Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade (CNS) in Let the games begin…Arrival at the event

Posted by Captain Calvin Marius (Captain) in Let the games begin…Arrival at the event

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade (CNS) in Let the games begin…Arrival at the event
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Vanessa stood outside of Calvin’s ready room with the distinct knot of someone who was about to pay the piper. It was not necessarily her fault that she was good at her job even though she was not that good at it. There were a multitude of other counselors with more experience and education than she and yet her name had been selected. The longer she debated why a new theory began to emerge in her head. Maybe it was not her career that landed them in this predicament but Calvin’s. He had more fruit in his salad between his stint in the Marines and his current career pathway in command than she did. This line of thinking, even if flawed, quelled the butterflies in her stomach as she palmed the door command.

Hearing the chime, Calvin closed his console and waited for it to go through a second round of chimes just to make her wait. He knew exactly who was behind the door before it even opened based on the communique he had just read and the time stamp as to when it was sent. “Enter,” he finally called out mildly curios as to how this conference was going to go.

Entering the room, Vanessa immediately began to chatter about her version of the events instead of waiting for Calvin to pose even a question. “So who did you piss off to drag us into this mess,” she asked in a chipper tone dropping into a chair across from her commanding officer.

Vanessa Slade CNS

“Me,” Calvin replied leaning back in his seat and watched his counselor bop into the room as if he had arranged any of this or called his meeting. “Oh, you are going to say this is because of me and not somehow or in some way caused by something you did?” His tone was accusatory but not necessarily angry. The irritation he felt was directly solely on Admirals Perkins, MacLaren, and Braxton however Slade was involved just like he was whether he liked it or not.

Watching her take a seat, Calvin admired her confidence even if it was slightly out of proper etiquette. “Oh yes, please take a seat,” he gestured to where she had already sat down, “and elucidate on how I am the cause of our summons back to Earth.” Settling back, he picked up his coffee and took a sip knowing whatever she was about to say would be more amusing than infuriating.

Calvin Marius CO

“Because your neck is shiner than mine,” she instantly replied smoothing out her uniform shirt and leaning back in her seat. As a counselor, Vanessa tended to wear more business casual civilian attire during her day-to-day sessions but when she did wear the official uniform, she always opted for the skirt and boots option. It made her feel more feminine and less like a soldier. Even though Starfleet was not theoretically military, they did have a lot of weapons and ships with big honking space guns. Stretching her legs out in the chair briefly before crossing her leg at the knee, she directed her attention squarely on Calvin.

“But still you’re here. It is very common to have someone’s commanding officer come to a mandated meeting, or whatever this is, but I’ve never heard of a junior officer coming to their captain’s.”

“Well there is a first for everything and trust me this won’t be the first time. I tend to speak my mind and according to my last CO forget I am in public,” she air quoted the last bit as if slightly annoyed by the statement. “I have never seen the benefit in not stating my opinion when asked.”

“MMhmmm, this could be a reprimand.” Although he didn’t think people knew that they had gone on a date and kissed on the holodeck and was even less convinced that the information would have reached star-fleet. So he was pretty unconcerned about that, but the military guilt did exist. “Although one make-out on the holodeck would be a pretty petty reason to call a captain back to Base.”

“And there could be a chance,” she let her voice trail off slightly, “that prior to coming to the Genesis,” she hemmed and hawed after stressing her last word, “I might have done a lot of community outreach things like this.” Part of Vanessa wanted to leave it there. The other part of her knew that an omission of the truth was pretty much still just a lie. Shifting in her seat, Vanessa waited for a long as she could before she added to her knowledge of the situation. “Okay, okay, I don’t know if this played any part but there was a Holo crew at the VA the same day we helped Percy and his crew participate in the Paintball game.”

“What? Holo-crew, for what?”

Taking a PaDD off his desk, Vanessa punched a few buttons and turned the screen to face Calvin. On it was a video about the event she had just brought up.

He rolled his eyes at her, “If you pulled me into one of your capers.”

“Capers,” she let out a half laugh. “What are we sixth graders.” Vanessa was beginning to see why several people suggested she take the Genesis as an assignment. The crew was fabulous but a little too toe the line. They needed a little more spunk in their daily lives that didn’t involve fleet reports or astronomical oddities to scan. Calvin was a Captain but he was also a Marine. He might not be looking for the bombs and explosions but a little adventure and excitement would spice up his days and take him out of his same old same old routine. “Besides everyone needs a little slice of Slade in their day to day,” she laughed.

“And,” she held up a finger, “the last thing I need is my family learning I am not on Vulcan so this might be a case where a superior officer has to help his junior officer out but we can get to that later.” Pressing the start button, Vanessa deftly avoided the I need you to lie to my parents conversation that Calvin would probably counter with what are you ten comment.

“No, but you are about to be an ensign.” He said flatly.

===
*”I heard you had a big day today. Can you tell me about it,” a long-legged reporter bent down slightly to give the little boy a chance to speak.

“Yes,” Percy said with the exuberant enthusiasm that only a child of ten possessed. “It was great. We always lose but this time Nessie brought someone to help.”

“You mean Lt. Vanessa Slade of Starfleet Counseling Services and Captain Calvin Marius of the USS Genesis,” she expanded on Percy’s comment.

“Yes but we called him Mr. Griz because he was huge like a Grizzly Bear and just as tough. There was no way we could not win so he became our Captain. Nessie said next time we play no matter what the outcome we were going to get pizza and soda The voice came from a kid about four and a half feet tall with large eyes and a mop of brown hair with a smile that spread from ear to ear.

Moving the voice recorder up the reporter looked at the elderly man standing behind Percy. The man had to be pushing ninety with the wrinkles of a hard life crisis crossing his face. Age had withered away his muscles but he stood tall and proud. “I can’t thank those two enough,” the man’s voice broke slightly and he appeared to be choking up. “It has been hard but sometimes people just make things easier. I can’t do what they did for my grandson but I can say thank you.”*

===
The transmission ended and Vanessa looked at Calvin. She had not expected a Saturday event to hit the local news but everyone was always looking for a feel good story and this had all the elements. It was not that big of a surprise it hit the six o’clock community news. “Guess you are famous,” she said with a smile.

Vanessa Slade CNS

Calvin rolled his eyes so hard his neck went with it. “Are you Fn kidding me Slade. I have no interest in this. Isn’t there a war going on somewhere that the news would be better off informing the galaxy about.”

“Probably but people need more than blood and gore on their holovisions at night. Too much of it and it can desensitive a person.” Vanessa did not walk the strict line of video games rotting kids brains but she balanced the everything in moderation path. Nothing of one thing was ever good. “People need to know what they are losing but also remember what they have. Both are easy to forget unless you are reminded of them. Besides you command a science vessel. It is not like they are pulling you from the front line for PR work.” The comment was slightly chiding and yet true. Starfleet command would salivate at the chance to put Calvin into the command seat of a combat-designated ship. It was Calvin who chose to take a more relaxed command.

“Yes they need fake gore, of a bunch of 10-year-olds fighting seventeen year olds… plus a thirty something and a grandfather....”

“This could go the other way and be the story of the Star-Fleet captain who, while one duty, decided to be a ringer for a personal under 18 team and beat up on some teenagers. First they build you up then beat you down. Fame is not something you want as an officer.”

Marius

She debated about twisting his words around to show the positive, however, Vanessa was learning more and more about her CO. “They want you in this because you don’t want the fame or notoriety that comes with it.” Walking around the side of his desk, so that she was standing next to him. Tapping the console opening up her comms, she brought up the file about the event. “Captain Bordeaux and Commander Rinker. Captain Jones and Lt. Spencer.” She rattled off their names and leaned on the desk looking at him. “Know what they have in common with us? All highly decorated commanding officers with a penchant for being honest, dedicated to Starfleet, and willing to tell Starfleet to kiss their ass when the wrong call is being made. You want to make Starfleet look good through your actions. You are the perfect candidate. Also because you are the polar opposite of your counselor. I don’t know this Kelly Bordeaux past her reputation but I know Rinker. He balances her probably. I am the perpetual cup of sunshine and you are the realist.”

Vanessa Slade CNS

“This is how I became a sergeant, then an officer, department head, XO, and then Captain. The way it seems to be going there is a hell of a lot of important things in the world that they want to give to the guy who doesn’t want it.” Which was partially untrue. Calvin didn’t have much of a motivation to be promoted, but he did have a strong sense of responsibility so it was two somewhat contradictory motivations.

“The little guy, Rinker wasn’t my counselor. He was more my counselor’s boss. I met him a couple of times on Betazed. Why any of those mind readers need a counselor with all them doing that wide eyed talking without talking, BS.”

Marius