Phasers: Offense and Defense (Part 3)
Posted on 02/27/2020 @ 6:30pm by Lieutenant JG Salynn Oram & Lieutenant JG Marcus Giaus Aurilieus
Edited on on 02/28/2020 @ 7:10pm
Mission:
S1E1: Out of the Barn
Location: USS Crazy Horse, Armory/Phaser Range
Timeline: Day 3 at 1000
Marcus followed the lighted panels as they directed him to the Armory. He considered this qualification and unnecessary delay on getting the Intel section up and running. He chided himself. He wasn't an covert operative any more and as such he now fell fully under the full auspices of the 'Fleet. With a sigh he made his final turn and stood in front of the armory's door, straightened his tunic and stepped through.
As he looked around he noticed three other crew within. Taking a deep breath he leaned against a nearby archway and watched through the large window at the ensuing qualification waiting patiently for his turn in the chute .
Having just got done with Lieutenant Langtree, Tahlin stepped out to find a human male in a Lieutenant's uniform waiting for her. "What can I do for you?" she asked pleasantly. Something was... off about him, but that didn't mean she couldn't be polite.
Marcus, breaking out of his stoicism, offered his hand. "Lt. Aurilieus. Intel Chief." He added pulling up a small smile. "I received the memo we had to requalify." He waved his arms encompassing the armory. "So here I am." he looked past the Bajoran to the range. "Can you fit me in?"
"I think we can manage... I suspect we'll be seeing some of each other--Security and Intel usually work together, at least in my experience... Pick a phaser--you have to hit sixteen out of twenty targets."
"I have some ideas that I want to bring up once I get settled..." nodded Marcus as he walked over and picked up a type 2 phaser. The Intel officer deftly checked the power source and emitting diode, performed a quick remedial action drill, checked the training setting and took a relaxed position with the phaser hanging down at his side. He unconsciously flexed his left hand causing the small whir of it's servo motors to sound in the nearly silent room.
Tahlin noted the mechanical sound with interest.
"Ready when you are." He added as he waited for range to begin.
Tahlin hit a control and watched the Intel chief intently.. Not bad form, she mused. Certainly knows how to handle a phaser.
As the first of the disks began to appear Marcus snapped up his arm and sent a red beam into the target, barely hitting the fast moving disk. Taking a deep breath he calmed himself settling into a smooth, steady breathing pattern. As the disks came on faster and faster Marcus easily targeted each in turn eventually losing count in the heat of battle. As the last two targets appeared, one directly behind the other, Marcus snapped off a shot that although he hit the target it left him off balance. As he tried to move and steady himself he rushed the shot at the remaining disk missing it by a considerable margin.
"Manache!" cursed Marcus as the lights came back up and the phaser deactivated. Turning, he walked out of the room back to the Bajoran Security chief. "So, what's the damage?" He asked. Embarrassed at his loss of composure with the last disk he sat the phaser on the desk, completely unsure of what his score was.
"Sixteen... You qualify, though I'm happy to give you another run if you'd like... Also, what language was that curse--sounds colorful." Tahlin gave him a grin.
"Magna Roman. It is akin to your Terran Italian" He was disappointed with his score, but he knew there was a difference in combat and firing on a range, he knew he would get better.
"I will make arrangements to practice later. I still need to get to Sick Bay." He held out his hand to the Bajoran. "Thank you for your time and effort. Vale." he added using the Magna Roman phrase for goodbye as he left the Armory
"Salutare to you, too," Tahlin added under her breath as the human left. (She did shake his hand, however). Who'd have thought she'd have to use the Latin she knew to communicate on a starship? Not her, certainly.
Salynn Oram had finally found the time to make it down to the armory range for her mandatory sidearms proficiency training. She was glad that she wasn't due for her martial arts proficiency testing yet, as she was still feeling a little exhausted from the transit to the Crazy Horse. A bit of phaser fire, though, she could handle.
As she was getting ready to enter the range, Sal noted that there was an individual in line after her, a statuesque human-looking male. She tried not to generalize at first glances, but this man looked like he would rather be anywhere else at the moment. Feeling like she could relate, she shot him a friendly smirk and a tilt of the head in greeting before entering the range to meet the head of Security.
"I heard tell that this is where one goes to play with guns. Is that true?" chuckled Salynn to the Bajoran awaiting her, with her hands up in a placating manner so as to show she was speaking in jest.
Tahlin jumped, then realized who the woman was. "More or less... Lieutenant Lae'Or. Lets see... You're a Trill, you're on the senior staff... Helm, right?"
"Sal Oram, pleased to meet you. I'll just need basic re-certification, as most times I'll have both hands at the helm. When the need falls to me to have a phaser at hand, then things have really taken a wrong turn." Sal had never been great at her phaser skills as much as merely competent, but she was comfortable enough with the devices. It was enough to put her at ease for the examination, perhaps too much so, and she wondered if the lieutenant would prefer the helmsman to take the task more seriously than she had been thus far. Nothing a disarming smile and apology wouldn't fix, if so.
"I entirely understand... Actually, wanted to talk to you--was hoping to get my flight qualifications boosted a bit... Feeling a bit rusty on runabouts... Also..." She tilted her head. "I swear we've run into each other... Did you go rock-climbing on Risa a couple of years ago?"
Sal hadn't had a chance to fully update herself on the ship's contingent of support craft. However, even if the Crazy Horse didn't have a dedicated Danube-class craft aboard, she was certain she could requisition one from the starbase for a few hours. She smiled broadly. "A runabout is the best craft to hone your qualifications on. If you can pilot one of those beasts through the flight parameters test, then you can handle any of the smaller, more nimble craft. We'll get that set up for you right away. And as for Risa?" She stared intently at Tahlin for a moment. "Possibly? The timeline lines up, but I was so busy that trip..." Sal shrugged and chuckled apologetically.
"No problem... If you're game, I've got a nice holo-program of some rocks on Bajor if you want to join me... As to phasers, grab what you will... Shall we?"
"I'm all for a good holo-excursion, keep me in mind next time you're going climbing!" grinned Salynn. She looked over the array of weapons available for training and proficiency, and immediately decided on the Type-2 phaser. This was the weapon most likely to end up in her hands operationally, since it was the type secured throughout the bridge and in shuttles for quick access. It was also the standard sidearm issue for run of the mill Away team missions. Away team missions that required phaser rifles also required beefy Security officers to carry said rifles. She held the phaser in the ready position, pointing down the range. "Okay, ready when you are."
Tahlin hit a control, and the holograms came to life. She'd be watching this one particularly intently--the Trill were always fascinating to watch, and if she was honest with herself, the helmswoman was a fair sight nicer than the last Trill she'd met.
Oram kept a critical eye down range, and tried to stabilize the phaser between shots so as to not send her shots wide. At the end, she secured her phaser and turned expectantly towards Tahlin. She'd never kid herself into thinking she'd make the ship's Velocity team, but Sal was confident she had done enough to pass. "Well? Think that gets me a pass for another year?" She laughed. "Though remedial training might not go astray either..."
"You did really well... Sixteen... I'm impressed... You weren't a markswoman in any of your previous lives, were you?" She broke off. "Er, if I can ask? I haven't served with many Trill, so..."
Sal laughed, pleased both in her performance and in the compliment. It was also an ice-breaker laugh, to let Tahlin know that her question was perfectly fine. "Yes, I am Joined, and no, it's not rude to ask. Just don't be surprised if non-Joined Trill don't want to expound on their lack of symbiont. It's a process that seems more like a lottery than anything else, and some of us can feel disadvantaged if we're not chosen. And none of the other Oram hosts had anything to do with weapons, unless you count a pastry cutter. She could shoot out a mean tart, though..."
"Hey, don't discount a pastry cutter... When my mother was in a mood, her kava and marel fruit tarts could be weaponized... Its a positive thing," Tahlin giggled. "Anyway, shall I just show up to the shuttlebay when I've got the time?"
"Let me make the necessary arrangements, but yes, it'll be soon." Salynn smiled coyly. "Thanks, Lieutenant, we'll see you again soon." She turned to leave the weapon's range, but not without one last glance over her shoulder to see if she'd made as good an impression on Lae'Or as she'd made on herself.
It wasn't often that Archer found himself in the Armory. In his time as an assistant chief engineer, he had overseen the transfer between standard-issued weapons to the Engineering department and verified their monthly maintenance schedule. Even then, the Security department had handled that.
Now that he was the head honcho, well, now things were different. Updating everyone's qualifications would mean that they could carry a phaser and be responsible for it, which meant that Security would not be babysitting anybody. That made sense to Archer. Pity that more security chiefs didn't interpret Regulation 12-A in that manner.
For this reason, when Archer approached Tahlin, it was with a smile on his face. "Good day, Lieutenant. I'm here for phaser qualifications."
"And last but not least, our chief of Engineering." Tahlin gave him a smile, salute, and handshake. "Pleasure... What's your phaser experience and preference, Lieutenant?"
Archer covered his apprehension with a sunny smile. "So, I honestly never touched a phaser until the Academy. Earned fair marks in my time there. Never had much call to use a phaser since then, but I can hold my own." Hoping that sounded convincing and not insecure, he went on. "As for preference? I don't have one. What do you recommend?"
"Hmmm..." Tahlin sized him up. "Probably Type I or II... Type I is smaller, but Type II is more prevalent on missions... Lets get you qualified on Type II--we'll worry about Type I later... If you want, I can also get you trained on the Type III rifle, but its just an option."
"Type II it is, then," Archer said with a friendly smile and nod. Looking at the phasers on display, he sheepishly added, "That one, right?"
"No, that one." She pointed. "You almost grabbed a micro phaser drill."
"Uh, right..." Archer reached for the phaser Tahlin indicated and ensured it was powered down before handling it. "Been awhile," he said with a nervous chuckle. "Guess that's why I'm here."
"It happens to the best of us... I once almost tried to use a phaser torch to heat coffee... I'd had a very, very long night of it."
Archer felt himself chuckle from deep in the belly. "You know, at the right setting that might not be the worst thing ever." He walked up to the firing line and waited for instruction. "How do you want me to do this?"
Tahlin gave him a smile. "Relax. When I hit the button, aim for the blue discs and hit as many as you can... Ready?"
"Ready," Archer said, putting one foot backward and extending his firing arm.
Tahlin hit a control. "Go!"
Fighting the urge to close his eyes, Archer pointed the business end of the phaser toward the targets and fired as many times as he dared. He had to admit he was having a bit of fun by the end, but he still fear his aiming left much to be desired.
"Fourteen... You hit the mark, but barely... I think I'm going to have you work with one of my staff--Ensign Blackfeather--to improve your score... Technically, you don't have to, but that accuracy could use some work."
Archer cringed at barely meeting minimum standards. "I guess that would be a good idea," he bashfully agreed. "If we had intruders in Engineering, it would make matters worse if I fired on them and hit a power coupling."
"Its okay.... Even I can improve my accuracy... I'll send you word about timing with Ensign Blackfeather. I've heard good things about her, so you should be fine... Anything else?" she asked him, trying to be reassuring.
"No, I'm good," Archer said, swallowing the falsetto that threatened to pop out of his throat. Breathe, he thought to himself. It's over now. Just breathe...
"Relax, Lieutenant... First time I had to qualify after the Academy, I only barely scraped by myself... Its okay, really..." She checked her chrono. "Come on--got time for a coffee? Its about time for a break on my end of things."
"Uh...." At first Archer just blinked, being caught completely off guard. But as he processed her words, a goofy grin overtook his face. "Why, sure! Lead the way."
A Post By:
Lieutenant (J.G) Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief of Security and Tactical
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant (J.G) Marcus Giaus Aurilieus
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Crazy Horse
LtJG Salynn Oram
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Crazy Horse
(and)
Lieutenant (J.G.) Archer Logan
Chief Engineer
USS Crazy Horse
