Practice makes Perfect

Posted on Tuesday 17 January 2017 @ 07:45 by Major David Scarlet

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Security Office
Timeline: MD9 Late Morning
489 words - 1 OF Standard Post Measure

Scarlet stood up and walked around the small table. The squard leads sat silently reading over the new duty and training regime.

"Any questions?" Scarlet asked firmly as he took a spot by the door and crossed his arms over his chest. "This is just the first kick at the can. I will want feedback from everyone doing the training."

"Sir, if I may." A young Bolean ensign motioned to the pad. "I see that the training is individually labeled for different situations, Klingon, Romulan, Breen, Borg... even Ferengi. In such a short time, the crew won't be able to keep the tactics straight. I don't think this would be valuable."

Scarlet stared intensely at the ensign for a moment before a wry smile cracked his lips. "I don't expect them all to learn and remember everything. The point is that I want a list of the people who excel at the different situations and simulations." He pointed to the wall as the display changed to show the current command structure. He waved his hand and the middle of the chain disappeared. "Right now, with our current system, all the knowledge is held by a few and because of the nature of our job those few are at risk to be taken out in the field."

The display changed. Instead of the standard chain of command, it now showed separate cells. Scarlet waved his hand and several of the dots disappeared. "But with a decentralised system, losing some would not handicap the whole." The dots themselves changed different colours, each cluster with one of each. "Groups will be made up of people who specialize in different situations who can take command of their own cells depending on the need."

"And the chain of command?" Another ensign asked.

"Still applies in normal day to day operations. This only takes place during combat situations. The knowledge leads will know each other and who is trained for what, so in a combat situation they will take charge of their own squad until orders from a superior officer."

"As well," Scarlet continued. "I want suggestions about tactics and special weapons as they come up. We use the standard tactics and training as a baseline, but I'm not going to be held to it. Anything that could improve our odds in a fire fight, I'll work on getting it approved."

"Anything sir?"

"You bring me hard data and numbers, let me fight the fight for approvals with command." Scarlet growled. "Your job is to be prepared for anything, my job is to get you what you need to do it."

"If there is nothing else, dismissed." Scarlet walked back to his desk as the ensigns filed out of his office silently. The door had barely shut before Crewman Aumento rushed in.

"Sir... I apologize..." Aumento stammered. "It is about Lieutenant Tillatix." Shivering, she held out the keybox.

[OFF]

Lieutenant David Scarlet
CSTO
USS Merlin