The galley of the LCR
Courage was a cramped affair. Barely three tables and thrice as many chairs packed in to a small room with two entrances. In one corner sat an old and barely-used jukebox, and in the opposite corner a slightly walled-off area contained the cooking space. It was here that a six-armed COO droid was hard at work making food.
Or rather,
burning food. Nicknamed ‘Charr’ by the crew, the antiquated droid (which dated back from the Republic) was busy over-cooking the night’s meat main course. At his side, the ship’s Chief Engineer, Xela Fendar, was trying to fix him as he worked. She often did this in her off-duty time, but thus far no amount of tinkering had corrected Charr’s programming.
Meanwhile, best friends Dev Mishima and Kol Yandeer (Coms/Sensor Chief and Chief Gunner, respectively) were playing cards at one of the tables. As their Sabacc game went on, they munched loudly on a stack of crackers, practically the only thing on board that was not burnt.
Sat in a corner on his own, the ship’s new Chief Medical Officer, Dr Padrin Praan, sat alone and depressed. Other’s avoided the surly Arkanian.
A final group of people, numbering four, sat at the final table. Mostly male humans, they were led (and indeed, dominated) in their conversation by the ship’s tough female helmsman, Ysanne Samasl.
It was then that Farnish Quinn, the ship’s Second Officer, walked in to the room and surveyed everyone there. He glanced about for a place to sit, and in so doing, the commander of the ship’s third watch caught the eye of chatty Dev Mishima.
“Hey, Farnish!” Called the man from Ord Mantell. “Come and join us,” He beckoned, pulling out a chair.
Quinn sat down. “Thanks Dev,” He said. “You look awful by the way.”
“So do you,” Retorted Mishima, playing another card. His friend and opponent, Kol, was too focused on the game to engage in conversation. “I think we are all feeling it. I mean, it was tough enough around here with Eosel calling the shots, but now...”
Farnish nodded in agreement. Vagen Eosel, the Executive Officer, had pushed the crew hard, but now that their new captain, Pherik Zail, had arrived, things had gone from bad to worse. “I think the new boss is just worried about this whole shakedown cruise thing. He has to be under a lot of stress.”
“
He’s under stress!” Echoed Dev. “I cracked one joke on his first day, and he’s been on my case ever since. He just doesn’t appreciate my fine wit and repartee! Granted I keep provoking him,” He added with a cheeky grin, “But he’s now threatening to demote me to the second watch!”
“How terrible for you,” Said Quinn with no sympathy.
“Anyway, we’ve all come here to relax a bit,” Continued Mishima. “Deal you in?” He offered, gesturing to the deck of cards.
“Oh no,” Said Farnish. “I don’t gamble. I’m not rich enough.”
“No one on this ship wants to engage in a friendly game of sabacc!” Lamented Dev. “As ever, Kol, it’s just you and me.”
“Ask the new Doc to play,” Suggested his friend, straightening his uniform for the tenth time in as many minutes. Kol Yandeer loved the Navy, and treated any symbol of his allegiance with pride.
“What, Praan?” Asked Mishima rhetorically. “He’s in no mood to play. I hear he came aboard and met with the Captain, demanding a transfer to a bigger and, quote, ‘more important ship’.”
“How did the boss take that?” Asked Farnish, curious.
“How do you think?” Replied Dev. “He snapped the Doc back in line with some cutting comments, then ejected him from his office like a chastened school boy. I tell you, our new Captain demands total obedience, and woe-betide any who don’t give it to him.”
At the next table, Ysanne Samasl, who frequently engaged in verbal sparring with Mishima, leaned over and interjected. “Well I like the new captain,” She said. “The man has drive, dedication. He has a plan, and I think we’ll do well under him.”
“Oh you are kidding!” Said Mishima. “Look, he’s a no-personality career Navy man. He’s heading up the ladder of command, and sees all of us as rungs on that ladder. And let me tell you, he’s not afraid to step on us to reach the top!”
“Careful, Dev,” Said Ysanne. “Talk like that and you’ll be out the airlock!”
“Talk?” Echoed the Coms Chief with a grin. “Oh no! I would rather make my point a different way!”
And on cue, Kol leaned over and tapped a button on the nearby jukebox, setting up a nice beat for his friend. Mishima then stood on the table, took a deep breath, and began singing!
“We’ve created a monster
‘Cause nobody wants to see our XO no more
We want Zail, Easol’s old news
But if we want Zail then we’ve all been fools
A Captain who simply views us all as tools!
So let’s drink-up, celebrate the new boss quicker
Than taking my last trip to the medical ship
To get me measured up for a cybernetic liver,
Or a plastic surgery new face to make the tech girls quiver!
So let’s now stop with all the speculating
Cause our new captain’s here and he’s calculating
A load new ways to improve our ship
While I just plan to give him lip!
So the Captain just won’t let me be
Or let me be me
So let me see
He threatened to take away my sensor duty
But the bridge would be so empty without me!
So the LCR
Courage, a floating joke
A crew of hapless non-coms, most of whom are broke
But let’s go, to our shakedown cruise fiasco
Will we survive? I DON’T THINK SO!
But this is still the life for me
Serving the Navy and being witty
‘Cause we need a little repartee
And the bridge would be so empty without me!
I said that this is still the life for me
Serving the Navy and being witty
‘Cause we need a little repartee
And the bridge would be so empty without me!
The crew, a bunch of misfits it’s true
First watch, second watch, the grave shift too
And so our captain has nothing to do
Except fail, make reports, and blame all of you!
A visionary, and yet I’m wary
He may be good but he’s so damn scary!
From the Core, so let me roar and say
Zail’s the model of an officer from Palpatine’s day!
But he’s here, na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Come to take charge and he’s gonna
Revamp us, lead the way to victory
Despite his lack of personality
Not interesting, and so we’re all protesting
His lack of progress despite the time he’s investing!
(Testing! Attention please!)
Feel the tension as soon as someone mentions me
Since I’m having trouble with Captain Z
But I guess that’s just the way it has to be!
But this is still the life for me
Serving the Navy and being witty
‘Cause we need a little repartee
And the bridge would be so empty without me!
I said that this is still the life for me
Serving the Navy and being witty
‘Cause we need a little repartee
And the bridge would be so empty without me!
Order this, order that, he wants it done
Our jobs have suddenly lost all their fun
Hey Kol, he’ll lean on you most of all
Get the weapons workin’ right or you’re in for a fall!
And Ysanne, though you look like a man
Impress the Captain fast or a change he’ll demand
Xela Fendar, you’ve got a good heart, but it’s gone too far
No-one can fix Charr!
And the rest of you
Go find something to do
Look busy instead of lacking a clue
‘Cause Captain Zail’s next inspection is due
And he’ll mark you down for unpolished shoes!
But sometimes, guys, it does seem
That we’re barely working as a team
We do well keeping the deckplates clean
Yet Captain Zail still treats us mean!
And while he not’s first CO of the
CourageHe is the first one to get discouraged
By the fact we’re not the VE’s best
Even I twice failed the entrance test!
(HEY!)
Here’s a concept that works
Our stuck-up leaders are a bunch of jerks
But no matter how many come down on me
I still won’t transfer to the SFC!
For this is still the life for me
Serving the Navy and being witty
‘Cause we need a little repartee
And the bridge would be so empty without me!
I said that this is still the life for me
Serving the Navy and being witty
‘Cause we need a little repartee
And the bridge would be so empty without me!”
Despite themselves, people began clapping and cheering the song, for Dev Mishima was nothing if not a talented and charismatic showman. However, just as the final chorus was coming to a close, he noticed the faces of the assembled crewmen turn from amusement to horror, as eyes shifted from him to something just past the singing Com Officer.
Kol Yandeer tapped the jukebox to shut off the music, and Dev ceased singing. The room was suddenly deadly silent.
“He’s right behind me, isn’t he?” Asked Mishima.
Dev turned around, and found himself staring at Captain Zail.
“Oh frak.”
-----
Mere minutes later, Dev Mishima was sat in the Captain’s office, feeling very small and vulnerable as his CO quietly stared at him across his desk. Zail had not spoken in a full minute, and Mishima thought that the silence was deafening.
At last, the commander of the
Courage spoke.
“You have quite the voice, Mr Mishima,” He said at last, his voice betraying none of the anger that most men would be feeling in his position.
“Th-thank you, sir,” Mumbled Dev. His normal bravado was gone now, vanished without an audience. Now, alone, he felt truly scared. The old Empire had been known to execute men for less inflammatory remarks than he had made. Captain Zail would not do that though, would he?
“You look nervous, Petty Officer,” Continued the Alderaanian CO. “Relax. You are not here to suffer my wrath.”
“I... I’m not?” Asked Mishima, surprise evident in his voice.
“You were in the mess hall, off duty,” Said Zail. “And even if you weren’t, I can tell the difference between a tongue-in-cheek rhyme and a mutiny. I am not stupid, nor am I given to over-reaction.”
Feeling the colour return to his face, Dev spoke again. “Okay. Then... er...”
“Why are you here?” Asked the Captain rhetorically. “Simple. You are popular, Mr Mishima. Even the crewmen that dislike you tend to listen to you. You could be an asset to my command.”
Dev thought he was beginning to understand. “You want me to use my silver tongue to sing your praises to the rest of the crew, is that it?” He asked, seeing a cunning side to his CO that he had not noticed before.
“In a sense,” Said Zail, “Actually, I want you to sing
their praises. The points you raised in your little ballad are valid ones. There is far too little actual teamwork on this vessel, and that needs to change. I make no apologies for pushing you all so hard, for this is no game. If we go into battle without teamwork, without being a solid and unified crew, then all sixteen of us will become bits of debris floating through the void. I intend to avoid that fate. Do you?”
“Yes, sir,” Answered Mishima honestly.
“Excellent,” Said the Captain. “Then from now on, kindly use your words to encourage your fellows, not belittle them.”
“I’ll try, sir,” Said Dev.
“Now get out of here,” Said Zail darkly, “Before I remember you calling your leaders a bunch of jerks.”
“Yes, sir!” Said the Coms Chief, rising from his seat and making for the door. “Right away!”
And with that he was gone, leaving his Captain alone.
This ship is going to see action soon, thought Pherik Zail,
we had better be ready for it.
- OOC:
- 2037 words. Yeah, I went there.
After Action Report: In the mess hall of the Courage, Dev Mishima sings a song for the amusement of the crew (including my new NPC, Second Officer Farnish Quinn), lamenting how bad they and their captain are. At the end of the performance, Captain Zail enters, and drags the Coms Chief to a private chat. There, rather than yell at the fool, Pherik asks for Mishima’s help in promoting teamwork, which he feels they will need for the challenges ahead. Mishima vows to help.