"Hoo Rah: NNC Bet"

[Kansas 0]

Note: this log takes place right after the enlisted officer card game that had been referenced in the 03.23.09 “Stoic” log.

04.05.09

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“Hoo Rah: NNC Bet”

 

The card game had gone on for a few hours and then dwindled out, but most of the participants had stayed in the NNC Marine lounge and merely gone onto other interests, or left the area entirely, calling it a night. The small post card game crowd was actually a combination of both Security and Marine senior enlisted non coms, and Commander Kansas “Will” JoNs was enjoying the general atmosphere of the so called ‘night out’. The feline senior officer wasn’t scheduled for the early shift tomorrow, so she could afford to linger a bit later and enjoy some down time

 

The Ex Oh was currently ensconced in one corner of the lounge, seated on one of the overstuffed couches with her hind paws propped on the low coffee table. The latest in a series of novels that she had been trying to follow was displayed on the small screen of her personal data Padd. She was in civvies, having traded her black uniform trousers and red command tunic jacket for olive colored cargo shorts, a black form fitting tee shirt, and a dark gray sweat jacket; the sweat jacket was emblazoned on the left upper chest area with the mission symbol of the Agincourt.

 

Boone of marine medical and Keltex of fleeter security rounded out their little triangle, with the big craggy fore-headed Klingon Keltex seated next to Kansas and the brown haired Human Boone seated across from the two of them in an overstuffed chair that matched the deep blue color tone of the couch.

 

It felt good to just hang with a few of the non coms. No reports, no personnel reporting in, no crisis fires to put out. She was for lack of a better term, chilling out. Okay, okay, the ships exec was hiding down in the NNC with the senior enlisted officers. There, she admitted it. Nothing wrong with that.

 

She kept her visual attention on the Padd, but one ear was swiveled towards the conversation that was going back and forth between Master Chief Petty Officer Keltex and Master Tactical Sergeant “X-Ray” Boone, specifically about the marine troops the‘Court had been assigned to ferry as intended replacement personnel for a couple of the outer colony outposts. All told there would be about two hundred of the ground pounders billeted on the ship for the duration of the transport trip.

 

Boone was mildly complaining about the situation. “…. look, all I’m saying is I hope the medical bay doesn’t get flooded with ‘em, and I’m hoping that you and the other enlisted security guys can knock some sense into them if it comes to that, or even before it degrades to that point.”

 

Keltex scoffed good naturedly, his rumbling laughter a pleasant sound. “I wouldn’t count on that Sergeant. We all remember how things were in our own younger days and trying to stop the tidal wave is a good way to get yourself drowned.”

 

Her curiosity piqued, Kansas hopped into the conversation at that point with her full attention. “I don’t get it Ex-Ray: why the fuss over the transfer and replacement Sharks we’ll be picking up at Star base 74?”

 

“They’ll be on board for what, two weeks? And we’ll transport ‘em to the intended colony outposts? A lot can happen in two weeks Will.”

 

Her one ear flipped back, which was universally accepted as feline speak for yes and please continue with what you were saying.

 

“Medical has been gearing up in general to handle the incoming flux of the marine replacement personnel, you know, just in case any of them need a physical or something before going on into the active duty postings at the outposts. Well, I’ve been checking over their advance transmitted service packets, and most of these ground pounders are privates fresh from boot camp and a select few who have just made the rank of second El Tee. In other words, they’re gonna be full of juice and anxious to prove themselves. I hope it doesn’t come to anything like that, but I’m prepping the enlisted medical crew for any sort of incoming brawl injuries or general shenanigans that lead to an injury.”

 

“Whoa, wait a sec there Boonie; no sane officer, marine, security, temporary passenger, or otherwise, would try anything like that on this ship; it has been tried before, and the resulting fallout when the Cee Oh intervenes to drop the hammer fall is not pretty, and we all know that. Hell, you remember she had me spend time in my own brig for pulling something like that during my tenure as the Cee Sek.”

 

“Commander Kitten, I suggest we depone to settle the matter.”

 

The golden furred feline officer gave the big enlisted Klingon officer a sideways glance. “We’ve discussed this before Keltex; you need to stop throwing out the high falutin’ words all intending to expand my mind and such.”

 

She started muttering under her breath good naturedly, about being back in her various literature classes during her high school education and the instructors throwing out these out of the blue words that the students needed to incorporate into short stories and such. The master chief merely smirked and silently dared the Cait to take him up on the challenge, matching her general good mood. Her golden paw entered a quick series of commands into the small inset keyboard mounted on the paw-held data Padd; the novel screen cap was replaced with the requested dictionary information as it popped up in text form on the devices small screen. Depone could either be official testimony on a matter or a bet or wager on the outcome of a situation.

 

Well, it would seem as if Kansas learned a new word this night, eh? “Okay, now that I know what I’m getting into - and you could have just said ‘bet’ you know - what’s the stake Master Chief?”

 

Boone smirked and regarded the emerging betting conversation with amusement. “You’re gonna lose Commander … “

 

“If you are correct, then I volunteer to take your next third shift bridge watch when you come up on the next command rotation.”

 

Normally, with the chain of command as it was, any commissioned Ex Oh wouldn’t place that sort of command responsibility with an enlisted officer, third shift or not. But, as this was Keltex and he had more command experience then JoNs and Colonel Harper combined, it was indeed a no brainer and he had filled in for quite a few bridge shifts within these last few months.

 

“Fine. And what if you are correct?”

 

“Training. You are aware that the combat squads have upcoming training evaluations?”

 

With a minimal effort, JoNs kept her voice neutral and her ears from going flat. “Aye. I’m still waiting on the acting security chief to get the first round of reports on my desk.” And, if the acting chief of security didn’t step up the pace real fast and real soon, JoNs would shortly be paying them a little visit for a nice boot of encouragement to the rear, possibly in the literal sense.

 

‘Well, my Dingo squad and the Wolves are scheduled to train together tomorrow at oh eight hundred. Urban settlement location, extract the hostage and then the team needs to make it to the extraction point at the designated time. Mister Zimm and I were talking, and we would like to have an unknown factor added to the programming, namely a live action sniper. Basically, we need a moving target for the teams to try and … frag? I believe that is the terminology that you are so fond of using Will.”

 

JoNs’s ears flipped back with enthusiasm at the training offer slash pardon us as we try and figuratively drill you in the ass. She smiled, and her tail started to quiver; running around within one of the training programs causing havoc as a sniper? Oh wait, let’s explore this … of course she was interested. Gives whole new meaning to the term stress management even!

 

“Very well. I take the ears and tail as your answer of yes. We will be informing the participating squads that the executive officer will be joining us, so I assume that they will perhaps be very keen on taking you out of the exercise Commander Kitten.”

 

Her smile then turned feral. “Fire at Will? They are indeed welcome to try and take me out.” Then the golden furred Caitian winked. “No worries Master Chief; I welcome the opportunity to do some training with my old department, you know that. If anything, it plays into my own plans as well; I’ve been considering more of paws on approach with the departments anyway during these quarterly evaluations and what have you.”

 

She then turned her attention back to Boone. “And Ex-Ray, thanks for the heads up and I’m sure Medusa will be keeping an eye on the marine transfer candidates once they make ship fall and until they debark for the earmarked colony outposts; I know I will.”

 

Sergeant Boone sighed. “Aye sir. Elements and ministers of grace defend us from enthusiastic junior grade leathernecks shipping out to their first real ground assignment …”