Home on the Range

Posted on Thu Sep 5th, 2013 @ 7:30pm by Captain Tobias Naros & Lieutenant Commander Joseph Thompson

Mission: Episode 1.3 - "...Is a Friend in Deed"
Location: USS Yorktown, Holodeck I
Timeline: Mission Day 03, 1800 Hours

ON: [[Holodeck I, USS Yorktown, Mission Day 03, 1800]]

A light breeze stirred the prairie grasses, brushing past a man as he sat astride a horse on a low hill overlooking a herd of grazing cattle. The mountains in the distance made for a majestic background, making the prairie below seem dull by comparison. The nearby creek gurgled as it wound lazily past the herd.

There was a sudden flash near the edge of the herd, something moving low and swiftly. The man noticed raised his carbine, tracking the animal as it raced towards an unsuspecting steer. A sharp crack rang out, and the predator dropped just short of its intended meal. The cattle started at the noise, but after a moment they settled back down.

"Impressive," a familiar voice said from somewhere behind the assembled group. The man turned to see a lone horseman standing only a short distance away, his eyes surveying the cattle herd below. "They told me you were good," the new arrival continued, "although no one said you had a proclivity for herding cattle."

Joe shrugged as he slid his carbine into its holster on the right flank of his horse. "It's peaceful, usually," he said. "Gives me time to think. And occasionally, I get to keep myself sharp with my skills." He offered a wry smile. There wasn't a lot of use for snipers on a starship.

"I suppose there's not much else for us to be doing at the moment," Tobias remarked as he gently brought his horse forward to stand alongside Thompson's, "and after what we've all been through these last few days, I could certainly see how peace and quiet would be appealing."

Even from a glance, Joe could tell Naros had an affinity for riding; the horse responded easily to Naros' direction, and it didn't seem forced. "I take it you've ridden before," Joe said, nodding to Naros' horse.

Tobias gave the younger man a knowing smile. "Everyone has their hobbies, Mister Thompson," he replied, "Equestrianism happens to be one of mine."

"And shooting one of mine," Joe said wryly, looking over at the predator he'd taken down at the edge of his weapon's range. "Back in the war, I didn't need holodeck time to mull things over. Things were simple: here's the bad guy, get intel on him and shoot him." Of course, Joe reflected, just because it seemed simple doesn't mean it was. There were plenty of targets that hadn't sat well with Joe, but he was a soldier following orders then. He still had orders now, but as an officer in Starfleet he was closer to the decision-making levels; things tended to become less clear up here.

"I guess it's always easier to follow orders and feel like you're somehow absolved of the consequences," Joe mused aloud. "Still, I never liked opting out of responsibility, especially after...after the Draco." He surprised himself with his hesitancy to speak his family's names. Two and a half years doesn't do that much to dull the pain, he thought. Not all the time, anyway.

Joe turned towards Naros. "I'm sure you've had times where you were expected to say you were 'just following orders' and you didn't want to say it," Joe said to the El-Aurian.

"Mmm...there were times," Tobias mused aloud, "The trick is knowing when and how to pick your battles so you don't end up stuck in those situations to begin with. I suppose that would be easier said than done, however. It takes a great deal of experience...and patience."

"Experience that some have more than others," Joe said pointedly with a wry grin. "Patience I excell at. Experience...well, some would say I've got a lot - for a human, anyway - but that doesn't mean I know how to deal with everything sent my way."

The El-Aurian was silent even as his gaze swept across the cattle herd below. War could certainly be counted among the greatest life-changing events. It had a way of touching the lives of countless individuals, some for the better...and others for the worse.

After a few moments of shared contemplative silence, Joe sighed. "Well, time to bring the cows home," he said, looking down at the herd. "Some captain or other's got me scheduled for graveyard tonight, so I should get a meal and clean up so I don't get the big chair dirty."

Tobias gave the man a stoic look as if disproving of the off-hand remark, but it was quickly replaced with a broad smile. It was good to know that members of his senior staff felt comfortable letting down their guard a little while he was around. Granted, not all of them might have been quite so obvious in doing so, but the fact Thompson was willing to at least try showed some progress.

"That might not be a bad idea, mister," Tobias said, chuckling at his own use of more vernacular speech, "I'd hate to think of what should happen to these doggies without someone such as yourself on the watch."

Joe returned Naros' companionable smile, and together the two men rode down to guide their charges along the long road home.

OFF

A Joint Mission Post by:

Captain Tobias Naros
Commanding Officer
USS Yorktown

and

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