*** Captains ready Room * USS Chimera *** Shane looked at Rangi and told her: "Rangi, could you please summon Ens. Carpenter here?" He looked around himself in the little Captain's ready room and went over to the large desk to look inside the drawer. "Ofcourse" she replied wondering why Shane wanted the AMO .She opened a communication channel." Summers to Dr Carpenter.....Mercedes?..please come to the captains ready room immediately." Rangi turned to Shane. "May I ask?...why do you need to see her?" Shane smiled at Rangi and pulled a blue velvet box out of the drawer. "My dear Rangi, you write excellent reports about the good ensign, her work is more then very well and you ask why do I summon her here?" He kissed her forehead and took a step back, "You will have the honour please, but please play the game when she comes" Rangi took the small box, smiling down at it and planning the surprise for the unsuspecting AMO. She raised her eyes to Shane."Oh yes! " she said with a hint of mischief in her voice." I can do that." "I'll be right there," Mercedes replied. That was strange... why would Rangi ask her to come to the General's ready room? Maybe she wanted to discuss her report on Kinsi and needed Mercedes to help with some details. Putting down the book she'd been reading, Mercedes quickly glanced in the mirror to make sure that her uniform was on straight and then headed off. Shane looked at Rangi and getting a slight nod from her he replicated an orange juice and a cup of tea. The tea was of course for him, the juice for the teal dressed LtCmdr. He motioned Rangi to sit on one of the two chairs in front of the desk and sat himself in behind the desk. He tapped several buttons on his console, but said nothing. Rangi took her seat and made herself comfortable.She placed the glass of juice directly in front of her and sitting up straight, waited for the Ensigns arrival. After a few seconds, she looked at the glass, picked it up, took a drink and replaced it in its former place.She adopted a serious expression. The turbolift arrived on the Bridge and Mercedes stepped out. She nodded to an officer as she passed him on her way to the ready room. Standing in front of the door, she pressed the chime to announce her presence. "Come in" Shane said and tried to put a serious facial expression as well. He knew from his own experience that a sudden summoning to the CO's office with two serious looking senior officers inside could turn one's stomach VERY easily. As Mercedes walked inside the little ready room he nodded to her greeting and replied: "Ensign, please take a seat" and motioned her to take the other chair, next to Rangi. Knowing Mercedes could see her from the corner of her eye, Rangi maintained an icy expression.She waited just a little too long to have the AMO feel at ease. Pointedly looking at Shane she asked him."Do I have your permission Sir?" and when he nodded she gave Mercedes a cool stare."Ensign.I hope you're aware of the reason for your being summoned here?" Mercedes sat down in the chair and looked at the CMO and XO. Rangi was not her usual self, and Mercedes suddenly felt a bit paranoid. "No, ma'am, I'm not sure..." What was going on? Rangi sighed slowly."Ensign...surely your performance during the recent events in sickbay are more than enough reason.You were in charge of sickbay 2 were you not?" "Yes, ma'am," Mercedes replied hesitantly. "I was." Rangis expression implied that Mercedes was missing a point somewhere. She looked at Shane and back to the AMO."Commander Guzman has decided....." Rangi said, as though it might be beneath him if Shane should speak for himself "...that it was entirely unfitting for an ensign to take on the responsibility that you did. I AM ofcousre referring to the use of Moriathol?" "Moriathol?" Mercedes said, a bit confused. "I never used moriathol, ma'am. None of the patients required it, and it would certainly have been dangerous had I used it on an hallucinating patient." For a moment, Mercedes doubted herself. Had she really used moriathol? Perhaps she'd been so tired that she accidentally used it without remembering. Shane looked at Rangi gladly that she took the right way. He took a PADD from the pile on the desk and pretended to look into it. "Ensign, its not just the use of that medicament. I have here dozens of reports about your performance. But before I do any judgements, I would like to hear your opinion about your own performance in the sickbay." Rangi repositioned her glass a fraction of an inch to the right and seemed to wait patiently for Mercedes to reply. She couldnt look at Shane, knowing that if she did, she would spoil this 'fun' and smile. Mercedes sighed. "I admit I was under strain and quite tired while I was working in the triage Sickbay, but I made sure that I took the right care with each patient and doubled checked with the assisting medic that I gave the right medication and the right dosage. I don't even remember taking moriathol down to Sickbay 2." Rangi raised her eyebrows in surprise and stood up. She glanced at Shane and gave him a meaningful look. "That wont do at all" she said to Mercedes " Not...at...all. Please come to attention doctor." As Mercedes stood to attention, Shane stood up from his chair and went slowly over to the ensign. He looked in her pretty face and said seriously: "Ensign Carpenter, I have no other choice then remove your rank of Ensign. Your actions in the sickbay proved that this rank isnt suitable for you anymore." He looked over at Rangi and said: "Commander, please change the rank on her collar". Yes,all this perfomace was a bit 'hard' but Shane hoped that the joy later will be satisfaction enough for Mercedes. Mercedes wished the ground would swallow her up. She at least thought she'd make it past Ensign before commiting some act that warranted a demotion, but she never thought she'd get busted down to Cadet for doing something she didn't even remember. And wasn't she supposed to have a trial first if the cause was malpractice? She probably could've objected, but instead just stood there, her heart sinking into her boots. Rangi removed the original ensignia from Mercedes collar with near surgical precision. She turned and set it on the desk behind her."Stand properly to attention in the XOs prsence!" she said, then wondered if she'd gone too far. Mercedes felt the words cut into her, but didn't flinch. She made a mental note to be more vigilant next time... and not to get too close to her Department Head. It's not nice to have someone you've grown to call a friend demoting you. "The rank of ensign is totally inappropriate for you doctor." Rangi paused for maximum effect and opened the velvet box she had hidden in her hand.She lifted out a hollow pip and attaching it to Mercedes collar said "It's with the greatest pleasure that I promote you to the rank of Lt Jg and confer all the priviledges and responsibilities that rank holds. Well done Mercedes." she ended and smiled widely, turning to Shane to see his reaction. Finally Shane could smile as well and his face was covered now with a wide smile. "Congratulations Lieutenant" he said, "the reports I spoke about were very well praising your work in the sickbay and I am very glad that you are among our crew. I trust that you wont take this the wrong way and will invite us to the party you surely will be holding soon." Mercedes couldn't believe it. A promotion?! "I thought I was getting demoted!" she said out loud, so relieved that she couldn't help herself. Clearing her throat, she regained her composure and saluted. "Thank you sir, ma'am. It's an honour to be a member of this crew." Rangi smiled at the AMO's pleasure."You're an asset to sickbay Mercedes and I'm very proud to have you in my team." Shane smiled at both women and for a moment thought about his own promotion to LtJg long time ago. "And I am glad to have you both. Lieutenant" he said to Mercedes, "just continue the way you are going now, do your best as medical doctor and all the crew will be proud to have you on board. Congratulations again" Mercedes smiled at Shane. "Thank you, sir." "That will be all...Lieutenant." Rangi said. "Dismissed." She watched Mercedes walk to the door. Mercedes grinned and nodded at Rangi. She'd just gotten her first official order as a Lieutenant. Turning around, she walked towards the door and waited for it to open. Only a second passed since the door opened ... a second in which Athena confirmed that the person walking out was the fresh backed Lieutenant. With obvious pleasure, she aimed a small pink-ish pie and threw it exactly in Mercedes's face. 'Sqatch!' Rangis hand came to her mouth as she gasped in surprise. "Shane!" she exclaimed turning to him and laughed in delight. Mercedes gasped. She couldn't see a thing and all she heard was the sound of people laughing and clapping hands. She should've known this would happen... after all, she threw a pie in the XO's face a few months before. It was only fair she get her turn. Wiping her eyes, she peered through the mush at Athena. "Mmmm, strawberry," she smiled, licking her finger. "My favourite!" *** End Log *** Commander Shane Guzman Executive Officer USS Chimera & LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera & Ltjg Mercedes Carpenter AMO USS Chimera