Chapter Fifty Four

Director Lanlow paced in his private office off the main bridge of the QQS Observant, his agitated concern evident in his movement. The recent conversation with the board of directors had not gone well in the least, and the lack of any true progress, despite the several month extension he'd bartered for last, reflected poorly on his operation. He had few options left and his thoughts rapidly considered them before piecing together a plan and turning to his intercom.

"Send me Director Stephliquen Skarlan. Now."

Director Lanlow released the intercom, his firm tone and stance rapidly dissolving into nervous twitches once again. Stopping before his grooming station, he prepared himself as he knew that Stephliquen would require sometime to travel from her ship.

Preparing quickly enough, he set up his desk and settled himself in his seat. Confrontations were by nature half production in a political world, and he would take advantage of any tool. It also helped that she was his immediate subordinate.

The buzz of the intercom came a few moments later, and his body relaxed into confidence, a smile of attentive consideration swept his face and he swept forward, displaying an exuberant interest in his soon to be guest. His hand pressed the intercom button and his voice, buttery smooth and oozing with warmth and interest caressed his intercom, "Ah! She's here! Excellent. Excellent! Please send her in."

The door to his room open and he waited a fraction of a second until he was able to just see her face beginning to appear in the crack before standing slowly, deliberately, but with excitement. Took me way too long to learn that one! Gotta impress the peons that I'm busy working!

He slipped from behind his desk and came forward, moving only after he was certain she'd seen him rising from his busy work. He came up to her, deeply interested and concerned for her while hopefully showing his respect for her and the excellent work she was doing, "I'm so glad you were able to make it! Truly. It is wonderful for you to be willing to meet with me. Please! Have a seat. Join me."

"Director Lanlow," Stephliquen paused in the door way as he came forward, snapping a regulation salute before allowing herself to be guided to the seat, her face impassive, respectful of her superior.

"So. How are things doing? I'm certain that you must be quite chomping at the bit, as it were, what with the Silverfish laid up in dock."

"I follow my commands, sir. There is much to do in improving my crew readiness levels."

"So things go well?"

"Things are well on the Silverfish, sir."

"Excellent. Excellent."

Stephliquen did not reply, ever the appropriate subordinate and Lanlow found himself slightly lost for words, but could not allow such a failure in image and quickly continued.

"I apologize that I must bring you such news at this time, but I have just finished speaking with the Board of Directors. They have raised some concerns."

"Sir?"

"It seems the lack of progress, the high deaths, and failed biological communications, the Board of Directors are now quite upset. As this operation was predominantly executed by the Silverfish, the Board of Directors are not happy with … well, I'm sorry, but they wish to see results. What they got was an over ninety percent fatality rate, a one hundred percent failure rate, and no new data."

The Director of the Silverfish flinched, a slight twitch of her eyebrows and Lanlow hid his glee. Gotcha! Quickly putting on a face of concern and worry, Lanlow continued, "I could not, of course, let that stand. I immediately told the Board that such things could not possibly be laid at your feet, but they still demanded action; results! It was… quite difficult, but I was able to finally able to convince them that you are more than capable for the job; more than capable of resolving this issue."

Lanlow quietly slid a hand up his leg towards his knee, under the desk to a small button, pressing it carefully before catching the telltale flash of light, barely bright enough to register even for those watching carefully.

"Director Stephliquen Skarlan. I ask you. Are you willing to take this duty upon yourself. Willing to prove yourself to the Board of Directors? It is of utmost priority, and I do not wish to place undue pressure upon you if you feel incapable of doing such."

Lanlow finished, his sincerity oozing into his voice hiding the nervousness that crawled through out his entire body, waiting silently. One thing he'd learned in his many years was, after pitching an idea, waiting silently placed more pressure than any form of cajoling, and he waited silently, pleading with her with a compassionate gaze, showing just how much he was working with her to save her career.

Stephliquen narrowed her eyes, staring at him for some time before nodding, "Sir, you know I will always work for the glory of our Board."

Relief shuddered through him even as he showed a more joyous relief to Stephliquen, "You are willing to take on this duty, then?"

"Yes, Director. It will be my honor."

"Excellent! You are truly a great boon to our Board and our people! I will have the secretary pass on the details to you immediately. It is such an honor to work with such prodigious directors! I truly am so greatly supported by such as you!"

"Sir. As I said, it is my honor."

She said nothing else, and while Lanlow tried to engage her in some pleasantries after, he had neither the inclination nor desire to get to know her as she would soon be of little use, and he quickly dismissed her to return to her new project. Watching her stride proudly across the bridge of the QQS Observant, quickly returning to the QQF Silverfish.

When the door closed on his office, he turned to his work, busied himself with a diligence he rarely showed, the very image of a man deep in thought for the gain of the Board. After several minutes of this, he "suddenly" remembered and turned off the recording devices with the large button on top of his desk.

The telltale flash of light flickered in the wall across the room once again, informing him the recording devices were now all off, and he collapsed back in his seat, grimacing with some anger before sitting forward once again and turning to his computer. He brought up his file search app and quickly navigated to his folder of recordings before dropping to the latest one. Opening it, he watched it with some trepidation before he smiled as the recording perfectly showed Director Stephliquen Skarlan taking on the responsibility for the work. Well, that should do it. Lanlow spent almost another hour cautiously studying the recording and firmly matching his memory to the events on the screen, practicing his recollection of the event carefully with the exact amount of pride for her willingness to do such a work and concern for why he was being questioned about such an excellent subordinate.

* * *

Joe woke the next morning, quite a bit earlier as he usually did although this time he woke much more relaxed, the nightmares having left him alone for the night. He didn't take their relief as an excuse and spent some time in meditation carefully delving into the event to both forgive himself and free himself from any doubts over possible other actions. Finally, he accepted what had happened and let it wash over him, once again releasing the results and consequences as a past event, complete and unchangeable. He then slipped from the room to run through his forms in the slightly unpleasant courtyard behind the inn. This proved simple enough and he was soon back up in his room once again, and, once again, bored with little to do.