Starfleet Redundancies (Part Three)

With all the talk of redundancies in Starfleet, the crew have been thrown into a right panic. Rumours abound be for the chop after the Evaluator talks to them in the one-to-one meeting that will come up for all of them. Things are now even more frantic, as he has now arrived on board.

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We go to ingratiate ourselves with the Starfleet Evaluator.



"Hello" I say, "I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard" I say, giving him my hand to shake. He doesn't respond.

"I'm George Smith, the Chief Starfleet Evaluator." he says coldly, "Please take me to a room where I may conduct the one-to-one meetings. I shall want to talk with all your senior staff, beginning with you, Captain Picard."

As we walk there, Riker beckons me aside.

"That's difficult, sir." the Commander comments, "He is known as Shredder Smith for the ruthless way in which he has downsized key departments in Starfleet."




"Perhaps I ought to wear this short skirt?" Deanna suggests, "It might help."

"Deanna." replies Riker, "Even if you went in there naked, I don't think it would make any difference to Shredder Smith."

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Eventually, Smith says he is ready. I go in to sit down, and find that my chair has been lowered, and the Evaluator's is significantly raised, so that he looks down on me.

"Now then, Captain" he starts, "You have been with Starfleet for some time. "You could take voluntary redundancy. It would save trouble for someone else."

"I don't intend to do that." I say sharply, "I like the position I have and don't want to be pushed out."

"That's not a good attitude to take, Captain." Smith replies, "Starfleet needs to make necessary restructuring in order to make itself leaner and better."

"Restructuring is another word for getting rid of people." I aggressively tell him, "There will be less people to do the same work. Starfleet will suffer in how it functions. Why don't YOU take voluntarily redundancy."

"I am always needed." Smith comments smugly.

"And Starfleet Captains are not?" I reply.

Smith writes a lot on his form and sends me out.



"How did you do?" Bev asks.

"I may need to go into SickBay." I answer, "I think I've shot myself in the foot."

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Over the next few hours, all the senior staff go in, and come out with a tired and harassed look. Eventually, Shedder Smith gathers us up in the Ready Room to discuss the results.

"I have found that a lot of the work here is duplicated, or could be centralised." he starts, "There are certain staff that  have been here too long, we are using for carriage, and duties where a planet could do on their own for a lot less money."

Everyone listens in close.

"I have therefore selected the following senior staff for redundancy. Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Alyssa Orgawa, T'Pol, Lieutenant Britney, Lieutenant Jennifer Baxter, Seven of Nine, Commander Jadzia Dax and Counselor Deanna Troi."

We are all stunned.  What shall we do now?

To be continued.....