Earth - Boatswain Abram Wallace
From Create Your Own Story
When Commander Richard Smith left the Admiral’s Office, he headed towards the Bachelor Officers Quarters (BOQ) to check into a room for the next thirty days prior to the ship’s departure. Crossing the Quad, he spied a familiar figure.
“BOATS!” Commander Smith yelled to the man.
The figure wearing the uniform of a Chief Petty Officer in the Solar Guard slowed and turned his head in the direction of the call. A broad grin spread across his face and he changed directions, now heading towards Commander Smith.
“Captain!” Chief Petty Officer Abram Wallace exclaimed when he neared Commander Smith. “When did you get in, Sir?”
“Just now,” Smith replied, nodding down to the brief case in one hand and the large nylon bag in the other. He sat both down on the pavement and extended his right hand. “Good to see you, Boats. When did you get in?”
The Chief Petty Officer shook the Commander’s hand and answered, “Aw, you know me, Skipper. I never left.” He nodded towards the main gate. “I rented a place down the road and spent my time in I-and-I.”
Wallace had been in the Solar Guard all his life, and after two failed marriages, it was his life. During the past two month "stand-down" period, when the crew of the 5-EX had been given Leave to spend at home with their families and loved ones, Chief Wallace had rented a small one-bedroom furnished apartment not far from the base. He spent many of his afternoons and evening at the Chief's Club, usually eating his evening meal there and frequently staying until closing time getting seriously and deliberately drunk.
“Intoxication and Intercourse?” Smith replied with a gin of his own.
“Aye, Captain.” Chief Wallace nodded. “I was just headed over to the T.A.D. Barracks to get berths for the incoming crew.”
Commander Smith glanced towards the Temporary Assigned Duty (T.A.D.) Barracks and nodded his head. “I was pretty much doing the same. Well, carry on.” Commander Smith picked up his gear again and resumed heading towards the Officers Quarters while Chief Petty Officer Wallace went to the Enlisted Men’s Barracks.
Once Wallace had made certain that the T.A.D. Barracks had three four-man rooms available on the same floor for the incoming new crew of Enlisted Men, he left written instructions with the Chief Master-At-Arms. That way whichever Master-At-Arms was on watch could pass the instructions along to the new crew members that would be trickling in during the next fourteen hours or so.
After that, Chief Petty Officer Wallace stopped by the 5-EX landing area to make a personal tour of the ship. The Officers and Crew of the cruiser would not start working on the ship for another two weeks and would not begin transferring their personal gear onboard until a week after that.
Still, the Boatswain wanted to make sure everything would be ready.
When he returned to the T.A.D. Barracks, he had the Chief Master-At- Arms set aside one of the four rec-rooms for Wallace to use the next morning as a meeting room.
