That's Fine, Sonny, But This Here's The Fleet
Posted on Thu Feb 7, 2019 @ 2:43pm by Major Victor Crowe & Lieutenant Arashi Tanaka Mr.
3,170 words; about a 16 minute read
Mission:
Plaga Navis
Location: Holodeck
OOC: LET'S KEEP THIS ONE ON THE BURNER FOR AWHILE. THIS ONE WILL GO GREAT AFTER WE GET DONE WITH THE CLOAKED SHIP.
The simulation of the hostage-taking and rescue had begun. The situation was a bit of a mess. Some of the terrorists had taken hostages and secured them behind a barricade which was being watched by snipers. Tanaka had to brief his team with what little intel that he had. "All right. We have had a call of some terrorists taking hostages and making demands the law enforcement. We have been tasked with trying to rescue the hostages and taking down the terrorists. We have been trying to negotiate but we have not had much success." Arashi said and pointed to a map. "They have fortified the perimeter but it isn't going to be hard to get through. They have a barricade. The rest of the terrorists are inside the building and we have no intel as of yet on how many of them there are." He pointed to a map and set teams to positions for assault.
"Alpha team will enter here when the assault begins, phasers on stun and flash grenades only. We will take them down non-lethally." Arashi said and then pointed to another area. "Beta team will be here and converge on the terrorists, clearing rooms as we go. We need to do this as quickly as possible. When we get the go order, that is the plan." Arashi said. He wasn't sure that this was going to work but he had little information to go on and he had to do what he could do. The plan, such as it was, was ready to go and all that he could do was wait and execute the plans that he had. "Any, questions? Any concerns?" He said and then waited. "Any booby traps that may slow us down? If we find them what should we do about them?"
"Disarm them if possible. Try to do it fast but carefully." Arashi said and then turned back to the group. "Anything else?" No one said a word. "All right then, get to it. Deploy and wait for my orders." The teams deployed and waited for their orders.
"Stop right there, kid!" Vic ordered loudly. "Computer, halt simulation and reset to time index 0-0-1-7 and hold." Vic moved over to face the young security chief and smiled at him. "You have a good textbook setup, sonny, but this here's the Fleet!" Computer give me a floating display." A holographic display appeared in the middle of the air beside Vic's head. "First and major problem, you are in a building of unknown floor composition;and this usually means it may be full of hidey-holes, nooks, crannies, and other hidden areas. Before you send your people in, have a survey drone get a more complete picture for you." Vic tapped a control on his wrist. "Deploy tactical recon drone, full range scan and compile with known intel."
A recon drone appeared and scanned the entire structure, relaying the information to Lt Tanaka's wrist com. "See, you now know you have biometric sensors acting as tripwires which will tell the bad guys you're coming long before you get near a hostage." Vic pointed to the strategically placed choke points that glowed red on the floating monitor. "These can be beaten with a simple override, which your team systems man failed to do. You also know the exact number of bad guys, where they are located, and how many hostages are in the building and their placement as well."
He was taking notes with a PADD. He was going to go over this again and again when he had the chance to study this. "Roger that." he said as he finished taking notes and checked his wrist comm. He was sure that he could do this with the proper training.
"Second, I don't see any snipers, nor were there any deployed on this op. Snipers are a rescue team's best friend. Gomers that take hostages usually aren't that smart. They make all kinds of mistakes that a sharp operator can take advantage of, the most common of which is standing in front of a window. A good sniper can cut down the opposing force quickly and quietly, easing the danger to the team.
He needed good shooters on his team and resolved to get them training on that right away. He wrote down on his PADD to remind himself to do so. He had to make sure that he had the tools to do the job and he wasn't going to squander the opportunity to get things organized now that he had help.
"Last, your Ops man may be combat qualified, but his job is to monitor the displays and relay critical data to you, as well as coordinate with Victory operations so you can get in there and take down the gomers before they know you are there. It might not hurt to have a couple guys near the field command post in case there are a few enemy sleepers lurking nearby."
Vic looked at the younger man. "You're a good security officer, lieutenant, but if you're going to be security chief, you have to be ready for anything. Tell you what, we'll run a simulation with me as your systems tech. How does that grab you?"
"To train with a Marine? That would be great sir. As strange as it may sound, I was close to joining the Starfleet Marine Corps but decided on security training." Arashi said after finishing taking notes on his PADD. "Anytime you are ready sir, we can start. I am eager to see what I can do and what I need to improve on." Arashi was telling the truth. He wanted to be more of a help to the ship and if this training would be helpful to that end then he would endure whatever was going to happen to the best of his abilities. He sure as hell didn't want to disappoint anyone so he would do his best.
25 MINUTES LATER
Vic and his young protege sat in the runabout's mission ops area, ready to monitor the upcoming simulation. "Okay, kid, you're people are in place." Vic keyed the ICS mic. "Alpha Team, this is Alpha Six-Actual; we have final execute authority for hostage rescue; I say again, mission is a go! !st squad, take the south entrance, 2nd squad, northern air shaft is your POE; sniper teams take out any targets of opportunity. ROE is Alpha, all hostiles are expendable." Vic paused. "Computer, stop simulation" Vic looked at the younger man. "Okay, there is an ingress action, what did I forget to do?"
Arashi thought it over a moment and looked over what had been done already. Snipers were deployed and given orders to take out targets of opportunity and teams were sent to the points of entry, ready to go. "I believe you forgot the intel. You showed me before we reset that we need to scan the building and see if there are any booby traps that need to be disarmed, and to monitor the movements of the hostage takers." He said. "If we don't have intel, the team could walk into a booby trap, or get killed by the hostage takers. We can disarm traps and take out the hostage takers with snipers if we know where they are." He wasn't too confident that he was right but if he had to make a guess, that is what seemed to be missing out of the equation.
"Computer, end program!" Vic called out, then turned to look at the younger man. "Lieutenant, is this your first posting?"
"Yes sir. I hadn't trained in hostage rescue until now." Arashi said. "This is the first time. I was trained to repel boarding action on board a starship but never as a hostage rescue team." He had never thought that he might be called on to rescue hostages or take down terrorists.
Vic smiled a sleepy, predatory smile. "Son, if you try to lead a rescue team as you stand you will get half of your team killed and lose all of the hostages. Command tends to frown on that. I've led about a couple dozen hostage rescue missions and I am gonna tell you each one is unique. There is no right way to do it, but if you go in there with a timid, 'yessir-three-bags-full-sir' attitude, the ops will go sour in a hurry."
Arashi listened intently. There was no excuse, he was literally hand held through out the procedure and he still failed to grasp what he was being taught. He had no excuse for what happened and he knew he deserved the tongue lashing.
Vic rose to his feet. "Computer, created a Starfleet classroom, complete with central holographic viewer." The computer obediently created a standard classroom with the equipment Vic requested. "Kid, when you kick down doors, you need to realize a few things; one, the aggressors with the weapons are expendable. They chose to violate Federation law and whatever laws in force for that area; two, you and your team are not immortal so you better by God do your homework; and the most important thing of all is do not miss the target. Take the shot before you are killed by an enemy. Is any of this sinking in?"
"Yes sir." He said. He was upset that the first lesson that he had, he was already failing but he tried not to show it. He had never done this hostage rescue thing before. He had some, no, very little knowledge of what to do when this came up but was always told to let the teams specialized for hostage rescue handle it. Failing his superiors was the last thing on hiis mind but here he was doing it. He was resolved to do better.
Vic reached over and took Tanaka's pad, then threw it against the bulkhead, breaking it. "Son, this is not about studying! Innocent beings who have had their rights violated by criminals are depending on you to free them without killing them!" Vic said, raising his voice. "I think you need to suit up with my TAC Team and go on a few live runs with us." Vic tapped his com-badge. "Major Crowe to Commander Hunter, could you meet us in the training holodeck, please?"
The reply was quick in coming back. Alec's voice cam through the combadge, "I'll be there in five minutes."
As Vic finished summoning the XO, he looked at the expression on the boy's face. "You haven't done anything wrong, lieutenant. No one is upset with you. I'm gonna make a suggestion to Commander Hunter that my NCOIC, Gunny Woodard, work with you and your department creating and implementing a solid TAC team. One of my shooter teams will train your guys up." They seriously sent you here with no experience?" he asked the boy gently.
"I was only trained in shipboard security duties, sir. Like I said, I was told to let a specialized HRT handle the rescue of hostages and all of that. I wanted to train in this because I want to be of more help to the ship and the captain." Arashi said, a bit relieved that no one was too upset at him. "I want to be able to help when the need arises but to be honest I didn't think it would be this hard to do that. Despite that, I will do my best to help the ship no matter what happens." He meant that too. He had joined the crew of the Victory with that in mind and if that meant he had to train hard in something that he had no experience in then by Kami, he would do it.
"No one is questioning your willingness, lieutenant," Vic said in a kind voice. "I think someone's detailer got a bug up their ass and sent a green kid into a hot situation." Vic looked Tanaka straight in his eyes. "You are an officer on this ship, lieutenant. You are a department head, which means your people look to you for guidance and leadership. All the Academy does is teach you traditions and doctrines, gets you in the mindset to explore space." Vic grinned. "My first CO was a hard-nosed, bristle-haired ugly sonofabitch named Rudenko, Colonel Anton Semyonivich Rudenko, a hard-ass Cossack born in Siberia. When I first reported to Marine Base Heywood, that man told me I would fuck up a wet-dream in an Orion whore house! I couldn't do anything right! I finally got together with him and asked him to show me what he wanted instead of bellowing about my inadequacies. He took me in hand and showed me how to inspire my troops instead of just leading them, and how to perform at the highest levels. Hard fucking work, pure and simple, boyo." Vic took out a cigar from his pocket and handed it to the younger man. "Light 'em up, kid!"
Arashi took it and put it in his mouth. "This is going to be something I smoke isn't it? I don't think it is a good idea for me to smoke it." He smiled despite himself. He was glad that he was going to be able to do something for the shp and then help others in the process.
"Neither do I!" Vic grinned, "but they come in hand when you need something to chew!"
The holodeck doors hissed open and Alec entered and saw Crowe and Tanaka with cigars in their mouths. "I'm not interrupting am I?" A grin on his face.
"Not at all, commander," Vic returned the grin and tossed Alec a cigar. "Light 'em up! I want to run an idea by you. Our security chief here is a capable young man, but he doesn't have very much experience. To be blunt, he's green as goose shit. I don't need to tell you that out here in hostile space that could spell disaster. I was wondering if I could assign some of my more experienced NCO's and a couple junior officers to the security compliment on board. Mr. Tanaka has impressed me with his willingness to learn, and my people can show him a few things that will increase his effectiveness.
Alec caught the cigar and examined it. "Ah, the real thing. Thank you Major." He listened as Crowe explained what he wanted to do to help Tanaka gain some much needed experience before he or someone else ended up dead. "How many NCO's and junior officers and for how long will they augment Mr. Tanaka's security forces?" He asked.
"I have a tac squad in stand-down rotation I could part with, say two junior officers and four NCO's, including Sgt Cranford."
Alec listened as Crowe tell him what he had available to help Tanaka. "I'm not opposed to it especially if it will help Mr. Tanaka gain some much needed experience." He looked to Tanaka, "I take it you are in favor of this Mr. Tanaka?"
"Yes sir. I am willing to do whatever it takes to serve this ship better. I was only trained in shipboard security but I need to be prepared for any situation, including dealing with hostage situations or terrorists. I am no good to anyone that I serve with if all I can do is to protect the ship and not be able to help others when they are in trouble on the surface as an away team." Arashi said. "I am a security officer and I want to do more. If you'll allow it I will train hard and long to be able to serve this ship as a competent and tough as nails, I hope, security officer. I am more than willing to do whatever it takes."
Arashi stood waiting for Alec's answer. If he needed to work hard, then that is what he would do to serve the crew of the Victory and Starfleet better. He knew he was in for a hard time at first but then again he knew that nothing good ever came easy or comfortably.
Alec listened in silence as Tanaka gave his answer. He was pleased with the younger officer's willingness as well as eagerness to learn and gain some much needed experience. When Tanaka had finished Alec nodded and answered. "I see. You know Mr. Tanaka these is an old Earth saying be careful what you wish for you may get it. You are still sure?"
"Sir if I wasn't sure I would not have gone through with this at all. Like I said, I am willing to do whatever it takes to serve this ship better and if that means I take my licks being trained by Marines and getting a bit bloodied in the process then so be it! Nothing good ever came easy, as it is said. If this was going to be easy, then everyone would be able to do it. I will not waver on this nor will I give up." Arashi said. "I mean the Major has done more for Starfleet and has much more experience than I do and I would be glad for any help from the men under his command. I want this as much now as I did the security officer position when I graduated the academy. Besides, my father said that when I joined Starfleet, no matter what branch I joined, that I should broaden my horizons as well as do my best for whoever I serve. If I am not willing to do that, then not only have I disappointed Starfleet, I would have disappointed my father as well. Though this is not just for him, I would like to think that by taking this path, it would make him proud, as he is the one that inspired me to join."
Crowe looked at the boy, his eyes narrowed. "Save the Academy responses for the classroom, kid. I want you in my office at 0500 tomorrow morning. I'm gonna make you into a weapon, son! Now, get the hell outta here and get some rest. Dismissed!"
After Arashi left, Vic looked at Hunter. "I give him three days,"
Alec looked at Crowe, "Three days? For you to work your magic on him? I don't know. " He shook his head. "Kid's eager but I you might be reaching here."
"No, I mean three days before he runs screaming out of the Marine Deck and jumps ship!" Vic laughed. "How much you got to lose, Alec?"
"I am but a poor Executive Officer." Alec replied with a grin. "However I can throw in a box of Cuban cigars and two bottles of Romulan Ale."
"Throw in a case of O'Bannon's Reserve and you got a wager!" Vic replied. Vic took Alec's outstretched hand and shook it. "My door is always open Alec."
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