JP: Lt JG Promontory & Lt Kessler & Rox & Johnson & Ens Herrick & Ens Tyber & Lt JG Nijal & Ens Vomek & Ens Dahlquist: JOPA: The Next Generation Part 2
Joel Cannistraro
JOPA: The Next Generation Part 2
((Mission Pod - Deck B - USS ‘Oumuamua))
Jack looked over to Avander and nodded, indicating that he should proceed with the start of the meeting. As it seemed that he would most likely and naturally be taking over for Jack anyway. He admired Avander’s willingness and his sense of leadership and ownership in this venture. If this was Jack’s last meeting he felt he was leaving it in great hands.
Promontory: Vomek will have plenty of time to explain to all of us how he developed a secret language that won’t be cracked by the Universal Translator.. (beat) Bur first, let’s have an overview of JOPA.
Before Avander could launch into his spiel, a voice from the crowd interjected, “Pranks!” Surveying the assemblage, Avander realized he had to give the people what they wanted–pranks were so associated with JOPA that some officers actually thought that that was what the “P” stood for!
Promontory: Right, the pranks. :: smiling :: Cadet Johnson, do you want to explain the initiation?
Did she? Oh boy, that was the best part. Even though she hadn’t the opportunity to pull her prank *yet*, Zarah had no problem explaining that portion.
Johnson: As a new member of JOPA, you will be required to perform a prank on a ranking officer. This prank must not be dangerous, of course, only funny. Oh, and you can’t get caught.
She cast a glance at Vomek and winked. They would get their prank in now that they were back in their own time. Oh yes, it would happen, she was sure of it.
Vomek had almost completely forgotten about the prank. He had taken matters of his advancement into his own hands. While in the 2260’s he had made a discovery which had allowed him some…leverage with Doctor Kel. He was now getting lessons at the helm from the good doctor, whose previous host had been a helmsman of some renown. The lessons with his new “bridge buddy” were going well.
Jack smiled at young Miss Johnson. She had certainly caught his attention at the last meeting and her eagerness to participate and prove herself was something that he admired in the girl. He hoped it would not fade over time that she would one day be serving with him.
Rox: Now wait one minute. It wasn’t a rule before that you couldn’t get caught. I sent the whole ship back to 2265. I think most of you saw V’Airu’s face.
Rox sure had. “Priceless” would be the term she’d use to describe it.
Rox: My team and I should get credit for that.
Zarah crossed her arms over her chest and leveled a cynical gaze at the nurse.
Johnson: Really? Naw, that’s not fair. No one else was involved in pulling it off for your team, not to mention it’s supposed to be a secret as to who does it. Which means, don’t get caught. So that shouldn’t count.
Nijal: And we all knew that was you.
They all knew, that was, once the crew had been transplanted to the Intrepid and Rox revealed herself to the bridge. Definitely hard to keep a secret then.
Herrick’s eyebrows shot up with that exchange. He wasn’t able to access most of the ship’s last mission with his limited access, and while there were bits and pieces leaking out, this was the most comprehensive overview he had gotten of what happened. Time traveling and pranking, it seemed like he’d be in for a lot of excitement on this ship. He felt excited, the monotony of the academy already fading away..
Rox: ::folding her arms in front of her:: You guys suck. Fine, we’ll come up with a prank.
Promontory: :: looking at Jack :: Am I missing anything?
Kessler: Wasn’t someone pranking Dr. Kel?
Jack looked directly at Rox and smiled. He knew that Kel had been deemed off limits by Rox at the previous meeting but due to recent events he felt teasing her was well within the scope of this meeting.
Kessler: Yes, I believe our two newest Ensigns were going to prank the doctor.
Rox: Wait! No.
Rox’s ears had immediately perked up when the notion of the two new Ensigns pranking V’Len had come up.
Rox: As I said last time. V’Len is off limits. He has a cardiac inducer. You could kill the guy. I also happen to work in sickbay and I don’t want to get caught up in the chaos. You guys hit Corelli. Or Peri, she loves a good joke, trust me.
Johnson: You’ve got to be joking with me. I don’t think anyone who’s Lieutenant or higher should be off the table just because someone else says so.
Zarah rolled her eyes at the nurse. She might be a crewman, and automatically higher in rank considering Zarah wasn’t even an official cadet yet, but it sounded like the woman was playing favourites.
Rox walked over to Johnson and gave her a sharp poke in the chest.
Rox: No eye rolling kid. And I’m saying V’Len’s off limits for your benefit. If something happens to him I’m responsible for medicine on this ship until we get a replacement and I’m guessing none of you want that.
Zarah’s smile instantly disappeared and her eyes narrowed at the nurse. Just because she was a full crewman didn’t mean that she got to be the boss of her.
That was a little too far out of line for Jack. Rox wasn’t just joking with Zarah, she apparently meant it and the poke to Zarah was a little more intrusive than Jack would have liked to see. oO Time to set things straight. Oo
Kessler: ::stepping up to Rox, with a dead serious look on his face:: I’m sorry crewman if I gave the impression that was a joke. Dr. Kel is fully on the table for a prank by this team. ::looking around the room:: No one, and I mean no one of the rank Lieutenant and up are off limits.
Jack lowered his eyes back on Rox and smiled ever so slightly.
Drat, they called her bluff. Rox put her hand on her hips.
Rox: You wanna face full of Confet…
Rox stopped and considered.
The comment cut short, Jack eyed the Crewman and waited to see if she was going to carry out her threat. Just as a place for the junior officers to learn and grow and help one another, Jack felt this was a great opportunity for Rox to learn when and where her powers were acceptable to use and not.
Rox: ::smiling, gentle:: I just want to keep the good doctor safe for when we need him. If you want to prank him, that's your business. I’m just offering my perspective.
Jack smiled again and gave Rox a wink of approval of her choice of direction and her protection of the good doctor.
Johnson: And we get to choose who we’re going to prank, not you.
Zarah shot back, arms crossed over her chest. Rox had already inserted herself in the ‘not the most liked’ list, and her little temper tantrum had just put her higher up on it.
Rox moved back to the edge of the group and crossed her arms in front of her. Zarah Johnson was quite a piece of work. She was going to be insufferable when she became an officer. One of them was going to have to find a new home and Rox had no inclination to move.
It was time to give the new recruits more information and a few examples.
Promontory: Simon, you worked with Ayla and Zarah to prank Lt. Commander Etan. Why don’t you share with us how that went.
Glancing over to Vomek, Zarah shook her head. They were tasked with that, but then things had taken a nosedive. Well laid plans and all that.
Johnson: We were going to, but then Ayla got transferred and right after that, we were all taken back in time, so…
Vomek: ::smiling:: Have no fear. I’ve been brainstorming. We’ll get something pulled over on Commander Etan in short order.
Promontory: Really?
Johnson: I promise, we *meant* to have it done by now.
Vomek: I promise you it will be one for the ages.
Vomek had no idea what to do for sure, but he suffered from intense FOMO. He would get something done.
Promontory: Yes, but the prank is a requirement to join JOPA. I mean, we don’t have that many rules, and we’re already bending them by bringing in not-quite officers.
Zarah wrinkled her nose at that little jab. Bad enough that Rox was being miss priss, now her status as a JOPA member was in doubt.
Rox curtsied politely as Avander singled her out. It had been very wise on the part of Avander and Jack to include her in this little JOPA caprice. She was a great asset, particularly because she was familiar with the pulse of the lower decks.
Kessler: Well, given that we are on shore leave at the moment, what about extending the deadline for the pranks to the end of shore leave?
Vomek: ::looking at Jack:: An excellent idea sir. No wonder you’ve made Lieutenant.
Promontory: Well I suppose that’s fine then. I mean, if we’re not here to help each other, then why are we here at all? (beat) Alright then. Zi and Toxin, you were with Rox in pranking the Commodore. Do you all at least have a plan going forward?
Nijal: An idea? That, um, might be premature. (beat, looking to Rox) I know that I don’t want to do more confetti.
Rox: I thought we were covered with the whole time travel thing, but I’m sure we can come up with something. You sure on that no confetti rule. It’s pretty fun stuff.
Nijal: (dryly) Well, you weren’t cleaning it up.
Rox bit her lip. She supposed it was all fun and games until you had to clean up the mess. Beside that she knew there would be a large downside if she were to get caught pranking the commodore. She had only just been allowed to stay on the ship and she was required to work with a probation off…mentor.
Rox: Maybe we could just rearrange her things in her office. Seems like that would get on her nerves a bit.
Zi considered. She far preferred something on that scale, and while she knew that the JOPA was officially-unofficially sanctioned by the senior staff, she didn’t want to do anything that would have the senior officers looking at her askance – like, say, using Rox’s powers to move them across space and time.
Rox: ::giggling:: We could fill her office with fish. Though that might give away my involvement.
Promontory: Perhaps the less said about that, the better.
While it had been…educational, not everyone had enjoyed the detour to 2265. Some members of the crew were still… anxious about crewman Rox. Reminding folks about her transhumanistic powers might be triggering. Avander had heard one ensign say something about “not wanting to be turned into a newt.”
Simming by:
Lt JG Avander Promontory
Intelligence Officer
USS Oumuamua
O239910AP4
&
Lieutenant Jack Kessler
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Oumuamua
T239901JK1
&
Rox
Nurse
T239811VK2
She/Her (character)
He/Him (player)
&
Zarah Johnson
Civilian
USS 'Oumuamua
M239008AD0
&
Ensign Josh Herrick
Engineering Officer
USS ‘Oumuamua
Writer ID: O240005JH3
&
Ensign Tyber
Security officer
USS Oumuamua
O240001CT3
&
Lieutenant JG Zimedia Nijal
Engineering Officer
USS 'Oumuamua
V238208LV0
he/him/his (player) & she/her/hers (this character)
&
Ensign Simon Vomek
H/C/O Officer
USS Oumuamua NCC-81226
T239811VK2
He/Him (character and player)
&
Ensign Lina Dahlquist
Science Officer
USS ‘Oumuamua