===== Captain's ready room, USS Chimera ===== Shane was sitting in the large chair behind the desk in Bretam's ready room. On the desk were several PADDs lying on a small pile ... one PADD in Shane's hands. He was leaning in the chair and fully focused on the PADD. It might have look like Shane felt confortable in this room and that he felt confortable in Bretam's position ... But the oposite was the truth. The Captain's ready room was Bretam's office. Every detail of the interier remainded him on the general. It was like the door could open any minute and Bretam would step inside ... wondering why is his XO sitting on his chair. This room was somehow very alike the ship. Shane WAS in charge of the ship, everyone accepted that fact and noone even tried not to accept Shane's orders. But Shane felt that the only true Captain for the crew was general Bretam. When someone spoke about the CO .... it was of course Bretam, when some wanted the CO's decission ... he wanted BRETAM's decission. Trying to forget such thoughts, Shane put the PADD he was holding aside and took an another one. It was a report from Athena regarding their 'guests'. Shane learned that things were running more or less smoothly till now. Athena, Rangi and her department, Acheson and science ... all those did their best to protect and entertain the kids. Shane was glad and thankfull to all them ... he was a bit afraid that noone will be villing to take care of teh kids ... but it seemed that his concerns were false for this time. Shane reread the last paragraph again. When finished, he grinned a bit and thought about the food battle in the mess hall. Athena's report told about a minor food skirmish that was quickly cleaned and did no harm to the guests or the mess hall itself. Knowing Athena, Shane was quite sure that the 'skirmish' must have been quite a 'battle' ... with bits of food flying all over the room. Shane smiled to himself as he read about the simulated battle Acheson was providing for the kids. He could very well imagine how some kids might have enjoyed it. Every small lad dramed about beeing a ship's Captain ... preferably in an glorious battle. And there you go ... there WAS a glorious battle with ship's waiting for their Captains. {Good work} he thought. Noticing the kid's roster attacjed to teh report, Shane scrolled it up and down three times, trying to remember at least some names and the short characteristic marks that Athena provided for each name. He saw that there was quite a variety in age and personalities, from a introvert little boy to an flirting teenage girl. {hope he will be SOON at Tetris} he thought. {Hmmmmm .... winter ball} he thought reading about Athena's suggestion. She seemed to be quite eager for the ball personally {hmm ... i wonder if she has found someone 'interesting' to invite ...}. Shane was not directly a culture hapenings freek ... but the thought of an nice ball with Rangi lightened his eyes. He was not too happy about the little remark that night dresses and dress uniforms were required ... but a ball was no carneval ... and a 'green slime costyme' wouldnt be too fitting for such an happening. The idea for the kids party was very nice. Shane was a bit surprised about the fact that most of the officers on board the ship had no kids by themselves and still they showed a great ability to find ways how to take care and even entertain children. Shane was a man and a woman's boyfriend so ke knew his danger. When a woman spends some time with sweet little kids ... she might get WEIRD ideas about having a child by herself. And that was point the boyfriend/husband/lover was involved. Shane was VERY sure that some of the male officers on baord WONT be very happy in a short time ... and could only hope that it wouldnt include him as well. ===== End of log ===== Cmdr. Shane Guzman XO/ACO USS Chimera