EXETERRPG: (3, 0830) SOPS, LT. JG Billy Alexander and MO, ENS JG Heinrich Kruze, MD

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: Murder on the Exeter Express
Day:03
Stardate: 2445.12.03

(USS Exeter – Officer’s mess – SOPS, LT. JG Billy Alexander and MO, ENS JG
Heinrich Kruze, MD– 0830)

The night shift was finally over and Billy was ready for a drink. Something
smooth and beer like. Okay, not beer like, and actual beer. And Bacon, Beer
and bacon. While some of the officers were eating breakfast, for Billy, it
was technically dinner time. Such was the life of a Night Shifter. Billy
had originally be a Beta shifter, covering mid afternoon to midnight, but
his cousin, the captain, asked him to be the Duty officer on the Bridge for
night shift. It was done for two reasons, one so none of the senior staff
would need to, and two so that Billy could get practical command experience
that would be helpful when he inevitably was transferred to a Starbase in
some administrative capacity. Still, night shift meant he was unable to
hang out with most of his friends.

Of course the Exeter also had a bit of a doozy as well and most of the crew
was waking up to the aftermath, Billy just wanted to sleep and forget. He
grabbed a beer and a plate of bacon, just bacon, and sat down next to a
medical officer.

“You new here? Haven’t seen you in the officer’s mess before.  Name’s
Billy.”


Heinrich’s mouth was full of food. ~Nothing invites a question quite like a
mouthful of food~ he thought to himself. He swallowed and said, “Pleased to
meet you Billy. I’m Dr. Heinrich Kruze. Just joined the Exeter three days
ago.” He noticed Billy’s plate. “Is that all you’re going to eat, Billy?”

“Leave it to a doctor to question a plateful of bacon and a side helping of
beer.” Billy laughed. “I’m on the night shift, this isn’t breakfast, its
probably closer to lunch than anything else. I usually wake up two hours
before shift starts, so 2200, then go to bed roughly 1400. I’ll get veggies
later. Just seemed with all the commotion like a beer and bacon kind of
day.”
Heinrich laughed louder than he had in days, “I suppose it is a beer and
bacon sort of day isn’t it?” He picked up his own pint of beer and gave it
a good chug. “Glad to see someone on this ship who has their priorities in
order. I’m on the night shift too. Hell of a night, ‘eh?”

“Yeah, bridge didn’t get much action, though I guess we didn’t crash the
ship. How bout sickbay, y’all have fun there?” Billy said half drawl, half
sarcasm.

Heinrich chuckled, “Yeah, I’ll give you that. We had an incident in the
holodeck. Obviously I can’t say too much other than I’m glad I got to be a
doctor and not a coroner.”

“Yeah. And let me guess, somehow Ire Williams and my ex girlfriend Erin
Cortez somehow happened to be right in the middle of it. Those two attract
danger like a magnet and steel.”

Heinrich didn’t know what to say. Billy seemed to be in the know, but a
doctor couldn’t say anything about his patients.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I understand classified and
all that jazz.”

“You’re right I can’t say much. But I think you can guess the principles.
Been here awhile?”

“Since day one, but I know a lot of the crew from our time at the academy
or on Mars. LIke I said, Erin is also my ex. She, umm courts trouble so to
speak. But I’ll leave it at that. Not polite to gossip.”

“I don’t think Erin is the only one courting trouble, this whole ship seems
to court trouble.”

“Though it is odd that we broke up and now she’s dating my cousin, but
that’s all nother thing.”

Billy’s comment physically hit Heinrich in the gut and his facial
expression showed it. “Ouch man, that’s harsh.”

“So Kruzy, tell me about yourself, why Starfleet? Me, born into it, whole
family of fleeters. My maternal line, which is the captain’s paternal line,
he’s my cousin believe it or not, but our clan joined Starfleet back before
there was a Federation. But not many legacy brats anymore. So what about
you, legacy brat?

“Me? No, no.” Heinrich ate the last bit of his supper and wiped his mouth.
“I was born on Alpha 5. Not much there anymore. I became a doctor to help
people. And I decided that if that’s what I was going to do I had to go
where the action is. So I joined Starfleet.”

“Sounds fair enough.”

“I just graduated this past month. This is my first tour. Do you like the
Exeter?”

“I do. It’s not bad. And for the record, the cousin dating my Ex is not the
captain. Different cousin. The captain has a civilian wife. He stop dating
officers after he slept with a subordinate. That may sound like gossip, but
everybody that was on Mars at the time knows that before a big flight
mission he slept with the hot russian under his command. Bourbon and
blondes, what can you do.”

Heinrich laughed uproariously. “He’s a starfleet captain. Isn’t that sort
of thing expected?”

“Well he was a lowly ensign at the time. The dude is only 23 you know. I
guess thats how in disarray starfleet was. My whole class got thrown into
the deep end, and now the Valedictorian and Salutatorian are commanding
starships.”

Heinrich knew the Federation had seen decline. He lived it. But he hadn’t
realized things had gotten so dire in starfleet. “I didn’t know he was that
young.”

“Now he’s all in domestic bliss with his wife and what not. Me on the other
hand, yeah, not ready to settle yet. Though I may or may not be in a long
distance relationship with someone known as the murder fairy. So who am I
to judge. What about you? Anyone special?”

“Wait, wait. If I knew someone known as the Murder Fairy I think I’d want
to be very clear on my relationship.”

“Oh she’s not all that scary. I mean she can be, but she’s a sweetheart
once you get to know her. She’s off ship right now, who knows how long. Not
really sure where. I hate the word, classified.”

“Hard to keep a relationship with someone classified.”

“You never answered my question. Anyone special?”

Heinrich stopped, and picked his words very carefully. “Once, not now. Not
since I joined Starfleet. A long distance relationship just wasn’t going to
work out.” He took another swig from his pint. “I’m just ready to begin a
new life. A strange life it is.”

“^%$# yeah it is!” Billy paused, “Sorry, my family has a genetic
predisposition to cursing.”

“My mom always told me not to swear, it sounds like shit.”

“If you’re interested some of us night shifters get together at around
12:00 for some food and Euchre. You’re welcome to join.”

Heinrich grinned ear to ear. “I’d be more than happy to join.”

“Anyhoosit” Billy said, finishing the last piece of delicious bacon. “I’m
gonna head out, but I’ll be seeing your around Kruzy.”

Heinrich hated being called Kruzy. “See you around Billy.”

With that Billy got up, smiled, and left.
Heinrich finished off his beer and headed to his quarters.


(Reply none)
(posted by Tim and Will)
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