Moving in...

Posted on Mon Nov 29th, 2021 @ 10:17pm by Staff Sergeant Liam "Swede" Reece [Reece] & Gunnery Sergeant Luxa Gami [Naxea]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 3: CAPETOWN
Location: USS Elysium, Marine County
Timeline: MD 3 / 1134 hours
2013 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

After Liam finished in sickbay, and said goodbye to Leilani, he made his way over to First Platoon's barracks compartment. He had to report in to his platoon sergeant, Gunny Gami.

Gami, dressed in black shorts and a green t-shirt was in the middle of slamming an opponent to the mat hard with an over the shoulder throw when the doors to the Marine hand to hand combat center opened. Looking up towards the door, she spotted the man she had seen reporting aboard in Naxea's Office. "Alright," she called looking at the other Marines. "Pair off and keep practicing. PFC Jenkins, no slacking!"

"Aye, Gunnery Sergeant!" came the young Marine's reply.

Luxa turned back to the newcomer and approached him. "Good to see you again, Sergeant...what was your name?"

Liam smiled when he heard the familiar sound of Marines training. It was like coming home again. When he saw the same NCO as earlier, he knew it must be Gunnery Sergeant Luxa Gami. As they approached one another and she greeted him, he smiled again. "Reece, Gunny, Liam Reece. And before you ask, yes, CSM Reece is my Grampy."

She grinned at the rather handsome human. "I see. Welcome the Sixty-Second Marine Detachment, Sergeant. I take it you're all squared away with the admin crap?"

Liam grinned in reply, glad that she didnt seem to fawn over him just because of who he was related to. He loved his Grampy, to be sure. It's just that, from day one in Boot, officers and noncons were always asking him about the famous CSM William "Wild Bill" Reece. It was comforting to see that the Elysium, just like before, did not seem to worship to the Reece demigod.

"Yeah, Gunny. I am who I claim to be. Now I'm ready to unpack my kit and reacquaint myself with the unit. I was here before, little over five years ago."

Gami chuckled. "Well, then I would imagine you have alot of new people to meet as we have quite a few new people here. Mostly due to the heavy combat this detachment sees. I came over a few months ago after the detachment got a major overhaul. I'm told over half of the Detachment was lost during an encounter with the mirror universe. After that, the Colonel turned Marine Country into a separate, internal fortress within the ship. That's the last woman in the galaxy you want pissed at you."

Liam frowned. "Yeah, not a fan of the Mirror Universe. Had to fight the Terrans on their Earth, when the Elysium was dragged into the MU and the XO at the time, Captain K'Tox, sensed the CO, Admiral Sharr, who was trapped on the Terran Earth."

"That had to be one hell of a fight. I'm amazed you survived," Luxa said, raising her eyebrows. "Never met anyone from this Mirror Universe. Makes me wonder who I am there....if I even exist."

"It was some of the hardest fighting I've been in. I lost a lot of friends over there." He grew silent for a few seconds. "Sorry," he shook his head. "It was hell."

"Don't be sorry, but don't dwell on the lost--honor them by living each day to it's fullest instead. I lost my entire family to the Dominion when they invaded Betazed. But now they push me in every fight and training day."

Liam nodded as he replied. "Don't get me wrong, Gunny, I do honor them, every single day that I put this uniform on, I know they've got my back, keeping the Reaper away one more day."

Grinning, Luxa nodded at the Sergeant. "So where did the Colonel assign you?"

Grinning, he replied. "Spec Ops. First Platoon, First Squad. You're looking at your new squad leader, Gunny."

Luxa smiled. "Ah, my favorite platoon! Better not let me down," she teased.

Smirking slightly, he replied. "Let you down? I'm a Reece, Gunny. That's not possible. Besides, even if I did, my Grampy would rain hell down on my ass." He chuckled. "You ever see a Command Sergeant Major tear into someone? It's not pretty."

Luxa laughed. "Seen it? Hell, I've been on the receiving end more than once and actually made Staff Sergeant twice because of it."

Liam laughed at this bit of news. "Well shit, Gunny, maybe try to keep your rank this time?" He gave her a playful smirk as he added, "Unless, of course, you'd rather be a squad leader in my platoon?"

"No promises," she grinned, shrugging. "Besides, I have a reputation for knocking out higher ranked assholes to keep."

He chuckled and nodded. "Well, you ever need someone to watch your six, you know where to find me."

"That is good to hear, Sergeant," she replied. "Care to join in with the rest of us?"

He smirked playfully. "Sure, Gunny. Before or after I change outta my dress blues?"

"Well, we can't have the pretty new Sergeant ruining those Dress Blues. How else will we expect you to get laid," Luxa shrugged, chuckling. "Go change and finish checking in."

Liam chose not to say anything about getting laid. What he wanted was far more than that. He just had to see how things went at the picnic on Saturday with Samaire and Skylah. He nodded and replied, "Roger that, Gunny." He then moved off to get dressed into his fatigues and finish inprocessing into the unit.

***a few hours later***

Luxa was in the Marine Mess Hall, eating lunch as she picked at the chili mac on her plate with her fork. She recalled the first time she tried the meal--she had hated it, Now, it was a standard meal for her.

Liam carried his tray over and sat down. "I think it's dead, Gunny. If you want, I'm sure I could find something still alive for you to sink your teeth into?"

Luxa looked up at the new Sergeant. "No thanks, just thinking about how I used to hate this stuff and now...it's ok," she grinned.

Liam grinned. "You hate chili mac? Don't let my Grampy hear that, heh. He loves the stuff. He used to tell us that, while on missions, and he was able to get a hot meal, he'd always get a version of chili mac. He even carried his own spices with him to liven the dish up."

Chuckling, Luxa took a bite before swallowing. "It took awhile to get used to it. First time I tried it, my mouth was on fire because the cook liked to put peppers in everything."

Liam nodded, chuckling. "He or she must've trained under Grampy's battalion chef. The mantra was, If your mouth wasn't burning, it wasn't ready." he took a spoonful of his meal and put it in his mouth. After a few quiet bites, he swallowed and shrugged. "It's alright, I guess. Tastes like the computer isn't putting ghost peppers in it. More like regular jalapeños."

"Never been a fan of spicy foods myself," she shook her head slightly. "I don't know how you deal with it."

He shrugged, grinning. "Been eating spicy food my whole life. Even spicy candy. Heh."

"Spicy candy?" she asked before shaking her head. "I don't think I will ever understand Humans," she joked.

Liam chuckled at this. "Probably better that you don't. We are an enigma, disguised as curiosity, wrapped in a mystery."

"I'd have to agree with you on that one," she said before taking another bite. After swallowing the bite, she looked at Reece. "What did you think of the Colonel?"

Liam finished the food that was in his mouth before answering. "She seems like she's got her shit together and is an excellent leader. How long have you served under her?"

"Got all of that from just one meeting?" Luxa teased, grinning. "I've known her for several years now. First met her when she was assigned as my Platoon Commander on Deep Space Fifteen. Right off, I knew she wasn't the typical lieutenant as she actually spent time with the enlisted and got to personally know each one of us."

Liam shrugged as he replied. "I've been to several Corps functions with Grampy, when I was younger. I learned what to see and hear pretty quickly." He took a drink of his coffee then continued. "Just like I knew, within three seconds that you're going to be one of the best NCOs I'll have the luck of serving with." He gave her a friendly grin as he spoke.

"Now you're just kissing my ass," Luxa commented, grinning. "Please, don't stop on my account however."

Liam grinned. "Roger that, Gunny." He then chuckled. "So," he said, changing the subject, "What should I know about my squad?"

"Well, you're with First Squad--they're considered the tip of the spear of the detachment. Corporal Tonelly is your assigned Sniper but as he is on Leave at the moment, Gunnery Sergeant Neena is taking his spot until he returns."

"Why is he on leave?" Liam asked. "Medical or regular leave?"

"From what I understand, it is a bit of both but that's all I know of it. The Colonel knows more but she's keeping the details to herself, which I can respect," she explained.

Liam considered what Luxa had just said. Nodding in agreement, he replied. "Yeah, if the Colonel knows and is holding it close, it has to be for a reason. Who else do I have?"

"Corporals Rodriguez and S'ral, Lance Corporals Draxx, Joral, Lau, and Li, as well as PFCs K'Vok, Korali, Summers, and Jenkins. Watch out for Jenkins. He's lucky to go more than two weeks without getting into trouble," she concluded, chuckling.

"Oh?" Liam asked, chuckling softly in reply. "What is his typical infraction?" As the platoon was more highly specialized in its training, it made sense that there might be one or two discipline issues.

"Let me think...he got drunk off Romulan Ale and ran naked through Marine Country, right past the Colonel. Got caught flirting with an Ensign in medical, then he was involved in a brawl not too long ago. He's lucky he's as good at being a Marine or else I think the Colonel would have booted him by now."

Hearing about the flirting, Liam suddenly felt a little concerned. "Uh, is it against regs to flirt with officers that are outside our chain if command?"

"It is for lower enlisted," she paused for a moment, looking at Reece. "Who is it?" she asked. "Got an eye for some cute nurse or engineer?"

A soft, lop-sided grin started to fill his face. "Operations, actually. Lieutenant JG Samaire McBride. I met her last night when I showed up at my brother's quarters. She's...I mean..." he grinned even broader.

"Ah, great." 'What the hell is it with Marines falling for these soft Fleeters?' she thought. "Well good luck. It just better not come and bite the colonel in the ass."

Grinning softly, Lian nodded. "I'll be careful, Gunny. You have my word." After finishing his food, the young NCO sat back in his seat. "So, where would you recommend I need to tune my squad?"

"All are good shots but if anything, I'd say they probably could use more close quarters training. They got hit hard when dealing with Green's drugged up psychos," Luxa suggested.

Nodding as he started to think up scenarios for the holodeck, Liam replied. "I'll have a training plan to you by the end of the day. Get 'em started after 0900 formation tomorrow."

"Sounds good, Sergeant," Luxa grinned. She liked this Sergeant Reece's attitude. She only hoped it held up. "I need to get going but take it easy and familiarize yourself with the ship some." She stood up from the table. "It is good to have you aboard, Sergeant Reece."

Liam stood as well, out of respect. He didn't say that he was already quite familiar with the Elysium. Gunny would see that when she read his file closer. "It's good to be back, Gunny."

~OFF~