Making the Grade

Posted on Mon Dec 11th, 2017 @ 5:02pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Edited on on Thu May 31st, 2018 @ 9:58pm

1,644 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - The Enemy Within
Location: Mess Hall - Deck 2 USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD001 1430 hrs
Tags: SD 71370.1430

Tyler arrived in the Mess Hall for a late lunch. It seemed that he was't the only one who got away to have lunch late. The Mess Hall was packed. He was making his way toward the Captain's mess when he was stopped by a yeoman. Having attended to the question that the yeoman had he turned to head toward the Captain's Mess again when he saw one of the members of the Marine Detachment sitting by themselves. Tyler decided to lead by example. He wanted his crew to bond then he had to stop segregating himself. He grabbed and order of pasta bolegnese and approached the table.

"Is this seat taken Private?"

Maisie glanced up from her food as the voice spoke. She had been busy all morning getting her joining admin out of the way and squaring away her belongings in the squadbay and had only got off for lunch a short time ago. With the majority of the Marine Detachment back on duty, and having not really had the time yet to form any connections with her fellow Marines outside of duty, she found herself sitting alone. At least until this individual had walked over, who she quickly identified as being none other thant the Commanding Officer, if his rank insignia was anything to go by.

Given that he was an officer, a high ranking one and the ship's Captain as well, Maisie stood respectfully.

"Of course not, Sir," Maisie replied formally.

"Please Private sit sit... It is I who is interrupting your lunch." Tyler sat his plate down on the table and took a seat. "So tell me who are you adjusting to life on board a ship. I know for Marines ship life can be dull." He smiled and took a bite.

"It's a bit surreal, Sir, my previous posting was to the USS Antietam, another Intrepid-Class Starship, so it's almost like I never left," Maisie commented with a smile as she settled back into her seat. "I don't mind much being aboard ships in any case, it's far more interesting than life in barracks on some world or another, there's far more us Marines might be called upon to do."

"Indeed, one of your day to day duties is guarding our SCIF among many other things. Tell me Private, are you an explorer as well or like other Marines I have met. Give me a rifle and an enemy and I am set." Tyler had not worked with Marines too closely. So he was keen to see how these Marines ticked.

"There's plenty of Planetary Defence Forces I could have joind if all I wanted was a rifle and a foe, Sir," Maisie replied as she took a bite of her food. "I wanted to get off Axanar IV and make something of myself, if that makes me an explorer, I guess so, Sir."

There was something in the way she said sir. She said it like most people said hi, like it was second nature. Tyler wondered if there was someone under the Marine. "What was so bad on Axanar IV? What I mean to ask is there anything that interests you surely there is more than the yes sirs and no sirs."

Maisie's eyes narrowed, ever so slightly.

"Well, I grew up without a father on a colony that's greatest days are behind it, with a mother who wasn't entirely there," Maisie replied evenly. "I spent most of my childhood and adolesecne making trouble on the streets, picking fight and drinking cheap alchohol, it was a restrictive place."

Maisie placed another piece of her food into her mouth and swallowed before speaking again.

"Does that answer your question, Sir?"

"Indeed it does and I am guessing that the Marines straightened you out as it were. However, I can see how someone would want to get out of a situation like that." Tyler took a few bites of his pasta.

"They gave me a purpose; an alternative to a dead end job on a dead end colony," Maisie replied, eating another few bites. "They gave me a chance to see the stars."

Tyler was a bit worried by what she had said. It seemed that her childhood was a troubled one and one that she did not want to talk about. "Well I for one welcome you here and I am sure that we can put your skills to good use. However, I wonder could you ever view this ship as your home?"

"My mother told me, just before I left for boot camp, that my father had once said to her that, in the military, it was unwise to call any one posting home," Maisie commented. "This ship will be my posting; that means I give it my all, I do my duty and help keep this ship safe; that is similar to a home, I guess, for a while."

Tyler knew a project when he saw one. His goal was now to make her and other Marines like her view this ship as more than a posting, it will be a home. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, a very old habit for him. "Well, Private other than being a field medic, do you have any other interests? Professionally that is..."

"I want to make as much of a career out of the Marines as possible; training as a Combat Medic was to ensure I had a trade to fall back on if I left the Corps," Maisie replied honestly as she finished her food. "Now that I've got the training and some practical experiance I can continue as a medic, or take on another challenge, depending on what the Corps, and the ship, need."

"Have you considered some duty shifts in Sick Bay. I think the good Dr Ballston could probably use a little help, and with your medical training learning how to attend as a nurse or physician's assistant would be an easy task. Of course it is just a thought. As I am no doubt you are aware that life for a Marine on a starship can get a little boring." Tyler tilted his head to the right as he spoke. He still tried to gauge where this woman was coming from and how to get her to open up.

"If that is what the ship needs, Sir," Maise replied with a nod.

"Is there anything you would like to know of me? It is not often that we can sit together like this." Tyler looked at the private, she was something of an enigma at the moment. Perhaps it was that he was the CO and she just did not want to open up.

Maisie consdered the Ship's Captain carefully. Normally she would not wish to bother such a higher ranking officer, even her outspoken attitude had limits, but he had asked her, so she figured she could answer safely enough.

"What did you join Starfleet, Sir?"

Tyler chuckled "Me? I joined out of pure fascination. The Intrepid Class, specifically the USS Voyager has been a part of my life since my teenage years. Since then I became enamored with this ship and space in general. I joined to explore, and to see what is out there."

"An old-fashioned Explorer, huh, sir?" Maisie commented with a slight smile. "I guess this is the ship for it."

"Indeed it is and she will take care of all of us as long as we take care of her. Do you enjoy exploration?" Tyler crossed his legs and leaned back.

"I've not had much chance to explore, truth be told; by previous ship spent most of my posting patrolling the Neutral Zone," Maisie replied with a shrug. "It has a certain appeal though, going where no one has gone before."

Tyler was having a difficult time gauging this woman. She was indeed a person of few words... "Different people looking into the blackness of space, and seeing different things..." He said aloud, but more to himself.

"Perhaps we should be called the USS Firefly, Sir," Maisie commented, recognizing the reference.

"Hey when a good Captain speaks, other Captain's listen... There is a lot that one can learn from fictional Captains. Also, why do you think one of our shuttles is named the Serenity." Tyler replied and smiled broadly.

"The perks of being able to name your ship's shuttles, I take it, sir" Maisie smiled wryly.

"Indeed, and I am assigning our Argo Class transport to the Marines. It will be named Hawkeye, you should have a look at it. Feel free to have a look around including the bridge, you may not be cleared to work on the bridge. But I see no reason that you can't come visit." Tyler smiled broadly.

"Names from a time when humanity looked to the stars leading us onto our new frontiers is oddly poetic," Maisie commented thoughtfully, then nodded. "I would appreciate that, Sir, if I stay in the Corps beyond my current enlistment, I do not want to remain a combat medic my entire time."

"As I said you are welcome on the bridge to learn anytime. Well I should be getting back up to the bridge speaking of it. Private it was great talking to you, and as you were." Tyler collected his tray and placed it in the reclimator thinking that if all of his Marines were like this one then all would be right with world.

"Thank You, Sir," Maisie nodded as the Commanding Officer took his leave, feeling that the conversation had gone relativly well.

A Joint Post By

Commander Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer

Private 1st Class Maisie Dawes
Field Medic, USS Pioneer

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