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Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in recurring side-sim: Sausage and Scuttlebutt

Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in recurring side-sim: Sausage and Scuttlebutt

“Aye,” the Captain nodded. “I was impressed by how the crew reacted. I suppose if nothing else it provided us with a live practice drill, a chance to see how everyone works together as a team. It was almost enough to make me feel comfortable about this upcoming mission,” he laughed, dryly.

“But a joint training session sounds like a sensible idea as well. I’ll have a word with Manhattan, see if we can put something together.”

“Zachariah, be very careful with Manhattan. He’s competent, and good at what he does. But if he thinks he’s in charge of this, he will take it. If that is what you want, for him to run this joint training I have no doubt he will do an excellent job, but if you do not make sure that is clear. I would also advise against it because the two crews: Star Fleet and RTF aren’t comfortable with each other. I suggest you do it, over see it and be there to observe and ‘command’ the training. It will provide unity. RTF recognizes they report to you ultimately and if Manhattan were unable they would answer your orders without question. Star Fleet officers won’t answer to Manhattan at all BECAUSE he is RTF. And it won’t do to have someone who has duel loyalties. Neither section takes kindly to them.”

The captain nodded in realisation that he was yet to have more than a passing conversation with Captain Manhattan. He’d have to right that as soon as his schedule would allow. But Casela spoke the truth on the allegiances of the crew and the whole thing made him feel decidedly uneasy. A house divided against itself cannot stand and all that. Cobb blew small ripples across the surface of his coffee as he considered the matter further.

“It’s not how I would chose to run a ship,” he offered at last. “Two teams, one home base. It’s a recipe for pandemonium, sure enough. But what else can I do? So much of the ARU’s research is classified far beyond my reach. Even with special access,” and here he winked at the Counselor, recalling her earlier offer, “it’s not a sword I can wield out on the open plains.”

He put down his cup and ran a hand through his long hair. “But okay, I’ll take a closer look at this training session. Throw my rank around a little, eh?”

She took a sip of her coffee, “The science department is going to be shut down, by me.” At Zachariah’s look she chuckled. “Only McHarrie and Polizzi have shown up for psych evals. I’ll send a note when I leave here, but we’re only a day out and I don’t know about you, but I’d rather an ARU team that is mentally stable, and until they show up I have no way of knowing that. And according to regulations” Casela sneered the word, “they can’t be cleared for duty. We’re too close to Paulson for them to be overlooking this. There are a few DH’s that are lacking those evals as well. I’ve given those in Engineering some extra leeway, they are working over time and need sleep more than another meeting at the moment.”

Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Zachariah allowed himself a chuckle. “Aye, Commander GLaDOS, she’s…well,” he cleared his throat then shot the Counselor a wry glance from over his coffee cup. “Well I don’t see her submitting eagerly to a psych evaluation, that’s for sure. Not that I’m giving her clearance to get out of it,” he added with lightning speed, lest he too fall foul of Synthi-er’s tolerance regarding his own mental state.

Casela didn’t even need to be telepathic to know what he was thinking. Her look conveyed a slight humor at his worry, but by now he should know he was in the clear with her. “Cmdr. GLaDOS is an interesting conundrum as far as counseling regulations go. But hers should take very little time. Fenrir is enchanted by her. Probably because they both are more AI than anything else.” The thought of Fenrir reminded her of Ryder’s flippant and uncalled for accusation the night before and her face darkened momentarily. That man drove her crazy. She was finding a way to get away from him, but getting a transfer order from Cobb was not likely to happen.

At the mention of the spy-dog, Cobb’s face turned sour and he huffed into his coffee. Well, the thing might be enchanted by GLaDOS, but it certainly had no love for the Captain. And that feeling was most decidedly mutual.

Casela raised a brow, reading Zachariah’s feelings from his face, “Fenrir, or if you prefer, the AARM, is a machine. Nothing more. I’ve used them too much perhaps. I’ve often only had a KAI of some sort as my backup, but in the end they are only AIs. Think of it as a mobile computer system. Tell me honestly,” and Cobb could tell Casela as being sincere with him, “if he bothers you that much. There are times he may be on the bridge or anywhere with me. If it is I will be sure to dismiss him. I know they can be disturbing. In some ways, in most actually, I’m more comfortable with the KAI-9s than I am with people.

“He doesn’t bother me,” Cobb made a desperate attempt to claw back his dignity after the reveal that he was afraid of a damned machine. “I just…wonder what he…it…is thinking, is all. What’s it looking for? What’s it monitoring? The crew? The captain?”

But deep down he felt a certain affinity for their former Borg Science Chief in this matter. He too had spent far too many years of his career being poked and prodded and scrutinized by men and women in white coats. As a commanding officer he appreciated the importance of the task. But as a mere sentient being he would never quite shake his uneasiness around medical and psychological practitioners.

“Present company excepted, of course,” he accidentally completed his thoughts aloud. Then with a duty-laden sigh concluded, “I’ll have a word, express to them the importance of these evals and being cleared. Engineering too. I know they’ve been pulling double, sometimes triple shifts, but that’s all the more reason for us to monitor their health and mental faculties.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

When Zachariah finished his thoughts out loud Casela laughed, a rich light-hearted sound. Not something she did often. “Present company excluded, I can’t stand command officers.” She shook her head, “The engineers are coming in, just slowly. I’ve sent the other counselors to speak to them while they are on duty. It cuts down on how much of their time is spent working. They are all very cooperative. Not that I think that science is purposely avoiding it, not yet. They are just wrapped up in their experiments.” Casela took a long swallow of her coffee, and glanced at Zachariah over her cup, very serious, “And though normally I would accommodate and go to them, I have NO desire to go into those ARU labs. I don’t consider myself squeamish, but I’m just not doing it.” She took several more bites of her breakfast.

Zachariah nodded. He’d been meaning to schedule a tour of McHarrie’s Abell research lab and had found himself procrastinating over it all week. He’d told himself it was because the mission took priority. And while that was certainly true, the Counselor’s words made him silently question whether he too had more personal reasons for avoiding the place.

“Yes, well, I’m the captain,” he stated at last. “It’s my job to know everything that goes on on my ship. And that includes whatever McHarrie is keeping in those containment tanks. These walls might be pure tritanium, lass,” he wrapped his knuckles on the bulkhead to his rear, “but we have no idea if they’ll keep those things at bay forever.”

Casela remembered. She’s been waiting for Zachariah to message her. “Just tell me when. I’ll go with you if that is still your wish.”

“Lt. Hampton has made the shield you approved for the away team. It should protect from the oscillating frequency and Doc Fey has prepared something to help protect the minds and bodies of the team. She has requested a body for autopsy so she can better determine what happened. She’s setting up a containment area. I’ll download personnel, duty, and personal logs when we get there, and see if it sheds any light.” She finishes her coffee. “What about the other departments? Any progress from them?”
LT. Synthi-er, CNS

“Autopsy, right.” Cobb readjusted his position in his chair, as if the subject of the doctor’s corpse requirements made him uncomfortable. As indeed it did. “I mean, these are civilians we’re talking about, Cas,” he exhaled. “Or, at least, they used to be. It just doesn’t seem right handing them over to the doctor to…”
He shuddered and for a moment all of the pre-cookie fears and insecurities about Kastil returned to dance across his face. But gathering himself quickly, he shrugged and concluded, “I suppose it is for the greater good. For science.”

“Zachariah,” Casela said his name so he would look at her. “We both know, by now, Doc Fey is an amazing person. She would never desecrate a body. If this was a normal ship and the crew of the Eisenstein had been hit by some kind of viral plague, an autopsy would be done to determine cause of death and anything else that might help the medical crew. Have a little faith in her. She’s brilliant. She’s not doing it for science but to save the rest of us.” If he could’t trust the good doctor then what did that say about Casela? The doctor was a much better person than Casela would ever be.

“Now, I am in no way questioning the doctor’s character here, Cas,” Zachariah stressed. “It’s just that, oh I don’t know. But to desecrate a body like that, I mean, it’s sacrilegious.”
A pause, followed by a laugh that fell short of covering the man’s shame. “Would you listen to me. All full of portents and superstition like a damned fool!”

Clearing his throat, Cobb straightened in his chair, his hands almost subconsciously straightening down his tunic. “Of course the doctor can have her body. And I will be very eager to see the results.”

His coffee drained, the man tore himself away from the comfortable chair and meandered over towards the replicator. “As for the other departments,” he continued talking whilst obtaining fresh coffee, “I’m still to get a report from science on their guidelines for the away team. I was hoping to have it before I briefed the team later. But I’ll just have to get someone from the science department to present it to them then. So whatever they’ve managed to find out about this thing will be as much of a surprise to me as it will be to anyone else.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb
  Casela didn’t like that. Science should have reported something by now. “Oh and speaking of science and access to such things. I’ve…done some digging. You have a rather high clearance already. I have a favor I can call in, and I’m willing to use it. Do you want Abell access? I can get it for you, and make sure NO ONE on this ship can lock you out.” She’s sure what Ryder would say about that, hmmmm…she could just break into that locker and take her stuff. She had the codes for it. Maybe she would. She’d made the offer, she’d tried to make a compromise, but compromise mean give and take on both sides. If he couldn’t she’d just go get her stuff.
  Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Cobb’s eyes widened and he began nervously scanning the room, as if a hundred eyes and ears were lurking in the shadows. “Cass, look I…” he exhaled, fiddled uncomfortably with the corner of his desk, his nail digging into an already worn ridge. “Do you have any idea the trouble you could get into if anyone knew about this? The trouble I could get into? They shot people for less, once upon a time!”

He drained the last of his coffee and for a few moments simply stared, blankly, out of the window to his right. Then eventually, his eyes found hers once again and, with that now-familiar mischievous twinkle, he added more quietly, “I’d love to know everything we’ve got contained on the ship though.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb