Don't be. [ kathryn takes a seat again, scooting her chair a little closer to his so she can keep her voice down and still be heard by him. ] I must admit, I've been keeping track of you and your crew with my tricorder. Call it part owning up to my responsibilities and part paranoia.

[ make of the latter what you will, jim, but in owning up to her responsibilities, she's essentially playing an admiral's role (a pair of shoes she's been stepping into on a regular basis for the past five years for all intents and purposes) without using the directive that gives her superiority over him to assert that superiority. adhering to protocol without forcing everyone to step outside of their comfort zones and compromise their loyalties. she doesn't break rules, but she will bend them.

she grins at him. ] That depends; are you offering me a PADD or a copy of your thesis?