> "Not much of an interesting story. Academy > grad, ranking in the bottom third of my class. Worked about every thankless, crap job befitting someone that graduated last in his class straight through until I made full lieutenant. My commanding officer at the time was a newly promoted Captain named Markus Garibaldi. He gave me a second chance. Actually, it was a first chance, but that is another matter. He assigned me to security on a rotation to serve under the son of a well placed admiral. The son was an idiot, promoted because of his father. I was to keep him from killing people, and to help him learn how to be a competent officer. I did just that. Had to practically beat it in him too. After, I conned the poor bastard into resolving our disagreements with a kendo match. Each time he made a mistake, and I would correct him we would argue. Then we would have a kendo match to settle it. I happened to study kendo as a child living in Japan where my parents worked for a large company tech, so I had a small leg up on him. His beatings got so bad that the CMO had to relieve him several times, and he quickly learned to take the advice of others and to brush up on his qualifications. For that strange 7 month assignment I was promoted to Lt.Commander as operations Manager. That was about 12 years ago. From there my career, and reputation, has been built on taking the dirty little jobs that no one wants any part of. That is actually how I got my command, some two and half years ago. Starfleet needed some nut to command this rag tag crew on this piece of crap ship. They figured I was perfect since I don't always follow the book. Kind of a left handed compliment. Well, in six months this reject crew and throw away captain had this ship in a condition that it had not seen in years. Efficiency ratings rose 3 points above fleet average. All it takes is finding the biggest bad ass and conning them into the kendo gym. My exec, who came aboard about 3 months ago, still remembers his last concussion. He got it 2 weeks ago, but don't let him fool you. He *IS* from Japan and is technically better than I am. My luck comes from having a hell of a lot more experience with a shinai than he does."
She nodded, smiling occasionally as he spoke, chewing her steak thoughtfully as she listened. "Verrry imprrressive, Captain," she smiled when he was finished, meaning it. "I would rrratherr have a hundrrred warrriorrs like you on my side than a thousand snot-nosed little admirrral's childrrren. It's why I like SpecOps; the people in it arrre like you; not afrrraid to do what they have to do." (resp?) "So, what is yourrr currrrent generrral assignment? Supporrrt? Escorrrting carrrgo convoys?" (resp?)
