Just Rewards

Posted on 01 Feb 2015 @ 1:34am by Lieutenant JG Grayson Jones & Commander Scarlet Blake

623 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Starbase 84: Blake's Temporary Office
Timeline: MD 06: 1500

ON:

Scarlet had been surprisingly busy since arriving at the starbase. They might be closing down for shoreleave, but there were an awful lot of things to tie up before they did. Still, she worked with a spring in her step knowing how close they were to a good, long break.

Grayson had been going over his own schedule for a personal hit list of repairs and minor upgrades he wanted to take back to Galileo when the ship was released back to the crew. He had no real plans to go anywhere and found completing his own projects rather satisfying and therapeutic. For whatever reason he was being called to his XO's temporary office, he also saw it as an opportunity to discuss some of these projects while waiting around for his CO. He hadn't looked hard yet, but he had only finished the list that lunchtime.

Getting to the door, he pressed the chime and waited.

"Come in," Scarlet called out, looking up to him with a small smile, motioning with her hand for him to take a seat. "Thank you for coming, how are you, Jones?"

Taking a seat, Grayson replied with a relaxed, "Well, Sir. Thank you? Yourself?"

"Good, thank you," she said with a surprised smile at the greeting, not used to having the enquiry returned. "How do you feel things have been going for you? In work, I mean."

"Getting settled in well, I think. Assistant Chief is a bit of a different beast than I thought. You are taking on some more responsibility, a bit more of the management while toeing the line that your still one of the grease monkeys and on all the other engineer's sides." Grayson drew a breath while he pondered some particularly challenging moments. "You want to be there for the crew and stand up to them at the same time. A finer point I am beginning to understand and run with."

"Well, we're impressed with your efforts, so much so..." she assured with a soft smile, moving to him and offering a small box across that held the new pip. "So much so....Ensign Jones, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. Congratulations."

Grayson was stunned. He managed to stutter out some kind of response, "Why-wh-y thank you," and before forgetting, adding a, "Sir."

She chuckled at the belayed 'sir', shaking her head softly as she watched him with honest eyes. "No thanking me. You earned it on merit, you deserve it."

"And I hope to continue proving it."

"I'm sure you will. You wouldn't be on the Galileo if you weren't capable of it," Scarlet shook her head, watching him with a sparkle in her eye. She enjoyed this part of the job, not just the actual promotion side of thing, but helping career development. It mattered these days, with so many wanting the chance and privilege of serving.

"Thank you again." Grayson now started to feel uncomfortable, he now had so much to do, but did not want to seem rude or abrupt. "Without sounding too rude or disrespectful, it would seem I now have a lot more on my plate, with much less time to do so." He smiled, allowing the joy and pride he felt once again return to the glow in his face.

Scarlet just chuckled, shaking her head before waving a hand at the door. "Go then. Start earning your next one...."

"That I shall!" With that, Grayson turned and went to leave, taking all his pride and hopes for the future with him.

OFF:

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

&

Lieutenant JG Grayson Jones
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

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