A Chin Wag

Posted on Wed Nov 16th, 2016 @ 10:14am by Colonel Jason "Jack" Frost
Edited on on Wed Nov 16th, 2016 @ 10:14am

1,087 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: New Faces and Terror Beyond
Location: Ten Forward

I was sat in Ten Forward enjoying a drink before turning in for the night, we were due to arrive in orbit in the morning and I'd been flat out in Engineering making sure everything was replicated, supplied or otherwise made available to the other departments that were going to the surface. In one day I'd used up a weeks worth of energy in matter replication alone, that made an interesting footnote in my report to the Captain.

I'll admit I was a little surprised at the things I was being asked to supply, especially from the marine section as it seemed like they were gearing for a war. Medical was an entirely different complication, self powered emergency back up supply stasis units for medical transportation. Mobile biobeds, furniture, additional consoles, displays and electronics and nearly two dozen portable power generators. Everything needed to operate and power a make shift hospital.

Jack and Sam had just finished with the last of the marine prep, troop selections had already been made and they were already in thier cots early and as for the rest of them Jack felt a little downtime as a reward for the effort of the rest wouldn't hurt. Together they walked into Ten Forward initially to talk about tomorrow and any last minute details. "So when am I going to meet this Annabelle?"

"Why, so you can steal her from me?" Samantha joked as she walked beside Jack into Ten Forward.

"Steal, perish the thought, I just want to meet the woman thats kept the 'Iron Maiden' so distracted." Jack answered as he saw James solo at a table. "James over there, shall we?"

"Sure, it's a crime to drink alone." Samantha replied.

Jack walked over to James who appeared to be star gazing out of the viewport. "Not interrupting are we?"

I turned to see who owned the voice, initially I thought they were speaking to the table beside or behind me but I turned my head anyway. Thats when I saw Colonel Frost and Major Snyder standing there looking at me. I stood up after placing my drink on the table. "No sirs, not at all, please."

"Please, just Jack." I let Sam slip past me to the chair then I sat down in the other.

"Samantha."

One thing had been a little nag to me with the Colonel, so I thought I'd ask. "Jack, but I understand you are Jason though, can I ask why?"

"You can." Jack replied and left it at that, brave, few people would call him Jason.

Ohhhhhhh.... "Just Jack, people live longer that way."

Seemed like I'd put my foot in the wrong place and it got messy. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude."

"It's alright James, don't fret about it, just Jack will be fine." Jack spoke but quickly followed with. "I hope our material needs didn't overwork your teams, I know it was alot we asked for?"

"Not at all, most of our time was spent on medical needs anyway because of the complexity of the stasis units, while we assembled the units we completed what you needed." I answered as I sipped my drink.

Sam waved over a waiter. "Vodka martini, dirty."

Jack gave Sam a quizing look. "Dirty, you.....what have you gotten yourself into girl?" I'd ordered an Old Fashioned myself.

"Can't a lady have her secrets?" Sam defended. The drinks appeared very quickly, perk of only a few people in the room.

I smiled. "Everyone has secrets, it's the price that comes later that bites us in the ass."

"She didn't complain."

Jack choked on his drink in shock dribbling some down his chin. "Excuse me....?"

"Something the matter dear?" Sam leant over and wiped Jack's chin with her finger and thumb.

I had to admit that was funny. I chuckled as I sipped my drink hoping to avoid spilling it myself. "I really do miss the real stuff, perk of being single is I can drink when I want and not have to worry about waking someone up when I get home."

Jack smiled. "I wake people up all the time, but being a Colonel does have the advantage of getting away with it."

"I'll remember that when I'm a General and you are working for me." Sam joked amused.

Jack laughed. "Keep dreaming sweetheart, I have less of a ways to go than you."

"What about you Samantha?" I asked.

"Oh, probably sleeping by now." Sam spoke.

Jack felt the need to step in, Samantha was a private woman that much he knew she wanted to take the light of the subject off her and onto him. "Has Zan come to you yet about anything he needs James?"

"Only a few things, little things really to accommodate what he is transporting but nothing like what you have asked for, or medical for that matter." I answered then finished my drink.

Xavier walked in to Ten Forward after making sure the last of the stasis units had been securely loaded into the shuttles. Considering how delicate these things were he wanted to make sure they got from point A to point B intact and operations. He was surprised to see Jack, Samantha and James sitting at a table, he wondered what he was missing.

Samantha noticed Xavier. "Doctor, please, why don't you join us for a drink?"

Xavier smiled and accepted the invitation as soon as his ordered drink was handed to him. "Not interrupting anything I hope?"

"Not at all Doctor, not at all." Jack answered pushing a chair out with his foot.

"Ready for tomorrow Doctor?" I asked.

"I am yes, nearly half my staff are heading down to the surface, we have medical supplies to last a while since we don't know exactly what to expect down there but I believe we are ready as can be expected given the circumstances." Xavier spoke considering the amount of effort that went into preparations.

"Still now Chief Medical Officer though, what's with that?" Jack asked. "Didn't the new Captain bring one with him?"

"Been wondering that myself." Samantha added.

"He didn't, I had hoped he would but sadly not." Xavier spoke still slightly bitter about the incident with Ayla.

"You didn't take it?" Jack asked.

"Not sure I'm ready yet, keeping my options open." Xavier replied.

"Always a good idea to have options." I replied finishing my drink. "Well, I better turn in, early morning start. Goodnight."

"Night." Xavier said.

"Goodnight." Samantha replied.

"See ya." Jack finished.

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