The New Combat Engineer

Posted on 11/30/2023 @ 1:44am by Colonel Jack Patton & Master Sergeant Robert Schiano & Sergeant Raylan Ch'Tol

1,756 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Pages...
Location: The Throneroom - Command Tier Deck 19 - Poseidon Station

Sergeant Raylan Ch'Tol walked onto the deck of Starbase 50. She'd learnt to travel light over the years, and all she owned was in the carryall that was on her left shoulder. The one exception was her father's dathe'anofv-sen (honor blade), which she now held in her right hand. The security at customs had tried to confiscate it, but she showed them her permission to wear it from the Federation Cultural Affairs Bureau and they let her keep it.

Now she was in search of the Throne Room, the Kingsmen's operations centre. She knew the Kingsmen, she'd served with them before and saw it as a great honour to be assigned back to them.

Jack sat at his desk and went over PADDs. He has some minor paperwork to get completed before he and Aer left on their honeymoon. Jack did not want to leave Brina a mess for the next two weeks. In truth he thought that this time would be a good test for his unit and for Brina. A way for everyone to get to know her command style without him breathing down their necks.

Raylan finding her way into the Throne Room encountered a tall human with Master Sergeant insignia.

"Good day, Top, is the Old Man in?" She asked this mountain of man.

Schiano hated desk work but it came with the position as First Sergeant. So, he grumbled as he read and filed reports. The sound of a voice brought him out of paperwork hell and he was glad for it. "Yeah Sergeant. The Colonel is in his office. Youze can go ahead and ring the chime." He looked at the Sergeant before him and thoughts like deja vu came back to Meatball. He felt like he knew the woman before him, like she was from a time long ago.

"Thank you, Top." Raylan said and headed for the Colonel's office. She pressed the chime and waited.

Jack had a mission to go on, one of a personal nature to an old friend. As such he tried to get the paperwork in order so that he would not leave Brina with a mess. All of that said the door chime was a welcome break. "Hey... come on in." He called and sipped his coffee as his new visitor strolled in.

Raylan entered and came to attention in front of the Colonel's desk. "Sergeant Raylan Ch'Tol reporting for duty, Sir." She said.

Jack smiled and motioned for Raylan to take a seat. "At ease Sergeant and please sit down. You know, I never forget a name or a face. Didn't serve with The Kingsmen back on the Endeavour. A temporary assignment I believe."

Raylan took the offered seat. "Yes, sir, it was a combined mission between the Kingsmen and the Fire Shields, the Marine Detachment on the Wildfire, Under Marine Captain Otis "Deadshot" Whems." She replied.

"Yeah I remember that mission well. You are one hell of an engineer if the memory serves. So you are transferring to the Kingsmen permanently. Surprised that ole Deadshot let you go." Jack relaxed visibly it was welcome to have a distraction from all this paperwork. Add to all of this General Sobel wanted to see him before the General left for Empok Nor. So a chat with an ole friend is quite welcome.

"Yes, sir." Raylan said. "Thank you, sir. He didn't let me go, but he knew that the Kingsmen was a good career move for me." Raylan reached into her carryall and took out a bottle of Tennessee Whiskey with George Dickel Reserve printed on the label. "He also wanted me to give you this." She said handing him the bottle. "He said it was a wedding gift, and that he's sorry he couldn't attend the ceremony."

Jack smiled and whistled as he saw the vintage. "Well he does have a shot." He paused and regarded the new arrival for a moment. "Coming here has to be more that just a career move. It has to be something you want, a commitment you are willing to make for what could be the rest of your life. Most people who join this unit never leave. So, are you ready? If so why do you want to be a Kingmen?" The interview had begun this was the first step that Jack put all new members to the unit through.

Raylan thought a moment and then said. "I am ready." She said. "I wish to help those of the Galaxy, that are in need and protect them from the tyranny of those that wish to do them harm. I also wish to avenge those who have been killed by these evil people, as I did for my mother, and I believe joining the Kingsmen is the best way to achieve these goals." She said awaiting Patton's response.

Vengeance was a reason that Jack had to look out for. He did not necessarily like people who joined his unit for vengeance. That said he also did not disqualify people on that alone. "As you are no doubt aware this unit has some exciting missions and some that are rather mundane. We go and do what we are asked when we are asked. Even if that is as simple and boring as helping to keep the peace on the promenade. So, if you think like is all glamorous around these parts you are sorely mistaken."

"I understand, Sir. I am under no illusions." Raylan said. "I have worked hard to obtain my position, and I assure you, it wasn't all glamorous."

"Good! We are a station based unit and as such our day to day operations are to augment the station security and train. Any threat to the station that is from outside the station is ours, internal threats are the purview of Security. We do receive special operational orders from the General on Empok Nor as needed of course." Jack felt that he should explain what The Kingsmen do so that she would not be surprised.

"I have no problem working with Security, and I take it I'll be working with Station Ops to sure up the Station's defenses?" She asked.

"When needed. That need will probably be sooner that you think. We made it through a major attack from the Breen only with the help of the Klingons and the Cardassians of all people." Jack sipped his ever present cup of coffee as he regarded this newcomer. "We are a unit that prides ourselves on tradition, but we can also be rather loose when it comes to protocol as well." The uniform of his ancestor served Jack to indicate exactly how traditional they could be.

"My father was both traditional and progressive." Raylan said. "He wanted the Star Empire to become more involved in galactic affairs, but he also held on to the ancient warrior traditions of his people. Which include honour, integrity, and justice." She held out her honor blade, "This has been in my family for centuries, my father's family did not like how the Praetor and his Senate kept their people in the shadows."

Jack regarded the blade for a moment and appreciated the craftsmanship. "It seems that your Dad would do more good in Romulan space right now. That is with all the factions vying for control." Jack stood. "This is the uniform of the first Patton to serve General George Scott Patton of the United States Army of Earth. Since him there has always been a Patton serving one way or the other. So, I can appreciate the want to follow the traditions. Can I get you anything?"

"He would, if he hadn't been assassinated by the Tal Shiar, when I was a child." Raylan said. "Your ancestor was an interesting man, I found an old dramatisation about him in my high school database, it was simply called 'Patton' and starred an actor named George C. Scott."

Jack smiled he had seen that as well. "That is not a transmission, it is a movie. A fictional account of his life, but there were some accurate depictions in that movie. Now I do not want to keep you from settling in. Take the rest of the day to get settled into your quarters and I will see you bright and early at 0600. That is if you have no further questions."

"Well, everyone like to embellish their stories, my father's people are no exception." Raylan said. "According to the myths, the first emperor, Valkis single-handedly defeated the alien races and built the Imperial Senate building with is own hands." She added.

"Since we will be working with Security and Operations, would it be prudent of me to introduce myself to those department heads?" Raylan asked.

"Meeting Commander Valadorn would not be a bad idea. He seems gruff but that is just a Klingon being a Klingon." Jack laughed at his own joke. "However, meeting them can wait until you have settled in and met the rest of The Kingsmen. We will after all be your family from this point on."

"Understood." Raylan said. "I know Klingons, we had two in the 'Fire Shields', on was heavy weapons Corporal and the other was in demolitions, her name was Uwil Trantoh, now she was fun, we got quite close, and even knew each other, in what you might call a Biblical sense."

For the briefest of moments Jack was going to chastise the Sergeant for fraternization. However, he thought about Erin and Anthony, and he and his wife and simply smiled. "Just remember your order of priorities the Kingsmen, the Corps, the mission, then your partner." Jack made sure that what he said was more advice and less order. It also helped to remind himself after the mirror universe debacle.

"Understood, Sir." Raylan said.

"Very good! Now if you do not have any further questions I will give you the rest of the day off to settle into your quarters. The work starts tomorrow 0600." As much as Jack enjoyed welcoming new people to the Kingsmen. He rather hoped this would be the last of them for a while so the unit can get to know each other and settle into a rhythm.

"No further questions, sir." Raylan said rising. "I look forward to working with you again."

Colonel Jack 'BlackJack' Patton
Commanding Officer, The Kingsmen
Executive Officer
Poseidon Station

Master Sergeant Robert 'Meatball' Schiano
First Sergeant, The Kingsmen
Poseidon Station

Raylan 'Pioneer' Ch'Tol
Combat Engineer, The Kingsmen
Poseidon Station

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