What You Know

Posted on Sat Nov 28th, 2020 @ 4:05am by
Edited on on Sat Nov 28th, 2020 @ 6:24am

Mission: The Thorion Conundrum Mission Brief
Location: Marine Offices
Timeline: Post-Launch

Joe sat hunched over the desk in the marine offices, pouring over after-action training reports. Given that he was effectively a complete novice at this and with no real life experience behind him, judgement calls on his unit were made based on statistics, gut instinct and the advice of his senior NCO.

Then again, at the same time he did not want to come across completely devoid of any knowledge, initiative or confidence and so tried to lean on others as little as possible.

The Leto had departed spacedock, on their way to their tasked assignment at Thorion 4. Joseph had already had a formal meeting with Captain Thrix, the commanding officer of the marine detachment on the ship, who sympathised with the uncertainty and nerves a first deployment brought.

The Captain came across as an understanding but firm and expecting character, and had said that whilst there was always a bedding-in period to be accounted for, there were certain expectations to be met, as Thrix wanted their small unit to be pound-for-pound the best in the division.

Bailey had also been privy to several meetings amongst the senior staff of the marine detachment.

With only a couple of small platoons, with a junior officer and Platoon Sergeant in each, the idea was that 1st Platoon were more of an experienced unit, one that Captain Thrix would lead on missions and be supported on the ‘ground’ by the officer in daily charge of the unit.

Bailey’s 2nd Platoon was tasked as support, with manpower, equipment and supplies when necessary, but essentially the reserves, which suited Joseph’s newly-commissioned status well.

Thrix explained that the Leto was not an out-and-out combat vessel, but one with a predominant mission of scientific exploration and diplomacy, and as such they should not be expecting frontline combat every other day.

The point was raised that there was a very real possibility that parts of the detachment would likely face reassignment. The example given was that should the Leto embark on an aid mission and it become evident that a further presence was needed remain behind after it’s completion, a portion of the marine detachment may be assigned to stay, should marine command or even Commander Sterling deem it necessary.

With such novice status within the relatively small unit, Bailey was pretty reassured that wouldn’t include him just yet.

“So what do you think Lieutenant?” Joseph’s Platoon Sergeant said, looking up from a PADD of his own. “Of the platoon?” He followed up, in response to a dazed look on the officer’s face.

“They all seem nice?” Bailey replied absent-mindedly.

The Platoon Sergeant looked at his superior blankly. “I meant more about their operational readiness, sir.”

Joe sighed, putting his PADD down and run both his hands through his hair to scruff it up. “I mean-“ He started. “Two of them I have question marks over just as competent people, let alone as competent soldiers.”

“There’s one, maybe two that could step up if either of us were to die?” The 2nd Lieutenant continued morbidly. “I know they all have the required skills, otherwise they wouldn’t be here, but to be honest it wouldn’t be a shock if the corps attracted maladjusted men and women happy to put themselves at risk of being murdered on some misjudged away mission to fill the numbers.”

“Ever the optimist, sir.” The Sergeant replied with just the appropriate amount of sarcasm.

“We’re getting nowhere here, we can pick this back up tomorrow.” Bailey said with his head in his hands. Thrix’s expectation that the Leto’s detachment would be best-in-class was a long way from being a reality.

“Get some sleep sir, we have a meeting with Master Sergeant Hex in the morning and I know he likes to test new officers.” Joe’s second-in-command sympathised, getting up from his seat. “Whilst you may technically outrank him sir, I don’t think you can shout as loud or look as stern as the Master Sergeant.”

“Good point.” Joseph conceded. “Plus he’s a Trill so there’s like a thousand years of shouting practice. It’s going to be like getting punched in the face hungover, by a shuttlecraft that’s wearing knuckle dusters.”

“Have a good night sir.” The Platoon Sergeant said, politely taking their leave.

The Leto had only been out of dock for a couple of days, Bailey’s first few days in open space in an actual job capacity, and already he was noticing the difference between being based on a starbase and his current surroundings.

Granted, it was spacious enough, but the Norway class wasn’t the biggest in the fleet and while there were a couple of hundred people onboard, he’d already started seeing some repeat faces in the corridors sometimes.

That being said, it was now reaching that awkward stage where he’d recognise someone without knowing who they are.

The 2nd Lieutenant had looked through the crew manifest a few times to try and get some sense of his crewmates. He’d met the Blakes in the lounge, and one of the flight control officers he couldn’t remember the name of, but very few people outside of the marine detachment aside from that.

He’d seen a red haired officer in engineering colours that looked ready to sass someone in the corridors, and a tall feline-like officer in medical uniform from a species he’d never seen before, but the size, scale and number of personnel on Starbase 50 all dwarfed the Leto.

The weight of expectation that these strangers on this little ship were to become his nearest and dearest, whether by design or by natural circumstance, seemed to weigh heavily on the back of his mind given that he only knew a handful of them.

He put it down to being new, but then again most people were. Some had known each other before, the Blakes had known each other for more than 25 years, but like the Captain with the nice sash during the dedication ceremony had said, this was the Leto’s first outing.

Minor social concern aside, Bailey stood from his desk and went to heed his Sergeant’s advice, for there was definitely impending minor professional concern to occupy himself with.