Boys Will Be Boys: Aftermath
Posted on Sun Jan 21st, 2024 @ 2:20pm by Chief Petty Officer Victor Corrino & Commander Martin Sorenson
Mission:
Shakedown Shake-Up
Location: Transporter Room
Timeline: Part 4
528 words - 1.1 OF Standard Post Measure
Chief Corrino fumed silently at his console for a moment, then took a deep breath. He knew what he had to do, while not being the happiest about it. Already he found himself making plans to call the station again, this time to talk with an Andorian parent who would no doubt be as embarrassed as him about the whole thing.
Taking a moment to let out a sigh, the Chief tapped his combadge. "Corrino to Commander Sorenson, can you come to the Transporter Room when you have a moment?"
"Certainly, Chief," Martin replied, and a few moments later the XO arrived in the transporter room wondering what new access issue he was going to be needed to solve. "What do you need me for? I thought we had solved the Level 7 permission issues by now."
"Nothing related to our shipboard issues, sir," Corrino said, pointing at the console. In the interim, he'd pulled up the log of recent communications. Perhaps he should have left it to Lieutenant M'rrina as the ship's comms officer, but he felt a need to report this incident personally. "I have reason to believe several of these recent communications have come from Esquimalt Station."
None of which was an incredible revelation on its own, so the Chief continued once the first officer had a chance to glance at the screen himself. "In fact, I have reason to believe they originated from my son, and his friend. I have no idea what they might have said to others, but I take full responsibility for this disruption, Commander."
Young boys making random comms... the pieces fell together for Martin very quickly. "I take it the comms were in the nature of pranks," he observed mildly. "It's not behavior I'd like to see continue, especially to a ship on active duty, but we've all been through a lot of disruption and kids that age don't always make great decisions under stress." He offered a patient smile. "I don't think this needs to go into any formal report. I'll let you handle it privately as you see fit."
"Thank you, sir," came Corrino's clipped acknowledgement. He was grateful to Commander Sorenson for not making more out of the issue, it reinforced what he had seen in the doctor's interactions with his son and others in the past. Still, the Chief was hardly one to take advantage of the leniency. "I promise you that it won't happen again, not from my son."
He was going to have a long talk with Aaron about the importance of not interrupting shipboard operations when he went off duty. The only thing that alleviated Chief Corrino's frustration was that at least his son had chosen a relatively calm time to try making his prank calls. Boys would be boys, they only needed to learn the right time and place to keep their fun harmless.
Vic hesitated once the transporter room was empty again. It was evening hours on the station, and later still when he got off shift. Perhaps he could wait until tomorrow to contact his son and Rashane's zhavey about the matter.
For tonight only, boys could still be boys.
