<USS Avalon> Released On Probation

Released on Probation
Captain Skyler & Marine Captain Phillips

After having returned  from talking to the JAG officer on the station, Skyler 
made her way to the brig.  She didn't agree with what she had been told, 
however with this mission they  were going to need all the marines they could 
get. 
Upon arriving to the brig she  nodded to the guard on duty to lower the 
shield that was keeping Captain  Phillips contained. 

Adrian looked up from his seat on the bench. A newly  crafted starship very 
well resembling the Avalon was placed next to him and a  fair number of wood 
shavings were scattered throughout the floor. "Afternoon  Captain, I hope this 
visit finds you in better spirits then when we last meet."  He smiled and 
stood, giving her a regular salute. 

"At ease Captain." She  wasn't happy about what she was going to do but at 
this point in time she really  had no choice. "I see you have been making good 
use of your down time. That is a  nice replica of the Avalon. I am impressed." 
She moved to the other end of the  bed and sat down. She needed to catch her 
breath and calm her nerves. 

He  nodded at the mention of the Avalon replica and watched her go over and 
sit down  on the other end of the bed. After a few moments to allow Skylar to 
calm down he  spoke. "You seem a bit stressed out Capt, if you don't me saying. 
Do you have  any methods that you use to relieve stress or tension? I have a 
few if you are  interested, if not then you might want to consider eating one 
of these," Adrian  tossed over a small individually wrapped candy, square in 
shape with an orange  color to it. "They've worked for me and everyone else I 
know who's tried them. I  don't use them that often but it might help, who 
knows?" He smiled again,  knowing that hositility or intensity would probably 
be 
the worst thing to do at  this point. 

Catching the candy Skyler looked at it and then placed it in  her pocket. "I 
will admit I am stressed at the moment. I am going to do  something that goes 
against everything I believe in. Yet, I have been told that  for now I am to 
let what happen remain as it is. We are going to embark on a  mission very soon 
and I need every available officer."

Sitting on the  edge of the cot, she couldn't quite bring herself to tell him 
about his  probation. "Before I go any further, please explain to me again 
your   reasoning for the actions you took regarding that marines life. I need 
to 
 understand if at all possible." 

Adrian took a few moments before he  spoke again. "My reasoning is not easy 
to understand, especially if you have not  grown up in the marine culture. 
Marine law relies on trust and certain  expectations from all of the men, from 
the 
Company Commander down to the newest  cook or recruit. Regardless of the 
situation, we as a fighting force make it our  goal to be a close-knit 
community, 
a brotherhood almost if you will. Someone way  before us discovered that by 
striving for these things soliders not only fight  better, but last longer when 
you know that your buddies are there for you." He  paused again, picking his 
words as carefully as he could. "The law and practice  of execution was one 
which is used when there is an extreme action which can  create mayhem, 
disorder, 
or break apart the brotherhood that is the marines.  What happened in the pit 
is simply unexcusable and aside from presenting the  marines in a horrible 
image, is one which I and several others felt was breaking  of the this 
brotherhood. By taking the action that I did I maintained order  among the 
ranks by 
emphasizing the fact that these actions will not be  tolerated. Marines don't 
always understand the concepts of proper procedures and  courts and other 
things, what happened down in the pit was something that  everyone in the room 
understood, and quelled any questions that were lingering  from the situation." 

He paused again and looked over at Skyler. Either  she'll buy it or keep him 
in here against whatever orders she's under. It's not  easy to grasp when your 
not a marine. 

"You are right, I am not a marine.  I cannot imagine a group being allowed to 
do such a thing when there are in  facts laws prohibiting it." Skyler paused 
for a moment before continuing.  "I....went aboard the station while I had the 
chance and talked to a JAG officer  and a Marine officer. After talking with 
them and hearing their reasoning for  what you did, I have been basically 
ordered to release you for now. The keyword  here is "for now." You will 
consider 
yourself on probation until this matter is  resolved with the Admiral and the 
judicial system. I expect you to be on your  best behavior and you will report 
to me on a regular basis. As long as nothing  like this happens again then I 
would imagine you will be released from  probabtion. So.....Captain Phillips, 
do we have an understanding?"  


"Perfectly clear Captain, I'll do all I can to behave." He  smiled honestly 
over at Skyler. He figured this would happen eventually, the  marines on duty 
had told him of the sudden change in course. "May I inquire into  any of the 
mission details, or should I assume that Walker or Ms. Fane will  inform me?" 

"It would seem that the Cochrane institute was destroyed by  some sort of 
failed warp bubble experiment. Lt. Moreya, our science officer, has  determined 
warp field experiment, that apparently went wrong in some way, and  ultimately 
destroyed the entire Cochrane Institute complex.  There are two  things she 
found. It is very tempting to assume they are connected, but it is of  course 
possible they are not."  Pausing Skyler stood and paced in the cell.  
"According 
to what she found is that this was not a warp field experiment on the  same 
technology track as the Federation has been pursuing until now.   Rather, it 
involved opening a gateway to another, parallel dimension."   


"She is talking about a parallel dimension, similar  to  the subspace we use 
for communications.  Rather than warping the space-time  continuum in which we 
now exist in order to travel at faster than lightspeed,  the new experiments 
would open a portal to this parallel dimension, where the  distances are not 
the same.  One could conceivably enter this alternate  dimension, travel one 
parsec, and exit to our dimension, a hundred or even a  thousand parsecs from 
where you started."

Hesitating before continuing  she looked at Phillips and thought she could 
see the concern on his face. "Lt.  Moreya has also come to the realization that 
all the buildings of the Institute  were destroyed, though much of the grounds 
remain intact.  That argues  against a single explosion centering on the warp 
test facility.  The warp  test facility building was destroyed by the test 
core exploding. The rest, were  destroyed by the people inside them."

"I will make sure you get a full  detailed report as soon as she has it 
compiled. Our mission is going to be to  discover what happened and why. Why 
did 
the people destroy everything else  including themselves?" Skyler still 
couldn't 
believe that something of this  nature could happen.

He nodded slowly, taking in the information he had  just received. Obviously 
something that was happening down there was not  supposed to be known by the 
rest of the universe. "Will do, and my company will  make sure all of your 
staff remain safe in case there are anymore 'surprises'  that we should be 
aware 
of." He rose from his seat and looked out of the clear  but protected entrance. 
"Estimated time of arrival?" 

"We will most  likely remain at the station for at least another day, then we 
will depart for  the disaster zone. I expect that will give you enough time 
to get yourself  reaquainted with your men and explain the conditions of your 
release. Mind you I  don't want any of them coming after me for any reason."

Looking at the  guard she nodded her head, telling him to lower the force 
field. "You are free  to go Captain, just remember our agreement." With that 
said 
Skyler walked out of  the cell and returned to her office. 

Adrian laughed after she left and  he exited the cell. "Well, some of them 
probably already want to come after you  Captain, but that won't happen, I 
promise that much." He nodded again as the  guard on duty chuckled at his 
statement. 

Skyler turned at looked at  Phillips and the guard on duty. Her look said 
everything.

"Welcome back  Captain, we missed ya." He spoke. 

"Indeed Mr. Williams, I've been away  for too long." Was Adrian's reply. 
 



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