Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Poker Game In Barvan’s Quarters

Posted by Ensign Barvan (Security Officer) in Poker Game In Barvan’s Quarters

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Poker Game In Barvan’s Quarters
Posted by… suppressed (11) by the Post Ghost! 👻
A note was posted in some public area on the ship.

“Poker Game in Ensign Barvan’s quarters at 1900. Barvan, being a telepath, will not be playing, rather he will be running a telepathy experiment on the players. Join at your leisure.”

Ensign Barvan, Poker Scientist

Cochrane saw the posting and tapped his combadge. =/\= Ensign Barvan to the CO’s office immediately. =/\= he said and made his way into the Ready Room.

Cochrane, CO

Barvan, being punctual as can be, appeared at the ready room door within minutes, ringing the chime asking to be let in.

Ensign Barvan, Anxious Officer About To Be Disciplined

The door slid open to reveal to the Captain’s office, with the man in question seated behind the desk looking at a PaDD. Well, ‘scowling’ would probably be a more apt description. Glancing up, he said simply “Sit.” and went back to the PaDD.

Finally setting the PaDD to the side, Cochrane looked at Barvan and said “A note of yours was brought to my attention, Ensign. Care to explain what you think you are doing? And why?”

Cochrane, CO

Barvan would sit as instructed.

“I was conducting a telepathy experiment. I wasn’t aware gambling as against regulations.”

Ensign Barvan, About To Be Grounded

~Elsewhere on the Manhattan…~

Ensign Baht picked up his bowl of clam chowder and held it to his chest, still spooning mouthfuls of the thick substance into his mouth as he approached the small crowd of ensigns in the mess hall huddling over one of the corner tables. Standing on his toes and careening his neck as he chewed, Shon eventually caught enough glimpses of the note to put the pieces of the invitation together over the chatter of the crewmembers around him.

Turning on his heel, Shon raised the bowl to his lips to finish off his dinner by slurping it down from the edge of the rim. “I wonder if they could be swayed to pivot to blackjack,” Ensign Baht mused to no one in particular as he headed back to his quarters to get ready for the game at 1900 hours.

(Ensign Baht, Medical)

Cochrane looked at Barvan and said “I’m trying to figure out where in the job description of ‘Security Officer’ it says that you get to conduct experiments on your shipmates without permission, without Science Department oversight, and with no stated purpose. Now, it has been a few years since I graduated from Academy Security, but I don’t remember that anywhere in the curriculum. And for the life of me, I can’t find anywhere where you requested permission to conduct such experimentation. So let’s start this again. What exactly do you think you are doing, Ensign?” His tone was not hostile, but he definitely was far from pleased.

Cochrane, CO

OOC: Mind your tenses. Remember: Third person past tense.

James

“I simply thought having a friendly card game was in the realm of good conduct. Simply conducting telepathy experiments (a discipline at which I hold an expert level knowledge in) was something that was not frowned upon at the Starfleet Academy. I assumed the regulations applied to the USS Manhattan.”

Ensign Barvan, In Full Apologia Mode

Cochrane cocked his head to the side and said “Ensign. You still haven’t answered my questions. What experiment is this? Did you ask permission to conduct this experiment? Are the parameters approved by the Science Department? Because that is who would have purview over such things. What is the purpose of you conducting this experiment? What equipment are you using? All of these things have to be considered, Mr. Barvan.” and he leaned back in his chair and stared directly at the young officer.

“And to be blunt, Ensign. This isn’t the Academy, and it’s a bit naive to think it’s the same. This isn’t anything like you, or indeed most of Star Fleet have done. We are in a relatively unknown quadrant of space. We are surrounded by unknown species and new civilizations. Do you honestly think conducting experiments on your crew mates is the best use of your time? Especially as you are one of the ones responsible for the security of this vessel?”

Cochrane, CO

“I have completed all of my duties, Captain. I am simply using my free time to do this experiment,” the Ensign said politely. “Now, if you’re in disagreement with the use of my free time, sir, I’ll more than gladly call off my experiment. I should’ve asked the necessary authorities. I apologize and I promise I will not continue nor will I ever do it again.”

Ensign Barvan, Apologetic

Cochrane looked at Barvan and, while he was still not pleased, his look did soften a bit. He said “Irrelevant at this particular point, Ensign. And you have still failed to answer my questions. So… try again. And this time, make sure you are answering what is being asked of you. As completely as you can.”

Cochrane, CO

“To be completely truthful, Captain, I wanted to conduct said experiment as a means of analyzing the mental constitution of the crew here as a means of better doing my job. It’s good to know who people are when one does security. I should have asked the chief science officer and my superior first before doing this, but I promise that I will do so if you give me permission.”

Ensign Barvan, Still Apologetic

Cochrane looked at Barvan and said simply “Kid, you have a hell of a lot to learn about doing your job.” and he stood up and walked to the window, staring out at the half-visible station they were anchored to for a few long moments. He then walked over to one of the bookcases and began looking at the spines. “You don’t get to know who people are by running telepathy experiments on your crew, Barvan. You get to know them by talking to them, having a meal with them, being there for them when they need you… or asking them for help when you need them. Reading their thoughts around a poker table is not only unprofessional and against regulations… it’s a really crappy way to get to know people.” and he tapped his finger on a particular book and said over his shoulder “You know how to read Earth English? 20th Century?”

Cochrane, CO

“Is the book you’re pointing to called How To Make Friends And Influence People by Dale Karngy? If so, I’ve read it sir. And to answer your question, yes, I can read 20th century Earth English.”

It might seem as if Barvan meant Carnegie.

Ensign Barvan, Security