You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> Recent posts by Eol Fefalas
Topic: Tann’s NFL U Pick em Game 2016-17
Subject: Bannix...
...done!
Go, Cubbies!!!!
Zombies, ahoy!
Posted on 2016-10-27 at 20:26:00.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Yup...
...I'll take it!
David can sing when he wants to!
Posted on 2016-10-27 at 20:03:59.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Gotta go with Disturbed...
Soooo powerful!
Plus, between them and Live, they've written the soundtrack of my life. 
Posted on 2016-10-27 at 19:45:53.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty
Subject: Flashback: Sometime before the Captain's Mast
Stardate 2365.02.09
USS Peregrine; Deck 2 - Lt Zai's Office - 1155
Tochi had spent the past couple of hours reviewing the details of Chief Crane's case. Examining and re-examining every detail of every document and deposition, reviewing his memories and notes of his own conversation with the woman, earlier, and attempting to come up with something that would ease the punishment Silas chose to levy upon her. It had become obvious to him that, had the woman had more faith in the officers above her, she might not have felt as compelled to skirt the chain of command and, as such, not have found herself in this predicament to begin with. In fact, to some degree, he felt guilty about it, himself. For the most part, Tochi liked to think that, since he'd been appointed Drake's second, he made himself open and available to the entirety of the Peregrine's crew, but, somehow, somewhere, it felt, now, as if he had, perhaps failed Lauren in this.
That's something we might use, he had decided after a time. As embarrassing as it might be for him to admit (and possibly as insubordinate as it may make him look if he pointed it out during the NJP), there was some modicum of weighty truth in it which may serve to spare CPO Crane form more punishment that she truly deserved. Her crime had been borne out of a perception that she had no other options, after all, and, in no small way, he felt as if he had contributed to that. While he felt that he could, perhaps, use that to duly influence the severity of Lauren's punishment, it still, at the same time, almost sickened him to admit that, in the end, there was some culpability in all of this that lay at his feet.
He had worked and worked with this frayed end of a fact until he'd managed to find the words to give it a proper and respectful voice in the proceedings to come. In fact, he'd thrown itself at it to such an extent that, when he'd, at last, found the words that he thought would most succinctly express the thought to Silas, the Trill found himself almost mentally spent. Given the night he'd had, compounded by the efforts he'd already put into today's happenings, a quick nap was sounding better and better all the time. Tochi had glanced at the chronometer when he made that determination and noted that, despite how alluring the prospect of an hour or so of sleep might be, the prospect of his pending lunch date with the new CSO held more charm, by far.
Fortunately, in the ten years since he'd been joined, Tochi had learned that when sleep was elusive, music was a passable alternative, especially if one just allowed it to flow from the depths of their soul, finding that perfect song in the moment and, as one's fingers instinctually played the notes, allowed the lyrics, the sentiment, of the song to spill out unfiltered. There was a song in him, now, aching to free itself. He could feel it welling just under his heart, threatening to burst his throat and fingers like a dam too weak to hold back the waters it vainly tried to hold back. Stubbornly, he tried to fight the pressure as it built, determined not to succumb to the varied perspectives that clashed within him where all of this was concerned, The part of his personality that came from Odia was wont to advocate swift, stern and unwaveringly severe repercussions, while Kasru's portion encouraged compassion and diplomacy. Isri, Zai's first host, saw the issue as nothing more than another star-chart through which he best possible course must be plotted; and Dirven's thoughts, well, Dirven's thoughts, had Tochi entertained them more than he had, might have focused intently on the lovely Andorian with whom there was a lunch date scheduled within the hour, but, given the overlap of all of Zai's hosts, just now, it was music that came to the forefront where that personality was concerned.
"Computer," the Trill calls out, having wrestled long enough with his own thoughts, "is there a holosuite available?"
The computer blips and chirps as it processes the query, then answers; =/=Holosuite Two is currently unoccupied and available. The next scheduled program has been reserved for 1240.=/=
"Reserve the next twenty minutes on Holosuite Two for Lt Zai," Tochi says, already rising from his seat and tapping a set of specific parameters into the console before skirting his desk on the way to the door "ready a grand Trillian piano and the atmospheric conditions that we've just provided."
=/=Acknowledged,=/= the computer responds just as Tochi strolls through the door of his office into the corridor, =/=Program compiled.=/=
Deck 5 - Holosuite 2 - 1203
Tochi strolls into the holosuite, it's atmosphere defined by the piano beneath a single, yellow spotlight on a nondescript stage, the flickering light of uncounted candles arranged in a semi-circle just outside of the halo cast by the spot, and a silent, unseen audience just beyond. He makes his way to the piano and takes the bench without so much as a glance at where the muted audience looms and, for long moments, simply lets his cool fingers play at their will across the keys. After a moment, though, the random notes congeal into the facsimile of a melody and, as the melody he seeks works its way to the forefront of his thoughts, the song that had been hiding in his subconscious worked its way forward. His fingers struck the keys of the piano without thought as his eyes drifted shut and the chords of the sung wafted into the air much to the pleasure of the simulated audience.
When the pattering rainfall of respectful applause fell away, the Trill found himself singing the song that had invaded his thoughts and drawn him to the suite with all of the conviction and passion that he'd discovered in his reviews of Chief Crane's case, and his ever warming thoughts of Asovil,
Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains within the sound of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed
By the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs
That voices never share
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence
"Fools, " said I, "you do not know
Silence, like a cancer, grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon God they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
And the words that it was forming
And the sign said,
"The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls."
And whispered in the sound of silence,
His fingers played gently over the last notes of the ancient song, and, as those notes faded away on the air in the non-existent venue, he let his eyes drift open and his trepidation fade with those waning chords. As the invisible crowd pattered the air with its applause, Tochi drew in a long, deep breath that, combined with the emotion of the song he'd just played, stilled and centered his spirit, and he smiled into the candle-lit air as the applause faded like the end of a rainfall on the pavement,
"Tochi?" he heard his name called from the fringes of the penumbra, and the soothed smile that played on his lips brightened and warmed when he recognized the voice that called it as Asovil's.
"Hello, Lieutenant," he sighed softly in response to her hail, "are we late for lunch?"
Posted on 2016-10-27 at 19:30:49.
Edited on 2016-10-31 at 08:37:53 by Eol Fefalas
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Boom!!!
Captain's Mast stuff posted! I may have watched an episode of Law & Order or two, today. 
Posted on 2016-10-27 at 15:22:42.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty
Subject: The Captain's Mast: From the advocate's perspective
Stardate 2365.02.09
USS Peregrine; Deck 1 - Captain's Mess - 1355
As he had promised her, Lt Zai had arrived at Chief Crane's quarters fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled Captain's Mast, and personally escorted her to the venue. On the way, there had been a quick rehashing of their meeting, earlier this morning, and confirmation and confidence that the decisions made then were still applicable. The conversation faded as they approached the Captain's Mess, though, and, as Tochi ushered her to her seat at one end of the table, Lauren fell silent and somber. For long moments, it set the tone of the room. That tone changed only slightly when Asovil arrived a few moments later. The silence held, as did the solemnity, but, as the two women's eyes met, a faint chilliness seemed to creep into the air. That icy sliver needled the atmosphere until Lauren abandoned the look and let her eyes fall back to the table and, by the time Berk and Lasad arrived, seemed to have melt away altogether.
Tochi's gaze pans the table and meets Asovil's for a moment. He can't help but smile when her cheeks darken a bit, he manages to restrain it to an acceptable degree, his recollections of their lunch together certainly would have seen him offer one much brighter had decorum allowed, and, regretfully, he has to force his eyes from hers in order to fully control the impulse. He drags his attentions, instead, to the PADD on the table before him, and forces himself to re-read notes he had memorized hours ago. It takes a moment to fully pull his thoughts away from the lovely Andorian across the table but, before the Captain strides into the room, the Trill manages to center himself fully on the matter at hand.
The door slides open and the Captain enters, stick-straight in posture and unbiased in countenance, his gaze sweeping the assemblage of face about the table as he takes his seat. "Since it would appear that we are all here," he intones flatly, "I see no reason to delay this. If no one has an objection, let us begin."
"No objections on our part, sir," Tochi answers.
((OOC: Assuming none from anyone else))
"Very well," Drake nods, "Let the record show that we are assembled here today for the purpose of conducting a non-judicial proceeding in the matter of a gross violation of the chain of command by Chief Petty Officer Lauren Crane." The Captain pauses for a moment to allow his words to sink in before fixing the Chief with his hard gaze.
"Before we continue, Chief, I would like to clarify some potential questions." Silas takes a breath. "Since you are not a commissioned officer, Chief, and further influenced by the fact that we are under weigh, I am fully within my rights as Captain of this vessel to compel you to accept this non judicial proceeding. However, I am willing to give you to option of a formal court martial, if you so desire."
Tochi can't help but notice that Asovil seems a little more than mildly surprised by the Captain's offer, her antennae twitched just so and her sapphire eyes snapped to his just as he took notice. He wished he could have offered her some explanation as to why the full tribunal had been offered but to do so would have been inappropriate. Even a passing glance could be misconstrued in this moment and, as such, the XO forced his features to remain a mask of serenity.
Chief Crane remains motionless, facing Drake with a solemn expression of remorse and acceptance as the Captain glances around the table.
"You should carefully consider this choice, Chief," Drake suggests, "If I find you guilty in this non-judicial proceeding, you will have no true method of recourse; you will simply be forced to accept any punishment that I choose to hand out. Such an action will almost certainly have a negative impact upon your Starfleet career. Bear in mind that, unlike in a formal legal trial, I need not be convinced of your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; I need only decide that a preponderance of the evidence points to your guilt. At a non-judicial proceeding such as this, you are entitled to retain an advocate to help plead your case, but even though I have the utmost faith that whoever you choose to be your advocate will in fact do their best to represent your interests, the fact remains that we lack a true legal specialist aboard the Peregrine, and certainly do not have anyone truly trained to defend breaches of maritime law."
"With that being said, if you elect to take your chance with a court martial," the Captain continues, "understand that you will be relieved of duty and confined to quarters until such time as we are able to arrange for your transport to a Starbase or similar Federation outpost where you can stand trial. If this does go to a formal legal action, I will pursue it aggressively; filing charges that will include items such as dereliction of duty, conduct unbecoming, and any and all technicalities that I can find that may apply. While it is certainly possible that you may be able to win your case in a formal legal proceeding, given the evidence I have seen thus far, I rather doubt that will be the situation. If you are convicted at a court martial, you can expect to spend real time in the brig, and can almost guarantee that your Starfleet career will be over.
If you wish to confer with your advocate, Chief Crane, you may do so now. I need to know which course you'd prefer to take."
Tochi breathed in, his gaze tracing a circuit around the table during the silence that hung like a pall over the room.He had prepared Lauren for much of this earlier in the morning and she had seemed to fully comprehend what he'd told her. She hadn't chosen to revisit any of it with him throughout the course of the day, either, so, unless the petite scientist had had a change of heart that she hadn't made her advocate aware of, Tochi was certain he knew what would come next.
"There's no need to confer, Captain," Chief Crane's voice maintains a steady and level tone. "I am fully prepared to accept your ruling in this matter, sir."
"Fair enough, Chief," Silas answers, "With that being the case, I will proceed to the heart of the matter."
The Captain pauses for a moment and looks around the room before fixing his gaze once again on Crane. "This morning at oh eight thirty," Silas begins, "I had a meeting with Lieutenant Sh'iraolnas. As we recapped her impressions of her new department, she revealed to me that the two of you had a meeting yesterday evening, during which you confessed that you were, in fact, the individual responsible for the arrest of Lieutenant Tesenblen. According to Lieutenant Sh'iraolnas' report, you had concerns with the study of the wolfsbane and the potential impact in terms of safety to the crew and the mission,"
As Silas proceeds with the facts in evidence, all of which are undisputed and undeniable, Tochi carefully watches the faces around the table, looking away only to review the items that the Captain displays in the course of detailing the case or to double check his own notes. When, after the Captain's presentation has ended and Chief Crane is presented the opportunity to speak, Tochi regards the woman and offers a faint nod of assurance.
Lauren's earth-colored eyes sink to the enamelled tabletop for a moment and she breathes in deeply. Exhaling slowly, she makes her lips vanish in an expression of pressed consideration and then wets them as they appear once again with the tip of her tongue. Looking back towards Captain Drake, the diminutive woman affects an expression of still, resigned calm.
"Sir," she initiates, "when Lieutenant Tesenblen brought the wolfsbane on board, I dismissed it as another of his personal projects and assumed he had taken all of the necessary steps to resolve any concerns. However, once I learned that the summit delegation had chosen the Peregrine as their transportation, the thought struck me that the wolfsbane could be used by one side or the other to dismantle the peace talks by eliminating the opposing ambassador. I took my concerns to Lieutenant Tesenblen, and as you've already acknowledged, he dismissed them by stating that he had a proper containment field in place and that you, sir, had already approved his protocol,"
Honestly and plainly, just as we discussed, Tochi thinks in the Chief's direction as she continues, Well done, Lauren.
"Having been informed that you, sir, were both privy to and accepting of his plan, I felt the need to take alternative action. This is where I know I went wrong, sir. I should have requested a meeting with Lieutenant Zai, or even you directly, sir. I know this. But at the time, I felt that there were no open lines of command through which I could resolve this potential threat to the mission and this ship." Lauren wets her lips again with the tip of her tongue and for the first time, breaks from her stoic mask and her muddy eyes dart quickly towards where Tochi sits.
"You're doing fine, Chief," he murmurs softly, offering a nod and a softly encouraging smile, "Take a breath, take your time."
Lauren heeds the Trill's advice, taking a beat to draw in a measured breath before proceeding again. "My reasoning was not, by any means, perfect, sir," the smallish woman acknowledges grimly. "I can assure you, though, that my actions were not malicious. Nor were they with the intent to do anything other than eliminate a potential threat to our mission.
"Everyone on board the Peregrine knows that Lieutenant Zai is, well, for lack of a more delicate way of phrasing it, your right-hand man. And this was occuring during the change in Ops leadership—" Asovil glances at the Risan seated next to Tochi and wonders when they'll have the opportunity to speak while Lauren continues. "—so, I felt that all of my immediate command options were either of a similar mind, or too new to the role to, perhaps, be of proper assistance. That sounds harsh, or mean, but I don't mean it to.
"I—I was at a loss, sir," she continues, holding herself in rigid poise despite the obvious emotion in her voice. "I figured that if I passed my concerns on to the security personnel at Starbase One-One-Eight, the concern could then become theirs, and if they decided it bore merit, well, then, someone from Starbase One-One-Eight could contact you. I never thought for a moment that they would come directly for Lieutenant Tesenblen and arrest him, nor that they would confiscate the majority of the lab, or cause this ship the problems that my actions have caused."
Lauren looks back to the table's surface and takes another deep breath before lifting her gaze to meet the unwaveringly stern eyes of her commanding officer. "I am fully aware of my error in circumventing the chain of command, sir, and I am wholly filled with regret at the action and the consequences thereof."
Tochi shifts in his seat as Chief Crane concludes her response and, again, offers her a heartening expression. Then, as his eyes travel from one end of the table to the other, he sighs softly from behind a humorless grin. "As Chief Crane's advocate, Captain Drake," he says, meeting Silas' gaze, "we would like to offer a few words, if we may."
((OOC: Assuming no objections and a "Please do, Lieutenant" or some such.))
"Thank you, sir.
All of us at this table," Lt Zai begins, his hazel eyes fixing pointedly, in turn, on each of the other faces in attendance, "indeed, all of us aboard this ship, are aware of how serious an infraction it is to circumvent the chain of command. It is instilled in us from our first day at the Academy and Basic training and is a vital part of maintaining order and discipline, not just aboard our own ship but throughout Starfleet. Chief Crane is no exception to that rule and, by her own admission, is well and painfully aware that she willfully violated this most basic of tenets in her actions. She does not deny her guilt and she appears before you today, sir, prepared to accept whatever consequences you may impose.
Her guilt established and uncontested, Captain, and having personally conferred with her, this morning, and heard her testimony before you, today, we ask that you consider some leniency in your decision. Until the moment Chief Crane contacted Starfleet Security while we were berthed at Starbase One-One-Eight, she has been an exemplary NCO with a service record free of reprimands of any sort and liberally peppered with commendations and recognition in her field. She has been an asset to not just her department but to this ship and her crew as a whole. With that in mind, and giving credence to what she has confessed in earnest here, today, we can't help but wonder if we do not share some culpability in her transgression. When she told us that she believed her concerns would fall on deaf ears had she brought them to us, I know I certainly felt some responsibility."
The Trill looks almost apologetically at Lauren, then sighs, again, and allows his gaze to travel the table once more before meeting Silas', once more. "As the Peregrine's Executive officer, sir, we almost find ourselves ashamed as much as confused as to why one of our crew might have so little faith in us to go to the lengths that she did, risking her career in the process. Furthermore, if I may be frank, sir,"
((OOC: Again, assuming no objections and/or that Silas won't consider the following to be insubordinate))
",had I been made aware of the nature of Lieutenant Tesenblen's project, I, personally, might have addressed many of the concerns that Chief Crane had presented, thereby assuaging her perceived need to circumnvent the CoC to begin with. It has also come to our attention that, while Lt Tesenblen's experiment and its containment protocols had command approval, the method in which he obtained his samples were far outside what I know you would have approved had you been made aware, sir. That fact only came to light after Horatio had already been detained, though, we believe he may have shared it with Chief Crane, thereby inadvertently coloring her opinion of our open-mindedness and, perhaps, leaving her of the opinion that she had no other recourse.
Again, sir," Lt Zai concludes, "I present these items for your consideration in determining appropriate consequences in regards to this matter, not in any attempt to justify the Chief's actions, nor to deflect or deny guilt.
Thank you, sir."
Posted on 2016-10-27 at 15:19:26.
Edited on 2016-10-27 at 15:20:19 by Eol Fefalas
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Okay....
...got some stuff from the reception and some follow-up to Tochi's "messages and meetings" posted. Captain's Mast post is in the works, but figured I'd post those bits, now. Getting to a loooooooooooooooooooooong post!
Room for interjections,interruptions,and/or edits throughout, of course.
Posted on 2016-10-27 at 12:30:50.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty
Subject: Backposts: At the reception | Advocacy and Asovil
Stardate 2365.02.08
USS Peregrine; Deck 2 - Captain's Mess - 19:22
In watching McTavish converse with Threel and D'Lar over the course of these last few minutes, Tochi had come to wonder about the newly appointed CEO's curious demeanor. This morning, when he had first met the Scotman, Lt Zai had attributed the man's barely restrained anxiety as a simple matter of having been, unexpectedly and rather unceremoniously, placed in charge of the entire department. Now, though, as he had a chance to observe the man with a bit more focus, Tochi couldn't help but think that the nervousness and uncertainty might be underlying traits of the man's character, he stopped short of the term "social anxiety disorder," but only just. McTavish seemed personable enough; knowledgeable, tactful, and even engaging in an oddly distracted sort of fashion,
We wonder if he doesn't spend more time in the Jefferies Tubes than he does with people, Tochi muses as the Engineer deftly maneuvers around Threel's pressing him on Peregrine's speed capabilities. We'll have to make time and get to know the man better.
",her top speeds are classified if memory serves. Without know'n what I'm allowed to divulge, I hope you understand that I canna give ye that information. But I can tell ya she's fast." Haemis shifts his weight, looking a bit agoraphobic in the process. "Ifinya get the chance," he continues, "and the Capt'n approves it, we can look into getting you a tour. They might already have one lined up for ye." He snags another drink as Crewman Pierce passes by with a tray of them. "These are quite good. Have ye had one yet?" he asked looking at the glass.
"Ah, that's the Rytainian Blue Frond Tea," Threel genuinely puffs out his chest with pride. "The tea leaves provide a natural sweetener that is delightful on the palette. I'm pleased that you find it enjoyable."
"We've nothing so sweet on Kuldar that grows from a natural source." D'Lar grins a wolfish baring of teeth and shakes his head causing his greasy hair to flop about his neck like limp eels. "Though some on Kuldar have managed to acquire a taste for it from shipments we've procured."
"Procured, indeed," Threel mumbles.
Tochi arches a brow at that but manages to keep from interjecting by lifting his mug of Kuldaran Froth and pouring a bit of the bitter brew over his tongue. There was an unvoiced accusation in those words and their tone that, while ignored by D'Lar, certainly wouldn't have gone unnoticed by any who might have been listening. The more time he spent in the ambassadors' company, the more Tochi was convinced that the roles he'd initially assigned to Threel and D'lar were, in fact, reversed. Despite his gruffness, D'Lar seemed the more diplomaticly sincere of the two, whereas Threel, elegantly accommodating pretenses aside, seemed to be allowing old wounds to fester.
"Hurricane Ridge!" he says suddenly and randomly as he remembers the name of the park. "That was the place..." he continues under his breath and snapping his fingers. "Lieutenant Pressman and his bride to be. That's where I remember something like this from..." he points to the drink completely oblivious of the exchange between the delegates. "Ach, memories. Sometimes harder to pull data from than a fried isolinear chip!" he shakes his head a moment again, realizing he's rambling.
The grin that dances across Tochi's features, then, might be perceived as a mixture of amusement and surprise; as if McTavish's sudden revelation had startled him from a reverie of his own, And sometimes far too easy, Mr McTavish, the Trill chuckles inwardly,
"Memories, indeed," D'Lar pounces, using the CEO's distracted comments to, at last, float a tactful retort to Threel's earlier insinuation.
It's not an easy journey to get to a place where you forgive others, Tochi almost felt compelled to interject, but it's a powerful place because it frees you, It was difficult to keep the words from moving from mind to mouth - speaking the thought aloud might be perceived as a slight by Threel and, perhaps, some tilting in the balance of bias where the Federation was concerned by both of the diplomats. Furthermore, it was not his place to attempt to influence the ambassadors one way or another where the impending summit was concerned. Captain Jacob's had made that abundantly clear, Kasru, be still.
"I believe that a tour of the Peregrine would be an excellent way to have what remaining questions you may have answered," Asovil chimes in, unwittingly saving Tochi from succumbing to the part of his personality that spent so many years as a diplomat. "If one has not already been arranged, perhaps Lieutenant Salad would be kind enough to do so." Unaware that she had mistaken the Ops department head's name for the green-leafed meal, she continues. "We have an impressive ship, and despite security considerations, I'd imagine a large portion of it could be showcased for your entertainment."
The smile on the Trill's face at Asovil's mispronunciation of Dio's name hinted at something a little more than amusement. For whatever reason, he found the Andorian beauty's propensity for muddling and mangling axioms and idioms truly endearing and he was loathe to correct her twisting of the Ops Chief's name, at the moment. Instead, he simply smiles and nods a silent assent that such a tour could likely be arranged before he takes another pull from his mug of Frosh.
"Yes," Threel pulls the sour look he's giving D'Lar away as though it were being drawn in by a persistent tractor beam and forces a friendly smile back upon his orange lips. "I would find that amusing."
"I think I'll have to decline any such invitations," the Kuldaran dignitary waves his scaly hand as though to shoo the thought from his mind. "I've much to review in order to be fully prepared for the summit."
"As we imagine both of you might, Ambassador D'Lar," Tochi smiles graciously, offering a nod to the Kuldaran, "Should you find an opening in your schedule and decide otherwise, don't hesitate to let us know.
Of course," he continues, offering the same smile as his gaze ticks to Threel, "I'm sure that you'll understand there will be areas of the ship that are, by necessity, restricted, but we're sure that a tour can be arranged that will familiarize you with the Saber-class. Lt McTavish and I will confer and come up with something for you."
"You know something of engineering, Lt Zai," Threel asks curiously, his wispy brows crawling higher on his forehead.
"A bit," Zai grins modestly, "though, we're certainly not of Mac's caliber. Our last post before being assigned to the Peregrine was actually on the Saber Class Development Project, in fact, our last assignment on that tour was to deliver this very ship to Captain Drake, We have some insight."
He chuckles softly and offers a faint shrug as his gaze lets go of Threel and dips to regard the contents of his mug for a second. "I seem to be in need of another drink," his green-gold eyes lift, again, and moved from face to face, lingering on Asovil's for perhaps a nanosecond longer than the others, "if you'll excuse us for a moment, gentlemen, we're inclined to try some of that Blue Frond Tea."
((OOC: Tochi will meander to the drink station, at this point, unless a drink suddenly appears in his hand. Room for interjection and such, throughout, of course.))
Stardate 2365.02.09
USS Peregrine; Deck 3 - NCO's Quarters - 0930
"You're comfortable with all of this, then," Lt Zai asks as they come to the end of their discussion regarding the Captain's Mast.
"As comfortable as I can be, yes, sir," CPO Crane nods faintly. She offers up a wistful smile, then, and adds; "More comfortable than I would be with a Court Martial."
The smile Tochi offers in return as he rises to his feet and gathers his things is sympathetic and reassuring. "Understandable," he says, resting a hand on her shoulder again, "Just keep in mind that, very shortly, this will be the past,"
"New beginnings and better memories, right?"
"Precisely right, Lauren," the XO nods, taking his hand away and making for the door, "We'll see you again shortly before the proceedings, Chief. If you have any questions or simply want to talk before then, don't hesitate to contact me."
"I won't, sir," Lauren replies as Tochi reaches the hatchway, "Thank you."
"You're quite welcome," he answers before cueing the door and stepping into the corridor, "Get something to eat and get some rest. We'll see you at 1345."
A few minutes later, Tochi steps through the door of his office and, absently tossing his now empty coffee cup into the replicators recycle port, settles into the chair behind his desk. Leaning back in the seat, he presses his hands to his face, rubbing at his eyes and heaving a drowsy sigh that readily evolves into a yawn. We should take our own advice, he thinks, his hands falling away from his face as he sits up and blinks at the glossy surface of the desk, Close our eyes for a moment and try to steal some rest where we can. He notices an indicator on his display, then, alerting him to new, unread messages in his queue and decides that, as wise as that advice might be, now might not be the best moment to pay it heed.
"Coffee," he calls to the replicator as his fingers flit across the console, calling up the new messages, "Bolian; double black."
He reaches for the second cup of strong Bolian brew as the list of messages appears and indulges in a sip from the mug before allowing his eyes to focus on the display. Surely the queue will include little more than updated reports from Flight Control and the standard administrative missives, things he could attend to during his duty shift, if necessary. There were, of course, a smattering of those expected communiques awaiting his attention but, tucked away among them was a message that caused his smile to bloom full around the rim of the coffee cup. Setting the cup aside, he taps the console, opening the message,
To: Lt Zai, T.
From: Lt(jg) Sh'iraolnas, A.
Subject: re: Schedule?
Good morning to you, as well!
I appreciate you checking in on me. My day is proving to be more routine than yesterday, but would be improved by a lunch date with you, sir. What time shall I meet you, and where?
Sincerely,
Asovil
A happy warmth swells in his chest and seems to creep along the twin rowns of spots, spreading into his cheeks as he reads the reply, mentally hearing the words recited in her own voice. Practically beaming at her acceptance of the offer, Tochi keys in a response:
To: Lt(jg) Sh'iraolnas, A.
From: Lt Zai, T.
Subject: re: Schedule?
I am pleased to hear that it's a bit less hectic for you, today. Chaos makes it difficult to settle in.
As I am technically not on duty until 1500, my schedule is, for the most part, open until the Captain's Mast at 1400. As to location, I'm interested more in the company than the cuisine; I'll leave the choice of place and time at your discretion.
Looking forward to seeing you,
Tochi
He taps the "send" icon before he truly realizes that the way the response was written might be interpreted as overly friendly, maybe even overtly flirtatious, and, in that split-second of panic, is almost sure that he feels his heart skip a beat. Oh, Tochi! You're coming very close to plucking the pins from a feather ape! His cheeks flush as his heart starts again and he blinks at the screen, knowing he can't unsend the message but wishing he would have thought his reply through a bit more carefully. Then it strikes him that, were he being honest with himself about it, he was flirting with her, Had been flirting with her since probably halfway through their dinner together, yesterday,
"Heh," he chuffs, shaking his head and reaching for the coffee cup, again, "That slipped by us just like the wolfsbane, didn't it?"
Posted on 2016-10-27 at 12:25:49.
Edited on 2016-10-27 at 12:28:06 by Eol Fefalas
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty
Subject: Zai, Zai, Zai, and Zai: Avacados at Law
Stardate 2365.02.09
USS Peregrine; Deck 3; NCOs Quarters - 0900
Chief Crane's summons to a Captain's Mast, of course, had not been unexpected. From the moment Lt Zai had learned of the NCO's infraction, he had known what Silas' reaction would be and that, at best, the Chief Petty Officer's career was about to take a fairly large step backward. Exactly how large a step, though, could be mitigated by the woman's decisions going forward and, perhaps, by some small bit of advocacy on his part. So it was that, rather than sneak in a couple of extra hours of sleep after breakfast, Tochi had found himself gathering all the pertinent data relating to Crane's case, dressing in his uniform several hours earlier than he had originally planned, and making his way to visit the woman in her quarters.
Now, with a PADD tucked under one arm and two cups of strong, Bolian coffee in hand, the Peregrine's XO stood outside that very cabin. He unfurls one finger from around the cup in his right hand and reaches out to key the chime,
A moment later, the tone of her voice notably despondent, CPO Crane's voice responds; =/=Come in.=/=
,As Lt Zai steps into the living area she shared with CPO Cook, Lauren starts to rise from where she had been seated. "Lt Zai," She looked almost as surprised as she sounded.
"Good morning, Lauren," Tochi smiles kindly, "Please, don't get up. You look as if you may have gotten less sleep than we have." He crosses the room as she hesitates, hovering halfway between coming to attention and returning to her seat. When he draws up at the opposite end of the sofa and offers her one of the cups of coffee he'd brought with him, though, she opts for the latter. Accepting the proffered cup with both hands, she silently settles back onto the couch and blinks at him as he takes a seat at the other end.
"It's Bolian," the Trill offers when, for a second, her gaze flits away from him to regard the contents of the cup he'd given her, "Extra strong. We hope black is alright."
"You're very generous, sir," Lauren mumbles as her chin quivers for just a moment before she manages to gain control once more. "Are you hitching your wagon to this runaway caravan then?"
The empathetic smile continues to grace his features as he watches her struggle to maintain her composure. "I am," Zai nods following a sip of coffee. He leans forward, relegating his cup to the small coffee-table and setting the PADD down next to it. "Your caravan, as you call it, is most certainly off of its tracks, Mister Crane," he acknowledges as the device's display lights up to display the files he's compiled. Then, as his gaze lifts to catch hers, again, his expression reassuring, he adds, "But we'd hardly refer to it as runaway, just yet, hm? We've been known to navigate out of tighter spots."
His fingers slide across the surface of the PADD, bringing the file containing the details of her transgression to the forefront and, he turns the device so that she might see it clearly from where she sits. "We'll not patronize you and tell you that these aren't serious charges, Lauren," he says, taking up his coffee as he leans back, "nor that there won't be consequences on par with the seriousness of the offense. That said, we have the utmost confidence that, between the two of us, we can see to it that those consequences are not of the career-ending sort." He regards her seriously over the rim of his cup as he sips at his coffee before he asks out of necessity; "You do wish to continue your career with Starfleet, we presume?"
"Oh, yes!" Lauren affects a surprised expression on her mousy face. "I most certainly do. And I wish to continue to do so on the Peregrine if that's still an option, sir."
"We would like to think it's the best option," Tochi grins, "Aside from this particular incident, Mister Crane, you have been nothing but an asset to your department, your crew, and your ship. Your service record has been exemplary," The XO allows a sigh to escape him, then, and gestures at the file displayed on the PADD; "Honestly, that is what we find most troubling about all of this. An NCO of your caliber and grade most certainly knows the purpose and importance of the chain of command and, yet, by your own admission, you willfully circumvented it when you contacted Starfleet Security with your concerns, bypassing myself and Captain Drake in the process.
We've read the report filed by Lt Sh'iraolnas regarding your meeting with and subsequent confession to her, yesterday," he continues, "and, to a certain degree, we completely understand your concerns; however, when those concerns weren't addressed to your satisfaction by Lt Tesenblen, you should have brought them to me. Can you help us understand why you chose not to do so?"
Lauren nods, accepting Tochi's conclusion. "I meant no disresp—" the small woman realizes how stupid the excuse sounds as it escapes her lips and corrects herself in a rush. "— IknowthatyouareCaptainDrake'srighthandman—" she breathes in sharply and visibly swallows while regaining a little dignity and slowing down her answer, flushing a deep crimson in the process. "—and I felt that seeing how Lt. Tesenblen had already received Captain Drake's buy-off on his project, you would have been in the know already.
"I worried about timing as well, sir. What with the delegates already boarding the ship. And, I guess... well, I don't want to make any excuses for my actions, sir. They weren't becoming a Starfleet chief, by any means. I just think I panicked a little. You know? I didn't feel that there were any other options available to me. My CO had dismissed my concerns and cited the captain's approval which usually means the entire command staff." Pausing again, Lauren sniffs and sadly shakes her head. "I know that bypassing the chain of command is irresponsible and unacceptable behavior, but I feel that I really was trying to do what was best for the ship. I wasn't trying to get anyone in trouble, or offend anyone, or... you know? I was just trying to do the right thing, and now I've tied cement shoes to my own feet."
Tochi offers a wan smile at Lauren's explanation. He, perhaps, understands the sentiment from a certain perspective - perhaps even from the very perspective from which the woman saw it herself when she chose to do what she had done - but, at the same time, cannot seem to wrap his head around the fact that, despite their own service together, Chief Crane felt as if Tochi's loyalty and dedication to Drake would have colored his perspective where this situation was concerned. As he tries to reconcile the various angles, he offers a shake of his head that is only slightly more perceptible than his confusion. "Mister Crane," he begins, his smile melting from reassuring to, possibly, something closer to apologetic, ",Lauren, Firstly, allow us to express our apologies for anything we might have done to encourage you to see us in that way. While you're assessment is correct - as the Peregrine's Executive Officer, I am Captain Drake's figurative right-hand - by definition of the post, I am also your right hand, and also the right hand of every other soul on this vessel, in the end.
We're a small ship and a small crew, Lauren," the Trill proposes, offering her a smile as he reaches out to lay a hand on her shoulder, "and, in our experience, that makes us closer to family than friends. Conflicts will arise more often and, unfortunately, may evolve more quickly as a result, but never doubt that, in the end, every being on this boat is in pursuit of the same goal, and, regardless of perception and because you are more family than friend, will go to any length to see that you are heard,"
Lt Zai shakes his head again, not as faintly this time, and offers a chuckle along with his smile. "If you were to presume that, with some small amount of effort, we could minimize the damage to your career with Starfleet, Mister Crane," he suggests, taking his hand from her shoulder and withdrawing slightly back into the cushions of the sofa, "could you assure us that, should any similar concerns arise in the future, you would trust us to hear you out with an open mind, regardless of any preconceived notions of our relationship with the Captain?"
Lauren's pinched features relax into an expression of pleading. "I've learned my lesson, Lieutenant Zai. I really have. I'll no sooner step outside of the chain of command than cut off my own head.
I just wish I could go back a couple of days and stop myself from being so foolish to begin with!"
Zai nods his understanding and gives the woman a sympathetic pat on the shoulder before withdrawing his hand. "There are always things in our pasts that we'd like to change, Lauren," the Trill shrugs and smiles, "None of us make the wisest choices in every situation nor can any of us go back and change the choices we've made. We can choose to lament our mistakes or learn from them, however... My people have a saying; the future holds the promise of new beginnings and better memories." He grins, realizing that he'd offered up the same adage in a different context just yesterday. "Today is your new beginning, Chief, and there will be better memories than this to follow, we promise."
He sips at his coffee, then, and as the cup leaves his lips he cants his head toward the PADD where it rests atop the coffee table. "Captain Drake, of course, takes a dim view of infractions such as these," he says evenly, "and, as such, we don't believe that you'll escape the Captain's Mast with a simple slap on the wrist. That said, the Captain is also fair, honest, and honorable. If we know him as well as we believe we do, he will offer you the opportunity for you to face a full Court Martial. As you have twice admitted culpability, we would advise you to not accept that offer; with your confession on the record, a guilty verdict is all but guaranteed and the punishment meted out would be far worse than anything you might expect to receive via the NJP.
Following your refusal of a Court Martial, Captain Drake will likely offer you the opportunity to present your side of the story, so to speak, before rendering his decision. As your advocate, I can speak for you at this point, if you so choose, but we advise you to speak for yourself, honestly and plainly. Then, if it's alright with you, we will ask to present some facts of our own that may, in some small fashion, have a bearing on the severity of your punishment,"
((OOC: Aaaaand, scene! Thanks for the assist, Brom. Always a pleasure, my friend.
As noted in the Q&A, I've got something in the works for the Captain's Mast, itself, and another item or two I'm working on. I'll focus on the Mast, first, and try to have that posted in short order.))
Posted on 2016-10-26 at 19:17:57.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Soon...
Brom and I put the finish on our collaboration just a bit ago. I'll post that in just a few minutes. Working on my other posts as well just not finished with those quite yet.
Posted on 2016-10-26 at 19:10:42.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Shweeeeeet!
Brom and I should have our little collab wrapped soon. Once that's done, I'll tack on a bit about Tochi's view of the proceedings, etc.
Posted on 2016-10-26 at 07:02:07.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: I think...
... Brom and I are coming close to wrapping our collab.
My plans are to take that, tie it in with a post at the Captain's Mast, and get a post up to keep us moving. I also have designs on playing out Tochi's lunch with Asovil (because 1) it'll probably have some bearing on the proceedings and/or his relationship with the lovely Andorian from this point forward, and 2) I just love playing with Brom! Even when our characters don't get along! )
Anyhoo... post for Tochi at the trial tomorrow at latest.
Edit: Also... Just read Boo Boo's latest post! Nice little "filler," dear one! Thanks!
Posted on 2016-10-25 at 21:04:03.
Edited on 2016-10-25 at 21:06:48 by Eol Fefalas
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: It's Bromspiracy!
A conspirEolcy even!
Posted on 2016-10-25 at 16:44:35.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Completely up to you, my friend...
...I've started a backpost bit but have only just gotten Tochi to Chief Crane's door. If you'd like to toss it back and forth, I'm happy to do so.
Posted on 2016-10-25 at 11:04:52.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: You're preaching to the choir, sister!
I do stream of consciousness all the time!
Posted on 2016-10-25 at 10:18:20.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: For sure!
For those that are curious enough to check, Wikipedia has a fairly decent (and brief) entry regarding NJP's that can be read here.
As you can gauge from the article, Crane would be well served to accept the NJP and suffer the reduction to PO1 and whatever restrictions are imposed. 7 days in the brig as a PO1 is preferable to 5 years on a penal colony as a convict.
Also - I'm currently reading back to some of the Crane-centric posts to make sure I've got a grasp on the personality that's been established, then, I'll get a post (or two) in the works.
Posted on 2016-10-25 at 09:00:41.
Edited on 2016-10-25 at 09:02:22 by Eol Fefalas
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Yeah...
...nobody wants a full court martial to go ahead in this instance. Crane's best option is to accept the outcome of the NJP for what it's worth (likely a reduction in grade and conduct unbecoming marks at the very least) as a full on Court Martial would likely see her career come to an abrupt end (along with one or two others, I imagine, depending on what comes out at the tribunal), also, she'd run the risk of incarceration on a penal colony as opposed to just confined to quarters or restricted duty.
Crane, I'm sure, sincerely regrets her actions (it's been obviously stated that she never considered the fact that Tesenblen would be arrested and/or that things would have worked out the way they did for her, either)... she simply put the cart before the horse as she thought she had no other recourse and her concern for the mission (toxic plants + ambassadorial visit + potential oopses and such= no bueno). Her biggest mistake was circumventing the Chain of Command (thereby exhibiting a lack of faith in her crew, to an extent). *shrugs*
Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee...
Posted on 2016-10-25 at 07:40:17.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Yep, and everybody knows...
...that the Cubs winning the pennant is the precursor to the zombie apocalypse. I've sharpened all of my machetes, today.
I'm up for jumping to the Captain's Mast if everyone else is. Also, if Crane accepts Tochi as her advocate, she'll most certainly be present and on time.
Posted on 2016-10-24 at 16:08:32.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Posted...
...review at your leisure, Brom. And, if you feel like playing the part of Crane for Tochi's visit, just let me know. I'm going to work on a post for another game, first, and then, possibly, get started on some sort of interaction, there... Tochi, at least, popping by, offering his service as advocate, etc.
Posted on 2016-10-24 at 13:42:35.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty
Subject: Another day, another dilemma
Stardate 2365.02.09
USS Peregrine; Deck 2; Lt Zai's Quarters - 0500
Sleep had come only marginally easier following Tochi's conversation with Captain Drake but the Trill was able to find some small bit of rest in the few hours he'd spent in bed. Regardless of how easily sleep had come, his mind had continued to chase the misgivings that Ambassador Threel had planted there, prompting him into wakefulness several times through the night, only to discover, each time, that it was too early to contact Commander Farr. By the time the alarm he had set actually chimed, the Peregrine's XO figured that he'd managed maybe four hours of sleep and, given the day's schedule, he could use four more,
=/=Lt Zai. The time is zero-five-hundred hours,=/= the computer droned, following the alarm tone, =/=This is your wake up call.=/=
,Tochi groaned and pulled a pillow over his face as the lighting in the room waxed brighter in accordance with his alarm protocol. "Wonderful," he responded, his voice muffled by the pillow, "Thank you." He blinked and breathed into the self-induced dark for a second and then, breathing a sigh, tossed the pillow aside and rolled out of bed. A stretch and a yawn took him past the replicator, from which he ordered a hot Vulcan spice tea, and on to the lavatory where he splashed his face with cold water and blinked at his reflection for a long moment. He had a feeling he was in for another very long day.
"We may as well get it started," he murmured, taking up his cup and wandering to the workspace carved out of one corner of his quarters. "Computer; have there been any changes to the Coronado's duty roster for today?"
The computer blipped as Tochi slipped into the chair behind his desk and adjusted the angle of the small viewer on its surface. =/=Negative,=/= it answered, =/=There have been no duty changes since your last query.=/=
"Open a secure channel to Commander Farr, please," he requested, following a sip of tea.
=/=Connecting. Stand by.=/=
A few moments later, the viewer flickered to life. The Cononado's XO, dressed in her duty uniform and securing her hair into a ponytail, sank into the frame as she seated herself behind what he assumed, by the looks of things, was the desk in her own quarters. "Lt Zai," the woman smiled cordially, "This is rather unexpected."
"Good morning, Commander," Tochi returned the smile, "My apologies if we're disturbing you."
"Not at all," the human woman returned, "I was just getting my day together and preparing to start my shift." Bethanny lifted a cup of her own to her lips, then; took a sip and cradling the cup in her hands leaned back in her chair a bit. "Is there something I can do for you, Lieutenant?"
Assuming a similar, relaxed posture, the Trill offered a smile and something of a nod. "Tochi, please," he offered,
"Tochi," the woman nodded, her smile warming a fraction though she attempted to mask it by indulging in another sip of her beverage. "Some trouble with the Ambassadors," she assumed.
"Not trouble, per se," Zai returned, "Unsettling observations, perhaps, would be a better way of stating it."
"Unsettling?" Farr arched a curious brow and leaned in; "How so?"
"We hosted a reception for Ambassadors Threel and D'Lar, last night," Tochi began, "Standard diplomatic protocol,"
"Of course," Bethanny nodded, listening intently.
",and, of course, during the course of the reception, we had opportunity to interact with and, how is it said on Earth, ‘get a feel' for each of them." He paused, sipped at his tea, and offered a marginal shrug; "We sense that Threel lacks the desire for a peaceable outcome to this summit."
"Really," Bethanny looked more than a little surprised, "I've not had much time to interact with Threel or D'Lar, myself, to be honest, just a few short hours aboard SB-118, but, of the two, I had imagined Threel to be the more receptive to these accords. D'Lar and his contingent seem more,"
"Belligerent," Tochi suggested when Bethanny paused in her search for a fitting descriptor, "Aggressive?"
"Not precisely the words I would have chosen," Cmdr Farr chuckled, "but, yes, I suppose those are appropriate."
"We observed and initially thought much the same," Zai nodded, "and, on the surface, at least, that is the way it presents. There is something underneath where Threel is concerned, though, that has us wondering as to his true motivation,"
The conversation between the two Executive Officers continued for a time, with Zai relating the better part of what he'd shared with Captain Drake, and Farr occasionally interjecting with a probative query. In the end, as each of them came to the bottom of their cups, Tochi was pleased with the outcome. Bethanny had shared a bit of her own observations in regards to both the Rytain and Kuldaran contingents aboard the Coronado with him having to ask directly. As she related it, the Coronado's XO hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary in regards to any of the delegates billeted aboard her vessel. There was some underlying distrust and animosity noteable between a handful of the representatives on both sides, of course, but those sorts of things were to be expected in situations such as this. Decades of open warfare and bitterness were not easy wrinkles to iron out in a single pass, after all. That fact alleviated Tochi's misgivings a fraction, though, not altogether, and he thanked the human woman for freely sharing her insights.
",Just out of curiosity, Tochi," Bethanny Farr queried as their conversation came to a close, "Why is it that you chose to contact me as opposed to Captain Jacobs in this matter."
"Honestly and off the record, Commander?" Tochi posited in return, a sly smile gracing his lips.
"Nothing other," the Coronado's XO assured him, offering a complacent smile of her own in return.
"Your Captain is an ass," Tochi shrugged, "and we thought, perhaps, information of this sort would be better received from an officer with more standing that a lowly lieutenant."
Commander Farr tried not to, but, in the end, couldn't help but snicker at the Trill's appraisal of her CO. "Apologies, Lt Zai," she said, draining the remainder of her cup before doing so, "Would that Captain Jacobs could see beyond the point of his own nose where things like that are concerned. However,"
"The man is an elitist snob," Tochi suggested, "with little tolerance for lesser offering their opinion wher he feels it is not warranted."
Bethanny giggled, more than snickered at that. "Something like that," she concurred once she had managed to contain her amusement, "I'll be sure to present your concerns to him in a manner that won't see us both brought up on charges."
"That would be appreciated, Bethanny," Tochi grinned, tipping his own cup in slaute before draining the dregs, "and, if you can find the time, please, do let us know if anything changes with your appraisal of the delegates aboard the Coronado."
"I will do my best, Lietenant Zai."
"Thank you, Commander. Zai out."
As the viewer went dark, again, Tochi leaned back in his chair and rubbed at his eyes, again. While the promised lines of communication where this situation was concerned were far from ideal, they were, at least opened and the information (and, so, the ‘burden' of his misgivings) had been shared. That, at least, went some way to alleviating a bit of the anxiousness it had kindled in him. Something between a sigh and a yawn escaped him as he lifted his cup, again, only to find it empty,
"Computer," he called, rising from the chair and moving toward the replicator, "time?"
=/=The time is zero-five-thirty-one.=/=
With the Command tour of beta-shift ahead for him, Tochi imagined he would probably be well served to try and get another couple of hours of sleep. By the time he had returned the cup to the replicaotr for recycling, though, he had already dismissed the idea in favor of a run and, perhaps, some breakfast. If it became necessary, surely, there would be time for a nap, at some point.
Deck 5; Gymnasium - 0715
With eight kilometers behind him on the track, Tochi slowed his pace and completed one more circuit at a walk. The final lap completed, he veered from the track and, snatching up a towel and a bottle of water from where he'd left them at the start of his run, daubed the sweat from his face as he meandered toward the weight room,
"Good morning, Lieutenant," he heard a voice call.
,When he let the towel fall from his face, his vision was filled with the titanic frame of Ensign Thomason emerging from the room. "Good morning, Hebert," he nodded, draping the towel over his shoulder and stepping aside to allow the gigantic helmsman to duck through the door, "Finding your way around with no problem, we see."
Thomason offered a grin and a shrug of his massive shoulders. "It's not a very big ship, sir."
Especially not for one of your size, Tochi chuckled inwardly. "No," he said aloud, "we suppose not. Your first shift at the helm went well, we presume?"
"Yes, sir," Hebert nodded, "Uneventful, really. Lt Lasad did share an amusing story," The big man offered another shrug; "It was more or less a quiet shift, though."
"Very good," the Trill smiled. He inclined his head to the weight room; "Were you finished?"
"Uh," Thomason's gaze flicked back to the doorway, "yes, sir. I was thinking about a shower and breakfast... Need a spotter?"
Tochi shook his head. "No, thank you," he replied, "I was actually hoping for a quick match and thought we'd ask you before we called up a hologram."
The new Flight Control Officer smiled, apparently pleased that the XO had remembered that he, too, was a swordsman. "I'd like to, sir," Thomason grinned, rubbing his aching arms, "but my arms are already burning. Swinging a broadsword, right now, likely isn't a good idea. Some other time?"
"Of course," Tochi nodded, "consider it an open invitation."
"I'll do that. Thank you, Lt Zai," Hebert said.
"Quite," Zai returned as Thomason turned and strode toward the exit, "Enjoy your day, Ensign."
Deck 2; Lt Zai's Quarters - 0830
The run and sparring had left Tochi happily exhausted and, by the time he returned to his quarters, the Peregrine's XO was more than ready for a shower, a bite to eat, and, finally, ready to try an reclaim some of the sleep he'd missed over the course of the previous night. The shower, of course, had been his first priority and, now, scrubbed clean of the sweat and soil of this morning's exertions, and clad in a pair of shorts and an undershirt, he collected a simple breakfast of poached Taspar eggs and yamok sauce from the replicator. He carried his meal to his desk where he had planned to review yesterday's duty logs and get a head start on any administrative tasks he might need to address while he ate. As he settled into the chair and brought the console to life with the tap of a finger, though, he noted the time,
0830, Asovil is likely standing on the carpet in Silas' ready room, now. Getting her "formal welcome", probably, updating Silas about PO Crane, as well, almost certainly brushing her hair behind her ear,
Your spots are purple, Tochi, Leah Finnley's voice teased.
,The warmth in his chest spread to his cheeks as he allowed a sheepish smile to dance on his lips. What was it about the new CSO that had this effect on him? It was more than Dirven's lingering penchant for Andorians, he knew. Had that been the only factor at play, then he and Vaela would likely have already validated some of the shipboard scuttlebutt regarding their relationship. No, there was something much more to it than the predelicitions of another lifetime, Something that had captivated him in the moments they had first spoken or, perhaps, in the moments he had first seen her, Something that the Trill found difficult to define, at the moment, but sincerely hoped to discern with more clarity as he got to know her better, To that end, before he called up the previous day's reports, he composed a quick message:
To:Lt(jg) Sh'iraolnas, A.
From: Lt Zai, T.
Subject: Schedule?
Good morning.
I hope your second day aboard is off to a better start than your first.
Lunch, today?
Warm regards,
Tochi
He hesitated sending the message, but only for a brief instant in which he managed to convince himself that he wasn't acting like some infatuated adolescent. "No," he couldn't help but chuckle as he tapped the ‘Send' icon, "we're behaving like a full grown infatuated adult."
When his comm-badge sounded a few minutes later, he extracted himself from his review of the reports, finding himself hopeful that it would be Asovil on the other end, confirming a lunch date. He wasn't at all surprised, though, when the voice that followed the device's chirping was the Captain's.
=/=Drake to Lieutenant Zai.=/=
"Zai, here," he replied, not failing to note the clipped tone of Silas' voice, "What can we do for you, Captain?"
=/=Sorry to bother you, Tochi; I know that you're not on shift until Beta today. However, something has come up - I'll be bringing Chief Crane to Captain's Mast today at fourteen hundred hours, and I expect that she may want you or Lasad to act as her advocate.=/=
Not at all unexpected, Tochi sighed inwardly, It appears this will be another long day.
"No bother, at all, sir," he assured Silas aloud, "We were already up and about our day, anyway. Once I've finished breakfast, we'll be sure to avail ourselves to the Chief."
((OOC: In the interest of getting a post on the boards, I'll stop here for the time being. Looking back at the Reception bits, now, and thinking forward to the initial contact with Crane re: the Captain's Mast, if anyone feels up to playing that out with me, let me know. ))
Posted on 2016-10-24 at 13:39:31.
Edited on 2016-10-24 at 13:44:28 by Eol Fefalas
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Draino
I'm coming out of an irritating Murphy's Law kind of week, myself. Working on wrapping up a post for Tochi, now, though, and am hoping this week will be better than last.
Should have a post tacked on soon.
Posted on 2016-10-24 at 10:16:17.
|
Topic: Stare into the Night Q&A
Subject: Meri!!!
Yup... last week was a bit of a nightmare for me, as well. Climbing up from the bottom of it, now, though. I'll get that post finished and, hopefully, have it up by this afternoon.
Posted on 2016-10-24 at 10:13:51.
|
Topic: Supernatural Q&A thread
Subject: Groovy...
...I've got to catch up on some posts for Trek and such, but I'll have something up for Haze following that.
Posted on 2016-10-24 at 10:11:27.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Apologies, again.
Yesterday got way busier than I imagined it might... got a good chunk of a post written and almost ready to tack on to the thread.
P.S. I do have this one neighbor kid who could use a hexing if someone's offering to sling voodoo hoodoo around.
Posted on 2016-10-21 at 12:04:51.
|
Topic: Star Trek: the Edge of Duty Q&A
Subject: Ain't it the truth?
It's always something and it never happens when you expect. The water heater, for example, I knew was due to be replaced, anyway... I just figured I could squeak by until spring. *shrugs* That's what I get for thinking.
Anyhoo... post-wise, I'm all clear as far as work goes, at the moment, and am diving back into Tochi-mode whilst I can. Post forthcoming.
Posted on 2016-10-20 at 11:10:15.
|
| |
View/Edit Your Profile | Staff List | Contact Us
Use of the RDINN forums or chatrooms constitutes agreement with our Terms of Service.You must enable cookies and javascript to use all features of this site.
|
|
What game do you own the 
Return to Charadun - Q&A
The Morphing Game
Return to Charadun - Recr
