Questions of Leadership

Posted on Sat Mar 7th, 2026 @ 6:49pm by Lieutenant Commander Sora Bernadotte & Commander Zhora zh'Roothi

1,481 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: 7a. Guile - Short Treks
Location: Enterprise Transporter Room
Timeline: 2439-08-13

In a swirl of light the away party arrived in the transporter room minus Ensign Yumerieva who'd been whisked directly off to sickbay as ordered. The party cleared the pad after making small talk among themselves and with Petty Officer Saarnosh at the controls in a casual, weary manner, reflecting upon how they'd performed and how they'd been whisked away, oddly onto the RRW Ourainavassa before the station section had collapsed.

While they filed out Commander zh'Roothi reached forward and clasped Bernadotte's elbow briefly but firmly holding her back: "A word if you please." Her tone was clipped to ensure transparency: this wasn't a request.

Sora nodded. "I am pretty sure I know what you want to talk to me about." She looked around the room at Saarnosh, before turning back to the Commander. "Although I believe that is a conversation best had in private."

"Agreed," the XO nodded in reply before turning toward the transporter officer: "Akaathaan could you step outside for a moment please?"

The snake-like woman hurried to comply, locking down her station with a well practised routine and dexterous speed before making her exit.

Once the door had slid closed did zh'Roothi speak: "Do you recall what I said on DS47 before you left on the Sundweller runabout?"

Sora chuckled. "You mean the reminder about the chain of command? I am aware. But let me remind you that my sister - or rather, the Subadmiral, gave me command of that particular transporter room we were just in. And with Enterprise being pretty much locked down, as well as Ensign Yumerieva being severely injured, I felt it would be a much more effective use of available resources to utilise both ships' respective transporters."

She walked over to the transporter control console, and sat on top of it, the exhaustion of the mission finally showing its effects. "Commodore Targaryen - our CO, that is - assigned me to command one of the two boarding parties. His wife, despite holding flag rank, accepted that authority. Commander, I am not trying to ursurp your position, or subvert your authority. But I will never hesitate to say it when things could be done more effectively. I grew up in a world where a superior's word is law, and questioning that was an invitation to personal combat until you either proved yourself right, or were killed. I am glad to have left that world behind."

"However," Sora added, her eyes narrowing slightly. "If you are one of those officers who insists on strict protocol, and to always have the last word, we may have a problem. And should that be the case, I would see myself forced to speak to the Commodore about transferring off this ship. Which is the last thing I want."

The Andorian woman remained stationary, her eyes tracking Sora as she rested herself on the vacant console with the same hard expression seen on the Romulan ship: "Is this just a joke to you?" she asked testily. "At least have the decency to stand and look me in the eye when you address me otherwise we will have a problem on our hands."

Sora shook her head as she subconsciously moved her hand to the hilt of the rapier still on her belt. "You are well aware that I stand quite a bit shorter than you. If anything, me sitting on this console actually puts us at eye level. And I hoped it would lead to a somewhat more relaxed mood. But, if you insist, Commander," she added, with an almost sarcastic emphasis of the rank, as she hopped off the console again and stood closely in front of the Andorian, looking directly up into her face.

"Is this more to your satisfaction? Or should I remove the glasses as well? Do note that we would need to dim the lights a little, in that case." She gave a hollow chuckle. "You know by now that I do not respect anyone just on the basis of rank. I acknowledge rank, and I will follow orders, but respect is earned, and wholly independent to what your badge says. I respect Ensign Yumerieva for her quick thinking and decisive action, Lieutenant Elandorn for her piloting skills, Counsellor Laurell for her empathy, and so on. The Commodore I respect as a capable, courageous leader, who faces any obstacle head-on and does not seem fazed in the slightest when his authority is challenged."

The Terran cocked her head, looking the XO up and down. "I was certain about you as well. A good executive officer knows when to take charge, and when to delegate. I was a Number One myself, once. You do know I took a reduction in rank to join this Starfleet. Before I crossed over, I was a full Commander, Executive Officer of ISS Asha. And before you ask, no. I did not reach that rank by assassination. That has long been discontinued, the only position that can now be reached that way is the Captaincy, and only by a First Officer. All other cases are being treated as murder."

With a shrug, Sora continued. "I hold no disrespect for you, Commander. But when I am given authority, I will use it. Like I did in that transporter room just now. And if you are going to start questioning my every move, that is when we will have a problem, at least from my standpoint."

The only moment Zhora made as the human gave her piece was the sway of her antenna as she remained impassive: "Very well," she said, her tone more collected than before. "How would you feel if our positions were reversed? How would the First Officer of the ISS Asha respond?"

Sora smiled and casually pulled off the bit of black tape covering the pommel of her rapier, revealing its original silver shine and the emblem of the Terran Empire engraved on it. "Commander Sora Svanirsdottir trusted her department chiefs. After all, we were in open rebellion against the Empire. If their decisions in the field actually harmed the success of the mission, I would of course address it, but I gave them a pretty wide berth with regards to authority, provided the objectives they were given were actually met. Unless it was a direct order, of course. Those had to be followed, or else. Still a Terran ship, after all," she added with a shrug.

"I acknowledge that our leadership styles are probably very different, formed through training and years of experience both leading and being led," the Lieutenant Commander continued after a brief pause. "Add to that the very different environments in which we grew up and that made us the people that we are today. I mean, I stand here eighteen years younger than you, yet I was born twelve years before you. In a different universe." She shook her head. "We are very different people. And yet we must find a way to work together. And I am sure we will continue to do so."

"I think we can agree to disagree on certain topics considering those historic differences," the XO nodded. "I recognise the transition from the Mirror Universe must have been difficult, and I should anticipate the odd act of recklessness to appear every once in a while. Holding the Merchant to ransom to create a division was risky and placed you in unnecessary danger," she held up a hand before Sora could interrupt: "But ultimately aided in accomplishing our goal. Your headstrong approach and desire to be the centre of attention concerns me somewhat. I find you to be...unpredictable."

"Being the centre of attention is actually not what I want at all," Sora replied, shaking her head. "It just happened that in both our previous missions I ended up there, with the override chip, and here with grabbing the Bajoran. Which was a decision I made on the fly, to be fair. Tried to cause a distraction to allow the rest of the team to get into position. Which worked." She shrugged. "Unpredictable doesn't have to be a bad thing, though. I will try to be a bit better, though."

"That's all I can ask," Zhora paused momentarily: "You have great instincts Sora. I don't want to dictate how you should conduct yourself or micro manage your every task. However, crew safety and discipline fall under my umbrella, and should I feel these areas are not satisfactory I won't stand idle. I trust you understand?"

"Precisely how I would expect any first officer to set their priorities," Sora replied, smiling. "Now, was there anything else, or am I dismissed and can finally go and have a shower?"

The XO gave a small nod: "That will be all," she said, a faint smile touching her lips in reply satisfied the two women appear to have found some common ground.

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