SD241903.29 || Reporting In Log || "Knee Jerks & Twerks"

Posted on 29 Mar 2019 @ 10:14am by Lieutenant Finchley Kerr & Captain Mallory Thorne

1,389 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Thought & Memory
Location: Transporter room/Captain's Ready Room, USS Odin.
Timeline: Current

It had been an incredibly long processed transfer that Finchley had had to deal with. The orders had come through when the USS Frannery was on a routine deep space medical supply run, so he'd had to 'thumb a lift' so to speak on various cargo ships, freighters and finally shuttles (cramped ones at that) to make it to Providence Station. His final leg of the journey saw him almost bent double and jammed into a pod that he was sure wasn't fit for purpose for anyone.

At last, having been extracted from the pod, he had gone onto the station and then beamed on board the USS Odin.

[Transporter Room, USS Odin]

The blue haze of the transporter beam dissipated and he looked around to get his baring's. An Ensign at the controls said "Is everything alright Sir?"

Finchley tried in vain to straighten himself up, but his back protested so he remained slightly hunched as he replied "Yes, yes I think so, just a little bit stiff and numb in certain area's. I'm Lieutenant Finchley Kerr, the new Chief of Security, permission to come aboard?"

"Permission granted Sir, we were informed you were arriving" the Ensign replied, then added "I can contact Sickbay and ask for someone to come and check you over?"

"No, it's fine, the journey was a little....you know what, never mind, I don't want to bore you" Finchley replied "I've to report to the Captains Ready Room to check in with them, so if you could have my things taken to my quarters, that'd be wonderful, thank you."

"I'll make sure they're taken there straight away Lieutenant" the Ensign replied.

Finchley nodded as he came down the steps from the transporter Pad, then made his way out into the corridor. Consulting the ship plan, he found where the nearest turbolift was and made his way to it and up to the bridge.

[Bridge, USS Odin]

Stepping out of the turbolift, Finchley could see the Ready Room across the bridge and made his way over. Standing at the doors, he was still feeling a little numb in the rear and his knees hurt. Flexing his body up and down at the knees, and wiggling his posterior to try to get some life back into his numb cheeks, he pressed the buzzer on the door and awaited an answer.

Within the ready room, Mallory Thorne was reviewing the great variety of information that had been coming her way nonstop since...well, since she arrived. As first officer of her last post, she thought she had seen a great number of reports and PADDs lining her desk like soldiers poised to attack who had the breeding capacity of Tribbles, but she'd still had no idea what a captain had to deal with...

The sound of the door chime was a welcome relief.

"Enter!" she called, almost a little too eagerly. She paused to school herself into a more professional demeanor as she watched the door open and a tall man walked in looking...slightly awkward in posture, though she couldn't precisely define in what ways. She waited for him to announce himself.

"Captain, I'm Lieutenant Finchley Kerr, I'm reporting in as your new Chief of Security, I'm very pleased to meet you, here are my..." and as he edged forward, slightly crab like in his sideways walk, he grimaced as he extended his arm "...transfer orders, they appear to be in order. My apologies for looking awkward and moving slowly, but my 'accommodation', if that's what it could be called, on the last couple of shuttles were small."

He again flexed himself from the knees and then began to wiggle his derriere, "It helps to get the feeling back in my legs and backside Sir" he said.

Mallory slightly arched one red brow. "If you say so..." she said curiously. "Welcome aboard the Odin, Mister Kerr. I would invite you to sit down, but I imagine you'd not be interested?"

"Thank you Sir" Finchley replied, "and at the moment, you're correct, if you don't mind I'd rather stay standing and work out the kinks" he laughed.

"Unfortunately I didn't get a briefing in regards to the Odin or it's current state of readiness for it's current mission, I was basically told to pack as quickly as I could and come here" Finchley carried on, "may I ask to be filled in just now Sir?"

Mallory nodded, getting to her feet and going to the replicator. "Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine Sir, thank you for asking though" Finchley replied.

Once she was back in her seat, she sipped her tea and began, "Quite simply, the Odin is a brand-new ship. It just arrived at Providence Station two days ago after traveling here from the Lunar shipyards where she was built. She is now commissioned as a border patrol vessel to keep a watch on the Azurean Corridor, where we now are."

"Yes, the ship has that newly finished smell about it" Finchley smiled. He shifted his stance slightly again and continued "It was rather a surprise to receive my transfer order, and my former CO, Captain Zamos, was quite surprised as well, he was reluctant to see me go. May I ask the reason for my transfer Sir?"

"You'd have to talk to the fleet about that," Mal said with a smile that was part polite and part almost apologetic. "I was assigned to this ship as well, and recently, so I haven't had a hand in picking the crew. I also haven't read all the personnel files yet. My guess would be that your service history suggests you would make a good fit for this ship."

"I see, we're all getting thrown in at the deep end so say" Finchley half laughed "never mind, the sink or swim attitude has worked before, it separates the wheat from the chaff" he finished with another metaphor.

"If you don't mind Captain, I'd like to recommend someone for the Assistant Chief of Security position here on the Odin, Lieutenant Junior Grade Shr'Nesh Karadis. She worked in Security on the USS Frannery with me and she's a damn fine officer, saved my backside a few times I can tell you. She's good with weaponry, is a very skilful tactician, good shuttle pilot and can drink a bottle of Scotch and still look sober....even though she's actually sheets to the wind!"

Mal had to chuckle at that. "On a ship full of fighter pilots, those sound like good traits to have," she said. "I'll send an inquiry and see what I can do."

"Thank you Sir, that's much appreciated" Finchley said "so, if I'm allowed to ask, what are we doing in the meantime, I mean, I was rushed to get here, but it seems for naught as we're basically sat in space dock?"

"The whims of the fleet, Lieutenant," Mal replied. "I think they want the ship's complement on board as swiftly as possible, just in case we are called to action. You need to settle in and get your department in order, study the area and figure out how to best prepare for what trouble we may find."

"Right you are Sir" Finchley replied "I'll go over the Security staff files, see if the staff I have are in a fit state or need additional training. I'll also go over the weapons locker just to make sure we have what we're supposed to have, and set up additional weapons training. I have specific scenario's I like to use, it give me an overview of who's good with what and who needs to up their anti."

Mallory smiled and nodded approvingly. "It sounds like you're ready to go then, Lieutenant. Unless you have any other questions, I'll let you get to work."

"No Sir, I don't have any, thank you for your time" Finchley smiled back. He stood as straight as he could and ventured a small bend from the waist to show he was happy to leave. He turned and made his way out of the Ready Room and back towards the turbolift.

As he half walked, half hobbled, he said "I hope there's a door frame in my quarters, I need to hang from one to straighten my back!"

 

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