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Reporting and ready

Posted on Mon Sep 10th, 2018 @ 12:07am by Captain Enalia Telvan & Ensign Raymond McBain

Mission: Holographic Horrors
Location: Captain's office door
Timeline: 72677.5

McBain had risen early, worked out before running the decks. Once he had his run in he had checked his kit and made sure his equipment, weapons, and tech gear was all ready for use. He cleaned up, dressed for the days work and went to the messhall for breakfast. After eating he went to the Captains office to report in. The Captain was the second person on his to see list. He arrived and straighten his uniform as he approached her door. He knocked and waited. He was more nervous than he expected. After all he had never spent much time in the presence of officers, let alone ship Captains.

Someone was knocking on her ready room door? Was the door chime broken? Probably someone that preferred the old fashioned way rather than the door chime, but it was still odd. "Come in!" Enalia called, clicking off her desk terminal and eyeing her again empty tea cup.

Her visitor didn't look like someone that would enjoy a good cup of tea though. "Ensign McBain, right? Our new infiltration specialist? Welcome aboard. Can I offer you something to drink?"

McBain had opened the door and approached the desk a bit stiffly and come to attention as she spoke. He was determined to make a proper first impression and barely noticed her question. Meeting a ship's Captain was still pretty new territory for him. He shifted to a parade rest stance "Yes Ma'am I am assigned as a infiltration specialist, thank you for the welcome and I would assure you I am delighted to be here as well." His stiffness failed slightly though as he made eye contact "Nothing for me Captain, I just had breakfast but thank you for the offer." He smiled just than as he loosened up a bit "I met the XO last night coming aboard, and I have moved into my quarters. I am working on appointments for my medical baselines? Is there anything else you need me to do at this time. Captain?"

Enalia stared at him for a moment before replying. "Yeah, relax a bit. This is an Intel ship, not a military cruiser. Have a seat and tell me something not in your file. What are your goals while aboard? Do you have any hobbies or interests? Are you allergic to any pets?"

McBain sat down as ordered and took a deep breath. "Not in my file? To be honest there is not much about me that is likely to not be in my file? I like to run daily. I like to read classics, and I paint portraits from memory." He smiled "I guess those are my hobbies and interested as well though. No allergies and I do like most furry or winged creatures. I am not allergic to any I know of but I never felt any warmth for reptiles or snakes." McBain had smiled throughout his reply but the smile faded. "I am not sure it is in my file, the story was very convoluted and much was speculation anyway. I was called up on charges for an incident on Darisa. I bombed a city and a lot of civilians were killed. I did it and never claimed otherwise."

McBain made eye contact, his expression serious but his eyes tormented. "It was a command center and was believed it would end the rebellion if destroyed. I was told one bomb dropped precisely would be enough. If successful civilian losses in the area would be minimal. The alternative was a three day artillery barrage followed by an assault by a full battalion. Civilian casualties were projected at over a hundred times worse. I was brought in as the best pilot available, the most likely to succeed. The Captain of the Dallas offered to fly the mission, he was a pilot as well. The thing is he was a big ship pilot who flew shuttles time to time. You see, just to keep his qualifications current. He was the type to succeed but he would likely have died doing so."

McBain sighed, "I am good at skilled things. I flew the mission to save lives even knowing many would be slain in the process. I can live with what I did. I however am still bitter that command turned on me and brought me up on charges. It was a political move and even being cleared it stained my honor. "The Captain of the Dallas stuck up for me and I will always respect that. I guess I am saying Captain I will do whatever it takes to get the job done. I am not a butcher though. I took thirty-six civilian lives in that bomb. I had to fight my way in against the defenses. I dropped the ordinance precisely and it took out the command center, over sixty of the Rebels and their allies were found in the crater. It was projected over a hundred civilians would be slain though. I was lucky there were so many fewer. The conflict did indeed end within days."

McBain took a second deep breath before making eye contact. "You can always depend on me to do what needs done Captain. Still saving lives, is what I like to think, is what I am doing."

Enalia had leaned forward on her desk as she listened to the story. It was about as she had heard. "You're right, it's not in your file. I've heard another side of it though. Because of it is why you're here, actually. I need someone that can get missions like that done, whether they have the tools or not. Someone that can step over their fallen comrades to save the galaxy, if need be. I think I found that someone."

McBain wondered what exactly she might have heard but he was not so curious as to ask. "I will be ready to help you save the Galaxy as soon as I get my baseline exams Captain." McBain smiled "I do hope we will not need that Orion shuttle I flew here for a few days though. It is still being worked on last time I looked in on it."

The captain couldn't help but grin. "The Orion series runabouts had some pretty serious design flaws in them. I'm surprised you have one, to be honest. Your predecessor had one as a personal ship but it was so heavily modified hardly anyone else could repair or fly it. If you want, we can apply some of the things she did to get around the issues it has."

McBain shrugged "I am not a big tech type. I admit the Orion is a bit clunky in an atmosphere but I like the class. If you want to have it modified I will learn how to use whatever is done." McBain knew every class had supporters and detractors but the few Orions' he had flown had all performed well. This one he had brought here had did all he asked of it, that was for sure.

Enalia decided to at least explain it a bit. "Most of them were decommissioned because of issues with the power systems leading to the forward micro-torpedo launcher igniting the payload magazine and destroying the ship when the reactor overloaded. Some commanders decided redesigning and rebuilding the system was worth it... Most did not. Nexi replaced hers with a smaller, better shielded conduit and swapped it all out for a pair of full sized torpedoes that were manually launched."

"I have never run into that particular problem but I will check the Orion's log and see if the problem was dealt with. I do not see where the weapon switch would be a viable improvement myself. I would rather have the micro launcher if it was not going to blow me up." McBain tilted his head "So this Nexi she took her ride with her when she transferred to her next assignment?" That was a cool idea, having your own shuttle.

"Yeah she wasn't Starfleet prior to joining us and she owned it so when it was time for her to move on, it had to go with her." Enalia still missed Nexi and Aewia, her sister. She only hoped they were doing well and getting the help they needed after all they had gone through. "Anyway, we have a fair bit of custom tactical gear you'll need to be fitted for. I'm sure you're familiar with the standard issue MACO armor but the techs at Intel Command have taken it a step further with our version. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. You'll also be expected to carry the new TR-116C ballistics rifle as well as a phaser rifle. In the past, phasers have done little to nothing against things that have eaten our people. Any questions so far?"

"I have many of my own weapons and gear. I will of course be happy to check out what you have." McBain tilted his head, the mild expression of confusion on his face. "Excuse me Captain but what sort of things are we talking about? The ones immune to phasers and are eating your crew?" Somehow McBain did not think this Captain was one to waste words or mince them. He was taking her literally because he had the impression that was how she meant what she was saying.

"Yeah, Borg experimentations and mutants among others. As you're aware, phasers do little against them." Enalia clarified. "We've run into things like that that instead of assimilating our people, ate them instead." It was a simple statement, but held a lot of meaning. If phasers didn't work but bullets and explosives did, her people needed the right tools to defend themselves.

~Rogue Borg that ate people?~ McBain did not much like the image in his mind. Just the same he smiled "well I will be ready when called on Captain. I never faced the Borg before so this will be an interesting change of pace." He made eye contact and shrugged "anything else you want to ask me Captain?"

"Not that I can think of. Do you have anything for me?" The spotted captain smiled politely, wondering what the man could possibly ask after a conversation like that. Most people didn't have the courage to even grin after she told them that she had had people eaten, but here he was, somehow smiling.

McBain started to stand but stopped "how long before you are going to brief me for my mission? I was told the team medic needs some field training? I would like to meet the team and find out their strengths and weaknesses before we begin preparing to go out." Actually he was secretly sort of a seeker of danger. He had felt most alive when his life was in the most danger. Facing a man-eating Borg thing seemed the sort of enemy you could destroy and need feel no guilt about doing so. He had a feeling this was going to be an interesting assignment.

"We're still filling out the new team but as it stands now, my personal family retainer might be part of it. Baroness Schwein von Alcott is a combat medic and heaven help you if you need her services. The first officer may accompany you on some missions as well as a few of the better trained security personnel. The Assistant Med Chief may go on trips that need a more refined doctor's touch. As for team lead on each mission, that's between you and the Intel Chief." Enalia clicked on her desk terminal and pulled up a holographic representation of a woman.

"This is Hera. Intel Command is still working out the details, but I'm pretty sure our next assignment is going to be to figure out why she's so pissed off and either calm her down or put her down. If you ever wanted to kill a deity, this would be your first chance." Enalia clicked her terminal back off. "For reference, look to Kirk's encounter with the god Apollo. In a few days, we should have an actual mission briefing for the crew. For now though, try not to spread too many rumors."

"Those beings had rather extreme abilities as I remember? I will do as you suggest of course and research the subject. I will say nothing to anyone. Those Borg things you spoke of. Are they minions of these 'God's'. Do you have more information on them that I can check out?" McBain asked in a deep quiet voice as he was thinking as he spoke and was in on-duty mode. he was thinking research was not fully active, he was sure he would have his sign protocols completed by the time of the briefing.

"The rogue Borg were warped by demons and hopefully we won't be fighting any more of them for a while. They were insanely hard to kill. All the information on them is in the Intel computer core." Enalia clicked her desk terminal back off and leaned back in her chair. "Any other questions?"

"No, Captain as I imagine I will get mission specifics in briefings. I think I have enough to work with." He stood "I have taken much of your time and I thank you for your patience. If you have nothing else?" He smiled as he straightened. "Permission to carry on Captain."

Enalia smiled politely. "Indeed. Welcome aboard. Dismissed."

 

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