Lt JG Quentin Beck - Explanations, not Excuses
Quentin Beck
((Main Conference Room, Deck 3, U.S.S. Ronin, Back at High Warp.))
Beck: =/\= Please let Doctor Ohnari know I'll be reaching out to her to discuss how badly things went over there with the Sencha radiation and what help I can offer, if any. ::dripping with sarcasm:: And maybe we can collaborate on a way to memorialize the Ronin and Khitomer post-humously. =/\=
Shayne: =/\= Hey! =/\=
A look of horror crossed his features when it dawned on him he'd said that last part out loud; not only that but loud enough for the ship's comm system to pick it up and allowing the Khitomer bridge crew to react to something he'd never intended to voice. Shayne might've been glaring daggers, but Niac's look was almost enough to force Quentin to spontaneously combust.
It would have been less embarrassing.
Niac: Gallows humor or not, Doctor Beck, that was out of line. I don't want anyone giving up hope before the fight is even joined, least of all a senior officer.
His shoulders pulled in a little sheepishly as he sat back in his seat, tucking the hook into his lap and lightly drumming his fingers against the table as he cleared his throat.
Beck: =/\= Sorry, sirs. =/\=
Shayne: =/\= We’ll keep you apprised. Khitomer out. =/\=
Shayne looked more than a little annoyed, and Quentin couldn't blame him; he hadn't meant to sour the Khitomer Captain's mood, nor was he really giving up as they went headlong into danger, but his stress levels had grown to such a level his normal filters were starting to fail.
Niac: =/\= When this is all over Captain I'll see you for a drink on Thirty Three. I'll even pick up the tab. Ronin out. =/\=
The channel closed and a brief quiet fell over the conference room as each officer considered the coming hours. While he was fairly certain it was just his imagination, the Doctor couldn't help but feel a lot of sidelong glances and worried looks from the others, who likely thought his marbles were all but lost by now. The Captain leaned forward to lay his hands on the table and look at each of them, his voice low and quiet but holding a certainty that Quentin was starting to recognize belonged only to those in a Command position. It only made sense - when a decision was made, it had to be followed through by the entire crew, and that would only happen by displaying confidence in his ability to make those decisions.
Niac: I know our situation is grave and the odds are long but I know this crew. Every one of you is capable of excellence alone but when you work together...we can make miracles. And I suspect we'll need a few of those before the day is over...but I believe it's within us to create our own luck. Make sure your people know that...make sure they know we aren't beaten yet. We are going to get back to Deep Space Thirty Three and we are going to help our friends. Is that understood?
O'Connor/Carpenter/Tucker: Response
Beck: Aye, sir.
He didn't trust himself to say anything else at the moment, so he bit his tongue after the confirmation.
Niac: Very well...thank you everyone. We'll go back to red alert ten minutes before we drop out of warp, until then make whatever final preparations you deem necessary. Dismissed.
O'Connor/Carpenter/Tucker: Response
Quentin was glad to attempt escape after showing he couldn't trust his tongue, rotating quickly out of his seat and making a beeline for the door; Sickbay would be much safer, at least regarding him making stupid comments in front of not one but two highly decorated Starfleet captains. He'd only made it a few steps past the table when the Captain's voice halted him immediately with a wince, his left eye squinting shut and his face growing pinched as he kept his back to Niac.
Niac: Doctor Beck, a moment please.
His spine stiffened and he stood a little taller, coming to attention. His face relaxed slowly and settled into a grim line as the others filtered past him and out the door. He let out a soft little sigh and turned to face the Captain as the doors hissed shut and he could feel Niac studying him more closely than usual.
Niac: Are you alright, Doctor? Gallows humor doesn't seem to suit you.
Beck: Frankly, sir…? No, I'm not alright.
Niac: By all means Doctor, speak freely. I'd like to know what's on your mind.
He was tempted for a moment to raise the hook and wiggle it, stating instead he was instead 'all left'... but that kind of joke would do little to dispel the tension in the air, and anyway his heart wasn't really in it. Instead, he raised the hook near his chest and gripped it with the fingers of his left hand, attempting to gather his thoughts.
Beck: It's been a rough couple of days for me, sir. Hell, a rough couple of weeks, as I didn't really get much of a chance to enjoy Shore Leave between patching people up after the showdown with Wrath and my brief leave aboard the Artemis, which was… harrowing, to say the least.
Niac: response
Quentin fell silent for a moment, not quite sure how to continue and raising his good hand to rub at the stubble lining his jaw. He took slow steps back towards his chair, choosing not to sit yet but instead standing behind it and gripping it lightly.
Beck: I'm worried, Captain. Not just about us and our mission, but… worried about what's going on back home. Worried about Alyndra, who we just threw to the wolves with the others on the Rhine. I feel like I'm being pulled twenty different directions.
Niac: Response
He tipped his head in a conciliatory nod.
Beck: Normally, I feel like I'm better at focus, I just…
His lips formed another thin line and he raised the hook slightly.
Beck: This didn't need to happen. Shouldn't have happened, and not just because it could have been prevented if we'd had the time on the Artemis. I didn't get the chance to talk to you about it directly since you had to deal with your mother, but the reason I needed that emergency leave was because my father had sent a million messages saying my mother was sick and he wouldn't let any doctor onto the property except me. So I bent over backwards doing everything I could to prep this place so I could be gone for just a couple of days, arranged transport on the Artemis, finally managed to get down to Earth with no freaking clue what was happening with the parade and had to phaser off my damn hand in the process only to discover that my mother was not sick at all. That my dad, asshole that he is, pulled this garbage to get back at me for making him help me on Ferenginar.
Niac: response
Beck: There's some misplaced anger, and I apologize sincerely. It was grossly unprofessional and inappropriate.
Niac: Response
His face drew wan.
Beck: The Changeling thing also freaked me the hell out. I saw two of them myself on the Borg Cube, and they're… terrifying.
Niac: Response
Tags/TBC
Lieutenant JG Quentin Beck
Acting Chief Medical Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
A238810SA0