Seconds out

Posted on Mon Apr 30th, 2018 @ 11:05am by Lieutenant Commander Anders Odegaard

Mission: New Ship, New Crew
Location: XO's Office, USS Alabama

The role of an Executive Officer on a Starfleet Vessel or Stations was never an easy one. You were always the first port of call for heads of department, matters of crew moral and in other cases matters of discipline. And you were a vital cog in a machine that freed the Captain up from day to day mundane activities and allowed him to focus on Commadnign the Ship.

Odegaard was a true Starfleet Brat right down to the blood in his veins and as he sat there in his office behind his desk, hearing the two Officers squabble. He envied his superior.

"Alright, alright that is enough." He said raising his hand in a tone of voice that demonstrated his annoyance at the current situation. "You are aware that this Ship will be undertaking a shakedown cruise in few hours correct? And yet I have the two of you in my office arguing like petty children."

The younger of the pair. A Bajoran Ensign looked at Odegaard in disbelief. "But Commander it's the principle....." He couldn't finish the sentence.

"I wasn't finished." The Commander said shooting a glare at the young mans way. "Do you know what this looks like to the rest of the crew?" The Commander had gained a reputation already as a man to not be trifled with.

"Apologies Commander." The Efrosian Ensign responded. "I guess things got a little heated."

"Heated?" Odegaard asked rhetorically as he cocked an eyebrow. "I don't call two Junior Officers brawling in my Mess Hall over a fictional character as heated, I call it pathetic."

The two Junior Officers stood in front of the desk of the Executive Officer and you could feel the tension in the room as the Commander laid down the law.

"It won't happen again Sir." The Bajoran said to Odegarrd and then his colleague. "Just admit that I was right and we will end it there."

"You were right? Are you mad? There is no way that I'm going to admit that." The Efrosian said as they returned to an argument.

There was an almighty thud that jolted the two young men into silence. "Enough!" Odegaard barked as fierce as any Klingon or creature of similar ilk. His fist clenched having just impacted onto his desk. "Centuries ago you'd both be flogged and left topside in the elements for conduct similar to this." The XO finally had the room in order.

"But since flogging went the same way as the Cellular Telephone and Petrolilum I have a better solution." The Commander said as his demeanours eternal to normal. "There are three options currently available to you both."

Both young men looked puzzled at the Commanders impending suggestions.

"Option one, I revoke your Holodeck privileges and have you confined to quarters for the remainder of your stint on the Alabama and put it on your records." He said as stern as anything you could imagine. "Option two, I put this on your permanent records and recommend that you be ineligible for promotion for twice the recommended length of service required." And then with a smirk spread across his face the XO looked at the pair of young Officers. "Would you both like my third alternative?"

"Yes Sir." They both said in unison.

"Option three, since you both like to flex your fists in view of an audience and put on a spectacle then why don't we do this the old fashioned way? You'll compete in the undercard of the COBs boxing extravaganza."

There were genuine looks of shock and terror from the two junior officers at what the Commander was proposing, all three options were equally as terrifying as the other. The Bajoran and the Efrosian didn't have many options left currently.

"Now the first two admittedly will be long drawn out affairs that will require paperwork and resources to accomplish and may hinder your careers in the long run, option three will require the two of you and a pair of gloves and the matter will be settled there." The Commander sat back in his chair. "What shall it be?"

After a second or two of thought the two young men looked at Odegaard. "We shall take option three."

"Excellent, report to the Gymnasium at 18:00 hours I shall tell the COB to be expecting you both." Odegaard said to them both. "And gentlemen if I hear another word about the two of you causing any issues on my Ship then there will be nowhere on this Ship that you will will able to run or to hide am I clear?"

The question did not need a response as the two young man snapped to attention and were dismissed by Commander Odegaard.

Odegaard stood up and looked out of his viewing port. He couldn't wait to see the spectacle that would be the undercard bout of 'Holodeck Hitters.'