admiral Reyes smiled disarmingly. “I can appreciate that, but Admiral Sharpe, what is it you actually know of me and my methods?” As far as she was aware, the two of them had never crossed paths before, at least not in the sort of way that should have provoked such a visceral reaction.

“You are reckless, and you are dangerous,” Rear Admiral Sharpe replied as her eyes narrowed on the older woman. “You gallivant around the galaxy on your high horse, looking for reasons to throw your ships and crews away. You always have some high and mighty cause you purport to serve, but how many commanding officers can lay claim to one-tenth the bodybags you’ve collected?”

Fleet Admiral Reyes did not react visibly. She was too practiced for that. Inwardly, though, those words stung. “I do what must be done.” What did this woman know of Nasera, of Sol, of the Vaadwaur occupation, or of the many other situations where she had called on her people to do their duty?

“So you say, but it does not change the numbers,” Rear Admiral Sharpe acknowledged dismissively as she looked down at the PADD on the desk before her. She had brought the receipts. “Two thousand, two hundred and ninety seven. Does that number mean anything to you?”

“No,” Fleet Admiral Reyes shrugged. “Is it supposed to?”

“That’s the number who have died under your watch in the last twenty six months,” Rear Admiral Sharpe explained. “That’s a Galaxy class worth of sailors per year, admiral.” And one, in particular, had meant the world to her, not that she would say it here.

Fleet Admiral Reyes said nothing, not even humoring a response.

The rear admiral, though, was undeterred. “In that time, you’ve also misplaced several ships from the quadrant, seen two ships assigned to you destroyed outright, and come within a fraction of losing every other ship under your command more than a few times,” she recounted. “Do I have that about right, Admiral Reyes?”

“The galaxy is not a friendly place,” Fleet Admiral Reyes countered as her tone firmed, not willing to entertain the discussion any further. “But I will not stand here and be berated by a desk jockey who sat comfortable back at HQ while I did what needed to be done.” Her eyes narrowed on the woman across the table. “Tell me, Rear Admiral Sharpe, did you really fly half way across the galaxy simply to break the news and play Monday morning quarterback?”

“Oh, I’m not here just to break the news, admiral,” Rear Admiral Sharpe answered with a smile. “Nor am I here simply to criticize you from afar.” She queued up the flotilla manifest and slid it across the table. “You see, while you already have Vice Admiral Grayson as your deputy for sector operations, and you already have Commodore Larsen as your ASTRA director, you do not yet have a deputy commander for at-large operations.”

“I do not have a deputy commander of at-large operations,” Fleet Admiral Reyes noted. There was no such position on her org chart. It was redundant when that was fundamentally her job.

“Well, you didn’t have one until I arrived,” Rear Admiral Sharpe revealed. “But you do now.” This was the one concession she had gotten through all her objections, a sick and twisted outcome if she was honest, but one she fully intended to make the most of.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t need one,” Fleet Admiral Reyes shook her head. And even if she did, it wouldn’t be this woman she hardly knew. 

“Oh, but you do,” Rear Admiral Sharpe countered, her tone almost lecturely. “It’s Management 101, dear admiral. Your mandate is expanding, and it will be my job, and the job of the staff I’ve brought with me, to ensure that we are appropriately organized for effective execution.”

The fleet admiral did not look pleased in the slightest.

“And if it’s not clear, it’s already been decided for you,” Rear Admiral Sharpe added.

Fleet Admiral Reyes furrowed her brow. “I thought you said this was my command?”

“I did,” Rear Admiral Sharpe replied as her eyes narrowed on the fleet admiral once more. “But let’s be real… you’re not the right person for the job.”