Re: Chapter 20: Senior Staff Announcement | Day 02 [1000 Hrs.]
Reply #8 –
[Lieutenant Commander Leon "Striker" Marquez| Conference Lounge | USS Theurgy ] Attention: Everyone/Anyone
Marquez had gotten enough sleep, or at least rest the day before in sickbay, and his injuries had already since healed. He debated keeping his scar from the fight with Starbase 84's compromised Captain, but ultimately, Jimmy Mariner had made that call for him when he reunited with his friend upon his arrival to the Thuergy, and subsequently spilled water on him for serving it too cold. He'd regained consciousness enough to check out of sickbay after his public addresses in the hangar bay, and his toast to absent friends a few hours ago. Since then, he'd taken a rest in an unconspicuous sofa, alongside one of the few remaining personnel from the USS Resolve. Marquez helped himself to a liter of water and an anti-intoxicant from Vivian Martin so he could sleep well. Opening that storied tequila bottle was largely out of respect and tribute, rather than for the dreams, or rather, nightmares he was certain to have if he'd left the stuff in his system; bad memories, fallen comrades, inhuman monsters. After a breakfast of Steak and Eggs with one of the Resolve security members and a supplementary log, Striker made his way to the senior officers' meeting, with a French Roast/Irish Cream Coffee formula that Mariner had nicknamed 'the English Channel' in hand.
Upon arrival, Marquez took the time to greet Cameron Henshaw. He was relieved to see she was allright, though probably shaken internally. "Ensign. It's good to see you. I'm truly sorry for your loss, but If there's anything I can do to make it right, I'll be there." There was almost an apologetic tone to his gravelly voice, Marquez's role in Hawthorne's death had taken a toll on him, but he still had a promise to keep to the monster responsible for all this. He felt he owed the young woman a sense of protection, even if it would only be ancillary in whatever role he was to be assigned to during this meeting.
The moment didn't last as Marquez took his seat next to Vivian Martin, and made eye contact with Keval, wrinkling his brow, quizically, silently telling the Andorian to stay sharp; Jimmy once called Keval the eyes, ears and Antennae of the Resolve bridge crew. After a cursory regard to the Resolve trio between Henshaw and Commander Stark, Marquez donned his poker face as he focused on each speaker, taking his new reassignment in stride, barely reacting to his new role as Chief Tactical Officer. He had been a Tactical officer before, a methodical and efficient yet an aggresive one, aboard a Galaxy-class Carrier before being that craft's first officer, and briefly skipper, but was quite up to the task of chairing the multi-vector craft's defense and weapons systems. The USS Hornet regularly relied on saucer separation, needing two commanders at a time during short-range engagements.
Marquez listened to Captain Ives' address and promotions, casting a congratulatory nod at Veradin's promotion and the other reassignments. He wanted to give an affirmative to the accented Engineer on-screen who spoke during the hangar conference. At the next opportunity, he would schedule an hour of wargame simulations in the Holodeck to get a tutorial underway. It pained him to have to fight Starfleet, but it was that or take chances against parasite boarding parties; he for one was not about to have another piñata fight after what he and Henshaw went through.