Maj Wes Greaves - Flat
Jacob Rittenhouse
((Valhalla Lounge, Deck 5, USS Thor))
Wes bent down and picked up a large chunk of shattered metal from the ground, turning it over in his hands. It was darkly charred, barely a resemblance of the cool gray metal it had been before the attack. For a few moment the Marine just looked at it, sending his gaze between it and the darkened walls around the lounge. What had once been one of his favorite areas of the ship was now a wreck. The forward wall, almost entirely made of windows, had been shattered. The dockyard workers had already welded plates over the broken hull so forcefields weren't necessary. The result was a dark and quiet room. No starlight filtering in, nor engine noise from a thrumming warp core. The Thor's body was broken, but they'd made it. Not all of them. Not all in one piece, but they'd made it. The old girl had delivered them to safety one final time, even if it had taken some help from the Oumuamua.
The sound of crunching metal and debris alerted the man to another, and Wes turned, still holding the broken piece of metal.
Greaves: Oh, I wasn't expecting to see anyone over here.
Corelli: Saying goodbye to ghosts, Major?
The Marine grinned, setting the chunk of metal down on a partially collapsed table nearby.
Greaves: Just taking it all in. Paying tribute if you will.
Corelli: I guess I am doing the same, in my own way.
Greaves: What're you doing over here?
Corelli: Just checking, someone has to make sure the yard engineers are doing their job.
The Thor’s chief engineer winked and nodded to him while moving to the forward most edge of the room. From what Wes could see, he was inspecting the welds where the plates had been used to seal the broken windows.
Greaves: I’m sure they’re doing a stand-up job, but I get the urge to be involved… (voice trailing off)
Corelli: I’ll leave you with
your thoughts major. There’s temporary power in my office, while I get some final personal items – and coffee.
Greaves: Now there’s something we both can get behind.
If circumstances were different I’d suggest the Brew Continuum, but, you know (motioning about at the ship’s devastation).
The only response was a single raised eyebrow, and it looked as if Kammus might say something but the sound of more crunching metal signaled the entrance of someone else
Corelli: Expecting company?
Greaves: Wasn’t even expecting you.
The pair both turned toward the doorway to find Commodore Kells watching them from the entrance. As soon as their eyes met, Aron offered a small smile.
Kells: (wan) Hello.
Greaves: Good afternoon, sir. It’s good to see you up and about again.
Corelli: Response
Kells: Not at all. I hope I'm not interrupting you. (beat) Just a final look around before
I leave.
It seemed that he wasn’t the only one feeling sentimental at the Thor’s current state. Metal continued to crunch with every step as the Commodore entered the room the rest of the way. There was something in which the way Aron spoke about the Thor which told Wes everything he needed to know. It was a sense of finality.
Corelli: Response
Greaves: The way things are looking, sir, most of us won’t be around to see her sail again.
Aron shook his head.
Kells: No. I know that V'Airu has requested you both, but I'll be on a leave of absence.
(beat) You should take the reassignment. Starfleet needs you both out there.
Wes looked from the Commodore to Corelli, trying to gauge their facial expressions. Corelli was still tough to read most of the time, but the Commodore seemed calm with it all. Almost relieved, like a weight that he’d been carrying for years was gone.
Corelli: Response
Greaves: Not sure it’ll be the same without you in the big chair with us, sir.
The sound of Lieutenant Kel’s voice caught him by surprise as the blue face appeared in the doorway from behind Commodore Kells. He wasn’t sure how long the man had been there, but he’d avoided most of the crunching debris that had fortold the appearance of the previous two officers.
Kel: We'll miss having you aboard Commodore. ::turning to Greaves and Correlli:: Afternoon
Major, Lieutenant.
Greaves: (Nodding politely) Doctor.
Corelli/Kells: Response
Kel: I'm trying to find Ulasso's lost pet, Newton. So far no luck.
V'len worked his way over to the bar and moved behind it scanning with his tricorder.
Greaves: I must have missed the memo about touring the Thor today. Seems there’s a lot
of us with unfinished business.
Corelli/Kells: Response
Kel: Well, if Newt is anything like Ulasso there's a good chance he's at the bottom
of a bottle of Saurian Brandy. (beat) I'm kidding. There is food back here so he could be hiding out back here.
Greaves: Might be worth checking the galley then too if you haven’t already.
Corelli/Kells: Response
The Trilldorian doctor closed the tricorder, apparently not having luck finding the little creature. Wes hoped for Ulasso’s sake that Newt had made it unscathed, but finding him was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, with the Oumuamua’s upcoming refit, they’d be at Earth for some time.
With the Doctor’s search of the area complete, he took a half step back toward the door before turning to the Marine. It occurred to Wes that the man was turning words over in his head before speaking them out loud.
Kel: Major I don't think I've had the opportunity to thank you for getting me off that
Dominion ship. (beat) I really can't thank you enough. I don't think I would have left that corridor without your urging and help.
Their relationship since the crash landing on Okaea had been strained, and the words of thanks caught Wes off guard. With Kel’s heart injury and mechanical replacement, which
the man was obviously still recovering from, Wes hadn’t had a good opportunity to sit down and clear the air. Now he wasn’t exactly sure how to react, and his uncertainty was telegraphed by his body language.
Greaves: Don’t mention it, Lieutenant. I would have done it for anybody. That’s what
we do.
He’d meant the statement to be reassuring. Unfortunately, the words felt flat as they left his mouth.
Corelli/Kells: Response
Greaves: Maybe we can help find Newt?
Corelli/Kells: Responses
Kel: Response
Greaves: Well that narrows it down some. Don’t lizards like heat? What about the fusion generators in the impulse engines? Those are about the only things running still that would generate some warmth for the little guy.
Corelli/Kells/Kel: Responses
Tags/TBC
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Major Wes Greaves
Executive Officer
Marine Detachment Commander
USS Thor - NCC 82607
E239702WG0
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