Posted by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in I’m Not Lost, I’m…Exploring…Yeah Exploring

(snip)

Gravel smiled and said “You’re h-breath and kisses, eh? Well, I’m about t steal your time, as well.” And he stepped back. “Unfortunately, it’s in a professional way… at least for now. C’mon and have a seat.” and he walked her to his desk and sat down. tapping the desk interface he brought up a recording of an interview. Before he played it, he said “So I want you to hear and see this. This is an interview about a dispute that was heard in the lounge. The person is a civilian, married, one child. Xeno-engineer by profession; studies new tech coming from outside the Federation. He works for the Daystrom Institute, so he has some clout. Anyway… watch and tell me what you think. You down for that?”

Mardusk

She’d let him steal her time whenever he wanted....work? Cara blinked once…she was muddled headed and d@&%it she wanted to stay that way. A deep slow breath and she sat forcing herself to switch gears. “Ya know it’s my day off, right?” she grinned, “Show me what ya got.”

O’Farrell

Mardusk nodded and pulled the conversation between him and the individual in question and put it through the holo-projector an into the center of the room.

Mardusk: “So, Mr. Grenlee-“
Greenlee: “Doctor Greenlee… PhD.” he interrupted, his tone was dripping with condescension.
Mardusk: “Right. Doctor. Apologies. You and Lieutenant Frees were arguing in the lounge. Tell me about that.”
Greenlee: “The dispute was over Engineering principles… I doubt you would understand.”
Mardusk: a small grin around a clenched jaw “Try me.”
Greenlee: “Hasperion’s Principal of Amandagoumaz Frequency Modulation. Know it? No, I didn’t think so. Suffice to say he was wrong… and an idiot. And I don’t waste my time with idiots. And as I apparently have a better grasp of Federation law than the ships ooooo illustrious Chief Security Buffoon, I know you can’t hold me here against my will. Good day.” Greenlee stands and smiles a wholly arrogant smile and leaves

The recording ended.

Mardusk looked at Cara and said “Sooo… first impressions?”

Mardusk

Cara watched carefully, listening to the words as well as watching his behavior. It was a short interaction and not a lot to go on, or so the untrained would think. “He uses arrogance to cover up the fact that he feels inferior. Watch his body language when you called him Mr., nostrils flaired, eyes opening wide, and the tick at the inside corner of his left eye. His title is armor and he doesn’t like people chipping at it, on purpose or by accident. He’s materialistic. His degree for instance. There is no need to qualify PhD over EdD. Neither is superior to the other, but he feels so and needs others to see it as well. The pleasure on his face at reciting the name of the theory reinforces this. Knowledge and words are items he posses, controls, and uses to his advantage. The way he tugged at the cuffs of his sleeves and shrugging, attempting to draw attention to the monetary value of the clothes. He was watching to see if you noticed, and the look of contempt when you didn’t was focused on your uniform, not you. When you failed to look totally bewildered by his rambling of technobabble it made him angry and he lashed out by attempting to belittle you and your position. He sees private work as a mark of success and is offended at a fundamental level that people in the ‘military’ are as smart or smarter than him. He hates being here, and I will go out on a limb and say that he was forced here, but he will tell everyone it was his choice to save face.”

O’Farrell