From the Jaws of Defeat.

Posted on 14 Jan 2019 @ 10:24am by Commander Juan Zamora (Dec [CDO]-Jan 2389 - TRSNFR to Gorn Dip.) & Gunnery Sergeant Kyle Walken

Mission: Ka Hakaka Maikaʻi - The Good Fight
Location: XO's office
Timeline: 1154 19 Jan, 2389

Juan sat slumped in his chair, leafing through damage reports, work orders, casualty lists, tactical assessments, the refuse of of combat. PADDS had begun to stack up on the desk's surface, and he was working his way through his third coffee of the morning. He sighed heavily. What a terrible mess. It would have been enough of a headache if they weren't immediately shipping out either. The ship was returning to the front, hopefully the crew was better prepared if they should encounter Gorn resistance again. For now, the ship was still somewhat worse for wear. He was interrupted from his brooding when the door chime sounded. Oh yes! his appointment with the survivor from the Wyoming. He sat up straighter, and tried to clear some space on his desk. "Enter."

Kyle was still adjusting to being back on a Federation ship, he just had to keep his calm when people surprised him. He wasn't expecting to have a meeting with the XO of the Hawaii but he figured it had to be to do with his time on the Gorn ship. He really wasn't looking forward to thinking about what they did to him and the others but it was his duty to answer whatever the Commander asked of him. The doors open once he hears the Commanders voice, he steps inside and places his hands behind his back, "Sergeant Kyle Walken reporting as ordered sir."

"At ease sergeant, take a seat." Juan offered when the marine entered. "I know it is not exactly ordinary for me to summon you to speak like this, but, it is not exactly ordinary how you came to be aboard our ship. In light of that I would like to speak with you about that, and about your future."

Kyle relaxed and took the seat that Commander Zamora offered. He looked across at the man before him trying to get a read on what he meant about his future. "I will answer everything that I can, what do you want to know Commander?"

"To begin with, I want to apologize that it took me this long to meet with you. A battle, it seems, leaves all kinds of loose ends to be dealt with. More to the point, I want to ask you about your decision to join our crew. Are you certain this is what you want to do. We are headed directly back to the front, and you would be well within your rights to take some time in order to recover." Juan replied.

"Well meeting with me should be lower on the list of things to do, you have to have something more important than meeting with a Marine..." He paused for a few moments and thought about it. "Can I be honest? I'm a Marine through and through, fighting is all I know. The wounds I had were nothing compared to the other survivors."

"I appreciate honesty here Mr. Walken." Juan commented. "it can be all too difficult to find sometimes. And I consider the members of my crew to be my first priority, even if other duties compete for my attention. Still, it is good you feel so secure in you decisions, if you are committed then we will be glad of the extra hands. Have you spoken with Counseling yet?"

"Honesty is one thing you can count on me at all times, growing up in a military family teaches you that. Yes, I am committed to continuing my service a few lizards are not going to stop me. No, they would just want me to express my feelings or something, I already know what happened. Talking about it won't change what happened or what I went through. I like to focus on the future." He answered.

"I understand Counseling can be somewhat...tiresome for those of us with certain dispositions, but a psychological evaluation is an important formality to be observed. That and...to try and put it delicately, not all wounds show on the surface. That is certainly not to suggest anything about your ability to serve, but it is important to be aware. I would like you to speak with them, at least in as much as the rules call for. Other than that I want to ask if there is anything I can do to help you get settled in aboard?"

"I will talk to the extent that I have too, but I am telling you I am fine. All I suffered was physical trama...it's the others that will need these talks. They had it worse than me." Kyle mumbled this as he thought back for a second. "I don't have any questions, I assume that my duties would be the same as they have always been. Scratch that, I will need to ask what position am I taking here?"

"I believe you." Juan admitted. "I am simply handling details. That said I am not completely certain what role you will be placed in. That matter falls to Major West, if I had to venture a guess however, I would say that you would most likely be working with one of our special operations teams in one capacity or another. I wish I could help you more, but as I said, the Major will be the one who ultimately decides. If that is all though, you can be dismissed."

"Well then unless you have anything else you need to ask or tell me, I will get out of your hair. Don't need to waste to much of you time with me sir."

"I'd hardly call it a waste at all Mr. Walken." Juan replied.

Kyle nods as he stands up to leave the room, "Well maybe I will see you around Commander."