The Olive Branch

Posted on Thursday 10 December 2020 @ 22:14 by Major David Scarlet & Lieutenant Breana Rathburn

Mission: A Whale of a problem (We're going to need a bigger boat)
Location: Engineering Main Office
Timeline: MD9 1500
933 words - 1.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Scarlet grumbled to himself, not over what he was about to do, but to get it out of his system and calm his own nerves. He wasn't a nervous or even anxious man but sometimes he did things that he generally didn't want to do. This was one of them. He stared hard at the door for a moment and gripped the padd tighter in his left hand.

Reaching up he pressed the chime to the office of the Chief Engineer. His arm snapped down to his side quickly and he composed himself in his usual stoic manner. This was just in regards to training the crew. He could work past their initial... difficulties. To him, this was down to her to work past them as well.

"Enter" Rathburn said without looking up from what she was doing. At least not at first... as she heard the door whoosh closed behind whoever entered she looked up and gave an eyeing look. "Don't shoot.... " Although there was a slightly teasing tone to it as she tried not to smile. After all, she actually understood he was just doing his job and hadn't known it was a drill. But still... somethings on just doesn't live down for a while.

Scarlet looked down at the padd in his hand and back to Lt. Rathburn. "Not with this anyway."

She smirked a little at that and motioned to the black leather chair across from her. "What's up?"

"I would like your help with a training scenario." He said firmly before adding. "That doesn't end with someone in the brig."

"And no one shot?" She teased again before getting serious and pulling up a screen on her computer. "So what were you thinking? Since clearly your not a fan of my way of thinking." Rathburn added as she leaned back a little in her chair to study him fully as they talked.

"I can't promise that." Scarlet said before he offered Rathburn the padd he had been holding. "But I will say that we will get some good metrics."

Taking the Padd from him, she started reading though everything as she listened to what Scarlet was saying.

"We can track reaction times, casualties, and collateral damage." Scarlet said as Rathburn looked over the padd. "Aside from these metrics I need tracked, the only thing I request is that you inform the attached list of people it is a training exercise. The teams themselves will still have no idea, and will be issued modified phasers to minimize injuries."

"Well that takes all the fun out of things." Breana teased as she nodded to his reqest to make sure she informed all the proper people.

"Aside from that, you would have free reign to come up with scenarios that aren't in the training manuals. Once the training exercise is done, we all sit down and debrief over what worked and what didn't."

"Free reign hmm....." A slow smile crossed her features. While she would follow his rules. Did he really think she would make this easy on him? "Alright, give me a chance to think something up and then we can have our fun." Rathburn was already starting to ponder a few different idea's.

Scarlet nodded and was about to turn and walk out when he hesitated. His meeting with the councilor was still fresh in his mind. "I would also like to say that... it was incorrect of me to recoomend you be placed in the brig."

She couldn't help the slight quirk of a brow hearing what he'd just said. Really... he was getting all nice? Now what was she supposed to do? How do you poke fun at someone when they are.... nice..? Nope, she wasn't going to let that happen and smirked a little. "Stop trigger fingers, If you get all nice and sappy I'll have to tease you about being a pud, and I like trigger better." Breana replied before continuing. "It was a crazy test run, everyone was a little high strung. I didn't hold it against you for that threat and I'm pretty sure Doyle liked his time out. So chill out would ya."

Scarlet gritted his teeth and bristled. "I was doing my job. And right now I am trying to be the bigger person and spare you feelings instead of telling you that if that first training exercise is any indication of your engineering skill then I am very surprised we haven't blown up yet."

Well now she blinked and looked slightly taken back for a moment before giving a little shake of her head with a roll of her eyes.. "Pud" She muttered before eyeing him a long while. "Did you not just hear me? I agreed that you where doing your job, So this whole... sparing my feelings thing is, I'm assuming, just you trying to make you feel better? Because really.. I was over it. Not the first time I would have spent time in the Brig and likely wouldn't have been the last time. As for my engineering skills the Command team hasn't had any issues with them."

"Turning back to her computer, she eyed the reports that had popped up. "Have a good day..." Her voice trailed as if biting back calling him Pud again.

His eyes narrowed as he contemplated Miller's recommendations. Rathburn might inspire loyalty in her crew, but he'd still be damned if that meant he had to deal with her.

"Same to you." He said coldly. The venom dripping from his words. He turned and briskly walked out of the office.

OFF