I fear for Counselor Corben, but I am sure she will be alright. She is amazingly strong, so I'm sure she can handle things. It shouldn't be as bad for her in the medical wing as it was up here. On top of that, I'm positive that Doctor Coleman will help her as well if she gets too stressed. They are both such compassionate and resilient women. As the lift reaches it's destination, I only hope that I can convey those traits as well.

The junior staff members are discussing the situation as I walk in. Aaliyah Rahman, a bronze-skinned, raven haired woman who I considered one of my closest friends, is currently speaking to the others. “But this hallway was completely empty. There’s no way everyone was locked up.” It looks like I arrived here just in time, as Alliyah's comment is exactly what I was hoping to hear. I am glad that the situation didn’t get a chance to escalate among the junior staff, so I have an opportunity to set matters straight without resistance.

However, my hope is short lived as Robert Jackson, a brown-haired whisp of a man, replies with the statement that I had feared most. “My brother said he was going to teach that splicer baby a lesson. I’m sure the president locked everyone up. He’s always sticking up for that unqualified freak.” Today is a feminine day for me, but I'm not going to correct the pronoun usage. Besides, none of the junior staff have seen me today. However, I definitely have to do something before things get out of hand with the junior staff as well. Luckily, I got here before another brawl broke out. “There will be no talk like that, Mister Jackson. She’s part of this community, and she deserves your respect. As to the last statement, she earned her position just like everyone here.”

Bob's pale skin seemed to immediately turn two shades of red and his blue-green eyes appeared to have lost their fire somewhat. It’s clear that he had no idea that I had entered the room. “I’m sorry ma’am. We were just getting nervous since all of the senior staff are gone. It was a slip of the tongue due to anxiety. It won’t happen again.” It is clear that his words went deeper than mere anxiety, but now is not the time to press the matter. I have a situation to try to get under control, and although Mr. Jackson's comment was a part of it, I had already made it clear that derogatory remarks would not be permissible.

Having difficulty controlling my nervous thoughts, I find myself once again thinking about Counselor Corben and wondering what can be done about the situation. It is sad that so much of the staff seems to be against her for something that she did not ask for and can’t control. I had at first thought that we were kindred spirits in that regard, and maybe we would have been centuries ago. However, the pure vitriol lobbed at her was something that I have only seen in historical recordings. I have suffered verbal scorn, but a good portion of the operations staff were ready to impart physical harm on her and had fought their own peers in trying to do so. I just hope that she has more supporters on this ship than detractors. As I look at the waiting operations staff members, I realize that I had lost myself in thought and regain my composure.

I then address the junior staff on the senior staff wing. “Ms. Rahman is correct that the senior operations staff is currently in the brig. And, other than the beliefs he expressed, Mr. Jackson was correct in his statement as well. The senior staff members were engaged in a brawl when I arrived, and it did indeed stem from negativity towards Counselor Corben. I haven’t yet assessed the situation fully, but for now, I ask that you all be prepared to serve as senior officers until further notice. Because I’m asking you all to do so with no advance notice, if anyone can’t do so, I’ll make concessions, within reason. But, please understand the circumstances that led to this decision. It was done to protect the safety of this ship, and won’t remain permanent. You will all receive the benefits of the senior staff during this period and will be up for consideration for promotion once this is over, pending your performance. I thank you all during this tough time for your understanding and for your service.”

I am about to head up to the operations center, when I decide that it is best to make it clear to the entire staff that discrimination will not be tolerated. “It goes without saying, but I must make it clear. There will be absolutely no tolerance for discrimination of any kind. You are all here to maintain the ship, instilling confidence in all onboard this ship, colleagues and non-staff alike. I expect that you all will remember that in your actions, as well as in your words.”

Mr. Jackson and Ms. Rahman both immediately reply, “Yes, President”, followed by the rest of the junior staff. Satisfied that the situation here is under control, I walk into the lift and give the command to bring me up to the operations center. This is the most important part of my attempt to normalize the situation. I know that the most senior among the junior staff that I had assigned to the operations center can handle running the ship, but the abruptness of the situation has complicated things. I have to make sure that the operations center is secure, and I need to bring the staff up to speed on the situation as well.

The lift reaches the top of the ship, and I step onto the main deck of the operations center. The junior staff here were rigid, nervous, and full of heightened senses. The most senior among them, Mario Rodriguez, spoke up as soon as I entered, “Greetings, President”. Everyone looks at me with anxious eyes. I decide to get through the official briefing first and then I’ will do my best to try to ease tensions a bit.

“Hello everyone. You were all brought up here because there was a brawl on the senior staff wing, and all senior operations staff have been temporarily detained in the brig until the situation can be properly assessed. It has come to my attention that some of the staff feel strongly about Counselor Corden’s new position. As I said to the other members of the junior operations staff, discrimination will not be tolerated at all. You all are now staff on the deck of the operations center and are the people that are looked up to the most to keep this ship in order. I expect your decorum to meet those expected standards.”

I look around, noticing that the staff still seem troubled, and continue my off-the-cuff speech “That said, I know that your promotions were sudden. You will be expected to keep these positions for some time until the situation can be properly assessed and dealt with. Due to the fact that there was no advance notice, I will not be against anyone who has a reasonable objection towards working on their new post. However, as I said in the announcement, know that your assistance at this time will be most appreciated, and you will receive all the benefits of the senior operations staff during this period. You will also be first in line for promotions, pending your performance.”

I ease a bit, and continue, “I know this is a tough time for everyone.” I then process the thought that will send a signal to my integrated artificial intelligence, the Artificial Neural Network Intelligence Entity, to turn off the sound recorder. “Off the record, how is everyone doing?” Mr. Rodriguez, still in a nervous, rigid stance stated, “We’re fine, ma’am.” I smiled at him and continued. “Relax, Mr. Rodriguez. I know that my position as president is new, and this situation is hard. But you don’t have to be so tense around me.” He visibly relaxed, and his dark brown eyes seem to sparkle a bit. “Thanks, ma’am. I don’t speak for everyone, but I know that you’ll handle things well. I just hope that this situation won’t last long.” I give him a half-smile, with a little involuntary nervousness apparent on my face as well. “I hope the same thing, Mr. Rodriguez”.

I know that I have to head down to the holding cells. However, even though I want to find out the particulars of the situation, the thought of doing so emotionally drains me. I try my best not to repeat my display of anxiety and address the staff of the command center one final time before I head to the bottom of the ship. “You all seem to be handling everything well up here. If there are no questions, I have to be heading to the detention cells.” I actually hope that there would be some questions, to delay the inevitable. However, just as I had expected, the junior operations staff were quite capable of running things in the stead of their senior brethren.

I once again process the thought to ANNIE that will turn the data recorder back on and straighten myself up. “OK everyone, I now leave the operations center in your capable hands. If there are any further problems, don’t hesitate to contact me.” At that point, I somewhat reluctantly enter the lift. Fighting off my anxiety, I command the lift's artificial intelligence to take me down to the detention cells. I have to face the inevitable, as even though I want to see how Counselor Corben is doing, I know that I have to face the senior staff first. I am now about to find out exactly what happened during that brawl.

I can't fathom hurting someone over something they can't control, but that kind of thought had amplified way beyond what I have ever imagined. I just hope that the violence doesn't go beyond the senior operations staff. Most of all, I can't help but worry about the fact that the operations center was left abandoned, as that is a situation that I couldn’t fathom occurring before this week. That makes me fear that this goes beyond bigotry towards Maria Corben. I think of all of the people with spliced genes on the ship, old and young. They make up a minority on this ship, but they are still our peers. I hope they are not in danger as well.

Just as the lift is approaching the holding cells, my aural sensor goes off. I mentally tell ANNIE to initiate the video link. It seems that my trip will be postponed after all, but not in the way I had hoped, as Tiffany Accado is on the line. “President, I'm sorry to call you directly, but I didn't know what else to do. They need help at Caperstone’s Bakery. It’s an emergency! A fight was started by the mother of one of your staff. Emily Caperstone is being attacked." I respond without hesitation, “I’m at level one now. Help will be there as soon as possible. Don’t intervene. Keep yourself safe until they arrive.”

“Cancel the lift to the holding cells.” I call down to security and relay all the information I have about the situation. The President of Security immediately ordered, “Security personnel to level 4, Main Street. There is a fight in progress at Caperstone’s Bakery". I then order the lift to proceed to level 4 as well. Ugh, I can't believe there has been two fights in one night. Once more, I can't help but wish that my mother was here, so I can seek her advice. Although, I’m not sure how much help she could give me, as this is beyond even what she had to deal with.

It seems that the problem goes beyond the operations staff. I just hope that it didn’t seep too far into the population. I silently curse the people who had instituted the segregation. Whatever their intentions, it just made the hatred part of the system. If history has taught us anything, systemic prejudice is a lot harder to fight.