The Multiverse: Discipline

Joshua Steele was sitting at his desk within the dimply lit Admiral's quarters. He was silently awaiting Derek to transfer over to his vessel, a folder on his desk as he went over the information detailed by a number of CPF Personnel on what happened several nights prior.

He checked his watch, and silently shook his head.

A few minutes later Derek entered. He stopped just inside the doorway and raised his hand to his chest in a firm salute. "I worship his Shadow."

He had spent the better part of his career aboard the Unyielding Heirophant, and this wasn't a novel experience for him. Derek was a loyal soldier, but with a somewhat misguided notion of honor, he had landed himself at Steele's scrutiny more than a few times over the years.

Joshua Steele looked up to Derek a moment, and brought his hand to his chest in a salute. "I worship his shadow." He said, looking up to the doorway a moment, and then back down to Derek.

"Our Guests should be joining us shortly, I have chairs for everyone, as you can see.. Put yourself at ease and sit." He said calmly, though clearly not amused.

The woman who followed kept her chin high. Her uniform was crisp, and her hair now hung in a long ponytail down to the small of her back. She didn't bother asking why she had been summoned. She could think of a million different reasons as to why. The only problem came with deciphering which issue was most prevalent.

At her entrance, she did not salute in Aschen tradition, but she did regard the gentlemen in the room with a nod, before moving to take a seat.

Sonya, on the other hand, was pretty sure why she'd been called on. Casey hadn't asked, though, so the irritated agent hadn't felt the need to tell her. This wasn't the first time she'd been in trouble for trying to enforce her city's laws on the lawless bastards that most Aschen she'd encountered on Terra were, and it sure as hell wouldn't be the last.

When she walked in behind Casey she met Steele's eyes with an uncompromising stare, giving no deference to the man and simply walking to the remaining seat. She cast a baleful glare at Derek as she passed him.

Joshua Steele cleared his throat. "Since we're all here, we probably all understand why we're here." He said, straightening the papers before him and clearing his throat, gesturing to close the door behind them, which closed with a crystalline chime.

"Mr. Adams it's come to my attention you were arrested for disorderly conduct roughly a week ago for a bar fight." He said, bringing his eyes to the other officer. "Conduct unbecoming of an officer of this empire!" He said, raising his voice, standing up and pounding his fist on the desk.

"What do you say in your defense?"

Sonya Ballifrey visibly raised a surprised eyebrow that Derek was the one taking the flak. She wasn't entirely convinced that Steele wasn't about to turn around and follow up with some overbearing crap, but the fact Derek was even getting reprimanded went against her expectations.

"I was off duty, Sir," Derek replied.

Admitedly that didn't weight in all that much. He cocked a glance in Sonya's direction.

"Just there for a drink. Kid shouldn't have been running his mouth like that."

"Speaking of unbecoming conduct." Casey said loudly, over the shout of Steele. She stood with the other man, glancing between him and Derek and Sonya.

"I'd like to know what Officer Ballifrey has to do with all of this." She didn't like that she was completely out of the loop on this one. Too much had been going on lately.

And it didn't look good for her as Police Chief either.

Joshua Steele nodded slightly. "Very well, I'm assessing ten demerits to your file for conduct unbecoming of an officer." He said, stroking his pen on the file, before he turned to Casey.

"Your officer committed a far more serious offense... Chief Foster" Steele said, slightly trailing off.

And there it was. Sonya sighed, leaning back in her chair and scowling. So much for defying expectations. "I arrested him, Chief, and the boy he was fighting with." she explained before Steele went on.

"He came along willingly enough. Maybe there are some Aschen who give one or two fucks about the law beyond whether they can get out of it by crying to papa."

Delancy's brow quirked.

"Are we talking about an offense, Admiral? Or simply being offended."

Joshua Steele cleared his throat. "We're talking about an international incident, a blatant violation of the Armistice. Your officer arrested an officer of this fleet, without informing the CPF, without immediately informing the Imperial Consulate, and furthermore, without informing his chain of command. That is the makings of an international incident." He said, leaning forward and narrowing his eyes at the Officer.

"Or even Casus Bellum." He said, turning back to Casey. "But I'm willing to.. overlook this oversight of international law. If you properly discipline your officer."

Sonya bit back a snappy retort, but her glaring eyes spoke volumes, boring into Steel's head. There was no attempt made to hide her anger. Or maybe there was, and she just wasn't very good a tit.

"Ah," Her expression had turned serious. "Well, everyone's human. The Department's been a bit overwhelmed with badly behaved citizens and non-citizens. I'll be certain it won't happen again."

She spread her hands. "What more can we do for you, Admiral?"

Joshua Steele leaned back. "I'll accept nothing less than a formal written apology and thirty days unpaid suspension. Or I can bring this matter before the Ministry of Defense." Steele said flatly.

Sonya Ballifrey inwardly started wondering how many subtle insults she could work into a letter of apology without causing an international incident.

She had a sense that she knew what Sonya was thinking. She glanced sideways for a moment, before looking to Steele.

"I suppose the conversation's over, then. But, additionally, I'd like it if your officer-Derek, right- put in a handful of community service hours for disrupting the peace in our humble Wing City."

She smiled. "Law is law, after all. Consider this my formal notification."

"Hey now," Derek interjected. "I'll take my demerits, but community service for getting in a brawl with a heretic?" he asked. "Unless you're looking to drag that kid back in here, I would say we're just about square there. Kid gave as much as he got," he remarked as he rubbed at his jaw which still sported an impressive array of bruises.

Joshua Steele shook his head. "I've already disciplined Commander Adams, I assigned ten demerits to his file. I, unlike you, am operating within the parameters of the Armistice." He said, tapping the file. "When an officer reaches one hundred demerits, they are demoted, an additional one hundred demerits and they must donate organs to the protein bank..."

At the mention of the Heretic Steele suddenly paused.

"Heretic, Commander Adams?"

Heretic? A drunk kid running his mouth counted as a heretic? For fuck's sake... Sonya continued to resist the urge to say anything to get herself into deeper trouble.

It was getting difficult.

Derek shrugged and settled back into his chair. "Just some dumb kid running his mouth. He's not even a Terran."

He kept an eye on Sonya, an eye partially raised at the less than thinly veiled play of emotions running across the woman's expression.

Joshua Steele cleared his throat. "I don't think you quite understand, Chief Foster. The future does not belong to those who slander the Emperor." He said, tapping his pen. "In fact, I should be disciplining my commander for not doing his duty. The only suitable punishment for Heresy is death, Commander Adams." He said flatly, before he turned to Casey.

"Thirty Day suspension, and a written notice of apology for arresting my officer for doing his duty to quell heresy wherever it stands. Afterall, Silence, and Inaction are consent, consent is Heresy, and Heresy is death." He said calmly.

"In that same vein, can't Commander Adams be charged with Heresy for simply not reporting it?" Casey said, shaking her head in disbelief and disgust at the politics surrounding this whole altercation.

"There is no evidence that stands. As such, Commander Adams was off duty at the time as well. You'll get your written apology for not reporting the arrest, but nothing more."

She looked to Sonya.

"Let's go."

Joshua Steele nodded. "I'm not going to force you to do anything, Chief Foster." He said, clearing his throat. "Afterall, I'm running a Garrison, not an occupation. Though, It seems that you're unwilling to discipline your Officer, even after watching me discipline mine." He said, closing the file.

"I'll bring this matter before the Ministry of Defense, and the Emperor himself." He said, narrowing his eyes.

"And I assure you, Chief Foster... The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am."

"I've actually spoken with the Emperor." Casey said with a smile. "He wanted to make sure that I spoke highly of the Aschen empire whenever it happened to come up in conversation. I, personally, don't think he'd take kindly to the fact that you've brought me in here without warning to embarrass me in front of my officer and yours, instead of coming to me directly so that we could settle the matter without all of this fanfare."

Her eyes narrowed.

"But, by all means. Inform his Divine Shadow. I should like to speak to him as well."

Sonya gave Casey an appreciative nod. Maybe she'd get out of this easier than she thought. She hoped the Chief knew what she was doing. As much as she'd be pissed off beyond belief, she wouldn't blame Casey for complying with the Aschen's demands. After all, they brought Reverences down for barfights. She wouldn't put it past the motherfuckers to blow up a city for someone refusing to kiss their asses.

Joshua Steele huffed. "I doubt that. Why the Divine Shadow would allow a Terran to take up his time is beyond me. I do think we've discussed enough here." He said, closing the file with an audible slap. "Though, I will accept the formal apology, but I will make a note of this incident.. I trust it will not be repeated." He said flatly.

He then turned to Derek, and he shook his head. Then he turned back to Casey and Sonya.

"Before you go around arresting my officers, stop and think about the international repercussions. Afterall, would you not expect us to extend the same courtesy to you on Langara?"

"We're all very grateful." Casey said, her smile stiff. "And now we must go. You'll have your apology by the end of the week."

She gave Sonya a look that said, 'Stand up and leave with me before I drag you.'

Joshua Steele quipped. "Yes, get out of my office before you say something stupid and I find a reason to have you tossed out the Airlock."

Sonya looked to Steele with a shake of her head as she stood. "Frankly? If I went around beating up every kid that pissed me off on Langara I wouldn't hold it against you if I got thrown in jail for months. Good thing I normally keep my fists to myself off duty. I respect the law of the land, Sir, whatever land I happen to be standing on at the time."

And with that, she turned to follow Casey.

Joshua Steele shook his head as they walked out. "Disgusting Terrans, don't know their place." He said, turning to Derek. "She is right though, You should have reported his heresy and killed him. Silence is consent. If I didn't like you, I'd have you purged." He said flatly.

"Who was this.. Supposed heretic?"

"An upstart from off planet, Jay something. Didn't catch a last name."

He stood from his chair.

"Will that be all, Sir?" he asked.

Joshua Steele nodded. "You're dismissed." He said, nodding.

"If they commit heresy in your presence again. You're to kill them, as you would any heretic. As an example to those who blaspheme the Emperor."

"Yes, Sir," Derek replied. "May his merciful shadow fall upon you."

Once outside Derek let out a heavy breath of air and ran a hand through his hair. Well that could certainly have gone worse. Shaking his head, he headed off.

The Multiverse » Arcs » Discipline

As written by: barney_fife, Ruanzilla, FizzGig, Script

35 pieces and 4 characters involved, written by 4 different authors.

1 places involved

So begins...

Discipline

Setting: Terra