<USS Avalon> The Meetings

The Meetings
By Captain Keith Ketchum, Lieutenant Caine Reilly McKinsely, 
Lieutenant Anthony Manson, and Junior Lieutenant Alder Shimbrodus

Keith walked from the bridge to his ready room on deck two.  He hoped that 
the crew he called would show up.
___________________________
 
Anthony was already in the captain's ready room. As for Alder, he was behind. 
There was a silence that crept in the room; Anthony didn't quite understand 
it, but it was a nice change compared to the commotion outside. The doors 
wisped opened, and Alder stood in front of the Captain's desk. He glanced at 
Anthony, and both had to force a smile down not to be seen to openly.

Keith looked up from his PADD, "Ah, Lieutenants, I hope that I do not keep 
you too long from your shore leave, but I had a few things that I need to 
address." He looked down at the PADD again.

"Many things do not go un-noticed, on this ship, without my knowledge." He 
smiled inwardly. 

Anthony looked up, with eyebrows up a little. The second he felt that, he 
blinked twice slowly, and managed to get his neutral mask on. Though it wasn't 
working as well as he would've liked. Looking at Alder, who looked back, 
Anthony, decided to speak up first, "sir?"

"Do not worry, Lieutenants. That is not why I called you here." Turning his 
attention to Mr. Shimbrodus, "Alder, you have done your job quite well, for 
that I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant." Pushing a box across the 
desk containing a new pip, "Congratulations."

Alder smiled, "thank you, sir."

Standing, Keith walked around the desk and started pacing the floor, "Now, 
Mr. Manson, what to do with you?"

Keith thought for a moment, "There is but only one thing... ok, I can do more 
than one thing."

Taking a deep breath, "Mr. Manson", holding out a box, "Within this contains 
three honors that I bestow on you: The Excellence Ribbon for Operations, the 
Starfleet Leadership Award, and the Captain's Commendation."

Anthony looked up, "thank you, sir."

Surprised slightly at the lack of response, however, he was sure the 
celebration later would be joyous. "Also, Mr. Manson, I hereby promote you to 
the rank 
of Senior Lieutenant, with all the rights and privileges there to."

The smiled beamed across Anthony’s face. In less than a year being in the 
Avalon, never had his career gone this far this quickly. Staying on the 
Blackwell 
had been...uneventful, he realized that moving here was the best decision he 
ever made. "Thank you, sir. I won't let you down."

It was then Alder had added, "We won't let you down." A smile came across his 
face with that, and turned into a grin. 

"I hope not, Lieutenants, congratulations, now go have a fun shore leave, 
after all you deserve it. Dismissed", Keith smiled and slicked his hair back, 
another pair of victims, done

Anthony and Alder nodded, heading out with grins etched in. Anthony spoke 
first, "where shall we go?"

Alder replied looking a little pooped out at the thought. "Actually, I have 
to cover Michaelson tonight. I chose to- she's sick."

Anthony nodded it was late afternoon earth time, "alright. Tomorrow morning 
when you’re fully rested, we’ll go somewhere. In the meantime, let’s head 
down 
to the Station’s restaurants."
___________________________
 
Caine moved down that hallway, towards Captain Ketchum's ready room.  She was 
quite a bit nervous about talking with the Captain again, she never knew what 
to expect from the man and that made her worry.  Taking a calming breath, she 
rang his door chime and waited patiently for him to answer.
 
Keith sat at his desk, he looked at the PADD when the chime rang, "Enter", 
and the door opened.  
 
Walking in, Caine noticed that not much damage had done to the room and it 
still looked very good.  She smiled at Keith as her eyes landed on him.  "You 
called for me sir?"
 
"Yes, Lieutenant, I did... Mr. Sierra has written some things about you, and 
your actions on our recent mission, that I wanted to go over with you before 
my meetings on Earth."
 
"Alright sir," she said, nodding and moving further into his ready room, not 
expecting to be leaving anytime soon.
 
Keith looked down at the PADD, "It appears that you have performed admirably 
in light of certain situations."  Noticing that she was at Attention and 
forgetting his manners, "At ease."
 
Caine relaxed and took the sit across Keith's desk from him and sat quietly, 
waiting for him.
 
"And I just wanted to take this opportunity, before my meetings with some 
Admirals to take some time out to give honors to my crew.  So without putting 
you 
through too much of an uncomfortable situation in meeting with me, I hereby 
promote you to the rank of Senior Lieutenant, with all rights and privileges 
there to."  He pushed a box across the desk with the new pip in it, 
"Congratulations, Senior Lieutenant."
 
Caine's mouth fell open slightly as she stared at the box Keith had just slid 
across the desk to her.  Blushing over her shock at being promoted, Caine 
quickly closed her mouth and smiled up at Captain Ketchum.  "Thank you so much 
sir," she said
 
"Now, go enjoy shoreleave.  Dismissed."  
 
Standing, she grabbed her box and headed for the door, short of it she 
stopped and turned to look at Keith.  "You know sir, it seems that every time I 
see 
you, you're promoting me, not that I'm complaining, just something I noticed." 
 Caine smiled at him again.
 
"Well, it could be worse... I could be demoting you.  Now get out of here, 
before I change my mind."  He smiled back.
 
Caine laughed lightly and waved to him.  "See you later Captain, and don't 
forget to relax some yourself, you deserve it.  Besides it's counselor's 
orders. 
 She winked at him over her shoulder before heading off down the hall and off 
to decide what to do with her shore leave.
 
Keith watched as she left and awaited the next victim. 
___________________________
 
He looked at the time, the others would have to wait until after shore leave. 
 The time to get ready to meet the Admirals had come.  He left a note on the 
door if they showed up.
 
He switched out his uniform jacket and into a fresh one, he walked towards 
the transporter room, entering, he advises, "Starfleet Command, San Francisco."

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