Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Side Sim - Captain’s Ready Room

=/\= Lance Malone. Please Report to Captain Glen in his Ready Room =/\=

Lance made his way to the CO’s ready room, it felt like his academy days when he got called to the Principals office to explain whatever prank had come out of the labs and gone awry this week.

He brushed off his uniform, righted most of his insignia. He looked as smart as he was going to. Nila used to laugh and call him a scruff bag, she wasn’t wrong, but right now it made him feel self conscious.

He really had no idea what the captain could want with him, other than the secret fungus racing he’d been trying to stay out of trouble.

He hit the door chime and waited till it opened and stepped in.

“You wanted to see me Sir.....” He said stopping himself before he could utter the phrase I can explain everything. That always gave the game away.

“Yes, please,” Glen replied, “Sorry to have taken you away from your free time, but I wanted to get all my problems sorted out before we are given a new mission… Would you like a drink? I have a bottle of a Single Malt Irish Whiskey here that Joe Milligan gave me? I don’t like drinking alone.”

Glen poured himself a glass anyway, and waited for confirmation before pouring a second glass.

Lance looked at the Captain as he apologised for interrupting his down time, “It’s fine Sir, I was just catching up on some reading.” He said and his worries increased when the Captain phrased it as sorting all his problems before their next mission Lance had been referred to a problem more than once, actually most of his life, it was usually because of his behaviour, a prank, or just the fact he’d gotten bored and shenanigans had followed. It was never good when the problems word was used.

Then another potential problem came up, “If it’s strong Sir, it’s probably not a good idea, I’m what my friend calls a colossal light weight, I can’t handle my drink and make exceptionally poor decisions…” He apologised, he wasn’t joking his inability to handle drink became somewhat of legend within his class and his last posting. He deeply didn’t want it to become a thing here, he was happy to leave his karaoke singing, streaking and stealing various mascots, washing, and personal items far behind him. “But feel free to drink yourself sir, I’m happy to nurse an empty glass.”

“You seem a little nervous, and I’m not sure why? You’ve been on the ship for a month or so now, so tell me in your own words what you think you have done for the Merrimack and how much success you were able to drive in the last mission?” Glen asked.

• Glen, CO

He was asked why he was nervous, clearly it had been a long time since the captain was a junior officer, when you were a junior officer getting called to the captain was always something to be nervous about. “If you don’t mind me being blunt sir, usually people only get called to the Captain’s ready room for a bollocking, and the prospect of a bollocking tends to make people nervous.” Lance mentally winced as his mouth beat his brain to the answer. It wasn’t untrue but probably didn’t need voicing, but saying sorry now probably wouldn’t help.

Being asked about his first month on the ship, maybe he was here for a telling off maybe not. “The last month, well truthfully I was not looking forward to a space draft. I’d been enjoying my last posting until…” There had been drama in how it had ended, one too many pranks, one to many personality clashes and several other issues led to new drafts for him and his best friend. He’d been angry and unsettled, he still was a little miffed even noe, he’d told himself he wouldn’t make connections. But whilst he missed being with his best friend the still exchanged Comms almost daily, and he’d started making connections here settling in making friends in the labs, starting fungus racing syndicates. “…Well I’m sure you had my Service record sent to you. I think I’m settling in here, I don’t hate space, there are some interesting opportunities here. I’m not sure what I’ve done for the Merrimack… I’ve not blown it up” he said with a slight smile. That was probably the best he could answer.

“The last mission… wow that was an interesting one, there was a lot that could have gone wrong but in the end we had a good result. I think I ran the science station well, I came up with information and solutions at the right times. Even though the ships computers and library seem non standard I managed to navigate them. The whole bridge team worked well I think I worked well with Lt Xavier he’s a good CSO. Spacial anomalies are not my specialist area, but I managed to wing it, I’m a quick study when I need to be.” He said running through the last mission. He paused “Did I do something wrong Sir?” Lance asked curious why the CO was asking him for a mission debrief and not the CSO.

-Lt Malone