Admiral Wallace shared the chuckle and lowered his coffee mug back to the table. He turned his eyes to where Anja sat quietly, hoping to slip out of this first staff meeting without having to say anything. Anja had been to her new lab before coming to this meeting and found it to be even more advanced than her lab on earth. Anything she could have imagined or dreamed for was in this lab. She had her own staff of five men and women, and they were in the process of getting everything up and running. Anja was unaccustomed to the casual atmosphere of the EDEN senior staff. While working with the NIS or Senator Grahams staff the meetings were always so formal and stiff necked. No one spoke out of turn, or without permission, for fear of being chastised.
"Commander Peterson?" Admiral Wallace spoke directly to her.
Anja looked at him, "Sir?"
"What do you think of your facilities here on EDEN? Do they meet the requirements for what you need to accomplish?" Wallace asked.
Anja nodded, "Very very much sir". Anja replied quickly." I was surprised actually. I didnt think EDEN was set up with a gene research station."
"Most of what we do is experimental Commander Peterson". Wallace replied. "We have every lab you could possibly think of somewhere here on EDEN. We like to keep our options open. Have you met your staff?"
"Yes sir. They seem very capable. However, I would like to have another officer assigned to assist me." Anja said.
"Whats wrong with Petty Officer Thurman? "Martin asked, looking at her. He kept the question very neutral and without any hint of emotion.
"He's a Petty officer". Anja replied tartly looking at him as if answering a stupid question from a child.
Half a dozen pairs of eyes turned to where Martin sat to gauge his reaction; a reaction that did not come, to their surprise. Martin was not known for accepting arrogance in any way shape or form." Petty Officer Thurman finished tops in his gene research class, out of three hundred and fifty-seven students. He has a Masters in Gene Therapy, and five years of hands on experience. He also knows all the members of my team by name, which makes him ideal to assist in your research. What else exactly do you require?"
Anja blinked quickly. She hadnt thought to read the files on her staff, and Martin had just made her look like a fool because of it. "I.... I wasnt aware of his qualifications." Anja finally spoke.
"Christ neither was I skipper! And I play poker with him". The handsome young black man next to Martin blurted.
The comment had the desired effect and even Martin broke into a grin at his XOs words. He looked at Dan Simpson, the XO of SEAL Team Twelve and perhaps Martins closest friend, and shook his head. "Thats why you wanted me to dock his pay? "He spoke.
That brought another round of chuckles from the gathered men and women, and everyone could see Anja relax slightly. Thirty-three year old Dan Simpson leaned forward at the table and looked at Anja. He had a smooth face, with bright brown eyes, and caramel colored skin. His head was entirely bald, the bright lighting in the conference room reflecting off his skin. Anja could also see the muscular form under the fatigues he wore.
"I can vouch for him Commander Peterson". Dan said with a friendly smile." He's got his all his wires and gadgets straight."
And Anja promptly proceeded to stick her foot in her mouth and make a bad impression to everyone in the room. "I would prefer an officer Admiral". She spoke, looking at Admiral Wallace." While I appreciate the Petty Officers experience, I prefer someone I am familiar with. And someone who is not biased towards SEAL Team 12 in any way."
Martin looked at Admiral Wallace, and the only outward appearance he gave was a calm demeanor. However Martin had known him long enough to recognize the slight darkening of the eyes.
"Will everyone excuse the Commander and I?" Bill spoke softly. "Please submit your daily reports via data mail."
Bill sipped his coffee as the other officers in the room got to their feet and gathered their files. Martin and Frank were the last ones in the line for the door and Admiral Wallace waved to them. "Frank would you and Marty remain please."
Martin and Frank stopped and let the door close in front of them. They moved back to the table and took seats. Anja looked at them and then turned to Bill.
"Commander Peterson perhaps its me, and I can be a cranky bastard at times, but I get the sense from you that you do not want to be here. "Bill said.
"Admiral I'm here to do a job, nothing else". Anja replied.
"And your job would be what Commander?" Bill asked, rising to his feet and walking to the counter on the far wall to pour himself more coffee.
"Excuse me sir?"
"Tell me what your job is, please".
"Sir, you know why I am here". Anja stated slowly." I have been tasked with examining all members of SEAL Team Twelve to ascertain if they are fit for duty."
Wallace returned to his seat and looked at her. "And what exactly would you say is your definition of fit for duty."
"I dont understand the question sir?" Anja looked confused, not seeing the bomb that was heading for her head.
"Let me re-phrase that". Wallace said. "What exactly is Senator Grahams definition of fit for duty? The definition you have been instructed to exam."
"Admiral I am not at liberty to say what my instructions from Senator Graham are." Anja said.
William Wallace smiled and looked at her." Yes. I can imagine what your instructions are Commander Peterson."
"Admiral what does this have to do with my directive?" Anja asked.
"I spoke with Admiral Prescott at NIS before you were assigned to EDEN Commander. Would you like to know what her assessment of you is?" Wallace asked.
"I'm.....I'm not sure what relevance that has on the current situation sir." Anja replied cautiously.
"Admiral Prescott told me you were a fine officer. "Wallace spoke ignoring her." That you were extremely intelligent and very knowledgeable in your field. She said you were a competent field agent with two or three high profile assignments under your belt that you completed satisfactorily. She also told me you were a snotty little pompous bitch who would use whatever means she could to advance her career, including flaunting your obvious physical charms. She also said that you would steam roll anyone in the way of you completing an assignment." Wallace sipped his coffee and set the mug down before looking at Anja." Not exactly a glowing recommendation from a former commander is it?"
"Admiral Admiral Prescott and I did not we did not see things in the same way. The mission, in my opinion took priority over everything." Anja tried to explain.
"So regardless of orders to the contrary from Admiral Prescott, you followed directives coming from a civilian office? Senator Grahams office if Im not mistaken." Bill asked. "Some would say that your priorities are confused Commander. One of your decisions cost the lives of seven foreign nationals working with the US military. Those seven men and women had families.
I was following orders Admiral." Anja spoke.
Bill nodded." You were following orders from an individual outside the mission chain of command Commander. The only thing that saved you from court martial was Senator Grahams intervention."
"Yes sir, that is correct."
"And you went to work for his office right after that as his personal head hunter". Bill said.
"I was assigned to Senator Grahams office at his request sir. And none of this has anything to do with my mission here Admiral". Anja spoke. She didnt see Frank look at Martin out of the corner of his eye and shake his head.
"Senator Grahams request you say? Let me give you a little information on Senator Graham. The last two members of the military that were assigned to him in your capacity are now serving in Somalia as Embassy security." Wallace told her. He slid the data pad across the table to her." I did a little checking of my own before allowing that political hack and his addict son on my base. Then I had a vid/con with the President. He and I are old war buddies in case you didnt know. Seems hes not real happy with Senator Graham for starting this witch hunt to begin with. See I have a little problem with Senator Graham starting an investigation on a unit under my command without letting me know, and moving a Sweeper Team to Eden without my permission kind of sticks in my ass too. Especially when the unit he wants investigated has nine of the thirteen most decorated men and women in the armed forces serving in it; especially when the commander of that unit has fought in places that would make your dear Senator Graham and yourself puke if you or he ever breathed the air". Wallace got to his feet and moved closer to Anja, sliding one of the chairs out of the way so that he could perch on the edge of the table.