Stardate: 70202:1935
Title: The Morning after the Night Before
Author: Captain Deadilus
Time: Before "Night and Day To Remember" to current
Scene: USS Horizon


As the Captain made his way to the brig with the COS he continued to question what had happened. Luckily, barring a few minor cuts and bruises, no-one had been harmed. With the lead culprit, a Lt. Gaven Morris from the Exeter, and three others already confined to the brig the security team had little do to other than take statements and assist Troy with the clean-up.

Arriving at the Brig, the Captain motioned for Dathan to wait in the office adjacent. The small Brig held only three people and, as such, one of the cells was currently occupied by two. Temporarily dismissing the guard on duty the Captain turned to the captive audience.

"Where do I begin, gentlemen?" The Captain queried quietly.

Whilst the other three stood straight and to attention, Lt. Gaven Morris was not quiet as straight and attentive as a man in his position should be.

"Damage to Starfleet property, assaulting a fellow officer," all four looked up at this as the volume started to increase, "....conduct unbecoming a Starfleet officer!"

The Captain could see each and every one of them swallow, and he knew that they all realised the seriousness of the threatened charges.

"I have been on Klingon vessels where they behave better!" The Captain shouted at them, pressing home the point that each of them had acted in a way that was unacceptable.

"I will not be pressing charges, although your Captain may choose to do so. However, our civilian bartender is seeking remuneration for the damages to the bar, and I cannot guarantee getting you out of this hole. I am sure you all realise the seriousness of having any black marks on your personnel files."

The four officers all looked down slightly, taken aback.

"I will arrange for our Chief of Operations to transport you back to the Exeter shortly. If I hear that any of you cause even the slightest problem in the next few hours then I will reconsider not pressing charges. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir," the four chimed back in unison.

The Captain spun on his heels, leaving the Brig and its captives.


=/\= Bridge - A Short While Later =/\=

With all the new personnel coming aboard, the Captain had deliberately held off on returning the culprits to the Exeter until a little while later. Luckily, Autumn had understood and come back during her off-duty time to co-ordinate with the Exeter's Operations department.

As she informed the Captain that the last of the Exeter crew had returned, pending the Horizon's departure for the Brodarn system, Captain Deadilus thanked her and bid her good night, again!

Tapping his combadge, the Captain ordered the COS to liaise with Troy on the remuneration for the damages to the Horizon's Gateway, allowing him to talk to his friend and colleague, Captain Nagama, and then get just a little rest...

Moving to his Ready Room and opening the communications console, he contacted Hito directly, receiving a reply moments later.

"Scott, my apologies for the troubles caused to you by my officers," Captain Nagama began, "although I must confess I am not surprised to see Lt. Morris on the list of offenders - he is nothing but a loose cannon." Hito shook his head in dismay.

Deadilus smiled back to the other Captain.

"I can hardly blame them," Scott replied. "Tensions are running high right now and we have both been carrying out secretive missions beyond reliable communications range. I won't be pushing for any charges and I will make sure none of my crew do as well."

"Well, I remember when you spent a little time in the brig on Starbase Centrica," Hito joked.

"They insulted Zoe. Besides, I only broke one person's arm before they backed down!" Scott beamed again, remembering. Hito smiled as well.

"I trust all your personnel are accounted for?" Captain Deadilus queried, the door chiming its interrupt during the pause.

"They are. We have received our new deployment orders and shall be leaving shortly. Godspeed, Captain."

"And to you, Captain Nagama. Horizon out."

Closing the communications console, the Captain bid entrance to whomever waited outside.

As Dathan explained to the Captain that Troy wanted five bars of gold-pressed latinum, he decided that enough was enough.

"We will see about that!" Captain Deadilus stood, gesturing for the COS to follow. "Please accompany me - we're going to talk to Troy."

"Aye, Sir," replied L'Cir, following the Captain.


=/\= Horizon's Gateway =/\=

The Captain and Dathan walked into the Horizon's Gateway. The place was already tidied although there was a distinct lack of seating and tables in certain areas.

The short barman was busying himself behind the bar, continuing to move items around and muttering under his breath. A few moments passed before he noticed the two officers.

"Captain, Lt. Commander. How can I be of help?" He enquired.

"I understand you want five bars of gold-pressed latinum or you are going to press charges against the officers involved in last night's 'incident'?" The Captain questioned Troy.

"Well, it covers the cost of damages to my establishment!" Troy exclaimed.

The Captain smiled, looking around.

"I realise that, when you were running 'Troy's' back home, everything was yours. The Horizon's Gateway is a Starfleet establishment though and, as such, the furniture, the equipment, the drinks... all belong to Starfleet," Captain Deadilus explained.

"Now, what you WILL accept, is this: assistance from Security and Operations to replicate and arrange the required furniture, and the relevant quantities of replicator matter assigned to the bar for said reparations, free of charge." Captain Deadilus had laid his cards on the table, so to speak.

"It is my right, as Bartender, to request those officers have charges brought against them!" Troy exclaimed.

"Ordinarily, yes." The Captain nodded his head. "But it is also my right, as CAPTAIN, to request the removal of a civilian from the ship." He leant in closer. "Troy, I don't want to lose you, but I am not going to have the reputation of any officer trashed because of a silly bar brawl. I have expressed my disappointment to Lt. Commander L'Cir here in letting such an incident even happen onboard this ship, and as such he has agreed to keep an eye on things in future."

Troy looked at the Captain, sensing his sincerity, and nodded his acceptance to the terms laid out.

Thanking him, the Captain and COS left the bar, heading back to the bridge. As they walked Dathan informed the Captain of Lt. Hills request to join the Security department on a provisional basis.

"He wishes to transfer?" The Captain queried.

"No, Sir. He wishes to continue as a helmsman but also join the Security department on a... part-time schedule," Dathan explained.

The Captain smiled. "We're a small ship and a small crew... I'll grant the request. But I'll need him at the helm for the commencement of our next mission - we're likely to experience some heavy gravitational eddies until a stable orbit can be established."

L'Cir looked at the Captain quizzically.

"I'll explain in the Senior Staff briefing in the morning."


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Captain Deadilus
Commanding Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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