Information

Posted on Thu Sep 15th, 2011 @ 7:39am by Major Leroy Mangalia & Commodore Samantha York

1,116 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shades of Gray
Location: Leo's quarters
Timeline: Current

Leo was ending his personal log after the door chime rang true. "Enter," he called.

Sam walked in and smiled. "You look better already."

"That's a lie and we both know it, I almost resemble the phantom from 'Phantom of the Opera' or that man in the 1980's movie 'Man without a face'. But thanks for the morale boost Captain. I'm guessing you have the information I'm going to need?"

Sam chuckled. At least he had a sense of humor about it. As he healed, the doctor would be able to repair most of the damage. For now; however, he did look like Lon Chaney. "I have it." She handed him a PADD. "The virus was man-made. The current government used it to stage a coup. The planet is full of scavengers and our people are in quarantine on the planet until Doctor Bowen can find a cure." She paused to add, "Or until we get a cargo bay sectioned off with the proper containment fields to beam them aboard. Your men are playing peacekeeper with security."

Leo nodded. "Casualties?"

"None yet."

Leo sighed a breath of relief. "That's a start at least." Standing, he moved to his replicator, and sighed lightly. "Water, cold, no ice," he said by the machine and looked over. "Would you like anything? And what do we know about the new government? How did they displace the old one?"

"Nothing, thank you," she said. "All I know for now is that the current government came to power by releasing the virus and killing half the former government. Lieutenant Wolfe, the new Intelligence officer, is investigating."

"When he comes back, I'd like to talk to him, if it's alright with all parties. No offense Captain, but I hate getting second hand information." Leo took a sip of his drink and sighed. It tasted like water, but he knew better. "How're Noelle and the rest of them doing down there?"

"So far they're doing well. Doctor Bowen isolated the virus and is working on a cure." She responded to the last question first. "You're welcome to speak with Lieutenant Wolfe if you wish. He's only just getting started so he won't have much yet."

"I can live with next to nothing," Leo said moving back to his bed and sitting on the edge. Looking over at the Vulcan nurse, he grimaced. "They won't even let me work out at all...." Looking up he shook his head. "Sorry. Is there anything I can do up here to help my men?"

"Not a lot," she said, knowing he wouldn't like it. "Right now it's up to Doctor Bowen and Lieutenant Wolfe. You can be a support for your men. Let them know you're doing well. That will relieve a lot of their worries. There will be plenty to do next time."

"I'll make sure of it Captain, but my one... demand?" He said hesitantly. "Still stands. If it goes to hell down there, I want to be with my men."

"If it gets to that point, we'll talk. If you work on getting well now, there's a very good chance I'll grant that request. But for now..." She looked over at the nurse. "Obey orders."

"Yes Ma'am," Leo said looking ashamed. "I just don't like being stuck in confined places."

"Me, too -- unless I choose the place," she amended. "I quite like caves, but being stuck n my quarters?" She shook her head. "Not so good. Maybe if your recovery goes well the nurse will let you work out a bit?"

"I can hope," Leo said with a shrug. "I think the medics want most of my burns to be mostly gone before I do anything strenuous."

"I think that's a wise move," Sam replied. "It won't take long. A few more days and you'll be as good as new. Now, use this time to catch up on your paperwork and Intel. The time will pass quickly enough." She grinned. No one liked paperwork.

"I'll be sure to be sleeping after about forty minutes of working on my reports." Something jumped in his brain, he looked at his computer screen, and smiled. "I do have a request for my men tho."

"What's that?"

"I was looking over some of the Marine news," Leo said looking at the Captain. "They're working on a few new things for us, from weapons to body armor. I was wondering if we could be placed in the test group. Some of its even supposed to protect from mines."

"I'll talk it over with Damon. If he likes the idea I'll put in a request, but I can't promise anything," Sam said.

"I wouldn't have it any other way Captain. That's why we department heads request things." Chuckling he coughed a little and took a sip of water. "Can I ask you something personal, off the record?"

"Sure."

"Well, its a two part question, have you ever been in this position?" he asked, waving a hand from head to tow. "And how would you handle it?"

"Not yet," Sam replied truthfully. "I have one advantage over you. I'm a scientist. I can spend days digging through databases and doing research. I have a dozen journals I need to read. So, I could keep myself busy. But that's me. Damon, on the other hand, would go stir crazy inside of a day. Like you, he hates to be confined. You might be able to convince the nurse to let you walk around the ship every day. At least that way you'd have a chance to check out the Marine deck and see how everything's going. And you can have visitors. So you can talk to people, do work from here. That will help as well."

Leo nodded and sighed. "When I get to talk to the Nurse, I'll see if I can take walks. I think it would somewhat bolster morale if they saw me walking the halls." Shaking his head this time, he wanted to lash out. "I should have seen that mine, or some sign of it at least."

"We all have 20/20 hindsight. All you can do is move forward."

Nodding again Leo half smiled. "Thanks for at least checking up on me Ma'am, that'll help my men too."

"Any time, Captain. Take care of yourself and you'll be back at no time." She smiled kindly, knowing he didn't really care about that. He just wanted to get back to work. "I'm sure you have a lot to keep you occupied in the meantime. I'll leave you to it."



OFF

Captain Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

Captain Leroy Mangalia
Marine CO
USS Calypso

 

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