DEPLOYMENT: Beaming Down

Posted on Mon Mar 11th, 2024 @ 9:33pm by Major Samantha Snyder & Captain Ethan De Havilland & Colonel Jason "Jack" Frost

1,108 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Ethics, Morals & The Prime Directive.
Location: Transporter Rooms Across The Ship

It was always hard to say goodbye, so Jack didn't. Something about it left a bitter taste in his mouth, like he was saying goodbye for the final time. He'd told Acacia that he was being deployed but didn't worry her with details...sometimes the finer points of battle were not suited to those not tarnished by them...physically or mentally. He could see the many teams and squads getting ready helping each other fit out, arm, and check equipment from his office. It was good to see that even if many of them were new, they still shared the camaraderie he'd expected from marines. On his own desk lay all the equipment he'd need so with little time left and not wanting to waste it pondering on possibilities and uncertainty...he prepared.

Sam was getting ready as she changed into combat gear with the other marines, there were few female marines amongst their number but each was treated the same. They were all members of a team and what lay between the legs didn't matter, only their ability. It was difficult to let Bianca know things were going to be alright especially since Bianca seemed to have a good read on Sam, and her mannerisms. Still though Sam was confident that things would be alright, even amongst the unknowns.

When she was ready she made her way to the Colonel's office, when passing others she smiled reassuringly then found her fingertips on the cool surface of the panel to the Colonel's door.

"Come." Jack spoke. The door would open to show Jack pulling on his gear, belt, harness, his weapon on the table with several power packs next to it. "Sam, come in."

Sam walked in shifting the harness on her shoulder from not having worn one in a while, rifle in her other hand. "You'd think that as time went on they would make these a little more comfortable."

Jack chuckled. "Comfort is not something marine currency can buy sadly. Lethality though, a different matter." He spoke tapping his riffle at the latter remark. "Got an update?"

"Everyone is finalizing preparations for deployment at the appointed time. Weapons, equipment, supplies have been allocated and distributed. Medical equipment and heavy munitions have also been handed out to certified personnel." Sam replied since she knew this because of her own investigations into matters before she herself got ready.

"Sam, what do you make of all this?" Jack asked, there were few times he'd let his guard down and fewer still he'd let see it but he'd worked with Sam for years, he promoted her to be his Exec, and he trusted her opinion and ability.

Call it pre-battle jitters, the calm before the storm or maybe it was probably going to be the last time they could take a breath danger-free. "It's not ideal, but when is it ever. We are going to take casualties, never has there been conflict without them. We don't know what is down there nor do we know who is friend or foe, we can be sure they are armed because why occupy something without arms to keep it. Then there is the labs, who knows what they were cooking up down there, or what they will use....desperate people do dangerous things."

"The troops?" Jack spoke as he secured the clips and fasteners to his equipment.

"Ready. They expect danger so thankfully it won't come as a surprise when they find it. Many of them are new from Bootcamp and for many, it will be their first actual combat experience. Saying that though, each will perform to his or her own abilities under the stress of battle."

"You know, sometimes when I look at them down there they remind me of myself. Teaming with pride, duty and honour. Willing to charge into danger to protect the Federation." Jack started to speak.

"The only difference between them and you is you have gained experience. They can read, train in the simulator, watch training material but nothing is as solid as actual experience. You just have it more than most, doesn't mean you are any less now as you were then." Sam cut in. It wasn't easy being a woman in a male-dominated profession but she wasn't going to let something as simple as gender get in the way. "We should go, they will be expecting us." Officers lead from the front.

"Yeah, let's go." Jack slung the rifle behind him and with a final tug on his shoulder straps to the combat harness he lead the way out. As he walked out the door he could see the marines gathered, ready, keen to answer the call of duty. Jack came to a stop by the rail of the walkway he'd been walking down which at this moment gave him a raised position over them to be seen.

"Marines, I'm not one for speeches, actions speak louder than words to us. What I will say though is this, remember your training, look after the marine beside you, keep your eyes open and wits about you. There are no rewards for heroics, only a ticket to a welcome home, be sure you're there to cash it in." Jack paused for a moment. "Report to your assigned transporter rooms."

At that moment Sam sent a notification to the Bridge that the Marines were deploying, all transporter rooms were about to be used and used for some time if all things went to plan.

***BRIDGE***

Ethan was in his Ready Room when the notification came through that the Marines were deploying. The calm before the storm was over, action needed to be taken and he wasn't going to hesitate in taking it. Walking out to the Bridge he took his seat. "Bring the weapons systems online, stand by for coordinates for phaser targets." Ethan knew he'd have to batter the shield down gently, too much force and the shield would fail quickly but also risk the colony itself.

The move was also a calculated one, in the one hand the bombardment would stir the enemy forces, prevent them from gaining any meaningful rest, sacrificing coordination and efficiency, while on the other he hoped that a call would be put out calling for aid thus drawing out the enemy that attacked from the asteroid field.

Ethan knew that on the outside this could look bad, a large Federation starship firing on a civilian colony but he was certain with all the information he'd gathered and the confession provided by the Administrator he'd be able to justify his actions to any court that would turn its gaze upon him.

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