Meeting the Skipper

Posted on Mon Apr 27th, 2015 @ 3:27pm by Captain Elijah Michaels & Captain Brenda Sinclair

Mission: Now Boarding.......
Location: USS Victory, Deck 1

ON

Four days stuck on a Vikrant-class Carrier. Four days to travel from Serat III, through the wormhol;e, and dock at the Starbase. In many ways, stepping off the umbilical connection and onto the docking lounge proper was a relief. Away from the cramped quarters, away from Twelve hundred other Marines, thrown together in a ship designed for sardines.

"Ma'am, I can take your pack." Her Company Gunny offered a smile as they watched the other marines filing past, dispersing to their assignments. Three companies, three different starships about to be inundated with Jarheads. Goddess help their Captains.

Sliding the single strap off her shoulder, Brenda gave the woman a nod. "All right, you get the grunts squared away, while I report in to the Captain." They had been given their assignment oprders en route. USS Victory, Sovereign-class.

Leaving the Gunny to her job, Brenda made her way through the lounge, searching out the docking berth that housed the vast ship. She had changed out of camo fatigues that morning, and into a standard dress uniform. Though, the green undershirt still had a camo pattern to it, it was mostly covered by the standard issue black and grey jacket.

Finding the berth, She made her way on board, wanting to get the meet and greet over with ASAP.

~~~~

The Turbolift doors opened on Deck One, and Brenda stepped out, seeing that this - like the rest of the ship - was almost entirely deserted. Hardly even a skeleton crew, she mused to herself. Crossing the way to the Captain's Ready Room, she chimed the door, and waited.

"Enter." Elijah said as he examined something on his personal Computer, before looking towards the door of his Ready Room.

As the doors opened, Brenda stepped inside, moving to the desk and offering the man a salute. "Sir, Captain Brenda Sinclair reporting for duty."

"At ease Captain." Elijah said to her. "Please have a seat."

Taking a seat, Brenda rested her hands on her knees, back straight and holding herself perfectly. It was not born of her marine training, it was something much, much deeper, and from a place she could never fully leave behind, no matter how much she wanted to. "Thank you, Sir."

"I've been reading your Record." Elijah said to the Captain. "Interesting career indeed."

"Yes sir?" Brenda asked, a slight note of concern creeping into her voice. People only used the word 'interesting' in reference to one's career for but a few reasons, and she wondered which he meant. For the briefest of moments, panic flitted through her mind. Had there been a note attached, finally outting who her mother was?

"A fine Marksman, Platoon Leader and Shuttle Pilot after a couple of attempts." Eli said skimming through her records. "Numerous Commendations and even a fine education.......Impressive indeed."

The one hurdle she had never gained an affinity for, her pilot proficiency. "Thank you, sir. As they say, 'every marine a rifleman'." She took great pleasure in her marksmanship scores, and enjoyed her time on the range, whether it was pistols, rifles, or something ... bigger, louder, and infinitely more powerful.

"I also know about your past too......" Elijah said to Brenda, hoping to gauge her response. "Close to Royalty near enough eh?"

Brenda's eyes widened. Her body frozen in place, ever muscle tensed as she forced herself to not react. There were two types of people she had met. Those who thought her heritage, who she was - what she would one day become - made her more than she was, as though being born was some divine thing.

The other half saw the whole idea antiquated, archaic, and Brenda was the target for all that scorn. As though she had asked for it, as though her career meant nothing.

Taking a breath, Brenda unclenched, knowing that what would come would come. "It's not something I try to broadcast." Indeed, not even her Gunny knew, the person who ran her Company on a day-to-day basis.

"That I can imagine." Elijah said to Brenda, he understood why it may be an issue disclosing her heritage. "Don't worry your secret is safe with me Captain." He said trying to reassure her. "I wanted to make sure I knew all about the Senior Staff before they came to the Victory."

"Thank you, Sir." She wondered just how many others had decided to check out the histories of the Senior Staff. It was one thing she hadn't considered when coming aboard a Starship. The Corps hadn't cared who she was before joining. All they saw was Marine Green, and that was that. "If there's nothing else, I'd like to make sure the Company is squared away."

"By all means." Elijah smiled and then got up from his Chair. "Carry on Captain Sinclair." He said extending his hand.

Taking the hand for a moment, Brenda then came to attention, and rendered a snap salute, before turning on her heel, heading for the door.

Elijah watched the Marine Leave and then returned to his Paperwork, she may have a Company to run but Elijah had a Ship to organise.