Posted by Lieutenant Bethany Kovra Gadi (Counselor) in Where did I put that? - Shuttle Bay (Tag Reed)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Clinton Reed (Chief Operations Officer) in Where did I put that? - Shuttle Bay (Tag Reed)
(snip)

Bethany nodded in understanding. Reed seemed like a good guy. That’s why the guys were giving him a hard time. She shrugged, honestly she’d never had time for that. She’d been moved from place to place to do her work. There was attraction, but never time for more. There had been between two other members of her team, but the work and been hard and it had ended. At first it had been very hard for both of them and then it spread to the rest of the team. They had all worked through it eventually. But the dynamic had changed subtlety. She took another sip of the coffee. “Someone’s altered the program, and I am eternally grateful for that.” She glanced around again. Habit making her take note of who sat where, with whom, and what they were doing. Observation was a counselor’s first tool. “Ah,” she nodded in acknowledgement. “Counselors can never do with too much humanizing. I appreciate the sacrifice to your reputation. You never know, it might back fire and they’ll think I’ve brain washed you or some such nonsense.” Bethany laughs at her own expense. “So how did an old spacer like you end up with Star Fleet? If you don’t mind me asking? And before you ask, I haven’t looked at the crew manifest in detail. I can tell from the way you move about the ship. Comes form a lifetime in space.”

Lt. Gadi, CNS

Stores set back and chuckled, “Got to have a brain first, Doc.” Taping the side of his head. “And you can’t do anything but elevate my reputation dear lady.” But at the question about his past his expression turned melancholy. “The War…”

Leaning forward and taking a firm double handed grip on his cup. “ I crossed deck from the Merchant Marine after we lost the Tartuga and our escort, The Vigilance picked me up and served with her till they decommissioned her.” He left out the fact that the Tartuga was a family ship and that he had spent three days in an EVA suit in her hulk.

‘The War’ had destroyed a lot lives, and just not by death. There were times that Bethany felt woefully young to counsels those who had lived through it. But Bethany was good at what she did for a reason. An uncanny ability to read a person. Her empathy was an extremely useful tool, but she didn’t need it. Bethany was also descret. The lounge wasn’t the place to pull at old hurts. She’d seen vids of ships destroyed and the rescues of those who survived. Reed was one of the lucky ones, but she wasn’t crass enough to say that out loud. She sipped at her coffee slowly, some times words were needed, and some times silence was better.

“After I got into trouble on Base one five two my old CO pulled some strings and got me a berth on Dresden.” There was pain in his eyes evident but it was well worn, tho newer pain was evident.

Clinton”Stores”Reed, Supercargo

“Well apparently whatever the trouble was, wasn’t too bad. You aren’t in the brig and the crew likes you, and that’s no small statement towards yourself. Sometimes fancy to-dos get their panties in a wad and throw tantrums.”
Lt. Gadi, CNS

Stores started laughing, “Dock side brawls with Andorran merchant Captains dose tend to do that.” Shaking his head. “But we are out side office hours, so don’t let me hog all the lime light. What Is Lieutenant Gadi’s story?

Clinton”Stores”Reed, Supercargo

“Andorians? Oh that’s a whole different kind of tantrum then.” Bethany chuckles. She’d met one or two, she wouldn’t want to get in a fight with them. They fought dirty. “So we aren’t,” she nods conceding the point. “Oh I as a young, star eyed child, with too much imagination. I grew up on stories of the people who fought in the Betazoid resistance. And as things tend to be when young impressionable ears are around, the stories are never told accurately. There was a lot of awe and hero worship that went around. I knew, I just knew I was going to be like those star fleet officers who came torpedoes firing and destroying the base. More I wanted to be on the team that infiltrated the lines and found those in hiding, saving them.” She laughs and shakes her head. “I was young.”
Lt. Gadi, CNS

“We all were.” Saluting her with his cup Stores continues. I’m not saying I don’t want to talk about my past, Doc. My past brought me here, it’s just yours is just as important as mine.” Tho serious the mischievous twinkle never seems to leave his eyes.

“Mr. Reed, you talk when you want to talk. I’m not here to make anyone.” Bethany takes a sip of the coffee, looks in the cup and reaches for more. It had been a long day. “The past is important, just as long as we don’t live there.”

“I got a case of the stupids when I was young and after a memorable argument with my grandpa I left the ship and took a job at Io, so your story starts out better.”

Clinton”Stores”Reed,Supercargo

“Well I don’t know. I did some pretty stupid things too. I think we all probably did. My parents weren’t too happy about me joining Star Fleet. They thought I was too impressionable, my glasses too rose colored. THey weren’t wrong.”

Lt. Gadi, CNS

The older man raised an eyebrow, “ your not the first Officer I have heard express dissatisfaction with what should be and what is when it comes to the Federation, but all of them on the Dres are still fighting for the should be.” Stores took an other sip. “ Your in good company here, even my non Fleet sensibilities support that goal. To that end the senior officers have my support, but the truth is the crew is my family so I do my best to look after y’all.”

Clinton”Stores”Reed, Suoercargo

Bethany shrugged. “Star Fleet wasn’t supposed, at inception, be a policing or military institution. The Federation is finding quickly that was short sighted. And instead of solutions they have been scrambling for bandaids. It’s all good to be dissatisfied, but it doesn’t mean much if you don’t try and change it. ” And that had gotten her into trouble, but she didn’t care. “Family, I have found over the years, is what you make of it, not what you are born with.” She glanced over at Reed taking in his attitude and posture. “I’m sure, Mr. Reed, you take very good care of your family.” She’d meet a few over the years who had been born into space. Reed seemed to be one. They usually had a more realistic view of how things worked, and were good at getting done what needed to be. Forget the wants, that was neither here nor there.
Lt. Gadi, CNS

The smile was some what sad, but genuine. “I have been very lucky in that regard. My family has grown quite a bit.” One can see the twinkle returns to his eyes as he imagines some Mischief. “ Now Mom can be a bit cold, but under that mailed fist is a velvet glove. Dad is a bit ethereal at times but solid as they come.” His voice drops a to a conspiratal tone. “ Brother Isaac is a strait shooter and a wicked sense of humor, wile one should keep and an eye on Aunt Ellie, she will run you down with her chair.” Said with a wink.” Now I will tell you, Aunt Priscilla is mad as hatter! But our Miss Elain is a sweet as they come, but she has a spine of cold blue steel.” Stores eyes were shining as he struggled to hold back his laughter.” Don’t even get me started on the cousins…”

Clinton”Stores”Reed, Supercargo