I have a few version for this, which one do you prefer:
V1:
Orion:
(with a cold, analytical tone, almost distant) "The lack of personnel is becoming an increasingly difficult constraint to ignore. We have only fifteen researchers in the team, which is insufficient for the scope of this project. And this assistant of mine..." (pauses, his brows furrowing slightly) "...a young man brimming with idealism, certainly, but far from possessing the discipline required to carry out research of such importance. He seems more inclined to wander into trivial speculations than to focus on concrete results. I doubt his capacity to grasp the gravity of the issues at hand."
Hélios:
(more laid-back, yet with a certain wisdom gained from his 40 years) "I understand that idealism isn't always up to the task, but you also have to recognize that enthusiasm and youth bring a different perspective. Yes, your assistant lacks some rigor, but he's not yet fully trained in the strict demands of research. Let's give him time. He's not incompetent, just... young. Isn't that what you were once?"
(pause, he tries to lighten the mood) "The team is small, I agree, but increasing personnel is a matter of resources. We both know it's not an option at the moment."
Orion:
(remains unperturbed, his gaze still sharp) "Time, Hélios, is not a luxury we can afford in a project of this magnitude. The goal is to stabilize the anomalies, to understand these materials before they escape our control. Research does not tolerate deviations or slowness. Rigor is non-negotiable. And this assistant, though perhaps sympathetic due to his age and enthusiasm, is not suited for this. He lacks a pragmatic vision, a capacity to grasp the scope of discoveries. He is more concerned with abstract ideas than measurable outcomes. We need experience in such a complex field."
Hélios:
(with a slightly amused smile, but still respectful) "I know, I know... you prefer rigor. And I'm not saying it's not important. But you also know that research can't be a mere matter of cold logic. There needs to be some creativity, some openness. Sometimes a pragmatic approach can limit innovation. I believe we can give this young assistant more room to grow, allow him to discover and mature without being too harsh."
(his tone grows firmer but conciliatory) "As for the personnel issue, I completely agree, but it's a financial constraint. We can't change that right now. We have to adapt to what we have and work more strategically."
Orion:
(his gaze hardens slightly, but his voice remains controlled) "What we have, Hélios, is insufficient. The very security of this project is at stake. If I must continue managing individuals who lack focus, I fear the progress will be far slower than we expect. A team without discipline, without a solid foundation, will never be able to navigate the complexities of a project like Metamorphosis. I do not have the patience to let them 'grow' at the cost of our work advancing."
(with a touch of coldness) "This project cannot afford to follow a logic of learning through mistakes. We have other priorities."
Hélios:
(with a calmer tone, trying to ease the tension) "I understand your point, and I know how committed you are to this project. You're right to demand rigor. But sometimes, discipline alone isn't enough. We also have to accept the process of shaping young talents, guiding them, even if it takes more time. After all, it's by allowing some freedom that we enable these talents to mature and thrive. Rigidness isn't always the best tool, even in an institution like ours."
(pause) "But I do recognize that you're right on one thing: this project needs to progress quickly. Time is of the essence. We'll have to find a compromise."
Orion:
(with icy certainty) "Compromise is a luxury we cannot afford here. But I suppose we must find a way to move things forward despite these limitations... until we have the necessary resources to stabilize the situation. But be certain of one thing, Hélios: I will not sacrifice rigor in favor of a lax approach. Not in this project."
Hélios:
(sighing lightly, but with understanding) "I'm not disagreeing with you. And I know your concern is to avoid mistakes. But sometimes, in research, we must accept stepping outside the box. Maybe a bit more flexibility with your assistant would be beneficial. We both have roles to play, even if our approaches are different."
V2 :
Orion:
(with a cold, analytical tone, almost distant) "The lack of personnel is becoming an increasingly difficult constraint to ignore. We have only fifteen researchers in the team, which is insufficient for the scope of this project. And this assistant of mine..." (pauses, his brows furrowing slightly) "...a young man brimming with idealism, certainly, but far from possessing the discipline required to carry out research of such importance. He seems more inclined to wander into trivial speculations than to focus on concrete results. I doubt his capacity to grasp the gravity of the issues at hand."
Hélios:
(more laid-back, yet with a certain wisdom gained from his 40 years) "I understand that idealism isn't always up to the task, but you also have to recognize that enthusiasm and youth bring a different perspective. Yes, your assistant lacks some rigor, but he's not yet fully trained in the strict demands of research. Let's give him time. He's not incompetent, just... young. Isn't that what you were once?"
(pause, he tries to lighten the mood) "The team is small, I agree, but increasing personnel is a matter of... difficulties. We both know it's not as simple as just offering the right funds."
Orion:
(remains unperturbed, his gaze still sharp) "It's not a matter of finances, Hélios. The issue lies in the challenge of recruiting new personnel to this base. We are competing with other, better-established institutions and bases that have already attracted the brightest minds. Some of the individuals we sought out have already been poached by others."(pauses, his tone stiffens) "We cannot afford to be outpaced, especially when our research hinges on the rapid development of complex projects. What's worse, these external bases already possess talent that could greatly benefit Métamorphose. It is a direct impediment to our progression."
Hélios:
(with a hint of frustration, though maintaining his usual calm) "I know, I know... the competition is fierce. It's not just about funding. But don't forget, Orion, we have something those other bases don't: our own unique vision. The work we're doing here, the scale of it, is beyond their scope. If we keep pushing the boundaries, attracting talent won't be impossible. They'll come."
(trying to offer a solution) "We can't always rush, and perhaps we need to focus on improving what we can offer—our environment, our project's prestige. People want to work on groundbreaking things, not just jump on the 'next big thing' wherever it is."
Orion:
(his voice remains icy, but there's a glint of acknowledgment) "Your optimism is... noted. But I don't have the luxury of waiting for prestige to solve our staffing problem. Every delay, every missed opportunity to bring the right people here, sets us back further. Our work cannot be delayed by the whims of external competition."
(with an edge) "This is why I must maintain the discipline I have demanded. The fewer distractions, the better. We cannot afford to rely on hope alone. We must find a way to regain the upper hand, and quickly."
Hélios:
(trying to redirect, still calm but pragmatic) "I'm not suggesting we rest on hope, Orion. I'm saying that we need a strategy to stand out. You're right, we need results fast, and that includes maximizing the potential of the current team. A project like this needs vision—our vision. Once people see what we're capable of, they'll come. But we need to sell that vision."
Orion:
(looking toward Hélios, his face inscrutable) "Vision alone will not fill the gaps in our team, Hélios. Results do. And for that, we must focus. No more distractions."
(steely, as he concludes) "But your words are... not without merit. We shall see what we can do, but the clock is ticking, and time is something we have precious little of."
Hélios:
(sighing lightly, but understanding) "Understood. We'll keep working with what we have, and let the results speak for themselves. We'll find a way to make it work."
V3:
Orion:
(voice cold and measured, eyes scanning data on the screen) "The situation is untenable. Our personnel remains far too limited for the scale of this project. Fifteen researchers—hardly enough for what we are trying to achieve. But the real issue is not the lack of numbers alone. It's the quality of what we have. My assistant, for instance..." (his expression tightens, voice turning colder) "...he's far too distracted. He lacks the necessary discipline. One cannot simply lean on enthusiasm when the precision of research is paramount. He flits from one idea to another, with no real depth. This is not a matter of youth—he simply doesn't understand the weight of the responsibility he bears. His distraction costs us far more than he seems to realize." (pauses for a moment, then adds with slight derision) "It is as though he believes that passion alone will lead us to breakthrough. In my experience, such idealism is not only unhelpful, it is a liability."
Hélios:
(slightly more relaxed, though trying to keep the mood constructive) "I understand your frustration, Orion. But he's still finding his feet. I'm not denying his shortcomings, but let's not forget that he's eager to prove himself. He's inexperienced—certainly. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have potential. A bit more guidance and discipline, and he'll grow. We all had our moments early on, didn't we?"
Orion:
(voice hardens, his eyes narrowing as he looks at Hélios) "There is a difference between youthful energy and carelessness. I do not need another idealist. I need precision, focus, and a mind that does not waver. This project is too critical for such indulgences." (pauses, his gaze shifting briefly to the assistant, now absorbed in something irrelevant) "The assistant's persistent inability to focus on the task at hand has already delayed our progress. There is no room for errors of this nature. But of course, the problem is greater than him alone." (his tone darkens) "It is the entire team. Fifteen researchers—barely—and the only thing that other bases seem to be offering is more personnel, better talent. While we fight to scrape together what we can, others have already snatched the minds we needed. How long before we are left in their wake?"
Hélios:
(nods slowly, understanding the gravity of the situation but keeping his voice calm) "You're right about the difficulty in attracting the right people. It's not just the lack of money, it's the competition. Other bases are already ahead of us, recruiting the best minds. I'm not blind to that. But we can't control that, Orion. What we can control is the work we do. Our research, our progress—it speaks for itself. If we prove ourselves, the talent will follow." (pauses, looking thoughtfully at Orion) "What we need now is not just more hands on deck but more conviction—people who see what we're doing and understand its importance. If we focus on that, recruitment becomes less of a problem."
Orion:
(cutting him off sharply) "You overestimate the power of abstract concepts. Conviction is a fine idea, but it does not stop the passage of time. It does not fill vacant positions. Other bases are already reaping the rewards of their foresight. Their researchers, their talent—are moving ahead. We are forced to wait." (he takes a breath, his voice growing more tense) "And what are we left with? A team stretched thin and distracted, led by an assistant who cannot even focus on his tasks. This is not about conviction, Hélios. It's about results. Every day we fall further behind. If we do not act, we risk losing everything we've worked for." (he stands up abruptly, turning away from the screen, the weight of his frustration clear) "The system is broken. I can only do so much with what I have. You cannot ask me to wait while others pass us by."
Hélios:
(standing with arms crossed, his tone firm yet calm, trying to soften the tension) "I'm not asking you to wait. I'm asking you to trust that what we have here—what we're building—is worth fighting for. If we focus on our strengths, the right people will come. It's not about competing with others. It's about leading. If we prove the value of our research, the best minds will seek us out. But we can't keep fighting the battle on all fronts." (pauses, taking a deep breath) "I know it's frustrating. But right now, we can't afford to let competition define us. We need to focus on what we can control—our work, our breakthroughs. And in time, the right people will come. You're right about one thing—time is a luxury we don't have. But neither do we have the luxury of losing sight of what's ahead."
Orion:
(staring at Hélios for a long moment, before speaking again, his voice icy but a touch quieter) "I see your point, Hélios. But you underestimate the urgency. The competition is not simply an inconvenience—it is a threat to everything we've set in motion. Our research cannot be built on good intentions alone. Results are what matter. If we do not secure the talent we need—if we do not build this team—then we risk losing everything, no matter how visionary our work is." (his voice tightens again) "My assistant's distractions are just the beginning. You cannot simply wait for success to come to us. We need action—now." (he turns, a final thought hanging in the air) "Time is running out, Hélios. And I cannot afford to stand by and watch others pass us by."
Hélios:
(with a calm but resolute expression, standing firm in the face of Orion's intensity) "We'll act, Orion. But we need to choose our battles wisely. We're fighting for the future, not just our place in the present. We can't control the competition, but we can control the work we do. Let's show them what we're capable of." (with a slight nod, he turns to leave) "I'll handle the team, but we need to stay focused. We're not out of options yet."
Orion:
(quietly, to himself as Hélios exits) "We shall see, Hélios. We shall see."