Not Me

Captain Devore was reading a few reports and couldn't get his mind off the fact that Chief Shale refused a commission, he hoped that this would be a good thing for Chief Shale. Shale was sitting on the couch in his quarters reading a book and drinking a mixed drink when his comchannel beeped.

[Chief. This is Captain Devore Are you up ?]

He sat up and press a button on the coffee table. "Yes sir do you need something ?"

[I'll be in the mess hall in five minutes. I want you to meet me there.]

"Very well Captain on my way."

Shale put his book down and grabbed his tunic and left for deck two. The turbolift stopped and Shale asked for the time.

<The time is 01:00 hours>

*Well what's so important the Captain wants to see me at this time of the morning.*

He walked in and saw a few crewmen eating dinner he walked over to the replicator and ordered a Synthale and he turned to see the Captain taking a seat . Shale sat down and exchanged pleasantries.

"So what's important Captain ?"

"I want you to keep teaching Brayden as you have been, I say at least two hours a day." Captain Devore said as he handed Shale a PADD.

"I also have the right as your Commanding Officer to know why this bitterness towards a commission. So tell me."

"Sir ?"

"Captain Korval, your old fighter squadron leader recommended you for promotion to Lieutenant four times during the Dominion War. but you refused each time. Why ?" Devore asked leaning back in his chair waiting for an answer.

Rick stood up and said.

"You would throw me out the nearest airlock if I told you why."

"Tell me ! That's an order Chief !" Devore said in a calm but firm voice.

Shale sat down and took a deep breath, then leaned forward. "Starfleet officers have a habit of turning away from either their citizens or fleet officers. Not to mention the Prime Directive."

Devore pulled his tunic down and leaned forward.

"Chief that hatred will eat you up. Trust me I've seen. In any profession there will be corruption, but someone has to be the one to keep it going the way things were intended to be. Now we are some unknown years from home and I am the Federation out here as are you and every crewmember on this ship. We have the opportunity now to show these people in this part of space that the Federation is as you wanted it be or what it really is."

Shale stood up and turned to the Captain. "Sir, I respect you as the Captain, but I must say this, we are a long way from home. Captain does the name Captain Ransom sound familiar." Shale walked out.

*Damn him I'll get through to the Chief that's number thirty now on my list, better get home before the wife throws me out the airlock !* Devore thought as he got up and headed home.