PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION - METCALF
 

While waiting for final clearance to board the still under construction Chronos, Lt. Cmdr. Metcalf has occupied himself having dinner with his colleagues aboard the drydock facilities.  As he is eating, he gets a bleep over his combadge.

[Talt] %Communicator% "Lt. Cmdr. Metcalf?  This is Lieutenant Talt.  I've been
assigned as the ship's counselor for the Chronos.  An-nd I was wondering, if you get an opportunity anytime soon - could I see you in my office?  At your convenience, of course."

*Talt's voice is a low alto and she sounds a little distracted.*

Greg tapped his badge, nearly spilling his drink in the process.

[Metcalf] "Sure thing Counselor. Say, some of us are at the officers mess getting aquatinted, could you care to join us?"

[Talt] %Communicator% “You know, right now that’s getting to be real tempting . . but I’m afraid that I really must pass tonight.  Maybe tomorrow?  Anyway, do you think that maybe sometime tomorrow, you could drop by my office for a little bit?  I’d really appreciate it.”

* At the drydock, Talt and Metcalf set up an appointment time for 1000 hours the next day. *

* At the 10:00, Metcalf comes to Talt’s office aboard the Chronos and rings the door-chime. *

[Talt] * from inside * “Come in.”

* Metcalf enters the room. *

::Lieutenant Talt looks up, a momentary look of distraction clouding her gray eyes.  With a quick shake of her head, she focuses on the young man before her.  A smile warms her face.::

[Talt] “ Lieutenant, just the man I was hoping to see.  I had a favor to ask of you as Chief Security Officer.  But first . . .”

:: Lt. Talt turns away before Metcalf can respond and starts rooting around on her makeshift desk.  A quick survey of her office paints quite a picture.  There are a number of various sized packing crates stacked up in the corner of the office.  Some of them are half-open and spilling out a wide variety of items.  Datapads, antiques, holo-cubes and a large number of brightly colored fabric somethings drape over the crates. ::

:: Lt. Talt's desk is likewise cluttered and jumbled with things teetering dangerously near the desk edge.  Among the datapads and scarves on her desk, Lieutenant Metcalf can spot a Klingon D'K Tahg, a small metal flute, a stuffed doll, a miniature of an Excalibur class starship, two silver enameled plates, a copper and silver necklace with a large tear-dropped shaped pendant, a small fern in clay pot, three small books, and a small statue of a wooden horse.  There are a number of other items too obscured by the general clutter to make out. ::

[Talt] “Where are they?  Where are they?”

:: Lieutenant Talt mutters to herself as she searches through the clutter.  Her actions disturb the jumble and several items drop off her desk onto the gray carpeted floor.  Mirifice glances briefly at the fallen junk, shrugs, and continues with her search.  After a few seconds, she finds what she’s looking for and turns back to Lieutenant Metcalf.  Proudly displayed in her hands is a medium blue sized plate holding 6 large cookies. ::

[Talt] “Would you like a cookie, Lieutenant?  I replicated them from my own recipe.”

:: Lieutenant Talt smiles up at Metcalf cheerfully. ::

[Metcalf] *Greg returns her smile. *"Why, thank you. I would love one."

:: Lieutenant Talt waits until Metcalf helps himself to a cookie and then replaces the plate on her desk, this time upsetting nothing.  Then she leans back and rests her hip against the desk’s edge.  She crosses her arms casually and looks up at Metcalf. ::

[Talt]  “Well, Lieutenant, I’m in a bit of a quandary here and was hoping that you could help me out.  This is my first shipboard assignment.  And the first assignment where I might . . . be actually in the field.  Now, it’s not that I don’t think I can handle it.  I’m sure I can.  Bu-ut, if we become involved in any confrontations.  Well, to put it bluntly, I haven’t had any self-defense courses since the Academy and I don’t want to be a hindrance to the other members of any team I’m on.  Do you think you could help me brush up a little on some minor hand-to-hand techniques.  Maybe suggest a phaser course or two?  I don’t even know what I should be studying.”

:: Talt looks at Metcalf with a little self-embarrassment and a lot of sincerity in her gaze. ::

:: Greg munched contentedly on the cookie, his gaze taking in the mess upon the desk. ::
 
[Metcalf] "Well, if you really want, I could set you up with a regime. I recommend mostly defense styles, but if you wish to learn offensive ones, I'll show you those as well."

:: He took another bite, crumbs scattering across the front of his uniform. Talt was pretty sure it was a size too big, but refrained from saying anything. ::

[Metcalf] "As for the phaser training, we could start that later on this afternoon.  This ship actually has a holodeck. Impressive, huh?" :: He smiled and popped the last of the cookie into his mouth. :: "That was really delicious." :: he said, wiping his  hands on his pants. ::  "Now then.. What would you like to know Counselor?"

:: Talt looks momentarily confused. ::

[Talt] “Know?  Why, Lieutenant, I wanted to know if you would teach some combat techniques - just like I said.”

:: Talt looks down at her feet, smiling. ::

[Talt] “You’re probably right about primarily defensive techniques.  I’m not sure that Starfleet would want us engaging in overtly aggressive behavior in the course of our missions.  After all, Sun Tzu said ‘Now the reason the enlightened prince and the
ise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.’  I’m pretty good at foreknowledge.  I guess I just wanted to be a little forearmed as well.”

:: Talt will look up with a grin and meet Metcalf’s eyes. ::

[Metcalf] ::Greg stood up. :: "Well then, I'll see to it that you are given a schedule of exercises in both hand to hand and advanced weaponry." :: he frowned. :: "And while I'm at it, I think you will also learn the staff, the sword and perhaps the dagger."

:: Greg extended his hand. :: "Thanks for the cookie Counselor, I look forward to seeing you in the Holodeck."

:: Talt straightened up, and walked over to the Lieutenant, smiling brightly.  She grasped Metcalf’s hand and shook it firmly. ::

[Talt] “Terrific.  Thanks so much for your help, Lieutenant Metcalf.  I’m really looking forward to working up a sweat with you too.”

:: Talt then blushed, her eyes got comically large and she raised her hand to her cheek.::

[Talt] “Oh, MY.  That sounded like a pick-up line, which is not what I meant at all.  Excuse me, Lieutenant.  I guess even counselors are subject to Freudian slips.  I’m sorry!”

:: Talt began to laugh at herself again.::

[Metcalf] :: Greg's smiled slipped a little. :: "Umm.. Yeah.. sure thing. I suppose they do."
:: He reached up and tugged at his uniform top, which was at least one size too big. ::
"Until then, Counselor."

[Metcalf] ::left the Counselors quarters, then headed up to the main bridge.  Along the way, he replayed their short conversation in his mind. :: ~~If that was a preliminary interview, it was one of the strangest ones I've ever been through. ~~

:: The turbolift doors hissed open, and he wandered over to the Tactical station, and began an inventory of their weapons status. ::

~~ Good luck, Mr. Mitchell. ~~