[open post for those who want in on Pike's officer's meeting]

[no_dryer_box]

Admiral Pike is sitting at the head of the large conference room table, waiting patiently or as patiently as possible for the Enterprise's officers to meet with him. Giotto was supposed to be here too. Pike was thankful he wouldn't have to babysit too long

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[first_donoharm]

McCoy wanted to be here about as much as he wanted to give Spock a physical. Actually, maybe less, because at least with the latter he had the potential to find something embarrassing and get a few good jabs in. This was just unnecessarily boring and officious-- two of his least favorite qualities about Starfleet.

Still, Pike was a good man, at least from what Bones could tell. And what he'd heard from Jim was all good; Jim could usually be trusted when it came to reading people.

For Jim's sake, McCoy didn't say anything as he sat in one of the chairs at the long circular table. He just waited for the lecture so he could leave and maybe get some actual work done today.

[setphasersto]

Angela felt like she was going to vomit. The message on her personal console had sent her into a fit of internal panic, wondering what he knew and what was going to happen. Could Ensigns be demoted, she wondered? And how embarrassing that would be!

She'd been so sure, so very sure that she had escaped getting in any sort of trouble - until Pike called an officers meeting. She wasn't even a senior officer, so the fact that he gave a rat's ass about her attending could not be a good sign.

Angela hoped no one else could tell how worried she was, and she took a seat next to McCoy at the large table while she tried to avoid Pike's gaze.

[first_donoharm]

Even if McCoy hadn't been a doctor trained to look for signs of symptoms, he still would have been able to feel the nervousness practically radiating off Martine. He was trying very hard not to think of her as Angela, not even after their drunken moment; it was just too much, too soon. One best friend to whom he had to constantly expose himself was more than enough emotional bonding for McCoy.

Still, he was glad when she decided to sit next to him. It was easier this way to lean over and whisper, "You look like you're going to throw up. Relax, you'll be fine. Jim won't let anything happen to you," he said, and then after a beat added, "and neither will I."

[setphasersto]

"I'm going to hold you to that," she whispered back, but smiled.

Okay. So McCoy wasn't worried. That was a good sign, considering his tendency to be deeply paranoid and skeptical. If he said it was all right, then things were going to be all right.

"I just don't know why I'm here when I'm not a senior officer unless I'm in trouble or someone's dead," she continued. "And I'm pretty sure no one is dead."

[no_dryer_box]

Pike immediately noticed the Ensign's unease and started as friendly as he could manage. Being reprimanded by an Admiral was nerve wracking for a seasoned officer, let alone someone their first time out.

"I think you're a fine crew. You screwed up, but you're a fine crew." He paused a minute, "You realize that as officers on the flagship you are supposed to represent the best Starfleet has to offer, do you not?"

[setphasersto]

Angela was visibly relieved. He didn't start out yelling - always a good thing.

But had that been a rhetorical question or not? She wondered. Pike was not one of the Admirals she knew well enough to know for sure. She was thankful for her lifetime of experience around Starfleet. At least she knew how not to make a fool of herself.

She nodded at his question, and answered quietly, "I understand, sir,"

[no_dryer_box]

Pike nodded slightly, he was glad she seemed less prone to crying or passing out. He didn't want to deal with that...and he was sure McCoy didn't either.

"Now, do you all understand that being on the Enterprise is not like being at the Academy? Everyone here,
except maybe Chekov, is an adult?"

[setphasersto]

Ah, well, now that was probably directed at her. That one she had coming, and Angela knew it. The transition from the Academy to life on the Enterprise was somewhat confusing, though she had less of an excuse than the officers who had graduated early, after only three years.

"Yes sir," she answered him again, though in less of a mumble than before. "I understand, sir."

[theguywithagun]

Frank walked in to the conference room and sat down next to Admiral Pike with a bit of a smirk on his face. He was glad that Pike had finally scheduled the officers' meeting. He was pleased to see that Kirk wasn't able to use his "charm" to get out of this one. So he saved the world; that did not mean he didn't have to follow the rules. Frank was looking forward to this meeting.

[mr_genius_scott]

Scott hurried, no, ran down the corridor towards the conference room damning himself for being late. Always bloody late! He almost knocked over a nervous looking Ensign on his way. The hallway was quiet, just a dim hum of equipment, the gentle whoosh of the turbolift and..

"Out of the way! Out of the bloody way!" His Scottish accent seemed to thicken in his panic. Pike would not be happy, he knew, but what could be done? He was late and the Admiral was just going to have to bloody well deal with it.

He cringed, knowing full well that the screech of his shoes on the slick floor as he came to a stop by the conference room door was probably heard inside. Taking a deep breath he sighed, knocked and walked in.

"Sorry, lads-" he looked round and panted, "and ladies, I got here as fast as I could."