<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 9.00.8112.16434"></HEAD>
<BODY style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" id=role_body
bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 rightMargin=7 topMargin=7><FONT id=role_document
color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><EM>~Yorktown
Armory~</EM></DIV>
<DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
id=yiv407866360role_document color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial> 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."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>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!"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>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"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>"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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>"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"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>"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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>SBA Patterson snorted "We've been shot at, doing repairs, and fixing
people? Like I've had time to think about that?"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>Tsung chimed in "Ah, but its 0800 young man- do you know who your
re-enlistment NCO is?" Once again everyone laughed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>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?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; RIGHT: auto"><FONT
size=2>"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!"</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
size=2>Ensign Mac Bolenski</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
size=2>Armory Officer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
size=2>NX-05 Yorktown</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <FONT
size=2>&</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
size=2>PO Tsung (NPC apb Larry)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
size=2>Armory</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
size=2>Yorktown</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><FONT
lang=0 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 face=Arial><VAR
id=yui-ie-cursor></VAR>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV style="RIGHT: auto">
<DIV style="COLOR: #fff; CLEAR: both; FONT-SIZE: 1px; RIGHT: auto"><EM><FONT
size=2> _______________________________________________<BR></FONT></EM></DIV></DIV></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>