: Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Alex Joseph Rivers III (XO) in Ready Room
: : Posted by Lieutenant Micah Glass (Counselor) in Ready Room
: : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Alex Joseph Rivers III (XO) in Ready Room
: : : : Posted by Captain Ramona Booker (CO) in Ready Room
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mona sipped her moca-java and waited for her XO and CNS to arrive for their weekly personnel briefing. They were due in 5 minutes and were never late. And it was Micah's turn to bring the morning treats. (hint, hint)
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : She had been going over the list of the new personnel that had come aboard when they were at the starbase and she was looking forward to the input from her command staff.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The chime rang just then, announcing one of the expected officers. Micah stood awaiting entrance. In her hands was a closed, decorative box, 12 inches square and 5 inches deep. Her mouth was already watering for its contents.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ---Glass
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : "Come" Mona called out. She watched as the door opened and was glad to see the treats had arrived. It was one of the things she looked forward to each week. They had developed a sort of tradition to present unique and different confections gathered from across the known universe. Each week it was a fun way to begin a meeting that could ordinarily be a dry and boring data dump.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : "Good morning, Counselor." Mona got up from her desk and moved over to the seating area where the soft couch circle surrounding the coffee table were. She set her Mocha Java mug down and seated herself with her back to the window. Eying the box Mona offered, "You know this is one of my weekly highlights." She smiled at Micah.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Booker, CO
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Alex wasn't sure how he should feel about the weekly meeting he was headed to. Especially in light of his and Micah's budding relationship, or at least he thought it was budding. He really wasn't one that listened to rumors, but he thought that some of the crew had been giving him strange looks. Of course that could have been almost anything. After all TJ had come on board and that could have easily been the cause of heads turning.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : In any case he was now standing in front of the door to the Ready Room. He was dressed in a freshly replicated uniform and freshly shaved. The only thing not within regulation was his hair.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Rivers, XO
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : OOC: I think I hear the chime? =D
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : IC: That must be the XO. "Come" Mona called. The door slide open and she called to him. Right on time. Help yourself to a beverage from the replicator both of you then we will get started. Mona watched Rivers as he walked into the room. Was it her imagination or was Micah a bit fidgety?
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Booker, CO
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : OOC: How would anyone know anything about Alex and Micah? There isn't anything to know yet. LOL!
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : "I hope we all like it." She removed the lid from the box and all four sides collapsed outwards so the dessert was completely exposed. "The shop I got it at said it was called a "Spun Sugar Surprise"." It was beautiful with its chocolaty appearance and the crystal like decorations on it.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Micah took a knife and cut three pieces of it, laying them on plates and passing them out. "Oh look! There are...nuts? and I see spun sugar balls in it too." The body of the cake was filled with tasty treasures too.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : She got up to get a cup of coffee from the replicator and returned to take a bite of the cake. "Mmmmm...it looks really rich but the flavors are subtle. I think I might have to order a few more of these."
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ---Glass
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Alex put down his tea and took a bite of the cake. Holding it in his mouth, savoring the flavor. "Wow, this is really good Micah! I'm not usually a big fan of nuts in my cholcate but the way they put this together, it actually adds to the way it tastes. Whenever you order more let me know, I'd like to order some too."
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Alex
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : "Sure. The next time we're anywhere near Earth, I'll do that. Although you should actually go to the shop. Its incredible, and they let you taste anything you like." Now she looked at the Captain. "What do you think of it, Sir?"
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ---Glass
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mona had her mouth full of the light cake and was enjoying the subtle flavors that rolled around in her mouth. With a smile and a nod she made a noise of appreciation, "Mmmmmmmm." Then licking her lips she picked one of the round balls out of her cake to sample it solo. "I want to taste all the flavors individually. They are quite good. I approve Counselor."
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Booker, CO
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Micah smiled as she set her cake plate down with a half a piece of cake still on it. She was eager to get on with the meeting so she could move on with her day. "Well, I'm glad we are all enjoying it." She took time to sip her coffee. "Now, should we get started with the actual business of why we're all here?"
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ---Glass
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : "Yes," said Alex. "We have a couple of new crew members joining the Olympic, Peter Sigmundson who is a Security officer and Hatori Mihiyu who is in Medical. They are um, an item as they say. We also have another recent addition Jehry Sax a Science officer who is a joined Trill I believe. An of course there is my brother T.J. actually my twin brother. He's in Engineering."
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Alex, XO
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : The cup stopped halfway to Micah's lips. "A brother? A twin brother?"
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mona set her plate on the table and picked up her mocha. "What kind of personal relationship do you have with your brother? Being the superior officer of a close family member carries a wealth of opportunities for miscommunications." She put her mug to her lips and sipped slowly.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : : Booker, CO
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : Well, she would get to see how different they were firsthand when the new engineer showed up for his psych eval. Or maybe they weren't different at all...
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: : : : : : : : : : : : : ---Glass
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: : : : : : : : : : : : Alex let out a sigh, and looked between the Captain and Micah. "In many ways we are a lot alike. We are identical after all. And I do love the man dearly, but tends to let his emotions get the best of him sometimes and he acts before he thinks sometimes. He also can have a problem with authority, which means Star Fleed probably sent him here so I could watch over him,
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: : : : : : : : : : : : We had a talk when he cam on board earlier. Seems some guy tried to feel up his girl firend. He objected and a big fight took place. The guy he beat the sh... the crap out of happened to be an Admiral's son.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : The Admiral pulled some strings court-martiled him and he was given the choice of coming here or going to a penal colony. This is his last chance.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : I don't question his motives. He can be a damned good officer. It's just his methods that are sometimes questonable."
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: : : : : : : : : : : : Alex Rivers, XO
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: : : : : : : : : : : Mona listened for the underlying, unspoken things that Rivers might say about his brother. "It is a very common thing for family members to serve together under the same command staff and when all things are equal it can be difficult at times. In the case of Ensign Rivers..." she paused looking for the best way to say things. "...the quicker trigger that he seems to possess might make it more difficult for you Commander and while I have every confidence in you to handle your role as the XO. I do not yet have confidence in Ensign Rivers to fulfill his role appropriately. I want to reassure you that the Counselor and myself are available should you require our help or assistance." She looked from Rivers to Glass.
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: : : : : : : : : : Alex's left brow arched slightly at the thought of TJ spending too much time with Micah. That was the last thing that he needed. Though TJ had promised him that he would be good, he and Micah were too much alike and that could lead too all sorts of repercussions that he really didn't want to think about.
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: : : : : : : : : : "Thank you ma'am," Alex replied almost without missing a beat. "I will definitely keep that in mind should it become necessary, however perhaps it would be best if I try it on my own first.
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: : : : : : : : "Of course." Mona nodded her head in agreement.
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: : : : : : : : : : I've been going over personnel records and there are a couple of people I think should get a shot at promotion. I think that NCGrimm might be a good candidate for Officer's Training School. and NE Quantum in Engineering and Diligent in Security should be promoted. And speaking of Security, I think that Lt.(jg) Nalar should be given his full Lieutenant pops especially since our new Security guy is also a Lt.(jg)."
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: : : : : : : : : : Alex, XO
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: : : : : : : : : "Oh, that's an excellent suggestion about Lt Nalar. He's been with the Olympic a long while now and from what I've read, he's done a good job. It's probably time for a promotion. As far as the candidates for OTS, I trush the Cmdr's opinion." She ate the last bite of her cake, set the plate down and picked up her coffee.
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: : : : : : : : : ---Glass
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: : : : : : : : "I agree with OTC for NCGrimm and promotions for Quantum and Diligent. But as for Nalar I do not agree with promotions because subordinates have the same rate. That ought not to be a factor. If he can't handle being the Chief of his department without a higher rank then perhaps he is not ready to be promoted." Mona took another sip of her mocha.
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: : : : : : : Alex nodded. "I understand ma'am. I was not suggesting that Nalar be promoted soley because of that, but I agree with your logic. Perhaps we should put his promotion on hold and reevaulate him at the end of our current mission to see how he handles himself. That would give us a better idea of whether he has the ability that would warrant such a promotion."
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: : : : : : "I think that is a good plan. I expect he will do just fine but this will be a good challenge for him." Looking to Glass she asked, "Anyone you wish to bring up, Counselor?"
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: : : : : : Booker, CO
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: : : : : "Not at this time, Captain. I have my eye on a few officers, but I'm not sure they're ready yet." She sipped her coffee and thought about another piece of cake.
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: : : : : ---Glass
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: : : : "Very well. I have a project that I would like your input on." She looked fromt he XO to the CNS. "I would like to have some sort of friendly competition between the members of the senior staff , something that they can compete at and that the junior and enlisted staff can watch. I don't care if it is a play or a boxing match a cook off or pareci squares tournament. I just would like to see something that we might do as the senior staff to entertain the enlisted...What are your thoughts?"
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: : : : Booker, CO
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: : : ~ A kiss-off would be nice~ Alex thought to himself. Instead he said, "How about a game of cat and mouse. We'd be on two different teams, one trying to avoid the other. Might combine that with a capture the flag motiff for some added flair. That's what I can think of off the top of my head."
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: : : Rivers, XO
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: : Micah had been certain Alex would go for the cook off considering the dinner they'd had the other night. Surprise! She reviewed those on the senior staff, "Let's see, it would be the three of us and Sydney Jacobsen, Samantha Lewis and Toren Naler." Her brows drew together in thought. "It should be centered around some skill that we all have in common...or one that none of us are familiar with." She didn't want to look foolish in front of the crew, but if the others were just as handicapped as she was it might be fun. "I don't recall that any of us have stage experience...perhaps a play or vignette?"
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: Alex smiled as he heard Micah's proposal. "Perhaps something from Shakespear would be nice. Something like King Lear or perhaps Romeo and Juliet?"Alex kept his eyes on the Captain not daring to look at Micah. He had a pretty good idea of who could play Romeo and who could play Juliet.
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: Alex

"I was thinking it would be a bit more spontaneous rather than something that would require us to rehearse. It wouldn't have to be anything over an hour in duration so a physical game requiring dexterity and logic skills rather than strength, or something that is completely silly and designed strictly to be a ruse and bring the laughs." She looked from Glass to Rivers and then added, "Look, if I as the Captain feel I can afford to be the amusement for the crew on occasion then I think the rest of the command staff can do this too."

Booker, CO