Shenanigans (RADM Coyote Log)

[RAdm S.Coyote 0]

The following log takes place just prior to the start of the 08.31.15 Sim…

 

USS Comanche Creek

Goram Orbital

Sept 12, 2261 (Stardate 2261.225)

 

We're in a dangerous region of space…We face attacks from all sides, enemies everywhere we go. The last thing I need is to hear that two of my senior officers have been admitted to sickbay, because they suddenly regressed to the level of five-year-olds! – Captain Jonathan Archer, Star Trek: Enterprise “Harbinger” (2004)

 

After an extended patrol stint planetside, Captain Ashton Calestorm had finally managed to grab chow, rack time and a shower. She’d just shrugged into her uniform tunic for the upcoming duty shift when the call button sounded on her desk.

 

Grumbling quietly to herself, she finished dressing and then swooped across her quarters to the office area. Jabbing at the access she said in a clear voice, “Calestorm here.”

 

“Sir, I’ve Admiral Coyote on a Priority Three channel from New Topeka.”

 

“Put her through.”

 

Cale settled down in the chair at the desk and awaited the connection to establish.

 

The Native Old-Earth American features of Rear Admiral Shauna Walking-Coyote snapped into focus on the visual feed. She did not frak around with the niceties, but she and Ashton had been friends for a long time and had been well past all that.

 

“What’s this I hear about two of your officers brawling?”

 

A sigh escaped her lips. “Let me guess, the First Threat Response rumors got a warp boost courtesy of the arrival of the Reluctant and the Washington’s Crossing here at Goram?”

 

“That would be correct, Captain.”

 

“Aw, dammit.” Crash couldn’t help it; she leaned forward and rested her forehead on the flat desk surface.

 

“….you’re having a lot of fun, aren’t you?”

 

Her head shot back up. “Oh, yeah, this mission is a regular laugh riot over here, Admiral. Crazy-ass pirates, Black Pearl narcotics, an abandoned planetary base that’s slated to be overhauled.” Her tone was peppered liberally with sarcasm. “And the two rapscallions in question are Mission Specialist Byblos and Executive Officer Wesley.” Yep, the sarcasm was still there with a healthy dose of growled tone.

 

“Were you there when it happened?”

 

Calestorm gave a look that could only be described as a very respectful, Duh, and answered, “Shauna, if I was there, do y’all really think we’d be havin’ this conversation right now?”

 

“…right. Forget I asked.”

 

“The answer is of course, No; as those two were busy with their little ######--,” she cleared her throat and reverted to a better sounding descriptive word, “--erm, boxing match, I was bopping around the countryside on a hover cycle with Staff Sergeant Vega. We’d been in pursuit of a Lunatic Jester gang member; more on that later, one crisis at a time. The report will likely be in your inbox in 24 hours.”

 

“Are you referring to the report on the Jesters, or the report on the brawl?”

 

“The report on the pirate gang activity, Admiral.” Crash paused and then stated matter-of-factly. “I actually have no plans to make a direct report on the fight to you or anyone else within our command.”

 

Coyote’s eyes narrowed. “May I ask why you will not be making a report on this incident between two of your crew, Captain? One of whom is your Executive Officer and the other an established Contractor operative?”

 

The commanding officer of the Comanche Creek chose her next words carefully, pausing for a moment to glance off screen before turning her attention back to her commanding officer. “It’s not worth the effort, Shauna.”

 

The Admiral made a sight motion with her hand as in ‘go on’.

 

“Admiral, let’s say I go and pursue this matter through the proper channels? I could kick Byblos’ ugly tail straight back to the Outer Rim and boot Mister Wesley’s curvaceous rear into another disciplinary stint with the Marines. I’d prefer to handle this off the record and personally.”

 

Shauna remained quiet and listened and Ashton continued her explanation.

 

“According to the witnesses that I talked to, Byblos questioned Audraya’s tactics and leadership. The conversation – if I can call it that – further degenerated into a mutual ‘I’ve had a harder life then you’ and ‘you have no idea the things that I’ve been through’.

 

Crash gave a helpless gesture with one hand, visible in the two way feed. “The two of them lost their tempers - says the woman who as a Navy Lieutenant leapt across a conference table at a Marine Colonel, but I totally digress - and things escalated from there.”

 

She glanced down and picked up one of the data slates resting flat on her desk and began to read off the injuries. “Detached retina. Bruised kidney. Missing teeth.“ The captain shook her head once, quickly, and then bypassed reading off the remainder of the injuries. “They screwed each other up real good…and I can’t order pride away, Admiral.”

 

Coyote was quiet for several moments, her gaze looking just past the viewer feed at something. Then she had made her decision and spoke. “So, you’ll handle this internally?”

 

Calestorm changed at that moment. Not a physical change, it was more of a shift in personality and mannerisms. Shauna had seen the change a few times during their service together and Crash’s silver-white, short cropped hair only added to the illusion. ‘It’ was as if you were looking at an alpha female wolf.

 

“Aye, the matter’s already being handled, Shauna. I’ll forward the directives I’ve doled out onto you.”

 

Oh, and that slight growl was back…