1. Meeting the Security Chief (NEW BLOOD HAZING)
May 18, 2020 18:37:09 GMT
Post by Admin on May 18, 2020 18:37:09 GMT
Role played 5/18/2020
NEW BLOOD HAZING (title on STF)
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:26 PM
Being the new guy had its drawbacks. One of the them was the stack of PaDDs the CE dropped on her console that morning and said to make a dent in by end of shift. Chairs, tables, replicator upgrades, the lists were endless. Auleraine was looking over the requests when something caught her interest. It was a chair with reinforcements that went above and beyond what was necessry for the security department... or any department for that matter. It was simply stated 'for Seurity'. She frowned and headed that way with the request in her hand.
Her brunette hair was bound back in a simple braided knot. She had died her red tresses away after she had healed and could move on her own. Without the fire red tresses, she was less focused on by men. Which was fine by her. Meant she could do her job and take care of business without complications.
Less than five minutes later, she walked into Security and looked around. The NE at a side console looked up and she decided she would start with him. "I have a request here for a reinforced chair for this department." She looked at his frame and laughed. "I highly doubt YOU are in need of such reinforcements. This is a gross abuse of the requisition forms, you know." She was standing there, one hand on her hip, the other holding the PaDD towards him as if he'd apologize and she could just delete the request. <c>
RhinoYesterday at 11:34 PM
Ensign Koll looked at her for a moment, a puzzled look on his face. Then it seemed as if a light dawned on him. "Oh... that chair. No, Ma'am. I dont need it. I think that's for the Security Chief." he said, as if that explained everything and he went back to his work. <e>
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:36 PM
She shook her head. "Wait... you are telling me the Security Chief needs THIS kind of reinforcement? I hardly doubt that." She laughed as if the man were merely brushing her off. "The reinforcement of this level is for the weight of almost 3 people." She snorted a laugh. "Unless he plans on having a lapful of people with him everytime he sits in his chair..." she shook her head, her voice full of doubt and sarcasm. <e>
RhinoYesterday at 11:39 PM
As she spoke, the Ensign was trying to subtly gesture to her to be quiet. His eyes looked over her head... way over her head... and back again and he had a look on his face that seemed to indicate something was amiss... but whether that was effective at getting her attention was another matter. <e>
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:42 PM
"Don't shuuush me. And rolling your eyes won't help. Engineering isn't a playground for ridiculous requests. There is absolutely no reason to ask for a chair that will hold more than a single person. MAAAYYYYBBEEE two if you happen to have a child you bring to work everyday who sits on your lap." Her voice was angry now. Hands on her hips as she shook her head at him thinking he was just looking to the ceiling and rolling her eyes cause she was reaming him loud enough for anyone else around to hear. <e>
RhinoYesterday at 11:44 PM
Koll finally just stood at attention and said "Yes, Ma'am. Of course, Lieutenant. But... um... well... permission to speak freely, Ma'am?" he asked, his nervousness apparent on his face and the sweat of his brow. <e>
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:46 PM
She crossed her arms and cocked her hip. She was five foot nine and a hard won, muscled 200 pounds. But the look, so she had been told, suddenly made her look all soft and female in all the right places. "Ok, Ensign... go ahead... say your piece." She flashed him a smile like she was doing him a huge favor and not about to pounce him for whatever ridiculous excuse he was about to give. <e>
RhinoYesterday at 11:50 PM
Koll at this point was not alone in paying attention to the Junior Officer from Engineering. In fact, there were several Security personnel looking at her... or rather, just behind her. Some looked trepidacious. Some had wide grins on their faces. But all of them were looking.
Koll said softly "Ma'am, you really should stop talking. And you should just... uh... well... maybe you should meet Commander Mardusk before you say anything else?" <e>
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:51 PM
She rolled her eyes and flung her hands up a moment. "FINE! Where is this Commander? Somehow I doubt he has quadruplets he is bringing to work to sit on his lap." She shook her head and laughed at the silliness of the thought and the vision in her mind. <e>
RhinoYesterday at 11:52 PM
Koll went pale and pointed. "He's right behind you, Ma'am." he said softly. <e>
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:56 PM
"GOOD!" She said and spun around to look at ... a wall. When the realization hit her, she let a small squeak of a scream creep up her throat and come out like a chopped off yelp. "Good Lords... what the hell?" She stumbled back, slipped on the corner of Krolls chair and landed on her backside staring up at ... She shook her head trying to keep from scrambling back. A momentary look of pure, unadulterated fear flashed over her eyes. But it passed quickly. If he wasn't looking, he'd miss it. She swallowed and smiled trying to use bravado. "Commader Mardusk I presume?" She tried to sound like she wasn't on her backside and wasn't about to feel her Lieutenant pipps get ripped off her uniform for insubordination. <e>
RhinoToday at 12:02 AM
Mardusk was big, even for an Orion. Easily over seven feet in height and weighing more than most of the single cargo crates that were loaded onto the ship, Gravel was not an unintimidating figure even when he wasnt angry. When he was? Well...
The massive Orion Security Chief watched her jump, fall, the flash of fear, and the thin attempt at recovery. His bald, green head only inches from the ceiling looked down at her, his emerald eyes locked on and bore into her. He stared at her for a long time, then simply raised a truly massive arm and pointed at the doors to his office. <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 12:05 AM
She swallowed and fear was swiftly covered with anger. Insubordinate or not, she was gonna get the response from him one way or another. She managed to pull herself back to her feet and planted them firmly. She took a moment to stare at him then moved towards his office, not like a crewman in trouble, but one who was furious it had come to mute pointing and no words. "Fine!" she murmured and went where pointed. <e>
RhinoToday at 12:18 AM
Gravel followed her into the office, walking past her to go behind his desk. "Sit." was the clipped order and a finger pointed at one of the two chairs in front of the desk. Without waiting to see if she followed orders, he took a seat in the chair behind the desk. As he did, the chair groaned loudly in protest.
Mardusk took a deep breath and, trying to remain calm, said "Now. I'll keep in mind that you are very new to this ship. And I'll even take into account that you didnt know about my... particular furniture needs... prior to coming here and berating one of my officers. So... keeping those things in mind... why dont you take this opportunity to tell me why I shouldn't call Commander Drayke and tell him one of his new Engineers was completely out of line and failed to do the most basic of fact checking before shooting her mouth off about something she apparently knew nothing about?" His voice sounded like boulders crashing against each other.. a low rumble marked by sharp punctuation. <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 12:22 AM
She had sat down with a murmured, "Yes, sir." He was an officer. That's why she obeyed, not because he had scared the wits from her.
She looked at him and the fear had been replaced with anger now. Whether it was directed at him, or at herself, it was hard to say. "I apologize for my tone, but not for my query." Her words were polite but she was stubborn and she knew it. "No, I didn't know the circumstances. But had the Ensign merely answered my question at the beginning instead of beating around the bush and making a fool of me," she took a breath, hearing her voice and pitch rise to the point her own growl was creeping up her throat. "Had he done that, it would have been much simpler. Don't you agree... Sir?" She cocked her head slightly as if daring him to give credance to the man in the other room had practically baited her into her encounter. Her hands were crossed over the PaDD and her knuckles were white from gripping it. <e>
RhinoToday at 12:37 AM
Mardusk's voice took on and edge that would have cut the hull open. "You arrog... you are going to try to lay blame on someone else for your piss poor behaviour?!" and his hands clenched into cinderblock-sized fists. "You are really going to blame Koll... who stood there telling you I was behind you but you ignored... you are going to blame him when all YOU had to do at the START was ask why the specs were the way they were? You didn't even have to come here, Lieutenant! All you had to do was ask ANYONE in YOUR OWN DEPARTMENT why! But no! You trotted your butt down here to make a point. Well,,, too bad for you you didnt do your due diligence before hand, huh?!" and he slammed a fist onto the desk interface... cracking the transparent aluminum. Mardusk was full on glowering at her, but managed to stifle the anger... at least for the moment. Leaning back, he clenched his jaw and spoke through gritted teeth.
"A crap officer blames others for their mistakes, takes the coward's way. A good officer takes the harder route, owns their mistakes and makes the best of the lessons that come from those mistakes. So tell me, Lieutenant... are you a good officer? Or are you a crap one? Because if you are the latter, I'm just gonna bounce you from this ship right now." <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 12:44 AM
Her rage at his rage and accusations made her mind numb. She wasn't even aware she was on her feet till the PaDD and her other hand slammed on the same desk. "I am NO crap officer. Fine... I take the blame. I should have asked. I could have asked the Chief. Or the Assistant Chief who gave me the reqs. Or I could have just commed up here. I didn't. Ok? It's my fault, I did it and Kroll was just lousy at pointing behind my back, or I was lousy at seeing. It's done now. I will make your chair, Sir. And I apologize for my actions." Realizing, now her standing position, she added in the same voice, "All of them." <e>
RhinoToday at 12:53 AM
Mardusk looked at her and said in a low growl "You dont get it, do you? Sit your butt down, Lieutenant. I wont tell you again." He leaned forward and said "I'm not the one you need to apologize to. I dont even know you, Lieutenant. But you come in here, berate one of mine, freak out when you see me, blame him for your abysmal behaviour, and then think this about getting a damn chair? Seriously, Lieutenant... who crapped in your omelet, huh?" he asked, with less anger and a bit more concern than before. <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 12:56 AM
She sat but her response was as kneejerk as her outburst had been. "Ten Orion males who used me and my crewmates like slave girls and whipping posts for six months!" She growled out as she looked at him. Then her eyes shot wide at the realization she had blurted it out without even thinking. This time the fear that went down her spine was more than evident in her eyes. The PaDD in her lap slid to the floor and she bent to pick it up, using it as an excuse to break eye contact. "I'm sorry, sir..." this time the words were shaky, but they were sincere. <e>
RhinoToday at 1:07 AM
Mardusk looked at her, and his face softened... as much as his could, anyway. He held his tongue for a moment, and then spoke calmly and evenly. "Lieutenant... I cannot and will not know what it was that you and your crew endured. If my sudden presence caused you any... discomfort... I apologize. But please hear me when I say this... what happened to you is not the fault of anyone on this vessel... especially Ensign Koll. He really was trying to help you. When you leave, I ask that you speak with him. He is a good officer. Fair... and understanding. Have a word with him in private." and he leaned back, and the chair creaked and groaned. "As far as you and I... I think that a call wont be necessary. But... I want to ask you a couple of questions, if that's ok with you." <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 1:13 AM
She nodded as he said it wasn't anyone's fault on the ship. "Yes, Sir... I understand." And she glanced at the door and nodded. "I will apologize, Sir. I give you my word. I had no right to yell at him." She was looking back up at him. The fear had gone and her body had straightened. She was back to her old self. That meant she was steel spined and stone shielded from the inside out. "You are welcome to ask anything you want, Sir. I will do my best to answer it." <e>
RhinoToday at 1:18 AM
Mardusk interlaced his fingers and set them on the cracked display. "I just want to know... and please, be honest. I wont hold anything against you, my word. But I want to know of you hate all Orions now? Or all Orion men, anyway? I ask, because that is something I, as the Security Chief of this vessel, need to know so I can try and make your time on board more... palatable. And if my presence will be a hindrance to that, well then... I need to figure out a solution."
LlewelPendragonToday at 1:23 AM
"NO!" She shook her head almost violently. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. "I mean... no, Sir. I don't hate Orions. They were a rogue faction that had gone against the Orion government. It was actually Orions who saved us after the six months." She looked back down at her PaDD, her fingers fiddling with the edges. "You startled me, Sir." She looked up at him and shrugged. "I had no idea the Security Chief was Orion, nor that you were so... big..." Her gaze was steady as if she was trying to decide how honest she could be. Her mind said go for it. Worst case scenario, he hated her for her response. "You startled me." <e>
RhinoToday at 1:30 AM
Mardusk simply nodded and said "Understood... and again, I'm sorry I startled you. I will try not to so so in the future. I'll ask Engineering to make sure you aren't assigned any task for this department. Not a slight, but I wont force you to have to interact with me by chance. Again, you don't need a daily reminder of your ordeal by seeing me regularly." and he tapped the interface... and again
... and then he swore. "Well, I guess that'll be a ticket for later." and he looked at her. "Please speak with Koll, otherwise you are dismissed Lieutenant... unless you have anything further?" <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 1:34 AM
Confusion settled on her features for a moment, but then she shut down once more and shook her head. "No, Sir. And I'll see to it the console is given priority today." She nodded to the table and rose. "I will talk to Koll. But please. There is no need to worry about me being assigned tasks here. It will be no trouble. And," she smiled slightly but it didn't quite reach her eyes, "No disrespect, but every day is a reminder. You are no more or less a part of that in or out of my sight." She nodded and headed into the other room and sighed as she came up to Kroll.
"Ensign Koll..." she looked to him and hoped he wasn't gonna rail on her. <e>
RhinoToday at 9:59 AM
Koll snapped to attention. "Yes, Ma'am!" he said, eyes locked straight ahead and not wavering. His face was mostly blank, but there was a definate bit of apprehension in his eyes. <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 10:20 AM
She closed her eyes a moment and sighed. "It's ok, Ensign...I mean, at ease..." Lera moved to lean on the edge of his console. "Sit down, Koll. I may be a higher rank here," she tapped her collar, "but I think after that," she nodded with a half smile towards the Chief's office, "I'm pretty sure you outrank me. I wanted to apologize. You tried to warn me but I thought you were just..." She looked at the PaDD in her hands. "Anyway... doesn't matter what I thought. Anyway, I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
It cost her to admit that. Even she felt it. But the Security Chief was right. She shouldn't have taken it out on him. "So, anyway, we ok?" <e>
RhinoToday at 10:27 AM
Koll dropped to at ease at her words, but still looked straight ahead. As she spoke, though, a look of confusion and shock replaced the expressionless on his face.
"Uh... ye-... I mean... sure, Lieutenat. Yeah, no problem. We're good." and he smiled at her, friendly smile that harbored no hard feelings.
"And I'm sorry I didn't get it across the Chief was there, I was trying... really. I hope he didnt tear into you too bad. He's actually pretty easy going... well, most of the time." and he half-shrugged at her. <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 10:32 AM
She smiled and nodded to his chair. "Sit down... I'm not gonna bite." She laughed. "And he tore into me as much as was needed. I deserved it." She waved him off. "Anyway... I'll get someone up here to fix his console soon as I report back to my Chief." Get voice gave away the fact she knew another tearing was coming. "And I'm sure he's great." She added, turning to go. "Hey, Koll... next time just say 'he's right behind you'," she laughed. "Much easier." She nodded and headed out into the corridor back to engineering.
"Good job, Ler... way to make an impression," she grumbled to herself. <e>
RhinoToday at 10:43 AM
As she mentioned the console, he shook his head. "Third one this month." he said with a grin. "Admirals on board. Including his mom."
He watched her leave, and went back to his duties. A minute or so later Mardusk came out and said "Koll, you good?" Koll nodded and smiled. "Yep, thanks Chief. I know you made her apologize, but that wasnt necessary." Mardusk just said "Yes, Koll. It absolutely was." and tapped his hand on the console and then turned and went back to his office. <e>
NEW BLOOD HAZING (title on STF)
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:26 PM
Being the new guy had its drawbacks. One of the them was the stack of PaDDs the CE dropped on her console that morning and said to make a dent in by end of shift. Chairs, tables, replicator upgrades, the lists were endless. Auleraine was looking over the requests when something caught her interest. It was a chair with reinforcements that went above and beyond what was necessry for the security department... or any department for that matter. It was simply stated 'for Seurity'. She frowned and headed that way with the request in her hand.
Her brunette hair was bound back in a simple braided knot. She had died her red tresses away after she had healed and could move on her own. Without the fire red tresses, she was less focused on by men. Which was fine by her. Meant she could do her job and take care of business without complications.
Less than five minutes later, she walked into Security and looked around. The NE at a side console looked up and she decided she would start with him. "I have a request here for a reinforced chair for this department." She looked at his frame and laughed. "I highly doubt YOU are in need of such reinforcements. This is a gross abuse of the requisition forms, you know." She was standing there, one hand on her hip, the other holding the PaDD towards him as if he'd apologize and she could just delete the request. <c>
RhinoYesterday at 11:34 PM
Ensign Koll looked at her for a moment, a puzzled look on his face. Then it seemed as if a light dawned on him. "Oh... that chair. No, Ma'am. I dont need it. I think that's for the Security Chief." he said, as if that explained everything and he went back to his work. <e>
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:36 PM
She shook her head. "Wait... you are telling me the Security Chief needs THIS kind of reinforcement? I hardly doubt that." She laughed as if the man were merely brushing her off. "The reinforcement of this level is for the weight of almost 3 people." She snorted a laugh. "Unless he plans on having a lapful of people with him everytime he sits in his chair..." she shook her head, her voice full of doubt and sarcasm. <e>
RhinoYesterday at 11:39 PM
As she spoke, the Ensign was trying to subtly gesture to her to be quiet. His eyes looked over her head... way over her head... and back again and he had a look on his face that seemed to indicate something was amiss... but whether that was effective at getting her attention was another matter. <e>
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:42 PM
"Don't shuuush me. And rolling your eyes won't help. Engineering isn't a playground for ridiculous requests. There is absolutely no reason to ask for a chair that will hold more than a single person. MAAAYYYYBBEEE two if you happen to have a child you bring to work everyday who sits on your lap." Her voice was angry now. Hands on her hips as she shook her head at him thinking he was just looking to the ceiling and rolling her eyes cause she was reaming him loud enough for anyone else around to hear. <e>
RhinoYesterday at 11:44 PM
Koll finally just stood at attention and said "Yes, Ma'am. Of course, Lieutenant. But... um... well... permission to speak freely, Ma'am?" he asked, his nervousness apparent on his face and the sweat of his brow. <e>
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:46 PM
She crossed her arms and cocked her hip. She was five foot nine and a hard won, muscled 200 pounds. But the look, so she had been told, suddenly made her look all soft and female in all the right places. "Ok, Ensign... go ahead... say your piece." She flashed him a smile like she was doing him a huge favor and not about to pounce him for whatever ridiculous excuse he was about to give. <e>
RhinoYesterday at 11:50 PM
Koll at this point was not alone in paying attention to the Junior Officer from Engineering. In fact, there were several Security personnel looking at her... or rather, just behind her. Some looked trepidacious. Some had wide grins on their faces. But all of them were looking.
Koll said softly "Ma'am, you really should stop talking. And you should just... uh... well... maybe you should meet Commander Mardusk before you say anything else?" <e>
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:51 PM
She rolled her eyes and flung her hands up a moment. "FINE! Where is this Commander? Somehow I doubt he has quadruplets he is bringing to work to sit on his lap." She shook her head and laughed at the silliness of the thought and the vision in her mind. <e>
RhinoYesterday at 11:52 PM
Koll went pale and pointed. "He's right behind you, Ma'am." he said softly. <e>
LlewelPendragonYesterday at 11:56 PM
"GOOD!" She said and spun around to look at ... a wall. When the realization hit her, she let a small squeak of a scream creep up her throat and come out like a chopped off yelp. "Good Lords... what the hell?" She stumbled back, slipped on the corner of Krolls chair and landed on her backside staring up at ... She shook her head trying to keep from scrambling back. A momentary look of pure, unadulterated fear flashed over her eyes. But it passed quickly. If he wasn't looking, he'd miss it. She swallowed and smiled trying to use bravado. "Commader Mardusk I presume?" She tried to sound like she wasn't on her backside and wasn't about to feel her Lieutenant pipps get ripped off her uniform for insubordination. <e>
RhinoToday at 12:02 AM
Mardusk was big, even for an Orion. Easily over seven feet in height and weighing more than most of the single cargo crates that were loaded onto the ship, Gravel was not an unintimidating figure even when he wasnt angry. When he was? Well...
The massive Orion Security Chief watched her jump, fall, the flash of fear, and the thin attempt at recovery. His bald, green head only inches from the ceiling looked down at her, his emerald eyes locked on and bore into her. He stared at her for a long time, then simply raised a truly massive arm and pointed at the doors to his office. <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 12:05 AM
She swallowed and fear was swiftly covered with anger. Insubordinate or not, she was gonna get the response from him one way or another. She managed to pull herself back to her feet and planted them firmly. She took a moment to stare at him then moved towards his office, not like a crewman in trouble, but one who was furious it had come to mute pointing and no words. "Fine!" she murmured and went where pointed. <e>
RhinoToday at 12:18 AM
Gravel followed her into the office, walking past her to go behind his desk. "Sit." was the clipped order and a finger pointed at one of the two chairs in front of the desk. Without waiting to see if she followed orders, he took a seat in the chair behind the desk. As he did, the chair groaned loudly in protest.
Mardusk took a deep breath and, trying to remain calm, said "Now. I'll keep in mind that you are very new to this ship. And I'll even take into account that you didnt know about my... particular furniture needs... prior to coming here and berating one of my officers. So... keeping those things in mind... why dont you take this opportunity to tell me why I shouldn't call Commander Drayke and tell him one of his new Engineers was completely out of line and failed to do the most basic of fact checking before shooting her mouth off about something she apparently knew nothing about?" His voice sounded like boulders crashing against each other.. a low rumble marked by sharp punctuation. <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 12:22 AM
She had sat down with a murmured, "Yes, sir." He was an officer. That's why she obeyed, not because he had scared the wits from her.
She looked at him and the fear had been replaced with anger now. Whether it was directed at him, or at herself, it was hard to say. "I apologize for my tone, but not for my query." Her words were polite but she was stubborn and she knew it. "No, I didn't know the circumstances. But had the Ensign merely answered my question at the beginning instead of beating around the bush and making a fool of me," she took a breath, hearing her voice and pitch rise to the point her own growl was creeping up her throat. "Had he done that, it would have been much simpler. Don't you agree... Sir?" She cocked her head slightly as if daring him to give credance to the man in the other room had practically baited her into her encounter. Her hands were crossed over the PaDD and her knuckles were white from gripping it. <e>
RhinoToday at 12:37 AM
Mardusk's voice took on and edge that would have cut the hull open. "You arrog... you are going to try to lay blame on someone else for your piss poor behaviour?!" and his hands clenched into cinderblock-sized fists. "You are really going to blame Koll... who stood there telling you I was behind you but you ignored... you are going to blame him when all YOU had to do at the START was ask why the specs were the way they were? You didn't even have to come here, Lieutenant! All you had to do was ask ANYONE in YOUR OWN DEPARTMENT why! But no! You trotted your butt down here to make a point. Well,,, too bad for you you didnt do your due diligence before hand, huh?!" and he slammed a fist onto the desk interface... cracking the transparent aluminum. Mardusk was full on glowering at her, but managed to stifle the anger... at least for the moment. Leaning back, he clenched his jaw and spoke through gritted teeth.
"A crap officer blames others for their mistakes, takes the coward's way. A good officer takes the harder route, owns their mistakes and makes the best of the lessons that come from those mistakes. So tell me, Lieutenant... are you a good officer? Or are you a crap one? Because if you are the latter, I'm just gonna bounce you from this ship right now." <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 12:44 AM
Her rage at his rage and accusations made her mind numb. She wasn't even aware she was on her feet till the PaDD and her other hand slammed on the same desk. "I am NO crap officer. Fine... I take the blame. I should have asked. I could have asked the Chief. Or the Assistant Chief who gave me the reqs. Or I could have just commed up here. I didn't. Ok? It's my fault, I did it and Kroll was just lousy at pointing behind my back, or I was lousy at seeing. It's done now. I will make your chair, Sir. And I apologize for my actions." Realizing, now her standing position, she added in the same voice, "All of them." <e>
RhinoToday at 12:53 AM
Mardusk looked at her and said in a low growl "You dont get it, do you? Sit your butt down, Lieutenant. I wont tell you again." He leaned forward and said "I'm not the one you need to apologize to. I dont even know you, Lieutenant. But you come in here, berate one of mine, freak out when you see me, blame him for your abysmal behaviour, and then think this about getting a damn chair? Seriously, Lieutenant... who crapped in your omelet, huh?" he asked, with less anger and a bit more concern than before. <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 12:56 AM
She sat but her response was as kneejerk as her outburst had been. "Ten Orion males who used me and my crewmates like slave girls and whipping posts for six months!" She growled out as she looked at him. Then her eyes shot wide at the realization she had blurted it out without even thinking. This time the fear that went down her spine was more than evident in her eyes. The PaDD in her lap slid to the floor and she bent to pick it up, using it as an excuse to break eye contact. "I'm sorry, sir..." this time the words were shaky, but they were sincere. <e>
RhinoToday at 1:07 AM
Mardusk looked at her, and his face softened... as much as his could, anyway. He held his tongue for a moment, and then spoke calmly and evenly. "Lieutenant... I cannot and will not know what it was that you and your crew endured. If my sudden presence caused you any... discomfort... I apologize. But please hear me when I say this... what happened to you is not the fault of anyone on this vessel... especially Ensign Koll. He really was trying to help you. When you leave, I ask that you speak with him. He is a good officer. Fair... and understanding. Have a word with him in private." and he leaned back, and the chair creaked and groaned. "As far as you and I... I think that a call wont be necessary. But... I want to ask you a couple of questions, if that's ok with you." <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 1:13 AM
She nodded as he said it wasn't anyone's fault on the ship. "Yes, Sir... I understand." And she glanced at the door and nodded. "I will apologize, Sir. I give you my word. I had no right to yell at him." She was looking back up at him. The fear had gone and her body had straightened. She was back to her old self. That meant she was steel spined and stone shielded from the inside out. "You are welcome to ask anything you want, Sir. I will do my best to answer it." <e>
RhinoToday at 1:18 AM
Mardusk interlaced his fingers and set them on the cracked display. "I just want to know... and please, be honest. I wont hold anything against you, my word. But I want to know of you hate all Orions now? Or all Orion men, anyway? I ask, because that is something I, as the Security Chief of this vessel, need to know so I can try and make your time on board more... palatable. And if my presence will be a hindrance to that, well then... I need to figure out a solution."
LlewelPendragonToday at 1:23 AM
"NO!" She shook her head almost violently. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. "I mean... no, Sir. I don't hate Orions. They were a rogue faction that had gone against the Orion government. It was actually Orions who saved us after the six months." She looked back down at her PaDD, her fingers fiddling with the edges. "You startled me, Sir." She looked up at him and shrugged. "I had no idea the Security Chief was Orion, nor that you were so... big..." Her gaze was steady as if she was trying to decide how honest she could be. Her mind said go for it. Worst case scenario, he hated her for her response. "You startled me." <e>
RhinoToday at 1:30 AM
Mardusk simply nodded and said "Understood... and again, I'm sorry I startled you. I will try not to so so in the future. I'll ask Engineering to make sure you aren't assigned any task for this department. Not a slight, but I wont force you to have to interact with me by chance. Again, you don't need a daily reminder of your ordeal by seeing me regularly." and he tapped the interface... and again
... and then he swore. "Well, I guess that'll be a ticket for later." and he looked at her. "Please speak with Koll, otherwise you are dismissed Lieutenant... unless you have anything further?" <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 1:34 AM
Confusion settled on her features for a moment, but then she shut down once more and shook her head. "No, Sir. And I'll see to it the console is given priority today." She nodded to the table and rose. "I will talk to Koll. But please. There is no need to worry about me being assigned tasks here. It will be no trouble. And," she smiled slightly but it didn't quite reach her eyes, "No disrespect, but every day is a reminder. You are no more or less a part of that in or out of my sight." She nodded and headed into the other room and sighed as she came up to Kroll.
"Ensign Koll..." she looked to him and hoped he wasn't gonna rail on her. <e>
RhinoToday at 9:59 AM
Koll snapped to attention. "Yes, Ma'am!" he said, eyes locked straight ahead and not wavering. His face was mostly blank, but there was a definate bit of apprehension in his eyes. <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 10:20 AM
She closed her eyes a moment and sighed. "It's ok, Ensign...I mean, at ease..." Lera moved to lean on the edge of his console. "Sit down, Koll. I may be a higher rank here," she tapped her collar, "but I think after that," she nodded with a half smile towards the Chief's office, "I'm pretty sure you outrank me. I wanted to apologize. You tried to warn me but I thought you were just..." She looked at the PaDD in her hands. "Anyway... doesn't matter what I thought. Anyway, I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
It cost her to admit that. Even she felt it. But the Security Chief was right. She shouldn't have taken it out on him. "So, anyway, we ok?" <e>
RhinoToday at 10:27 AM
Koll dropped to at ease at her words, but still looked straight ahead. As she spoke, though, a look of confusion and shock replaced the expressionless on his face.
"Uh... ye-... I mean... sure, Lieutenat. Yeah, no problem. We're good." and he smiled at her, friendly smile that harbored no hard feelings.
"And I'm sorry I didn't get it across the Chief was there, I was trying... really. I hope he didnt tear into you too bad. He's actually pretty easy going... well, most of the time." and he half-shrugged at her. <e>
LlewelPendragonToday at 10:32 AM
She smiled and nodded to his chair. "Sit down... I'm not gonna bite." She laughed. "And he tore into me as much as was needed. I deserved it." She waved him off. "Anyway... I'll get someone up here to fix his console soon as I report back to my Chief." Get voice gave away the fact she knew another tearing was coming. "And I'm sure he's great." She added, turning to go. "Hey, Koll... next time just say 'he's right behind you'," she laughed. "Much easier." She nodded and headed out into the corridor back to engineering.
"Good job, Ler... way to make an impression," she grumbled to herself. <e>
RhinoToday at 10:43 AM
As she mentioned the console, he shook his head. "Third one this month." he said with a grin. "Admirals on board. Including his mom."
He watched her leave, and went back to his duties. A minute or so later Mardusk came out and said "Koll, you good?" Koll nodded and smiled. "Yep, thanks Chief. I know you made her apologize, but that wasnt necessary." Mardusk just said "Yes, Koll. It absolutely was." and tapped his hand on the console and then turned and went back to his office. <e>