Musings in the Lounge

Posted on Wed Dec 7th, 2011 @ 5:58am by Lieutenant Commander Joseph Thompson & Yuris Eldar & Vice Admiral Iluvar

Mission: Episode 2.3 - "Hippocratic Oath"
Location: Orient Express Lounge, USS Pandora
Timeline: Mission Day 03, 2142

ON: [[Orient Express Lounge, USS Pandora, Mission Day 03, 2142]]

Joe sighed as he set his PADD down and leaned back in his chair. He had been going through the reports from the Pandora's last mission to Nerus V and they weren't very promising. It looked as if the Pandora's crew had found significant medical problems in the colony, along with suspicious attitudes from the colony's leaders; unfortunately, they hadn't been able to resolve the issues before leaving. Seeing the information second-hand wasn't giving Joe any new insights, either.

The studious efforts of the Pandora's Chief Security/Tactical Officer had not escaped notice of the establishment's owner who had been keeping an eye on the man from behind the bar. Yuris (PNPC) had been in the business long enough to know there were times when a man needed to be left alone with his thoughts and when a fresh perspective was needed. Taking an interest in his patrons' needs was one of the things that made him seem like such a welcoming host. From what the El-Aurian had seen in the past few hours, it looked to him like the commander could use one of those fresh perspectives.

"Mind the keep, Greg (NPC)," Yuris said with a smile as he stepped out from behind the bar. The younger man gave a quick nod of acknowledgement and immediately took over. Meanwhile, the El-Aurian began crossing the room toward where Thompson was still seated at his table.

His perceptions always keeping him alert and aware of his surroundings, Joe looked up at the approach of the lounge host. "Good evening...Yuris, is it?" he said.

"You have a good eye, commander," Yuris replied, "and a good memory. I would have been surprised if I had made it even halfway over here without you noticing. May I?" He motioned to the empty chair positioned on the opposite side of the table and waiting to see what the security chief's reaction might be.

Joe shrugged. "Go right ahead," he said amiably.

"Thank you," Yuris said as he lowered himself into the open chair. He could tell the man was still preoccupied with whatever he was in the middle of working on, even though he seemed to be completely aware of their immediate conversation. "If you don't mind me saying," the El-Aurian continued, "you seem like someone perplexed by something. Penny for your thoughts?"

With a frown, Joe glanced down at his PADD. "I've been going over the reports from the last mission to Nerus V," he said. "It's like the Pandora's team stopped in the middle of their investigation and didn't bother following up on it."

The moment the words "Nerus V" left Thompson's mouth, Yuris could see where the commander would be having difficulty working things out. Being the manager of the ship's lounge meant Yuris was privy to all sorts of rumor-milling and scuttlebutt aboard the Pandora especially when it came to the activities of whatever their current assignment might be. Most of what was exchanged amongst personnel during their off-duty hours was pure fabrication or something pretty close to it and only some of it contained even the smallest kernel of truth. Being able to tell the difference between the two wasn't always the easiest task.

"I remember there were some pretty strange circumstances surrounding that one," he said with a slight frown, "What have you been able to turn up so far...aside from the mission being dropped partway through, I mean?"

"It seems like there was a severe medical condition throughout the colony," Joe replied. "Two of the colonists collapsed and were brought aboard, but our medical staff wasn't able to fully diagnose the problem before the Pandora was recalled. According to Commander Earlond's report, the leadership of the colony showed only apathy towards the colonists' condition."

Yuris nodded slowly. The Pandora's presence in Romulan space at the time was well publicized as having been at the request of the Romulan Senate to tour the border along Elyshan space. Their sudden departure from Romulan space had also been at the request of the Romulan Senate due to the involvement of another Romulan faction. Regardless of the circumstances, it had left a majority of the ship's crew frustrated, to say the very least. "I find it hard to believe the admiral would have willingly given up on a colony in such condition," he mused, "Do you have any thoughts as to why the authorities might have seemed so...apathetic?"

Joe shrugged. "A lot of people would probably say that it's typical of Romulans to not care about their own people," he said. "There's probably some truth in that, but there's also the possibility that the apathy stems from defeatism. I'm concerned that we won't make much headway if we run into that apathy again."

"Motivation arises from attitude," Yuris agreed, "If the people are not motivated to accomplish a task, it is unlikely said task will be completed...at least not to any level of quality."

"Yeah, that's just going to make it harder to find out what's going on with the colonists' health," Joe said with a shake of his head.

"Sounds like those down in medical have their work cut out for them," Yuris said in a serious tone, "but something tells me apathetic colonists aren't the only thing you think we should be concerned about."

Joe glanced up at the El-Aurian. "Well, no," he admitted. "Naturally, I'm concerned about the security aspect of things. Last time the Pandora was here, her crew was misled by a Romulan faction. When the other Romulans showed up, the Pandora was fortunate to be merely asked to leave the system; if we run into similar problems this time, I doubt we'll get such niceties."

"It is often better when we manage to get things accomplished without such issues arising, no," Yuris asked with a slight chuckle. While there had been some talk of uncertainty amongst the security/tactical department when Thompson was first assigned to the Pandora, Yuris had seen how such talk had given way to respect for a man who had proven himself to have the interests of his fellow shipmates close to his heart. There was no doubt in Yuris' mind that Thompson would make sure his department was ready to meet whatever difficulty might arise.

"I'd say so," Joe agreed with a chuckle of his own. "Though hopefully that was just a fluke. Then again, I ran across a vague reference to another mission sent here by Earlond shortly after the Pandora; I wonder if they had better luck."

"Have you ever thought to ask him," Yuris asked.

Joe frowned. "I haven't been able to contact him," he replied. "I thought he had transferred to another vessel, but Starfleet records have him listed as being on an extended leave."

"Hmm..." Yuris said thoughtfully, "...perhaps you should try again."

Joe regarded the El-Aurian, wondering if he perhaps knew more than he let on. "I think I will," he decided finally. "Thanks for the help." Gathering his PADD's, Joe stood and headed for the exit.

OFF

A Joint Mission Post by:

Lieutenant Commander Joseph Thompson
Chief Security/Tactical Officer & Second Officer
USS Pandora

and

Yuris Eldar (PNPC)
Orient Express Lounge Owner
USS Pandora
Played by: VAdm Iluvar