"Welcome to the Jungle"
Posted on Monday 6 August 2018 @ 17:10 by Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D. & Lieutenant Colonel Kachiko Bayushi
Mission:
Shoreleave
Location: Starbase 306 Shuttle Bay/Captain's Office
2297 words - 4.6 OF Standard Post Measure
ON:
[Shuttle Bay 43, Starbase 306]
Kachiko had reviewed the personnel docket of their soon-to-arrive Chief Engineer. She had serious reservations about the woman's alcoholism and refusal to respect authority, but then Kachiko also had a thing for trying to fix broken people.
The 4'11" white haired woman in her pitch-black uniform stepped back a half step as a Type-XI shuttle swooped into the cavernous bay, nearly bumping the small woman.
When the shuttle had landed, The door opened, and a red-headed woman in an Engineer's uniform stepped off with a largish duffel bag over her shoulder. She looked around and her bleary eyes locked on the woman, specifically to the pips on her collar.. Hell, she thought. That's the last time I drink bloodwine. A two day hangover is no fun, and I have to talk to the XO like this.
Kachiko sighed as the ramp lowered and the expected red haired woman exited the vessel. She stepped forward, "Lieutenant, welcome to Starbase Three Oh Six. I'm Commander Bayushi, the Merlin's Executive Officer."
"Pleased t' meet ya, ma'am," Stephanie said in her thick Irish accent. "Lieutenant Stephanie O'Hara. I understand ya need an Engineer." She unslung the duffel and fished around for a moment with her free hand until she came up with a PADD, which she offered to the smaller woman. "My orders," She said by way of explanation. "From what I understand, there's a lot o' work t' be done."
"You could say that," Kachiko remarked. "Walk with me, please."
"Yes Ma'am." O'Hara sighed and slung her duffel back over her shoulder
Kachiko sighed inside. She could tell that the woman was recovering from her latest bender, "What was it this time, Miss O'Hara? Scotch? Vodka? Aldebaran Whiskey?"
Stephanie looked genuinely taken aback. "I've na touched a drop for 2 days," She was diligently trying to avoid discussing the 800 kilogram gorilla in the room. Now that someone pointed it out, she was sure it was going to be the topic of much conversation.
"And yet your mind is still so frazzled?" Kachiko eyed the woman.
"I had a day off..." O'Hara began sheepishly, as she suddenly became very interested in the pattern of the deck plating. "Two days ago. I underestimated th' residual effects o' Klingon Bloodwine on... Non-Klingons. Suppose that's why I'm an engineer an' na a doctor." She grinned stupidly, hoping that this would lighten the mood a bit. If the Commander's expression was any indication, it had failed spectacularly. This had the virtue of being one-hundred percent true. She was also sure that as such, the Commander wouldn't believe a word of it... And nor would the Captain.
"I am not a hardass unless I need to be, Stephanie. I am very practiced at being one, mind you. I am a Marine Lieutenant Colonel in addition to a Starfleet Commander. I have been around longer than almost the entire brass back on Earth," Kachiko looked to the side and up at the attractive redhead. "I don't want to have issues with you, believe me. I don't like having to chew people out. I am more about getting the job done and treating the rest of the crew as friends, neighbors and even family. Especially considering that we have children aboard, even me."
"Are you following, Lieutenant?" Kachiko asked. They had the time to talk as it was at least a twenty minute trek to the Captain's office in the upper habitat ring.
"Yes ma'am," O'Hara decided if she just agreed with Kachiko, this would probably be a lot easier on her. This wasn't exactly the first impression she wanted to make. She had been in this situation before. Anything she said in her own defense, regardless of weather or not it was true was only going to make it worse. There was really nothing for it but to take her lumps. She decided that adopting a 'shut the hell up and only speak when spoken to' policy would be the order of the day.
Kachiko shook her head in amusement, "Stephanie." The small senior Officer stopped the much taller woman with a hand on her wrist. "Look at me."
Stephanie stopped and stood easy, hands behind her back as she looked down at the XO who was a full head shorter than she was.
When those green eyes met Kachiko's electric blues, the small Marine felt her breath hitch for a moment, 'Q she's gorgeous!' ran through her mind. Kachiko then smiled faintly, "Stephanie, I know that you're running from something or someone. I don't care about your past at least as long as it doesn't compromise the Merlin's security. I... I want to help. I want you to be the best Engineer in the Fleet and a part of the Merlin family. I just don't know how we will manage with your intake of fermented beverages."
"Are you willing to work with me, before we go see the Captain?" Kachiko asked.
Having already forgotten her policy of just a few moments ago, bristled as she locked eyes with Kachiko. She puffed herself up a little, projecting an air of confidence that she didn't actually feel. This isn't the first time she's been in this particular spot either... And it was a button she wished the smaller woman hadn't pushed. "With all due respect, Commander, yer na th' first person t' try an' 'fix' me. Ya can na fix me because I'm na broken." She explained in as flat and even a tone as she could muster, but her voice still had something of a hard edge to it. "I make mistakes. I'm human. Comes with th' DNA. I'll never be a model officer." She clasped her hands tightly behind her back to give her something to focus on to keep her from losing her cool. "What I am is th' best Engineer an' Data Security Expert in th' quadrant. That's why I got th' job. I may na be at m' best right now, But I promise ya this: m' skills make up f'r any o' th' rest o' m' shortcommin's."
"Good," Kachiko grinned at young Miss O'Hara. "You still have spirit. The drink tends to drain that from most."
"Just one thing, Lieutenant," Kachiko continued. "There will be absolutely no intoxication while you are on duty. I expect that you will visit Sickbay to be detoxed before you step foot in Main Engineering at any given time."
"I can not brook drunken Engineers around my engines, Stephanie," Kachiko pat the woman's arm. "I don't want to have to fix anyone, but I am always available to talk to if you need to. I also know that you're running and hiding and I have a very good idea who from. After we speak to the Captain, we're going to have a chat about that."
The reaction she had just gotten revealed a great deal to O'Hara about how to handle interactions with her new XO. Stand your ground and act like you're in control. Act like your former employers.
"I'm na runnin' from anathin'." This was a bald-faced lie, and she was pretty sure Kachiko knew it, but she was still doing her best to sell it, and still looking the XO dead in the eye as she spoke. "I lived on New Sydney. That place is shite and I wanted out. I don' see what's so strange about tha'. I'm here because m' previous assignment was complete an' this is where Command told me t' go for th' next one."
"Lying to me won't accomplish anything, Stephanie," Kachiko was honestly trying to connect with the fiery Irish woman. "I have been to New Sydney. I helped rid it of the Dominion, during the War. I know very well what that colony is known for. I also have extensive experience dealing with 'them' and I need you to be honest with me. They are a serious security threat."
Kachiko then gestured towards the turbolift,"This way."
Stephanie followed, schooling herself to put on her game face. She was starting to develop a full head of steam now, and it did wonders in the area of pushing her hangover away.
The pair finally arrived at the hatch leading to the offices shared by the Captain and Executive Officer. Letting the pair in, Kachiko stepped through into Apollo's office, "Captain, I have Lieutenant O'Hara here."
O'Hara walked into the office and stood at attention, staring straight ahead. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Stephanie O'Hara, reportin' as ordered, sir."
Kachiko was pleased that the young woman had presented herself appropriately. This wouldn't be a case of fixing an officer, but helping her find her way.
John looked up from the terminal displaying Task Group reports and the Merlin's refit status and smiled before standing, "at ease and welcome, Lieutenant," he said and motioned both officers to the guest chairs next to his desk before sitting himself, "so, how was your trip?" he asked, deciding not to mention her service record or the call from her previous CO that he'd gotten.
Stephanie adopted the easy stance. "Uneventful, Sir. As far as I'm concerned, tha's always a good thin'." She floundered for a moment, wanting to address the second 800 Kilo gorilla in the room, but not quite sure how to approach it.
May as well rip the band-aid off now, and get it over with. She thought. She puffed herself up a little, looking him in the eye and, then cleared her throat an' asked "Permission t' speak frankly, sir?"
John looked to Bayushi for a second before nodding, "go ahead, Lieutenant," he replied and sat forward, resting his hands on his desk with his fingers intertwined.
"I'm sure ya could have yer choice o' ana Engineer in th' fleet. Why me? Aside from th' fact that I'm pretty much th' most talented Engineer yer gonna find unless they bring Montgomery Scott back fr'm th' dead, m' service record is... shall we say, less th'n exemplary."
Apollo nodded and regarded the attractive red head before taking a breath and smiling, "Lieutenant, to the former, I expect you to put your credits where your mouth is, I believe you're good, but, you'll need to prove most talented," he said with a grin, "as to the latter, yes, you had your issues, but, Merlin is a ship of second chances. Did you hear about the Marine Captain fighter ops and first aid instructor that was near being drummed out for being drunk, unkempt and nearly looking dead when you were at the Academy?"
"Challenge accepted," Stephanie said seriously. "I'm amazin'. Th' Vulcan Science Academy hasn't been able t' break m' encryption protocols. I hear they call 'em 'most illogical'. There's been noise about rollin' 'em out fleet wide, but I'll believe it when I see it."
The second half of that she had to think about, scouring her memory for little tidbits she'd heard and dismissed over th' years. "I've heard stories, but I never really paid 'em much mind. Ya know how th' Academy is. Rumors, hearsay, speculation an' imagination all piled up on top o' each other."
Barstow chuckled, she's confident, I'll give her that,, he thought then tapped himself in the chest, "in this case those rumors were true, though I did it for a lot different reasons than I suspect you do," he added, "in any case, I selected you because of your knowledge, with the rough edges you'll fit in fine here, I think," he added and slid a PADD over, "welcome aboard, Lieutenant," he said and extended his hand.
Gingerly, Stephanie took the hand. "Thank ya, Sir." she said, shaking it gently. She looked down at the PADD and asked "What's this, then?" She picked it up and began reading it's contents.
"Everything you need to know about Merlin, including the the experimental ICOS A/I and computer core that goes with it," he replied with a smile and let her scan the PADD, "do you have any other questions?"
Her eyes visibly widened and she grinned at the word 'experimental'. "Jus' one, sir. When c'n I start?"
"Tomorrow, Lieutenant," Kachiko remarked from the side. "Before then, I want you to finish recovering from that hangover and then go see Doctor Ki for your intake physical. Once that's all out of the way, I will have you authorized to board and you can get to work."
"Yes, Ma'am," she said, turning back to the XO.
"There's a lot of work ahead of you, Stephanie," Kachiko sighed. "We also have had some serious security breaches aboard since arriving. We will need your to help oversee the security of critical systems. There's also a hijacking threat. A reserve yard had several starships stolen along with two patrol cutters destroyed with all hands lost. This being the second such theft and attack in as many weeks. Please be extra watchful of the yard personnel."
Apollo nodded in agreement and smiled, he and his XO were starting to find that that place where they could anticipate each other, "alright, Lieutenant, dismissed and again, welcome aboard."
"Thank you, Sir," Stephanie responded.
OFF
Commander John "Apollo" Barstow
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin
Task Group 47-A Commanding Officer
Task Force 47
LTJG Stephanie O'Hara
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Merlin
Commander Bayushi Kachiko
Executive Officer, USS Merlin
