<USS Avalon> "Left Foot Forward"

Left Foot Forward
By Senior Lieutenant Elissabeth Marksbury and 
Ensign Kyle Fenner

 

Marksbury called up her list of Covert Ops crew, contemplating the changes to 
the group. Mr. Archer was her medical expert, Mr. Monroe was her tactical and 
this was excellent. However, she had needed an engineering expert. When she 
called up the profiles of engineers on the ship, one in particular caught her 
attention. Kyle Fenner. He was an Intel agent, perfect for the job. Ketchum had 
approved her request for his partial transfer to her department.

It was time to start gathering her troops. She had checked Mr. Fenner?s 
schedule and he was already aboard the Avalon. In fact, he was already working 
and would be getting off duty soon. She tapped her comm-badge, "Ensign Fenner, 
this is Senior Lt. Marksbury."

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Would you please report to my office at the end of your shift? Security 
offices."

"Yes, Ma'am, I'll be there in ten minutes."

* * * * * 



Kyle had been about to enjoy a dinner with his two friends when Marksbury 
called. Stuffing several french fries in his mouth, he slid off the bench. 
"Sorry guys, but you heard the lady." 



Sara reached for Kyle's tray and slid the burger and fries onto her own plate. 
"I wonder what the covert ops chief wants with you." 



"Yeah," added Tracy. 



"Hmm, maybe it's just a meet 'n greet. See you two later." 



Grabbing a last handful of fries, Kyle entered the corridor. 



* * * * *

"Enter," Marksbury called when the chime to her door rang. She stood to greet 
the young man standing before her. "Agent Fenner," she smiled.

Kyle's face showed mild confusion. "Agent? I'm sorry Ma'am, you must have me 
confused with someone else."

"Do we no longer give reporting statements, Ensign?" she asked, brows slightly 
raised. 

Kyle remained in attention, "I'm sorry ma'am, you confused me. Ensign Fenner, 
reporting as ordered."

"At ease, Ensign." She gestured for him to take the seat opposite her desk and 
handed him a PADD with her Intel orders and clearances on it. "Look it over. 
You'll find any questions you have about my position right there." She sat down 
on the edge of her chair and waited. 

Kyle went to at-ease and briefly looked the document over, then handed the PADD 
back.

She sat back and smiled pleasantly. "Welcome to the Avalon, Agent Fenner. How 
are you acclimating?" 

"Thank you, Ma'am. I have acquired a couple friends and am doing well in 
Engineering, so I cannot complain."

"Excellent. I have a change in your posting to the Avalon," she told him, 
keying in a new code to the PADD and handing it back once again. "I need you on 
my covert ops team, Mr. Fenner." 

Kyle scrolled through the orders, "Covert ops engineer..." He handed the PADD 
back, "How will my duties be affected?"

"Well, this first week after the Avalon leaves orbit, you will be working 
strictly with my covert ops team for training. I've already sent the orders to 
your supervisor so they can adjust your schedule accordingly. Outside of that, 
your job in engineering will remain the same until you're called upon."

"Understood."

Setting her PADD down, Elissabeth looked at the young man before her. She 
shifted in her chair and leaned forward, placing her arms on her desk. "I've 
read your psychological profiles since your posting on the Tomlinson. The last 
thing that I want to do is make you uncomfortable, Ensign Fenner, but I'd like 
to hear your take on the events that happened."

Kyle cocked his head. "Ma'am, are you referring to my actions, or the situation 
in general?"

"Both, I suppose. I'd just like to hear your take on events."

Kyle was silent for a few moments, eyes focused on the floor. "Well," he began, 
"The morale on that ship wasn't good when I transferred in, so after the mutiny 
I was a little disenchanted. But the Avalon has restored my faith in 
Starfleet." He shifted on his feet. "The mutiny itself was startlingly 
successful. I was one of the few that escaped the cargo bay in our big rush, 
but my attempts at sabotage failed to disable the navigational deflector, and I 
got some nice burns for my effort."

"So you were locked in the cargo bay by the mutineers, correct? And then in 
your escape helped to disable the ship and contact Starfleet? I just want to 
make sure I'm correct on the facts," she smiled.

Kyle resumed standing at attention. "I'm not sure what I could add to the 
written account, Ma'am."

"Have a seat, Mister Fenner," she said, sitting up straight in her chair again. 
Something about his clipped response rubbed her entirely the wrong way. She 
waited until Fenner took a seat before her. Speaking as calmly as ever, "I 
wasn't asking you to add to the written account, Ensign. I was double-checking 
my facts with you to make sure that I understood what it was I was reading." 
She paused waiting for him to comment.

"Ma'am, your restatement of events agrees with the record."

She sighed and paused. "Mr. Fenner, I am not your enemy, nor am I your 
interrogator. I just simply wish to know my team past their profiles - to know 
I have chosen the correct man or woman for the job." She gazed at him steadily. 
"Do I have the right man for the job?"

"May I speak candidly?"

"Absolutely."

"If you are ever... "debriefed" several times a day for several days, then, in 
the later weeks, asked to "clarify" events countless times by investigators who 
just want to "double-check the facts," you would have better understanding of 
why I am taking offense to your initial unexplained line of questioning." Kyle 
took a breath. "Whether I'm the right man for the job I can't answer, but I 
have absolute confidence in my engineering abilities."

Her eyes softened just a bit. "Understood, Mr. Fenner. And I appreciate 
your...explanation. I never meant to insult your integrity nor dredge up ill 
memories. I should've realised what you would've gone through in the following 
weeks. I apologize for my oversight."

"It's already behind me."

"Very well. Your Academy transcripts are highly impressive."

"Thank you. There was some competition in the classes. It was excellent 
motivation."

"Graduated second in your class by only two hundredths of a point. Your parents 
must be proud," she smiled genuinely at him.

Kyle smiled, "They are, so is Captain Camrod."

"Your sponsor into the Academy, correct?"

"Correct."

"I won?t keep you any longer, Ensign. You must be tired. Report at 22:00 
tomorrow. Security briefing room. Your regular schedule applies until then. 
I?ll see you there," she smiled. "Dismissed....unless you have anything?"

Kyle jumped to attention, "No Ma'am." He turned sharply and exited the office.



                
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