Season 2 Episode 5 - Practice Makes Perfect

[Michael J. Tritter]

[Location: Commanding Officer's Office]

Tritter had just finished his promotion ceremony the day before, the new responsibility and such was weighing heavily on him at this time. But he had no time to focus on it, it was time for action, which was good for him, as it got his mind off of things. But being called "Captain" was new and foreign to him, but he was getting used to it. There was nothing that made him happier than for him to see his Husband and Kids be there for him, the long distance thing was not working. He and the crew had been through alot recently, now it was time for him to put their skills to use, as well as to give them a chance to prove their mettle.

Not long after, he than tapped his comm badge, "Commander Tritter to Lieutenant Commander Knox, to my office please" His heavily accented voice was calm and focused as he spoke to her, he wanted to get a chance to bring his Executive Officer up to speed.

[Auzual Knox]

[Holodeck 2: Caves of Mak'ala]

As hard as the Computer tried, it was just not quite dusty, dark and or damp enough for Knox to feel like she was on Trill. She exhaled, hoping to force her mind to believe in her surroundings more. It had been several weeks since her body had been shared and her symbiont had 'joined' and it was still something she did not talk about, and it was still something that bothered her.

Her friends had both been wonderfully supportive. That was simply Leanna's nature, though Knox knew that she knew more, but was giving her the time to come to her. Flick also, and she had been through it herself. Even Derek, who for some reason had made her promise to never expletive mess with his memory again, expletive switched or not, the Knox symbiont will expletive remember.

The mud bubbled and then the worm-like symbionts slightly emerged, a flash similar to electricity occurred and then stillness once more.

The great thing about Holodecks. Timers. Done.

Not long after, he than tapped his comm badge, "Commander Tritter to Lieutenant Commander Knox, to my office please" His heavily accented voice was calm and focused as he spoke to her, he wanted to get a chance to bring his Executive Officer up to speed.

Though her eyes were closed, she pressed on her comm. badge.

Of course, Captain. See you shortly. Knox out.

"End Program."

The swoosh of the holodeck doors brought her back and she decided to return to her quarters quickly, simply to shower in order to remove the majority of the grey mud that had bubbled onto her and change.

[Commanding Officer's Office]

"Captain."

Knox announced as she walked in smiling. She remained standing with her hands behind her back. She had been accustomed to waiting by the door with the previous Captain, however her working relationship was a lot better with Captain Tritter. She of course showed her respect by always waiting to be asked to sit in his presence.

[Leanna Mazal]

[Leanna's Quarters]

Leanna was sat on the bed with a towel wrapped around her body and hair after making the most of a hot shower before the whirlwind that was her almost 2 year old came bounding into her bedroom, throwing her arms around her mother before Leanna had chance to catch her. " Morning my little one" she said happily as she sat back and took hold of Ariana properly so she wouldn't fall. "Mummy want breakfast?"the little girl asked making her mother smile again.

" Sure we can Ari, Mummy's not going to work yet so lets have breakfast with Grampa and Oma " she said receiving squeals of delight in reply. It wasn't often that she got to spend this time with her daughter so wanted to make the most of it before she had to leave for Puzzles knowing that Seamus would open up for her. After recent events and her using more of her abilities than she had in a long time Leanna had decided to slow down a little bit when it came to the hours she worked.

She was also hoping to gather her friends together for drinks especially after what Flick and Knox had gone through when their bodies had been switched with the alien bugs, remembering the connection she had shared with them and the Admiral who had sadly now left the station due to the nature of his new promotion. Glad that she had gotten the chance to throw a celebration for him and the newly promoted Captain Tritter both men deserved every happiness and it also resulted in a spot of flirting and conversation with the CMO Derek Black and looked forward to talking to him again. She felt as comfortable around him as she did with any one of her closest friends and how he hadn't ran off at the mention of her ex.

But things would happen if they were supposed to and if not then she had an awesome group of friends who she considered family and no doubt Deg'arf would want to see her if and when he returned to the station. So for now she set Ariana down whilst she finished getting dry and dressed then carried her little girl into the living area to find her parents had already set up breakfast and the family sat down together to eat.

[Michael J. Tritter]

[Holodeck 2: Caves of Mak'ala]

As hard as the Computer tried, it was just not quite dusty, dark and or damp enough for Knox to feel like she was on Trill. She exhaled, hoping to force her mind to believe in her surroundings more. It had been several weeks since her body had been shared and her symbiont had 'joined' and it was still something she did not talk about, and it was still something that bothered her.

Her friends had both been wonderfully supportive. That was simply Leanna's nature, though Knox knew that she knew more, but was giving her the time to come to her. Flick also, and she had been through it herself. Even Derek, who for some reason had made her promise to never expletive mess with his memory again, expletive switched or not, the Knox symbiont will expletive remember.

The mud bubbled and then the worm-like symbionts slightly emerged, a flash similar to electricity occurred and then stillness once more.

The great thing about Holodecks. Timers. Done.

Though her eyes were closed, she pressed on her comm. badge.

Of course, Captain. See you shortly. Knox out.

"End Program."

The swoosh of the holodeck doors brought her back and she decided to return to her quarters quickly, simply to shower in order to remove the majority of the grey mud that had bubbled onto her and change.

[Commanding Officer's Office]

"Captain."

Knox announced as she walked in smiling. She remained standing with her hands behind her back. She had been accustomed to waiting by the door with the previous Captain, however her working relationship was a lot better with Captain Tritter. She of course showed her respect by always waiting to be asked to sit in his presence.

[Location: Commanding Officer's Office]

Tritter heard her reply and one thing be did appreciate about the new Executive Officer was her promptness. He hadn't had much time since the previous Commanding Officer had left, he had managed to get rid of the religious paraphenalia, as well as he managed to get furniture that would fit one of his size, as the previous furniture made him feel out of place. It was still fairly... blank, but it was a work in progress.

Once he saw the Executive Officer arrive, he greeted her with a simple but welcoming "Hello Lieutenant Commander, how are you?" He seemed a bit less... on edge if you will, having his family around helped dramatically. His daughter had found a new friend in their AI and they were often found playing together, which helped him because it kept the child out of what little hair he had left.

A few moments after he finished speaking, he gestured with his right hand for her to sit and he than did the same, he appreciated her subtle ways of showing respect.

[Derek Black]

[Promenade - Breakfastry]

After weeks of casualty heavy incidences, Derek had finally seen actual progress made on clearing his medical bay. With Tritter having taken over the reins, there was some sense of normality returning to the station, so Derek had decided to restart one of his personal habits; breakfast before work. A steaming mug of coffee, three chicken eggs over easy, home fries, back bacon, and a waffle, with real maple syrup of course. While it wasn't the same as stopping at Cora's on his morning strolls to the Academy back in San Fran, it was pretty damn close.

Chewing the last bit of syrup drenched waffle, Derek sat back with a satisfied sigh, picking up the PADD he had been perusing. Work, of course, could never really wait. Today's agenda included running an inventory on their depleted hard stocks; medical supplies kept on hand incase the replicators went offline. It was a tedious task, a thankless job relegated to primarily the lower ranks. Having been part of those hardknocks countless times himself, Derek didn't envy them. Another major issue was Counselor Ellis. She had recovered surprisingly quickly from the intrusion into her mind, but he suspected there was much more beneath the surface. He had contacted a friend back home to arrange a consult; something he hadn't exactly run by Flick first. He reckoned it would probably be in his best interest to give her some warning.

[Daniel Howell]

Dan's quarters
The past few weeks had allowed a monstrous load of paperwork to mount up, pertaining crew reports, maintenance logs etc that required catching up. Howell had the morning off duty so he decided he would take the time to catch up. He was partially dressed in his uniform, his collar loose and missing the pips, his jacket hanging on the back of a chair at his table. His room was light and he had a music playlist running to help concentrate.

He sipped a coffee, scrolling through a terminal screen full of uncompleted crew reports. He was more tired then he'd ever felt before, and he must of yawned more times in the hour then a computer makes calculations in a day. His attention was bought to Lieutenant McKinson. He wanted to bring in a new plan of having 1 on 1 crew meetings once a month and Jenna seemed like a good person to start with. He adjusted his collar, placing the pips on it before grabbing his jacket and putting it on, failing to do it up. He grabbed a PADD and made his way to main engineering.

En route to Engineering
En route to engineering, he tapped his combadge  Howell to Lieutenant McKinson, please report to my office at your earliest convenience. Howell out 

Main Engineering - CEO's office
Howell arrived in engineering, feeling even more drained. He made a brief informal inspection before heading  into his office to await Jenna's arrival.

[Jenna McKinson]

[ Holosuite 4 ]

Jenna had been taking the morning to take some much needed alone time. The wave lapped the shoreline as she stood with her eyes closed. Her breathing was relaxed and focused. She had allotted enough time for herself to focus on her yoga and really enjoy this time to herself. She loved being with Molly, but after things finally found their way of being back to normal, the two agreed that alone reflection time was well needed. Jenna's promise ring sparkled in the sunrise. As she smiled and rolled up her mat. She put her sandals on and gathered her things.

[ Jenna and Molly's Quarters ]

She had enough time to grab a shower, get dressed, replicate a breakfast and even enjoy a cup of coffee before Dan buzzed her via her combadge.

En route to Engineering
En route to engineering, he tapped his combadge  Howell to Lieutenant McKinson, please report to my office at your earliest convenience. Howell out 

Main Engineering - CEO's office
Howell arrived in engineering, feeling even more drained. He made a brief informal inspection before heading  into his office to await Jenna's arrival.

[ Jenna and Molly's Quarters ]

" I can be there in a jiffy. I am on my way to the next turbolift"

After Jenna tapped her combadge, she ran out of the door after she grabbed Molly's note that she left for her. The two were always in different sections of the base lately, so they decided to leave notes for one another.

[ Main Engineering - CEO's Office]

"Morning Chief," Jenna said as she stepped into Dan's office. She couldn't tell if the meeting request was good or bad from Dan's tone. Despite the nice calm of the yoga, she was worried a little about this meeting. She would need to take it in stride.

[Auzual Knox]

[Commanding Officer's Office]

Once he saw the Executive Officer arrive, he greeted her with a simple but welcoming "Hello Lieutenant Commander, how are you?" He seemed a bit less... on edge if you will, having his family around helped dramatically. His daughter had found a new friend in their AI and they were often found playing together, which helped him because it kept the child out of what little hair he had left.

A few moments after he finished speaking, he gestured with his right hand for her to sit and he than did the same, he appreciated her subtle ways of showing respect.

"I like the minimalism, Sir. Makes the room feel larger. However, it is missing something..."

Knox pulled out a sleek silver photo frame with a candid photograph taken at the Cultural Appreciation Fair on the Promenade. The Captain was walking along with Ryan, smiling. Christopher was on Ryan's shoulders and Ashley skipping between them, holding both of their hands.

She placed it on his desk facing him and then took her seat, grateful to no longer be distracted by the Vulcan depiction of The Passion ....

"I see your specially designed chair has finally arrived. Is that the reason for this impromptu meeting?"

Knox raised her right eyebrow and smiled playfully.

[Michael J. Tritter]

[Commanding Officer's Office]

"I like the minimalism, Sir. Makes the room feel larger. However, it is missing something..."

Knox pulled out a sleek silver photo frame with a candid photograph taken at the Cultural Appreciation Fair on the Promenade. The Captain was walking along with Ryan, smiling. Christopher was on Ryan's shoulders and Ashley skipping between them, holding both of their hands.

She placed it on his desk facing him and then took her seat, grateful to no longer be distracted by the Vulcan depiction of The Passion ....

"I see your specially designed chair has finally arrived. Is that the reason for this impromptu meeting?"

Knox raised her right eyebrow and smiled playfully.

[Location: Commanding Officer's Office]

Tritter took a quick look around the office, he than shifted his gaze back towards the Executive Officer, he than nodded slightly and stated, "I may have to enlist some help", he wasn't very good at these type of things. He than noticed she started to grab something, his gaze focused on it for a moment, than his gaze returned to her. A more than slightly surprised look fell on the new Commanding Officer's face, he tried to remain serious but his presence "lightened" when he saw it. He than stated, "Thank you Lieutenant Commander", there was nothing that made him feel... more content than his family.

He noticed it was placed it next to the large monitor in the office, a prominent and well deserved place for the picture, that he would cherish. He than stated, "Thankfully, most of the furniture around here is designed for midgets", he was trying to crack a joke and his tone actually had a sense of... lightness to it. But now it was time to get down to business. He than stated, "With the Command Change, the powers that be want to make sure that we are up to the task if you will. As such, they want us to put our skills to the test. We are splitting into teams, I will be leading the team assigned to the station, you will be leading the team assigned to the Gibson and Lieutenant Commander MacKenzie will lead the team assigned to the freighter"

He than offered her a PADD, "This includes your crew as well as what their assignment is", when she reviewed it, the following information would be present:

Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander Katharoz Knox
Chief Engineering Officer: Lieutenant Jenna McKinson
Chief Medical Officer: Chief Petty Officer Derek Black
Security/Tactical Crewman: Petty Officer Second Class Alex Cicero
Medical Cadet: Cadet Ch'tuntha

Once he had given her a few moments to review it, he than stated, "The goal is that the Starbase crew must protect a high value target, the Gibson crew will be focused on analyzing and studying a nearby planet. The Freighter crew will be the attackers of the Columbus, questions?" His heavily accented voice had reverted back to it's usual seriousness, as he knew that they were under the microscope at this point.

[Kyan Mackenzie]

:: Starbase Columbus | Sickbay ::

Kyan had never been a fan of sickbays, the doctors who ran them, or the medical profession in general. He hated their instruments, especially the hyposprayers with which they were constantly poking folks, and their blatant disregard for privacy.

"Don't do this! Don't do that!" they always said. "Quit fighting Klingons and monsters with the safeties off! You'll get killed for sure!"

Well he hadn't gotten killed yet. And just how was one supposed to train for actual fighting with the safeties on? Most of fighting was overcoming the fear of getting killed. One could not, in his estimation, do that with the safeties on. And if there was no real danger, then there could be no REAL training. Not that he himself needed such training any more. Having spend the bulk of his life surviving on a dead planet filled with crazy grups gone mad, Kyan was used to living under the spectre of imminent doom. But the people working for him now, in security, were not. Sure they could shoot, and they knew tactics, but they didn't know the chaos that happened when the tactics broke down. And they didn't know how to operate when the reaper had you in his sights. Which is why he trained with the safeties off.

Which was also why he found himself sitting in sickbay now, nursing a phaser burn to his shoulder and waiting for a doctor to come fix it with the dermal regena-thingy. To him it was no big deal. But to the science ensign who had been training with them, it was a calamity. The very same ensign too, who he had dispatched on the Gibson during the alien attack days earlier.

"I can't believe that little bastard had the safeties off!" Kyan heard him explain from across the room. "We could have been killed! That hologram nearly split me in two!"

The nurse was busy placating him, but the blue shirted human wasn't to be soothed.

"And did you know he shot me? On the Gibson last week! Shot me with a damned phaser! Said I was trying to mutiny!"

Generally speaking, Kyan didn't put alot of stock in things that most grups did. Ranks had never been a thing that he cared about too much. Of course he knew the rules, and even tried to abide by them as best he could but folks were folks. An Admiral was just a person with a bigger belly, less hair, and more pips. A Captain the same. But in Starfleet, pips meant something. And as Kyan was in Starfleet, and had been for some time, he was getting to the point where he HAD more pips than most, which meant he had to uphold the rules, and the rank structure, and all that went with it... the sadness of it.

Normally he'd have walked over to the loud blue shirted grup and silenced him, but he decided to allow him to continue venting. His thinking was that he'd eventually get it all out and return to his default human state... of being a "professional". But he was wrong in this case. He listened to the man voice his anger for several more minutes, and several insults hurled at him but not "to" him before he hopped off the bed and decided to go and shut him up, the "Starfleet" way.

"Ensign!" he called out, as he'd heard other high ranking folks do, "Oi've listened to quite enough of yer bitchin an' bellyachin. Get hold a' yerself the now an let these folk fix ye up!" The ensign, in a surprising move that impressed the little Onlie more than anything, hopped off the bed and lorded over him.

"Why don't you shut up and stay out of this "Commander"." he seethed, each word drenched in anger, and the rank in disgust. "If it weren't for you and your training, I wouldn't be here!"

Kyan could have fought him then and there. Or he could have put him on report, which was the Starfleet way. But he didn't want to kill him, nor did he want to ruin his career over a simple lapse in judgement. Perhaps he was becoming more like the "Starfleet Grups" that he'd so long mocked. That thought didn't make him happy at all. But he trudged forward with what they'd tried to teach him in officer school.

"Mister Paulsen," he began, measuring his tone. "It's a senior officer you're addressing the now, and yer makin a poor showin o' yerself in it. So if yer goal is tae stay clear of the brig today, ye'll get yer attitude roit and sit yer arse back on that bed."

Paulsen apparently no longer cared about the brig. He was pissed off, and maybe a bit traumatized still from the aliens, and being stunned...twice. in retrospect, Kyan thought... maybe he could have only shot him once. But when he landed arse up on the deck from the first one, it was too tempting a target. So yeah, Kyan had shot him in the ass. And it was funny....to him. Not, apparently, to Paulsen though.

"Oh you know what." Paulsen replied, "Shut up. You're a joke. You might wear a uniform and have rank pips, but you're nothing more than a child. I have no idea why these assholes let you parade around and pretend to be in charge."

"Now listen to me....." Kyan got out before Paulsen's hands were on him, lifting him up to eye level by the front of his mustard undershirt. The angry ensign then pinned the diminutive Security Chief to the wall and came nose to nose with him.

"Don't you give me orders you little bastard! I'm going to report you! I'm going to press charges against you for shooting me! But right now, I'm going to...."

Normally, Kyan would be able to secure his phaser, or a knife. However, he was made to take his holsters off upon disrobing to the doctors could see to his injury. Given his position, he couldn't reach his boot and the sheathed knife therein. However, there was one thing left to him. As Paulsen was talking, Kyan tapped his heel against the wall. Among the cacophony of sounds in the sickbay, the sound of the blade flipping out from the front of his boot was lost one everyone. He didn't even hear it himself, but he knew that it had.

"Mister Paulsen." Kyan interupted. "You, more than most, be needin proper combat trainin."

"Oh? Seems like I've got you pinned against a wall right now. What's your training tell you about that?"

Kyan grinned. "Go an 'ave a look at yer twig 'n bits boyo. Ye've sacrificed defense fer a bit o offense." Kyan inched his foot forward just enough so that Paulsen would know the blade was there, but not cutting him. The color, along with the anger drained from Paulsen's face as he glanced down and then back up.

"Now, put me down." Kyan cooed. "And we can pretend that ye aren't a dumb fookin arse what wants me tae cut 'is balls off."

[Derek Black]

"Now, put me down." Kyan cooed. "And we can pretend that ye aren't a dumb fookin arse what wants me tae cut 'is balls off."

[Medical Bay]

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YE GOIN' ON ABOOT?" Derek's deafening roar echoed around the large bay as he came through the main doors and the incredulous scene greeted his eyes. "Who the HELL are youse to start a brawl in MY sickbay, Eh?" He snarled, stalking towards the pair of ruffians. At the CMO's advance, stunned nurses and medics quickly parted from his path, attending to business that they suddenly found much more important. "Ensign, put the Commander down or I will personally have you shot again."

He caught sight of Mackenzie's exposed knife, which served to only further increase his blustery rage. "Commander, if that blade doesn't disappear in the next three seconds, tabernac, I will have you relieved of duty and psychoanalyzed by every psychiatrist in the Alpha Quadrant until you believe you're a goddamn dancing potato."

Derek glowered at the pair of them. Before they said a word in reply, he ordered harshly, "In my office. NOW." His tone didn't leave any room for defiance.

[CMO's Office]

Kicking out the two chairs infront of his desk, Derek pointed to them. "Sit." He snapped before rounding to his own seat. "Black to Ellis, report to my office."=/\=

"You." Derek glared at the science officer who had just been in danger of getting castrated. "Explain yourself."

[Leanna Mazal]

[Puzzles]

Leanna arrived to find the Bar relatively quiet which was usually the case when they first opened and knew that it would only get busier as the day went on. This allowed her to catch up on any paperwork and deal with any issues that might have cropped up since the day before and also do her usual walk around and check that everything was in place. However she wasn't alone as Ariana had refused to stay at home, this didn't happen often but Leanna wasn't going to leave her upset and her little girl was happy enough when she told her that she could come to Puzzles for a little while and brought her mother along to take over.

So after speaking with Seamus who fussed over Ariana as he always did, Leanna took her little girl over to the play area and watched as she climbed over the various play equipment before joining her in the ball pit. She loved these moments even more after making the decision that saved them both and yes she was without a father now but maybe one day she would tell her all about Matthias and why they had to leave. Besides she made sure that her daughter never missed out or went without anything and yes she had her fun with Alex and Deg'arf but perhaps that would change too.

In the meantime she would continue to be herself and running her beloved bar whilst taking care of her equally beloved daughter and her whole reason for surviving.

"Lea, when you get a minute, Marcus wants you to try some new menu items"Seamus called out as he approached the play area.

" Sure as soon as Ariana has had enough of the play area, I'll leave her with mum whilst I do that" she replied smiling. Seamus returned the smile before walking off to deal with the new batch of Allurian Whiskey that she recently started importing.

[Felicity Ellis]

[Felicity's Quarters]

Felicity took a generous gulp of black coffee, barely tasting the rich blend in her haste to organise herself for the coming morning. The dark circles under eyes were the only physical evidence of her recent ordeal and subsequent sleeplessness. On an emotional level, using any clinical method made available to her by her chosen profession, she knew that the experience with the impostors had impacted her. It had taken a little wind out of her sails, so to speak.

Knowing that she hadn't been alone, however, did help somewhat. The mental and physical ordeal that Knox had underwent while similar, had added, unexpected layers, with the realisation that through her symbiont she would remember the incursion. Felicity was under the distinct impression that remembering was quite possibly more damaging than not, depending on the individual. The Admiral, too, had had the further difficulty of being conscious and trapped in that alien body for an extended period of time. She had sent him a brief message a few days previously, merely to reach out and offer a friendly ear should he ever require it. A ghost of a smile curled the corners of her mouth as the image of the three of them popped into her mind, sitting in a circle and discussing their innermost feelings and fears. My name is Flick and it has been fourteen days since my last alien abduction.

As she adjusted her uniform, Felicity's eyes glanced over the small assortment of toys spread across her bed. She had been replicating an array of Early Years toys and games that had been her own favourites as a child, and planned on gifting them to little Ariana. Her smile grew as she thought of her friend's little girl, and of how much of a support Leanna had been to all of them both during and after the alien invasion debacle. She made a mental note to call by at her earliest chance and have a proper catch up, this time hopefully uninterrupted by foul play.

She poured the remainder of her coffee into her travel mug. It wasn't exactly regulation; it was worn, and had "THERE'S A SLIGHT CHANCE THIS IS WHISKEY" emblazoned on the side, but she'd had it since her Academy days and just couldn't bring herself to dispose of it. Armed with her go-juice, she left her quarters and headed toward her office where her ever-growing mountain of PADDs awaited.

[Counselor's Office]

She was enjoying the silence of her office, quickly getting into a productive groove despite how restless the previous night had been. She'd just taken a break to refill her mug, her eyes cast critically over the still mostly unpacked space, when her CMO's voice broke through the quiet.

"Black to Ellis, report to my office."=/\=

"On my way, Chief. Ellis out."

"Score. A legitimate excuse to delay decorating you." She announced to the empty room at large before grabbing a PADD and heading for the door. She had no idea what the Doctor needed, but once she found out she could always take the opportunity to discuss those little requests she'd been putting off making.

[CMO's Office]

The sight that met her when she stepped into Derek's office was quite unexpected. She paused at the threshold for a moment, wondering if the doctor's previous meeting had run late. Then she noticed how disheveled the two injured officers before him were. "Good morning, Chief." She greeted, her eyes slid from his and followed his glare to Lieutenant Commander Mackenzie and Ensign... Ensign...

What was his name? She forced her mind to think, to cycle through the names of the crew she'd spoken to, met with, or planned on meeting with. The slight frown deepened on her brow. Paulsen, that's it. His name is Robert Paulsen.

"Commander Mackenzie. Ensign Paulsen." She nodded a greeting to them both in turn, the spark of curiosity inside igniting.

[Kyan Mackenzie]

[Medical Bay]

He caught sight of Mackenzie's exposed knife, which served to only further increase his blustery rage. "Commander, if that blade doesn't disappear in the next three seconds, tabernac, I will have you relieved of duty and psychoanalyzed by every psychiatrist in the Alpha Quadrant until you believe you're a goddamn dancing potato."

Derek glowered at the pair of them. Before they said a word in reply, he ordered harshly, "In my office. NOW." His tone didn't leave any room for defiance.

[CMO's Office]

Kicking out the two chairs infront of his desk, Derek pointed to them. "Sit." He snapped before rounding to his own seat. "Black to Ellis, report to my office."=/\=

"You." Derek glared at the science officer who had just been in danger of getting castrated. "Explain yourself."

Grups were still largely a mystery to Kyan. First and foremost, they were supposed to be all "professional" and "respectful" and "adult" about things.

This was a lie. They were not.

Secondly, this whole "rank structure" business continued to be a puzzle. Kyan had been enlisted before. And when he got lippy with an officer, there were threats of being flogged with a Ferengi electro-whip. Yet here was this grup doctor-medial bloke, ordering officers about, kicking chairs, and basically acting like the king in the castle.

BUT... there was the thing where the "Chief Medical Officer" could give out orders to even the captain. They HAD mentioned that in the academy classes. But then Mister Black was not an officer was he? No. BUT.... then there was the piece about junior officers, which he was not, needing to listen to senior non commissioned types, which Black WAS. The whole thing was screwy like a stem bolt that couldn't seal itself. In any event, Kyan deposited himself casually into one of the "offered" seats and listened to Ensign Babynuts Paulsen weave his sad tale.

Kyan was a fan after all, of a well told story.

"So this... this.. kid.. he was in command? Command of the Gibson last week when the aliens came to try and take the AI. It was a training mission before that. Ok.. So first thing.. right out the gate, Cadet Zorn.."

So THAT was her name! Kyan thought.

"...got shot in her rump with a live phaser. No one mentioned live phasers in the briefing, but HE authorized them without telliing anyone!" Paulsen glanced over at Kyan, who simply grinned and nodded. THAT had been a fun bit of training.

"And then... then when we get back, the situation turned real, and he orders the helmsman to put the ship between the alien energy pulses and the station.. KNOWING that we would probably be destroyed..."

"The which we were not, thanks be to the Powers." Kyan added

"...the Powers... yes.. and since I was acting as the XO for the mission, I informed him of the danger. Then he SHOT ME!" Paulsen near screeched.

Kyan shook his head, stifling a laugh. "Me boyo.. you tried tae commandeer the ship. And tha's called a mutiny. And THA is why I shot ye in yer arse with me phaser." The little Onlie cleared his throat. "Erhm.. the first toim... is why. The second one was on account of.. ok... picture in yer head here Mister Black... so this twit is shot, and falls tae th' deck, arse to the sky loik it twas a bicycle ramp. So... to drive home me point.. I MAY have let another blast... a light stun ya see.. um.. tae th' starboard butt cheek. An if it's an apology yer wantin... " Kyan paused, thought it over, and giggled.

"Ye'll nae get it. That was the funniest thing I ever saw... an since we were just about tae shuffle off anyways... Oi figured it couldn't hurt. An it didn't!"

"I still can't sit down without leaning!"

"It's been a few days is all boyo!" Kyan exclaimed. "Quit yer bitchin and foind yet fookin stones!"

"I hate you!" Paulsen exclaimed, the vein in his head pulsating. He took a moment to calm himself before continuing. "That ASSAULT aside..."

Kyan laughed "Which Oi'm investigatin fer ye as we speak!" he replied in mock sincerity.

Paulsen's teeth could be heard grinding. "TODAY we were to do another training session, which I was forced to attend. And AGAIN there were real phasers, set to stun, and the safety protocals were turned OFF! I was nearly cut in two!"

"There's nae a scratch on yer self ya great cryin grup!" Kyan spat back incredulously. "Near cut in half!"

"I was able to move... thankfully... but I hit my head on a rock!"

"Lord an Lady get this man a fookin hot tub an some Orions tae nurse his own self back tae health..." Kyan exclaimed sarcastically, throwing his good arm up to the heavens in supplication. "The black fookin sadness of is plight!"

Paulsen looked ready for blastoff, which Kyan was expecting (and for which he was hoping.) when the Counselor walked in.

The sight that met her when she stepped into Derek's office was quite unexpected. She paused at the threshold for a moment, wondering if the doctor's previous meeting had run late. Then she noticed how disheveled the two injured officers before him were. "Good morning, Chief." She greeted, her eyes slid from his and followed his glare to Lieutenant Commander Mackenzie and Ensign... Ensign...

What was his name? She forced her mind to think, to cycle through the names of the crew she'd spoken to, met with, or planned on meeting with. The slight frown deepened on her brow. Paulsen, that's it. His name is Robert Paulsen.

"Commander Mackenzie. Ensign Paulsen." She nodded a greeting to them both in turn, the spark of curiosity inside igniting.

Kyan smiled at her. "Ahh Counselor. Merry Met and just in toime ye are. This one's two shakes of a Benzite's blue whisker from either blowin a gasket or meeting. is. maker." Kyan delivered the last bit while glancing over to Paulsen. "It's work ye've got ahead of ye it is nursin his brain back from the cliff."

He stood up from his chair. "Oi'll nae bring charges against him though, fer trying tae attack me an all, an mutiny. Enough's the shame o bein so raggedly piss poor at bothendeavors. No harm done." He grinned up at Black. "But Oi'd be in yer debt it ye could fix me arm though Chief. Oi' AM a lefty afterall."

[Michael J. Tritter]

[Location: Commanding Officer's Office]

Tritter had been focused on finishing up with Knox, when he heard reports of a fight in sick bay. He grumbled a bit, he wasn't too happy with this whole situation. He than tapped his comm badge and replied with "On my way", he than looked towards Knox and stated, "Unfortunately we will have to cut this short, round up your crew and proceed accordingly. Dismissed" He than made his exit, he was moving a quick pace that was just nearly a double time. Crew members moved quickly out of the Commanding Officer's way, he had business to attend to and people seemingly knew that moving out of his way was smart. While on his way, he tapped his comm badge and requested Cadet Lachlyn to join him, he simply stated, "Commander Tritter to Cadet Lachlyn, meet me in sick bay", his voice was firm and slightly aggressive sounding, he wasn't too happy.

It took him maybe all of five minutes to make his way to Sick Bay, and by the time he arrived, it was still a mess, but the majority of the situation was over. He had noticed that they had gathered in Chief Black's office and all seemed under control, so he took a few more minutes to survey the damage. He wasn't too impressed with the Lieutenant Commander's behavior that resulted in this, although it did remind him of when he was a younger man and did such himself, a way of lashing out if you will. He than proceeded to make his way inside Chief Black's office, although he walked in an almost silent fashion to not disturb anyone, he simply just stood in the doorway, arms folded. He knew he had been difficult for Captain Stafford, but he never wrecked the base unless it was part of doing his job, not due to some petty little fight, perhaps this was his payback for it. Although he had been admonished by Captain Stafford for his violent tendencies, including dropping a Ferengi roughly to the deck, but he wasn't the type to get into silly little fights, and this would be dealt with. Listening to the conversation, he wasn't going to step on anyone's toes, he was content to listen for the time being.