Some of my new characters have names that pay tribute to some of my favorite sci-fi actors and characters. I made up a first name for Larraq in the absence of any other info. If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know.

Part 2

Grial had a look of shock on her face. Crais saw that she wasn't going to take control of the situation, so he decided there was no time like the present to assert his authority. "ATTENTION!" At this all activity stopped as everyone popped to attention. To her embarrassment Grial found herself at attention as well. She tried to relax inconspicuously. Crais noticed and added this to his assessment of her. He clasped his hands behind his back and began walking in between them, appraising each. "Who is in charge here?" he asked gruffly.

"I am, sir," said a middle-aged sergeant.

Crais moved to stand in front of him. "You are?"

"Sgt. Keldon, sir."

"Very well, Corporal Keldon," Crais paused to let his last statement sink in. Keldon began to open his mouth. "If you wish it to be Private Keldon, by all means correct me." Keldon closed his mouth. "What exactly is going on here, Corporal?"

"The men were relieving some tension, sir."

"Relieving tension. I see. And the betting? I assume that has some therapeutic value as well?"

"Well, sir, you see...umm..."

"Yes, I do see. If you will turn the credits are turned over to me, I will see that they are put to good use." He moved out in front of everyone. "I am Officer Crais. I am taking over Delta cannon. We are going to do things my way, now. My way includes order and discipline. I believe all of you have an understanding of what discipline means now. Corporal Keldon, is there anyone missing?"

"Yes, sir. Senior Sergeant Tibbons and Technician Aragon went to the quartermaster for parts."

"I assume there is work around here that can be accomplished without those parts?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then I suggest you get to work." Crais turned to return to the control room. Grial didn't know what else to do so she followed. Corporal Keldon began handing out work assignments.

Once they were in the control room, Grial found her voice. "I like the way you handled that. Very forceful."



Crais looked at her with contempt in his eyes, "Any competent officer should have no problem handling that type of situation. Of course any competent officer would have instilled enough discipline in the division that this would never have happened in the first place."

"What are you saying?" she looked at him aghast.

"I think you know what I am implying. I don't think I will need your assistance anymore. I'll wait for Sgt. Tibbons to return. Dismissed, Officer Grial."

She had a shocked look on her face when she turned to leave. She didn't notice Sgt. Tibbons and Technician Aragon and ran right into Aragon, knocking the box of parts out of his arms. Tibbons watched her walk down the passageway and mumbled, "If she wasn't an officer," before stooping to help Aragon.

When they walked into the control room Crais said, "Senior Sergeant Tibbons, I presume."

"Yes, sir. How may I help you?"

"I'm Officer Crais, new Delta mount gunnery officer."

Tibbons smiled, "Good to have you here, sir. I assume you were responsible for Officer Grail's...abrupt departure."

"I was."

"I think we'll get along well, sir. Excuse me," he turned to Aragon, "Get those parts in there and help with repairs." He turned back to Crais, "Sorry about that, sir. Aragon's a good tech and all, he just needs a little prodding at this point. I guess I should orient you to what we do."

"Before we get started Sgt, I had to discipline the men in your absence." Crais then explained what happened. Tibbons agreed that Keldon deserved his punishment. Tibbons then spent the next four arns showing Crais around the gunnery spaces. At the end of that time Crais felt he had a pretty good grasp of what was expected of him. Sgt. Tibbons was glad to have a superior that would allow him to run things his way and wasn't afraid to discipline the men. Crais was confident they would be able to turn the division around in short order. "Sgt, if you are such a supporter of discipline, why have things deteriorated so much."

"Well, sir, they are a pretty good group, but I'm only one man. I can't keep an eye on them all the time, and as you saw, Officer Grial is next to useless. With some good discipline and leadership, I think we'll be good competition for Bravo cannon."



"I think you may be right, Sgt. If you'll excuse me it is time for the evening meal." Crais got up and cleaned himself up before evening meal. He didn't see Officer Farkis so he sat in the nearest empty seat. He was left alone throughout dinner. Afterwards he decided to go to his quarters and go through the ship's regulations before joining the others in the officer's lounge. He wanted to make sure the others were there before him. Besides, it was always wise to learn each ship's regulations as soon as possible. After about an arn he proceeded to the lounge. He figured the others would be there by now. He entered the lounge, stopped just inside the doorway and looked around. Officer Farkis had seated himself so he could see the door and waved Crais over. "Bialar, I was beginning to think that you wouldn't make it."

"I had some work to do before I came up."

"Yeah, you've got your work cut out for you. Fial Furlan, Alpha cannon." He stood and extended his hand. Crais grasped it and returned the handshake. Crais noticed Furlan, while a little shorter than average, had a firm grip.

"All right Fial, give him a couple of days before you pick on him. Bialar Crais, this is Kieran Larraq, Bravo cannon, and Sian Gelta, frag cannon. I believe you saw his feet earlier. As you can probably imagine Grial won't be joining us. Which reminds me, I heard you cut her down a notch today?"

"I guess I did. Though I daresay she deserved it." Crais related the story. By the time he finished they were all laughing so hard no one saw Lt. Garrix enter.

She walked over to their table, "I came to see if Officer Crais was adjusting, but I gather from the mirth here that you are getting along well?"

It was Farkis who answered, "Yes, sir. I think we will all get along fine. Buy, you a drink Lt?"

"Thanks, guys. I appreciate that. Perhaps you can tell me what was so funny?" Crais told the story again. Even though they had heard it once, the others still laughed. "I shouldn't laugh at one of my officers, but I wish I could have seen the look on her face when you dismissed her. I think you're off to a good start Crais. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me," she got up and left.

Larraq looked at Crais, "Well, Bialar, looks like you've made a good first impression with the Lt."

They hung out in the officers lounge for about an arn afterwards. Crais found that the others in the gunnery department seemed to be a competent group. Despite all the teasing there was a sense of camaraderie. They were more than happy to tell stories about Grial's shortcomings. He found out that she had been promoted under the previous Gunnery Officer. It seems he had an eye for her. Lt. Garrix had only been here for a little over a monen and was compiling information to get Grial fired. That was why Grial had been assigned Delta cannon. It had been hoped that the stress of managing two cannons would let here incompetence shine through. Unfortunately, she was luckier than anyone had suspected.

Crais excused himself and as he was getting up and Farkis said slyly, "Good luck at your interview with the Lt. tomorrow."



"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, come on. Don't tell me you didn't see how she looked at you? We all saw it didn't we?" The others all agreed. Farkis smiled at Crais.

Crais sat back down, "Your joking with me."

"Not at all. Just wait until tomorrow." Farkis still had that annoying smile on his face.

Crais had the perfect reply, "I can't see how that would be bad." He returned the smile, got up and left. This reply caused another roaring round of laughter. When he returned to his quarters he thought about what Farkis had said. Thinking back on it he did remember Lt. Garrix giving him an appraising and approving look. Could they have been correct? They had spent more time around her and would know her better. Crais found himself drifting off to sleep thinking about tomorrow's interview.