Containment

Posted on Fri Mar 1st, 2013 @ 5:05pm by Cadet Senior Grade Cuthbell Arixen & Captain Alexsa Kendrick & Lieutenant Jimmy Cooper

1,201 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Sowing the Seeds
Location: Deck 3
Timeline: Mission Day 5, 0800 hours

ON:

Cuthbell had made his presence less known on the Ranger since the departure into the Calamai Sector. His chastisement by the captain for his unruly and 'un-Academy like behaviour' had forced him to set down to his studies and minor responsibilities on the ship with relish instead of making trouble. However, the need for scrapes and high-jinx were never too far from the young Trill's mind and when rumours below deck started to flood out like a tsunami, Arixen was keen to have his stake in it.

The problem with youth is so rare that you find such passion entwined with conviction. One is more likely to discover the former in such young souls but without the grounding foundation of the latter. And it is with this unbalance that Cuthbell channels his time. Jumping feet-first into quests was what he delighted in.

Locating him in his own quarters, Arixen went to find adventure. As he sidled into Cooper's entrance way, he confidently cocked his head to one side and simply opened with, "So, I hear you're staging a party. One where the captain isn't invited."

Jimmy raised an eyebrow. "What kind of 'party' do you have in mind, Cadet?" Playing the ignorance card seemed somewhat childish, but Jimmy wasn't about to spill any beans unless it was worth spilling them.

Cuthbell matched Cooper's face, and despite his years, seemed to match his confidence and superiority too. "A party that would not only get you thrown off Ranger but also most likely court-marshalled. Don't play coy with me, Lieutenant. I know everything."

"What I do, Cadet," putting emphasis on the fact that he was far superior in both rank and experience, "Is for the good of the ship and everyone on it. If someone feels that warrants a court-martial, I'm more than willing to explain myself." Softening, he eyed the cadet. "However, the more people can be convinced of the necessity, which you clearly possess, the easier the conversion might be, yes? What kind of skills do you possess?"

Cuthbell winced slightly at the use of his rank but hid behind his own expression of steel. "Skills?" he questioned. "I know how to keep my mouth shut...should the reason be worth my while." He was challenging Cooper in a way that made him feel somewhat powerful.

"Cadet, there are many ways in order for us to keep your mouth shut, and not all are... let's say pleasant - Do you understand?" Silently, the small Ferengi, Fer, had snuck up behind Cuthbell and was now poking the business-end of a phaser into his lower back.

Jimmy felt somewhat appalled at the unnecessary threat Fer posed, but he had gone too far to stop now. So with more theatre than actual bravery he added, "I suggest you don't panic. Fer is somewhat... unpredictable, see? Now, did you have anything to say?"

Cuthbell went white and swallowed noticeably hard. He started to shake but then stepped into Cooper's quarters to allow the doors to shut. "I'm," he started with, not looking at Fer, "I'm just looking to tag along, sir. I want to help. I promise. I meant no harm. And I won't turn you in. I just want to help." He was stammering now but tried to hold his own as he raised his hands. "Sir? Please..."

"Hee hee hee hee hee" Fer's laugh reverberated through the room, but he took the point of the phaser off the young man and, while still pointing it at him, sat down on a chair in the corner. "He's all yours, Jimmy!" He said, having way too much fun with himself.

Seeing the color on Cuthbell's face, Jimmy felt as to easen the mood a little. "Relax, we - I have no intention to hurt you, but you'll understand that we can't have people running around with this information. How have you heard?"

Cuthbell coughed and averted eye contact for a moment. But then he steeled himself and then looked at Cooper directly, his attention somewhat diverted to the phaser still pointed at him. "Rumours, mostly," he confessed. "Very little, in fact, but it seems that you've confirmed what I assumed."

"Well, I must admit, the threathening thing wasn't my idea," Jimmy did a small head movement to the small Ferengi with the big smile, "but here we are anyway. We've - talked - to the Emergency Medical Hologram, and he has agreed with us that the mental state of both Captain Halliwell and Commander Michaels has reached a point where we need to act, lest one of them destroys the ship... There are suicidal tendencies to their actions, and I'm not going to wait for a warp core breach or another disaster."

Jimmy put his hand on his forehead as another wave of pain scoured through his head - and it wasn't the first one since they left the destruction of the Dubai. As he recovered, he continued: "The captain and commander are in clear denial of this fact, and that's why the Doctor and I have decided to make sure we have enough... convincing power in order to subdue them."

Cuthbell raised one eyebrow and scoffed a little laugh. "I'm in, I think." he said simply.

At that point, Fer sprang up. Laughing at the reaction of Cuthbell, he lowered the phaser and raised a PADD. "We've made this protected PADD so you can think about it. You'll need to place your finger here," Fer pointed at a small black, clearly not standard, piece of the PADD, "in order to sign it with your biosignature. With it, it'll be protected so only you can read it." Also, with biosignatures, Fer could keep an eye on potential allies throughout the ship, but he decided to keep that information for himself.

Cuthbell slowly reached out for the PADD and took it from the Ferengi. He then shot a look at Cooper and inhaled. "They'll be no profit in this endeavour for this Ferengi," she snarled, but accurately. "I'd consider what you think his motivation to be before you ally yourself so freely." He indicated the phaser and put his own two fingers to his head, simulating a shot. "He's a loose cannon."

Fer snarled back but Cuthbell appealed to Cooper's common sense. "Just watch your back with him." He then faced the PADD and, without reading it, pressed his thumb onto the reader. "I, on the other hand, have made me decision. I'll start to put the feelers out amongst the more troublesome of the cadets and see what comes back to me. But don't worry, I've gotten out of worse scrapes than this. And Halliwell needs to be brought down a peg or two with her pompous, self-righteous attitude."

"Just watch your back, and when things set off, I expect you to listen to me, I don't want this to become any worse than it needs to be." Jimmy nodded. "Dismissed, Cadet, I'll give you your orders when I need you." Ordering people around had it's own perverted sort of glee, and Jimmy felt it. He could get used to this...

OFF:

 

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