Kaplan glanced at Moria and Roxxane and smiled, but disturbed inside. This was a good unit and she didn't want to lose her place as a systems engineer on the Hawkes or get busted, but Moria and Rox had pull in the unit and used it and life was easy... What Moria had suggested could get them all brigged and/or busted out of the service. If she talked she would likely as not have an accident, she thought to herself. So, she sipped her drink and played cards. While the rest of them laid plans to ruff up a few of the others in the unit, to set illicit drugs or contraband in certain lockers and let it be rumored higher up so that it would be found during an inspection... She had lived with this knowledge and was now having trouble sleeping, wasn't eating, and every time she saw one of the NCO's or the 'Gunny' she ducked out of sight. She had to tell someone, but who... Hartman?
During one of her recreation periods she went and privately talked with the Gunny and spilled her guts about the attack on Corporal Rashan. The yelling probably could be heard through the whole base. She cringed but took it. When dismissed she headed to the gym.
It was a Monday and the Captain was in sickbay, and she had to speak up, be a Marine. PFC Kaplan looked around the corner and saw that Master Sgt Harman was at his desk but he was talking with the tall sandy blond haired Sergeant Corran from Camp Anderson. Now there was someone...if only she could get him alone.
She waited and saw Corran enter the Colonels office and was there for over an hour. When he came out he and the 'Gunny' headed out of HQ probably for a drink. Damn, she thought. She had duty and headed off to the dock to do a systems check of Hawke-3's communications gear. She'd find him after her shift.
Hartman and Corran sat in the NCO's lounge taking turns regaling one another of their time in the Corps. After the second glass of scotch, Hartman grew a little more serious. "I think we have a problem."
"What are you talking about?" Corran asked, somewhat confused.
"It appears that there have been some... transgressions between a few members of Alcon's medical staff and Captain Alcon herself."
"What are we talking about here. I know that Captain Alcon has a bunch of misfits in her detachment. What kind of transgressions do you mean?"
"Serious ones..." Hartman trailed off. He gave Corran a very stern look, hoping to get the point across.
Corran nodded in understanding. "I don't suppose you have any idea as to how to deal with it?"
"I have a few," Hartman answered. "But seeing as how you and Staff Sergeant Hendricks have spent some time in Recon doing a few... unorthodox things, I'm sure that you two would be able to come up with something."
A small smirk crossed Corran's face. "Possibly. Who told you all about this?"
"PFC Kaplan did. I recommended you talk to her in private. It appears that news travels somewhat quickly within their ranks."
"Can do Master Sergeant." Corran parted company and he walked down a wondered if the team in Sickbay would allow him to see the captain. He entered but was told she wasn't receiving visitors at this time. He wandered though the Marine Corps base and listened and watched without disturbing the status quo.
Kaplan climbed out of the maintenance space in the hawkes engineering space she'd been in the tight spot for three hours tracing optic cables for the communications section and finally found the problem and was in the process of replacing it when her boot received several slaps and a tug. She crawled out of the hole dirty and sweaty to face SGt. Corran.
"Sir." She said coming to attention.
"Easy Kaplan," Corran said. "and it's not 'sir.' We're all enlisted here."
"Yes Sergeant,"she replied.
Corran looked around the bay to see a decent amount of people hustling about working on the medical transports. "I think we should go somewhere and talk."
"I'm on duty until 1900hrs and have to get this communications system up." She looked around and saw several people staring at them...desperate she grabbed him by the collar and planted a serious kiss on him and then let him go. She said loud enough to be heard around the bay, "See you at El Taco at 2000?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world dear," Corran replied. He had a small smirk on his face and gave her a wink. As he started to make his way out of the bay, one of the male members of the medical team was making a joke to another one of the female members about Corran. Corran slowed and turned to face the two. The male marine had another five inches of height on Corran. He looked up at him. "Something funny private?"
"Yeah. You are Gunny. I'm surprised little miss Kaplan over there is interested in an old man like you."
"Come here for a second, private." Corran wrapped his arm over the private's shoulder and walked him out of the bay. A few moments later, the private entered the bay, both arms wrapped around his stomach. He coughed for a second before he dropped to a knee and vomited. Another one of the medical team ran over to check on him, but he held up his hand, trying to salvage what was left of his dignity.
Kaplans heart was pounding hard and she was sweating but when she saw Neils doubled over spewing over the deck she smiled and then crawled back into the hole to finish re placing the cable. She heard several conversations held in the ship and at the hatch where she crawled in... Soon it became quiet and she'd finished the repair. She secured the access and signed off on the repair and headed to barracks to shower and meet her date at El Taco.
The barracks were mostly empty and she made it a quick clean up and in a clean set of BDU's she headed out of HQ and at 2100 hrs arrived to find him occupying a booth in a corner of a near empty restaurant. "Good, glad you could make it. I've needed to talk to someone and well the Gunny..."
"... didn't quite seem to fit the bill," Corran added, finishing her sentence. "Sergeant Hartman is a good man. A bit rough around the edges, but none-the-less a good guy." Corran took a bite from the burrito he had ordered, and offered another one that was on the tray to Kaplan. "I hear that there have been some problems with some of your fellow enlisted and Captain Alcon."
She smiled and accepted the offered burrito, but instead of eating she rested her elbows on the table and clasped her hands in front of her. "You know the Captain still in sickbay. She was assaulted by PFC Esteva--the item used is stashed in her locker. I understand there is some bad blood between them from when the captain was a SGT and platoon leader on Europa."
"If it gets out I've talked...I'm as good as dead, Gunny."
Corran sat silent for a moment. He took a sip of the soft drink, and sat back in the booth.
"Hmm..." he thought silently for a moment.
"How do you think private Esteva should be dealt with?"
While he was thinking she took a bit of the burrito and then listened and was surprised that he was asking her for an opinion. "She isn't worried for herself...as long as she can discredit or injure the captain. She's been in the service for 15 years and is still just a PFC for a reason."
"Out of the service and off the ship, or dead." she said finally and saw him wink.
"Any of those can be arranged...." Corran replied calmly. He sat quietly for a moment, contemplating something to scare this Esteva person straight. A small smile grin crept across his face. "Do you remember the simulated fire situation a little while back?"
Kaplan frowned and then nodded that she remembered, "Yes, but what does that have to do with the assault on the Captain?"
"Well, there could be another instance like that exercise set up, and then, let's just say, that Ms. Esteva comes back in the proper state of mind." He grinned.
"Staff Sergeant Hendricks and I have done something like that before, except last time we did it was on a few Cardassians."
She shook her head no and pushed the burrito around the napkin for a minute..."It's not just her, but the five of us that have been causing the Captain problems--I just couldn't swallow this last and sought out you Gunnys. I don't know how long Jayme is going to be out of action."
"Who are these other five? Perhaps my squad can arrange something."
Sara looked around and saw Zacks enter the restaurant and was hanging out by the door. She reached over and took Corran's hand in hers and smiled and giggled. Corran looked and saw one of the men from the bay...he smiled back. He stood and moved around the table to sit beside Sara and hold her hand. She was cold and it had nothing to do with the environmental system, and said, "Moria Esteva, Roxxane Cummings, Neils, Zacks and myself."
Corran leaned in close to her ear, kissing her neck. "Try and get me their personnel records, and any other information you can on them. I have a mission coming up soon. But when I get back, I'm going to give them a time they won't forget."
He sat back up and smiled at her.
"Their records...I don't have that kind of access. I could get you access to a terminal, and you could hack the system and get them...or you can talk to the Captain, I'm sure she has them or Master Sgt Hartman."
"I'm sorry." She said looking away from him.
Corran looked to the door, and noticed that Zacks was moving to their table. "I'll see what I can do. Don't worry about it."
She looked up into his eyes and kissed his neck and saw the Zacks was moving toward their table too. Zacks stood and looked at the two of them, and sneered, "well, well...what have we here. Sara, didn't think you were into men."
"Not the ones within my unit." She said, and looked at Corran's profile, and added, "hmmmm, and experience counts."
"You're breaking curfew, bitch. Esteva sent me to get you back to barracks."
"Tell Ms. Esteva that her team member is accounted for, and she will be returned undamaged." Corran looked at Kaplan and smiled. "Don't worry about it." Corran checked his chronometer. "Besides, looks like it's getting past your bed time. I think you should get running along."
Zacks estimated his chances of dragging Kaplan out of the booth but she was on the inside and it was already known throughout the unit that hand to hand with the Gunny was a stupid move. "Kaplan, you don't want to be outside looking in...you know how Moria gets."
"Bugger off, Zacks. I'll be in before the 2300hr limit. I don't need a keeper." She almost froze up when Corran's hand was on her thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Goodnight, Zacks." She said smiling at Corran.
"Goodnight, Zacks," Corran added. He smiled as Zacks finally left El Taco. He gave them a menacing look as he made his way back towards the promenade. "Nice guy. Sure have some interesting people in your unit." Corran took a sip from the soft drink. "I'm going to get a hold of Master Sergeant Hartman and see if I can go through the dossiers on your 'friends.' I'll get back to you on what and my team can do when we get back from our mission." Corran slid his way out of the booth, and offered Kaplan his hand for assistance.
She took his hand and slid out of the booth, she took her hand back and hugged herself and looked up at him and with hard eyes asked, "How much trouble am I in seriously, Gunny?"
Corran was silent for a moment. He finally offered her his arm to escort her to the barracks. "I'm going to have an in depth discussion with Sergeant Hartman and the Colonel. Since you volunteered this information, you'll probably be better off then the other four will be. I can't guarantee anything though."
She liked the feel of his arm around her, and knew it was just a charade for those who might be watching... "I've been a marine for 2 years. I like what I'm doing and I don't want to lose it Corran." They entered HQ and she paused and turned into him, "Do you have a spare knife... something small? I think I'm going to carry concealed until this is resolved...I'm afraid."
Corran was silent for a moment. After what seemed to be a while debating with himself what to do, he reached down, and pulled a boot knife from a holster. it was smaller then a normal boot knife, and could easily be passed over on an inspection if hid under a BDU blouse. "Here. Be careful and stay out of trouble. I want you to keep an eye on what's going on, and keep notes on it. When I get back I'll get a hold of you. In the mean time, you can talk to Sergeant Hartman. I trust him very much."
Just as Sara secured the knife in the band of her blouse, the door opened and Moria and Rox stood leaning against the jam watching the two... Corran smiled and with both hands cupped her face and bought her in and kissed her long and hard. He pulled back and looked at the two lurkers, and said, "See ya when I get back from my mission." She was still trying to get enough air after the kiss. She smiled and waved as he walked off to the temporary quarters Hartman had assigned him. She walked past both women directly for her bunk. A moment later both women had her pinned to the wall on the far side of the unit.
Corran waited for the door behind him to close before he exhaled deeply. Staff Sergeant Hendricks was still awake, polishing his boots and watching the news on the holographic news wire. "Late night?" Hendricks asked.
"Not really,"Corran replied. "Looks like we might have another 'lost cause' excursion to plan."
Hendricks smiled. "I love those,"he replied cooley. He looked at his reflection in the boot.
There was a chime at the door. As Corran walked over to open it, the door opened by itself, as if it were forced open. Standing in the doorway was Moria and Rox. "Well hello ladies. Last time I checked, it was standard procedure for the occupants to open the door. Staff Sergeant Hendricks could have been naked. Corran looked back at Hendricks who winked at the two ladies. There something I can do for you two?"
"Stay away from her," Moria said cooley.
"Last time I checked, it was the ladies's decision and mine about who I wanted to be with," Corran replied.
"This is your only warning,"Rox added.
Well, it's nice of you two to stop by. If you'll excuse me." Corran shut the door in the two PFC's faces and locked it. "Tough crowd," Corran commented to Hendricks, who only smiled.
In barracks Sara sat on one of the sink counters holding a ice pack and towel to her face. Marki had a tricorder out and said, "Cracked ribs and a sprained wrist. Should walk over to the infirmary and be seen."
Sara shook her head no, "That mean's a report and another beating. It's not real bad...just tape the wrist." A few minutes later she limped out to her bunk and laid down. Marki bought her some standard issued pain blockers and some water. She noticed that Moria and Rox weren't in quarters.
Moments later Moria and Rox flew into the common room of the barracks just pissed off and yelling at each other about the audacity of that man...to dismiss them. "Ugh!" Moria screamed and spotted Kaplan, and Rashan trying to look fierce and protective...
Corran spotted the communit that was part of the desk and dialed the Gunny's number from memory. "You're right. I was just paid a visit by several members of the Medical Response Unit and there was an veiled threat to stay away from PFC Kaplan..."
Hartman looked around his quarters and sighed and said, [Shit, did you learn anything from this Marine to make being threatened worth while?]
"She afraid for her life... She knows where the weapon that was used on the Captain is stashed, and I believe that the way this group behaves and acts we might find illicit drugs or contraband in barracks."
Gunny shook his head, then asked, [You and Sgt. Hendricks up for helping with an unannounced inspection?]
"Give us time to put our boots back on. Meet you at your office Gunny." They pulled their boots on, adjusted their uniforms and found their standard issue phasers and hooked them to their belts. Outside the Gunny's office stood two marines wearing the armbands of security. Hartman led the way to the MRU barracks in Alpha Company. Through the door they could hear music and over that yelling. The door opened and they entered with Hendricks and Corran flanking the Gunny. Corran spotted the emergency button and slapped it and held it down until every ones eyes were on them. He let off and the music died. "Fall in for inspection. NOW!" he barked.
Immediately people fell out and came to attention at the ends of their bunks--dropping what they were doing. The inspection team stepped further into the room and the two security members immediately started going though bunks, lockers, and packs for the right hand side of the room. Corran and Hendricks worked the left side and as a team quickly moved from bunk to bunk...
Corran stopped in his tracks and called out "Master Sergeant." He stood and waited until the Gunny arrived and he could see--several small sealed packets of lavender colored powder. Gunny looked around and spotted that the bunk belonged to PFC Neils. "Continue your search, Sergeants." Several more minutes passed and in a locker they found the rod that Kaplan had indicated and there were traces of blood and hair still intact. "Gunny." Corran noted the name stenciled on the locker and bagged the rod in an evidence bag and walked it over to the gunny who was still bagging the illicit drugs. Corran laid the rod down on the bunk and returned to help Hendricks with the rest of the search. Rounding a corner he found Kaplan at attention but mainly being held up by the support beam of her bunk. He looked her up and down and she wouldn't meet his eyes. He grabbed her and moved her so she was sitting on the bunk. "Gunny, I need a corpsmen here." Burke being the senior Sgt. and Corpsmen present walked over and was surprised as he'd come off duty only moments before the inspection. He immediately started assessing her.
Hendricks finished the search and joined Corran, "Finished here. Damn, 'Who' happened to her?" he said with a shake of his head.
"I have a few ideas."
The security team had moved over and were talking to the Gunny and they took possession of the items found and would have the blood and hair checked against the Captains.
"PFC's Neils and Esteva you are going to be spending the night in the brig until a meeting with the Colonel can be arranged. Security detail dismissed." Each guard cuffed and escorted the offenders out of the unit.
The Gunny walked over and looked at Kaplan. "Guys walk her to the Infirmary and make sure she stays put and files a report with security."
"Done," both answered as one and each took an arm and led the PFC out of barracks and down the hall to the base Infirmary.
In the infirmary, Corran winced at the split above her black and blue eye. "So much for the knife." He said.
"I didn't have a chance to get to it... And they were only going to ruff me up and make a point...about spending time with you. You want it back now?"
He looked at the cabinets , found a chemical pack ice pak, activated it and handed it to her. "Sara put that on your eye." After a minute he said, "Hang onto the knife..."
"I don't want to file a report." She said sitting on the biobed waiting for the corpsmen.
"You will file that report Private Kaplan!" He watched as Advanced Corpsmen Berke arrived and worked her jacket off and the t-shirt to see already discolored ribs. Corran as Senior NCO stayed as witness. He looked around the privacy screen, and said to Hendricks, "You might as well go back and get some sleep. I'll be in later...want to see this through and have a few words with Sergeant Berke."
"Ok." He wandered out and back to their quarters.