From: Gershon <jrbowman@london2.skn.net> Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 11:05:01 -0500 Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Touching Base
Mission Date: 14.1922 Scene: Ten Forward "USS CHESAPEAKE: NCC 31813 -- UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS". There, thought Carl. Everyone ought to know where they are, now, if they don't already. LT Carl McGinnis wished that the Counselor was hanging the banner instead of him. McGinnis was the head of the department known as Auxilary Detail, which served more or less as the "Miscellaneous" of the CHESAPEAKE. The reason he wished to be at deck level was so he could watch the Counselor's posterior. Childish of him, really. He chastisted himself for being a complete pervert, and resolved to go on more dates. "A bit higher. Okay, that's it." The banner now rested successfully on the hook. Tats-Marush, in her white dress (more like a business-suit, actually), looked for something else to organize. Another person took a peek at the goings on, and apparently, ignored the sign. "I'm sorry, but this area is off-limits to all personnel this evening," the Counselor answered. It was only then that Stavay noticed the Commander's pips. Uh oh. "I'm Commander Miris, the new XO. I presume you must be Lieutenant Tats-Marush." Stavay shook the Commander's hand. "Commander, how can I help you?" Stavay looked out of the corner of her eye at the goings on of Auxilary Detail. "Actually I came to offer my services. As Commander Brennan will be arriving with the delegates, I have to be at the reception early." "Well, I'm not sure what there is left to do...." Tats-Marush began. "Really, Aux Detail has taken care of everything. Commander, if you wouldn't mind coming over to the bar...?" "Of course." Miris looked around. "It looks like you've done a spectacular job." "Not just me, then. Thank Aux Detail, OPS, the Recreation Officer, and the Quartermaster. Royal, yet understated," Stavay remarked, indicating the room with a sweep of her hand, "if such a thing is possible." Stavay looked into the deep green eyes of the Commander. Green, Shrevashal Green. Uh oh. "Well, it's a reasonable facsimile. I think the results are quite pleasant, and both the Corellians and ShipOres would agree. I understand you visited the High Duchess last night. Care to tell me anything you've learned?" "Nothing at all. The Duchess limited her comments to very general matters. She implied that there was something interesting to be learned about the head of the ShipOres delegation. The sentence she used had no semantic value, and could have been interpreted one of many ways." "Ah. But a diplomat knows how to use language. Normally, a diplomat wouldn't be that careless." Stavay smiled. "Just what I was thinking." "Well, that's not the only thing we share, Counselor. I understand you have a BSN in Nursing and are working for your BA in Psychology." "Yes...*and* I'm trying to keep my certification as a nurse. It's quite difficult, but I manage somehow." "Incredible. I worked as a profiler for SECIS for several years, so we might share some terminology. Although I don't intend to talk shop all the time." The Counselor rolled her eyes and answered, "Thank goodness!" "Counselor, what do you think will happen at the reception?" Stavay looked around. "Obviously, nothing at all. The reception really isn't for us...it's for them. It plays a social role. It sends a message to both sides that we're quite friendly. Both sides might *believe* that, but as for being impartial, that's hard to convey. The Corellians and ShipOres are here at this party for one reason only...to examine the other side close-up. To examine body language, deportment, likes and dislikes. It's a mind game. They'll have to talk. That's part of the rules of the game. Immediately, both sides will play the first card in their respective decks? To be shy, or be agressive? To talk business, or everything but business? One might make an offer, "let's go into a separate room and talk this over"...the real question is "how will the other side respond"? Or they might decide to save strategy for the conference table and just have fun." The new XO smiled at the Counsellor, encouraging the Shreveshal to continue, although she had been introduced to the machinations of delegates in her role of Protocol Officer several years before. Miris adjusted her dress uniform. "Will anyone have fun, Counselor?" An impish smile crossed her face, as she warmed to the Lieutenant's demeanour. "*Only* if one or the other sides decide to save strategy for the conference table. Then, everyone can enjoy themselves. Else, everyone will be too concerned with making a social faux-pas to enjoy themselves. The reception is for the benefit of the Corellian Regency and for ShipOres...but *not* for us. We won't be having fun at all. We're too tense and too worried that someone will say the wrong thing and cause a major diplomatic incident in the middle of Corellian space. The officers will exchange some small talk." Miris nodded, taking in all that the Counsellor had just said. It was interesting to hear the opinion of other officers, giving a fresh view of the situation, which all too often revealed things in a new light. As she had asked Ensign Lewis the question, the opinion of the Counsellor would also be valuable. "Counselor..are the officers aboard the CHESAPEAKE a close group?" "Well...I don't want to gossip, so I won't speculate too much. There aren't many close relationships. I've put myself on the 'hostiles' list of the Science Officer and the Security Officer...I felt it was necessary to take a hard line with them in counseling, and in the former case, I'm starting to regret it. As for closeness with any pair of command staff you care to name, I'd have to say, "no"." Stavay did not mention her improptu counseling session with LCDR th'Tellan. "Why isn't that so?" Suddenly, Miris felt something...hostility. Miris had overstepped a line somewhere. Maybe the Counselor felt that command camraderie was her responsibility, and the Exec had suggested a deficiency. "I mean, do you have any ideas as to why the personalities aren't meshing together well?" As Stavay answered, Miris felt a downswell of emotion. The Counselor was placated. "...but Captain Bell did not agree. There are some staff members who take "deportment" very seriously, others throw it to the winds. Some command staff don't like to make jokes, others have a very devil-may-care attitude. It results in personality clashes. Each side will have to respect the other before friendships can be formed." "Life in close quarters can be difficult," Miris answered, referring to the CHESAPEAKE. It was her first posting aboard such a small vessel. "But the friendships formed there can be more fulfilling than anywhere else," answered Stavay. Commander Miris nodded in agreement. The Counsellor was proving to be an interesting colleague. She wondered what Tats-Marush did in her off-duty hours. Perhaps she could interest her in a little acting. "So what do you do in your spare time?" "Well...I haven't had much spare time. I like to wander through ancient Los Angeles. I like the holodeck for scenic views. I also like to build model rockets." "Model...rockets?" Stavay looked around. "Yes," she answered with a whisper, "*model rockets*. I haven't had the chance to make one in some time. However, if it got out that I was building missiles in the holodeck, I'd never hear the end of it!" "Do you like period drama?" Period drama? There was an error in translation. "What's that?" "Historical drama might be a better word for it." "I can't act, Sir." "A Counselor who can't act? I don't think there's such a thing!" Elanna's green eyes lit up again. Stavay was hooked. "Fine! I'll try some period drama, then." "Okay. Have you read Emma? Pride and Prejudice?" Stavay looked perplexed. "Robin Hood?" "Yes! I have heard of Robin Hood." Yes, thought Stavay, the closest thing to a band of Shrevashal in Earth legend.... Stavay looked at the chronometer with sudden consternation. She was meant to be bringing the Corellians to the reception and it was getting close to that time. "Excuse me sir, but I must attend to the delegation." "End of discussion," the Exec added with a smile. "Let's keep our eyes on the delegates tonight, then." "It might be wise," added Stavay with some warning, "to keep an eye on the officers, too." ********************************************************************* Respectfully submitted, James Bowman LTJG Stavay Tats-Marush, COUNS USS CHESAPEAKE NCC-31813 jrbowman@london2.skn.net AND JBowman489@aol.com Matthew Cunliffe CMDR Elanna Miris, XO USS CHESAPEAKE NCC-31813 M.J.Cunliffe@durham.ac.uk Pursuant to US Code Title 47, Chapter 5, Subchapter II, Heading 227, any and all non-solicited commercial e-mail sent to this address is subject to a fee of $500.00 US. E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms. Consult htp://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/47/227.html for details.
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