Posted by Cadet Alex McCall, MD (Doctor) in Graduation - Cadet Alex McCall

Posted by Captain Grayson Rhodes (Commanding Officer) in Graduation - Cadet Alex McCall

Posted by Lieutenant Daphne Frankenstein (Chief Medical Officer) in Graduation - Cadet Alex McCall
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Sitting back in the large, oversized and plush leather arm chair that sat behind the equally large wooden desk in the Captains Ready Room, Grayson raised the coffee cup to his lips and drained the last dregs of coffee as his yes looked over the to-do list he had hastily thrown together that morning.

Pausing as he read the next item on the list, he looked at the time and put down his coffee cup with a thud. “Oops,” he said, completely to himself as the time registered with him. He was an hour late to this particular item but as the person it was about had no idea it was about to happen, Grayson wasn’t too worried. The reviews on the latest edition of Mechwarrior had been worth it, as the 32nd edition of the game, now in holonovel format, had been worth the watch.

=/\= Cadet McCall, Lieutenant Frankenstein, this is Captain Rhodes =/\= he said seconds after opening the comm-link.

=/\=Captain Rhodes this is Lt. Frankenstein and Dr. McCall over…shhhchchchch=/\= Daphne replied with a smirk after pretending they were on old fashioned walkie talkies and gave McCall a wink. Rank did have its privileges and teasing the Captain every once in a while. She would never have thought about it except for the fact the movie that was currently playing in the rec center last weekend was some historical piece from the 1980’s about spies.

=/\= Please come to my Ready Room at the earliest you can, and unless that you are in the middle of a Medical Emergency, Lieutenant, that means now =/\= he clarified, more than aware that earliest you can in Daphne’s language might be translated as when you feel like it and have done what you think is more important.

Closing the comm, he spun around on his large and comfy chair and simply rolled it on it’s wheels over to the replicator without standing up. Pursing his lips as he waited for his coffee to materialize, he considered having Engineering add a motorized unit to the chair so he could drive it to the replicator instead of having to push it with his feet.

Captain Rhodes, CO

Alex rocked back in his chair, adjusted his aim, took a deep breath, held it, and took the shot.

The wadded up ball of paper sailed in a graceful arc, bounced once, twice, on the rim of the ceramic coffee mug, before finally falling in.

“Yes!” He called out, raising his arms in victory before pointing over at his boss.

“That’s three to two ‘Big Kahunna’! Have you got the minerals to make the shot to tie things up?”
He asked, tossing over another identical paper ball.

“Best two out of three is a medical emergency,” she replied playing with the balled-up paper in her hand. Lobbing the shot she groaned as it was nowhere near the target.

Grabbing two more sheets of paper she began to wad them up. “Best three out of five,” she threw one of them towards Alex. “I don’t believe in ties. Only crowning glory,” she said as the shot hit its mark tying up the score for now.

If Alex had learned anything from this Cadet cruise it was the value of taking time out to have a little R&R with a friend, which was how he had come to view the feisty CMO, despite their disparity in rank.

=/\=……. Lieutenant, that means now =/\=

=/\=Like right now=/\= she said using her toe to shove Alex’s chair in the middle of his throw. =/\=I am in the middle of teaching a cadet, =/\= she slide more under the desk to push Alex’s chair to throw his aim off =/\=a valuable lesson.=/\

Daphne Frankenstein CMO

Alex glanced over at Daphne with a raised eyebrow as the Captain’s voice came over the comm, what trouble were they in now?

Cadet Alex McCall, MD

Alex took a moment to straighten his uniform collar for the seventeenth time since hurriedly donning the jacket in place of the more relaxed and comfortable scrubs that he preferred to wear around sickbay. Alex hadn’t had much contact with the skipper during this cruise and that had been in far more relaxed circumstances than a summons to the ready room, which didn’t seem to bode well.

Racking his brains for any minor misdemeanour that the Captain might have become aware of, Alex glanced over at his Boss who had also been summoned, again not good sign, and hit the door chime.

Cadet Alex McCall, MD

“Enter!” Came the sound of Graysons voice as the door slid open. Inside the room, the CO could be seen standing behind his large leather chair looking out the view port at the stars beyond. As they entered, he turned to them halfway through taking a drink of coffee and brought the cup down to chest level, looking at the pair for a moment.

“Don’t sit,” he said and took the single step that brought him to the desk, looking down and seeming top scroll through a PaDD that was leaning against a stand and facing him. “Right, I see no point in wasting time, I’m sure you are aware why you are standing in front of me.” Without raising his head, Gray let his eyes raise up from the PaDD and settle on the two medical staff in front of him.

Captain Rhodes, CO

Alex tried to resist taking a sideways glace at Daphne as he stood at attention facing the Captain. It wasn’t often that he felt envious of other races, but he’d have given his Doctorate for some of that Betazoid telepathy right then are there so that he could ask the Chief if she thought the Captain how somehow found out about the thing.

If in doubt, pretend innocence until you figure out what you’re guilty of....

“Uh, no Captain, I can’t think of a single reason why.” Technically the truth as Alex had had approximately one thousand, two hundred, and forty eight individual thoughts race through his brain in the 4.8 seconds since the Captain had spoken, but it probably wouldn’t hold up as an alibi under cross-examination.

Cadet Alex McCall, MD

“Really?” Grayson’s voice sounded skeptical.

“How about Graduating and receiving a commission in Starfleet?”

On hearing that question, Alex did a passable impression of a freshly hooked guppy fish but failed to get any sensible sounds out.

He took out a small box from his drawer and placed it on the desk, pushing it across to Alex open, then turning it to face him. In it, was the Pip of an Ensign.

“Congratulations, Ensign McCall. You are going to be a huge benefit to Starfleet and I’m sure you are going to be in Demand on any ship you choose to call home.”

Captain Rhodes

Alex performed possibly his first ever salute that would have drawn grudging praise from even the most hardcore of marine drill sergeants.

“Thank you Sir! I won’t let you or Dr Frankenstein down!”

Ensign Alex McCall, MD

“I don’t doubt it, Ensign,” Gray grinned and motioned for Daphne to pin the pips on him. “Now, go celebrate and pack your bags. In that order.” He smirked again and now sat in his large and comfy chair. “Dismissed, and congratulations again!”

Captain Rhodes, CO