After talking with Farah, Cat had come to a decision, one as right as it was unpleasant.  She didn't want this, it all but broke her heart to do it, but the ship and the mission had to come first.

Entering Main Engineering, she stood in the middle and announced, "Could I have everyone's attention?"

In reply to Catrina Matheson (msg # 1):

Jessica arrived as instructed, a frown on her face, ready and fully expecting to be told she was being sent back.

In reply to Catrina Matheson (msg # 1):

Finishing up running the tolerance test for the batteries, Bart looked up at the announcement, putting his PADD down to give Cat his full attention.

Looking at everyone gathered, Cat suddenly felt a lump of emotion in her throat.  This was going to be harder than she thought.  It was bitterly ironic that she couldn't remember where it all started, but knew when it would end.

Outwardly, as the group gathered, they would see Cat with a distant gaze on her face, as if her thoughts were in a far off place, then suddenly return to the room.  "I have announcement to make," she said, eyes becoming wet with tears trying to escape them.  "As of 0800 I resigned my commission from Starfleet.  It turns out the injury I suffered yesterday has some long lasting effects that make me unfit for duty and they don't know when - or even if - I'll recover.  I spoke to Captain Greene and we agreed it would be best for me to step aside as Chief Engineer and take more of a technical consulting role.  With that, I asked Captain Greene that she make Lt. Bartolomy Blatt your new Chief Engineer.  Most of you know Bart as do I and know he'll be a great one."

Naoko had been working unraveling the mystery of the virus when Cat had entered and even before Cat spoke, Naoko knew it wasn't good.  No amount of knowing could prepare her for the gut punch Cat's announcement brought.  Her fault.  Her doing.  Cat was paying the price for her screw-up.  "Sonna..."

At the end of the announcement Blatt tensed up, he was ready to make a speech, that wasn't what he expected to do today.  Putting his padd down, "um uh, thank you Commander Matheson.  though I wish it were on better circumstances that this had happened, I, um, well,"  then in a quieter voice, "really wish you were still in the position..." Looking back up at the people in the engineering department a bit embarrassed, his voice rose a bit louder so that all could hear him,"We all wish it was under better circumstances."  Giving Cat a sincere smile, "But I am Honored to serve this ship as Chief Engineer."  Nervously smiling, praying that someone else would speak because he had nothing else.

Jessica's legs felt week, so much fallout from one mistake. On one hand she wanted to tell everyone this was all her fault. on the other hand she wanted to cry for forgiveness from Cat for what she did to her, but could they ever forgive her? she was ashamed of herself but also scared, this was supposed to be a new adventure... she was supposed to go fight the Romulans with Teala... Tears should be shed from what the Dominion did, cries of outrage over what the DOMINION did. Yet, here she was the one hurting the crew.

Should she just leave?

How closely did her own thoughts mirror Naoko's? and of Naoko, Jess just didn't know how to talk to the engineer, surely they felt much the same guilt. It was Naoko's program, she didn't know it was Jessica's fault yet.

Her sense of Duty, her desire to be better as penance for Teala, it's all that kept her from buckling to the ground. She couldn't even look towards Bart to offer him a congratulating nod, her eyes welling gently and threatening to overflow but held back for the time being. A deep frown on her face.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:38, Sun 08 Mar 2020.

"It's not like I'm leaving," Cat said, trying to put a positive spin on the unhappy situation. "Doctor Dupont ordered me to take a few days off to recover and get reevaluated and I've really got nowhere to go right now, so I'll just be slacking off."

She looked around at the unhappy faces, from Bart to Naoko to Jess.  "Well, you have work to do and I need to get out of your hair.  If you need me, just call, but I'm not supposed to do a lot of thinking for a while."

Unless interrupted, Cat would leave.

In reply to Catrina Matheson (msg # 8):

With admiration in his eyes,  Bart starts to clap as Commander Matheson turns to leave.

Apprehensive, but understanding, Jessica is so too quick to join in the clap.
Though, something about this, the moment she does the tears start to fall down her cheeks. she just couldnt hold them back anymore. Not a lot, but enough that she has to wipe her eyes a few times during clapping. She was thankful to be somewhat behind everyones field of perspective as they looked to Cat.