Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Issac Forgrave (Chief of Security) in Mess Hall

Posted by Ensign James Mason (Engineer) in Mess Hall

Posted by Ensign Clinton Reed (Engineer) in Mess Hall
Posted by… suppressed (22) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>
“Coffee and a chat is a damn fine way to get to know someone; least it is in my book. Sure beats interrogation or an interview. After all, we’re all in this together, no sense in bein’ antagonistic.”

“And generally I’d have to agree with ya Stores. Everythin’s a compromise of some sort; ain’t seen anything I’d call perfect yet. True fer both digital and physical things - ya gotta plan fer the future as best as ya can guess at. And that’s a losin’ game every time!”

James quietly sipped at his coffee, listening to the three officers chat and carouse like a bunch of petty officers. His earlier fears of being grilled or saying something out of turn had quietly fallen by the wayside as he realized that the group simply wanted to chat. He took the chance to take another long slug of the black gold in his cup, thankful he didn’t have to fight a war for it, and then grinned over the brim.

“I don’t know Stores, next I know you’ll know my favorite beverage and’ll leverage it against me,” James joked, a wide grin on his face. “You strike me as the type to be very well informed.”

Stores gufwalled at Mason’s coment, “Na, it’s just when you have been around as long as I have you learn a lot buy just keeping your eyes and ears open, a ship is a rather small comunity.”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

Issac noted that James had… glossed over the XO’s question; and his own, earlier. Mason here seems a bit more relaxed than earlier; but that makes sense what with being new aboard and the XO sharin’ a table with ya. All the same, might see if I can’t get a look at his file while on shift - man’s allowed privacy, but feels a hair different from just bein’ reserved.

“I don’t know Stores, that sounds an awful lot like bein’ sneaky to me! But maybe yer right; I reckon Star Fleet is payin’ us to think, after all. Hopefully that holds true for the enlisted as well, but maybe y’all can comment on that better than I can; my over-educated self jumped on as an Ensign.” Issac looked inquisitively at both Mason and Stores; a twinkle in his eyes betraying his deadpan voice as a joke.

Ensign Issac Frograve, Security

The fact that Mason seemed to have ignored her question didn’t go unnoticed to Manning either. Even though she pretended to shrug it off, Amelia made a mental note to check for the man’s file in the pile on her desk. “It should be the same for Enlisted personnel, but what can I say… I’m the same overly educated category as you, Mr. Forgrave.” Amelia said with a chuckle before taking another sip of her tea. “So what other tricks for staying in the loop have you learned over the years, Mr. Stores? Anything you could teach us?”

Cmdr. Manning, XO

“One would be hard pressed to teach an XO worth her salt anything on that score,” Stores face lit up with a big grin” Now as my ignoble arrival hasn’t gone unnoticed, and I am decidedly non Star Fleet, the junior EMs are more likely to tell me things they have overheard.”

Turning to Issac, “ Nothing sneaky at all, when a grease monkey has his head under a console its easy for folks to forget we are there.”

“Jim, you don’t mind if I call you Jim? Stores turned on Ensin Mason with deadly Ernest “ Might as well come clean, they will fert you out!” Not being able to container his grin “ The X here is likely to make you promise to use your evil powers only for the good of the ship and crew.”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo.

“I’m hurt,” Mason replied with an easy-going chuckle. “Barely on the vessel for a few hours and already I’m grilled to disclose my secret evil powers that I’ve hidden away from Starfleet. Woe to be me.”

The fact that I’ve sliced my fair share of security consoles over the years notwithstanding. After all, weaponized applications of continuum distortion tend to be secured.

Turning to his XO the engineer of questionable loyalties smiled. “As for slicing my way through security consoles, I generally try to refrain from that unless I’ve been requested. Tends to get you in interesting conversations with the command if you do it of your own accord.”

Stores started lafing at Mason’s false earnestness. “ We got a live one X, Cheif beter put him on Alpha shift with me, so I can keep an eye on him!”

Clinton “Stores” Read, Supercargo

Issac joined in with the laughter, before commenting “Heh, as long as Star-fleet’s the only one with root access to ya, I suppose that’s more than fair! And I reckon if the powers that be have any concerns over ya bein’ here, they’ll see fit to let us know as appropriate. As far as slicin’ consoles, I’ve heard there’s an open bounty on exploits; could be worth lookin’ into.” Issac’s face was contemplative for a moment. “Probably best to do that on your free time though; but I sure can’t speak for the Chief Engineer.”

Ensign Issac Forgrave, Security

“That’s the thing with Starfleet, Mr. Mason, we will only take you if we can use your evil powers to our advantage. Otherwise you’re of no use to us.” Manning added with a chuckle and a smirk. “And yes, slicing through security consoles unsolicited does tend to get you in interesting conversations with the command staff. Actually, slicing through any consoles will get you into the same interesting conversations.” Amelia eyed Stores jokingly. “As I’m sure Mr. Stores here probably also knows.” Turning back to Mason she continued. “Now… the question is, Mr. Mason, whether you are interested in having those conversations and how often will I expect to have to have them with you?”

Cmdr. Manning, XO

“Damn X,” Stores said “ Can we just schedule weekly meetings?” His shit eating grin in place “ best to save them up if you expect to get any work out of me!”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

“While I don’t think that I’ll need weekly meetings I don’t think never is the correct way to classify it either Ma’am,” James replied with a chuckle. “Let’s call it once a month more than likely. After all, if I’m doing more often than that it means I’m not fixing up the ship, and if I’m not doing that the Chief Engineer will hang me by my ears.”

Looking over to the security officer, Isaac he thought, he caught the man’s eye and then nodded at him. “Plus if I do it more then that, form or not, I think that Security will start getting nervous.”

James Mason, Engineering

Issac grinned at Mason, enjoying the banter at the table. He was glad to have met the new engineer while off-shift - his own personality was such that he found it more difficult to be social while on-duty; he tended to fall into a more serious mindset. While it worked well for much of a security officer’s duties, it had caused trouble at times when diplomacy was required.

“Well, I suppose in a perfect world we’d all be twiddlin’ our thumbs quite a lot! And I don’t know that I much care for the idea of the ship needing repairs any more than you’d like security breathin’ down yer neck. But I’d sure like to think we’ll all do our part to avoid botherin’ each other, ‘least in any official capacity.”

Ensign Issac Forgrave, Security

Bump,
OOC; any one else wondering buy the mess hall is more than welcome to drop in. If I don’t see you bylines once in a wile I get to worrying.

Getting a good first impression with Security was never a bad idea. James had made that mistake on his first tour, and it had set the stage for the NJP that came later. Here though things were definitely looking up. Other than the ribbing from Stores Mason felt like there hadn’t been anything that went wrong which was strange for his luck.

“I’m sure I’ll find some way to get underfoot to mess things up,” James joked. “Maybe a power conduit inspection that leads to me needing to traipse all over your workplace.”

James Mason, Engineering

“I’d say to try and schedule those things for ‘off hours,’ but I ain’t convinced such a thing exists on a ship. Tell ya what, I’ll have a thermos of fresh coffee if ya can keep the traipsin’ to a minimum!” Issac grinned. “You do that, and in return I’ll try to stick to a minimum of runnin’ through engineering on PT drills, eh?”

Ensign Issac Forgrave, Security

“Good with me,”Stores chuckled”But The Cheif might have some choice words!”.

“But we may have more pressing problems” Noding his head and cutting his eyes tord the XO” X has gone aufly queit, I think she is taking notes.”

Clinton”Stores”Reed, Supercargo.

“Well well, I think you’re right Stores,” Mason joked, before taking a slow sip from the delightful drink he had. He paused for a moment to let his words formulate and come together before continuing. “Completely silent, scanning all of our faces, and being a staff officer? Its clear as day now that you’ve mentioned it.”

He looked around to his fellow officers with a widening grin. “Now, we better not talk about that secret mutiny we’d been working on in Engineering to create the sovereign nation of Cargonia. Don’t want the XO getting any wrong ideas and all. Would be bad for the revolution.”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

“Cargonia, Eh?” Keeping a deadpan face, Issac pulled a small notebook and pen from his uniform pocket and started writing. “And uh, whereabouts were you thinking of starting this sovereign nation?” Issac’s face turned from Mason to Stores, eyebrow raised inquisitively. “Just idle curiosity on my end, of course. I just want to take some notes for uh, record-keeping. Nothing more.” As he spoke, Issac found it harder and harder to keep a straight face; at the last, he gave up, and a sharp grin cracked his stoic mask.

Laughing, he continued “Gotta say, 10 points for the name! I suppose there are enough crawlspaces down there to make it feel like another place entirely.”

Ensign Issac Forgrave, Security

“I can’t take all the credit for it,” Mason replied with a hearty chuckle. “Too much time out trawling the old Net and finding out all the crazy jokes and ideas floating around.”

He paused for a moment to take another sip of the brew before him before looking up to the Security officer. “Don’t I know it. There are enough crawlspaces and dead zone’s on the ship for it to be a whole other beast at times. Perfect for a young sovereign nation to establish itself free from the strangling regulations of the old world and it’s institutions.”

Pausing for a moment he looked up with laughter in his eyes as he looked at Forgrave. “Though if it comes to that, I guess that makes you the iron fist of the ship to keep Cargonia down right?”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

“Damn, Mason I thought coopting the VIP quarters life suport to produce hooch for the lower deck EM’s was rebellious!” Stores laughed. “Good to know there will reasonable doubt when I get blamed for something.”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

“It comes from being a rebellious member of the DMZ,” Mason answered with a wry chuckle and a grin. “Can’t let the authorities think that they have you down or they’ll let it get to their heads.”

Looking over to the security officer relaxing with them he smiled sheepishly and continued in a joking tone. “Nothing against you personally, its just that you’re part of the machine.”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

“‘Part of the machine’ sure beats some names I been called; may even grow ta like it!” Issac chuckled before continuing; taking no offense from the engineer’s comment.

“Iron fist? Naw, I think I’d prefer a more peaceful approach. Maybe start with some trade negotiations, follow up with some mutually beneficial treaties. After all, if there’s enough room for a young nation to form, I think they should be allowed to flourish and grow!” Issac’s smile broadened as he got more into the joke. “Perhaps in the future, we can even draft agreements for mutual aid - after all, should the Dresden be threatened, surely the fledgling nation of Cargonia has a stake as well? I say we welcome Cargonia!” Raising his coffee mug, he toasted the imaginary ‘nation’. “Here’s to a long-lived, beneficial alliance!”

Issac’s face quickly sobered, and his tone took on a grave tone. “However, I ain’t the decision-maker in these matters. Should I be commanded to wage war against the good citizens of Cargonia; or should they offer violence instead of peace, I will indeed lament and protest. But I will not allow the Dresden nor it’s fine crew to be threatened.” Issac shook his head in an exaggerated expression of sadness; going so far as to remove an invisible hat and hold it to his chest.

“We mourn the passing of these fine men and women from the young nation of Cargonia; and lament that she was never able to achieve the greatness that her founders sought. But she will not be forgotten; no, she lives on in our hearts, as an inspiration to stand and fight for what you believe in.” Issac remained quiet for a short time; concluding his ‘eulogy’ with a moment of silence.

“Now Stores… about that VIP life support you mentioned?” Issac’s face again changed, now wearing an inquisitive yet polite expression; marred slightly by the twinkle in his eyes.

Ensign Issac Forgrave, Security

“Can’t jail me for somthing I haven’t done yet, and evidence of any such possible past transgression was lost with the decommissioning and breaking up of the Vigilance.” Stores grinned.

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

Bump, Jo. Hope all is well your side of the pond

Forgrave eyed Stores up with mock suspicion. “Hmmm… how convenient for you. And it’s too much paperwork to jail you on nothin’ but suspicion. But I’ll keep my eyes on you. And who knows? On the infinitesimally unlikely chance we swing by the breaker yard and the VIP quarters of the Vigilance are somewhat intact… maybe I’ll take a quick look around.” Issac grinned broadly.

Not knowing his words would be proffetic “I am sure the Boss is going to turn the Dresden back to zero zero one just to satisfy your profetinal curiosity.” Stores chuckled. “I suspect the Vigilance will take her secrets to her grave” The still is the least of my wories Stores thaught as his grin faltered.

Clinton Stores Reed

“Now Mason, aside from the fledgling nation of Cargonia, you wouldn’t happen to have any indiscretions that ya’d care to share with the group, would you? Maybe a Tribble fighting ring on a previous station?”

Ensign Issac Forgrave, Security

Mason paused for a moment, taking a chance to partake in the warm caf before him before looking over to Forgrave with a more serious look in his eyes. “There was the drinking problem I had on my first tour. There was also the problem with not knowing when to shut my mouth. I managed to walk my happy rear straight into an NJP with that one.”

A rueful chuckle escaped him. “Call a superior officer a less than pleasant name tends to do that to you.”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

Issac was frankly, caught off-guard by Mason’s forthcoming. He took a drink from his coffee to buy time and consider his response. Issac found himself wishing that he knew Mason better; to have more of an idea of what might be well-received. He didn’t want to trivialize the admission, and pandering was anathema to Issac.

“I wish I could say that both of those were foreign to me, but I suppose I’ve… dealt with both of those items myself.” He paused briefly, not quite looking at James as his mind went back to his past. A dry chuckle left his mouth as he considered the similarities of two particular incidents.

A concerned expression quickly found its way to his face. “I sure ain’t laughing at yer expense, James. It occurred to me that in uh, a few incidents in my past; perhaps similar to yours, it took someone telling me to… How to put this politely? ‘Remove your head from your rear.’ Easier said than done, but it was what I needed to hear at the time.”

“To that end, iffin’ you ever want, feel free to find me. Be happy to lend an understanding ear. And good coffee, of course; though I reckon that may not be so exclusive now that Stores here has been tinkerin’ with the replicators.”

Ensign Issac Forgrave, Security

“Company makes it better, I can’t top that. I have also tinkered with the beans so as to not deprive you of the ritual of making coffee, Mr. Forgave. I think The EX can vouch for the value in the ritual of brewing a pot of tea and having a proper tea service.”

Stores set back and looked from one young man to the other. Drinking never been much of an issue for me, but damn if my temper and my mouth haven’t been. Last thing Stores needed was anything that reduced his tenuous control over either his mouth or his temper.

Clinton”Stores”Reed, Supercargo

“My problem was accentuated by the chip on my shoulder paired with a fine DMZ temper, and distilled in the warm loving embrace of cheap hooch that you could hide onboard,” Mason replied. He took a moment to simply take a slow sip of the brew before him and then continued. “My chief knew I was going to get an NJP the day I got on the ship. He tried fierce to change my path but I was deadset on being pigheaded.”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

OOC: Jeremiah, you seem to have posted twice in branching threads… Not sure if you wanted to do so, but I’ve gone and thrown your other post inline with this specific thread for cohesiveness.

Issac sighed. “There’s always a reason, ain’t there?” He said, not unkindly. “And of course, listening to others is often easier said than done. Even if they do have our best interests in mind.”

“But I suppose that’s the upside of sticking around - ya get to learn from your mistakes.”

Issac noted Mason’s mention of the ‘DMZ’ with interest - he wondered if he was referring to the contested area of the Alpha Quadrant. He couldn’t bring to mind anything else, however. That was a subject that had been touched on briefly during his time in the academy, but he didn’t know much about the overall situation; only that it was complex, with each side having their own perspective of what happened. He briefly debated asking Mason about it, but changed his mind. That conversation was better suited for a more private area, if it was as personal a topic as Issac suspected.

Ensign Issac Forgrave, Security

“Sometimes pigheaded is just what we need when everything has gone side ways. Problem his we have to survive the kicks in the head we earn till we learn to tame it.” Stores smiles at the irony of counseling others to moderation and compliance. “ Once we learn to put the boat first, good officers tend to tolerate our eccentricities.” Nodding the XO’s way” Not that we won’t have to pay the price if we betray their trust.”

Clinton”Stores”Reed, Supercargo.

OOC: Thanks Will. The conversation had split and I’d posted in both just to keep on target. You wrapping it into one should help.

Mason nodded along as the other two officers made solid points that hit home after all of his troubles. He wasn’t so sure that this boat had the good officers that Stores was talking about, but that bad officers might make his other interests go easier as well. Nothing like officers who drew enlisted ire to make things easy on a lowly ensign who was sympathetic. Though he couldn’t make that assumption just yet. There was still more to learn about the fellow officers aboard the vessel.

“This is true,” he replied before leaning in. “I do find that superiors tend to tolerate eccentricities much better when they’re backed up with results.”

Ensign Mason, Engineering

“I reckon you’d be right, up to a point. There’s always a line in the sand, so to speak. I guess the trick is knowing where that line is… And yeah Stores, it depends too on who yer talking about. I had a superior officer in the Academy who was.... well, a bit of a hard-ass, to be accurate. We all had to be careful around him - felt like he was just waiting for any excuse.” Issac shook his head at the memory; an exasperated expression on his face. “Just like a bunch of kids, all we learned from him was how to be sneaky.”

Ensign Forgrave, Security

“The trick is knowing when to be hard on your troops and when to lay off,” Mason replied, nodding in agreement. “Or the other classic of playing good cop, bad cop with another officer. I swear every ship I’ve been on has the Good Cop CO and Master Chief, while the Bad Cop XO and Senior Chiefs lurk in the background to make sure things actually get done.”

Looking over to the XO currently present he chuckled and held up his palms. “Nothing against you ma’am, someone just has to get all us slackers in line and working.”