A new face

Posted on Sunday 28 February 2021 @ 17:02 by Major David Scarlet & Captain Melody Jones & Gunnery Sergeant Alexander Beck

Mission: A Cry from the Darkness
Location: Marine HQ
Timeline: MD 1 1300
1066 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Melody had just received some more details about the colony from Starfleet command, surface conditions, strategic reports and she decided to bring that information down to Lieutenant Scarlet to see how he was settling into his new position as Marine Commander.

Carrying the PADD with this new information, Melody entered the marine HQ and just stood for a moment, regarding normal activities in the HQ. There looked to be some training going on and a few were standing over near the dining tables chatting casually. All that ended abruptly when one of the privates spotted Melody and came to attention, calling out at the same time "Captain on deck!" All the marines suddenly stopped and snapped to attention. One approached Melody and came to formal attention in front of her "Good afternoon Captain."

Melody nodded in acknowledgment, she couldn't help but be impressed with their discipline. "At ease private. All of you, carry on. Lieutenant Scarlett?"

"In his office Captain. With Gunnery Seargent Beck."

"Thank you Private, Carry on." Melody didn't recognise the name but went over to Scarlet's office and pressed the chime.

"Enter." Scarlet called from inside. He glanced at the Gunnery Sargent. "You're free to use the rest of your shift to get settled and we'll discuss your immediate duties during the morning briefing at 0630."

Alex snapped to attention. "Yes sir! " he said. He knew when he was being dismissed.

Melody entered "Good afternoon Lieutenant. We've just received some new information from Starfleet about the colony that I thought you better see." She turned to the new officer, holding out her hand "Good afternoon Sergeant. I'm Captain Jones."

Alex took the Captain's hand and shook. It was soft, delicate, but Alex also looked her in the eye. There was steel in there. The mark of a good commander.

Scarlet had snapped to attention as soon as Captain Jones entered the office. He made a mental note to check about getting an officer's whistle to announce the presence of senior officers when they were on deck.

"Captain Jones, this is Gunnery Sargent Beck. He will be joining Bravo platoon."

Melody smiled at him. "A pleasure Sargeant. What's your specialty? Have you had a chance to look over what we've been sent from Ceti Beta 4?

"I'm a scout sniper by trade, ma'am, but I'm looking forward to doing some good old fashioned training. And no ma'am, I haven't looked at the new mission parameters just yet. I reported aboard less than an hour ago. " Alex explained.

Melody nodded. "Well, I'm sure you'll fit right in here Sergeant and you'll find Lieutenant Scarlet here a most thorough leader who will expect the highest standards, as do I. As for the mission..." She paused as she collected her thoughts "Everything looks a bit too perfect. like the reports have been strategically edited for some reason. Something is really wrong here. Would you mind excusing us while I discuss this with the Lieutenant? I'll let him then disseminate the information among the Marines."

"Yes ma'am. Sounds like Murphy's at it again. I'll make sure to keep my head on a swivel. " said Alex, doing an about-face and leaving the room.

Melody turned back to Scarlet. "I think he's going to make a fine addition around here..." she said thoughtfully. "So how are you settling into your new office?"

"There is a lot to do in not a lot of time." Scarlet said firmly. "The Major was a great CO, but I have my preferences that will be implemented in due time."

He nodded toward the door that Gunnery Sargent Beck had just left through. "He'll be a good addition of course. Good soldier, diverse portfolio. I'll get his worth out of him for sure."

"Now, what is it that has you concerned about this mission?" Scarlet asked as he leaned forward. He had his own theories, but wanted to see how they compared with those of the Captain.

Melody frowned. "These reports make no sense. No advanced viral research yet nothing out of the ordinary reported, and no apparent cause. This disease whatever it is, there were no signs of it when the colony was established and nothing present that could cause something like this. It's like it sprung up out of nowhere. Thye mentioned the colony's water supply but that would be filtered and screened." She took a breath "I don't think this is a natural phenomenon. I think someone has done this and if I'm right, we're looking at sabotage."

"I've taken notice of some of that as well." Scarlet said grimly. "Sabotage would mean more danger on this away mission that we'd originally planned for." He offered a nearby padd to the captain. "I already requested additional resources to send a full platoon to the surface. In a situation like this, we need to balance caution and aggression; too many soldiers and we look like an invading force."

Melody nodded thoughtfully "Good, it sounds like you've covered all the bases. First and foremost when we arrive is treatment but also I want to know where this thing came from and if someone is responsible, that they are bought to justice, understood?"

Scarlet nodded grimly. "Understood Captain." There were rules in warfare. Things that civilized species and groups adhered to as an unwritten code of conduct. Biological warfare was one of those things that broke those rules. If there was a person or persons behind this, then there would be consequences. There had to be.

"We'll be arriving in a few days. I want a mission briefing the night before we arrive to go over the details. Let me know if you need anything else and I'll make sure you're kept up to date with any new information we receive. Carry on Lieutenant."

And with that, Melody headed back to the bridge.

Scarlet sat there for a moment in silence before he picked up his padd and continued to work through what he'd started. His mind still worked on the Captain's orders in the background like a rat chewing through a wall. Justice came in many, many forms.


OFF:

●●●● Captain Melody Jones
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin


Gunnery Sergeant Alexander Beck
Marine Detachment, USS Merlin.

| 1st Lieutenant David Scarlet
Marine Company Commander
USS Merlin