Reporting in a Time of Crisis...

Posted on Friday 26 February 2021 @ 14:01 by Major David Scarlet & Gunnery Sergeant Alexander Beck & Chief Petty Officer Marika Beck

Mission: A Cry from the Darkness
Location: USS Merlin
Timeline: MD 1 1245
875 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

USS MERLIN, TRANSPORTER ROOM 2

Alex opened his eyes as he finished transport. He hated the process, although he'd grown used to it. He turned his head and looked to his right. Marika stood on the transporter pad next to him, and Wyatt stood with her.

"Everything okay? " asked a high pitched voice from below. Alex looked at the Bolian who manned the transporter console.

"Sorry, Chief. I'm not fond of transporters. " he said.

"No apologies necessary. Just making sure you're good to go. If you'll pardon my rushing you, I have more people waiting behind you. " said the Chief.

"Sorry. " said Alex, motioning for Marika and Wyatt to get off the pad so the Chief could get back to work. They walked out of the transporter room.

"Okay. Obviously the ship is in small crisis mode. You mind taking him to get him checked in with Medical and the ship's school? " he asked.

"Go report in, honey. I'll take care of the rest. That's what a Marine wife does. " she said. He leaned in and kissed her, tousled Wyatt's hair, then headed off to the nearest turbolift. Once the doors closed behind him, he said "Deck 21."

DECK 21

The turbolift deposited him on Deck 21 a moment later, and he stepped out. He had tried to memorize the deck plan on the transport over, but Wyatt, in his childlike attitude, had demanded his attention a lot. The transport that had brought them here, the Vespucci, was a fast ship, but there wasn't anything for a child to do other than sit in their stateroom and read or watch vids. After a wrong turn or two he finally found a sign that identified the Marine HQ spaces. He walked in and quickly found his new CO's office. He tapped the door chime and waited to be called in.

"Enter." Scarlet's voice called out firmly, followed a moment later by the door sliding open. He was looking down at a padd and cross referencing the roster with their training scores. Looking up from his reading after a moment he saw a face he didn't recognize in a marine uniform.

"Report." He ordered crisply. Taking the opportunity to stand up from his seat, Scarlet locked eyes with the marine and gave him a once over. Older, but held himself well. A veteran.

Alex looked at his new commander. He looked competent enough, but Alex would reserve judgement after seeing the man in action. He snapped to attention.

"Sir, Gunnery Sergeant Alexander Beck reporting aboard! " he said.

Scarlet snapped to attention in response before giving the man a quick nod. "At ease." He motioned for the chair in front of his desk. "And have a seat. I'll pull up your file."

Alex sat and waited while he looked up his personnel file.

Scarlet sat back down and tapped the padd a few times to bring up the personnel file for Sgt. Beck. He looked it over in silence for a moment. "You have training experience. Good. When not deployed or during your own training I'll expect that you'll be helping the other marines stay sharp. I am going to expect you to draw from all your experiences and not just as a sniper."

"Yes sir. You can count on me. Are there any particular areas you would like me to focus on? " asked Alex, inwardly nodding in approval. His estimate of this officer went up a notch. This one wanted his marines sharp and ready.

"I will once I have given your file a full review. We have a few days before we arrive on-site. You'll have your assignment and plenty of time to get settled in before then." Scarlet replied. He put the padd down and laced his fingers together on the desk in front of him.

"I want to play to your strengths, but I'm not going to pidgeon hole you and you'll have to ensure you're ready for what is thrown at you in a moments notice." Scarlet grinned a little. "You know as well as I do that no plan survives an encounter with an enemy."

Alex nodded. "I do indeed, sir. All too well. " he said.

"Since you haven't finished looking over my file yet I think you should know that a lot of information in there has been redacted. " he told his CO. While he couldn't give the man any operational knowledge of some of the ops he'd been part of during the war, he'd tell him what he could if he wanted to know. The Lieutenant should know exactly the type of gunny he was getting.

Scarlet sat back in his chair. "Has anything been redacted due to disciplinary actions?"

"No sir. More like due to highly classified operations. " said Alex.

"From what I have read and from what you've said, you're not some wet behind the ears recruit. You know the job and you know what I'm going to expect from you; nothing short of your best." Scarlet said firmly.

"And you'll have it, sir. You have my word on that. " said Alex.

OFF:

Gunnery Sergeant Alex Beck
Marine Scout Sniper
USS Merlin

| 1st Lieutenant David Scarlet
Marine Company Commander
USS Merlin