Tough Calls

Posted on Tue Nov 26, 2019 @ 9:30am by Major General Christopher Mitchell & Lieutenant AJ Taggart & Commander Cullen Walker

1,759 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Nibiru
Location: SRU Team Area- Deck 10
Timeline: Immediately Before 'Can You Spare A Moment?'

ON:


AJ stood at the head of the formation of newly graduated Strategic Response Unit team members in full dress uniforms. The 10 officers and enlisted that were left in front of him had completed a grueling 8-month course on everything from shuttle operations to tactical medicine. Every single person had gone without food and sleep for the past week to get to this point and while he couldn't admit it, he was proud of them- it took a special type to be Strategic Response qualified and he knew that they wouldn't let him down.

"Good morning and welcome to the Strategic Response Unit. Each of you has proven yourselves to be capable, agile, and highly adaptable but know that the adversity that you've faced over the past year does not end here. Out there, you'll be faced with challenges that you can't even imagine but if you remember your training and what you stand for, you will come back alive. Now, as your name is called, please step forward to receive your badge."

Walker was leaned up against a wall watching Taggart address his team. In his youth, he had served on a team like this. A lot of the time, he missed it. He had his tablet in his hand. He watched this team of cross-trained individuals get ready into duty on this ship.

Feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, AJ noted the rather large man standing against the bulkhead. Squinting, he noted the Commander's pips on his collar. Instinctively, his head snapped forward and his body became ramrod straight. "ATTENTION ON DECK!" he commanded. Almost instinctively, the gathered personnel snapped to attention, the click of their heels echoing against the cavernous bulkheads.

Walker spoke up, "I apologize for interrupting, LT." He spoke the letters L and T. "I used to be in a unit like this. I have an understanding of what you are supposed to be and what you can be. As you were, LT. I will watch for now."

AJ nodded. "SRU. At Ease!" he said softly. Each member of the team relaxed and Callaghan called the first name and the team member, a Marine Sergeant, a skinny fellow named Olney stepped forward and executed a sharp salute to Callaghan and Taggart. Quickly returning it, AJ handed him an engraved plaque along with his badge- a golden eagle gripping a lightning bolt in one talon and three arrows in another- a symbol of their precision and the commitment to going anywhere at any time. Repeating the process until each team member had their insignia, he snapped to attention.


Walker loved the different variations of this ceremony. It is beautiful no matter how many times you watched it.


"SRU, Dis-MISSED!" he ordered, executing a swift about-face and walking towards the podium. As each member of the team filed out, the bay was silent again. As AJ picked up his things and another team member took the podium back to storage, he heard the bay doors slide open again. Looking up, he saw Major General Mitchell walk into the room and heard the clicking of heels as everyone snapped to attention. AJ snapped off a salute that Mitchell respectfully returned.

"Good Morning, sir!" he said, dropping his hand.

The general motioned towards the makeshift conference room that currently had open shutters to reveal the conference table and viewscreen. Taking a moment to address the as of yet unnamed Commander. "This should only take a few moments, Commander. If you have questions, I'd be glad to address them here or over a little breakfast in the mess.

Walker nodded to the General. Something about his stance and verbiage was odd, but not completely out of line.

Walking into the conference room, AJ tapped a button to close the shutters and engage countermeasures to deter any listeners and made his way to the head of the conference table, electing to stand as the General sat in the chair across from him.

"What can I do for you, General? It's a bit unusual for you to make house calls." AJ asked, walking to pour himself some fresh coffee from the small dispenser on his desk. Adding a small amount of sugar and cream, he stirred it with a small spoon and took a sip. Removing another mug, he set it down on the desk and poured the General a more liberal portion and repeated the procedure, sans sip and handed it over. Mitchell raised the mug and took a sip of his own.

"It's good to know your taste in coffee hasn't diminished," Christopher said, seemingly ignoring the junior officer's query and taking a longer sip before setting the steaming mug on the desk.

AJ smirked slightly. "Respectfully sir, you still haven't answered my question- What are you doing here?" he asked, slightly more forcefully.

Mitchell didn't even blink and continued to sip his coffee. Placing the mug back on the table, he steepled his fingers together and leaned forward. "How I can see that your tendency of impertinent questions hasn't. Since you're so anxious to know, I just had a conversation with your Captain- that snakey-"

AJ raised a hand as if to stop him. "Sir, regardless of your feelings, it wouldn't be proper to speak about the Captain in any manner less 'extreme respect' while in the presence of a junior officer."

"I didn't know they taught junior officer how to interrupt in OCS but since you feel so strongly about my presence here, I'll tell you. I have new orders for you." AJ raised his eyebrow as Christopher took another long draught from the mug and set it back down. "Don't worry, Lieutenant, you're not going anywhere. However, you will be getting more two more teams under your command as the Victory will be forming an Expeditionary Strike Group under the command of your Captain."

AJ nodded. "What'll be our total strength?" he asked.

"A full platoon by the numbers, you'll have about sixty-five bodies aboard three ships with a primary mission profile of reconnaissance and security." Christopher said. "However, there is something I'll need of you, more as a favor and completely off the books...”

AJ clenched his jaw, extremely familiar with what was going to come next. "I don't tend to favors for flag officers, sir but what is it that you're asking?"

"All I'm asking is for you to keep an eye on this Captain of yours. She seems rather distant and I'm afraid with recent developments, she may be compromised." Christopher said, reaching for the coffee again but appearing to have second thoughts as he set the mug down again. "If you detect anything or you receive an order that seems off, you'd report it to me via encrypted burst signal. Make sense?" he asked.

AJ shook his head. "Sir, there's no way I can do that. First off, I'm nowhere near the bridge over the course of my duties nor am I a member of the senior staff. I'm slated to be with my team in the shuttlebay or in the Intel Operations Center as the Incident Commander. Second, why didn't you ask Lieutenant Sanders or Lieutenant Anderson? They'd be more apt to see the Captain in more of that capacity."

Christopher rose from his seat. "I didn't ask about who'd be better for the job! I asked you! If you can't handle it, then I'll find someone else and you can kiss any chance of coming up for Lieutenant Commander goodbye."

AJ gritted his teeth briefly and sighed. This man was holding his career by a thread and it was highly uncomfortable to say the least. Thinking for a moment about how he could address this, he couldn't find a conclusion. "Fine, [i]sir [/i]. I'll do it but I can't promise anything." he said reluctantly.

Waving his hand noncommittally, Christopher rose from his chair. "Well I'm glad you decided to join the winning team. I'll expect an update soon, Lieutenant." he said conspiratorially before he pressed the button to open the security shutters and walked out of the bay.

Walker watched the General's body language, stride, and facial tics. The idea of security shutters on his ship didn't bother him. He was just used to being inside of and participating in a debriefing. He walked towards the room the Lt was in. He was missing a large chunk of this story. He spent too long in Field Intel to like being in the dark, but knew it happened a lot, he just had to adapt. "LT." He said each letter like it was two separate words.

AJ simply nodded. "Commander. What is it that I can do for you?" he asked, his voice slightly shaky.

Walker looked at him and listened to the shaking in Taggart's voice, "I like knowing my department heads and team. I used to be on a team like this. I enjoy them on the ship. Are you sure you're okay?"

AJ took a short breath and steadied his voice. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit too much coffee." he said evenly. "Did you have some questions for me about the unit?" he asked as he walked towards a weapons rack that contained pulse phaser rifles and executed a silent count.

Walker watched him. "I just like to get to know my people. I have to talk to the Captain about how she wants your team used. The team I was on we filled in as security until it was time to do a job."

AJ nodded. "On this team we do something similar- any team members not on standby or training- myself included- are assisting in whatever department their primary designator is in unless otherwise told. It helps keep their primary skills sharp and keeps the ship staffed. I'm actually headed up to report to Lieutenant Arashi to see what he needs after my appointment in sickbay. If you go over brass tacks and tactics, you're more than welcome to train with us or stop by my office." he said before coming to attention. "Permission to be dismissed, sir?" he asked.

Walker nodded, "If anyone on your team is up for Evals and Recerts and you have trouble getting them a time set up, let me know. Dismissed." He made his way out and to go seek out the Captain.

The junior officer waited a brief moment for the Commander to exit and then released the breath that he’d been holding and his hands began shaking again.


:OFF

 

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