Joint Log | CO & CMO | Capt. Carpenter & LtCmdr. Rogers | "Interviews"

Posted on 241403.04 @ 6:16pm by Lieutenant Scarlet Rogers MD & Captain Eric Carpenter

Mission: Where no man has gone before.

= Captain's Private Dining Room =

It was one thing selecting his senior staff from hundreds of personnel files, and going by their service jackets. He now needed to make his senior staff... *his* staff. Considerable efficiency and productivity was achieved when the staff got to know one another, and got to know how the others thought.

Eric was a student of the school of thought that said that a good crew was one that got to know one another in a social setting. Military discipline would allow orders to be issued and followed according to rank and position. This crew was heading into deep space, and would be spending months even years together, with luck.

To that end, he was going to have one-on-one meals with each of his senior officers in turn. This would be interesting. He'd already laid down a standing order that he would breakfast with his XO each morning, so as to get the daily brief on the ship's status in a more informal setting than being relieved on the bridge. It would also allow for CO and XO to bond, an important relationship.

However, an even more crucial relationship, in his view anyway, was mending the fences with his CMO. Doctor Rogers was an incredibly frustrating woman, and he needed to work with her, since they were stuck together for a while. He would need to have to trust her, and she him, and they hadn't gotten off to a great start. So, she would be his first guest for dinner. An invite was extended, and she could come in casual dress, or uniform if needs be.

The young doctor had agreed and wore her casual skinny jeans and a sheer blouse tucked into them. She wanted out of uniform for a while, and he did say that she could choose. As she walked to the door she waited for him to answer it.

The steward opened the door for Eric, which was starting to get on his nerves somewhat. He wasn't used to being waited on hand-and-foot, and it was kinda getting annoying. He'd commanded smaller ships, where the CO didn't get a manservant. Eric did however rise from his chair when the good doctor arrived. "Good evening, Doctor." He said, warmly.

"Being that I'm in plain clothes, please call me Scarlet or Rogers," she smiled and walked over to the table stunned by there being a steward.

"Very well... Scarlet." Eric smiled. "You can call me Eric, since we're being informal." He offered her a seat at the dining table. "My steward has been hard at work preparing food for this evening - fresh cooked no less in the galley. I've no idea what it is he's cooked though."

"I've got to admit, it's strange to see a steward on board waiting on a fit and healthy captain," she chuckled, "But thank you for inviting me. Was there something you needed to discuss?"

"I'm still not used to this steward lark myself, but apparently CO's of larger vessels get a steward as well as a yeoman. Who knew?" He said, as he took a seat at the table. "As for discussing, this is an informal get-together so that we can get to know one another. I fear that our first 'meeting' didn't really endear one to the other."

"When I'm in uniform I am a lot stricter than out of uniform. I know as a fact that people will do near enough anything to get out of medical checks. In one way, you could say that it is infact the CMO who has the most power on board a ship, because we can sign people off because of their health, including you sir. I may have taken it too far, but I assure you, I wouldn't drag you to the medical bay even if I was strong enough," she giggled and then smiled trying to read the captains expression.

"Well, I'm pretty sure my Chief of Security might have one or two things to say if you tried to literally 'drag' me off my bridge." He smirked. "And yes, your position holds a considerable level of power and autonomy, as it should be. Some have even remarked that a Chief Medical Officer could be called a 'king-maker'."

"I wouldn't go that far," she smirked and watched as the steward brought food in, "Also, I reckon the chief of security would help because he's more likely to get injured than you, so would like me as an ally." She laughed.

"She." Eric corrected. "Lieutenant Alyssa Lucas is our Chief of Security. I'm sure you'll meet her in good time for her own physical."

"She next on my list due for a medical I think," she looked away for a moment trying to recollect names, "Yes, she is."

The steward brought out the main meal at this point; a lovely plate of roast lamb in jus, served with fresh vegetables and roast potatoes. He followed up with a glass of 2164 Chateau Picard.

"Thank you Steven." Eric said. "A most excellent looking meal."

"Of course sir." PO3 Stevens nodded, and backed away to the side.

"Thank you," Scarlet offered a smile at Stevens and then picked up her knife and fork.

"So, tell me about yourself. You know as well as I do that I've read your service jacket, but that tells me little about the person. I want to get to know you, if you're to be my adversary after all." He chuckled.

"There's not much to say," she grimaced at the question, "No family, no place to call home as such, no fond childhood memories." She then smiled, "I am an open book, if you asked anything nine times out of ten I would answer."

"Alright, here's the million dollar question. Why'd you join Starfleet?" Eric asked.

Scarlet smirked, "I got kicked out of medical school for correcting my lecturers too much. This was my final resort."

"Oh, so you're a know-it-all, are you?" Eric asked, smirking, having already figured that one out himself.

"Nope, I was just sick of getting picked on for being the youngest in my class, so I became the class clown to try and stay above all of that," she smiled, "I have my moments, and I have no issue in saying that I don't know everything. I've grown up since the days of being a student and cadet."

"To become the youngest Lieutenant Commander that I've ever heard of." Eric said. "That's quite an achievement. And Chief Medical Officer of the Enterprise, at your age."

"I'm nothing special," she looked up to the captain, "I just do my job." She cleared her throat and then continued, "Why did you join this organisation."

"Was either this or prison." He said simply. "I had a pretty rough upbringing."

"So we're both troublemakers," she chuckled.

"Haven't been for a while, at least, not in that way." He smiled, and took a bite of his lamb. "I'm a bit of a trickster in combat though."

"I think that's a captain thing," she mused, "My prior captain to here, Vokar, helped me train in combat because I'm not great at that side of being in starfleet. He enjoyed kicking my ass."

"Well, I'm hoping there'll be little cause for our chief medical officer to have to fight in combat." Eric said, smiling. "But if you need any help on that score, feel free to ask."

"I always need help with that, trust me," she nodded, "But anything is possible."

"Well, don't forget your oath. 'First do no harm'." He replied. "We have security people to do the harming."

"I'm fully aware of the oaths I took," she frowned, "But in this company you have to be able to do it."

"You wouldn't be here if you didn't pass your basic side-arm qualifications." Eric pointed out. "As long as you can hit the broad-side of a barn with it, you're pretty good."

"I scraped through it, always do," she chuckled, "I'm like the best doctor ever, because I physically can't harm anyone unless it's an accident." She took another bite of lamb.

"Now there's a boast." He smirked.

"It's a joke, sir," she grinned.

"I rather gathered that." He smiled in reply.

"What were you going to go to prison for if you don't mind me asking," her british accent coming through broadly.

"I was in a gang, in the rough end of London." Eric said. "I was a street enforcer, knocking people about for money. I was caught up in a police raid, and turned evidence on my own gang to save my skin. After that, I couldn't be seen dead in London, not with a price on my head. So I joined the Fleet, and never looked back."

"London is where I am from," she smirked, "I have to admit, but if you're a taddletale... who do you snitch to now you're captain... or did you snitch your way to the top," she teased.

"Oh, I make sure all my tattletaling is done to the admiralty." He replied. "I'm sure they'll be fascinated to know that your hair is all natural, not colored. Although a more detailed report would require to know whether the curtains matched the carpets, but I won't presume to be so forward." He saluted her with his wine-glass, showing her his Londoner roots, and that she hadn't got the better of him.

"Touché," she giggled and raised her own glass clinking it to his, "Sadly, sir, it takes more than one glass of wine for me to reveal that secret."

"I would imagine so." He replied. "Fortunately for you, I hold a very strict no fraternization policy with my crew, so you have little to fear from me. I'm afraid that I will not be trying to find out what secrets you are hiding under that very fetching outfit."

"No fraternising?" she smiled, "then you will lead a very lonely life."

"Command is a very lonely occupation." He countered. "You should read Jean'Luc Picard's book 'The Solitude of Command'. Its a fascinating book, where he explains that his decision to remain aloof from his crew was not a wise decision, but that also he appreciated that a CO who has strong emotional attachments to his people might be less willing to endanger them in a life-or-death calculation. Its a hard balance. I am choosing to foster a degree of comradely between myself and my officers, but absolutely no fraternization. Once there's romance and... physicality... it adds a whole new level of complexity to an already complex and tense structure."

"We are not all the same," she reminded him before finishing up a potato.

"Well, in any case, a holodeck will relieve any... 'tensions' one might suffer from, without causing significant damage to ships discipline and good order." He said, as he munched on a carrot. "Unless you're offering, of course."

"I barely know you, sir," she blushed, "But unlike you, I can separate my head from my heart, therefore I'd prefer more than what you are talking about." She frowned.

"I was teasing you, given that you've been teasing me up until this point." He remarked, as he finished his plate. "Always entertaining when the tables are turned against you."

The doctor stared at him, unsure, "A good captain can multitask."

"And a great one can annoy his chief medical officer who has been flirting with him for the last ten minutes." He grinned back at her. "As I've already stated, I won't be engaging in any... frivolities with women under my command. You have my word on that."

"I apologize," she paused, "Actually, I apologize for not only that, but for the fact I assumed you were straight." She stood up, "If that is all captain."

Eric raised, sighing somewhat that this meeting seemed to have ended almost as bad as their last one. "I shall forgive your impertinence, since you are clearly trying to lash out." He replied. "But I would suggest that if you intend to make a go of this Starfleet thing, that you learn to address superior officers with a tad bit more respect, even in friendly environments."

He sighed again. "Not that it is any of your damn business, Scarlet, but I am actually heterosexual, and my decision to practice abstinence is because I do not wish to have the same reputation as Malone did. Fucking your crew only leaves everyone with a piss poor impression of you. I would hope that my career to date would speak for itself - rather than allowing my penis to lead. "

"You are free to leave." He said, sitting back down, wondering if he was ever going to get off on the right foot with this blasted woman.

"That is your opinion, sir," she hissed, "I hope that a woman will come along and change your mind. No two people are the same, and you seem strong enough to let your guard down." She turned to walk away.

"Only time will tell." He replied, and watched her go.

= End Log =

Captain Eric Carpenter
Commanding Officer
USS Enterprise
NCC-1701-F

&

Dr. Scarlet Rogers
CMO
USS Enterprise