Confrontations

Posted on 14 Jan 2013 @ 10:12pm by Command Master Chief Markum Quinn
Edited on on 15 Jan 2013 @ 12:32am

1,208 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo - Somewhere...
Timeline: MD 16 0430

[ON]

Jeremy left Medical, satisfied that Smoak would be released soon and with only a single day loss of duty. The others were willing to help cover shifts as necessary so that also made life easier.

Jeremy considered stopping by the mess hall to grab something to eat when he looked up and saw the CoB coming down the hall. He stopped, waiting for the older, infirmed man to pass.

Quinn was starving, and already irate that the crewman 2nd Class blew him off for their appointment. That was the worse of his problems so far, or so he thought until he eyed Stone walking towards him from the opposite direct. The old sailor tightened his jawbone and continued forward until he was facing the brat that was his current bane.

"If it isn't Junior Grade Lieutenant Stone. Have you had any direct orders overturned recently...sir?"

Jeremy scowled at the older man. "You fail to define parameters for 'recently'," he answered. "Although, I will caution you, your tone and comportment are bordering on insubordination and will only lead to further action." He took a half step forward. "However, what else would I expect from a a man whose idea of integrity failed to develop past primary school."

Jeremy moved his hands behind his back, openly glaring now. "You somehow feel you are entitled to some sort of surliness, however, as I've already stated, you are not so entitled where I'm concerned."

Quinn's stern face gave way to a slim grin. "Well then, Junior Grade Lieutenant, sir...It is a good thing that I answer directly to the one person that has complete authority on this ship, sir. As far as surliness, you got that wrong, sir. I'm just grumpy. You however, have a famous biliousness about you, especially towards the enlisted aboard...sir. And, as far as primary school goes, I may have lost my integrity there, but at least my education didn't stop there, sir. I hold a Master's Degree in Propulsion Dynamics, and my doctorate will soon be completed in Quantum Warp Dynamics, sir. Do you know what that is, Junior Grade Lieutenant, sir?"

"A long winded way of saying doctorates aren't worth lining the Primate cage at the Brooklyn Zoo?" Jeremy said. "Or that you're so vapid and hollow you think people are impressed by 'achievements' because you have nothing else to offer?" Jeremy nodded. "However, Commander Holliday is still inside Medical, in case you wanted to run to him to solve your 'junior grade lieutenant' problems again? Because for all your bluster, you're really nothing more than an overglorified petty officer. Some achievement you've made."

Quinn took a step until he was nose to nose with Stone. "Sonny, anyone can fire a phaser or press a button to launch torpedoes. But it takes intelligence to step into a engineering compartment and actually have to fix something. If your launchers get broken, it's an engineer that fixes it. If the engines fall offline, it's an engineer that has to fix it. If the shields go down, once again, it's an engineer that fixes it. I have ran two vessels as a Chief Engineer, so don't come over here, with your bad boy attitude, I've have to be tough mentality. You're nothing more than a spoiled brat in need of a proper spanking, and if those pips weren't on your collar, boy, you'd already have it. So don't threaten me with insubordination and all that bullshit, because a day in the brig and a week relieved of duty is about the worse I'll get for it. Over glorified petty officer my ass. I saved this ship on the last mission, and you know what I got for it?" Quinn held up his prosthetic limb, "This. I lost my arm doing an overglorified petty officer job, as the Chief Engineer. Besides, I have held the hand of more dying enlisted that were ten times the man you are. When was the last time you had to do sacrifice something that didn't involve your ego, sir? You may be an officer, but down deep, you're nothing more than a bully with a big mouth....sir."

"Here's the truth of everything, isn't Petty Officer Quinn?" Jeremy asked, glaring back, waiting for just the slightest provocation to give him solid justification. He already had it but he wanted more. He wanted...blood. "Bragging about all your great accomplishments wasn't good enough, now you fall back to what you really are...nothing more than a cheap thug whose mouth is passing checks his ass can't cash. I'm supposed to be impressed with your pedigree and when I'm not, I'm supposed to be threatened by this show of machismo? As if this was something new?"

Jeremy laughed, spitefully, in Quinn's face. "And arm? This is the extent of your 'sacrifice'? Seems to me, you been doing your job, Petty Officer, then perhaps the systems on Galileo wouldn't have failed. Not the shields, not the weapons systems and certainly not the engines. Where's your bravado in that, Petty Officer?" Jeremy asked, winding up, ready to release aggression. "Why don't you go give your pretty speech about 'sacrfice' to Mister Pawlek in the kitchen. I'm sure he'll find it fascinating. I'm sure he'll give you the entitled sympathy you think you're owed. Considering his brother was killed in this little mission you're so fond of tossing about. How many others are damaged and suffering because your failures for this ship? How much will Lieutenant Cho have to suffer because you thought it would be fun to screw up by playing at a game you can't even begin to understand?"

Jeremy's face hardened. "I don't need to tell you of my sacrifices, Petty Officer, because you're not worth my time and I wouldn't want to destroy your petty illusions about how tough you think you are. Now, get out of my face or suffer the consequences, you petty, vindictive little boy playing at being a man. I'd rather you didn't though, because it would be my genuine pleasure to show you just how little my job involves pushing buttons."

Quinn chuckled out loud. "Sure kid. I have whiskers older than you, but okay. You were almost intimidating...sir. Almost." Quinn turned his back to Stone. "Better luck next time, sir."

Jeremy watched Quinn leaving, vastly disappointed but not surprised. He knew too many of his types, what he learned to think of as 'door monkeys'. Big, blustery and willing to let their mouths run when it was okay to do so - such as behind a security field - but the moment that safety net was taken away, they failed the courage of their convictions. He took a deep breath, as he turned the other direction, determined to take another route to the bridge.

But, he knew this wouldn't be over with Quinn. His type only talked tough with a safety net, otherwise they tried to go to end runs, backstabbing, sniping. Jeremy almost smiled. In other words, what Jeremy's life had been for the last ten years.



[OFF]

LTjg Jeremy Stone
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Master Chief Petty Officer Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo

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