Duty and Honor

Posted on Wed May 21st, 2025 @ 6:26am by Commander Steven Greco & Commander Calvin 'Cal' Maraj

1,370 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Year One: Strange Bedfellows
Location: USS Moore - Ready Room
Timeline: MD: 031 - 10:45hrs

Stepping off the turbolift with the new commanding officer, Steve did his best to be as professional as possible. He had no idea what it was Starfleet saw in the man to give him command of the Moore over himself. With a glance at Maraj, he stepped on the bridge. "It's this way to the ready room....sir." He added reluctantly to the officer standing over him as he crossed the bridge so they could down to work bringing him up to speed on their current assignment and the crew.

Cal knew where they ready room was. He'd served on a Prometheus class before but he gave the man the respect of telling him and Cal followed whilst surveying the bridge to see what kind of atmosphere it was and the work ethic on show. He was pleased enough with the brief glance.

The doors of the ready room opened and he could see small markings of where things had previously been. The previous Captain, Stryvek, had seemingly placed a few items around but not a lot to leave much of a mark.

Placing down a collection of PADDs and moving the chair out he sat down as if to test it out. A bit snug, it would have to be altered a bit. Looking up at Greco their eyes met and he gestured for him to take a seat, "So, commander, I've read your file. Tell me something about you I don't know, something not in the file."

Steve moved to the chair across from the commander's desk slowly as he tried to think quickly. He was taken aback by the question. "Well, if you've read my file I suppose there's not much to say. I was raised on Earth, the first in my family to join Starfleet. Cut my teeth in Operations and continued throughout the war. The Moore is only my second assignment as a first officer." He said, intentionally skimming over his service history and the way and reasons for his promotion.

Cal frowned a little, "I meant about you, not your career. There is more to a man than what he has done in his years of service. However, as we are talking about it, what qualities do you think makes a good officer? What makes someone worthy to wear the uniform?" he asked taking a mental note of the reactions of his first officer.

Greco shifted uncomfortably in his chair for a moment. He was confused as to what Maraj was getting at but considered. "Honesty, integrity, being true to one's self and an example of the best that Starfleet and the Federation has to offer and living those ideals." He answered truthfully, waiting to see where Calvin would take the conversation.

Cal listened to Steve and honestly felt like the poster boy image he'd heard about was pouring out of him with every word he spoke. "So, would you deem loyalty to be one of those ideals? Loyalty to your crewmates, those that now serve under you? Would you protect them, would you cover for them and fight for them?"

The first officer's eyes caught the commander's. Steve knew what the man meant, but he wasn't going to rise to the bait outright. Crossing his leg over his knee, Greco sat back in his seat. "Of course. I'd do anything to protect this crew. It's my duty and obligation as first officer. Even if that means disagreeing with you, sir." Steve made sure to emphases Maraj's position as his superior officer without having an attitude. It was a subtle way of showing he knows and understands protocol and what his duty entailed.

"If I may, how long have you been serving as a first officer? This is your first command, isn't it?" Steve asked, curious to see how experienced the man behind the desk was and if he truly understood the position he's taken on.

As their eyes met Cal didn't falter, his was a direct question to be sure but one that was very important to him as an officer and person. It was a good question to just the measure of a man. "So, was it not your duty, you obligation, as a member of the senior staff and department head of Operations on the Columbia? You were a leader then and yet you chose to side against your fellow crewmates during your time there. That doesn't seem like protecting your crew, unless you've had some sort of epiphany since then." he replied back, his tone calm and clear. He could sense, and detect somewhat, the tone used in certain words the XO used towards him, but chose to ignore it.

Whether Greco liked it or not Starfleet chose Calvin, not him.

"This is my first command as in the position of commanding officer, yes. I was first officer for the same length of time as you, 3 years, before Starfleet chose to offer me this command. 5 years with second officer duties... I see you went straight from a department head to XO?" Cal returned the favour with a question similar to Greco's.

Steve compressed his lips tightly together as he let out a huff of air. He didn't like being reminded of the time he was paraded around by the top brass for his actions of simply doing the right thing. He had seen that distrustful look that Maraj had for him multiple times in the years that followed. "After nine years as a department head. I paid my dues." He said firmly, feeling his throat tighten to control his tone to his superior.

Steve held his head high as he continued. "And I protected a wounded prisoner from being murdered in his sleep." he clarified about actions during the war before challenging the man regarding his own ethics, "I would hope that any Starfleet officer would put a life ahead of any loyalties, especially a commanding officer"

"Yes, well I 'paid my dues' as a department head alongside second officer duties. Some of us just had to work a little harder to get to first officer." Cal made an off the cuff remark. It was true, factual. "Some others just get the break of the green." he added using a golfing metaphor.

"I somehow feel that if roles had been reversed that Jem'Hadar prisoner would not have had the same protective instinct over your life than you did theirs. Hell at one point they had us fighting each other for sport in a Dominion prison." Cal shook his head. "I'd weigh the lives of those I served with more than that of a murderer and killer..." he shrugged, "but I guess you and I are built a little different. Every life is sacred and all that." It wasn't something he believed sadly for some. He believed bad people made their choices and whatever consequences fell their way, well... that was just the universe working itself out.

As Cal was about to open his mouth again his desk terminal lit up with the Federation logo, a call was incoming and one he wouldn't ignore for the sake of continuing the chat with his XO. "For what it's worth Commander I know you do a good job here. I'm not here to oust you, give you grief over past events. If you do your job the way you have been you and I will have no issues." There was a pause. "You are dismissed, commander." Cal added as he looked away from Greco and focussed more on the terminal he'd soon activate for his call.

Steve simply nodded as he rose from his seat to leave, not hiding his scowl at his new commanding officer. He bit this inside of his cheek as a painful reminder to hold his words. He didn’t owe the commander an explaination, nor did he have to justify his actions to anyone. Regardless of what Maraj thought, he did the right thing in not letting an unarmed prisoner be killed, or covering up the actions of his fellow officers.

Regardless, Steve kept his composure as he returned to the bridge. If Commander Maraj kept to his word about professionalism, so would he.

 

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