Posted by 2nd Lieutenant Kelly Pippin (Marine) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by Lieutenant Gabriel “Gabe” McMichael (Strategic Operations Officer) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by 2nd Lieutenant Kelly Pippin (Marine) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by Lieutenant Gabriel “Gabe” McMichael (Strategic Operations Officer) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by 2nd Lieutenant Kelly Pippin (Marine) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by Lieutenant Gabriel “Gabe” McMichael (Strategic Operations Officer) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by 2nd Lieutenant Kelly Pippin (Marine) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by Lieutenant Gabriel “Gabe” McMichael (Strategic Operations Officer) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by 2nd Lieutenant Kelly Pippin (Marine) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by Lieutenant Gabriel “Gabe” McMichael (Strategic Operations Officer) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by 2nd Lieutenant Kelly Pippin (Marine) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by Lieutenant Gabriel “Gabe” McMichael (Strategic Operations Officer) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by 2nd Lieutenant Kelly Pippin (Marine) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by Lieutenant Gabriel “Gabe” McMichael (Strategic Operations Officer) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by 2nd Lieutenant Kelly Pippin (Marine) in Promenade People Watching

Posted by Lieutenant Gabriel “Gabe” McMichael (Strategic Operations Officer) in Promenade People Watching
The rail on the upper concourse. it was Gabe’s thinking perch, as long as he was not having to refer to anything classified at the time he was doing that thinking. It allowed him to conduct his favorite pastime at the same time as he was thinking. The Strategic Operations Officer, was a Voyeur, a people watcher, he enjoyed seeing people go about their daily lives, and used the opportunity to gain insight into the different races and people that inhabited the station.

Lieutenant Gabriel McMicheals, SOO

Kelly found herself wandering slowly along the upper deck. She liked it because there were fewer folks up here. Most preferred the shops and such below. Coming around the corner, she smiled at the lieutenant as she spoke, not wanting to come up on him and startle him. “Guess I’m not the only one… Huh, sir?” They haven’t formally met but the Marine knew him by sight and reputation. “Sorry if I’m intruding. Kelly Pippin, 2nd Lieutenant, Marine. I can leave you be if you prefer.” She was in black leggings tucked into black boots with a sapphire tank top cut tunic that fit her as if custom made to her form. Her arms were bare save for a gold band on her right bicep. Her long hair was down but pulled back on the sides with a small clip.

She had come to learn that those by themselves often wished to remain so.

2nd Lol Kelly Pippin
Marine

Gabe shrugged, and turned from the rail, his contemplative visage gone before his face turned. There was a dimpled grin slowly growing on his lightly stubble covered cheeks. If one looked closely the rough look was manicured, while he did have stubble on his cheeks, it was controlled and not growing as it pleased but within a framework on his face. He was dressed casually as well, loose fitting white shirt of the old style complete with buttons, untucked over jeans that had that worn, comfortable lived in look down over boots that looked as equally worn, and comfortable. Gabe plucked at his collar, and nodded.

“Left the Pips at home Pippin, so it’s just Gabe at the moment. Unless this is work related. What brings you to the Roost?” That was what he called the spot in his own head, and decided it only sounded good there as it spilled out of his mouth. “I am just people watching, and thinking, nothing to intrude upon.”

Lieutenant Gabriel McMicheals SOO

Kelly smiled and moved to the railing beside him. While he had his back to the plassteel rod that kept them upright and not toppling down below, she leaned on it a moment to watch those below. “Gabe it is.” She turned back to him and leaned on one arm. “The Roost… I like that. It fits, somehow.” She smiled and glanced around. “As to what brings me here? I would have to say, ‘just my boots’.” Shaking her head slightly and giving the barest of shrugs, she smiled. “I try and get out of my uniform at least once every few days or so. Try and remind myself there are times I need to stop acting like a Marine and a security officer. It doesn’t always work… but I try. And down there,” she nodded over her shoulder to the crowds on the promenade. “A bit too bustely for me. Though I have to admit, I have never really tried ‘people watching’. I’m lucky if I make it once around the station before something makes me revert back to ‘business mode’ and soon I’m back in uniform or working despite not being in it.” She laughed but it reminded her of her conversation with the new Marine CO… that she had no real life outside the fatigues and weapons and training she always seem to be stuck in.

She quickly lifted a hand as if to ward off a query. “But I think I can assure you I ‘won’t’ go into business mode as we talk.” She laughed as she realized even her promise had the ring of doubt in it. Why couldn’t she just let it go for once?

Kelly
Marine
((With no clue how to relax apparently)) lol

Gabe smiled and shrugged, he thought the name fit as well, it was where he watched the comings and goings, and kept the pulse of the station from. “You can’t stop being who you are, to be who you are, that never works out. I am generally in business mode, just not always in duty mode. For instance I am standing watching the people because it helps me think, and lets me keep track of feel of the populace. Similar to the Security side of what you do, but for me it is, how likely is there to be an issue, can I feel the tide of the emotional level of the Inhabitants. I am part Counselor, part Marine, Part Old Man in the Tower.” Gabe shrugged again, “Not everyone is built to just turn it off at the end of the day. I know that I am not, I often come back to problems and think them through long after the duty day has ended.”

Lt Gabriel McMicheals SOO

Kelly listened and smiled with a nod. “I can relate to that. I seem to ‘assess’ every situation I am in. From dinner, to being in the gym. Seeing who comes in tense, who may have had a bad day and ‘go off’.” She glanced down at the folks milling around below. “I guess I hadn’t considered doing it on a larger scale.” She smiled at him and shook her head. “I guess you learn something every day. May have to find my own ‘roost’ so I don’t start occupying yours.” She laughed softly and watched him watch those below.

2nd LT Kelly Pippin
Marine

Gabe nodded, “No worries, I have more than one roost, and can always share. The Crowds are calm today, no indications of anything major about to happen, or concerns among the populace. The key is identifying the originators of disorder. Rumors start often with the bouncers at that restaurant, and spread in a semi-circle from there. Though other locations have their loci as well. It depends on what I already have indications to look for from the reports that I get daily. Otherwise often I just come here and watch those that can turn off work, do so. I find it interesting. Like take for instance the young human male, seated at the coffee shop. He has been there nursing an empty cup for about an hour. Not because he does not want another, but because he is trying to talk himself into something. Based on his watching of the Booksellers, it is a purchase there, or a less than ethical acquirement of goods from the same location. My money would be on the second, and that he will not talk himself into it.”

Lt Gabriel McMicheals, SOO

Kelly smiled. “Then I accept your sharing. I doubt I could find as good a place on my own, anyway.” She laughed slightly and listened to his talk of the patterns below.

When he mentioned the man in the coffee shop, she tilted her head slightly. It gave her a younger, almost birdlike quality for a moment. “I don’t think it’s an ethical dilemma he is pondering. He isn’t playing with his cup. Occasionally he touches it, but more as if he keeps forgetting it’s empty.” Her eyes narrowed a moment before she finished. “I think if it were a more nefarious thought he had, he would be worrying over the cup. Rolling it between his hands as if in substitute for a weapon or his own clenched fists he would be considering having to use. With a calm demeanor like he has, my guess is either he is pondering a purchase choice, or simply doesn’t wish to return to the solitude of his quarters.” She glanced slightly sideways to see what the man’s reaction would be to her own observation.

It was as if an unspoken game had begun and they were both making up what those below were doing. It would be interesting to see what the man chose, and which of them was right. While she hoped Gabe was right, because of his constant watching and it would mean she learned something about someone on the station, she also hoped he was wrong because trouble wasn’t something she wanted to deal with this evening.

Kelly
Marine

Gabe shrugged slightly as he leaned against the rail once again. It could be either, and only time would tell, or it would not tell at all. While Gabe had the skills to analyze the man down to his choice of socks, that required information that was not readily available. He could get it, but not needed at the moment. It was not like he thought the man was the Assassin known as Aaron Cross. Cross had gone into retirement according to all the latest reports. But he had also at one time had a residence on this very station. Gabe often wondered if he still did under another name.

“Mostly I watch for patterns as I said, but the Profiler in me wants to nail each one down to his deepest intents and keeps that in mind as I watch.” He nodded towards the Mystique club. “Those two, “nodding at a couple about to enter the club, “want entirely different things, he wants to have a good time with the being that he thinks that he loves. She on the other hand wants to find a gentle way to let him down, and get out of the dating arrangement they have.” Gabe leaned a bit more on the rail, “It’s in the way they are holding hands. His fingers are interlocked and closed around her hand, whereas hers are open, and loose. He is looking primarily at her, and she anywhere but at him. An alternate explanation could be that she is trained for combat and does not like the open space, or his entanglement of her primary hand.”

Lieutenant Gabriel McMicheals, SOO

Kelly smiled. “I shall have to be more careful when walking on the Promenade.” She laughed slightly and glanced sideways at him as he settled back against the railing. “I am curious what sort of conclusions you would come to about me with the dossier you surely have on hand.” She was sure there were certain things about her past combat stints he would see like anyone else with clearance looking at her personnel file. But something told her he would also know about things ‘not’ in her files. The one or two events she had been part of that, to all intents and purposes, ‘hadn’t occurred’. She was no great war hero, but being female and trained in combat meant a unique infiltration skill that the brass has banked on, heavily, at one point. Another reason for being way out here in the ‘quiet’ of the space station versus in a more ‘competitive’ arena.

As he dissected the couple walking into the club, she laughed once more. “I ‘do’ so hate it when a man holds my weapon hand. I know it’s a guy thing, but unless you can best me, or have a better weapon at hand than me, I prefer to use my left hand to hold hands.” She was certain he would never hold her hand, but it was an amusing thought. Which also lead to the thought that for him, she would probably sacrifice her right hand… as well as her back to a door at a dinner… trusting him to be the one to raise alarm in case of a problem.

Mentally shaking herself from what was probably a ridiculous, and never happening, scenario, she glanced to him with a query that crossed her mind. “Who is the biggest threat on the station right now, that you can think of? I know there are a couple of Ferengi in the trinket shop that I was warned seem to come across illegal items a bit too often to be ‘coincidence’. But is there any other threat I should remain on my toes for?” She knew he would be the one to ask, and seemed now was a good time to find out.

2nd Lt Kelly Pippin
Marine

Gabe laughed it was a warm thing, real and sultry. It was not an affectation or sham job, that was not his style. “First never assume the Promenade is the only thing I watch” he said with a wink, “Second, the easiest summarization of you file is you are a skilled idealist of a marine, that has tasted what Intel has to offer, but found it lacking, either in the moral turpitude, and anchoring that you hold ideal, or in its lack of rules that apply to everyone. Intel work is like swimming with sharks, and never knowing if you are bleeding. The entire thing can turn frenzy at any moment and you only know to late you are the target. You prefer the more formalized structure of the Marines, and that is not a bad thing, it means at your heart you are a good person, willing to do what must been done when it needs doing. Your skills extend beyond that of a standard grunt, and you endeavor not to be a standard grunt.” Gabe turned from the rail since most of that had been delivered while he still looked out over the crowd.

With a raised eyebrow he took in her unconscious body language. “I prefer not to hold hands, I have never been much about public displays of affection when I am not working a target. I find that it makes the pair a target, instead of the one.” He added to her comments about her preferences. What he did not add was he preferred to be un-entangled since his enemies did not come at you straight ahead, they came at you sideways, and ways you could not predict. So anyone he was with was not only a target, but very definitely a first strike potential target to try and keep him in line. Though she did have something about her, she understood the game somewhat, and he could relax around her, as far as he would with anyone.

Gabe shrugged, “Depends on how you run the Combat Calculus on the subject. The Ferengi, are just being Ferengi, and have their uses but are not a real threat to the station, unless they come across something dangerous, and are overly stupid, but they are a station security problem mostly. I would say, that I would worry about those that seek to make a profit in the destabilized situation we find the area to be in. We are stretched pretty thing out here. As well there are rumors of a few rogue elements on the station that I am trying to track down. Nothing concrete.” Gabe said quietly.

Lt Gabriel McMicheals SOO

His laugh made Kelly smile. It was genuine and something told her that she was among a privilege few who had truly hard it. Her eyebrows rose in laughter as he confessed to watching more than the promenade. “I would expect nothing less from you. But if you’re watching me in other areas then you probably see quite a different person. It’s true, I was in Intel for a short spell. But it wasn’t the reasons you think that turned me back to familiar ground.” She stared of a moment as she tried to frame her thoughts. Her next words were sincerity spoken and held a depth to them that would probably make him think there was more to it than what she said out loud. “I had suspicions about someone. But when I mentioned them, I was told I was overreacting. When I brought evidence, I was told that being female made me see things that weren’t there. When I was told to back off or my career was in the tank, I left.” Her eyes glanced at him a moment as she finished, “The ‘lack of rules’ you spoke of was close to the mark. When there is something wrong with those in charge, and those above them turn a blind eye…” She let the statement lay as she once more seemed to pull that memory back from the surface once more.

“Besides, being a good grunt is what landed me here… To pester you,” she smiled brightly once more. “As to holding hands, I never quite got used to it, myself. It forces one of you too alter your pace or your hands swing awkwardly. Then there’s the weapon thing. And you’re right, when that close and connected, reactions are hard and the tempo of your pair motions makes for eat pickings.”

Kelly was unstated as well. By her reasons we different. How do you come home to a civilian and tell them you can’t talk about your day? How can you explain vague references and speak in terms of generality to avoid saying what you can’t? She had tried once. He accused her off keeping secrets and lying. And those who ‘would’ understand, had never found her interesting enough.

As the topic changed, she relaxed once more. She was enjoying Gabe’s company. Something told her that he was alone for near the same reasons she was… The job.

“Ferengi with volatile items is certainly a bad combination,” she laughed. “But I’m glad the ones he are relatively harmless, otherwise. And you’re right. Those who make a living from disasters aren’t people to trifle with. Because when bored, they’ll create havoc just to revel in it.” As he mentioned he was working on things, she nodded and absently patted his arm, not realizing she done it. “Well if you need any help, lemme know. I’ll be happy to.” She winked and grinned, “and I promise not to hold your hand.”

2nd Lt Kelly Pippin, Marine

Gabe shrugged slightly, “Watching is in my nature, as for the rules, unfortunately Intel is, was, and likely always will be a, what have you done for me lately game. They are less worried about what you doing right now, than the results. Especially for those of us out here on the backside of the dark from those in the comfy offices at 2 Starfleet Plaza.” Gabe said referring to Starfleet Intelligence Headquarters in Paris. Few knew the actual location it was run from, but its official offices were where he said they were. “As for reactions of a pair, that comes down to training, and trust. Once trust is established, and skills are known, then you just stop worrying about what your partner is doing and more about how you are going to overcome the situation.”

Kelly nodded. “I can understand the quid pro quo of it all… it’s the ‘no he isn’t’ mentality when ‘yes he is, I have proof’ is in front of them.” She shrugged and let it go. She was a Marine in her mind, so sometimes the politics and dances of nuances eluded her. Perhaps, with the right teacher, she could learn to be better. But right now, a bad person and liability was just that… a bad person and liability.

His comment about partners made her smile. “I would bet that trust is something we both find hard to find. Knowledge that folks like us have, of the ‘big bad world’ is something others sometimes fail to see, or even believe. It makes being with them hard because you can’t relax if you are trying to be vigilant for two.” The smile was one of understanding.

Gabe was alone for mostly the same reasons, the job, it just was not the Job she was thinking it to be. Gabriel McMicheals was on a different job, one within the one he did daily. He was a hunter, and his prey was deep inside the very organization he sought to protect it from. It made him suspicious by nature, devious by trade, and cautious out of necessity. It was not just his reputation, job, or life that was at stake in this game. “I will keep your offer of help in mind, thank you” that too was sincere. Though he glanced at her sideways when she touched him. He was used to people touching him, it happened often enough, bumps in the crowd, someone thinking they were being friendly and patting a shoulder, or touching his hand. However this was different, and he was quite certain she did not even realize that she had done so. It was a complication, but not one that was horrible. Just one that could be dangerous. “I am less worried about those that cause havoc out of boredom, then those that do so for profit. Boredom can be predicted, when it is for profit it is easier to track, harder to predict.” Gabe said smiling, it was a slow casual thing that flashed dimples beneath the carefully maintained stubble.

Lt Gabriel McMicheals SOO

“That’s an interesting reason. I would have thought ‘boredom’ to be the more dangerous because everyone’s boredom level and reactions are different. If you are doing it for profit, those involved would be easier to connect and track.” His reasoning made her seriously think. It was one of the reasons she made sure the soldiers under her command were never bored. Because with their training, the things they did for ‘entertainment’ couldn’t be predicted. And were often not on the funny side, but on the ‘uncalled for’ list. The fact that Gabe thought just the opposite made her turn sideways to face him completely. “Would love to know how you come to conclusion.” The interest on her face was almost comical. She had just had something cross her mind she hadn’t considered and now she was a sponge wanting to know why he thought that way. It opened a new line of reasoning for her she hadn’t contemplated before and the intrigue was evident on her face.

2nd Lt Kelly Pippin
Marine

Gabe shrugged, “Profiling people is what I do best. So I have lists of the major, and medium players in the game out there. As well I have all the obtainable facts on them. That allows me to build a profile, with said profile, I can fairly accurately predict what they will do with a given stimulus, and how long it will take before lack of stimuli will drive them to create an event or stimulus to work with. That makes them easier to predict. Those for profit have nothing but money to gain or lose. That means that this stimulus may not draw them, or may have been created by them. They are not ideological so predicting it ahead of time is impractical and generally unfeasible unless I know they are trying to generate a profit in an area at the moment. Inherently it is easier to track and prove the ones done for profit. But they are harder to predict and stop. It comes down to what you know. You have Knowns and Unknowns. You have known knowns, things you know you know, known unknowns, things you know you don’t know, I worry over the Unknown Unknowns, the things I don’t know, that I don’t know. Since the known knowns, I already know, and the Known Unknowns, I am working to change, it is what I don’t know I am missing that bothers me.” Gabe explained, it went deeper than that but that was a good summarization in his opinion.

“I could explain it further, but that will take a bit of time, a white board, and coffee” Gabe said as he leaned against the rail looking at her.

Lieutenant Gabriel McMicheals, SOO

While the smile on Kelly’s face broadened, surprisingly what he said made sense. “Then that’s what Marines are for, I suppose. Handling those unknown unknowns when they occur. Right?” She laughed at his white board and coffee comment. “Careful, Gabe. One day I may show up with some colored markers and a couple coffees.” She turned back to lean on the railing and look down at the strangers, friends, colleagues and other passerbys scurrying around below them. “We’ll known knowns are fairly easy to remove the equation, at least for me. If I know it, no need to worry about it. Known unknowns can be deduced, to a fairly reasonable degree, based on location, players and other variables. Escape routes are limited on a space station, less so on a planet, cargo hiding places are the same. It’s another reason I prefer a ship or station.”

She glanced sideways at him. “This station is contained. There are a finite number of ways on or off. A finite number of hiding places. And depending on the dimensions of said hidden object, even more limitations. Information is the same way. Wihin a set populous like the Maggie, we can limit the unknown unknowns to, usually, a more reasonable set of parameters. Don’t you think?”

It crossed her mind briefly that if Gabe were her trainer, Intel might be something she’d consider revisiting. On the downside, if Gabe were to become her supervisor, it would limit the places and times they could meet. And at this point, she want sure it was a good trade off. Shaking the known unknown (whether he was interested in her or not, beyond their current banter) aside, she waited for his response.

Kelly