Calm Before the Storm (Open)

[xColonel Jonathan Richards]

Jonathan watched Tara pull up the 'information' about what she needed to do but there was no information, it was procedure. He did note to memory, that she had been pretty fast to find the information or lack of it.

"Yes." Jonathan replied simply, "Upon a new assignment it is procedure to be examined by the doctors within the month." His tone was monotone and his expression, expressionless.

"I know that it has only been two weeks but it seems to me that you might have been too busy to make a tiny detour to sickbay, what ever you think is more important right now..." Jonathan made sure his eyes were locked with private's own brown orbs.

"It's not. Is that understood, private?"

Tag: Tara/Any

[xPrivate Tara Mack]

"Upon a new assignment it is procedure to be examined by the doctors within the month."

"I still have two weeks," she thought, "why is he--"

"I know that it has only been two weeks but it seems to me that you might have been too busy to make a tiny detour to sickbay, what ever you think is more important right now... It's not. Is that understood, private?"

Her cheeks flushed at the reprimand. 'Tiny detour' indeed.

"Yes sir."

She put away her PADD and stood. "Thank you, Sir," she said with a nod. 'Right now' meant right now. It was an order from her superior and one she couldn't fight, no matter how much she didn't want to go to sickbay. She picked up the crushed can, turned, and lobbed it with incredible accuracy into the replicator. As she walked past the replicator, she pushed the 'recycle' button and the can disappeared. With quick steps, she quickly exited Ten Forward.

End Tara

[Major Heath Ellerton]

Heath had found out that Richards was in ten forward and had made a beeline for the lounge. He knew exactly what Tara had meant back in the gym, but there hadn't been a damn thing he could do about it.

Well, now, he could at least let Richards know exactly what he was thinking about this asinine mission. As he entered Ten Forward he just missed Tara by a few minutes.

Stepping in, he scanned the room and spotted his target. Moving swiftly over to his CO, Heath stopped at the table, stood tall and ready to present himself to his Commander.

"Sir, I'd like a word with you." He stated, his eyes flicking toward the other man.

Tag Richards

[xColonel Jonathan Richards]

Jonathan watched Tara go and simply continued to sit there for several long moments when the idea of a quick drink trundled into his head but before he did so. A man quickly entered the mess hall and not a second too soon, he was by Jonathan's table. From the way he moved, he guessed it was urgent.

"Great minds think alike," Jonathan said with a smile as he gestured for the lieutenant to take a seat. "I wish to talk to you as well." He added as he decided that he would let Heath talk first, that is if he wanted to talk here.

"What's on your mind, Lieutenant?"

Tag: Heath/Any

[Major Heath Ellerton]

Heath slid into the seat. Then he eyed the Colonel from across the table.

"I know this isn't really my place," he started, leaning forward a bit, "but why the hell aren't we on this mission? What's the point of us being on this ship if all we're going to do is sit around and watch the others hop off to do whatever it is they do. Are we nothing but babysitters?" Heath couldn't keep the harshness and unhappiness out of his tone. He wished once again he could have stayed with his contingent where he'd known quite a bit of action over the years.

"Look, don't get me wrong, I'll do what I'm told, but I can tell you that the marines around this ship are already getting a bit edgy. They are not going to take well to this sit back and watch attitude." Heath glanced around the room, noting all the other Federation officers happily going about their business. He wanted to snort his disdain for their casual attitude. Space was anything but safe and happy, and these people didn't seem to give a damn about that at all. Heath had spent the greater part of his life training to protect others and the Federation at all costs, and yet, what did he find himself doing now? Sitting on a luxury ship, watching the freakin stars floating in space. This was not at all what he'd signed up for.

Tag Richards

[xColonel Jonathan Richards]

Jonathan watched Heath and knew how the man felt, it wasn't easy to stay on the sidelines. And with such a fiery personality for action, it could be dangerous but Jon trusted that Heath wouldn't do anything stupid. The words flew and his ears caught them without missing a beat.

"We're soldiers first, and diplomats quite far down the list," He said before adding in his head, "For some". Jon heartily agreed with Heath, this was a situation where things could easily go wrong and what did the people of the mission have? Well Jonathan wasn't going to complain too much, they had security but only security.

Security with force is always effective, a show of strength, a sign of power, that was the impression of the Marines.

"This mission is valuable to the Federation, all diplomatic choices and ideas must be tried without the risk of sending down us hot headed people. A lot of us are quick to pull a trigger and one accident could mean another whole disagreement or worse."

Jonathan looked hard into the marine's eyes, he meant what he meant and his face shared the same un-changing expression until a small smile quirked at the corners of his lips.

"However, at the slightest sign of something gone wrong... we will be going down there."

The chances of something going wrong was fifty/fifty in his book, something could always go bonkers in any situation. The face of superiority returned to Jon's head, "As for the "edgy" ones, just let anyone know who is complaining that if I hear about it... they might not have anything to complain with."

"And before I forget, you should report to sickbay for your physical... if we are going down there, I want to make sure I pick correctly, I don't want a mental breakdown half way through."

The 'should' was a word of suggestion but his tone was one of command. He would know if Heath hadn't been to sickbay.

Tag: Heath

[Major Heath Ellerton]

Heath had to grind his teeth in frustration. He knew that Richards was right, but it didn't change the feeling of being a puppet in a show. They were here for show, at least that's how it felt to Heath. This was a baby-sitting job and Heath had never been good with taking care of others.

"I understand, sir. I don't like it, but I do understand." Heath settled back into the seat a bit now that he'd spoken his mind. That was until Richards spoke again.

Sickbay. Great. He'd managed to avoid going in there since his arrival. It looked like if he wanted to get on this potential mission he'd better get his ass down to the med ward and let them prick and poke him. Great. Just great.

"I'll make sure I do that, sir. As soon as I leave here," 'even though I'd rather be anywhere else,' he mentally told himself.

"Sir, if I may ask. What exactly is our mission here on the Nike? Are we nothing more than baby-sitters? My last posting was far different than this one. We were part of the elite squads that were sent into the fray for both exploration and attack. Here, it feels like we're nothing more than pawns in some game Starfleet is playing."

Tag Richards

[xColonel Jonathan Richards]

Good. As long as Heath understood, that was fine with Jon who was glad that he'll be going to sickbay, if he did that is. Jonathan watched Heath and had the feeling that he wasn't quite done yet and he was right.

The question, was good and the answer, Jonathan almost sighed at the very thought of his own personal and 'marine' thoughts on the matter. "I've asked that myself as well." Jonathan said honestly.

"We will be exploring and attacking but, starfleet has its way of slowing down this kind of thing." Jonathan said carefully, he didn't want to give too much away but yet, the desire actually talk about this fully was a small temptation that wrapped around his spine.

When you were at the top, there wasn't really anyone special to confide with. Jonathan looked out at the window, but there is or rather, there was. He knew he was staring at the window, he knew it looked like he ignoring Heath, knew that his lieutenant was waiting for a further answer.

"Starfleet is playing a game, but badly." Jonathan finally said he moved his eyes to meet Heath's, "They'll lose a lot more than pawns if they continue like this." Jonathan said softly.

Tag: Heath

[Major Heath Ellerton]

"Starfleet is playing a game, but badly." Jonathan finally said he moved his eyes to meet Heath's, "They'll lose a lot more than pawns if they continue like this."

"Great, just great," Heath muttered, hoping for a different answer but not really surprised by the one he'd received. "At least you and I are on the same page. You can count on me for anything, sir." Heath added. "Now, if you'll excuse me I'll go see to that damned physical so at least the Feds will know we're playing along for the time being. I'll play their game so long as you tell me to, but I still don't like it." Heath had a bit of a grimace on his face when he rose, unhappy by what he'd learned, but aware that he could do nothing about it.

With a final nod towards Richards, Heath made his way out of TenForward planning to get this unwanted physical out of the way.

Tag Richards - End Heath

[xColonel Jonathan Richards]

Jonathan watched Heath walk away to allow the marine CO to his own personal thoughts. At least he had a strong ally on his side, Heath was a passionate man but his personal thoughts did not cloud his judgment, he was still ready to follow Jon's orders which was good enough for the Colonel, for the time being.

Making his way over to the replicator, Jonathan wondered if they were ready for this, and by they he meant starfleet. "White Licorice Tea, hot" Jon ordered, the cup and its contents materializing before him. With the exotic tea in his he made his way back towards the tables but sat at a different one, and seat that overlooked most of the windows that held the sight of outside, of space.

And the planet.

Tag: Any