Bridge - Deck 2

Azeri shot straight up from the bench seat and looked over towards Ens Montoya and Capt Bennet... While Capt Sull didn't wish to take over from Claire, this could perhaps call for all hands on deck.

Capt Sull: Calm down, Ensign... We have plans for just such an incident... First, notify all hands to General Quarters, pull up the extraction site on the Main Viewscreen... And see if you can hail the Marine Detachment Commander at Ground Zero...

The Captain moved closer to the viewscreen so she could properly ascertain the situation as soon as Ens Montoya complied and pulled up the overview scan.

Capt Sull: We're prepared, Ensign. We're Starfleet, we can out think these godforsaken creatures anyday... Just think of it like a game of poker... Let's call their bluff... Captain Bennet... A word, if I may, in your Ready Room?

Azeri motioned towards the door that led towards the Ready Room, this was not a time to lose their heads and was definatly not a time to be fighting over who should be in Command, over who has more Captaincy...
_________________
Lt. Commander Azeri Sull
Mission Specialist, USS Eureka

The Ensign calmed down some as Capt Sull assured him there were plans for such an incident. On the console he used to see the advancing horde upon the extraction site, he tapped the button that informed everyone aboard Eureka to go to General Quarters. As for the location the horde was approaching, the bad weather was making it somewhat difficult.

Ens Montoya: Captain Sull, I am having some trouble focusing on the extraction site due to all the bad weather. I am trying to compensate for that right now.

After a few moments, Gus was able to clear up the image for Capt Sull and smiled as he nodded to her. Next, the Ensign tried to contact the Marine Detachment Commander at Ground Zero, but there was already a communication in progress between Infiniti and the ISSCV. Ens Montoya figured the terrible news was coming down from the other vessel, so he let Capt Sull know.

Ens Montoya: Captain, there is already a transmission going to the ship on the surface from the USS Infiniti. I am sure their Marines are getting the news directly from their Commanding Officer.

The Yeoman looked over at Capt Bennet as Capt Sull motioned towards the Ready Room to have a conversation in private together. Gus then looked at Cmdr Sladek who would have the Bridge in the absence of Capt Bennet while she was in the Ready Room with Capt Sull. The Ensign was still a little worried about the people on the surface, hoping whatever plan Capt Sull spoke of would save all of the refugees and crew down there at the extraction site.
_________________
Ensign Gustavo R. Montoya
Yeoman, USS Eureka

The Captain rose up out of her chair on the Bridge and looked down at Cmdr Sladek who was sitting to her right and let him know he had the Bridge in her absence. Walking over towards the Ready Room she spoke aloud to the XO.

Capt Bennet: You have the Bridge, Commander.

Claire arrived at the doors to the Ready Room and entered with Capt Sull following directly behind. The Captain offered Azeri a seat on the end of the sofa, then took a seat at the other end.

Capt Bennet: What's on your mind, Azeri?

The CO's mind raced with possibilities of why Capt Sull asked her into the Ready Room. Claire knew Azeri would be direct in her reasoning and not be elusive in her reason for them leaving the Bridge to have a secret conversation in here.
_________________
Captain Claire L. Bennet
Commanding Officer, USS Eureka

Ready Room - Deck 2

The Captain nodded to Ens Montoya in response as she watched Capt Bennet follow to the door and eventually to the Ready Room where she accepted the offer to sit on the sofa.

Capt Sull: I thought it best not to allow the junior officers to overhear this... There shouldn't be any confusion over who has the Chair in case anything should go awry with the mission...

Azeri smiled at Claire, knowing she would have her full support on this issue.

Capt Sull: Computer, as of Stardate 240008.29 at 0749 hours, register in the Ship's Log that Captain Azeri Sull be demoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander until such time as we arrive back at Starbase 34.

Eureka-COM: Acknowledged, Ship's Log now updated to reflect the demotion of Captain Azeri Sull. USS Eureka Command Codes have been distributed to Captain Claire L. Bennet and Commander Ulric T. Sladek.

LtCmdr Sull reached up and removed the misinforming rank pips from her uniform and handed them to Capt Bennet.

Lt. Commander Sull: No sense in having two competing voices during any crises, Captain.

Azeri smiled showing she was in no way going to disagree with any orders the Captain should give her.
_________________
Lt. Commander Azeri Sull
Mission Specialist, USS Eureka

Claire looked down at the 2 gold pips Azeri handed her, before the Captain walked over to her replicator and made a rank pip that was black in the center. Walking back to LtCmdr Sull, Claire placed the rank pip in the Lieutenant Commander's hand. Capt Bennet watched as Azeri placed it on her collar with the 2 remaining gold pips, officially making the former CO a Lieutenant Commander.

Capt Bennet: There you go, Azeri. Now you're officially a Lieutenant Commander. When we leave the Ready Room, you should announce to the Bridge crew this was YOUR idea so they don't get the idea that I demoted you as an attempt to abuse my rank as the Commanding Officer of Eureka.

Since the Captain was already standing in the Ready Room, Claire looked at Azeri quizzically and wondered if there was anything else that needed to be discussed.

Capt Bennet: Is there anything else, Azeri? I'm really glad the Admiral is implementing your idea. A lot of lives will be saved because of it.

The CO stood closer to the doors of the Ready Room and waited to hear from LtCmdr Sull if there was anything else that needed to be discussed between them. If there wasn't, Claire was ready to follow Azeri back out to the Bridge and resume sitting in their seats. However, if there was...Capt Bennet had no problem remaining in the Ready Room even longer if need be.
_________________
Captain Claire L. Bennet
Commanding Officer, USS Eureka

Azeri chuckled ever so slightly before replying to the Captain.

Lt. Commander Sull: Well, not unless you've been holding out on me and we really do have a shuttle capable of blowing holes in those monsters I could borrow!

LtCmdr Sull already knew the answer the CO would give so slowly meandered towards the Ready Room door to return back the Bridge and inform the crew therein she had been demoted by the Captain.

Lt. Commander Sull: I just hope they will ALL be saved... Let's not do anything by halves, Captain... If matters should arise beyond our control, then do what you can to expedite things, so long as we don't tear the ship apart at the seams... I know Ensign Montoya is itching to fly down there himself.

Azeri followed Captain Bennet on to the Bridge as they spoke and watched as every officers eyes quickly darted to her neck and saw the black rank pin. She smiled at them all before exclaiming to them.

Lt. Commander Sull: As you have no doubt noticed, Captain Bennet and I have come to the conclusion I should be demoted so as not to step on her toes and invoke the Uniform Code of Justice... This seemed preferable to Sickbay at least.

LtCmdr Sull chortled before continuing on.

Lt. Commander Sull: No, no... It was all my idea before you lot get any ideas of your own mutiny's... This was a faster plan to execute than calling the Admiral back, as busy as he is... Ensign Montoya, I trust you have been watching the battle below? Any changes to report? Are we still winning?

The Lieutenant Commander walked over to where she was sitting before and sat down on the bench and waited to hear from Ens Montoya regarding the status of the extraction site. Azeri was really worried about all the refugees down there and getting them up off the planet safely. LtCmdr Sull hoped Capt Bennet would do everything that was necessary to ensure the safety of all the children in the extraction area.
_________________
Lt. Commander Azeri Sull
Mission Specialist, USS Eureka

The Captain smiled back at LtCmdr Sull as she answered Azeri regarding such a modified shuttle in their possession. Had there been a shuttle the way LtCmdr Sull described in either of the shuttlebays, Capt Bennet knew Cmdr Sladek, Lt. Gutiérrez, and even Ens Montoya would be flipping a coin in order to go on such a mission.

Capt Bennet: If we had one of those shuttles aboard, I'm sure you wouldn't be the only officer wanting to fly it down there to destroy those creatures before they reached the extraction site.

As Claire walked onto the Bridge with LtCmdr Sull, the Captain went directly to her chair and sat in it, then let the Lieutenant Commander explain her demotion to the officers on the Command Deck. Looking over towards Cmdr Sladek, Capt Sull gave him a nod from her chair to let him know she now had the Bridge once again. As Azeri finished explaining her demotion, she asked Gus about what he had been watching on the Main Viewscreen, so the Captain looked over at the Yeoman and awaited his response.
_________________
Captain Claire L. Bennet
Commanding Officer, USS Eureka

Bridge - Deck 2

Gus was a little confused by what LtCmdr Sull had asked of him, but answered the former Captain as best he could.

Ens Montoya: I have been watching the extraction site and none of the Xenomorphs have made it to the area yet. There is a squadron of Starfleet Marine Starfighters outfitted with projectile weapons between New Rakantha and the refugees, so when they get within range, the fighters will engage the creatures so that none of them make it through to the children waiting to beam up. As for who is winning, there is no battle as of yet to determine a winner.

The Yeoman hoped he answered LtCmdr Sull's questions properly. It was not the intention of Gus to make the Lieutenant Commander look foolish for asking for that information. So hopefully nobody on the Bridge had such thoughts about the former Captain. The Ensign was sure the officers on the Command Deck were more distracted by LtCmdr Sull's sudden demotion, than worrying about her not being on top of the situation down on New Bajor.
_________________
Ensign Gustavo R. Montoya
Yeoman, USS Eureka

Azeri smiled towards the Ensign before replying to him.

Lt. Commander Sull: Ah, Ensign, there's always a battle going on... Be it between enemies, academias, or even just a battle of the mind and your wits... Either way, if we can push these monsters back, even buy the troops a few minutes, no idea is a bad idea...

LtCmdr Sull looked around the Bridge officers, whilst this was no order, she would at least like to know if anyone had any ideas forthwith that could turn the tide of favor on the planet below...
_________________
Lt. Commander Azeri Sull
Mission Specialist, USS Eureka

The Ensign was even more confused by what LtCmdr Sull had said to him. Did she not hear him say the Marine Starfighters were in a formation between the infested city and the extraction area? They would be the best line of defense between the refugees, Infiniti's Squad of Marines and the medical personnel down there. Gus was not about to be disrespectful to LtCmdr Sull, so he just gave a respectful response to the Lieutenant Commander.

Ens Montoya: As you wish, Ma'am.

The Yeoman maintained a watchful eye over the area to see if there was any Xenomorphs getting closer to the refugees. So far, they were quite a distance away from the extraction site, which was a good thing. Infiniti was about 10 minutes out from being above the extraction area, so that was good as well. The Ensign was unsure if he should report the approach of the Starship or just let them see it on the Main Viewscreen for themselves. Gus decided he would remain silent and allow Ens Ramius, the Chief Operations Officer to report on the Infiniti's ETA to the extraction site.
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Ensign Gustavo R. Montoya
Yeoman, USS Eureka