===== Main Bridge, USS Chimera ===== SHane noded to the NCO behind the Ops console and waving at Storok, he left the bridge. It was getting quite late, but Shane was determined to have a look at the new weapons that Nejor hopefully got from the stations magazine. Entering the turbo lift he said: "Main Armoury" Rob grinned to himself as he thought over the clever 'aquisition' of the missing weapons. {{CO's son-in-law? Right!!!}} he walked the length of the room for the thirty third time in the last hour and sighed.He yawned and leaned back against the wall wondering when they would be leaving the base. He was bored. Shane exited the turbo list and headed straight towards the armoury. Compared to Aurora, the Chimera wa a tiny little ship and so he found it relatively easy to remember the ship's layount. Walking through the corridor, he passed several green uniformed marines ... a thing that Shane was still not used to. To have marines instead of yellow shirted Security guys was still quite unusual for him. Rob leant the phaser rifle against the wall and gave another yawn.{{One hundred and two crates}} he thought eyeing the stacked supplies and stretching stiff muscles.He sighed and leaned back against the wall again, his thoughts turning to Athena and her red dress. He heard someone enter the code to the armoury room door and in an instant had grabbed the rifle and held it at the ready. He tapped the intercom and "State your name rank and business here" Shane frowned as he recognized the voice. He was very well aware of Rob Richards beeing on the ship and of his new position as well. Shane was not keen to meet him, there was nothing he wanted to tell him, but he did not hide. If his duty brought him in Rob's way, Shane was determined to face it. "Here is Lieutenant Shane Guzman, I am about to inspect the armoury" he stated. {{Oh GREAT!!}} Rob thought,his mouth drawn in a tight line of disapproval{{A visit from the XO!}} he tapped the entry code said "Enter when ready Sir" and stood with the rifle raised ready to fire until he recognised the officer. Standing smartly to attention he stared at the serial number on a crate opposite him at eye level. "Sir" he said as Shane walked in. Shane entered the room and looked around himself. He noticed Rob stading to his left with his weapon ready to shoot. For a second the thought of Rob shooting him went through his head, but Shane pushed it away with all his will. {no ... to many withnesses are here ...} he thought. Behind Rob there were two more marines standing with riffles ready to shoot, but they lowered them as they recognized the XO. Shane turned back to Rob and said: "Lieutenant, I can here for an inspection of the weapons supplies. What's teh status of the armoury?" He kept his voice in an neutral tone, as it would be not Rob Richard he was talking to. Rob stood rigidly to attention his eyes only moving to follow the XO as he walked in."Sir. The armoury is fully stocked." he replied looking straight at the crate as Shane turned to face him. Shane looked at Rob quite surprised and suspicious. He met Rob by various encounters back on Aurora, but he was never that professional ... almost kind. That was something that made Shane to think about. Sure, three months since their last meeting was a long time ... but still ... it was ROB RICHARDS. Shane noded: "Thank you Lt. I would like to visually inspect some of the crates" "Sir" replied Rob stepping forward and lowering the weapon."Which would you like to inspect?" He gave Shane a cool look and indicated rows of crates. "Type 111a's here.." he stepped aside and pointed to other rows "Type 111 b's there." {{Pick the highest box why dont you?}} he thought though his expression remained unchanged. More and more Shane felt that Rob's politness was only played. HE would very like to know what was the man thinking right now. But no way ... Shane was no telephat, so he would never know. Shane looked at the 'b's' row and pointed at the 3rd crate from the top. PLease that one" He stepped back and watched Rob motioning to the two other marines to get the box on the floor and to open it. The three marines began to lift down crates.It took a few minutes and quite a bit of effort.At last they stood aside."Third crate from the top...Sir!" Rob said. {{Now what are you going to do with it?...ask us to put it back?}} Shane noded to Rob. "Please open the crate" he said. The other two marines used their tools to open the crate. Shane leaned a bit forward to see inside the crate. It was full of brand new Type IIIb phaser rifles. Shane took one and and visualy examined it. He noticed that the energy cell was empty and asked: "All the energy cells are empty for this weapons?" The fact that he had to retain a proffessional demeanor was beginning to wear a bit thin.He could not forget the last meeting they had had, and the fact that Shane, he was certain, had been trying to start a fight. Neither did he forget Rangi falling to the floor in a dead faint and the fact that it was Guzman who she had turned to as she came round."Ofcourse Sir...The emergency weapons...ready for use...are over here." Shane put the rifle back to the crate and and walked slowly to the emergency weapon rack. It was fully stocked with phasers. Hand phasers, rifles ... all kind of what a federation ship has to offer. He looked over it and said: "Very well, now please show me where you have stored photon grenades Lt." Shane know not why, but je shivered in the presence of Rob ... maybe was he feeling what he thought? Rob felt as though he was undergoing some kind of test.To remain subservient to this man was growing more difficult by the minute.He didnt answer but walked a few paces and indicated smaller crates.he turned to face the XO "Want to see these as well?" Shane noticed Rob getting a bit angry or uneasy ... he could not say. Again he was surprised about his behaviour and wanted to know how he will react. He noded: "yes, please open them for me too. Then i need the inventory PADD and would like to ask you to count the grenades in the crate" Rob stiffened at the last request {{Count them?...he wants me to COUNT them?}} "Sir" he spoke the word as though it might poison him.Giving Shane a look to melt lead, he bent to the nearest crate and levered off the top. Shane taped Rob on his shoulder. "I meant your man to count the grenades Lt. I am sure they will handle it. I would like to ask you few questions, could we move a bit along and leve this two gentleman to do their work please?" Shane asked politely. He didnt inteded to start a flame war betwenn them two again. As far he will stay out of Rangi's way ... Shane had little problems with him. Rob straightened up. "Pete? would you like to 'count' the grenades for Lt Guzman?" he walked past Shane towards the opposite end of the room."What do you want?" he asked turning to face him. The two man stood now face to face, looking inside each other's eyes. The green uniformed Marine 1LT Rob Richards and the red uniformed SF LT. Shane Guzman ... two different man, two different ways how to percept the world, two different ways how to make a woman happy. It would be now easy for SHane to use his rank and make Rob the hell on earth from his duty ... and well, Shane felt a bit tempted ... but he resisted and said with a calm tone: "I would like to ask you how do you do in your new position and what do you think about the ODAs?" A slight frown passed across Robs face "My new position is fine...everythings fine...what do you really want to know?" Shane frowned for a second: "Lt. you are the assistand ODA commander, upon Major's Nejor absence you will lead the ODAs and have the position of the CSEC. I want to know if you see any problems in the cooperation between the marines and the SF crew and if you see any problems in accepting my authority as the XO?" "I forsee no problems..." his expression was hard as he stared at shane "....between the crew." Shane noded and quietly asked: "And between us two Lt?". SHane's stare was hard and cold as well. He knew Rob a bit and he knew he is a hard nut ... and the last thing Shane could need would be an highranking officer disobeying his orders. Robs eyes bored into Shanes."You think I'll disobey a senior officer?" he grinned as though this amused him mightily."No chance....between us two?..well that depends...on you i think. Shane beamed a cold smile at Rob: "If you wont cross Rangi's way ... I think I will play the cute XO. Will you?" he asked, not allowing him to look away. "Rangi and i have things to discuss.Its our business.It concerns no-one else." "Wrong Lt. Rangi is my gorlfriend and whatever concers her, concers me as well. And especially you Lt. If she will once, only once tell me that you threated her bad, then ... then, you would wish you would stay that day in your bed ... . Do you understand me Lt?" SHane asked whispering to Rob. Shane's eyes forcused on Rob's face ... he trid to guess how he will react. "You can threaten me all you want.." he smiled at the thought of pasteing the XO to the floor.."But i WILL see rangi. I have something to say to her...to tell her..and with, or without your...permission. I WILL see her." Shane shook his head ... "I havent said that you should not speak to her or to see her. But you WONT frighten her or make her to feel down. You can trust me, i will make sure of it, even if i had to assign her a bodyguard. You almost lost your assigment not so long ago ... and if you will make one more mistake ... I will gladly hand your transfer to the Captain. Think about it Lt. " Rob could never work out how or why he controlled the almost overwhelming desire that flooded through him to strike out at the XO there and then. Perhaps it was the fact that he knew Shane wanted to have an excuse to fight back? perhaps the thought of a transfer/ perhaps it was Athena and all she had said to him.Perhaps it was all three. Whatever the reason, he remained stock still and stared at shane in total silence. SHane was still staring at Rob too and opened his mouth to say something when from behind Rob was an explosion to see and a lound sound of crackling and breaking was to hear. Both man were smashed to the ground by the comming shockwave ... ===== End of log ===== LT. Shane Guzman Executive Officer USS Chimera & 1LT Rob Richards (NPC played by Rangi) Asst. ODA Comander USS Chimera