[Galaxy] Fwd: October 1, 2161, The Butchers Bill Tally

[SkinnyElvisDaddy at aol.com]

~Yorktown  Armory~
 
We will continue to make what repairs  we can while we make best speed for 
Earth. Intrepid I am told is to accompany  us in the off chance we have any 
more hostile encounters on the way. Again,  well done. I am proud and 
honored to serve with such a crew... Ca'daar  out."
 
Stepping out the shower while toweling himself off Bolenski looked at  the 
ceiling mounted speaker.  Shaking his head and thinking to himself  "Going 
to earth?  This is a mixed blessing- we need a space dock, we need  major 
overhaul, refit and upgrades and I'll probably get courtmartialed,  transferred 
to Weapons Development or if the wars over, put on half pay shore  duty".  
Mentally going down the list of repairs and adding them up was  brutal.  The 
toss up in time savings versus cost- the time of removing  all the damage, 
reinstalling the power runs, repairing the damage, then  reinstalling all 
the new stuff, plus going back to school to learn the latest  and the greatest 
technology..."  pausing in thought "At least I'll get  home, ride a few 
horses, visit a few attorneys- always the darned  attorneys!  If I didn't know 
better I'd say they made paperwork just to  screw with me!"
 
Finished getting dressed Mac stopped by the galley for some  breakfast.  
Pouring himself a large, particularly nasty cup of coffee and  grabbing a few 
muffins out of the display rack Ensign Macallister Bolenski of  the Earth 
Starship Yorktown NX-05 watched the stars and contemplated his  future.  "The 
problem is....the problem is I like Yorkie, and Weapons  development is 
going to want me.  Might even get promoted to Lt.  Commander"  Mac did the math 
mentally- 3rd Lt. (West Point Final Form  year official commission), 
Butterbar, Iron Bar of 1st Lt. and I was up for my  own MACO company command when 
the shuttle hit.  Convalescence in the  hospital and at home- that 
was,,,,what? 7ish months time in grade, with 37  months time in service?  Call it 45 
months and I would have made O3 by 48  to 54 months.  Buuuttt,,,,medicalled 
out, hired by Star Fleet, but  started out as an Ensign- which means in 
theory I have what? 4.5 years as an  Ensign?  Bitterly Mac laughed.  "No wonder 
why I have a bad  attitude!"   Doing the count of the normal officer 
promotion  system mentally Bolenski reviewed the timelines:  Ensigns are normally  
promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade at 18 months, full Lieutenant at 36 to 40 
 months, and then they dangle Lt. Commander in front of them as an 
incentive to  either re up and go career or broom'em out the door"
 
Looking up he noticed SBA Patterson and Petty Officer Tsung grabbing  some 
breakfast.  Waving them over with his hand holding his fork he very  un 
officer and undignifiedly said "Morningth" with a mouth full of food.   
Swallowing and washing down the bite of food with vile tasting coffee Mac  finally 
managed a "Good Morning!" that didn't sound like a 4 year  old.
 
"Morning Sir" were said in unison as they both took seats.  "Oh to  have 
real food!  And not this canned crap- I'd ask the cook for the  expiration 
date on the rations but then he'd just kick my butt!" Tsung  cracked.  "Ah, but 
this wonderful crap- as you've called it- contains all  the vitamins, 
minerals and calories you need to stay healthy"  Then with  an evil lear 
Patterson whispered in a conspiratorial tone "It also contains  chemical 
contraceptives and salt peter to turn off the libidos!".  Tsung  revulsed in horrified 
shock of being chemically neutered, and Mac just glared  at him.  "Look 
Patterson- my junk is just about growed back.  If it  doesn't work by the time 
we get to earth?"  Bolenski leaned over and  whispered "I'm going to remove 
yours, and sew it on where mine is!".  All  three of the men laughed at the 
thought.
 
"Seriously though" Mac said.  "Since I'm still fairly new to the  crew, 
just how many people have we lost in battle?  I hope not too many-  after all 
we only started out with a crew of 87"  Patterson looked at  Tsung, and Tsung 
returned the look.  Shrugging "I don't think we  know.  Armory probably 
lost 3 or 5,,,,Medical lost 4, I think- but then I  get confused because we get 
replacements like you Mac so I don't know what the  count is"  Sick Berth 
Attendant Patterson said, thinking.  Tsung  piped in "Then, I dunno if we got 
a company of MACO's like they were talking  about sending us either- I mean 
I see MACO's in the corridors but I don't know  how many there is.  A 
Stick?  Platoon?  We could have a company  but if they're scattered all over the 
ship how would we know?  After all  they've got their own medics and stuff"
 
Mac nodded his head thoughtfully "OK, this is what we're going to  do.  
Tsung, make a list of armory people we've lost and we'll have our  own memorial 
service 40 minutes ahead of the ships- that gives up 30 minutes  to mourn 
our own dead, and 10 minutes to leisurely stroll to the main service  the XO 
was talking about."  Making notes on his PADD Tsung nodded in  agreement.
 
"So Patt" taking a breath "You gonna take the plunge, go to school to  be 
ships Chief Medical Officer?  You've got the skills, you've got the  
experience but do you have the drive?  I asked you about that a few weeks  ago- so 
what do you think?" Mac exclaimed.
 
SBA Patterson snorted "We've been shot at, doing repairs, and fixing  
people?  Like I've had time to think about that?"
Tsung chimed in "Ah, but its 0800 young man- do you know who your  
re-enlistment NCO is?"  Once again everyone laughed.
Patterson glared at Tsung and made an obscene gesture with his left  hand.  
Everyone laughed- after all if you were a failed liar at military  
recruiting how much of a liar is a reenlistment NCO?
 
"All right lets move like we've got something to do.  Repair what  we can, 
skate when nobody's looking, and relax all the way back to  earth"  Tsung, 
you're with me as I have a very special project for you so  I'm putting you 
on the "Hey YOU! roster to make sure it gets done".   Patterson wandered away 
walking in front of them, putting his dirty dishes  away as he walked in 
front.  "So, what's this special project you're  going to nail me with?"  
Grinning, Mac answered him "If you were the  Captain of this starship, and you 
were heading back to earth what would be the  odds of you having a few battle 
drills to keep the crews sharp?"  Tsung  thought a moment, then his eyes 
widened in understanding.  Chuckling  "Exactly- make sure that if something 
like that happens, that our crew gets  the highest award and the highest 
honors for being the most prepared"   Looking confused Tsung cocked his head 
"Whys that?"  "Because  traditionally, the units that score the highest on such 
tests are the first  ones off the ship, the first to go on shore duty, the 
first to see their wives  and loved ones"  Pausing "And I want our division 
to be that #1 slot-  that's why!"


 
Ensign Mac Bolenski
Armory Officer
NX-05 Yorktown
 
        &
PO Tsung (NPC apb Larry)
Armory
Yorktown

 
 
_______________________________________________



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.firstera.net/pipermail/galaxy-firstera.net/attachments/20111003/0a8a2cb7/attachment-0001.htm>