Command Seminar 
Stardate 10207.28 2100 
Conference Room #The_Big_Chair 
Hosted By: Captain K’Beth T’Kar Commanding Officer of the USS Delphyne

******************************************************************************************
Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::looks up at the officers that just entered and smiles:: All: We'll begin in a few minutes.  There's coffee and refreshments in the back.  Help yourselves.

OPS_McDuggle says:
::finds chair and quietly sets down::

CEO_LtCmdr_Everitt says:
::passes on the refreshments, and takes a seat in the second row of the relatively empty amphitheater::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::looks around and decides that the stragglers will just have to catch up:: All Okay, if everyone will please take their seats?

OPS_McDuggle says:
::straight in seat and starts paying attention::

Captain_Weaver says:
::Finds an empty seat in the next to last row and has a seat::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
It's nice to see new faces and a few familiar ones.  ::smiles at the OPS officer::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::walks up to the podium and sets her PADD down::  Hello, I am Captain K'Beth T'Kar.  Commanding Officer of the USS Delphyne.

Captain_Weaver says:
::Takes out his PADD and begins recording::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Welcome to the Command Seminar.  During the course of the next hour I hope to show you all aspects of command and allow you a taste of the every day decisions that a CO may have to make.

OPS_McDuggle says:
::smiles back at the captain::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Tonight is going to be a bit more than a lecture... I'm going to throw out different scenarios.  Some real, some imaginary and I'll let you ::points out at everyone:: decide the correct course of actions.

CEO_LtCmdr_Everitt says:
::looks a little more attentive after being pointed at::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::grins:: But first, the lecture part, otherwise they won't validate my parking.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
As every CO will tell you...the safety of the ship and her crew are paramount.  But even then there is a chance that you may have to  sacrifice the lives of everyone on board...down to the last child in the line of duty without ever knowing if there is a favorable outcome.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::nods and smiles a welcome to the officers and Admiral that just came in::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::looks seriously at everyone for a moment and then breaks out into a grin:: But on the lighter side...you get the corner office with the view and get to sit in the comfy chair.  Not forgetting to mention the really cool coffee mug that says "Because I'm the Captain, that's why..." on it.

RAdm_Silek says:
::nods to the Captain and nods as well about her comment::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::starts to pace around the stage::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
The every day life of a Captain is filled with paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork.  Every major decision needs to be funneled through the CO's office.  Most of the time the decisions have already been made by the XO and department heads, but the final yea or nay is always decreed by the Captain.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
A good CO would not just rubber stamp everything but find the time to read each PADD that crosses their desk...which leads to another downside to command.  Very little personal life.

CEO_LtCmdr_Everitt says:
::forces a smile at the "Captain" humor, that he never sees from his own::

LtCmdr_M`Tor_Rustazh says:
::almost chuckles at K’Beth’s comment but restrains himself as he sits next to the Admiral::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Very few CO's have what would be considered a 'normal' family life and the ones that do tend to find themselves weighing family against command. ::pauses and thinks for a moment:: You know...I just seemed to have painted a bleak picture about command, didn't I?  So why would anyone want it?  It's stressful, aggravating, exhausting...::smiles::

CO_West says:
::taking a seat::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
And the best damn feeling in the world.  When you sit in that center chair and you see your crew going about their jobs with efficiency and professionalism the feeling of pride and, yes even humility, at having the honor to command these individuals makes up for every frustrating moment there is.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Not only that...it's also the challenge ::her eyes start to twinkle:: The challenge to find the best possible solution.  To win a conflict and to supercede all expectations.  To be the best.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::stops and looks at everyone in the audience and then breaks out into another grin:: Plus...you never have to clean your own quarters...or do your own laundry.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Any questions so far?

CO_West says:
::Grins::

OPS_McDuggle says:
::thinks that would be nice about the laundry::

Captain_Weaver says:
::Remains detached and outwardly unreadable, folding his arms and leaning back in his chair::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::looks around the audience and nods a welcome to the Admiral that just came in::

Adm-Alexander says:
::smiles and nods back::

RAdm_Silek says:
::raises his eyebrow at the humor but his eyes twinkle::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
All right…then let's put you in the driver's seat.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Scenario: Your XO, CSO, CNS and CEO are on an away team in a hostile environment.  You get an urgent call that a cargo ship is under attack and requires immediate assistance.  Your away team will need half an hour to get to a beam-out site.  What do you do?

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Anyone?

RAdm_Silek says:
::wonders if she used  her scenario from one of his missions as it sounds familiar::

CEO_LtCmdr_Everitt says:
::decides he would require further elaboration, but says nothing::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::leans against the podium and chuckles:: Never saw a bunch of officers that didn't jump at the chance to express their opinion. ::sees the OPS hands raised and points to him:: Yes?

OPS_McDuggle says:
:: raises hand::

Adm-Alexander says:
First question is, why can't you beam them up?

Adm-Alexander says:
Oops, sorry

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::chuckles again:: Quite all right Admiral and a valid question.

LtCmdr_M`Tor_Rustazh says:
::frowns as he thinks of different possibilities::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Let's just say that the ionic atmosphere of the planet only allows certain locations where the transporters work and a shuttle wouldn't work.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::looks back at the OPS:: You had a comment?

CO_West says:
::Raises hand::

Cmdr_Siatty says:
::Enters quietly and takes a seat.::

Adm-Alexander says:
Ok, then the AT know the dangers... they must find some kind of sanctuary and wait for your return...

OPS_McDuggle says:
Captain: first I would contact my AT and inform them of the situation to try and hold  out and we will be back ad soon as possible

Adm-Alexander says:
::nods at OPS:: Exactly

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::nods to both solutions:: Good.  ::points to West:: Yes, you had a comment?

RAdm_Silek says:
::listens to the comments and nods in agreement::

LtCmdr_M`Tor_Rustazh says:
::raises hand as well::

CO_West says:
First I would contact the AT inform them of the situation, then provide additional ground support, Air support, (a couple of shuttles) and get going as quickly as possible then return when the situation was taken care of.

OPS_McDuggle says:
::hears CO West and nods in agrement::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::grins:: Excellent.  Especially about providing them with additional ground support.  ::points to the Lt Cmdr:: Yes, Cmdr?

LtCmdr_M`Tor_Rustazh says:
K'Beth: I would transport extra survival gear to the landing area before departing but depart is something that must be done and of course some shuttles in orbit would of course be useful ::nods to McDuggle:: . The distress signal from the freighter of course must take precedence.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Even if you know there is a chance that you are leaving your own officers, people you serve with every day, behind and they may not survive?

Adm-Alexander says:
yes...

LtCmdr_M`Tor_Rustazh says:
::nods:: K'Beth: It is a duty we all are sworn to do

CEO_LtCmdr_Everitt says:
::follows the conversation, remaining mostly quiet, as to his El-Aurian nature::

CO_West says:
A captain, must be able to send her officers into potentially dangerous situations without fearing their deaths.

Cmdr_Siatty says:
This job comes with a risk and numerous responsibilities.  All we can do is try and minimize it.

OPS_McDuggle says:
K'Beth: I would expect nothing less from my CO

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Right...and if there is one thing more dear than the lives of your crew...it is the lives of the civilians we encounter.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Because they are the ones that we have sworn to uphold and protect at all costs.

LtCmdr_M`Tor_Rustazh says:
::nods::

CO_West says:
A Captain must be able to give those orders or her crew will think her/him to be weak and they will not trust her.  The captain must trust in the abilities of her crew also.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::Nods in agreement with West and goes to the front of the stage and sits down on the edge:: Okay...that was an easy one. ::grins::  Now a much harder one.

RAdm_Silek says:
::nods in agreement::

CO_West says:
::Grins and sits down::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
This one spurred a lot of debate last night so I decided to bring it up again.

LtCmdr_M`Tor_Rustazh says:
::wonders if there are ever "easy ones" in command::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Scenario: There are hostages being held on a war torn planet.  You are ordered to go in and get the hostages out by any means necessary.  Negotiations have failed and the terrorists have already killed one hostage in cold blood. The statistics show that there will be a 30% survival rate among the hostages and a 20% survival rate among the rescuers.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
The terrorists are demanding that you turn over your weapons and all of your supplies to them otherwise they will continue killing the hostages. What do you do?

CO_West says:
::Raises hand::

Cmdr_Siatty says:
::Raises hand.::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::points to West:: Yes?

CO_West says:
First of all damn the statistics, you can't rescue your crew with statistics, you are going against the odds in most hostile situations anyway right?

LtCmdr_M`Tor_Rustazh says:
::is tempted to say kill the hostages and remove the problem but decides not to::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
That is true...but all of the computer simulations you have tried have proven that the survival rate would be as stated.

Cmdr_Siatty says:
But 30/20 is better than 0/0.

CO_West says:
And why give in to terrorists, turn the situation around and don't let them have the upper hand at telling you what to do, you tell them what will be done or nothing at all.  What do they have to lose?  Your weapons and they want them right?

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Siatty: Yes...30/20 is better than 0/0

CO_West says:
::Realizes she is making it hard for others to answer::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
West: The question is...what do YOU have to lose?  Hostages?  Crew?

CEO_LtCmdr_Everitt says:
::waits to see if anyone else is about to speak up, then raises his hand::

CO_West says:
Of course, however, you want to try to get the upper hand so you could fake it make them think you could possible give in all the while working on a plan to infiltrate their place.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::looks around at them:: Do you play the numbers game?  One security guard is worth two hostages?  Do you give into them and hand out your weapons?

Cmdr_Siatty says:
::Raises hand.::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::points to Everitt:: Yes Cmdr.

CEO_LtCmdr_Everitt says:
If there's no alternative's besides giving into there demands, or attempting the rescue, it would all depend on how many lives we're talking about, not just percentages, and how much potential damage they could do in the future with those weapons and supplies.

LtCmdr_M`Tor_Rustazh says:
::looks at the chronometer and sees that his ship departs in 3 mins and runs out of the room::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Let's throw in some additional information.  This is a non-Federation planet and these are federation civilians they have taken hostage.  Now, does the Prime Directive take effect here?  ::points to Siatty:: Yes, Cmdr.

CO_West says:
::raises hand again::

Cmdr_Siatty says:
Giving them weapons will likely lead to the deaths of the hostages, the crew, and thousands more.  Prime Directive says we couldn't do that.

Cmdr_Siatty says:
Giving in to the demands will, most likely, lead to further demands.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::nods and points to West:: Yes, Captain?

CO_West says:
I agree, giving in to demands will result in more demands and then where will it stop?

CEO_LtCmdr_Everitt says:
::being given no response, he wonders if he stated himself too matter-of-factly.  In his opinion, its still about numbers, potential ones at that::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
So you just accept the losses as collateral damage and proceed with the rescue, knowing that you will, without a doubt be sending people to their deaths?

CO_West says:
I think the Prime Directive is in effect here, this planet has no working knowledge of the kind of weapons we posses or do they?.

OPS_McDuggle says:
::raises Hand::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Technologically they are our equals and have actually been negotiating trade with private companies when the trade negotiators were taken hostage.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::points to the OPS officer:: yes.

OPS_McDuggle says:
K'Beth: Sometimes that is what you have to do. giving in to terrorism is not an opinion.

CO_West says:
Then giving them our weapons would not effect their civilizations progression, then why would they want them? just to have more.

Cmdr_Siatty says:
Or to take ours away.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
This is a planet that has been at war for years.  If we give in our weapons could effect their political and social structure as one faction would have superior fire power supplied by us.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::grins:: Sort of the old "A butterfly flaps its wings in Peking and a hurricane hits Florida"  Every action we take...small or large may very well effect an entire civilization.  Thus the Prime Directive.

CO_West says:
Captain: I should think that we would not have gotten involved with the negotiations of non-Federation planets war affairs in the first place.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
We didn't...these are private civilians that went in to trade.  The Prime Directive allows for trade among equally technologically advanced civilizations.

CO_West says:
I see, now.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
The important thing to remember is that often...there is no good solution and we are often faced with choosing between the lesser of the two evils.

RAdm_Silek says:
::nods remembering various scenarios::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::sober:: And we are often left with writing letters to loved ones back home.

RAdm_Silek says:
::nods once again::

CO_West says:
::Nods::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
This has been a very small taste of sitting in the 'big chair' and of course there are dozens of small things that aren't mentioned.  The fact that Captains must constantly update themselves on the newest technology.  That they must memorize and know about each person on their crew.  That often they must be father and mother to homesick ensigns.

OPS_McDuggle says:
::nods::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
The job description for CO is simply written as command of a starship or station.  But that involves many if not everything.  But the biggest responsibility of any CO is to always portray someone who is respectful and courtious to even the lowest ranks. And above all, to understand that they are in command  not of positions and computers...

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
but of people and not everything goes by the book.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Any questions?

RAdm_Silek says:
::almost smiles at the number of times he did not go by the book::

CO_West says:
Captain: Thank you for the challenge!

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::chuckles:: You are very welcome.  And I want to thank everyone for attending and for making this entire conference a wonderful success.

CO_West says:
::Begins to applaud turns acknowledges a few of the other officers she passes by as she leaves the seminar::

RAdm_Silek says:
::applauds politely::

CEO_LtCmdr_Everitt says:
::stays seated for a moment, watching others depart::

Captain_Weaver says:
::Applauds quietly for a few moments, then reaches for his PADD on the seat beside him to end the recording::

OPS_McDuggle says:
::applauds and gets up to leave the room::

Captain_Weaver says:
::Stands and walks up the side aisle toward the front of the auditorium::

Captain_Weaver says:
::Approaches T’Kar and extends his hand::  Thank you, Captain, for providing a most insightful seminar.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::gets up and walks over to the podium and gathers her PADDs::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::shakes his hand:: Thank you.  I enjoyed giving it.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::looks at Weaver:: I'm sorry, I don’t know what ship you're from.

RAdm_Silek says:
::gets up and leaves the conference room::

Captain_Weaver says:
K'Beth:  My apologies;  I'm terrible at introductions.  My name is Aaron Weaver;  I was formerly Captain of the U.S.S. Triton.  I'm currently assigned to oversee the reconstruction of Starbase 412, though I returned here for several days and the conference.

CEO_LtCmdr_Everitt says:
::watches the exchange for a short while, then departs quietly::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
Weaver: Oh no worries Captain.  :;leans against the podium:: It's been a few hectic days.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::looks at her chronometer:: In fact...it seems that I have to get my ship out of orbit otherwise I'll have to pay an extra days docking fees and for an Excelsior that can be a hefty sum ::grins::

Captain_Weaver says:
::Smiles...but barely, as it is not usually in his nature::  In that case, I'd best let you go.  Best of luck to you then, Captain.  ::Nods once and starts back down the aisle::

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
You too Captain...and if you're ever on the Neutral Zone stop by for some coffee.

Host Capt_K`Beth says:
::hits her comm badge:: *Delphyne*:  One to beam up.

**************************************************************************************************************************