Trouble On The Homefront

Posted on Thu May 10, 2018 @ 12:25am by Lieutenant Commander Arrda & Commodore Michael Aravan & Lieutenant JG Jacob Hartley

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Security Office
Timeline: MD 32 || 1500 Hours [Backpost]

Douglas could see via the holographic table that his people were where they were supposed to be, but there was something to be said for inspecting them for himself. It was one of the things he had respected about Teleth Norr. Giving the table one last look, he reached up to tap his commbadge but stopped as someone entered the office.

A young Spanish Lieutenant JG by the name of Valdez came around the corner and paused when he saw Lieutenant Mallory at the holographic table. He looked at the PADD in his hands and resisted the urge to laugh, then cleared his throat. "Lieutenant Mallory, I have reports for you, Sir," he said.

Douglas studied the lieutenant for a moment before waving him to come closer. "Come in and proceed." he instructed. His tones, as always, while crisp and professional were not cold or aloof.

Valdez handed the PADD to the Lieutenant. "Crew reports, Lieutenant," he said and had an amused look on his face. "Two of which you may find amusing...or not."

Douglas gave the younger man a perplexed look and took the PADD from him. Amusing? he thought as he began to read through the reports. What could my people possibly be doing during this situation that would qualify as...? His thoughts stopped cold as he got to the report Valdez had obviously been referring to.

"Yes, Sir," Valdez said. "Crewman Robert Scott and Crewman William Matthews. Again."

Douglas sighed. What the hell was with these two?! He looked at the time marked on the report that indicated when they were spotted. "Did you see this yourself or did someone report it to you?"

"It was reported to me after someone saw the activities of Ensign Ackerly," Valdez reported.

"Ackerly?" He was not asking Valdez even though it sounded like it. Rather, he was looking through the report for reference to the behavior Valdez was talking about.

Crewman Robert Scott and Crewman William Mathews intentionally broke into Ensign Ackerly's quarters, reprogrammed his replicator to add truth serum to his morning coffee. When he got on duty, they then asked him what he was keeping secret, hoping to embarrass him, whereby he proceeded to confess that he and his wife had been dressing up as the Commodore and pretending to be her CO, with her pretending to be Commander Weisz, before berating his colleagues and saying how he had dressed as an old crewman called Spiderman to seduce his supervisor.

"Yes, Sir," Valdez said. "He was quite embarrassed and angry."

Douglas frowned, his trained neutrality sliding into place just after that. He studied the report carefully for several long moments before saying anything. After that time, he tapped his comm. badge. =/\= Crewman Scott, report to my office immediately. =/\= He then tapped it again, repeating the summons for Crewman Matthews. Then he retreated around behind the holographic table to wait for them to arrive.

It didn't take long for William and Robert (Bill and Bob) to arrive. As they did, they entered the security office and stood at attention. Of course, they were still covered in grime and muck from their punishment, as they were still in the middle of cleaning the refreshers. "Reporting as Ordered, Lieutenant." William said. Robert, of course, knew what it was all about. They were covered in crap; how could it be about anything else?

Douglas studied the two crewmen coolly for several long minutes before holding up the PADD. Of course, they could not see its contents, but that did not matter. "Am I correct in assuming that you two thought this an amusing use of ship's resources?" he questioned, eyebrow raised. No other shift in his expression gave anything away... yet.

"It seemed like it at the time, sir." William replied.

"We never expected it to go the way it did, sir." Robert added, looking forward. "Or as far."

Douglas had, in truth, never understood the Human tendency to be amused at the expense of someone else's feelings. However, it did seem to be a species trait rather than restricted to the two specimens of the species standing before him now. If they had been civilians, he might have ignored the whole matter as Humans being Humans. However, these were Starfleet officers, and were therefore expected to live to the higher potentials of their species, not the lower ones. This, of course, meant that he needed to address this behavior in such a way as to make it clear to them that such behavior was not tolerated.

His expression became cooler. "Your little 'amusement' could have caused a great deal of trouble." he stated. "Beyond that, it is conduct unbecoming Starfleet officers." His gaze pinned each man. "Starfleet officers do not get their fun at others' expense. This sort of" he paused, replacing the word 'asshattery' with a more proper word "unprofessional, offensive behavior will not be tolerated on this ship." He paused to glance at the PADD in his hands, looking for the punishment they had already been dealt, if it was included in the report.

"No sir." Robert replied, still looking forward. "It won't happen again sir."

"Agreed sir. No more offensive behaviour." William agreed.

"As I said, sir, we didn't mean to cause offence or trouble." Robert added.

Douglas considered the crime and the result as well as the punishment already being dealt the two men. Cleaning the refreshers did not seem quite proportionate to the offense, so he considered what to add to it. He thought about dumping the two in a brig cell and forgetting they existed for a couple of weeks; that would leave an impression on them, he was sure. And he doubted very much that Commodore Aravan and Captain Weisz would find this the least bit funny. There was also that this little prank could have caused far more harm than it did, and if he let them off easy, they might do something equally stupid again.

"You're quite correct, gentlemen, it won't." Douglas stated. "And to make sure you remember this, you will be spending the next week confined to the brig. I will be placing a note in your files, and this report will be given to the Captain and Commodore. Do you have anything else to say for yourselves before I call an escort?"

Robert threw a dirty look at William, before looking forward again. "No sir. I believe we've said what we could." He silently prayed that William would keep his mouth shut.

"Sir, if..." William started, but a look from Robert ended what he wanted to say. "If I may sir, I'd just like to add that we are sorry, and I take full responsibility. My colleague shouldn't be punished; it was my idea." He said instead. He wanted to complain about how Ackerly treated the enlisted, but he didn't think it would matter.

The byplay between the two made Douglas mentally pause. What had the young man been about to say before he was silenced by the other? Did it really matter? Maybe, but one thing remained clear; these two had behaved badly and needed to be handled. And yet, he couldn't help wondering what was not being said.

Pushing it aside for the moment, he addressed what had been said. "While I appreciate the show of nobility in your taking the blame, Crewman," he began, "the fact remains that he followed you into the plan. That is a choice." He frowned at them then held his gaze on William. "I would like for you to tell me what you were about to say before he silenced you."

William looked at Robert, and they both shared a look of agreement. "Sir, with all due respect, the reason we did what we did is the way Ensign Ackerly treats the enlisted crew." William said. "The man basically treats all enlisted as his slaves, and berates them, just because we didn't go to the Academy."

Robert nodded. "We didn't go about it the right way, and I say we because I refuse to let my friend take all the blame, but at the time, we felt it justified. Yes, we were wrong, but we did it for what we thought was the right reason." He added.

Douglas frowned. He had expected an excuse when he'd given them permission to speak, but this had not been in the list of potential excuses he had been expecting. He now wished he had not given that permission; now he had to investigate this. It was highly likely they were overstating the situation to make themselves look less like assholes, but it was now something he had to be certain of.

"I will look into this." he told them. "If this is true, then I will deal with Ackerly accordingly. However, this does not excuse your behavior. You should have brought the problem to the attention of myself or Ackerly's superior. For this reason, my previous punishment stands. Is there anything else?"

"No, sir." Both men said at the same time, standing at attention again.

Douglas nodded. He then called a pair of Security officers to escort the two crewmen to the brig. When they were gone, he called the brig officer and told him that they were on their way and they were to be kept there for a week. That officer acknowledged, and Douglas disconnected the call with a heavy sigh.

"You handled that well, Lieutenant," Valdez said. He had considered it a learning experience to watch the Chief handle it and was honored that he had been allowed to stay.

At the man's words, Douglas actually twitched slightly, having forgotten that Valdez was still in the room. He'd been so absorbed in what he was doing. Reminded now of the man's presence, however, he turned to him. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Did you have anything else for me?" He hoped that the lieutenant had learned something about handling situations rather than simply getting a free show; and from the expression on the younger man's face, Douglas suspected that he had. Excellent.

"Yes, Sir," Valdez said. "I regret that I took it upon myself to simply assign them duties that would not let them reflect on what they had done."

Douglas nodded. "You did what most in Starfleet do. You attempted to punish bad behavior with bad assignments. That is not wrong per se; but as you observed. it does not allow them to learn. I am pleased that you saw that on your own." he encouraged. "Anything else?"

"No, Sir," Valdez said. "I learn my lessons well."

Douglas could not argue that. It did indeed appear that this young man did indeed learn quickly. "Indeed, and I am pleased. If you have nothing further for me, you may return to your duties." If the younger man had more, of course, Douglas was not discouraging him from speaking, only giving him the out if he did not.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Valdez said and headed out.

Douglas watched the younger man leave then sighed. Even on Starfleet ships, there was still dumbassery like this. Well, he'd just have to look into this and see that a standard was set. For now, though, the mission...