Mulligan (Backpost)

Posted on Sun Sep 5, 2021 @ 10:40pm by Lieutenant AJ Taggart

1,209 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Archangel
Timeline: After AJ returns from the station

AJ stood in the cargo bay absentmindedly, juggling three drab, gray, orbs with small, circular mirrored openings throughout each one. These were IG-88 Remote Training Drones. Used primarily for marksmanship and tactical training, they were controllable from a PADD, they were designed to fly in unpredictable patterns and fire stinging bursts of energy. When they did, you had only one recourse: Evade and seek cover long enough to fire back. Failing that, you'd be hit with a burst that made the affected limb sting for hours- long enough for you to regret your mistake but didn't cause any serious damage.

The cargo bay doors opened and Maggie walked in somewhat stiffly, uniform cleaned and pressed and battlefield medkit in hand. She placed the medkit on the ground, then walked up to AJ, held back a frown and stood at attention. "Ensign Cromwell, reporting as ordered, Sir," she said.

AJ placed the orbs in his hand on a nearby table and strode over to Cromwell, looking her over and said nothing, his eyes narrowed. It was his intention to make this young officer sweat. After what felt like an eternity, he spoke. "At ease, Ensign." he said, walking over to the table. "Do you know why you're here?" he asked

"Yes," she said, quietly, relaxing her posture slightly.

"Good. Then let's get to it. Hefting one of the small orbs in his hand, he tossed it to the Ensign. "The object in your hand is a training drone. It will fly on a randomized path and will fire low power phaser bursts at you. During that time, you have an option to seek cover or take the hit, which will sting but won't have any other lasting effects aside from some bruised pride. Now, with that said: hand phaser or rifle?" he asked.

Maggie's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Hand phaser," she said. "What's the objective?"

AJ tapped his PADD. "Just a standard marksmanship evaluation. In order to qualify, you just need to hit the target 15 times in two minutes. The top score is 35. After you're done with this, you'll be tested on the rifle. Please verbally indicate that you understand my instructions and are ready to proceed."

She didn't look at AJ, but instead took a moment to retrieve her battlefield kit and look around the room she'd be rolling around in. "I understand your instructions, and I'm ready to proceed," Maggie deadpanned after a moment, looking back at him.

AJ nodded and handed her a phaser locked into a training setting."We'll begin in ten seconds." Giving his PADD a few quick taps, he activated a series of barriers of varying heights and lengths to allow for ample cover. Stepping into a red square that was lit on the deck, he elevated himself to a position that would allow him to observe Maggie from a distance.

"Begin." he ordered. No sooner had he completed his sentence, the training drones flew off of the table and began flitting about with red indicators to show where they needed to be hit. Watching her stance, he folded his arms as he waited for her to fire, the time she had left ticking down.

Maggie immediately dropped behind a barrier and put her back to it, holding up her phaser in one hand and medkit in the other. She sat and counted, waiting until the three drones came around and surrounded her, then rolled, holding her kit above her, taking one of the shots, and avoiding the other two.

Scribbling on his PADD, AJ noted that Ensign Cromwell had apparently been putting in practice time in her off hours and had improved considerably. "Put the medkit down, Ensign! You won't need it!" he commanded from his position.

Maggie held it as a cover on one side as a drone fired, and fired from the other hand, missing twice, but the third shot hitting one of the other drones. "Evidently I do!" she said. "I don't go into the field without one, as per regulations."

She took another shot to the rear and let out a squeak, but didn't slow down as she ran to another barrier, making the drones follow her. She turned and ducked again, but they were ready, swooping low to get under her cover. They fired and she took three to a leg and went down on a knee. She grunted and rolled away, then fired wildly, winging one drone.

The next several minutes showed a blue blur rolling around the room, avoiding being shot. A few times they landed, but when they did, she fired back. At one point, she got lucky and hit three targets in a row. Every time, she'd whisper the number to herself. Just as she shouted the "Fif--" in her last count, AJ called time.

She pushed her hair back, breathing labored and cheeks flushed. She tossed her medkit aside and sat down against one of the barriers.

"You passed. You have two minutes to catch your breath before the next test," AJ said.

Maggie nodded, opening her medkit, programming a hypospray and pressing it to her neck, her breathing starting to ease.

After two minutes, AJ handed Maggie a phaser rifle and gave her another set of instruction in its use. She held it tight and nodded she was ready. AJ called out the time and she got into position.

Without a medkit for extra cover, the second test started off harder, but she seemed to get her second wind quickly, and focused on the targets. It was again down to the wire, but when AJ called time, she'd hit the target for the fifteenth time, and dropped her rifle to the ground.

"You passed," AJ said again. "Congratulations. Maybe next time you're due, you'll practice, rather than complain."

Maggie frowned at him. "At least next time I'll have a different administrator," she said.

AJ frowned. "What do you mean?"

Maggie sighed and sat down again. "I don't belong here. I hate it here. I'm constantly terrified. The Borg, aliens with weird dissolving guns, killer viruses? It leaves me in a constant state of anxiety. My boyfriend was a comfort, but even he hasn't been able to help me calm down lately. He suggested we go planet-side. He put in for a transfer to Cestus III and so did I. The Captain approved it two days ago."

AJ frowned. "Then why didn't you just submit for an extension. You could've avoided this entirely, and done the planetary qualifications there."

Maggie shrugged. "Didn't want to give you the satisfaction of having me slink off first. Kind of wanted to show I could do it."

"You don't have anything to prove to me," AJ said. "This isn't personal, this is regulations. This is ensuring everyone on this ship is ready to protect each other. You can't look at it as me versus you."

Maggie nodded. "I know. Doesn't change the fact that I needed to do this."

AJ nodded. "I understand. Well, good luck." He held out his hand.

Maggie shook it and stood up, grabbing her medkit and heading for the door.

A thought suddenly occurred to AJ. "You told Nicole about this, right? RIGHT?"

Maggie didn't answer as the doors closed behind her.

 

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