From: rneces@mastnet.net (Lynnaea AelCaymarth)
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 20:59:01 -0600 (CST)
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Let's Try This One More Time, Shall We? 

SD 90301.0515
MD 02.0705
Scene: XO's Office
---- Previous Post: 
>He stood, signaling an end to the meeting.  "I trust you are 
>starting to get to know your department?"
>
>"Yes, Commander."
>
>"Know your people.  They're the ones who will save your life."
>
>She nodded.
>
>"Dismissed."
---- New Material: 
        Aelyria stepped quietly from Brennan's office, rather sick with
herself.  
        *How could I not have known that?  Jesus Christ.  Why don't you just
go sit in the Captain's seat, if you've got enough chutzpah to turn in
department reports for everyone else?* 
        She walked -- well, maybe _stalked_ would be a more appropriate term
-- back to her quarters, digging the heel of her boots into the flooring
with every step.  Every thought was a heated self-rebuke to herself.  
        And when she was inside her quarters, the intense flush of
embarrassment she'd suppressed all along came rushing to her face.  She
pressed her cheek against the cool metal wall and tried hard to remain calm.  
        *I'm starting to feel like Lt. Murray.*  
        She took a lukewarm shower, the slight chill of the water clearing
her mind and cooling her fevered skin.   When she was done, she sipped at an
ice water and reviewed her reports again.  *At least Brennan was kind about
it... God, I appreciate that.  Some of the instructors back at SFA would
have chewed my ass ... I think we'll work well together.*  
        *IF I can ever learn to get things straight.* 
        "Keyrin to Torr."  
        <>
        "I want a Level One diagnostic run on all Security/Tactical systems." 
        <>
        "DON'T question, just DO it,"  she barked.  "Level One, Torr.
Immediately.  And the results on my desk the nanosecond they're done."  
        A pause.  <>
    
        Aelyria ran her hands through her hair and sighed.  *Have I died and
gone to hell?  ...
        ... I hear it gets worse during actual combat situations.  Holy
bejeezus, remember to tell the CMO to grab the prozac hypospray when we head
to Yellow Alert.  Maybe I can make it a permanent part of Torr's arsenal.* 
        She checked her messages.  479 of them left.  She snorted.  *Not in
this lifetime...*  She skimmed subject lines for important looking ones, or
messages from people she actually cared what they told her to do.  Like
Brennan or the CO.  *That* was important, not... she squinted her eyes.
Certainly *not* Petty Officer Gzcinskawalski introducing himself.  She'd
read that message when she encountered that nonexistent, abstract concept
called Leisure Time.
___
MD 2.1130
CSO's Office
___
        Torr stood before her desk, an array of PADDs between him and his
superior officer.  Today hadn't been easy for either of them, he judged.  
        The new CSO was a decided paradox.  Neither he nor anyone else in
SEC/TAC quite knew what to make of her.  The green newbies were absolutely
scared to death of her, and most of the rest thought she was a maverick.
Only he and a few of his friends within the department had gotten to know
her well enough to see past her (many) idiosyncrasies... 
        Keyrin was driven, yet laidback.  In deadly earnest, yet wry.
Friendly, yet aloof.  Beautiful, but deadly.  Torr had practiced with her
twice in holodeck simulations, and her hand to hand combat skills were
nothing short of awe-inspiring.  She had some sort of ancient martial art
she used.... he frowned, trying to remember what she had termed it.
Ninjitsu?  That was it.  Whatever it was that enabled her to snap the necks
of holographic attackers in time to land a throwing knife in the spine of a
retreating enemy was what she had mastered. 
        And considering that she hadn't been there but a matter of days, she
was already earning his respect.  Oh, she was having a rough start, but she
was quick on the uptake, and didn't have to be told anything twice.  She'd
do well, he thought.  If she'd just learn to - 
        Aelyria gave a final nod.  "Excellent.  I'll want Level Threes run
again two hours before launch.  In the meantime, we have to plan these
drills..." 
[Three hours later, XO's Office.]
        Aelyria grinned weakly at Brennan as she gave the final report,
praying that *this* time she'd gotten it right.  One mistake was forgivable,
but two was incompetence and could not be tolerated.  
        "Security personnel is short one or two stragglers, but we've had
notification they're on their way and will be aboard within the next 6
hours.  Supplies are ample.  Level One diagnostics indicate no problems
detected;  Level Threes will be run on all systems again two hours prior to
launch."  Aelyria allowed herself a small smile.  "In the meantime, I'm
planning *copious* security drills, training sessions, and other activities
to make sure my staff is in prime form.  Weaponry and defense looks fine,
but as I said before, I still want to test it.  All personnel have been
issued standard weaponry;  it has been checked for proper installment."  She
let out a forceful sigh, blowing an errant strand of hair off her face.
"And I believe that takes care of that."   She paused, and looked carefully
at Brennan's expression.  "Unless you have something else you'd like to
know, sir?" 
__________
NRPG:  Takako:  Hope this does it... 
All:  Backpost about the dinner party and the Rabid Chick from SEC/TAC's
appearance coming next.  Expect it tonight or tomorrow morning.  

Respectfully submitted, 
Lynnaea AelCaymarth, aka
Ensign Aelyria Keyrin
CSO, USS CHESAPEAKE
___________________
rneces@mastnet.net

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