<USS Avalon> "Called to the Carpet."

"Called to the Carpet." 
By: Captain Keith Ketchum and Commodore Sara Crusher
 
Keith received the summons to report to Commodore Crusher's office at the  
Academy.  He thought it was odd, to be reporting there for a meeting about  the 
information that he provided to command, but he would go anyway.  After  
beaming down to Earth, he made his way across the campus, heading in to the  
building of the Academy director.  He walked into the outer office.   "Captain 
Keith 
Ketchum of the Avalon, reporting to see Commodore Crusher." 
 
The comm on her desk buzzed, pulling Sara away from the padd she’d been  
reading, she reached over and pressed the button to allow her yeoman to speak 
to  
her. “Captain Ketchum is here, Commodore.” The young man reported. Sara 
nodded  as she glanced at the padd and then replied, “Send him in.” She sat 
up 
straight  in her chair and folded her arms on the top of her mahogany desk and 
waited for  the Avalon’s captain to come in. 
 
Walking through the office door, he walked to the desk and went to  
attention, "Captain Ketchum reporting, Ma'am".  He made note of the office,  
and would 
hope that someday he would get a desk like that. 
 
It felt odd to have a fully adult officer standing before her desk awaiting  
her next command. She was after all use to dealing with cadets, but command 
had  had the bright idea of adding to her responsibilities. Which pretty much 
meant  they were swamped and doling out what they couldn’t handle to anyone 
with 
a gold  box around their pip(s). “Have a seat, Captain.” Sara finally said 
after  allowing just enough time hold the moment in place. “I’m sure your 
wondering why  your here since clearly your no longer a cadet.”  
 
 "That did cross my mind,” he replied as he took a seat.  "What  can I do for 
you, Commodore?"  Beginning to wonder if he was being demoted  all the way 
back to cadet for the Avalon mishaps. 
 
“As you most likely know, Captain, given your placement within the chain of  
command before retaking command of your ship,” Sara began as she looked at 
the 
 man across from her. “Starfleet Command is quite busy and all available 
members  of command are being utilized as much as possible. Which is why the 
Avalon now  falls under my jurisdiction. Which is why I have been reading the 
reports you  and your crew have sent in.” Sara’s expression had remained 
natural 
and still  remained so but there was a small edge to her voice as she finished 
with, “Which  is why I had to spend the better part of the day yesterday 
dealing with the  Rydyns.”
 
Keith listened and nodded as she spoke, "I understand, the Rydyns, were a  
little troublesome for the Avalon, especially in light of the events that  
occurred on the ship after they came aboard.   Specifically, the death  of 
Captain 
Joseph Flubb."  He paused for a moment then continued, "But I  feel under the 
circumstances, the Rydyn's were handled under the correct  procedure."  Now he 
hoped he would still have his head when he left the  office.
 
Sara picked up the padd she’d been reading before the Captain's arrival and  
skimmed it. “I have the reports, Captain, and I’ve had my fair share of 
dealing  with delegates. Also, after having spent time with them myself I 
understand the  circumstances your crew were under.” Her voice was level as 
she spoke. 
When she  looked up however any ease her voice may have shown was lost. “Most 
of the  actions your crewmen took were within the boundaries of protocol. 
However, I do  not believe there are protocols listing punching someone as a 
diplomatic  procedure.”
 
"I hate to correct you, but the Ambassadors were the ones that started  
getting punchy, and attack my crew when they were being talked to by Mr. 
Manson,  
the Operations Officer.  Fearing full attack on Miss Marksbury, he had to  stun 
one of the Ambassadors to keep things under control.  True this was  not the 
best procedure, but for a crewman's safety, it was the best  action."  Keith 
rubbed his eyes, "It should have never gotten to that  point, but we were 
trying to keep them in the dark as much as possible regarding  the death of 
Captain 
Flubb.  Since everyone on the ship was a suspect, and  the Rydyn's were 
secluded to their quarters, so that the investigation could  continue 
undeterred.  
This was a choice that had to be made, but I fear  they could have been told 
early on, to avoid the strife."
 
Sara continued to simply looked at Ketchum as he spoke. When he was  finished 
she picked up another padd. “I agree that the situation should have  never 
gotten to the point that it had, but because of the actions taken against  
them, 
be they the only ones available to your people at the time or not, the  
delegation has filed an official compliant against Starfleet with the  
Council.”  
 
 "I understand, and I would be willing to face any repercussions that  come 
of it.  Including my command. "  He looked past Sara towards the  bay.  "But as 
I was already willing to relinquish my rank increase with  leaving starbase 
12 to resume command of the Avalon upon Flubb's death,  hopefully they won't be 
too hard.  Hopefully."
 
“This is not the first official compliant heaved against a starship and  it’
s crew by delegates with bruised egos, Captain.” Sara replied. “Someone 
from  
the Council will of course need to question everyone involved. Especially 
Mister  Manson since he’s the one their accusing of ’assault’.” Sara 
leaned 
back in her  chair as she paused for a moment. She wanted Ketchum to understand 
that she  needed to address things but was in no way looking to squish anyone's 
career, at  least in this matter. She’d probably have decked the man herself, 
the Gods only  knew she wanted to do it yesterday. 
 
“Now Captain, from one problem to the next. The Antican government is  
demanding retribution and between us, so is Starfleet. The murder of Flubb has  
put 
a very large strain on our relationship with the Anticans and their allies.” 
 
 "I'm sure it has.  What can be done.  The murder has been  identified, Petty 
Officer Lol Kendrick and is currently being pursued by  Commander Sierra.  
From what I understand, he stowed away on the only  runabout to leave the 
Avalon, used by Mister Snuffy to return to the Aurelian  Homeworld at the 
request of 
the Aurelian Ambassador."
 
Sara took a moment to recall the files she’d read over the past few days  and 
nodded when she remembered the one dealing with Snuffy. Then she frowned. “I  
remember Mister Kendrick. He would have made a fine officer but didn’t want 
to  spend the four years it took to become one. He wanted thrown into the thick 
if  things without the wait so he enlisted instead. I find his involvement in 
this  disheartening. I can not deny the evidence, but I was unable to find a 
motive in  the reports. Do you have any idea why he may have done this?” 
 
 "I wish I knew.  Could be the displeasure of serving under  someone besides 
me.  Change can do that to some people.   From  the reports I had seen, Flubb 
was difficult to understand, the computer never  was able to translate 
properly due to the dialect. I never had trouble with Lol  during the time he 
was 
under me.  He kept me informed of needed  information.  He had even alerted me 
of 
Flubb's death, before Commander  Skyler had the opportunity.  Hopefully, 
Commander Sierra will locate him  and bring him back to stand trial." 
 
“If he doesn’t things in the Council could get very unpleasant.”  Sara  
remarked, not at all pleased with that possibility. “I want to be informed as 
 
soon as you know anything regarding any of this, Captain. Until all these  
matters are cleared up and the ripples Avalon has caused, wither they were  
intentional or not, are smooth once again, I am to be the first thought you 
have  when 
anything new comes up. I have two governments to wrangle and I can’t do  that 
unless I have enough rope. Am I clear Captain?”
 
"Crystal, Commodore."  He hoped that Sierra brought home Lol, to stand  
trial.  He wanted to get this resolved also. 
 
“Good.” Sara said with a commanding nod. “The sooner this is all laid to  
rest the sooner you and your crew can move on and the sooner I can focus on the 
 
war games with the Klingon Academy.” Sara looked down at the padd on her desk 
 and signed off on it before looking up at the captain again. “Your 
dismissed,  Captain. And lets hope the next time I have to deal with the Avalon 
it’ll 
be on  much better terms.” 
 
Keith stood, and went to attention, "Aye, Commodore."  He turned on  his heel 
and walked out of the office, only once clear of the building did he  take a 
breath.

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