Protest that's completely inappropriate.

"You can't expect me to do that!" protested Halley incredulously. "That's completely inappropriate!"

"Is it?" Tim held her gaze, completely irreproachable, despite Halley's sudden attempt at self assertion.

"It is," Halley crossed her arms, staring angrily back at him.

"Well, I was hoping to keep this just between us," Tim sighed, as if he'd been doing her a favour. "But, if you really want to take this higher up, come right ahead. We'll go and see the boss, shall we?"

"Yes, let's..." Halley stuck out her jaw, still convinced that no sane person could support the kind of idea that Tim had just seen fit to propose.

Half an hour later, she was standing across a desk from Ellen Martel herself: head of training for the whole station. What's more, the packet of diapers Tim had been holding was front and center on the table, and Halley's ears were burning after hearing Tim's full breakdown of all her failings from the last few hours. Just what he'd apparently been previously trying to spare her from, in fact. Halley felt a whole lot less self-righteous after all of that, though she still found herself looking plaintively up at the infamous Ms Martel, praying she'd at least see things her way on the one particular point.

"Step out, Tim," the woman ordered at that juncture, once Halley's supervisor was clearly finished with his account, without giving anything away. He hadn't left anything out, not least his own final ultimatum towards Halley. Surely Ms Martel couldn't agree with that, even if Halley was about to receive a dressing down for her general performance over the course of today?

"Tim's right," were the first stern words out of the elderly woman's lips, however, once Halley's mentor had left the room. "Anything which impacts astronaut performance is a problem which needs to be addressed. Addressed before the next time we allow you to step outside in any position of responsibility."

"But..." Halley quavered, still attempting to protest despite her intimidation. Ms Martel shut her down however, with a single shake of the head.

"Did you somehow get all the way through training, young lady, and somehow not realise that astronauts use diapers?" the old woman reproached. "I'm not sure quite how that's possible, but if so, that is indeed something which needs to be addressed. So, yes, you'll do exactly as your training officer suggests, and you'll assure me right now that you'll follow his instructions to the letter. Or you'll give me your resignation, right here and now, okay?"

"Seriously?" Halley gaped, unable to quite believe what she was hearing.

"As mother-fucking cancer," the old woman held her gaze.