From: Takako Nagumo
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 1997 18:45:56 -0500
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Putting the (Dinner) Pieces Together
SD 90209.2325
MD 01.2030
Scene: XO's Quarters
Daniel came out, dripping wet, out of the shower. Drying himself
off, then slipping on his bathrobe, he towel dried his hair as he
came back into the sitting area.
"Computer, play random selection by the 20th Century Terran music
group 'The Beatles.' Low volume."
It took a split second longer than he was accustomed, but the
sound of "In My Life" was soon wafting through his quarters. He
punched up a glass of ice tea and sat down on the couch, and
closed his eyes for a moment, letting the words flood his mind.
"...but of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new..."
He opened his eyes and took a good two gulps of tea. He set the
glass down on the table carefully, and glanced over at the small
area he had set aside for working on his art. There were a few
pieces set out that he was still working on when he had left the
ADDISON. He could hear his mother's observations.
"Daniel," she would sign, "this line, here, this shows so much
anger... frustration...."
Yes. Of course he was angry. Of course he was frustrated. He
had left the one woman he loved without telling her he did, and
now she was lightyears away....
And he had no one to blame but himself.
He usually did not give himself time to wallow in such self pity.
It was useless, a waste of time. He had plenty of other things
with which to occupy himself... work, mainly, but family, friends,
other things....
It was during the moments in between that his regrets threatened
to overwhelm him. He had spent hours talking to his sister about
it. She knew the extent of it, and she knew his pain. If only he
could share this with her, right now....
Unfortunately, now was not the time. He finished off the glass of
tea in a few quick gulps, and, sticking the glass into the
recycler, walked briskly back into the bedroom and changed into
his standard uniform. Checking his appearance in the mirror, he
turned and walked through his quarters and out into the corridor.
MD 01.2055
Scene: Officers' Mess
(Insert applicable part of James' Tats-Marush/Brennan/th'Tellan
scene here)
As the Counselor stepped away from them to speak to the newly
arrived Chief Medical Officer, Brennan turned to th'Tellan.
"So, Commander, you've had a chance to speak to Lieutenant
Murray?"
"Yes, earlier this evening. There seemed to have been a
misunderstanding of sorts."
"Oh? What kind of misunderstanding?"
th'Tellan briefly explained the MLD's mistakingly occupying the
administration area because of all the computer consoles there,
and their subsequent move to another lab facility on board.
Brennan chuckled.
"Sometimes," he said, "I just don't understand scientists." He
flicked a quick glance at th'Tellan. "No offense meant, of
course, Commander. I'm sure you never had these kinds of
problems."
"I've had plenty of other kinds, sir."
Brennan recalled the AWOL incident in the OPS officer's last tour
of duty aboard the STONEWALL JACKSON. He nodded. "Of course.
Don't we all."
A yeoman came by to offer drinks. They each took a glass of
water, and slowly migrated to a corner of the room.
Brennan took a sip of his water and looked around the room. "Have
you had a chance to meet all of the senior officers who've
reported so far, Commander?"
"I've met Lieutenant Murray, of course, and the Counselor. I
haven't met the others yet."
He nodded understandingly. "You've been busy. OPS is always the
busiest department on a ship, especially before departure." He
indulged himself in a dramatic pause. "And in the heat of
battle."
"Oh?"
"I fell into my first OPS billet in the middle of a warzone." He
looked into his glass. "My predecessor was KIA, and I was the
most senior department head on the ship. I was given a field
promotion to Lieutenant Commander on a ship under enemy fire." He
looked back up at the tall officer, and smiled. "But things have
a way of falling into place."
He took another sip of water. "So, tell me about some of your
experiences on the STONEWALL. I understand you've had some
interesting ones."
* * * * *
(Insert Murray's and Keyrin's entrance, as well as Bell's
reaction, here)
Brennan watched in mild bemusement as the two officers sat down at
their respective places at table. Ensign Keyrin's explanation was
most probably true -- both of those departments, Science and
Security, seemed to have a bit more than their fair shair of
"eager beavers," and he considered it unhappy happenstance that
something had to happen at an inopportune time.
He turned to his right, where Murray was being served her salad.
"I understand that things have been straightened out? With the
arrangements in the Science offices?"
"Yes," she nodded, "thanks to Commander th'Tellan." She
acknowledged the OPS officer with another nod. Brennan saw a look
exchanged between the two officers, and wondered if something had
gone on. Absent any tell-tale signs of hostility, he decided that
he would let things be for the moment.
"I'm glad things are settled." He put a forkful of salad in his
mouth, chewed and swallowed.
"Commander," th'Tellan started, "you mentioned you were on the
SOUTH FORK during the Kadras Incident. I'm curious -- has
anything happened with that case? I had followed it for a while,
but...."
"Well, nothing, really -- Starfleet red tape being what it is."
Brennan was used to this line of conversation. Despite its being
a rather low profile case, the Kadras Incident had garnered the
attention of some segments of Starfleet, as well as the Federation
at large. Reading th'Tellan's biofile earlier in the day, the
thought that the Romulan officer might ask him about it had
faintly crossed his mind.
"Red tape?"
"A Terran term, Commander. Bureaucracy. The more people are
involved in an organisation -- and Starfleet indeed needs those
people -- the longer anything takes to get done."
"Red tape." th'Tellan chuckled. "I must use that expression
sometime."
"*I imagine Rihannsu has the equivalent, although I have never
been strong in colloquial expressions,*" said Brennan. He was
glad his Rihannsu was somewhat less rusty than his Shrevashal.
"*Yes, I believe so,*" answered th'Tellan in the same tongue,
smiling. "Your pronounciation is excellent."
"Thank you. I try my best."
"What other languages do you speak?"
"Well, Standard, of course, and Rihannsu," he replied. "Besides
that? Hmm... French, Italian, German, Vulcan, Klingon,
Cardassian, *some* Shrevashal," he paused, glancing at the
Counselor, "oh, and British Sign Language, as well as the sign
language developed on Solais V."
"Impressive. Solais V?"
"Solais V had been introduced to sign language by Riva, the famous
mediator. I believe the original intent was to facilitate
mediation, but once Riva had left, that sign language took on its
own flavour, started to reflect its own political and cultural
structures. Quite an intersting linguistic development,
actually."
"I see. But why sign language?"
"My mother is Deaf."
"Oh." He seemed struck by that. "Romulans have never really
developed sign language -- social taboos, and all that. I employ
some, but..."
Brennan perked up. "Really? How did you come to use sign?"
th'Tellan related his loss of hearing in one of his ears. "... so
I've developed methods with which to augment my communication."
Brennan nodded. "Of course. My father is not deaf, but he is a
speech teacher, which is how he met my mother. And he's developed
a few tricks of his own in communicating with his students." He
laughed. "Music was always played very loudly at our house, and
the communicators were always on high as well. The neighbours
would complain every once in a while, but my father wanted my
mother, and any students he had staying at the house, to enjoy
it. All of us, my brother, sister, and I, all learned to
sign -- if only to be heard over the noise level."
"*And to say things behind your parents' backs?*" the Romulan
signed.
"*Of course! What children don't?*" he signed back, and they both
laughed.
There was a short pause as the men caught their breaths. Brennan
was about to say something when he was addressed across the table.
> "Commander Brennan?"
He looked up. It was Ensign Keyrin, the Chief of Security.
> "Just to let you know, I'm planning on running the first of
> those security drills tomorrow evening."
He could hear a trace of amusement in her voice.
> "So if you hear any really loud noises coming from Deck 9,
> it's us."
His eyebrow rose for a moment. "Thank you for notifying us,
Ensign," he nodded, as he gathered what remained of his salad
to the corner of his plate. "I will make arrangements so
that the OOD is aware of it."
The Ensign needs to be told, he thought, as he chewed on his last
forkful of lettuce, that shop talk is not welcomed at mess.
He did not look forward to these kinds of chats. He certainly
didn't want to suppress her enthusiasm. A new ship, a new crew...
the CHESAPEAKE needed someone with that kind of energy. He'll
have to talk to her about it when she brings her status report in.
tomorrow morning. As for the OOD, I could even take the shift,
he thought. In fact, I think I shall.
Brennan put his fork down, and leaned back a fraction to let the
yeoman take his plate. As he straightened in his seat, his
attention was drawn to Dr. Ledoux, who seemed to be in deep
conversation with Lieutenant Murray, who sat between them.
There was something troubling her, that was obvious. She had not
looked at all well that morning on the bridge. She and Murray
were seemingly deep in conversation, but he could see quite
clearly that she was holding something back.
He was about to say something when the Doctor quietly stood up,
and excused herself from the table. There was a very brief pause
in the conversation as the doctor slipped out of the Mess. A
brief glance at Murray, then the Captain, and everyone resumed
their conversations, albeit at a softer volume.
Brennan saw the Chief Science Officer shift in her seat, her
expression concerned. As she took up her fork, he leaned over
slightly.
"Is something the matter with the doctor?"
"She...." Murray paused for a moment. "Doctor Ledoux said she
was indisposed, and that she was going to rest in her quarters."
"I see." His eyes went to the doors through which Catherine
Ledoux had left the room. He was going to have to talk to her
eventually. He was no counselor, certainly, but if this started
to affect her performance, it would also be *his* problem.
As the next course was laid out in front of him, he noticed he had
attracted Murray's attention.
Respectfully Submitted,
Takako Nagumo,
CDR Daniel J. Brennan
XO/FO, USS CHESAPEAKE (NCC-31813)
Task Force Bravo, Green Fleet
http://www.oocities.org/Area51/Corridor/4424/
NRPG:
I'm sorry this has come out rather late. I believe this post
pulls together all of the posts to the Officers' Dinner. If
I've forgotten anything, give me a holler. :)
Masako: Questions welcome. Feel free to pick up where I left
off at the end. Just be aware that it's *exteremely* difficult to
faze Brennan. But he's also not a very open person, especially
things regarding his personal life. He'll be quite happy to
discuss hypotheticals, but he will avoid bringing up personal
issues.
Melvin: If you would pick up where I left off, and fill in the
rest of the conversation, it would be nice. I didn't know enough
about your service record on the STONEWALL to write your end of
the conversation. :)
Lynn: As mentioned, shop talk at mess is frowned upon (I didn't
know this either, until last night ). Since we don't
mention anything about it in her first status report post the
next morning, let's assume he talked to her about it before
she started with that report. :) You can add a reaction to
that as well, if you like.
Chris: A sickbay post forthcoming.
James: Still waiting for your reaction to my .sig....
Amy: Holding down the fort.... :)
Takako
--
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Takako Nagumo
http://www.oocities.org/TimesSquare/6318/
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CDR Daniel J. Brennan XO USS CHESAPEAKE, Green Fleet
LCDR Sian-Mairead Flynn, MD CMO USS ALEXANDER NEVSKY, Green Fleet
LCDR Duncan A. Morrell INS ALB Holodeck 4
CDR Julianna M. Sforza COMREC Commander, Starfleet Records
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