Lost in Marine Country

Posted on Tue Jul 7th, 2020 @ 5:03pm by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Private 1st Class Durak & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Marine Country, USS Elysium
Timeline: MD 02 1930
1025 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON]

She'd only been on board a few days, but Miraj was lost. Completely turned around. The dedicated flight simulators were around here somewhere, she knew. But as she slid down the ladder from the jeffries tube she also knew they weren't here.

Everything felt more... spare... to a typical ship, more practical and basic. And given the minimal styling of most Federation ships that was saying something. She needed a wall panel to get a deck plan. But even the walls looked wrong. "Where in the seven seas am I?"

PFC Durak blinked at the pink skinned woman that came out of the jeffries tubes. "You're in Marine Country, ma'am," the young Cardassian replied, not recalling seeing the woman aboard before though she was rather attractive. 'Yep, ship full of eye candy and they're all officers so look but don't touch,' he thought to himself, recalling what his roommate, PFC Chuks said about the women on the ship.

Miraj heard the ma'am, and immediately looked for the officer It was a moment before she realised the ma'am was aimed at her. That was so weird to hear. "Marines?" She knew there were some on board, but beyond seeing some rowdy ones on shoreleave when her midshipman cruise had stopped at DS5, she'd never really expected to see them on a ship. Of course they'd be on a ship this size. It was a given. "I am completely lost."

Durak grinned, letting out a small chuckle. "It appears so. Why were you taking the Jeffries Tubes? Those things are a maze."

"Trying to get to know her." Miraj patted the bulk head affectionately. "Makes for better flying that way. You have to know the whole ship. Not just the bridge. But I've obviously got turned round somewhere. I don't suppose you could show me where the turbo lifts are?"

Durak nodded and smiled. 'So she is an officer,' he thought. "Sure, follow me, ma'am. I haven't seen you aboard before, or in that matter, your species. Are you new to the ship, ma'am?"

"Yes, only been here a day or so." Miraj looked around again on instinct. "Please don't call me ma'am. I only graduated week before last."

"Welcome aboard but that still puts you above my pay grade, ma'am," Durak shrugged with a sheepish grin. 'Then again about 99.9 percent of the ship is above my pay grade,' he thought. "It must be amazing to fly something as big as the Elysium."

Miraj brushed the bulkhead lovingly. "She's got her highlights. And the Quantum Slipstream is amazing. But inertia isn't your friend. Bigger isn't automatically better, it's what you do with it that counts."

"That's fascinating," Durak replied genuinely. "I would be too scared to fly anything, even a worker bee. Guess that's why I'm a grunt," he shrugged

"You can't fly?" Miraj looked shocked. "I thought everyone was at least taught the basics?"

Durak chuckled and shook his head. "Not lowly Marine Grunts, ma'am. We're taught only how to fight and basic first aid. Basic flight is often taught to officers and a few staff NCOs."

"Well that can't be right." Miraj decided. "I've taught plenty of people to fly. If you get me to the simulator, I can teach you."

Durak was taken back by the offer. "Oh, um, sure. I guess I would like that. Thank you," he said sheepishly.

"Everyone should learn to fly. Its easy and its fun. And most federation ships are basically the same. If you can fly a runabout in a straight line, you can fly a Sovereign.

"If you say so, ma'am," Durak replied. The idea of flying something as big as a Sovereign Class was nerve wracking to him. He didn't know how Starfleet helm officers did it.

"I'm Miraj." she told him, still not comfortable with the idea of being a ma'am. "And I do say so. I've flown so many different classes of ship I've lost count. And there's only so many ways you can make a ship go forward and backward and sideways."

"A pleasure to meet you ma'am--uh, I mean um, Miraj. I'm Durak. What ship are you training on in the simulator?"

"This one." Miraj explained. "Our first try of the QSD was fun, but not as smooth as I think it should be. I want to try the trip again, but with a stick control rather than the standard panel. If it does improve things then I can ask the captain to have my station converted." she looked around. "This place sure does go on/ How many of you are there?"

"The entire deck is called Marine Country," Durak replied. "There are around one hundred and twenty-something Marines on board, so basically a full strength Company with our own training, dining, and medical facilities." They soon came within sight of a turbolift.

"Is that a lot. I don't know anything about marines?" Miraj could hear some grunting and other exertion noises, along with the heavy slams of bodies hitting mats. Sounds of exercising. The Marines were noisy.

"It's a good size for a ship of Elysium's size. There are some ships that carry more and in the event of war time, a ship like the Elysium could be probably be designed to carry nearly 1200 Marines--an entire Battalion," DUrak explained as they reached the turbolift. "Here you are," he said with a smile, gesturing to the doors leading to the lift.

"Thank you, Durak." Miraj smiled at him "I'm sorry to have bothered you."

"It was not a bother, Miraj," Durak smiled. He had genuinely enjoyed getting to know the woman.

"In that case, I expect to hear from you soon." Mira replied. "About some lessons. I'm on Alpha shift, but I've got plenty of free time now I don't have to constantly study for finals."

"Thank you. You will," Durak assured her as he watched her enter the turbolift.

"Good." Her bunches bounced as she turned round and gave him a short wave goodbye as the doors closed. "Deck Thirty Three, please."

[OFF]

Ensign Miraj Derani
AFCO
USS Elysium

PFC Durak
Marine
USS Elysium