Surprise

Posted on Sun Mar 27th, 2011 @ 7:47pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Provisional Lieutenant Commander Narayn Ballard

Mission: Kingdom Come
Location: USS Endeavour - Ballard's Quarters
Timeline: MD01

Benjamin walked up to the crimson door leading into the quarters Chief Ballard shared with a number of the other enlisted crew members, and pressed the buzzer to announce his presence. Holding the package he had brought with him behind his back, he waited patiently until the call to enter before doing so.

The Chief Petty Officers spent most of their off-hours avoiding one-another. There was nothing quite like the promise of a group of grown adults spending their evenings locked in a massive set of quarters that they shared regardless of their standing on the vessel. Ballard sat flicking his way through a pile of PADDs at a desk in the corner while a couple of the others played a game of chess while indulging in a discussion about the finer points of force field activation servos.

"Come in." Narayn muttered, just loud enough to have the computer disconnect the lock on the door and send it flying open. The presence in the doorway gave an almost immediate impact. The discussion died away rapidly and Ballard eventually felt obliged to turn round and see who was darkening his door during his off-hours. "Ahh, Captain Byrne. To what do we owe the pleasure?" He asked, casually regarding the other enlisted men with a wave of his hand.

"Give us the room, please?" Benjamin said politely, looking at the other occupants in the room. As the other enlisted men filed out, Benjamin stood in the middle of the room waiting. After the last had left and the door had closed, he moved to take a seat near the Chief, leaning forwards casually and holding the package loosely in his hands. "I've had a few conversations with Starfleet Command on our way back to Starbase," he said, leaving the comment hanging in the air for a few minutes.

Ballard placed the PADD he was working on to the side and looked up at the Captain. He hadn't jumped to his feet when he'd come in the room, the moment had now passed. He would just have to hope that the Captain wouldn't mind. "And what have Starfleet Command being saying to you, Captain? Are they suggesting we carry more cans of insect repellent in our stores?"

Benjamin chuckled. "Actually they seem to be more focussed on the transport of the bodies in stasis. The last few conversations however, have been about yourself." He paused, hoping to make the Chief squirm a little, but knowing what the man was like, it was a scant possibility. "They had a few concerns about your performance over he last year, and over your time aboard the Endeavour specifically. I explained to them that I need to have the position onboard the ship filled, but it was a very drawn out discussion. They insisted that any position within the ship's command staff must have a minimum rank for the duties they individual performs." He paused again, hoping to have made an impact this time. "They've made the final decision. I wanted to come down here myself and hand you this with your reassignment orders." He reached over and passed the parcel to the Chief, holding on to the PADD in his hand for a little longer.

Ballard was not used to receiving presents. The places he'd been, the life he'd led, there hadn't been a lot of opportunity for widespread shows of generosity. "What's this?" He asked as he lifted the lid on the package to reveal a red-collared duty uniform. He chuckled at it before noticing the small box resting atop the uniform. Opening it, he was greeted by the sight of a solid bar rank pip. It was only due to the personnel records that he had ever seen such a thing. It denoted a provisional rank. A provisional rank of Lieutenant Commander. "Sir?"

Benjamin handed the PADD over next. "Starfleet agrees with me that we need to replace Commander Edroski promptly. They also agree with my assessment that a known and respected member of the crew would be the best candidate for the job. After much persuasion, they have agreed to issue you with a provisional commission in order to allow you to fulfil the role, pending of course your taking of the various exams and courses remotely required for a commission." He smiled at his new XO.

"And if I refuse?" The former Non-Com answered with a wry smile.

"Then I can just as easily reassign you to the latrines for making me look a fool to Starfleet," Byrne replied, his smile turning into a smirk. "Still, I always figured you wouldn't mind getting out of these shared quarters at some point," he continued, gesturing to their surroundings.

"Too true, Benjamin," Narayn said, opening out the uniform to its full size. "I could do with my own space. The dangers of sharing with engineers is that eventually you'll either prove them wrong or kick them to death for their incessant prattling."

Chuckling again, Byrne stood, and slapped the other man affectionately on the shoulder. "I'll let you have some time to get your stuff shifted. We're due to depart for Nevarra in a day or two though, so I expect you to get reading up on your new duties, Number One." He began to walk towards the exit of the quarters, before pausing and turning at the now open doorway. "Oh, and Commodore Varela will be accompanying us on this one. She'll probably want to do a few of your exams herself. The details are all in the PADD." With that comment, he left.

Commodore Varela. Ballard thought to himself. Bloody wonderful.


________________________________________
Captain Benjamin Byrne
Commanding Officer

Prov. Lieutenant Commander Narayn Ballard
First Officer
USS Endeavour