Meeting the New Chief Armory Officer

Posted on Sat Aug 24th, 2019 @ 1:11pm by Captain Gary Alexander & Lieutenant JG Jennifer Bullock

2,134 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Mission 0 - Pre-Sigma Iotia II
Location: Bridge
Timeline: 2167/07/11 0830

Having a new male XO was not the worst thing that had ever happened to Gary. However, he missed the exotic Konya Misoka. He had terribly high hopes for her. In fact, those hopes extended to much more than the mile high club with her.

Reluctantly, he exhaled a wistful sigh. He watched as a new Chief Armory Officer appeared. No, she was not Konya, but was not any port beautiful during a storm? And, Gary knew that he had one raging right now.

Putting on a charming smile he walked up to the new Chief Armory officer and asked, "And who might you be?"

It only took Jenn a moment to notice the rank on the man's uniform then she stiffened up a bit before replying, "Oh, Captain, sorry sir. I was going to come see you. I just, um, thought it would be better to get familiar with my station first. I'm, uh, sorry sir. I did not, um, mean to break protocol. I am so, so sorry." Great, she thought, first day on the job and I'm already screwing up. This guy is going to fire me for sure. She wanted to cry, scream, run away and go hide in her quarters but she couldn't do that. She was a Star Fleet officer and she had to act like it.

Gary did everything that he could not to laugh. She was so innocent and nervous. Perfect qualities to make this new Armory Officer his. Time to have some fun with her. He took on a stern tone. "Lieutenant, I asked a simple question and I expected a simple answer. Do I need to repeat it for you, or do you think you can answer it?"

Jenn almost froze when the captain spoke. He was so mean, she thought before she replied. "N. N. No sir. I am Lieutenant Jenn, uh, I mean, Jennifer Bullock. Your new armory officer... sir." She was in terror at his reaction and afraid he was going to throw her off the ship right then and there.

A sly smile crossed his face as he continued to reign in his humor. "You seem pretty darn uncertain of yourself Bullock," he told her in a commanding tone. "Are you sure that you're up for a mission into deep space? My last Chief Armory Officer left because she could not handle it."

Jenn quickly switched gears. Being suggested she was not up for her job got to her quickly.

"Excuse me sir", the woman began as her tone shifted from one of fear to one of anger, "I did my time in the Academy. I earned my rank and my position and I can and will do my job, sir. And frankly I think it's rude to suggest otherwise before we even launch, sir."

Gary smiled warmly at Jenn. The mouse had some backbone. She definitely would be fun to break in, he thought to himself. "I did not suggest anything. I asked if you were up for it." He smiled wider. "I'm glad to hear that you are. A timid Armory officer is the last thing that I need on this ship. Who knows what dangers that we might find out there? Who knows who may need to protect me and the ship?"

Bottling up her rage which now over powered her doubt and fear Jenn spoke sternly, "Permission to speak freely, Captain?"

"Of course, but how about we do so in my ready room?"

"Fine", the woman said as she stomped off towards the Captain's ready room then stood to the side waiting for him to pass.

Gary passed easily and moved to his Ready Room. He was amused at how his new Chief Armory Officer was now fuming. Such a temper! Even if I do not completely understand what she's upset about, one can only imagine how delightful that passion will be when it is turned around to the most delicious uses.

He opened the room and Jennifer could see that there was a desk and a chair. The appeared unused. The leather reclining couch, however, had seen more wear, as the material had stretched and the color was uneven in places of greater use. Oddly, one such area was the far arm closer to Gary's desk.

When Jennifer got in and the door closed behind her, Gary asked, "Now, tell me what it is that you would like to get off your chest."

"Asking if I'm up for this is an obvious backhanded way of suggesting I'm not and when it comes to dangers, the only danger right now would be questioning my competency in front of the other officers again, sir. Frankly I was afraid of not being as 'proper' as I needed to be but not that I couldn't do the job! So, tell me now, do you want a good little soldier to salute and look pretty or can I do my job and kick ass when someone decides to jeopardize the safety of this ship on my watch?" She was fuming still but something nagged at her. Something with in her was telling her he had something on his mind other than the job or even if she was 'competent' to do the job.

Gary finally broke out laughing when Jennifer got done with her rant. "Nice to see that you have backbone. I do not want any wimpy officers, Jen. May I call you Jen? No, I need a lot of that spitfire. We're going where nobody has gone before and I need people that are going to be able to be resilient. And please, while not on duty, call me Gary.

Jenn's eyes narrowed and she wanted to knock the captain on his ass, but she refrained, "A joke?! That was some kind of joke!?... You've got a twisted sense of humor, Captain. I remind you sir, unless protocols have changed, right now your Captain because you are on duty, unless you're telling me your not. Just know, if you tell me you're not, after that stunt, I might have to knock you on your pompous arrogant ass, sir."

"I'm always on some sort of duty," he said with a shrug, his smile fading. "What I meant, though, I was not clear, was in private, that you can call me Gary." He shrugged his shoulders and said. "I suppose we're even now. Care to start over?"

Glaring at the man she crossed her arms over her chest and lowered her head slightly, "I suppose Captain."

"Gary, please," he told Jennifer with a winning smile. "So, tell me what brings you to Horizon?"

"Space", Jenn began still holding a slightly angry expression with her arms crossed over her chest, "I have always wanted to explore space. Being able to shoot things and blow things up was just a bonus."

Audibly, Gary laughed at that statement, heartily. "Well, Jenn... You don't mind if I call you Jenn, do you?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "Well, Jenn, you must remember that this is an exploratory mission. Blowing things up is hoped to be a non-occurrence."

"Well, bonuses come at random times without warning. So, do you always put your new officers on the spot when they first come board or am I somehow special", the woman asked dropping her guard a little?

"I can't say that I do it to everyone. Not everyone piques my interest. However, you were the replacement to my last Chief Armory Officer...." He smiled the sort of smile that let Jenn know that he had not told her nearly half of the story.

Relaxing a little more Jenn looked at Gary more softly, "Oh, and just how did i pique your interest?" Her arms relaxed and she shifted from her stiff position of attention.

"Well, Jenn, you appeared to be so young and so innocent. I had to see what else you were made of." He moved closer to Jenn, gazing deep into her eyes. "I am very glad to see that you have some steel in your spine," he told her as he stopped just short of entering her personal space.

"Well, I assure you that I have quite a bit of steel in my spine. Yet somehow I'm getting the feeling that your no longer curious about my spine? So what is on your mind now", Jenn asked standing firm, showing no waiver to her stance at all?

"Oh, I assure you that I'm still very interested in your smile," he told Jenn with a sly smile. "However, I would be pleased if I could have you as my dinner guest tomorrow night."

"I suppose, but know this. Any more 'jokes' like the on you pulled on the bridge and you'll be moving me to the brig for the duration of our time in space. Fair enough?" Jenn was adamant and it showed in her expression.

"I doubt that would be fun for either one of us," Gary told Jenn. "Besides, how are you going to protect me from the brig?" He smirked and chuckled.

A darkness flashed in her eyes as Jenn peered at the captain, "If that happens, I'm the one you will want protection from."

"Excuse me?" Gary asked confused.

"I didn't mean to be subtle. My entire career I have had to work to prove I am just as good as any man. So questioning me in front of the other crew again and I'll knock you on your ass, court martial be damned. If you leave those jokes out on the bridge with the last one, we will get along just fine. Fair", the woman asked with a less angry less dark tone?

"Back to that again?" Gary asked disappointed. "Well, Jenn, I have no doubts of your capabilities. Leave the chip that you're carrying off at the Starbase. There's no place for it here. We have to work together, not against each other."

"What do you mean 'back to that again'? It's only been a couple minutes. I wouldn't be 'human' if I just flipped a switch and was over it like that," Jenn replied.

Gary smirked. "Shall I inspect you to be certain that you have no switches?"

Finally it hit her fully what the Captain was up to. She thought for a moment before responding, "Why Captain, are you hitting on me?"

"Would you mind if I were?" he asked coyly.

Jenn blinked several times caught off guard by his answer. She thought for a moment as she recollected herself. This was already beginning to be the undiscovered country.

"I, um, yes; I mean no; I mean, I don't know. Is that even allowed", Jenn asked her tone of voice openly betraying her confidence and showing her obvious confusion?

"Is what allowed?" Gary asked with a smirk, keeping his voice at a level of innocent amusement. Let the girl explain herself and figure out what she does or does not want.

"Hitting on a subordinate", Jenn replied as she recollected her self.

"I've never seen a rule in the regulations that forbids it. Regulations are quite silent on it," he told her with a knowing shrug. "I think that Starfleet recognized that on Deep Space missions, relationships are likely to occur. After all, for 5 years, there are only so many of us on this ship. Right?"

Jenn was taken back by his openness. She never expected this from any one, let alone the captain on the first day. Instinctively she took a step back, the back of her leg hitting the captain's desk. She looked at him fighting to hide the shock and confusion she was feeling.

"I uh... I guess, but I... I'm not sure now is the right time to start something like this...", she protested.

Gary cringed when Jenn hit her leg against his desk. "Let me take a look at that." Without waiting, he moved to Jenn's leg and started inspecting it.

Jenn slowly pulled away, "Its ok. I... um... I think I'll go see the doctor. Unless there's something else you need?"

"Not at the moment," Gary replied with a warm smile. "Take care of that and we can arrange dinner plans later," he told her in a tone that told Jenn that she was welcome to leave and visit the doctor.

Jenn just quietly nodded and rushed out the door. She didn't really need the doctor for her leg, but it was standard policy to check in and have a physical so this made as good an excuse as any.

Captain Gary Alexander
Commanding Officer

and

Lieutenant Junior Grade Jennifer Bullock
Chief Armory Officer

 

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