Bitter sweet symphony

Posted on 07 Dec 2013 @ 8:28pm by Commander Luke Wyatt & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Lieutenant Aria Rice

1,899 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3, Brig
Timeline: MD 08 - 0710 hrs

[ON]

With a steaming mug of hot chocolate in her hand, Lirha moved through the corridors of Deck 3 on her way to the brig. She had gotten up early -- an hour before her usual wake time -- in order to deal with a disturbance which had occurred the previous evening involving several members of Venture's crew as well as Galileo's Marine liaison. She was not pleased to have to babysit a bunch of grown adults, but also recognized that crew morale was dangerously low due to the hardships many had faced over the past several days.

Stepping into the brig with a swish of the large double doors, the captain stopped and smiled at the security officer who was manning the desk. "Good morning, lieutenant," she said to Rice.

"Good morning, Captain," Aria said as she met her eyes, with a small smile. She wore a wig, still not having gone to sickbay for her hair and eyebrows. She knew they were too busy.

Lirha covered a sleepy yawn with the back of her hand, then flicked her eyes towards the small row of brig cells. "How have our guests been? Are they behaving?" she asked, wondering if there had been anymore disturbances over the course of the night.

"Honestly, for all I care they could rip each others' throats out..." Aria said with a frown, shaking her head as she sat back. "But I am sure that Wyatt will tell you all about it."

"Well, that is why I am here," Lirha replied. "But for the interests of diffusing this quarrel, I would like you to keep a close eye on our guests. It is not exactly productive for them to be shouting at each other through their force fields." She gave Aria a sleepy and wry grin.

"Trust me, I am not...giving them the chance," she said and shook her head. "I am rather disappointed with them. As if we didn't have enough on our plate."

The captain rubbed her eyes and pushed some stray hair back behind her ears. "Agreed. But...crew morale is not exactly very high at the moment. I suppose all of the stress and tension is finally boiling over," she tried to reason, then slightly changed the subject. "Would you care to escort me to see our Marine? I would like to ask him a few questions before my shift."

"Of course, Captain," Aria said and frowned, standing. She was reluctant...but she wouldn't show it as she led her Captain through.

Lirha walked with the security officer down the small row of cells until she stopped in front of the incarcerated Marine. "Good morning," she said in a quiet voice to the older man.

Luke was already waiting for the captain and saluted as she stepped in-front of his cell. "Morning Ma'am" he replied simply. He had A lot of time to think about what had happened and more importantly what he wanted to do with his career. He hoped that this wouldn't effect any of it.

"How was your evening?" she asked, taking a sip of her frothy drink and licking the whipped cream from the top of her lip while she glanced around the room. It was rare that she ever visited the brig, and was none-too-pleased that one of her crew members had wound up there.

"It was different" He shrugged "Once you've been in one brig you've been in them all. The Jem'Hadr were by far the worst" He said with a content smile. "How about yourself Ma'am?"

Lirha arched an eyebrow at the man smiling in front of her, looking at him through the forcefield. "I would be much better if I had not had to wake an hour early today to come to the brig and sort out your mess," she bluntly answered. "Tell me what happened. In detail."

"Well, I was down in the storage bay with some of the other crew members from the Venture discussing our next steps. Which were either continuing with the other half of the ship when we got back, if we get back or to transfer somewhere else. I was saying how I was going to ask to join the Galileo and transfer to security. Now apparently people objected to this and started saying I should stay with the Venture and how I shouldn't go to security because I am a Marine." He took a breath. "Eventual the argument got a little excited and the more willing members of this meeting decided to put me off and of course they got hurt. I am not saying that I feel bad in any way for what happened and the outcome however I do regret the situation ever happening"

Taking another long sip of her drink, Lirha scratched the side of her neck before replying. "Do you feel it is appropriate to physically fight with other crew members aboard my ship?"

"Of course not and If I had it any other way I would have not turned to it so quickly" He admitted truly "But it is what happened and I am sorry for that but as I said I regret the situation ever happening but sometime and i'm not saying this is justifiable in anyway a swift kick up the ass is what some people need. I learnt that the hard way."

"I agree completely," Lirha replied with a smirk. "Which is why you will remain in the brig for the rest of the day, after which you will be confined to quarters for the following week -- your duty shift aside. You will also report to counseling and undergo therapy until such time as Commander Blake is satisfied that you are making progress with your anger management. Consider it," she paused to recall Wyatt's Human idiom, "a swift kick up the ass. And, should you ever again demonstrate that you are incapable of conducting yourself with professional conduct becoming of a Starfleet crew member, you will find yourself removed from this ship. My XO and I do not tolerate these types of actions on Galileo...and honestly, I expected more discipline from you, being a veteran Marine."

Luke nodded "That's fair enough" He had a lot of time to think in the brig and had made a decision but it all now fell to this one moment. "I actually have something to ask Captain. I know that usually this would be done more formally and I will put in the request however I would like your permission to join you security team"

Lirha's eyebrows shot up with surprise at hearing the request, especially after the Marine had just been involved in an altercation with said department. "May I ask why?" she asked, not entirely opposed to the idea but also curious to know Wyatt's motivations.

"Its clear you have no need for a Marine aboard this ship. I get that. But I think there's a lot more I can give besides a bad headache, I've drifted around the last couple of years and no where has really made me feel like I owe them something or actually want to be there but my experiences on the Galileo have already done that." Luke paused for a moment catching his breath. "I've made some pretty good friends and made some bad choices already which is why I am stuck in here but if you give me the chance then I might make a damn fine security officer."

The captain didn't reply for a long moment while she considered the sergeant's request, as well as the practicality of such a career change. It wasn't often that she came across Marines who wanted to give up the life in green, but it did happen from time to time. Her second officer and former COB were both members of Starfleet's Marine Corps before their transfer to the Fleet, and they both seemed to have worked out well.

"I suppose it is possible," she began to reply, "and we could always use an extra hand in Security. It is, however, quite a career change. Have you thought this through completely? Some of your current skills learned in the Marines would no doubt be of use aboard a starship, however there is much training which all Security members of the Fleet must go through before they are allowed to take permanent postings. Much of your training you could do here on Galileo, but...are you really ready to resign your commission in the Marine Corps?" Lirha wanted to make absolutely sure that Wyatt knew the consequences of his actions and the road ahead.

Luke nodded before answering "I've decided and thats what I would like as long as you'd have me, oh and my daughter she's currently working on Deep Space five as a scientists mate so she'd suit in here more than me but despite everything that has happened this is what I would like"

Lirha pondered the request further, taking her time to consider the pros and cons of such a transfer as it related to her ship and crew. "And...you would feel comfortable working in the same department as some of those members," she motioned to the brig cells on either side of him where some of Venture's security personnel were being held, "which you found yourself in an altercation with yesterday?"

He shrugged, "What can I say? I'll be you're wild card and believe me something like that will not happen again you will have my full promise and loyalty." He wondered how Abbey would think of him right not. She'd curse him for getting himself thrown in the brig but right now she'd turn him into heroism, he was making the first steps into becoming more stable and finding a place for them both to get along.

"Very well. I will speak with Lieutenant Rhodes and discuss the matter with him," she replied. "We could always use extra assistance within the Security department, so if he is willing to accommodate your request, I do not see why we cannot make the transfer. For now, however, I would like you to focus on your time in here. Let it serve of a reminder, of sorts. At the end of the shift, 1600, Lieutenant Rice here will release you and escort you back to your quarters. I will have Lieutenant Rhodes contact you soon regarding your request."

Luke nodded "Thankyou Captain, if you need anything you know where to find me" He splayed his hands before looking in the direction of Rice "Me and Aria are going to get along just fine!" He smiled.

"It's Lieutenant Rice," Aria said, her jaw tight as she looked at him, her eyes oddly cold. "And you will address me properly, Gunnery Sergeant Wyatt. Especially if you are going to be within the Security department."

Without replying at first and flashing a coy smile he turned around waving as he did before sitting down and sighing. "I can not wait for it" Laying on his back he perched his hands behind his head and hummed quietly.

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

GYSGT Luke Wyatt
Marine Liaison
USS Galileo

LT Aria Rice
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

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