A Welcome Chat

Posted on Sun Apr 24th, 2011 @ 7:54am by Lieutenant JG Kell Gibson & Vice Admiral Iluvar

Mission: Episode 2.1 - "Unanswered Questions"
Location: Promenade, Starbase 386
Timeline: Shoreleave Day 03, 1320

ON: [[Promenade, Starbase 386, Shoreleave Day 03, 1320]]

Kell sat at his table in the middle of the promenade. He had been on Pandora for a few weeks now, and he was still having some issues adjusting to having to wear a Starfleet rank. It was just so foreign to him, he was used to wearing his green with a silver bar, not his green with a gold dot and a empty dot of Lieutenant JG, the Starfleet equivalent of 1st Lieutenant. He still had yet to find his exact place, though it didn't help he still hadn't really had a one to one chat with the CO. So, here he sat, contemplating his current situation, drinking a glass of beer.

"Penny for your thoughts, lieutenant," Iluvar said, approaching the Pandora's weapons specialist from behind. He had happened to be passing by along the station's Promenade when he'd noticed Gibson seated at the table and decided that there was no reason not to take advantage of the opportunity.

"Oh, just thinking about my place on the Pandora and what I've done so far." Kell responded turning slightly to see his captain approaching, "Sir."

Iluvar moved slowly around the table until he was standing behind the empty chair across from the lieutenant. He placed a single hand on the back of the chair and asked, "May I join you, Mister Gibson?"

"Would be a pleasure, sir." Kell replied, waving his hand to the waiter for her to come back. "Was just having a beer and thinking on what I have done on Pandora. Which frankly... Is nothing so far."

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that if I were you," Iluvar said as he lowered himself into the chair, "Ensign Rolands (PNPC) told me about your assistance with the analysis of the hull fragments and I have no doubt that, had we been given the opportunity, your help would have enabled us to narrow down who it was that attacked that freighter."

"Eh, Was really kind of obvious." Kell responded swirling his Beer around, "Energy weapons leave distinctive marks, no matter the maker, and it just didn't have those signs."

"Indeed," Iluvar said, leaning back slightly to make room for the waiter, who lowered a frosted glass mug of root beer onto the table in front of him. He gave a brief nod of appreciation to the young man before turning his attention back to Gibson. "We're lucky you joined us, lieutenant," he added, lifting the mug to his lips and taking a sip.

"Thanks, though I feel weird in wearing Starfleet Pips on my Marine Uniform." Kell responded smiling a bit, but he quickly turned his expression back to a neutral one.

Iluvar chuckled a little at the man's remark as he lowered his mug to the surface of the table. "You'll get used to them, I'm sure," he assured Gibson, "It has been awhile since some of the crew have served with members of the Starfleet Marine Corps. If you are looking for some company, Petty Officer Watters (NPC) is also a former marine who transferred into Starfleet. I'm sure the two of you could find a few things to talk about. Commander Thompson is another person you might want to think about talking to."

"He was in the corps?" Kell asked, "I did not know that... And hey, its not like your security officers could hurt from having my expertise here. Ill have to school them in rifle practice and show them how easy they have it." This time he showed a genuine Smile.

"I have no doubt your experience will be a positive addition to our security department," Iluvar agreed, taking another sip of his root beer, "If I may ask...what is it that you expect out of this assignment, Mister Gibson?"

"Well, I joined the Cross Training program in hopes of furthering my career. Most Flag Officers of both branches have done it at one time or another, so I figured why not do it as soon as I could. Pretty much, I expect to gain valuable insight into the runnings of Starfleet." Kell responded, Finishing his beer, he put the glass down and waved to the waitress to get another.

Iluvar nodded as the lieutenant spoke. "I can see how that would be helpful," he said, "especially since we seem to have developed this stereotype about one another that has really impeded our ability to work together in some cases."

"Hey, its the entire reason it was started way back when, in the old Earth navys." Kell replied waving his hands dramatically.

"Perhaps...but marines and sailors in those old Earth navies served aboard the same vessels and worked together to accomplish their goals," Iluvar pointed out, "If they hadn't, they would very likely have perished. The sailors were the ones responsible for the everyday maintenance of the ship and the actual day-to-day operations. The marines provided a military presence which could be used in a variety of situations ranging from providing extra manpower to enforcing maritime law on the high seas. Certainly boarding other vessels and repelling those who attempted to board their vessel made up a portion of their duties, but there was much more to the marines of old than most give them credit for."

OFF

A Joint Mission Post by:

Captain Iluvar
Commanding Officer
USS Pandora

and

Lieutenant JG Kell Gibson
Weapons Specialist
USS Pandora