Training

Posted on Wed Mar 23rd, 2022 @ 1:49am by Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Chief Warrant Officer Man'darr [Naxea]

Mission: Season 5: Interlude: Darkness Abounds
Location: USS Elysium, Marine County
Timeline: MD 01 / 0915 hours
1410 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

David was working his way through the obstacle course that Man'darr had set up in Marine Holodeck Two. It was the first of many tests to come for the Corporal, as he worked towards earning his commission.

Naxea looked over the obstacle course and was impressed with the layout as it contained the basic obstacles found in your typical course save what appeared to be a taller rope climb that quickly transitioned to a slide for life. 'That will be a good arm workout alone,' she thought. Normally she would just let Patani take charge but at the moment, she didn't have anything scheduled.

David scaled the backbreaker obstacles, climbing over one beam and under another as he moved first up, then down the roof-shaped construction. He was ahead if the course time by thirty seconds, but he wanted even more of a gap.

Watching David move through the course, Naxea was impressed with the speed that he was going through the course. "How is Corporal Tonelly's training going so far?" she asked her XO, Captain Patani.

"He is more than adequate in his physical training," Natacha answered, a slight emphasis on the word physical in a tone that was otherwise non-committal. Upon returning to duty, Natacha had done her best to emulate the philosophy of the lauded Marine Evans Carlson. She had thrown herself into the training of the Marines of the detachment, both individually and collectively, so that when the Colonel called on them, they would be ready. Even so, Natacha still had her doubts about her own worthiness as a Marine Officer. The Elysium's arrival to StarBase 351, and decisions she would make upon their arrival, loomed large in her mind.

Naxea nodded at the woman. Just then a call from Operations came over the comm. "Captain Patani to transporter Room One, we're nearing Starbase 351."

"Acknowledged. May I be excused, ma'am?" the woman asked.

"Sure. Good luck, Captain," Naxea replied as she watched her XO turn and exit the training area. She didn't quite understand the woman and her way of thinking at times. She turned her attention to the hulking form of Chief Warrant Officer Man'darr, who stepped next to Naxea with his massive arms crossed. "Impressive," he commented, watching Tonelly run the course.

As he spoke, David sprinted past the finish line, ending the test. When he looked up at the timer, he was elated to see that not only had he broken his own record, from the last time he did this course, back on Earth, but he also beat the Elysium record, by forty-three point seven seconds.

"He probably lowered the gravity in here. I am feeling a bit lighter," Man'darr joked.

"I think you might be right," Naxea agreed, chuckling.

Breathing a little heavily, as he left the holographic obstacle course, David smirked. "Actually, Ma'am, Sir, I raised the gravity to what was normal on my homeworld. Which is about one and a half times Earth standard." He gave Man'darr a bigger smirk. "Give it a try, Sir. Then you'll see why I'm able to wipe the sparring mat with you, Sir." There was a respectful, though slightly mischievous glint to his eyes. It was clear that the El Aurian fully respected both officers standing before him.

"Ah, so the same as Capella Four, where I was born," Man'darr smiled. Capella Four's heavier gravity was one reason why Capellans were stronger than the typical human. "And I am always ready for a rematch."

"Great job, Corporal," Naxea commented. "You're progressing well in your training."

David snapped to attention. "Thank you, Ma'am!" He felt a swelling of pride in his chest hearing her words of praise. "I'm ready for the next phase of training, Ma'am!"

"What's next, Man'darr?" Naxea asked as she turned and looked up at the Capellan Marine.

Reaching for a PADD he had stored in his cargo pocket, he took a minute to read it. "Next up is close quarters unit tactics and leadership."

"Are you ready, Corporal?" Naxea asked, looking back towards the El-Aurian Marine. In fact, she was rather sure he was ready. So far, he had been one of her best Marines in the unit.

David nodded respectfully. "Aye, Ma'am!"

Tag (do we flash ahead?) (Sure)

<>

The UOC was much more than a holodeck designed with dozens of scenarios and locations, specializing in Urban Combat. Dozens of emitters placed about the center allowed for all types of adversaries in multiple scenarios. Naxea always referred to it as the budget holodeck.

"Corporal, you'll have a holographic platoon and your job will be to make your way to the building complex at the far end and clear the building, taking the senior Orion Commander prisoner," Man'darr informed. "Any questions?"

"Sir, do we have any intel on the size and or armament of the enemy force we will be engaging?" David had been in too many firefights to rush in to a situation without having as much intelligence as possible.

"They're equipped with standard Type Three Orion Disruptor rifles. Very similar to Klingon disruptors. As for numbers, that's the fun part," Man'darr produced a wide grin. "Estimates are between ten to fifteen combatants. I had more but the colonel told me to go easy on you."

"That's it, Sir?" David asked, a slight, confident smirk on his face. "I took out eight of Greene's genetic asshats by myself, during the attack."

"This is more of an introductory leadership test. The final test will put all your skills to the test," Naxea stated, grinning, as she recalled her final test at the Marine Raider Training School--they had thrown her into the works. She appreciated Tonelly's confidence. "When you're ready, give the signal; and Man'darr will activate the scenario.

David considered the obstacle ahead of him. Then nodded to Man'darr.

Man'darr nodded in return as he held a PaDD in his hand and tapped a panel on it, activating the course. "Course activated."

Instantly, the scene came to life. Around David, eighteen Marines suddenly appeared, one being his platoon Sergeant, a tall Andorian woman. "Orders, Sir?" She asked, as her eyes moved over their surroundings.

"Sergeant, I want you to take Third Squad and get up onto these roofs," he pointed to the target locations on the map that floated in front of him. "Once there and dug in, you will provide overwatch for the rest of us. Use commchannel seven alpha only one click for all clear, two clicks for danger. Move out!"

The Andorian nodded, then moved off with Third Squad hot on her heels.

David then turned to the rest of the platoon. "Once they are in position, we will move out, along these alleyways. That way, we are always under overwatch protection. The only place we will have no protection, is this short, covered bridge here, right before the complex."

The holographic Marines nodded and listened.

"When we get to the bridge, First Squad, you will check for any boobytraps, then set up a defensive position here, to cover our retreat, if needed. The rest of us, go through the bridge, once it has been checked and cleared for boobytraps. We will then enter the compound, eliminate any threats inside, secure the target and exfil. Let's go." He stood and readied his weapon.




"Target is captured," Man'darr informed Naxea, who grinned at the announcement.

"I wouldn't expect any less," she replied, watching Tonelly and his holographic squad exit the compound. "End program."

The computer chirrped in response as the bodies of the downed enemy shimmered from sight. "Good work, Corporal," she complimented, approaching him.

Removing his helmet, David grinned and nodded. "Thank you, Ma'am. Just using what I've learned over the years." He paused slightly before continuing. "What I think is interesting, Ma'am, is that there are battle tactics that I learned, back in the United States Army, that Starfleet does teach these days. I tried to meld the two into this exercise."

"Good thinking," she replied. One thing she knew was that Starfleet Tactics were good, but adherence to one set of tactics will eventually be your downfall--you had to remain unpredictable, which was one reason whay the Bajoran Resistance Cells were effective against Cardassian forces--at least long enough for Starfleet to move in. "You're dismissed for the day. Keep up the great job."

David smiled and felt a sense of pride from Naxea's words. "OORAH, Colonel!"

~OFF~