Editing Christopher Adams Interlude (section)

==== (USS Paladin - Bridge - Ensign JG Christopher Adams - 1410) ====

The turbolift doors opened up on the bridge of the USS Paladin and Ensign Adams stepped out jaw open. The bridge was huge. ~Big ship. Big bridge, I suppose,~ thought Adams. He looked around and saw the door which lead to the Captain's Ready Room.

He approached the door and touched the door chime.

The doors opened and Adams entered the room. Seated behind a desk was a fairly attractive woman with long red hair in a Starfleet uniform. Walking towards the desk, Adams set down his duffel back and stood at attention.

"Ensign Adams reporting for duty."

"Orders," She said smartly, holding out her hand with a snap of her fingers.  She took the PADD the Ensign handed her and pressed her thumb against it's scanner, unlocking the encrypted orders contained thereon. She read the orders over quickly, taking time to verify the command codes to ensure the orders were not forged.

"Ensign Adams," She said, not looking up from the PADD.  "So, your to be the new Assistant Chief Engineer.  I'm sure Lt. Matrix will be glad to have the extra help."

Ensign Christopher Adams looked straight ahead at attention while Captain Eva Straton looked up, her face a stony mask. "So Ensign tell me, you going to have a problem fighting and killing our own, other Starfleet personnel?"

Adam's eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed, "No, sir. We are defending the very principles that Starfleet was founded on. We cannot just roll over while one man seizes control and bends the rules and regulations just to meet his whim. It has been very difficult being in the Academy during such dark times. You don't know who to trust. When Admiral LoDona broke away, I felt it was the right course of action, even if I did have to express that behind closed doors. We have no choice." Adams glanced down into the Captain's eyes. "We must defend our way of life and because of that I will defend my ship to the very end, sir."

Eva listened to the Ensign with an impassive face, her empathic senses clearly detecting the emotions behind the Ensign's words noticing that he looked her square in the eyes as he spoke.  His eyes went back to the wall behind her as he finished speaking.  Eva leaned back in her chair nodding slightly.

"Good," She said, tossing the PADD with his orders onto her desk in front of him.  "Because in the middle of a battle you won't have time to hesitate.  You won't have time to debate the issues.  You will have to act, and I will not have an officer serving on board my ship who is uncertain of their choice.”

Ensign Christopher Adams continued to stand at attention while Captain Eva Straton explained his next duties now that he was aboard the ship, "See the Quartermaster about quarters and get your gear stowed, then report to Lieutenant Matrix, Chief Engineer, for duty assignment. Welcome aboard Ensign. Your dismissed."

"Yes, sir," Adams responded. "Thank you, sir."

He did an about face, picked up his duffel bag and exited the Captain's Ready Room.