Duty and Disclosure

Posted on Sun Feb 22nd, 2026 @ 7:03pm by Commander Eva Grey & Lieutenant Jaina Zalla

1,177 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Respite

Lieutenant Jaina Zalla settled into the chair across from Commander Grey’s desk, her fingers drumming lightly against the armrest. The low hum of the Eclipse was subtle and almost comforting, though Jaina's thoughts were far from calm. Security rotations needed revisiting, that had been the main reason she had requested this meeting, but the weight of the last few weeks made her approach tentative. The commander's office was methodical, organized, and a contrast to the storm Jaina felt inside. Commander Grey’s presence was usually always a calm anchor, but today Jaina wasn’t sure she could maintain the professional barrier that usually protected her.

“Commander Grey,” Jaina began, her voice measured, “I wanted to discuss adjusting the security rotations now that Commander Harrington's team isn't aboard.”

Eva listened carefully, nodding as her eyes scanned the preliminary schedule Zalla had filed before the meeting and noting potential conflicts and overlaps. “You’re right,” she said. “There are a few time periods where coverage is thin, especially during shift rotations. I can approve temporary reassignment of personnel to reinforce those areas until the schedule stabilizes.”

Glancing up, Eva frowned slightly. She noticed the subtle tension in Jaina’s posture and knew it wasn’t just operational stress. “If you need any assistance with personnel redistribution, I can coordinate with other departments,” she added. “Your assessments are solid, but I want to make sure you aren’t overextending yourself. Just as I don't want you to have any reservations about talking to me regarding anything that isn't duty related."

Jaina shifted slightly, letting her eyes meet Grey’s. The professionalism was intact, but underneath it was a current of vulnerability she hadn’t planned on sharing, a side effect of the mission, and of things she had tried to suppress. She exhaled slowly, the smallest relief passing over her features. She wanted to remain professional, to focus entirely on rotations, but something compelled her to speak further.

“Commander,” she said carefully, choosing each word carefully, “the rotations, they’re important, yes, but I’m still adjusting after everything that has happened. I wasn't expecting to develop feelings for Harrington, and clearly after our last conversation I shouldn't have. But when she left, I felt broken. And it led to something I wasn't expecting. I had an encounter with Commander Evans, and we had sex.” She looked up, meeting Grey’s gaze with a mix of shame and honesty. “It wasn’t something I expected and I don’t know exactly how he feels about it. I’m trying to make sense of it myself. I just felt like I needed something grounding, I guess. But I don't want it to affect my position.”

Eva remained silent for a moment, allowing Zalla to finish speaking. She observed the subtle lines of stress and the quiet guilt in Jaina’s voice and recognized them easily. She herself knew not just the weight of command, but the strain the Adelphous mission had placed on every crew member on board the Eclipse.

“Jaina,” Eva said finally, her tone calm and firm, “I appreciate your honesty. I also want you to understand that Starfleet does not prohibit personal relationships between officers. What matters is whether those relationships affect performance or the crew.” Eva leaned back slightly, maintaining an open and reassuring posture. “From what I’ve seen of you and Evans, your professional conduct remains exemplary. You are still meeting your obligations and still performing at the level expected of a Chief of Security and Tactical.” She offered a faint, supportive smile. “The key is maintaining boundaries when necessary. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Jaina’s lips parted slightly, relief mingling with lingering guilt. She had feared judgment, or at least awkward reprimand, but Grey’s response was neither punitive nor judgmental. “I appreciate that,” she said. “I don’t want my personal life to interfere with duty. I’ve seen what happens when it does, and I can’t let that happen here.” She paused, her gaze dropping as she tried to focus on something tangible. “That's why I wanted your input on the schedule rotations. I want to ensure coverage is consistent.”

Eva nodded approvingly. “That’s your priority, and it shows excellent judgment. You’re already demonstrating the balance Starfleet expects. Personal matters don’t need to be hidden, but they mustn’t compromise operational efficiency. And you’ve maintained that balance so far. But just to be sure, let’s go through your proposed adjustments. I want to make sure your concerns are addressed without overburdening anyone.”

“I will want precise sensor sweeps on all decks, specially during shift change,” Jaina noted. “If we rotate personnel during those windows, we’ll need clear hand off protocols, but the sensor sweeps will let me free up a couple of officers and have them posted to more critical sections.”

Eva nodded. “Agreed. You can coordinate with operations and science to ensure that no critical data is missed. We can maintain security coverage and sensor integrity simultaneously. At the same time, I want better security lockout procedures and checks on sections, such as probe and torpedo storage. That will also free up officers. A patrol can check the lockout systems during their shift, and in doing that we'll have to maintain a log of when and who conducted the check.”

"I hadn't thought of that," Jaina admitted, silently kicking herself for the oversight.

“Jaina,” Eva said quietly, “don’t take a minor mistake so hard. On a larger ship with a larger crew, it wouldn't be a problem. However, we have limitations on the Eclipse and have to make adjustments to compensate."

Jaina leaned back in her chair, feeling the tension release just enough to breathe properly. The conversation with Grey had done more than address the operational issue, it had allowed her to reconcile some of the personal weight she had been carrying. “I think this schedule will work,” she said finally as she stood, “and I’ll brief the team immediately. Thank you, Commander, for your support and for letting me speak freely.”

"Of course, Lieutenant," Eva said with a warm smile. "Let me know in a day or two if we need to make any further changes. Dismissed."

Eva watched as Jaina left her office, thoughtfully tapping her fingers on her desk. Leadership required more than orders and schedules, it required understanding, empathy, and perspective. She knew Jaina’s sexual encounter with Commander Evans would not be the last time personal and professional boundaries were tested on the Eclipse, but she was confident in her officers' judgment and ability to maintain balance. And that confidence, Eva reflected, was as vital to the ship as any tactical plan, sensor calibration, or security rotation.

With a soft sigh, Eva closed out of the security document on her desktop and brought up the science department schedule. Since she was already on the topic of making adjustments to duty schedules, she thought that she might as well work on her own department as well.

 

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