Stealth and awe PT1

Posted on Tue May 31st, 2022 @ 10:49am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Staff Sergeant Colton Renth

Mission: Rejoinder
Location: Starbase 1, and various places on the USS Elysium
Timeline: MD1 1900
1464 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

Colt arrived at Starbase 1 and headed for the bar to wait for the ship he had been suddenly reassigned after an equally sudden commission from the enlisted position he held most of his career, he had attempted to ask command what promoted the sudden promotion to 2nd lieutenant, but he had met with a wall of bureaucratic nonsense. So he sat at the bar looking out the stars, waiting for the USS Elysium to arrive, he would glance down a PADD looking at the ship's spec and tactical capabilities from time to time, it was the first of it's class the Elysium class was a Diplomatic / Support ship, not the pure combat ships he had pervious served on. He wondered what his role would be, his orders said he billeted as a scout/sniper but that role was typically held by enlisted, and really how much field work was a sniper gonna get on an diplomatic ship anyway….. He began to grow angry as he realized this was posting as an officer and diplomatic vessel ~ so help me if the stuff brass headed bureaucratic think they shove behind a desk, or worse relegated me to the glorified babysitter for other pompous bureaucratic after the literal hell I just got out of they got another thing coming.~ he thought to himself as he hurled his now empty bourbon glass against a nearby wall instantly shattering it.

The bartender shouted from the outer end of the bar “jeez jar heard if ya didn’t like the swile all ya had was ask for something else, no need to start tearing through like jarheads are known for.”

Colton's head snapped in the direction of the voice came, when saw the young Cardassian man he snapped out of his rage “Sorry, it wasn’t the drink it was…… well sorry I think I’m going hit one of the holo suites for a bit.”

The bartender called as Colton began to walk away, “remember if you break the holosuite you buy it.” a grin on the Cardassian face.

Colton cold call back over his right shoulder, "won’t be the first time.” And quickly made his way to holo suites and entered one.

Naxea had taken the time to get off the ship and stretch her legs a bit, so to speak as she entered the bar. Besides, Doctor Sthilg had recommended plenty of walking, though she hardly considered walking a good form of exercise. There was now an ever so slight bump to her stomach that the uniform still hid thankfully. She had tracked a new arrival to this bar as she approached the bartender, not seeing the specified Marine. "Have you seen a Marine lieutenant in here recently?"

"He's in the holosuite. Seemed pissed about something," came the bartender's reply.

"Thanks," she said before making her way up to the holosuite and entered.

Colton was sitting in a darkened theater, he was fixed on the screen as if nothing else existed he heard the door hiss open. “Christ, can’t anyone read anymore this was a private booking. God I miss the field at least I had my privacy.” he said gruffly as stood and turned to catch sight of the silver oak leaves on the woman’s uniform he snapped to attention “Apologies Colonel I didn’t know it was you thought was some snot-nosed cadet too tipsy from passing whatever exam with at the academy this week..” he said smartly as her waited for her reply.

"My apologies, lieutenant," Naxea replied, grinning as she approached him. "I just came by to meet you before you actually reported aboard the Elysium. It's a habit I make with all of my platoon commanders. What movie are you watching?" she asked with a gesture towards the screen.


“Never gonna get used to people address me as Lieutenant, not sure why I was commissioned, as for the movies it’s a compilation of documentaries and bio flics of some of the greatest snipers in history, he glanced over his shoulder at the screen, for a moment this part is Carlos Hancock a USMC sniper during the Vietnam war.” he replied still standing at attention, “truth be told colonel I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a platoon commander, I’ve always been more of field guy, no real command experience, spent my entire career to this as a force recon and raider scout sniper, so use to it just being me and a spotter,” he replied.

"First off, at ease, lieutenant," she said as she took a seat and gestured for the man to do the same. "I think I can understand her hesitation for being a platoon commander. My first assignment was as an infantry platoon commander aboard the USS Forrestal. It can be scary to be responsible for the lives of others and as a former enlisted, you have experience that many new platoon commanders don't--use it and let it guide you."

As he took a seat next to the colonel “I appreciate to confidence, but it's not any of the things you mentioned that worry me about the new assignment. It's how quickly it happened, I was suddenly recalled from a personal leave after a very difficult assignment that I can’t talk about, Starfleet intelligence, and the federation council has that locked down tighter than Krik’s time travel, and most the stuff that Happened with USS Discovery and with good reason. My concern is I was recalled, promoted, and kicked out the door faster than I could even salute with no explanation or reason I think someone screwed the pouch on this one I have an associate degree, and a couple of distance learning classes, not a full academy major or even a full academy course load. It's like deja vu, the last things unfolded like this well The council and Starfleet intel don’t keep as quiet as my last assignment which started very similar to this. Let's face my skill set, which is to get in, gather intel relay intel, take out the target or target, and get out without being detected, not sitting in a command post, or ops center given orders to others. Besides I am not hangin’ up the ol’ sniper rifle and I don’t believe I can effectively do both. Sniping is all about stealth and awe, quite precise and mysterious, command tend tends to be loud, confusing, and general speaking a great big cluster fuck, ma’am.”

"Don't throw all of us into that boat," she grinned before the doors opened to reveal a sergeant entering and seemingly out of breath. Naxea turned in her seat and looked at the sergeant. "Can I help you, Sergeant?"

Hopefully this means someone finally fixing this fuck Colton thought to himself

"I hope so, ma'am. I received a notification from Marine HQ that there was a mixup with the commissioning of a Staff Sergeant Colton Renth," the Sergeant stated.

All cheerfulness left Naxea as she stood and approached the sergeant. "Come again?"

"Apparently there was a mix-up at Marine HQ ma'am. They mistakenly gave Staff Sergeant Rnth a commission to Second lieutenant. I was sent to find you and inform you of the mistake."

"Who is the dumbass they have in charge of organizing commissioning orders at HQ?" Naxea asked sternly, placing her hands on her hips.

The sergeant shrugged helplessly. "Sorry ma'am. I'm just the messenger."

Letting out a sigh, Naxea waved at the sergeant dismissively. "Thank you. Dismissed,"

"Aye, ma'am," the sergeant replied before exiting the holosuite.

Turning back to Renth, Naxea shook her head. "Well, it looks like you'll be taking Tonelly's place as First Platoon Sniper."

Colton stood, “Understood Colonel that what's I'm good at, I’m just glad this got resolved before we got underway.” as he took off the second lieutenant's bar with lighting speed before pinning his staff Sargent chevrons back on with equal speed. “I’ll officially report in shortly Colonel gotta hit shooting range, a pick up a pet project of mine from a buddy in Starfleet corps of engineers.” he went to leave “oh what should I do with these,” he asked holding the second lieutenant's bar.

Naxea held out her hand. "I'll take them for you, Staff Sergeant. I'll
see you again when we depart. Welcome to the Elysium," she grinned.

He handed her the lieutenant's bars, " See ya soon Ma'am." ended the holo suite program and exited quickly his mood much better than it had been.


Naxea shook her head as she followed Renth out of the holosuite. 'I need some leave,' she thought.

OFF:

SSGT: Colton Renth
62nd Marine Scout Sniper

Colonel Azhul Naxea
62nd Marine Detachment CO
USS Elysium