"I asked him about Ganner. Seems just before he left Ganner paid him a visit with a badly pulled muscle and when he did his nightly check of pharmaceuticals two packs of Blarnoch went missing. He was not certain enough about it being Ganner but said a few days before Ganner had asked about Blarnoch being used on nonhuman species. He had had three others in that day with muscular problems. Blarnoch is the most used medication on that ship."
"He's all mine." It was the quiet; the far too quiet and controlled way Kirk had said those three words that had Spock and McCoy look at one other. As he slowly he reached out towards his communications unit Kirk had not seen Spock get off the bed but stopped reaching forward when he felt a long-fingered hand briefly laid on his shoulder.
"Jim."
"I am okay, Spock." He flicked the switch, "Kirk to Bridge."
"Bridge here, Captain." It was Sulu.
"Could you please come down to Briefing Room One ready to deal with some questions, Mister Chekov will man the conn till you return."
"Yes, Sir,"
"Thank you. Kirk out."
"Jim," Both McCoy and Spock knew Kirk too well, knew his calmness covered the actions he was planning and looked at each other. They knew they would follow their friend's lead.
"Spock, I want you in uniform and out of sight. Sulu will help you make room in the storage closet across from the door to here and set up a small one way transmitter. When Ganner comes as soon as I say 'I have my First Officer in mind' you will walk in."
McCoy smiled, "You are setting a trap, aren't you?"
Sulu arrived and was pleased to help, "Good to see you up and about, Mister Spock."
"It is good to be up and about, Mister Sulu and I am pleased to see that you have some acumen for making such small audio transmitters."
"You were a great tutor."
For a moment Spock looked at the young man and then remembered twice showing him how to make them from an assortment of pieces. "Thank you but you are the one who learned quickly."
"I'm coming out now. Let me know if you hear me." Kirk was deliberately whispering knowing if they could hear him whisper they would clearly hear them talking.
When Kirk came out he could tell that the transmitter had worked well from how both men nodded.
"When you return to the bridge please send down our guest. You may tell him it is about the First Officer's role."
Spock had no sooner stepped into the storage room across from the briefing room when Ganner walked along the corridor, paused outside the door to adjust his uniform, and walked in.
"You wanted to see me, Captain?"
"Yes but before we continue I will inform you that this meeting is being recorded."
"Most appointments are, Sir. You have decided on a First Officer."
"Yes. Now I have a question for you,"
"I am sure that I am more than qualified to answer any quest,"
"What do you know about Blarnoch?"
McCoy had to hide his smile and he saw how Kirk looked sideways at him for a moment as Garrner seemed stunned by the queston.
"Blarnoch, Sir?"
"Yes, Blarnoch. What do you know about it?"
"I, I am not sure what Blarnoch has to do with the First Officer position, Sir?"
"It has to do with the position as it shows that my First Officer is able to answer any question this Captain may ask, or at least inform this Captain that they will find out and notify me. My First Officer is able do that."
"With all due respect, Sir, you are comparing those seeking the position to the standards set by your pervious First Officer, a Vulcan. You cannot seriously expect a Human to,"
"What I expect, Officer Ganner, is for my First Officer to be able to answer my questions. Now, what do you know about Blarnoch?"
"I believe that it is a medication for muscular injuries, Sir."
McCoy had to look away as he saw that look flicker across Kirk's face, the trap was set, "You believe it is? That is not sufficient information."
"I know it is a medication for muscular injuries administered intramuscularly. I know this as I have had personal experience with it as a patient."
"That's better." Kirk grinned at Ganner who immediately seemed relieved and a bit more relaxed
"And what do you see as the role of the First Officer on this ship with regard to the crew and myself."
"Any First Officer's primary role is to be ready to stand in for the Captain at any time, to have the information the Captain required, and to ensure the crew know their places and roles."
"Know their places and roles, I like that." Garner all but glowed with pride and Kirk looked at McCoy, "Don't you, Doctor McCoy?"
"Oh yes." McCoy saw how Kirk kept looking at him and McCoy looked at Ganner, "But how should the First Officer relate to the rest of the crew and how should he expect them to relate to him."
"A very good question, Doctor McCoy. Officer Ganner, how would you, as First Officer on this ship relate to the rest of the crew and how would you expect them to relate to you?"
"With respect and with keeping strictly within the boundaries of that role. I would expect the crew to respect me and my position and to remember that I am the one just one heartbeat away from being the captain."
In the closet Spock was hearing everything and from both Kirk's and McCoy's voices could tell they were getting ready for Ganner to make that one mistake. He only hoped that McCoy would be able to control Jim should Ganner's reply do what human's say and strike a nerve.
"If you were in another situation like we were just in and you were First Officer would you expect a crewman to risk their life to save you?"
"If that crewman was a Security Officer of course as that is their role."
"But if that crewman was an officer skilled in other areas but was a part of that landing party."
"Sir, I would expect any officer not of a senior rank to be willing to risk their life for an officer of senior rank."
"Now, let me get this right as it is an important part of my First Officer. Should we encounter another situation like what we just experienced you, as First Officer, would expect Mister Sulu to risk his life to save you."
"Of course as I would be the senior ranking officer."
"Would you not put your life at risk, as my First Officer, to ensure the safety of all crewmen who were part of your landing party?"
"As your First Officer I would know where all those on a landing party were."
"Did you know that on this last occasion? Did you know where all the officers were down there?"
For the first time there was a hint of uncertainty about Ganner yet he looked at Kirk, "Yes, I was aware where all the officers were down there."
"All?"
"That is what I said, Sir. I knew where all the officers were."
"Did you observe how Mister Spock acted in that situation?"
"Yes, Sir. It was tragic yet fitting that he gave his life trying to save a fellow officer." McCoy looked at Kirk and saw the slow nod that Ganner would not notice. The man had no idea that that fellow officer had been the one who saved Spock.
"Would you be willing to do that same? Give your life for a fellow officer."
There was a long pause. "That, Sir, would depend on the situation and the other officer. I would have to know all the details of the situation before I could answer that question. I believe you would find any human First Officer would want to know all the details before they acted. Mister Spock was, no doubt, an exceptional First Officer but you have to remember he was Vulcan and without feeling or emotion. His action of going to save a fellow officer was based strictly on the reverence Vulcans have for life and not on the details of the situation. When you choose who you would like appointed as your First Officer I hope you kept that in mind."
"That I did. When making my decision I thought long and hard about what sort of officer I would want at my side when I face what I face out there. I thought of the skills, that abilities, and the meaning of the rank." Kirk saw Ganner nodding and how McCoy had crossed his arms and was slowly rocking on his heels. "I also thought of the character of the person that I wanted beside me as I faced the unknown, of the utmost faith and trust I would have to have in that person. I had to think of who would care about the standards of the Federation, the regulations of Starfleet, the safety of the ship, and the wellbeing of the entire crew before themselves. Do you, Officer Ganner, know how difficult it was to come up with one person, one officer with all those qualities and more?"
"No, Sir, but I am sure you will have chosen wisely keeping in mind those who have shown they have the ability to fulfill the tasks. I hope that in deciding who is to be your First Officer you have remembered my actions on this last mission both on the planet as well as on the ship."
"Oh, I have."