The Familiar Green & Gold

Posted on Mon May 7th, 2012 @ 8:23am by Captain Tobias Naros & 1st Lieutenant Michael Watters & Petty Officer 3rd Class Christian Bates & Lieutenant Commander Joseph Thompson

Mission: Episode 1.0 - "Enduring Legacy"
Location: Turbolift - En Route to Main Bridge, USS Yorktown
Timeline: Mission Day 03, 1124 Hours

ON: [[Turbolift - En Route to Main Bridge, USS Yorktown, Mission Day 03, 1124 Hours]]

First Lieutenant Michael Watters (PNPC) tapped a single PADD idly against his leg as the turbolift continued its ascent through the Yorktown. It had come as somewhat of a surprise when Starfleet Marine Command had contacted Michael aboard the Endeavour with an opportunity for active marine duty, especially given how insistently everyone had seemed to push the importance of his assignment to that vessel. If there was one thing any Starfleet officer could count on, however, was that change could come in the most unusual and unexpected ways. Now that he was back in marine green, it was quickly beginning to feel real enough.

As Lieutenant Commander Joseph Thompson headed toward the turbolift, he considered his new assignment. He had grown used to serving with Admiral Iluvar, but he had been transfered enough times to learn how to deal with change. Still, there was some comfort in knowing there would be a few familiar faces. Reaching the turbolift, he keyed the access.

The instant the turbolift door opened, Michael's eyes fixed on the man in services gold standing in the corridor beyond. He immediately snapped to attention at the sight of the man's rank insignia. "Commander," he said sharply, "...Thompson?" It had taken a moment for things to completely register in Michael's brain, but it was clear the man standing before him was Lieutenant Commander Joseph Thompson. Michael certainly hadn't expected to run into such a familiar face.

"Mr. Watters," Joe said with a smile. "I knew a few other transfered from the Pandora, but I never imagined I'd see you again. Where are you off to?"

"On my way to the bridge," Michael replied, taking a step back so as to allow Thompson room to enter the turbolift, "I assume you are headed there as well, sir?"

"Yes, I was just going up to report in with our new CO," Joe said as he stepped into the turbolift and let the doors slide shut. "I heard we'd be having a Marine compliment aboard - I assume you're with them?"

"Not just with them, sir," Michael corrected with a chuckle as the lift resumed its ascent toward the bridge, "I'm to assume command of the marine detachment aboard the Yorktown. Seems like someone at Starfleet Marine Command finally decided it was time to put all that marine officer's training to good use."

"It's well-earned," Joe said, and he meant it; in the time he'd known Watters, he had come to respect the man's abilities as a Marine and a leader. "As you may have guessed, I'm to be the Chief of SecTac; it'll be nice to have some Marines I can rely on in a pinch. You were just on the Endeavor, right?"

"That's right, sir," Michael replied, adjusting his stance somewhat as he spoke, "Someone got the bright idea I might make a decent Chief SecTac, so they sent me out to the southern boondocks. Don't get me wrong, Captain Byrne's a good CO from what I've seen, but I just...quite frankly, sir...it just wasn't the same."

"I know what you mean," Joe said, remembering the switch from the Marines to the Fleet. "I would have stayed with the Corps, but Karen didn't like the idea of me being away all the time; on a starship, at least she could keep an eye on me. After she was gone, I guess I was too far in to back out."

Michael was saved from having to react to the somewhat awkward silence that followed when the lift began to slow. The turbolift came to a halt and the door opened once more to reveal the Yorktown's central command center. "After you, sir," he said, motioning for Thompson to take the lead.

Stepping out of the turbolift, Joe led the way to the Ready Room door. After pausing just a moment, he activated the chime.

[[Ready Room]]

At the sound of the doorchime, Christian (PNPC) looked up from the strategic operations report he had just been about to present for Captain Naros. He glanced briefly in the direction of the door separating the ready room from the bridge before turning his attention toward the captain to see what the El-Aurian's reaction would be.

"I wonder who that might be," Tobias said with hint of pseudo-curiosity and a small smile in his yeoman's direction, "Enter!"

As the ranking officer, Joe again took the lead in entering the Ready Room. He came to a stop in a formal stance in front of the CO's desk. "Lieutenant Commander Thompson, reporting for duty, Sir," he said.

"First Lieutenant Michael Watters, reporting as ordered, sir," Michael said, standing to formal attention next to his former department head and facing the man seated behind the desk.

Tobias surveyed the two officers standing before him. It was clear from their rigid stance and their crisp tone that each was well-versed in traditional protocol, at least when it came to reporting in with a vessel's commanding officer, and each held himself to that protocol. Both men were coming aboard as members of the Yorktown's senior staff at the recommendation of Vice Admiral Iluvar which already created a certain level of expectation. "Welcome aboard the Yorktown, gentlemen," Tobias said after a moment, "I trust your respect journeys to this assignment were...manageable."

"I, for one, had a rather uneventful trip here," Joe said. "As for my journey...it's been quite a bit more eventful. I can't say I'm glad to leave the Pandora, but I look forward to serving aboard the Yorktown." He hoped his comments didn't seem too offensive to his new CO - but then again, the man seemed like he would understand what Joe meant by the sentiment.

The lieutenant commander's response was brief, to the point, and above all...honest. Tobias could empathize with the feeling of leaving behind something one had grown so accustomed to. The Yorktown certainly wasn't the Pandora, but it did present those who would live and serve aboard her with unique opportunities not likely to be found elsewhere. "Sounds to me like you're ready and willing to move forward, Mister Thompson," Tobias observed, "Believe me when I say you will not be disappointed. What about you, First Lieutenant?"

"It was rather long, sir," Michael replied, his attention remaining fixed on the man seated behind the desk, "My last assignment was under Captain Byrne aboard the Endeavour. Sufficed to say, I was about as far away from the Eighth Fleet as one can get and still find themselves in Federation space. Still...I would have to agree with Commander Thompson...that is to say, I am also looking forward to serving aboard the Yorktown, sir."

"Of that, I have no doubt, Mister Watters," Tobias said with a slight chuckle, "I am sure you have both been made aware of your respective duty assignments aboard this vessel, though if either of you have any questions, I would be more than happy to address them at this time."

"I'd like to have our departments do some training together, actually," Joe said, glancing at Watters. "If that's alright with both of you. I think it'll be good to promote camaraderie between members of the fleet and the Marines."

The many stories of marines and fleet personnel not being able to get along were almost legend in both divisions of Starfleet service despite the greater number of ocassions when marines and fleet personnel had worked quite well together. Michael knew what it was like to serve on both sides of the fence just as Thompson did. Their experience would go a long way toward making sure the two divisions didn't decide to try anything stupid. "Sounds like a reasonable idea to me, commander," Michael replied, "Marines can't work in a vacuum any better than anyone else."

"The ability to work with those we serve alongside is an important trait for any member of Starfleet, regardless of what division they may serve in," Tobias said slowly, pleased to see both men were already on the same page, "I am glad to see you both agree on this matter and I trust the two of you to come up with something reasonable to make this a reality."

"Yes, Sir," Joe said. "We'll keep you posted on our joint training exercises. I look forward to serving with both of you; it should be an interesting ride."

"Oh..." Tobias said with a tinkle in his eye, "...of that, I have no doubt."

OFF

A Joint Mission Post by:

Captain Tobias Naros
Commanding Officer
USS Yorktown

Lieutenant Commander Joseph Thompson
Chief Security/Tactical Officer & Second Officer
USS Yorktown

1st Lieutenant Michael Watters (PNPC)
Marine Commanding Officer
USS Yorktown
Played by: Capt Naros

and

Petty Officer 3rd Class Christian Bates (PNPC)
Captain's Yeoman
USS Yorktown
Played by: Capt Naros