MICHAEL D. GARCIA & A. J. GERTNER
"What is it?" asked the captain, keeping her voice low. "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't use my first name in front of the crew, sir." "Yeah..." replied Leone with a half-smirk. "We haven't really had The Talk, have we?" "No, sir." "Ariel, you have the bridge."
A Within the privacy of the ready room, Captain Leone had the service record of her new executive officer in front of her as he sat across from her with a expectant expression upon his face. As they moved into the room from the bridge, she said nothing to him. And as she suspected, he was a good enough of an officer not to speak out of turn, especially since his captain requested his presence in the first place. "Let's get the most pressing matter out of the way, first," Leone began. "You don't like being called by your first name? What would you prefer?" "I don't mean any disrespect, sir-" Leone interrupted, "Neither do I." "I just... I mean, no one's ever called me by that name since I left home for the Academy." 66