JP: Lt. Cmdr. V'Len Kel, Lt. Col. Wes Greaves, Flt. Capt. Karrod Niac - The Trilldorian Upgrade Bacchanalia Part 5
Karrod Niac
((Lumina Coves Ecological Retreat, Lolagi IV))
It had taken a while, but at long last V’Len had caught up with Greaves and Niac. By this time V’Len was sure too much had been said and his best hope was to try to do damage control. He had known Greaves since the academy but their relationship was tenuous due to the different natures of the two men. V’Len had made it through one mission unscathed, but from then on he and Greaves butted heads regularly. There were several moments that stuck out. V’Len approached the pair.
The sound of approaching footsteps made Wes Greaves turn in place to see who was coming only to finally see the visage of V’Len Kel. It’d been years since Wes had seen the man face to face, and frankly he’d been surprised at receiving the invitation for today. In fact, the last time Wes had seen V’Len was on a classified intelligence gathering mission aboard Port Coray.
Kel: Colonel, how have you been?
Wes suppressed an ironic smirk and offered a handshake to the Trilldorian. It was such a casual greeting that didn’t really acknowledge the depth or complexity of their relationship, nor the long time apart.
Greaves: Life’s always a whirlwind, but I’ve been well.
Karrod offered a knowing chuckle as he took a sip from his drink.
Niac: It sounds like things for the Colonel have been nearly as exciting as they have been for us in the Isles, V’Len.
Greaves: You could say that sir. It’s been a long trip to get out here, but the Gamma Quadrant is far from quiet these days.
Kel: Apologies. I seem to still see you as an instructor. Thanks for coming all this way Wes. I hope you’re not besmirching my good character.
Greaves: No, nothing like that. I hadn’t gotten to the stories of your insubordination yet.
The comment was made as a joke, but Wes’s dry humor and lack of a smile with delivery made the joke come out much harsher than he’d intended.
Karrod could feel the history between the two crackling in the air between them and smirked to himself, remembering a few colorful anecdotes from V’Len’s personnel file he’d noted when the man first came aboard.
Niac: Insubordination? You, Mr. Kel? ::He looked around the room, gravely assessing:: Hmm…I suppose there’s still time to cancel this little shindig…
A small smirk started to cross the Marine’s face, carrying a bit of relief in it knowing that the skipper had registered his joke. That smirk was dashed when it became apparent that Kel had not.
Kel: ::raising his eyebrow:: I was well within my right as CMO to raise concerns for the crews safely.
The stubborn insistence on being right triggered Wes’s sense of discipline in the same way it had all of those years ago and he quickly bit back harsher than he would have otherwise.
Greaves: If I remember right, you did a lot more than raise a concern.
Karrod could vividly remember more than a few times V’Len had raised a concern or two aboard the Ronin and smiled to himself. It was one of the characteristics that had most impressed him about their junior CMO, and one of the things that had so positively impacted the ship and Karrod himself over the years.
Niac: Let me guess…V’Len brought up something that you were working hard to avoid becoming entangled in and, yet, entangled you ended up?
Wes turned more fully toward Captain Niac, his body language pushing V’Len out of the conversation a hair.
Greaves: There were a few occasions that come to mind sir… and one specific one where he threatened to relieve me of duty for medical concerns when he didn’t like my command decision.
V’Len’s teeth came together tightly.
Kel: I was under oath I was not going to lie.
Wes sighed and raised a hand to his face so he could pinch and rub the bridge of his nose. He’d told himself to remain cordial and within the first 30 seconds he was already bickering with the man.
Greaves: I see you’re still as stubborn as ever V’Len.
Karrod barked out a small laugh.
Niac: Just like a lot of the best officers I’ve served with, Colonel. In fact I believe Major Singh said something similar about you…something like ‘best Marine officer she has ever known,’ ‘a comprehensive professional,’ ‘a complete hardass.’ Speaking of she’d like to see you before you depart, as would Petty Officer Gra’vel. Apparently you all served together a while back on the Thor and you left quite the impression…as you have on V’Len here.
As the senior officer rattled off the names of his old shipmates Wes’s frown turned to a warm smile full of nostalgia and he nodded. He’d lost track of Snowball’s career path. She was a good pilot, and a great Marine. Her old WSO still served on the OEB, and Wes made a mental note to make sure to update Ringo on how Snowball was doing… and Gra’val.. Best hunk of rock Wes had ever served with. Knowing that the Horta had made Petty Officer grew Wes’s smile even more.
Kel: Do you suppose that’s our problem, Colonel? Not that we’re so different, but we’re actually too much alike?
The question caught the Marine by surprise, and wiped the growing smile from his face to be replaced by contemplation. The idea of the pair of them being alike immediately drew a sense of dread in him. Under Wes’s tour as the Thor’s XO V’Len had been obstinate, insubordinate, and reckless.Those were traits that made Wes’s skin crawl, and to think that V’Len, or anyone for that matter, thought that he might share those traits brought bile to this throat.
However, the longer Wes chewed on the idea, the more emerged. V’Len may have been all of those things, but at the same time, he was brave. Passionate. And the Trilldorian had always thrown all of himself into doing the right thing for the wrong reasons.
Greaves: Ya know, I think our problem has always been our passion. We just both seem to find different paths trying to get to the same place, but we believe so strongly that our path is right.
It was strange to think about Wes Greaves, a man he had come to see as intimidating, had at one time been a shiny new officer doing the same kind of learning he’d been doing on the Thor. V’Len had met Greaves on his final academy training simulation and had come to see him in his mind as the ultimate Starfleet officer. He shuddered to think how the cadets he commanded saw him.
Karrod waved over a server and made sure all three men had fresh drinks in their hands.
Niac: Well gentlemen, perhaps we should raise a glass together. I owe you a debt Colonel…Mr. Kel here may have been a handful as a junior officer but you set him on the road to become an officer whose judgement…and whose empathy…I’ve come to rely on.
Kel: I’ll drink to that ::raising his glass:: Let’s agree that I’ve come a long way since that day on Ocaena.
The toast changed something inside the Marine. Maybe it was a decision being made without his conscious knowing, or maybe it was a change in perspective. Regardless, it hit Wes all at once. The officer before him, the one that Wes had dropped everything to cross the galaxy to see be promoted… this was not the man who’d served under him on the Thor. And Wes was not the same man who’d carried the dying V’Len off that UDP ship so many years ago.
The realization that they’d both changed and grown into two more senior officers, with new experiences, better judgement, and entirely new passions…
Greaves: I’ll drink to that and to one more thing… to the officer and the leader you’ve helped me to become V’len.
The trio raised their glasses together and took a deep drink.
Kel: So Colonel, is there a command for you in the future? I’ve always imagined you on the bridge of a Defiant-Class Starship.
A bark of surprised laughter shot out of the Marine’s mouth.
Greaves: They don’t tend to give Starships to Marines very often. Especially something made with teeth like a Defiant. I certainly wouldn’t say no to it though.
He paused long enough to sip his drink once more before continuing in a more serious tone.
Greaves: I did just get word from Major General Smith on Deep Space 14 through. Things have been getting spicy on the other side of the wormhole and Starfleet is upping the Marine presence out there to a full division. You’re officially looking at the Commanding Officer of the 64th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. I’ve got Marine Detachments aboard ten ships in the Gamma Flotilla now reporting to me.
Tipping both his glass and his head to the man in respect, Karrod offered another small toast.
Niac: In that case it sounds like we’ve got a great deal to celebrate today…and not just Mr. Kel here thinking about what color the carpet on his bridge should be.
Kel: ::shaking his head:: I’m not sure I could get used to that. ::looking at Wes:: Can you imagine me in the big chair?
All hint of warmth dropped from his face once again and Wes gave the Trilldorian a very serious and slow look up and down.
Greaves: Lieutenant Kel wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell…
A smile once again curled the edges of his lips.
Greaves: But I’m starting to think that Commander Kel might just be alright for the job.
Laughing, Karrod raised his glass in good cheer.
Niac: Seems like we’ll find out one way or another soon enough…speaking of I think it’s about that time if you gentlemen will excuse me. Stay close to the front Mr. Kel, no sneaking out on us now.
Kel: ::chuckling:: Let’s just hope I start with something small and harmless.
Greaves: Not a chance. I’ve never known you to do anything small.
The three of them clinked their glasses together in a shared moment of mutual celebration as the party whirled on around them. Karrod suspected if he didn't handle the formal part of this little get together soon he'd never be able to safely get between the crowd and the bar.
--
Commander V'Len Kel
Chief Science Officer/Second Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
T239811VK2
He/Him (player/character)
&
Lieutenant Colonel Wes Greaves
Commanding Officer
64th Marine Expeditionary Brigade
USS Octavia E. Butler NCC-82850
E239702WG0
&
Fleet Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0