A Change in Command

Posted on Wed Aug 30th, 2023 @ 8:15am by 2nd Lieutenant Saul Humphries & Captain Karyn Somers

Mission: Monsters of the Past
Location: Various/MCO Office
Timeline: Current

[ON]

While the ship was en route back to Starbase 51, Karyn was in her office making sure she had everything she needed, it took some time but she did. Pulling out a Padd she read it over, the field promotion of a senior Sergeant under her command was granted, so she pulled up the sergeant's file and tapped her Commbadge =/\= Somers to Humphries, report to my office immediately, Somers out =/\= She said and signed off before the Sergeant could respond.

She only had to wait half an hour before the Sergeant arrived, she knew he had likely been sorting things out and securing equipment when he got the call, as he entered she waved him in.

Saul entered his commander's office smartly.

Saul had been down in ceremonials he had been detailed with his squad with polishing the regalia the marines used for diplomatic events.

"Sergeant Saul Humpries reporting as ordered," He said with a formal salute reporting himself.

"At ease Sergeant," she said returning the salute from her sitting position, and then she stood up and walked over to her replicator without looking back "Do you have any idea why you have been called here Sergeant?" Somers asked as she tapped something into the replicator interface and the hum it made could be heard before it ended quickly, the tiny box she had replicated was in her hand as she sat down and pulled out two shot glasses and some Romulan Ale, she never cared for the stuff, but it did the trick, this was all done while she was waiting for an answer.

"Well, the Scuttlebutt says you are leaving the Leto for a new assignment. Are congratulations in order Ma'am?", Saul asked.

"No, not a new assignment, more like an old assignment, I have also put in a transfer request to move to Fleet and full-time Security on Starbase 51" she looked up with a smile "But thank you anyway," she said standing up "Now Sergeant, ATTEN... TION!" she ordered.

Sergeant Humphries snapped to attention like the poster board Marine he was.

Saul wondered if he was getting a commendation or something.

She walked forward and removed Sergeant Pin from his collar "This has been authorised by the Captain too and as you are the only remaining Senior Non-Com on the Leto with any experience I now promote you to the field rank of Second Lieutenant and with all rights and privileges the rank possesses, congratulations Lieutenant Humphries" she said after putting the 2nd Lieutenants rank on his shirt collar, she stepped back and went to the desk drawer and pulled out a Rifle Officers sash, just like what she was wearing, then handed it to him. "You as an Officer must now wear this extra piece, just like I do and the Captain, but she wears hers on ceremonial functions," she said, came to attention, and saluted "Congratulations Lieutenant" she finished.

Saul crisply returned the salute stunned.

"It's pretty convenient that we are at Starbase 51, I will have to attend OCS here, while the Leto is docked. If I may ask when do I start?" Saul asked.

She thought a moment "Hmm, good question" She paused as she poured two drinks and handed the newly minted Lieutenant a glass "You might need that shot "There is no definitive method to commanding a unit Saul, I always took it as doing what you did as an NCO and being given more responsibility and accountability, as an officer you will have more attention aimed at you. When you have finished OCS the Rifles that remain are enough for two fire teams. Train them and with them in SAR and extraction skills, After our losses, the Regiment is still recruiting so the troops you have now, will have to make do. But commanding you have to find the balance between what you did and what you now have, you cannot be one of the men anymore, not like you were, whether you know it or not your service life has now changed, you will make mistakes along the way, but what is more important is that you learn from them and do not show cowardice, lead by example, Captain Sterling is a good CO, she has learned a lot from her time as XO on the Tomcat, over fourteen years she served on the ship, so if you get stuck with command stuff or need advice she is the best one to go to" she paused.

"A Long-winded response to a question that is easy to answer, you start, where everything starts, in the beginning, for it is such for you," she said and knocked her shot back in one.

"I am sure Captain Sterling will put the Leto in for maintenance and be busy debriefing what we found on that station. I understand Captain Sterling has put in a request for at least a platoon of Rifles. Going from a company to two fire teams will significantly impact her mission capabilities," Saul said.

Saul raised his glass and chugged down the beverage it wasn't bad at all.

"I am not new to leadership, not in the slightest and I have an excellent combat service record. I am sure after all we have been through that she will need the extra muscle. Two fire teams aren't even enough for the pomp and circumstance this ship requires on a diplomatic mission," Saul added. What is command thinking?" He added.

"The Leto is a small ship and can only carry so many troops, Two Fire Teams are enough for an honor guard, The NX01 had roughly the same amount of MACOs on her and they did okay, the duties you will be given will not be ceremonial if they are it will be as an honor guard, the Rifles are not large enough to supply a Platoons worth of troops to the Leto maybe another six Rifles, but not sufficient to make up a platoon. The Majority of the Rifles were assigned to the Tomcat some years ago and even the Tomcat finds it hard to replace any troop losses if the reports I have seen have any impact on the situation. Also, Fleet Command is trying to move away from combat troops, so the Captain will face opponents from High Command, we are at peace with most of the quadrants, the Breen have returned to their space, the Romulans are still reeling from Hobus, the Cardassians have petitioned to join the Federation, as have the Bajorans, the Dominion has remained in its space in the Gamma Quadrant and is content to stay there and the Borg have not been to this area for some years and the pirate factions are not that powerful, so High Command will not willingly reassign anymore Marines to the Leto, when there is peace the Admiralty are happy and can put resources mainly used for war into infrastructure and exploration. Honestly good luck to the Captain, but the chances of the Leto getting any more troops are very slim, It now boils down to how convincing the Captain can be" She paused.

"There is one way, but that would mean you and the remaining rifles would need to take up instructor positions, recruit from populations of friendly planets that are warp capable and train the volunteers up, replenish the losses that way, but Captain Sterling could speak to the Fleet Captain and see if she will reassign some Rifles from Starbase 51's complement" Karyn finished.

"If I may submit fleet command is acting a bit short-sighted. The fact that we are taking losses is indicative of the fact we need more rifles, not less. It's an inherently dangerous galaxy out there. Who is going to protect it if not the rifles?" The newly minted lieutenant replied.

"Starfleet Security will have to take up that mantle, The Federation is not at war, so the need to recruit assault troops like the Rifles is basically on the back burner, There is still recruiting going on, but Starfleet is not currently promoting such recruitment, they have returned their attentions to Exploration and Diplomatic endeavors, my Sister is doing a Starfleet Academy course and when she graduates it will be as a Captain within the Fleet, yes she will eventually wear Captain's Pips not a Colonels Eagle, as much as she likes being a Rifleman, she knows that during times of peace, soldiers are not required, but until she does get a ship command she will make full Colonel upon graduation and only change to Fleet when given a Command, from what she tells me in correspondence her latest adventures on the Tomcat and commanding her has tempered her urge for a ship command" Karyn paused.

"Regardless, if there are to be any replenishment it will have to be from actual regimental HQ or the Captain speak to the Fleet Captain and get troops that way, but for the immediate future, the rifles that are on the Leto at present are going to have to be sufficient, we Somers clan know when the winds are changing and what was will be and what is will be no more, well until the next Galactic Conflict anyway, I will be transferring to Starfleet Security when I return to Starbase 51, may as well face up to that fact Saul" she finished.

"I will discuss it more with Captain Sterling, she is after all a chosen man and a very high-ranking member of the rifles," Saul said.

[OFF]
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Captain Karyn Somers
Chief of Marines Starbase 51

&

2nd Lieutenant Saul Humphries
Commander Det 95 Rifles, SFMC
USS Leto- NCC-80916