<Snip>

“The Chief’ll be back in a few minutes. Just went to check something. New guy, huh?” She eyes him in a blatant appraisal and then said “So where you coming from?” A voice like rolling thunder came from the door to the passageway and said “You can get to know him after his check-in, C’treb.” Walking into the Security Center was a massive Orion. Over seven feet tall and built like a wall of muscle, the gigantic green-skinned figure looked down at Flexwood and said “Lieutenant Commader Gravel Mardusk. You must be the new CPO they sent.” and he stuck out a truly massive hand towards the enlisted man.

Mardusk, CoS

Jacen was about to respond to the NLt when a powerful voice cut him off. He turned to see the large green skinned Chief of Security walking towards him. The man was large even for Orion standards. A smile crossed Flex’s face as a thought occurred to him, he was usually the largest person in the room and he would look average by comparison to the COS.

He shook the offered hand. “Yes sir. Jacen Flexwood, pleased to meet you Commander.” The COS’s grip was as strong as you’d expect from a man of his size. To someone younger and less experienced it might be intimidating, but Flex had learned a long time ago that there was always a bigger fish in the ocean.

Flex

Mardusk nodded and said “C’mon. Follow me.” and he led the CPO through the door marked ‘Chief Of Security’.

Flex fell in a couple steps behind the COS and followed him into the office.

On first glance, the office was both similar and different to any other office. The floor wasn’t carpeted; instead being a texured , non-slip surface like that found in Engineering but lit from underneath giving the room a somewhat softer lightning than most. Some shelves around the room had their own brighter lighting with various things set across them… a Jem’Hadar helmet with a massive crack running the length of it… a well used and cared for bat’leth… and piece of warped and blackend metal. Mementos of the Chief’s past probably. Then there was the standard small meeting area nearest the door with a table and five chairs, one substantially larger than the others. But as one’s view moved further into the room and reached the desk at the back, things changed. The desk was at least half again as big as a normal one.

As he entered the room, his eyes did an unconscious sweep… left to right… high to low… He took note of the various pieces of memorabilia chronicling the large Orion’s past. He was sure that each of them must come with an intriguing story for another time.

Mardusk moved to the back of the office where sat a large desk against the back wall with two chairs in front of it. “Have a seat.” he said as he sat down and jabbed a thick green finger at the desk interface.

Jacen took a seat in the chair on the right.

“So… Marines and now Fleet, huh?” he said as he reviewed the file. He looked up and said “Gotta say, Chief… that doesn’t work out too well in my experience. So tell me… what’s the difference between the missions of Fleet Security and the Marines?”

Mardusk, CoS

“To be concise sir, Fleet missions are much more diplomatic… where as many times by the time the Marines get sent in it’s shoot first and ask questions later. In my experience, Marines being sent in means that for one reason or another the Fleet mission was unsuccessful.”

Flex