The Trouble with Turoc

Posted on Tue Feb 24th, 2009 @ 9:25pm by Captain Elsie Halliwell & Lieutenant JG Lucy Carter

908 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Citadel Prime
Location: Lane's Ready Room
Timeline: Current

Commander Lane was sat in his Ready Room and sipped at his strong, hot coffee. The worst thing in the universe, to him, was tepid or luke-warm coffee. He liked it so hot, sometimes, that that the liquid scalded the roof of his mouth and tongue. A general, personal rule of his was that if the steaming vapours from the brew did not rise rapidly and ferociously, he would leave it to go stagnant and replicate himself a fresh cup.

As he looked at looked at the black, smooth disc reflecting the low lights from the ceiling above, it seemed to shimmer almost with its own heat. “Hot enough, he thought to himself.

As he replaced the PADD he was reviewing back onto the desk, he sighed and then lightly flicked him combadge to its responsive twitter.

=A= Commander Lane to Counsellor Carter: Would you mind reporting to my ready Room when you have the chance? =A=

Carter was still recovering from her intensive interview with Ensign Turoc and had already had several cups of tea to try to get over it. When she think how badly it could have gone, as opposed to how well it did go, she felt quite relieved. The Commander's interruption was welcome and she answered, simply "on my way, sir".

As the Ensign chimed the door outside, the Commander uttered, “Enter,� and then presumed to look over the PADD in his hand, smiling as he did so.

“Counsellor Carter. How do you do? Settling in well, I hope?� he asked, ceremoniously, almost.

"Thank you, sir, I am very well and trust you are as well."

“I am, thank you,� he replied. But, I called you in here as I was wondering if you had managed to round up Ensign Turoc to your office since he had arrived.�

"Yes, sir, he reported to me in my offices less than an hour ago ".

“I see, Ms Carter,� he said, nodding. The thing is, with this being such a small ship, and, I’m sure that you are aware, news travels quickly, we have recently had an altercation concerning him and a Science Warrant officer. And I was wondering, really, to get your professional opinion on him.�

Carter smiled at the Commander and was pleased at what she had to report. "I did hear that news, sir, and therefore was cautious at our meeting. The Ensign was able to contain his temper and I believe we have earned each other's mutual respect".

“You must have a considerable disarming talent, Ensign,� he replied, half shocked and half proud of his Chief Counsellor.

She continued, hoping that she was about to impress her Commanding officer on her first mission. - Don't get too carried away, Lucy, just be professional - she thought. "You understand, sir, that due to confidentiality protocol I am unable to reveal the exact content of the meeting I had with Ensign Turoc." She paused for breath, not wanting to make any blunders.

“Of course, Counsellor, he interjected.�

"However, I am able to report that Turoc and I reached an agreement and he should be on his way to reporting to sickbay as we speak. He has accepted the need for medical aggression suppression whilst on board."

Carter took another breath and tucked a stray blonde hair behind her ear. She noticed she could smell coffee and it reminded her of earlier when she had been sure that Commander Arkham had been drinking something rather stronger than that on duty. She wondered if she should say something.

Deciding against getting off the point, Carter went on "Further, he was not aggressive towards me in any way. It is my professional opinion that he will, under the suppression treatment, be fit for duty aboard this vessel. However, I suggest he has regular check ups with the doctor and I shall also be keeping an eye on him."

Stunned a little at this drastic action, Lane did not reply immediately and rubbed this skin of his rough jaw with his hand.

“And you think that this will work, Ensign? It’s rather a desperate measure, is it not?�

"Desperate maybe, but necessary. I fear that unless he is subdued, his next disagreement with someone will result in a more severe injury than that he has already inflicted. Frankly, I was surprised he had been let on board this vessel in the first place. However, since he is here then he and the rest of the crew have a right to be able to perform their duties without the risk of, er, let's just say altercations."

She looked at the Commander eye to eye and went on "I shall also continue to counsel the Ensign to see if there are any other ways of cooling his fire".

“Very well, Ms. Carter,� he said with a sigh. “Providing the CMO agrees that this is feasible then I’ll allow a tested period.� He smiled a little and leant back in his chair. “Rather an ingenious plan, Ensign, should this work.�

"Well, I hope so, sir. A ship can only function as well as it's crew, after all".

“I completely agree, Ensign. And, Ms. Carter, since you are the brain-child of this operation, I would like you to work side-by-side with Doctor Mabren and Ensign Turoc to ensure its success, should the good doctor agree, that is.�

"I shall get on it right away, sir," Carter replied.

 

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