Lieutenant Junior Grade Tenkiller was watching two officers in the holodeck try to repel boarders during a training exercise. They were… not doing well. Rubbing his temples, he then smoothed back the jet black hair that was tied straight back into a long pony tail that hung between his shoulder blades. “Stop.” he said under his breath, then increased the volume as he continued. “Stop stop stop stop STOP.” and the program froze. The Lead Security Simulation Instructor for the Command Program looked down from the observation window at the Medical Lieutenant and Engineering Lieutenant Commander below. “First. You never determined a chain of command from the beginning. Commander, you just assumed it was you. It wasn’t. The parameters for the drill were lined out for you. The L-T was the COS for this drill. You keep overriding what she says. Lieutenant, you keep kowtowing to the Commander and then trying to do what your plan was despite what he said. And the end result? You and your whole crew are now dead or enslaved, and the ship is the property of the Syndicate. Well done, you two.” and he began the ever-chagrining slow clap, “Well done indeed. More Command officers like you two and we won’t have to worry about our ships anymore. We won’t have any.” The clapping stopped and the Lieutenant Commander looked up and his mouth opened. “No. Don’t talk. I know what you are going to say. ‘Where does some Junior Grade Lieutenant get off telling me what to do?!’, right? Well, I’ll tell ya. I’m the instructor. This is my house. And until you can come even close to passing this drill, your butt remains here until I -” and his commbadge cut him off. =/\= Lieutenant JG Tenkiller, report to the Admiral’s office immediately. =/\= Tenkiller tapped the badge and said +/\= On my way. =/\= and then glared at the two students. “Trythrough the door. it again. And if you keep screwing up, next round you get Naussicans.”

It was a fairly short tram ride to the Admiral’s office from the Command Training School. Arriving, Tenkiller made sure his uniform was squared away and then walked into the lift. Stepping out, he made his way down the hall and up to the door of the office. Opening silently at his approach, Charles walked in and stood in front of the receptionist’s desk. A Bolian female looked up and said “Lieutenant Junior Grade Tenkiller. The Admiral is expecting you.” and motioned him to the door behind the desk. Tenkiller said “Thank you very much.” and walked through the door.

The office was spacious and looked out over the Star Fleet Academy grounds. Before the large window was a desk, behind which sat a Vulcan male. “Mr. Tenkiller. Thank you for coming so promptly. I trust I am not interrupting anything pressing?”

Tenkiller stood in front of the desk and looked straight ahead. “No, sir. I was running boarding drills with some of the non-Security personnel. A few are having trouble adapting to disciplines outside their normal specializations.” The Admiral nodded once and said “That does happen. Thus the cross-disciplinary training. I appreciate your taking the time to make sure they are taking the lessons seriously. Please, be seated.” Charles nodded and said “Thank you, sir.” and took a seat.

“I will be brief.” the Admiral began. “It has been determined that your time at the Command School will be brought to a close. Star Fleet has need of your talents in the field, and you will be transferring out in forty-eight hours.” Tenkiller nodded. It wasn’t that he was prepared for the sudden move, but he was also aware that his position at the School had been temporary. And, truth be told, he was wanting to get back to the fleet. “Understood, Admiral. May I ask which ship I will be going to?”

“You will not be going to a ship. You will be the new Chief of Security at Outpost Forty-Two. Do you know it?” the Admiral asked. Tenkiller thought for a moment and said “Only in passing really, sir. I know it sits on the border between Federation and Romulan space. And I know it has both Star Fleet and civilian personnel there. Other than that, no, I don’t know much.” The Admiral slid a PaDD across the desk. “Then I suggest you familiarize yourself. This will contain all the layouts and personnel files for the Outpost. And there is one more thing.” and he reached into a drawer and puled out a small black box. “Myself and several other members of the Admiralty were both impressed and appreciative of your actions aboard the Chimera during her final conflict before she was recommissioned. You actions in taking over when the Captain was incapacitated were… well… worthy of note. For those actions, and for your stellar performance here, we have elected to promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Your experience and record make such a promotion only logical.”

Tenkiller smiled broadly and stood up. “Thank you, sir. I will do everything I can to make sure your faith in my abilities is not misplaced.” The Admiral stood in turn and said “Of that I have no doubt… Commander.” and he raised his hand in the traditional Vulcan gesture. “Live long and prosper, Mr. Tenkiller.” “Thank you, sir. If I may be excused, I need to pack.” and the Admiral dismissed him.

Pinning the new rank on as he left the office, he looked at the receptionist and smiled. “They on straight?” and she smiled back and giggled. “They are. Looks good on you, Skip.” and he smiled broadly. “Thanks, Masj. Dinner tonight before I go?” and she nodded emphatically. “Absolutely. See you at Marcello’s at 1900.” Tenkiller nodded and made his way out of the office and went straight back to his quarters to begin packing.

Tenkiller, Incoming CoS