<USS Avalon> For Better or For Worse

 
For Better or For  Worse 
By Keith Ketchum, Adrian Phillips, and Ruus  Macon 
Keith was leaving his ready room after  getting done with the PADDs.  
Transfers were the hardest.  Even the orders for someone he sent on a mission 
were 
changed.  Walking across the back hall, he entered  the bridge.  Things were 
about  ready.  Now about that Marine  contingent, he thought. 
The ship looked and seemed big enough from  the view Adrian had with the rest 
of his platoon and from the schematics he had  seen and looked over, but 
thirty decks really does seem a whole lot larger when  your actually onboard 
them. 
He looked around, having just finished settling the  rest of the marines into 
their quarters along with the help of some NCO's, he  was being guided to the 
bridge for a tour and also to meet the Captain. Well, hopefully he's at least 
a little  receptive to us, otherwise this'll be a long haul for my team.  He 
turned his attention to the person  guiding him over towards to the nearest 
lift. There was a little bit of  confusion when the team first arrived but 
fortunately things got straightened  out. "So, have you been working with 
Admiral 
Ketchum for  long?" 
Warrant Officer Ruus Macon turned to the  Marine Captain, "I was stationed on 
the Avalon-B when it was commissioned, and  now moved to the Ava-C.  So a 
little  bit of time, I would say, I don't keep track really."  Finally arriving 
at the lift they  entered, "Bridge." 
Adrian nodded. "Good to hear  Mr. Macon, I'm sure you've done an excellent 
job with your duties." He went back  into his own thoughts then, looking over 
the turbolift, noting any specific  changes in its design since this was a new 
ship after all, just gotta make sure  everything is still in the right place. 
The remainder of the ride was silent, but  the doors finally opened onto the 
Bridge.  Ruus walked out and towards the Admiral, whom he saw standing behind 
the  center chair, "Admiral, I'd like to introduce you to Marine Captain  
Phillips." 
Keith saw them both approaching, and offered  his hand out, "Captain 
Phillips, so good of you and your team to grace the  Avalon."  He tried to not 
make 
his  voice drip too much in sarcasm.  "I  hope that there weren't too many 
issues with getting everything squared  away?  We seem to have so many  people 
coming and going nowadays." 
Adrian's eyes scanned the  bridge for a moment before settling on the 
Admiral, more out of habit then  anything else. He smiled at the Admiral's 
words as 
he shook Keith's hand firmly.  "Thank you Admiral, we are glad to be able to 
join your crew. We've had no  trouble at all settling in, though I believe we 
scarred your housing staff when  we arrived. The majority of the platoon is 
already settled in and we will be  doing inventory and several tours of the 
ship 
within a few hours, with your  permission of course." He added at the end, 
knowing the game to play and where  to add the right words. 
"You'll be in charge of security, so that  permission is put right out there. 
 And if you haven't noticed, on Deck 4 and Deck 26, we have holodecks  
specifically setup for training for your Marines.  If you'd like, I can arrange 
with 
one of  my Information Services team to setup a tour for you.  Since the ship 
is quite extensive, I  haven't even seen it all yet."   
He nodded, his eyes scanning around the bridge again,  noting the stations 
and everything before his eyes settle on Ketchum once again.  "Yes, I imagine 
that would be quite helpful. My team has already been briefed on  our role here 
and studied the schematic layout of this vessel, but someone who  is more 
familiar with this ship would be more then welcome." 
"If I hadn't been locked away in my office  running over transfer orders and 
placement requests, I'm sure that my time would  have been more to take a 
walk-about.  Which, this is the first time that I have been able to get out of 
my  
office today. And since your team is aboard, I'll do a final crew recall, and 
 we'll get underway within the day."  Keith was trying to be nice, but also 
he wanted to be doing something  else, especially since the last twelve hours 
he was cooped up in his  office.   
"Well, in that case I will waste no more of your time  Admiral, I'm sure 
there are pressing matters to attend to." He smiled broadly  before snapping to 
attention and saluting Keith. "I will file the status report  before we get 
underway." 
"Very good, Captain, dismissed", and  returning the salute.  "Again,  welcome 
aboard the Avalon."  Keith  smiled a cordial smile, trying to be nice. 
Adrian nodded as he lowered  his hand from the salute and turned to head out 
into the lift. Well now, that could have gone better, but  could have gone 
about 50 times worse  also.

Other related posts: