Post Match Review

Posted on Wed Nov 29th, 2023 @ 2:51pm by Lieutenant Commander Savin & Jerant van Rijn & Commander N'Garzi Zora

Mission: Character Development
Location: XO Office
Timeline: Right after "If It Was Too Easy, Everyone Would Do It"
1514 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

Zora led the two men to her office. They had made idle chit-chat during the turbolift ride but she didn't want to discuss the simulation until she was ready to do so. From past experience, discussing such matters straight away, before unwinding, was a grave mistake. She wanted Savin to think about his actions, maybe things he would have done differently with time to process it all, or maybe time to confirm his actions were the correct ones.

She led them to the sofa area of the room and then fetched a pot of Vulcan spiced tea and three cups. She settled into her seat opposite the Romulan and lifted the tea to her nose to inhale to take in the fragrant aroma. Breathing deeply, she smiled and placed the cup on the coffee table, allowing it to cool before she could enjoy it properly. "How did you find the test Counsellor?" She asked conversationally.

"Different," Savin answered honestly, "I had no idea what to expect and it was very different from what I experienced on the bridge recently. It was certainly a challenge." Especially when it had been most frustrating not to be able to sense anything. "It was very...tense," he finally admitted, still trying to shake the relief he felt when it was over.

"War often is," Zora replied a distant look in her eyes, clearly reminiscing about the various conflicts she had been a part of during her time in Starfleet... and before. She shook her head gently and brought herself back to the moment, smiling apologetically at the Romulan and his aide. "I purposely chose a mission that would throw you out of your comfort zone," she admitted. "How do you think you did?"

"I did the best I could with the knowledge that I have, and the information I had," Savin answered after a moment of thought. "Perhaps in hindsight a few things could have been handled differently but I felt the safety of the crew was paramount." He paused, studying her. "Is being out of my comfort zone not the purpose of this test?"

"No," Zora replied, her eyebrow slightly raised. "I would argue that was the purpose of Starfleet, or one of them at least. The test shows me different traits and different ways of handling yourself. There are many ways to tackle the differences you face during the exam, my job is to keep your mind open to all the possibilities." She picked up the cup and held it in her hands briefly before taking a sip. "One of the qualities we look for is someone who can be critical of themself, so what would you have done differently in hindsight?"

"Not give the enemy a chance to fire," he answered quietly, "my initial goal was to give them a chance of survival but in hindsight destroying them may have been the only course of action. We would have been in a fighting shape to face the later arrivals. As it was, we had no chance with the damage we had received."

"I wanted to touch on that," Zora said as she nodded her head gently. The hairpin she was using to keep her braids in place, uncomfortably pulled at her head. "As you know, I have a background in communications and diplomacy. I would much rather talk my way out of a situation than fire first, maybe that was why I found a home in Starfleet," she smiled encouragingly. "However, wartime is different! If you see an enemy ship, especially one so deep in Federation space, if you don't fire first then you risk everyone in your care."

"I shall endeavour to remember that," the Romulan promised, "I would prefer talking first too, on the assumption of a miscommunication. But you are right, firing first when there is no backup available is a wiser course of action." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "When you did your bridge officer's test, what scenario did you face, and how did you solve it?" It was both a curious and honest question as he did feel a desire to learn more.

"Sometimes sitting in the big chair means fighting your very nature. The best command officers find a balance between duty and their inner self; the worst ones slide too much on either side," Zora said truthfully. "Not many people pass this the first time, I didn't. My scenario was aboard a Constellation-class ship, during the time of the Klingon war, before the Khitmar accords." She smiled as she remembered how nervous she was and how she had tried finding a peaceful solution to a very tense situation too. "I solved it by docking my personal feelings, knowing my ship and crew, and by listening to my instructor."

"I am here to learn ma'am," the counselor reiterated, "and I have no hopes of passing my first time either. Though I would hope my performance during the pirate attack does weigh in." So far noone had given him any feedback on it, even though he had done the best he knew how. "I do believe that the safety of all involved come before personal feelings at all times."

"Indeed it does," Zora confirmed. "What were you most proud of during the pirate attack and was there anything that you would change in hindsight?" She asked. She hadn't been on the ship when the pirates attacked the Alpha section, but she had read the reports from all of those involved.

Pride wasn't an emotion he often indulged in so it took him a few seconds of thought before he answered. "Stepping in when I needed to and getting people to refocus," he finally answered. "We needed to retreat. I am not certain what I should have done differently, we had no shields, no propulsion and we were being boarded. If anything, try harder to return the captain to consciousness?" He really had no idea.

"The ship is still in one piece and the crew survived," Zora said encouragingly. "You thought about the main priorities and acted accordingly. Bring that same thought process to your future simulations and you'll be fine." She paused, wondering if she should say anything more then decided it wouldn't hurt for her to give one more tip. "During wartime, your crew may not always be your main priority."

"It is not?" The counselor seemed genuinely confused. "What would you suggest would be the priority if not the survival of one's crew?"

Zora's eyes narrowed for the briefest of moments, a slip on her poker face; humans called it a tell. She was trying to decide if the Romulan was trying his best to be humourous though that didn't seem to match what she knew of the man. If this was a question he was asking seriously, for the first time, she had strong doubts about whether he was ready for the role of leadership. If she didn't think he was ready there was no way in which she could recommend him, Kane would have her position for the error. "You tell me Commander," she eventually said, trying her best to not sound condescending. "In this scenario, what should have been protected before the crew?"

Fortunately for her, her tone was wholly lost on him though he hadn't missed the narrowing of her eyes. This told him his question might not have been a good one even though he was genuinely confused. "The ship," he answered, without pause, "without it, there is no protecting anyone or anything."

"Not quite," Zora said. "I'm going to leave you to figure it out Savin," she added eventually. If he truly didn't know, her giving him the answer wouldn't help in his development. "Something for you to ponder on I believe."

Savin nodded slowly, feeling he had missed something vital, somewhere. "Yes ma'am, I believe I do," he finally answered. "May I ask what your thoughts are on my performance? Do you have any... suggestions for improvement?" After all, since he obviously failed he did need to learn where he went wrong so he could practice on improvement.

"It was a great first attempt and I'm sure you'll do better next time," she said with a reassuring smile. She was aware that Savin wanted more but as his instructor, she wouldn't be doing him any flavours by spoon-feeding him the answers. "Each mission has a main objective, do your best to achieve that above everything else and yes I am aware I am speaking in riddles," she said with a little apologetic laugh.

"I will never do anything other than the best I can do ma'am," Savin answered quietly, "it is not in my nature to do otherwise." He stood and offered a small smile in return. "I am also not aware of any riddles. Thank you for your time and your feedback, I will make use of what I learned a next time." He gave her a light nod, then walked out of her office, returning to his own a few decks down.