Shiny So Shiny...

Posted on 24 Apr 2016 @ 5:39am by Lieutenant JG Catherine Cooper

2,018 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Armory
Timeline: MD 6

Lt. Jg Catherine "Ciege Engine" Cooper had a dissembled phaser rife in front her. A magnifying eyepiece over one eye as she bent to cleaning some small piece. Her dark, brown here tied back in a ponytail out of way.
She was working on a table with basic tools used in personal weapon maintenance. Weapons in locked cabinets lined the walls with a few lockers for misc. but related items.

Singing softly to herself, for she often had a song in her mind and often on her lips:

We'll drink together
And if we drink we'll drink together, not alone
We'll drink together
And when we drink we'll drink together, not alone
All for one and one for all

We'll drink together
And when we drink we'll drink together, not alone
All for one and one for all
We'll drink together
And when we drink we'll drink together, not alone

(she blew air at a piece of dust from a part and reassembled smartly that component then check to make sure it worked, all the while singing softly)

We'll sing together
And when we sing we'll sing together, not alone
We'll sing together
And when we sing we'll sing together, not alone
All for one and one for all

We'll sing together
And when we sing we'll sing together, not alone
All for one and one for all
We'll sing together
And when we sing we'll sing together, not alone

We'll fight together

(She began reassembling the rest of the phaser rifle, smartly but in no real hurry, pausing here and there to tinker with some piece or another)

And when we fight we'll fight together, not alone
We'll fight together
And when we fight we'll fight together, not alone
All for one and one for all

We'll fight together
And when we fight we'll fight together, not alone
All for one and one for all
We'll fight together
And when we fight we'll fight together, not alone


We'll fall together
And if we fall we'll fall together, not alone
We'll fall together
And if we fall we'll fall together, not alone
All for one and one for all

We'll fall together
And if we fall we'll fall together, not alone
All for one and one for all
We'll fall together
And if we fall we'll fall together, not alone....."

OOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-EXfyd8L9Y

Christian had been following the 'melodious' tune that led him to the Armory. As luck would have it; he was on his way there anyhow. He saw the female and heard her singing. He lingered briefly before starting to whistle 'Hi Ho. Hi Ho' from 'Snow White'.
"You've got quite a voice. Lt" he smiled. "I'm the new Master at Arms; Lt (jg) Christian Alexander. Glad to meet you" he said, extending a hand to her.

She stopped singing and smiled as his face registered in her mental files. "Right you're the new weapons monkey, hope you don't mind sharing. I used to be an Arms Goddess never lost the desire to tinker." She extended her hand (the one without the mini welder)."Nice to meet you. Lt Jg Catherine Cooper Deputy Sheriff in these here parts.." She joked.

Christian shook Catherine's hand. "Arms Goddess, huh? No lack of confidence I see" he smiled, "I don't mind sharing. Especially not with a Goddess" he teased her.

"You are wise and please the Goddess, you may share the space of shinys if you wish..." She jokingly said putting on the fake air of someone faking being pompous. She gestured to a nearby spot and sat down to finish her work, "So how are you finding the Black Hawk? Compass? Both hands and a flashlight or just ok?" She asked putting the rifle together correctly without looking at him, looking at him instead.

Christian was a tad confused by her jargon. "Oh it's a phaser rifle in both hands" he smiled, praying that she would understand. And if she didn't; he have fun 'explaining' it to her.

CJ laughed, "Now there's a mental image for the holonovels, glad you like it." Hoping she translated his words properly. She'd been a Master at Arms so knew the rough attitude and jargon. He seemed to fit with his duty assignment pretty well, "I've only been on board a few weeks myself, people are still settling but its a good crew, especially once we rebuild the trust that was lost. You been briefed yet on recent events? Wouldn't want to step in Pantha Poodoo..." She said finishing her assembling of the phaser rifle and checked it, "Oh and you're a pretty one for sure..." She muttered to the weapon before carefully putting it in its place.

Christian smiled at CJ. "I wouldn't say I'm pretty. Handsome and debonair maybe. Now you; on the hand" he whistled a fox call. "You're awfully good and certainly well qualified to share Hades with me" he chuckled.

Cat laughed, "I was talking to the rifle, not to poke your manly ego..." She let the compliments roll over her being used to people who flirted like they breathed and didn't take it seriously. Pilots were the worst but weapon monkeys weren't far off. "So about that briefing do you know about the recent events and the like?" She asked, sitting on the table cross legged and picking up a PADD.

"Well maybe you should stroke 'his' barrel. Maybe he'll 'discharge' for ya" Christian laughed. He wasn't expecting a woman to just fall to her knees in front of him.

If rolling eyes could have a sound Coopers would have hit high decibels. "Please Focus. Debrief on the Consortium, had you had one?" Her voice this time held a just a hint of command voice, trying to shepherd him on task but not unkindly. A challenge she understood and tried to learn from her own past.

Christian really didn't know what to make of Lt(jg) Cooper. He decided to go about his job and started taking a detailed inventory of the Armory. He headed to the back and picked a corner

Christian blinked at Cooper briefly then put his PADD down in an attempt to answer her. "No I'm sorry. I haven't been briefed yet. Would you be so kind; Lt, as to brief me while I get the Armory back up to snuff?" he said, trying to keep his calm.

Cooper nodded, "Of course, Sorry. If I run off topic just tell me I sometimes still have problems with that.." She rubbed her eyes. She took a deep breath, she could tell Alexander was getting that same look some officers wore when she was overly hyper active, like they didn't quite know how to respond or what to reply too. She mentally tried to slow herself down, "Point is the Consortium are an evil, huge operation that has no problem with brainwashing to make its point." She explained carefully about the their past, things the Consortium had done and about how most of the fleet in this quadrant was under the control of the Consortium. How they lost one of their two main bases with Deep Space 11 fell. And about how she'd had to fight on the USS Bull Run to regain control there and they had to do the same here, one of the traitors being the former Chief of Security. "So we've a bit of a rough time..." She said still mentally focusing on her own thoughts, "The Chief and I are working on a training plan to hopefully regain some of the trust we lost, as Master At Arms, we'd like your opinion on those." Since a part of Master At Arms job was to train Security personnel. "You'll find that and all other needed information in a welcome packet in your quarters. Anyway part of the reason I was waiting here was to help you with an inventory. The Chief would like us to make sure there's no extra gifts left behind by the former Chief." She said.

Christian listened to Cooper as she debriefed him on the current situation. "That's a lot to take in" he said. "As MAA, it's my responsibility to oversee the training of Security personnel and the maintenance of all weapons and ordinances" he said. "Enlighten me please, chief"

"Mini Chief..." She smiled, "We could be awhile, why don't I start over there and I'll try to explain..." She started at the other end of the room with the inventory and as they worked she filled him in on the need to knows. Who was a traitors, steps they've taken to be safe, the overall status of True Starfleet in the quadrant, she tried to keep it clear and to the basics but it was alot to toss at someone. At one point she found a burned out isolinear chip in one of the recharge stations, replaced it and continued working. Her energy finally having a place to go. "It's alot to take in I know just ask me or the Chief if you're not sure which way is up..."

"Thanks 'mini chief'. I'll keep doing what I'm doing; which was kind of what you already doing....... performing maintenance and upkeep on the Armory and trying to bring this dept back where it needs to be" he said.

"It's a good plan.." she agreed, "I kinda miss just tinkering with the weapons here." She patted one like one would pet a a newly born puppy. "I could never get into the TR-116 though, while interesting bit of a cowards weapon for anything beyond big bad sniping, you've a favorite?" She asked conversationally as she continued to check her part of the inventory.

Christian picked up an isomagnetic disintegrator. "I've always had a liking for these. They get the job done and let everyone know not to mess with you; at least while you're still conscious" he laughed. He hoped maybe that would put them both at ease.

She considered it, a shoulder mounted weapon it packed a punch usually used against atmospheric craft. "It does the job at that, for ship use though I'm fond of the phaser, flash/bang combo. Distract then stun..." She smiled at a memory, "One one I actually had a bow in my pocket left over from some holiday party so after I stunned some intruders I put it on the senior enemy's head. My Chief at the time said it was unprofessional but I could tell he was trying not to be amused..." She said as a part of her mind went over her plans for harp lessons. Thinking about other things didn't mean she wasn't paying close attention, it helped her to slow down and interact more normally an old trick she learned as a child.

Christian listened to the strange tales of his boss. He was starting to like her; even with her quirkiness. "A type II or type III phaser is always a good foundation for offense or defense, Lt. Or should I call you Catherine or Cooper?" he asked; unsure of what she wanted to be called.

"No doubt and in a pinch they make great grenades, though strictly speaking you're not supposed to blow up your weapon...the paperwork is horrendous..." She said like she had experience in that and was annoyed by it. "And Lt. is fine for duty based, Coop or Cooper for everyday wear..." She smiled over as she went through another set of weapons, replacing worn parts as she went. "We'll meet at some point to go over training protocols with the Chief, gotta make sure we're covering all the bases..."

"That we do, Lt. That we do" Christian said as he returned to his inspection and inventory of the Armory. He was beginning to like Cooper.

Pleased the new guy actually knew his stuff and seemed ok once you got to know him a bit, Cooper did something rare. She let him have the last word as they worked in companionable and happy silence in that most sacred and awesome of places.

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