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 (9) 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.”

“If they are calling you back because you kissed someone then there is a much bigger reason they are calling you back. Kissing is an HR problem and I didn’t report anything,” she stated in a neutral tone. “Besides do you know how many of your crew is hot bunking it with other officers? I do. They tell me all about it during sessions. Compared to them, you are a monk. so it can’t be that.” She could not help but chuckle at the mental image running through her head of Calvin being a Franciscan monk.

“I think you minimize the potential risk. Both of us could get demoted, discharged or reassigned. The first two are unlike but the third is a real possibility. You want to leave the Genny, cause I don’t.”

“I think you are overanalyzing the risk. I’m pretty sure you would not be leaving the Genny if command started an eeny meeny miney moe thing,” she chuckled. “Stop being all doom and gloom. Besides my tour on the ship is up in eighteen months so how much trouble can we get into in eighteen months.” It was hard for Vanessa not to like Calvin Marius. He was the typical Starfleet Captain in and out: reserved, intelligent, and dedicated to his career. There was a ying to every yang however and that Vanessa was that yang. Without a little idealism, adventure, or fun commanding officers would self-impose on some level. It might seem random as to which captain was assigned which counselor but there was a method. Vanessa was assigned the task of ensuring the well-being of the crew and the Captain was an integral part of the crew. The longer she was on the ship, the more she realized how their contradictory personalities complemented each other. Calvin could loosen up and also be an individual whereas she could learn more about restraint and becoming an officer.

“Beside 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.

She let out a small huff of air and rolled her eyes. Calvin could pretend to be gruff and intimidating but he was neither right now in this situation. “Promises promises,” she teased him.

===
*”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 fat 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

Vanessa gave Calvin a sly smile. She was not sure if the modifiers Calvin used to describe Rinker were because of his interactions with him on Betazed or due to Vanessa’s interactions when she was serving under Rinker. “Try going to the academy with them? They tend to sit there all smug like nodding as you talk because they already know what you are going to say but there is a trick.” Turning around she sat on the edge of Calvin’s desk and looked him dead in the eyes. “If you totally let your emotions explode in you and think about that emotion, like happiness, and let it fill you, they can’t read your mental state. It totally confuses them like adding loud background noise. I tend to do it to dick with Betazeds.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.” Calvin was always down for little ways to screw around with psychics and empaths. It was like they had personality cheat codes and that always felt a little unfair particularly with therapists. It was like taking a math test with a calculator.

No sooner did she finish her sentence about interacting with Betazeds, Calvin’s console began to beep with an incoming message. “How about I hop down as you take that,” she stated the obvious. She was in his office to start with due to a request from command for a meeting with both of them at this time. It only stood to reason the person on the other end of the comm call coming in was command.

Vanessa Slade CNS

“Mmmhmm.” He just stared at her. “You get too comfortable Counselor. I don’t care that much, but the other officers would not consider it appropriate.”

Marius

“Like who Officer Ficus over there in the corner,” she gestured at his plant. Vanessa knew that Calvin was worried about her actions in the bigger picture. As a counselor, it was her job to reassure him that any space with her was a safe space. “Calvin I am a good Catholic girl that means I don’t get caught and I have mastered how to behave in public.” Walking around to the other side of his desk, Vanessa picked the seat that would allow Calvin to share his console screen most easily. Sitting down, she assumed what most would interpret as the perfect officer’s pose in a meeting. Without her signature cup of coffee as a fidget, Vanessa opted for the crossed-legged feminine posture that permitted her foot to wiggle as necessary to vent emotions. She wasn’t sure if Calvin had been astute enough to read her poker tell since she was usually sitting with her feet under a table. Depending on what the transmission stated, it could be a new feather in his cap as to understanding his counselor.

“I’ve known my fair share of Catholic girls, and the Catholic girls who made a point of calling themselves Catholic girls were no longer girls and would not fit into the category of good so your deceptive nature was already presumed.”

=/\=Captain Marius,=/\= Admiral McLaren’s calm and slightly amused voice came over the comm signal. As Admirals went, McLaren was more of the macro manager type of commander. Once he picked someone for a posting, he trusted his gut that the person in charge would handle things as needed. McLaren had little desire to micromanage his office staff let alone the fleet he was overseeing. He was mildly curious about how this pair was going to react when he explained the situation and they started the Q and A.

=^=Sir, For what do I owe the pleasure.=^= He said crisply, but it was comfortable at the same time as if crisp was comfortable.

Vanessa sat in her seat and marveled at the way men communicated. It was factual, straight to the point, and brief, and yet there was an informality to the formality. Both Calvin and McLaren chose words that on the surface indicated a positive working relationship and yet was delivered by each man as if they were strangers on the street Since the big people were talking, Vanessa just sat back and observed.

=/\=I know your time is valuable so let’s cut to the chase. Some idiot reporter in the civilian sector got wind of the Sonne Situation and set it up on the nightly news which of course went viral.=/\= Most of Starfleet’s command crew had been appraised on what command was calling the Sonne Situation The gist had been the Captain of the USS Sonne and the counselor had radically opposing views about how to handle the crisis they were sent to mitigate. Instead of working together in the crisis, the USS Sonne crew erupted into a quasi-mutiny with half supporting the Captain and half the Counselor creating a breach in numerous Starfleet protocols. Disagreements among the crew were commonplace. Direct mutiny among the crew was unheard of.

+^=Permission to throw any offending star-fleet officer who might have notified an ‘idiot reporter’ in the brig, Sir>=^= it was a joke and rhetorical question, mostly.

Shifting incrementally to the right, allowed Vanessa to slide out of the frame for a second. It was not me Vanessa mouthed giving Calvin a blank expression. The Admiral was directly addressing Calvin and did not seem to notice as McLaren looked around his own desk for a PaDD. Her brief plea of defense evaporated as fast as it started when McLaren directed his attention back to the screen.

McLaren let out a small chuckle. =/\=Never a faulty hatch when you need one right?=/\=

+^=I can find one. =^= He certainly could and if not he could break one.

=/\=Putting aside our opinions about whether or not our dirty laundry should have been shared with the entirety of the Federation, the fact is we have a problem that needs to be addressed. Our PR department has come up with a brilliant solution.=/\= As much as McLaren supported the notion of transparency in Starfleet, the man was an Admiral and understood not everything needed to be scrutinized by Joe Q Public. The sarcasm was evident in his tone and seemed to thicken the more he spoke. McLaren supported transparency but not the dog and pony show he thought was about to occur.

“Command has decided that to quell public anti-fleet sentiment it would be a good idea to showcase several of our ship’s Captains in a sporting-like venue. Think of it like the old battalion games we played in the academy but it is against just two other teams which would be Captain Kelly Bordeaux with Commander Heathcliff Rinker and Captain Henry Jones with Lieutenant Diana Spencer. The teams were selected based on age, sex, rank, personality profiles, and participation in the War. Given these parameters, we did not have a lot of possible candidates which is how you all were selected.=/\= McLaren knew that no matter how he sold this, none of the teams were going to be pleased with their mission. Still, the reason he was talking to them was because they would obey a command and regardless of how much gruff they would give, the teams would show up as ordered.

+=^=Lovely sir,=^= the tone did not resemble anything that could be described as love. =^=I presume the fact that I have several injuries that continuously flare up that might affect my performance and the fact I really, really don’t want to, will not be a factor in getting me out of this assignment. =^=

=/\= No it will not but quick thinking on that old war injury.=/\= McLaren was finding Calvin Marius rather likable. He was quick with the wit and sarcasm yet contained it well within appropriate levels. He was quite a few years younger than McLaren but the difference was not great enough that McLaren might be seeing the man across from him within the Admiralty one day. The Admiralty was in sore need of men like him.

Leaning back in his seat, McLaren took a very at-ease position as he fiddled with something just out of site. His next comment was superfluous. These Captains and counselors were loyal and upstanding officers. That did not mean they weren’t free thinkers or minced words when they were unhappy with a situation. =/\=Like all good commanders, I am going to assume you have a nip of something in the bottom drawer of your desk. Have a drink with me as I permit you both to speak freely on this. I know I am going to need it, =/\= he ended his monologue McLaren poured himself a measure and threw it back.

Vanessa Slade CNS and Admiral McLaren

Actually Calvin didn’t keep alcohol in his desk in the ready room unless he knew he was going to use it for a special occasion. This wasn’t one of them. He looked slidelong at Vanessa and the stood. “Not in my desk, wait one.”

=/\=So Admiral,=/\= Vanessa directed her attention on the man on the screen, =/\=when you say battalion games, do you mean like football?=/\=

McLaren let out a small chuckle. =/\=Kinda but more boot camp things such as geocashing, 5K, EV maneuvers, HALO jump but with a twist,=/\=

=/\=And you had me until jumping. I am terribly sorry but I am going to have to turn down the offer. Thank you so much I don’t space walk and unfortunately my credentials are expired. I hope that doesn’t place you in a bad position.=/\= Vanessa did sincerely mean this. She had no wish to place the Admiral in a tight spot however just like Calvin has expressed earlier, the probably were not the dynamic duo they were looking for in this challenge.

He actually hurried over to the replicator and make a quick order. He returned with two glasses. Handing one to the counselor. =^=Let the record show that I comply with all the orders of my Admirals.” The glass looked fancy enough and the liquid was the appropriate color of brown giving the impression of a whiskey, bourbon, rye, or the like. Unfortunately it was none of the above, in fact it was a dark colored tea.

The replicator didn’t even produce synthalol in the ready room. He could have gotten it in his quarters, or in the lounge, but at duty stations the computer was pretty resistant and he didn’t have the time or inclination to fight the computer while the Admiral was waiting to toast with him.

Marius

=/\=Oh Ms. Slade,=/\= McLaren’s voice was full of humor and slightly paternal. =/\=That certainly sounds like a you problem versus a me problem=/\= Looking directly at Calvin the Admiral lifted his drink and took the shot.

=^= Its not a problem at all sir. I’m jump school trainer qualified. I’ll get her cleared to jump, or at least tandem before we go on mission. =^= There was no way he was going to go and Vanessa was not. In fact he had every intention to visit whatever discomfort he had three fold on his mouthy counselor. She wasn’t even a commander and she was getting her Captain in all kinds of aggravation.

Vanessa opened her eyes slightly as if pleading for Calvin to step up and point out his Lieutenant was uncomfortable with the current events. Taking the glass Calvin offered, she downed it before choking on it almost uncomfortably. It was that rare moment one experienced when they were not mentally prepared for what they were experiencing. “This is not,” she started but kept the rest of the comment to herself. She was not going to point out that what she thought was booze was nothing more than iced tea. The Admiral stated they were to drink. Calvin complied with that order. Vanessa needed to back Calvin’s play no matter how crazy she looked.

Patting her chest, she put on a very innocent smile followed by a laugh. “Whiskey is not a lady’s drink. Maybe next time we can drink something with an umbrella attached. ” Her act was convincing and typical for what a woman might display when shooting whiskey. It would remain to be seen if Calvin played along and if the Admiral believed it.

Vanessa Slade CNS

=^=Then it fortunate, we are all officers. -^= That was a variation on common refrain in the Marines ‘every marine was a rifleman first.’ In this case every woman was an officer first.

Marius