Trigger Safety

Posted on Sun Dec 22nd, 2024 @ 10:55am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Captain Kett V'Laass

Mission: Season 6: Episode 5: A church beyond heaven
Location: Deck 32-Marine County-Phaser Range
1356 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

::ON::

Marine Captain Ket was a Gryphon Fighter Pilot. The Gryphon was one of the most advanced, something Ket was still getting use to, fighter bombers in Starfleet. But as a Marine Fighter Pilot, it had been drilled into Ket's Vulcan mind that Ket was a Marine Rifleman first and a pilot second. Something he had not seen as wholly logical as Ket had never been very good at the armed and unarmed aspect of his basic training. But this did mean he needed to take regular certification tests on the firing range to be certified to carry a side arm and handle a phaser rifle if needed. As a Marine pilot this gave the Vulcan access to the marine barracks and facilities on the USS Elysium. So hoping to go un-notice and not trying to be a bother. Ket had booked some practice time on the range and was whole heartedly missing his targets with a phaser.

Getting to spend time on the range was something that Naxea had had little time for lately. She watched as one of the pilots completely missed his targets . She walked over and grinned. "You have to lead them." she offered.

Ket turned and seeing the Colonel, tried in vain to smarten himself up as he tried in vain to stand to attention. In his plain monotone, emotionless Vulcan voice, but with a hint of intuitiveness ket asked "Ma'am? Apologies i do not understand?"

"At ease," she waved dismissively. "When the target is moving, you have to lead the target," Naxea clarified. She hadn't seen the officer on the range often but then again, pilots were only required to qualify once a year so many pilots were a rare sight on ranges

Ket relaxed in the presence of Colonel Naxea. He nooded affirmatively listening to the knowledge of his superior officer, thankful that she was sharing her experience with him. "Thank you Colonel" replied the Vulcan again as he re-loaded his phaser rifle, definitely not in the same fluid motion as a marine. He put the rifle up again to his shoulder and taking the Colonels advise, fired his weapon again. This time hitting the target, closer to the bullseye.

Naxea watched as the Vulcan hit closer to the bullseye. "Better. Just work on tracking your target more smoothly and you'll end up hitting dead center in no time. What's your name by the way?"

"Marine Captain Kett. V'Laass Colonel" Responded the Vulcan, because when the Colnel asks for your name, you give them, your full name out of respect. "Though I find that most Just call me Ket Ma'am." Ket typed gently on the small touch screen LCARS display built into the targeting array of the phaser rifle. He stared down the barrel, took a deep breath and fired.

"Well, it's good to meet you, Ket." She watched as he fired again. It was rather unusual for a Vulcan to prefer such an informal address but she shrugged it off. She was thankful that not every Vulcan was stoic.

This time the stream of energy from the phaser hit its target. Ket nodded with satisfaction to himself "You too Ma'am" responded the Vulcan "and thank you for the tips. I must admit it has been sometimes since i have had to fire a phaser in ground combat."

"Oh? When were you in ground combat?" Naxea asked as it was rare for pilots to face ground combat.

Ket pulled up his rifle looking for the trigger safety whilst he spoke "I have been in ground combat twice in my starfleet career. The first was during the Cardassian border war. My shuttle was shot down, myself and the rest of the crew ended up in a fire fight with a Cardassian ground patrol. Alas, I was captured and interned in a labour camp on Bajor. The second encounter was on Bajor after my escape i linked up with some Bajoran resistance fighters. but their camp was raided and i was re-captured in that firefight."

let's answer was not one that she had expected and nearly left her speechless as she tried to find the words to continue. "W--wait. You were on Bajor during the occupation and served in the resistance?" She wondered if he had known her father.

"Not for very long" responded Ket without emotion as he finally found the safety switch and clicked it into place. "I was a poor resistance fighter. But i got to know the Cardassian Labour camps very well during my stay on Bajor. I was believed KIA, so it was some time before the Federation and Starfleet negotiated my release."

Naxea was quiet for a moment as she processed the information. She recalled seeing anyone at the camp other than Bajoran or Cardassian. But then again, she had been very young at the time and camps were rather large. "I spent my early childhood in the Batal Camp. My father was a member of the resistance in the area."

"Ahhhh interesting" said Ket as he then shook his head gently "I apologise Colonel but i do not believe i had the pleasure of meeting your farther. I was at the Gilliuntep Camp, in the south Dahkur Province. It was run by a rather vicious Cardassian by the name of Gul De'vek."

"All Cardassians were vicious in some way. Especially towards women and children," she commented, forcing old feelings back down and the memories away. There wasn't a minute that she didn't wish the Bajorans had never met the Cardassians. But wishes were for fools in the end. "But I know of Gul De'vek. An acquaintance of his is actually aboard this ship--Gul Desek."

The usual calm, emotionless mask upon the Vulcan's face was almost imperceptibly broken on Kett's brow as there was a slight trace of a frown. "how? Why?" asked Kett, trying to regain his composure

"He was rescued from the Thaih'ea station," she explained . "I didn't even realize it was him until he introduced himself to.the Captain when we were back aboard the Elysium. So until we get back home, he's being kept under guard at a guest quarters. I take it you've heard of the bastard?"

"Hmmmmm" said Kett to himself as he remembered distant and long locked away memories. "'Gul' Desek" responded the Vulcan with emphasis on the word Gul "was a Glinn in their service of De'vek at Gilluntep Labour camp for a short time. Before he was demoted and re-assigned out of the camp."

"He was reassigned to the region around Batal to help put down the resistance there. He led a team that was brutally efficient," she stated. She paused for a moment. The words that were coming were still difficult for her to say. "He is also unknowingly the biological father of my half brother."

Ket raised one quizzical eyebrow in surprise coming close to shock in the normally emotionless Vulcan. Ket was struggling for something to say as the statement from the Colonel had left him speechless. Something he tried to hide, badly, but finding something important to press on his rifle. He pressed a couple of buttons on the touch screen LCARS display, then looked at the Colonel. "That.....must be.....Challenging Colonel?"

"It was," she paused for a moment as she thought about Dajeem. She had hated him growing up until making amends only a few years ago. "I hated my mother for allowing me step brother to be born and my half brother growing up, believing that Desek was dead. It was only a few years ago that my half brother and I made amends.". She let out a long sigh. "Anyways, you've improved," she grinned, looking at his score

"My gratitude Colonel. The Master Sergeant at Arms should re-certify me for basic weapons use." Ket thought about saying something else about their mutual Cardassian acquaintance but thought to leave it for now." Ket holstered his refile and gave the familiar Vulcan V hand gesture "Thank you for your time Colonel. Live long and prosper."

Naxea nodded and grinned. "Anytime lieutenant," she replied as she watched him turn and leave.