Old roots, new roots
Posted on Mon Apr 27th, 2020 @ 3:08am by Major Cornelius Tremble
Edited on on Thu Jan 19th, 2023 @ 8:49am
1,959 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: Starbase Sirius/The Snake Pit - Deck 9 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD004 1130 hrs
Starbase Sirius' on duty chief in Transporter Room five was a friendly looking human with a balding head and a pudgy middle. He beamed happily as Eubilex entered and took the Edosian's credentials from a PADD.
"Oh, another one for the Cure?" The Chief chuckled happily.
"The what now?"
"The Cure, the Marine detachment for Pioneer. That's their nickname."
"Why are they called the Cure?" Eubilex looked taken aback.
"Oh you know I'm not entirely sure. I think it might go back to that old saying: The Cure is worse than the Disease? You know? I don't know. Anyway, these check out," he handed the PADD back and gestured for Eubilex to stand on the transporter pad.
"Energize," Eubilex said and the room shimmered and faded from vision to be replaced by a nearly identical room a moment later.
"Huh, an Edosian," said the woman's voice from behind the console. This transporter chief was very different to the last. Slim, pretty in that odd way the humans seemed to like, with hair piled up in something that reminded Eubilex of Cerinbird nests back home. "Don't see many Edosians out here. You're not related to..."
"Arex?" Eubilex interrupted, "probably, I think there's a thirteenth cousin somewhere in there." Over a hundred years since the famous navigator of the Enterprise and the first Edosian in Starfleet and you'd think he was the only one who ever lived. "Sergeant Tevil Eubilex requesting permission to come aboard."
"Granted," the Chief arched an eyebrow and waved a non-committal arm in a vaguely welcoming gesture. "Welcome to Pioneer. You'll need to check in with Captain Tremble and Sickbay, then Chief Nguyen will want to see you."
"Thanks," Eubilex nodded, "I'll find them."
As the door closed behind him, Eubilex heard the chief call out: "ask for the Snake Pit!" He paused, wondering if he should query that, then shook his head and moved on. The turbolift was clearly marked and easy to find. Along the way, Eubilex gave curt nods to the occasional crew member passing by. He entered and was surprised to find the turbolift car empty.
"Uh, the Snake Pit?" The lift beeped understanding and began to move.
The doors opened into a very differently styled area than Eubilex had so far seen. Even the pattern of the walls here seemed harsher, more utilitarian. He'd seen worse, lived in much worse, but there was a familiar feeling to being in proximity to a Marine HQ that was very reassuring. He stopped the first Private he found and asked for directions to the Captain's office, assuming Tremble to be there.
Neil sat at his desk juggling flimsies as the Edosian knocked, then entered after Neil waved vaguely in his direction and looked up.
Eubilex entered and stood to attention, a complicated process that somehow looked like it left bits of him out of the end result and just went for "closest approximation". He chose an arm to salute with as best he could.
"First Sergeant, Tevil Eubilex, reporting for duty, sir," he proffered the PADD to his new Commanding Officer.
Neil took the PADD and dropped it on his desk without looking at it to regard the Marine in front of him. "At ease, Sergeant." As far as salutes go, it worked and was still better than most of the Fleet types even tried. "Welcome aboard. Fresh out of Operations with the 7th and with shiny new chevrons too. I see you navigated the Pit, though the gift shop is closed. You went past the Morgue and you'll have access to that and I have you scheduled to start fitting out for a MARVEL-EAS tomorrow. That is probably going to be an interesting bit of work...but that's tomorrow. Today, finish your check in's, get settled in quarters. You know the drill."
Neil looked the Marine over once more then picked up the PADD and keyed it, linking it to his system to sign off on Tevil's orders and handed the PADD back. "Ok, so that's the business side of it. How was your transition in? I noted you brought family with you to Sirius...everything alright there. Anything I can help with?"
Tevil briefly considered putting the Captain's weight behind his family quarters issues, but then decided against it. It wouldn't do to come across as needy. "I think my bond-partner has it in hand, sir," Eubilex started to grin, "she's worried that one of them will figure out the access codes to the cargo transporter, I mean you know how kids are, they get into everything. I'm proud of them, sir. I mean if there's trouble to be had, at any point a fifth of them are in it up to their necks. I guess that's kids for you. They've never been off world, so it's all new. They'll settle, or my bond-partner will eject a couple out an airlock, you know: as an example to the others."
Eubilex knew that glazed look the Captain was starting to develop, but plunged on anyway, taking the PADD back, "transfer was smooth as an Irilian ice flow, sir. Nothing to report. Honestly I thought in the transfer they'd lose our luggage, maybe a couple of the kids, but no, there they all were when we arrived. I just need to find my bunk sir and a station would be useful to get caught up. Or just a spare surface and a console?"
Eubilex stopped and cleared his throat: "regarding the suit, sir, I looked over the specs and I've added the structural changes from the EVA suit I used to operate with the 23rd. Maybe there's a quartermaster I can pass the blueprints to?"
Neil smiled to the marine and replied, "I'm sure your missus is very capable. Regardless, I'll have a word with the Brigadier's staff about it. The Cure's part of your family now and we look out for each other."
Then the human touched a control on his desk and a holo projector popped up a mostly circular compartment display which began rotating. "As far as drawing from stores, we've everything we need to kit you out. The Morgue has a foundry and engineering replicator in it big enough for what we need. You now have full access and I'll be putting you and your engineering background to work."
At the interest Neil saw spark in Tevil's eye, he presumed he had the marine hooked. "You're occupying the spot I had aboard Pioneer when I came aboard as a gunny. We just picked up the Mobile rating a few months ago and were trained into the suits. Retaking Empok was the live fire initiation for us. That being said, I've been doing a great deal of the MARVEL-EAS fitting out."
Neil's grin grew a bit wider as he continued, "So, in the time honored tradition where non-coms do all the real work, you're the Cure's new armorer."
Eubilex nodded, "of course, Captain, if it's ok with you I'll get familiar with the facilities before I start amending my MARVEL-EAS, but I'll make sure I'm fully kitted out before my first combat deployment. In the meantime, I'll go over the duty roster and make sure everyone has what they need. Of course now we get to the awkward: who am I bunking in with? I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to discovering a whole new symphony of snoring."
Neil leaned back in his chair slightly and nodded in agreement. "The snoring wasn't so bad for me. After a while, you can sleep anyplace. It was always the gas warfare. When I was aboard the Hood, my roommates were a pair of Tellarites and a Klingon. I think I wore nasal filters for the better part of a year."
The Captain lost himself for a moment, then blinked and said "As far as your quarters go, they aren't bad. Senior Non-com's aboard Pioneer have their own rooms and share a small common area, so there's a bit of privacy."
Tevil smirked at Tremble's reference to "gas warfare", his stubby nose wrinkling in sympathy, then his golden eyes widened as the Captain said "privacy". Eubilex rubbed the back of his neck, casting around for a way to frame the next sentence, "I mean, I don't want the crew to think I'm some sort of ... I don't know, better than thou officer, I'm still just a Sergeant, barely more than a grunt. I mean, if you can use the space better, I really don't mind mucking in with the rank and file. It would help to establish a bond with the team, maybe? I mean they can see just how much earlier than first call, the First Sarge is in the sonic shower, right? At the end of the day, I'd rather be efficient with space, you know, than just taking up a whole room just because of the new chevrons..." He stopped, "but I know protocol is protocol, so I'll leave it with you. Ah, sir, I probably sound ungrateful. Maybe I'll just shut up and accept the room... unless you can think of another use for it?"
Neil looked at the sergeant and processed. "First off, Sergeant the quote rank hath it privileges holds true: and Fleet set up Pioneer to ensure all of the crew could find some sort of privacy. Secondly, while the Cure mingles with the crew, we also stand apart from them in our work day and even messing; that's why we have the Snake Pit. Thirdly, it may not be to your taste but the enlisted and junior non-coms do need some time away from authority as well: how else would they get all of their griping done?"
The captain smiled at that and continued, "Now, I think I know where you're coming from and I will say it's important to turn your team into a tightly knit family. It's a balancing act that, if you want to keep adding stripes to those chevrons, you'll have to figure out. At team level, it's a grey line as far as getting the job done. I think you'll find in the short term, having a sanctuary will help."
Finally, Neil let his tone soften, "I imagine having such a large family and adjusting to barracks living equalized each other a bit. Noise is noise and taking comfort in just having bodies around is understandable."
Eubilex took a deep breath as if about to speak, then seemed to think better of it. This CO is actually pretty wise for a biped, he mused silently. Out loud he replied, "Of course sir, I'll accept the privilege and ... segregation that comes with the rank. I'm sure others are accepting worse hardships." He paused, then held up a pleading central hand, "just don't tell my bond-partner... please." He considered what else he needed and settled instead for bringing things to a close: "I'll stow my gear and inspect the ... Morgue." Eubilex smirked, always the humans and their euphemisms...
Neil regarded the newest member of the Cure for another moment then nodded, "Very well then Sergeant, you're dismissed. Let me know how it goes." With that, Neil turned back to the documents on his desk and left Eubilex to his devices.
Eubilex stood haphazardly to attention again, saluted, and left the Captain, on the hunt for his new base of operations, The Morgue.
A Joint Post By
Captain Cornelius Tremble
Marine Commanding Officer/Second Officer, USS Pioneer
Sergeant Tevil Eubilex
Rifle Fire Team 2 Leader, USS Pioneer
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