From The Deepest Inner Mind

Posted on Sun Jul 1st, 2018 @ 9:07am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Edited on on Sun Jul 1st, 2018 @ 9:13am

1,729 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 3 - Weary Travellers
Location: Holodeck - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD001 2000 hrs

Andrew was in a simulation of an old Earth boxing gym hitting the heavy bag. He'd come down after talking with Amelia and having the image of Asuka just before her death run through his head. Moore hadn't said anything because in his previous line of work that would have been showing a weakness, and showing weakness meant either his death or someone elses. So, here he came to work it out with the heavy bag and a bottle of whiskey, "which reminds me," he said to himself as he had the thought and took a long swig from the glass bottle.

With things settling down on the Pioneer and only a couple of more days before the shore leave was over. Tyler thought it would be best to check on the one crew member that troubled him the most. "Computer locate Chief Petty Officer Andrew Moore." Asking the computer was always easier than searching a ship he thought.

"Chief Petty Officer Moore is located in holodeck 2" the computer replied in a soft monotone. "Well then I know where I am off to." Tyler said to the empty room. When he arrived at the holodeck he found a program running for a boxing gym. Tyler used his codes to gain entrance while the program was in progress. He found Moore in the ring. "Well, well what do we have here." Tyler said with a smile.

Andrew looked over with a bit of a start then moved to lean on the ropes, bottle still in hand, "looks like a newly minted cake eater," he said with a smirk, "drink for the new Captain?" he asked and offered the bottle, he demeanor a little tipsy, but, the workout keeping him from being drunk yet.

"Somehow, I think boxing while intoxicated is not a healthy thing." Tyler said with a smile before adding. "I just came down here to check on you make sure everything was okay and that you were settling in well. However, perhaps I will settle for simply checking out your moves."

Moore chuckled and set the bottle down before sitting on the apron, "my drunkin' man style is awesome," he joked and and took a breath, "I'm settling in ok, though, I'm not sure if it's my billet or just my way I disarmed the intruders in engineering but I kinda feel like I'm the outside looking in."

"What do you mean on the outside looking in? In terms of those intruders from what I hear other than scaring ever loving s@#t out of everyone. You did one hell of a job possibly saved the ship." Tyler grabbed a stool from one of the corners and took a seat opposite Moore.

The Chief chuckled, "you think that scared everyone, don't let me loose on Halloween," he replied jokingly, "and ... I guess disconnected is a better way to put it," he said with a shrug, "and before you say it, I just don't do huge parties," he added with a smirk, knowing him skipping out on the CO's ceremony would be an example of something he should have done.

"Big ceremonies are not for everyone. But have you tried spending time over at After 11. Chloe and the gang over there would take good care of you. Most of the crew seems to enjoy it as well." Tyler sighed a moment "It might be your job. I think a lot people do not want to talk to the head shrink because they think that you are constantly on duty. Have you spoken with Amelia as of yet?"

Andrew chuckled, "some and about that very subject, that I was weary of her shrinking me," he replied, "but, we talked unofficially, though. There's some things that no one on the ship but you have a high enough clearance to hear though."

"Well there is no one here except you, me, and the photons. So spit it out..." Tyler said with a smile.

"Well, you know how my career with Starfleet was before I became security, aye?" he asked, knowing that there were things he did even some Admirals didn't know about, "the....questionable things I was sent to do."

"I know some of those missions. Are you having doubts as to whether or not it was the right thing? Because if you are you have to realize that the reasoning for what we do is handled way up the food chain. Ultimately it is for the greater good. The good of the many and all that..." Tyler stopped himself short in his speech as he was unsure whether or not he had hit on the heart of the issue.

"If I didn't believe in them I wouldn't have gone, but......well, when your a hammer everything looks like a nail. The problem is when the hammer misses either you or someone else gets hit instead..." Moore replied and reached back to get the bottle and took a long swig from it.

"Fair enough... So your worried about collateral damage. Again I refer to the good of the many. Listen what I would like to see you do is channel that hammer and nail mentality. Channel it into helping this crew. Some of them are still soaked behind the ears and have not seen half as much as you. Give them the benefit of your knowledge, and your counsel. Perhaps that can become the new nail as it were." Tyler reached for the bottle and grabbed it out of Moore's hand. He smirked and took a swig.

Andrew nodded and smiled for a second before becoming solemn again, "that's why I'm here in this teal uniform...my wife paid the price when I missed and I'm trying to atone," he said quietly, "official reports wont tell you this, and only the Federation President and the head of SI know about this," he started, "I ran into Black Suns twice before the incident as security. I took out four of their Captains while tracking the head, and I didn't do it quickly or nicely, but, I needed information from them. On the colony where I was stationed after I left and joined the gold shirts they came in and ... well, you know what they do. I shut them down, they took her out..."

Tyler sat in thought for a moment as the faces of the two women closest to him passed through his memory. First Kat his beloved, and then Elloma. He couldn't imagine what he would be thinking if it had been one of them. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Somehow I do not thing that she would want you to beat yourself up. Somehow I think she would say it was worth it. Besides, that is the knowledge that I am speaking about. How we deal with death is just as important as how we deal with life, is it not. Some of the kids manning this ship need to learn that and they need to learn it from someone who has been there and back again. By shutting them down you prevented it from happening to anyone else."

Andrew just nodded, "aye, I'm trying. The engine room brought it all back to the surface. But, if I let the wet behind the ears el-te from security go in the outcome would have been much different. Kid had an itchy trigger finger and was going up against seasoned former Starfleet officers, he's lucky I didn't turn him over my knee and spank him," he finished with a smirk.

"...and now you know why I need you to work with them. A lot of them have this shoot first ask questions later kind of attitude and in today's Starfleet we can't have that. Whenever you get that urge to fly off the handle simply ask yourself WWTD?... What Would Tyler Do?" Tyler laughed at his conceded joke.

Moore just laughed, "I'll try to keep that in mind," he replied, "I've been thinking about that too, how would your security chief feel about hostage negotiation training...not the touchy feely crap they teach at the Academy, but, real negotiation and actually reading the situation, not just regurgitating chapter two section three of the manual? That type of training does technically fall under Counseling, so, I didn't think it'd be overstepping to ask."

"I think it is a great idea, you should have a chat with Lt Myles and Lt Tremble. Perhaps some Marines would want some of that training as well. If they don't need it, it couldn't hurt to be ready." Tyler was happy that Andrew saw the point that he was trying to make. Use what you know to get yourself out of the dumps and help others. It seemed to be working at least for now.

Andrew nodded, "will do. At least I'll improve Marine Fleet relations, I make even the Marines look sane and tame," he joked and grinned.

"See, you will do great here. Welcome home Andrew" Tyler smiled as he took another swig from Andrew's bottle.

"Thank you, Captain," Moore replied with a chuckle, "you know I'm still going to be a pain in the ass, right?" he asked with a grin, hoping that the CO knowing at least some of his background would help him understand why Andrew was how he was, "and, we need to get Amelia top secret clearances if you want me to officially have sessions," he offered, "besides my stubbornness, that's the other reason I drug my feet about going."

"Have Amelia come up to the Bridge when she can, I can arrange for the clearances through her current status as Diplomatic Officer for the ship. You a pain in the ass, it wouldn't be the Pioneer if that did not happen." Tyler responded as he rose and clasped the other man on the shoulder.

The CPO nodded and chuckled, "aye, Captain, I'll let her know," he replied with a nod, it would be interesting to see her reaction to what he had done in his former life in the name of the Federation.

A Joint Post By

Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer

Chief Petty Officer Andrew "Chaos" Moore
Behavioral Health Specialist, USS Pioneer

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