Knee Deep...
Posted on 03/21/2022 @ 11:24pm by Master Sergeant Robert Schiano & Sergeant Alicia Reilly & 1st Lieutenant Baaru Ixalia
1,566 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Mini Mission: When The Cat's Away
Location: The Throneroom - Poseidon Station
Timeline: MD002 1000 hrs
Jack and Brina hadn't been gone a minute or at least it seemed like they had just left. In truth it had been a day and Schiano was already neck deep in paperwork and he hated every minute of it. He was a man of action, not an administrator. This was the reason that he never went to OCS, leave the commanding to those who wanted it and the grunt work to the rest. Robert was more than happy being a grunt in his beloved corps, and yet, for the foreseeable future he was in charge.
Robert pushed back from his desk and rubbed his eyes. They hurt and were strained from looking at the computer screen for too long. When he took his hands away he could not believe the sight he saw. The vision of beauty that walked across the throne room was just stunning. The usual loudmouthed New Yorker was at a loss as he watched her approach him. Robert was smart enough to notice the silver bar on her chest and so he rose to attention and saluted. "Morning First Lieutenant Ma'am"
“As you were sergeant” Ixalia said as she responded with a salute of her own, “it would seem I am here to relieve you of command until the senior officers return from their adventures. So if I could get you to give me a rundown of what’s happened and what I need to know”
Schiano was taken aback for a moment. As much as he wanted to be relieved he did not think that they would send someone, let alone someone who had not been vetted by Jack, or properly inducted into the unit. He relaxed his posture at her urging. "With all due respect ma'am who are you? Typically command of the Kingsmen would not be given to one who had not been vetted into the unit properly ma'am. As the First Sergeant in current overall commander I am going to have to ask to see your orders."
Putting her hand into her pack, Ixalia rummaged around for a moment before pulling out a small PADD with her transfer orders on them, “here ya go Sergeant, I believe this should ease your concerns. 1st Lieutenant Baaru Ixalia reporting for duty as Recon CO”
Schiano took the PADD and saw plain as day Baaru was to take command of the Knights, and the order was signed by General Sobel himself. Meatball was not one to want to argue with the General's wishes. However, procedure was procedure, and this was the first time he had command of the entire unit. So, he planned to make sure things went by the book. "Lieutenant, again wit all due respect I cannot turn command of dis unit over to someone who has not been properly vetted in to the Kingsmen. The only person who can approve that is Lieutenant Colonel Patton. Unfortunately he is on assignment, as is the XO Captain Tracy-Hall. So my suggestion is ta grab a bunk an rack out." Schiano paused for a moment as the full scope of the Bajoran's beauty came into effect. "If ya want while ya wait I can give ya a tour of the station and Marine facility." He found himself just wanting to stay in her presence.
“The tour can wait, how about you give me an update on what’s going on? Where exactly are the division CO and XO?” Ixalia asked, getting a little more concerned that the highest ranking marine left on the station was a Sergeant, not even a 2nd Lieutenant, “if they’re both off station, the assignment must have been extremely important”
"It is indeed of da highest import. However, da nature and scope of their mission is classified. Suffice ta say if all goes well they will be back in about a week or so. Like I said if ya wish ya can have a tour and if not feel free ta grab a bunk. I can set you up wit quarters and den youze can enjoy da station until their return. I can even have ya meet da rest of what would be yer platoon." Schiano replied. He wished he could tell her more, but he was sure that she would understand if things were classified.
Giving a sigh, Ixalia nodded, “alright, I might as well make sure my platoon is up to scratch. It’s better then sitting on my arse for a week waiting for the CO to return.”
Schiano tapped his comm badge. "Big Red get in her, on da double."
A moment later the diminutive red headed sniper strolled in. "I dunnae care if ye are in charge I ain't callin ye sir..." Her voice trailed off as she noticed the Bajoran. "Marnin ma'am... Meat what gives?"
"Dis is your soon ta be CO. First Lieutenant..." Schiano's voice trailed off as he mentally corrected himself for Bajoran naming conventions. "...Ixalia. When BlackJack gets back she hopefully will be sworn in and den she is in charge of yer platoon."
Alicia appreciated the attractive Bajoran and smirked. "I am Sergeant Alicia Reilly. But everyone juss calls me Big Red. I'm da sharpshooter around these parts."
“It’s Lieutenant Baaru” Ixalia corrected before giving a shrug, “but never mind that, just call me Ivy” She said as she turned her attention to the woman with blazing hair, “so you’re the sharpshooter huh? What’s your distance record?”
"Well ma'am..." The ma'am had perhaps a little too much sarcasm in it. "...I currently hold the record for the entire Corps. That would be 3,871 yards. Took out the target before anyone knew what hit them. Of course I cannae take all the credit, I had a damn good spotter on that mission." Alicia walked around the officer as she took the measure of the new comer. She already began to formulate what she would do for the initiation. Of course that ceremony would have to wait until Jack and everyone else got back.
Ixalia’s eyes widened, “3 and a half kilometres? Damn, and I thought my record of 3079 yards was impressive. Seems I need to pick up my game. What’s your preferred weapon?”
"Most missions I use the standard issue TR-116 rifle. I retrofit mine to shoot the projectile or phased energy at the flip of the switch. The rifle issued by the Corps differs from the fleet issued one, as you are no doubt aware. This difference allows for the phased energy to travel undetected to its target. But, for the element of surprise I swear by the XR-20 Farsight. This rife works more like a rail gun and can shoot undetected energy through walls and roofs." Alicia stopped her survey of the newcomer and talked shop. This Bajoran spoke the Irish woman's language now.
Schiano stood mezmerized for the moment. It seemed that the two woman had begun to speak a language that he did not understand. He was amazed and a little jealous that Alicia was able to relate to the newcomer so easily. It seemed that the tough New Yorker had developed a crush.
“I’ll have to get you to show me your modded TR-116, all I’ve done to mine is retrofit it with an interchangeable barrel system so I can use it from close quarters to long range. I did test that micro-transporter mod the fleeties used with the prototype, but the energy draw was insane. Though to be perfectly honest, I can’t go past a Marine Type III phaser rifle. The lines on that thing are so elegant and I can use it during a space walk without having to worry about the little bit of recoil on the TR”
"If we could combine my concept TR-116 with yours and create a weapon that can not only shoot a projectile and phased energy, but can also fire in close and long range. We would really be in business then. But if you are worried about recoil you need to check out the Farsight, that is so smooth you feel like you are not even holding a weapon." The more she spoke to this Baaru the more Alicia knew she would like her.
Schiano for his part remained seated behind the desk. There was a pile of paperwork and the hour of his meeting with Commander Letsul loomed over his head like the sword of Damocles. There was nothing he wanted more than turning the command over to someone else, but he would have to stick it out and see it through he was after all a Kingsman. "Right, ladies if I am no longer needed I have some much needed paperwork to attend to."
Looking over to Schiano, Ixalia thought for a moment before nodding, "right, sorry Sergeant. Hey Red, how about you show me around and we can talk shop elsewhere"
"Yes ma'am..." Alicia said with a lilt in her voice and a wink toward Schiano. Robert smiled and shook his head he knew that it was said in the corps that a unit was just a big happy dysfunctional family.
Master Sergeant Robert "Meatball" Schiano
First Sergeant
EVAC Speacialist
The Kingsmen
Poseidon Station
Sergeant Alicia "Big Red" Reilly
Platoon Sergeant, The Knights
Sniper, The Kingsmen
Poseidon Station
First Sergeant Ixalia Baaru
Platoon Commanding Officer, The Knights
The Kingsmena
Poseidon Station
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