Pimping Out the Captain

Posted on 09/08/2020 @ 8:15pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers & Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards PhD

Mission: S2E2: The Auction House
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: Day 1 at 0730

Siobhan stopped in front of the captain’s ready room. She requested the captain to meet her as she had an interesting proposal. But, she was well aware that the captain might just refuse it flatly. Which she wouldn’t blame him but, since she felt there was a small chance he might play along, she was obliged to try. She straighten up her uniform and then she tapped the doorbell to announce her presence.

With the away team back, Cian was preparing for a meeting with senior staff when he heard the chime. "Enter," he said as he looked up to see the counselor enter his Ready Room. "Counselor. I was surprised to get your request ..." He cocked his head slightly to one side, his green gaze searching for a moment. "Is there a problem with the crew?"

"No problem captain." Siobhan shook her head slightly. "I wanted to run an idea I have through you." Her lips twitched in playful grin. "The crew is for over a month outside the Federation space. We will remain here for at least another month if not longer. So as the Morale Officer, I came with an idea to keep people entertained. I thought of making during the weekend a celebration along with an auction, so the crew could offer various items or ideas for a specific... reward." She made short pause. "What do you think so far?"

"I'm not sure how long we'll be in this area, Counselor, nor do I think that anyone will be getting a weekend off," Cian said as he sat back in his seat, hands resting lightly in his lap. "Once we have a direction, we're going to be in pursuit of those missing colonists. That would be first priority. However, if at some point time became available, what do you have in mind?"

"Well, captain, I wasn't counting on people having a weekend off. The reason for the even to last for a weekend is to ensure that everyone has a chance to participate. I know we are in the middle of the mission and I don't think we need to have a shore leave right now." Siobhan explained. "This is meant as a simple... festive. People could come into the Parrot, have a drink, and there would be some extra decorations. I think. We didn't set up all the details with miss Zeror yet because I wanted to run the idea through you."

"As long as it doesn't interfere with their duties, I'm not opposed," Cian said after a moment's thought. Parties had never held much interest for him; he much preferred more intimate gatherings though it had been some time since he'd been able to orchestrate such an evening. "So a small party in the lounge. I"m assuming there will be food and drink?"

"Yes. I was thinking of maybe do it in a specific theme. But not sure on that yet." Siobhan said with a nod. "I am glad to hear you are not opposed. And I assure you captain, the idea is to make over the weekend so everyone could enjoy it without affecting their duties. I feel that the occasion is certainly worth it." She paused looking at the captain mischievously. "The occasion being your promotion, sir. Are you still ok with it?"

"Not as much as I was," Cian said. A smile flashed across his features and disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. "I will make an appearance, of course, but for the most part, I would rather the party be for the crew."

"That's all right, captain. I was suspecting that you might not like the reason for the celebration so I came up with an idea you might actually like." Siobhan said leaning slightly forward and gently waving her hand as if what she was saying was very normal. "So, I was thinking about organizing an auction. People would put in whatever they would decide was worth it for them or maybe for you... and on the Sunday evening we would have you to appear for the first and final time to announce the winner. Whoever would impress you most with the auction offer."

Cian cocked his head slightly to one side and studied her for a moment, his agile mind fitting pieces together and coming up with a direction that had warning bells going off in his mind. "I don't like being led, Counselor," Cian said. "You want to hold an auction for the crew as part of a party. As the ship's morale officer, you have permission to make the arrangements. As to the terms of the auction, how it works, that's entirely up to you."

"I understand, captain." Siobhan sighed. "I guess I was assuming too much, sir. I will scrap the idea since you do not want to be involved. Obviously the celebration of your promotion to the rank of captain is pointless if you are not part of it." She gave the captain an understanding smile. "I thought it would be a great opportunity to know your captain better, but it supposed to be natural. If you rather keep the crew at the distance, we, the crew, will have to adjust."

Cian sighed. "What do you want from me, Counselor? I said I would attend the party though I won't stay for the duration but that's to everyone's benefit. The fun generally starts when the Captain leaves anyway., I don't have time to be involved in how this ... auction ... is setup or even really understand how they work."

Siobhan was curious what was making the captain so reluctant to socialize.

"Captain, the auction would be for a dinner with you." She decided to go straight to the point. "That is why I imagined you'd be the judge of the auction offers. So for the entire weekend of celebration of your promotion that we would hold for the crew, you'll need to show up for half an hour to announce the winner and... let's say... two hours of the dinner with the winner."

Mystified by such an unorthodox proposal, Cian gave voice to the question that was uppermost in his mind. "You want to auction off two hours of my time as a prize in your auction," Cian asked. "Why?"

"It's not my auction. It's yours." Siobhan corrected the captain. "I would like you to be the one who will chose the winner." She pointed out. "And why? It is unusual, it is fun, it creates something to talk about, the excitement, all the elements that you have during the shore leave. It is... to improve the morale. And the bonus is that one person will have a chance to talk to you, person to person."

He took the time to consider the proposal. While he didn't think that anyone would make an offer for a chance to have dinner with him, the safety and well being of the crew was ultimately his responsibility. As a first officer, he had spent time getting to know the crew; as a Captain, he was required to maintain more of a distance. And really, it was only two hours. He'd sat through excruciating diplomatic dinners that lasted much longer. He nodded, coming to agreement with himself, and sighed. "Very well with the understanding that you and whomever you choose will winnow down the entrants down to say a final five? I will make a decision from that ... providing," he added, one corner of his mouth quirking upward slightly, "..you get entrants, that is. Also, whatever they offer as their entry fee is given to someone else ... not me."

"Very well captain." Siobhan agreed with a smile. "I will assure that the auction cannot target you as a recipient of the bid. I will also create a panel that will come up with the top five bids for you to chose from. The winner will enjoy a dinner with you. Is that all right with you?"

There was a part of him that thought it was a terrible idea and yet, Cian still found himself agreeing. "Yes, that will be acceptable. Two hours in my private dining room with dinner being prepared by the chef. I'll choose the menu."

"Perfect." Siobhan concluded. "Anything else you would like to add here at this point, sir?"

"Other than wishing you'd come up with something or someone else as the grand prize? Not that I can think of," Cian said.

Siobhan made step back. "It wouldn't have the same weight if on the even celebrating your promotion the auction would be for dinner with someone else." She pointed out playfully. "If you have nothing else, sir, I should go."

"You're dismissed, Counselor,"

A Post by:

Captain Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officers
USS Crazy Horse

and

Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards PhD
Counselor
USS Crazy Horse