A Special Operation
Posted on 17 Jan 2018 @ 12:13pm by Major Terrance West & Captain Jason Kage (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR, Camp Revenant) & Captain Sular Vivano (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR to XFY) & First Lieutenant Rakin Tarif (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR to Bre'el Dip. Msn.)
Mission:
He ho'omaka hou 'ana - A New Beginning
Location: Marine Commander's Office - Deck 22
Timeline: 28 Dec 2388
ON:
West exited the Command Center in his Battle Dress Uniform in MARPAT. Essentially, it was the standard Starfleet uniform just in camo print. Supposedly based on the terrain, the pattern would allow them to blend in the mountain jungle more.
Right on cue, his Captains were waiting at the Command Center.
"Gentlemen, are your teams ready? We are approaching the point of no return for mission abort," West asked them.
"Delta is ready, go/no go, boss." Kage replied, getting a nod from Gunny Melota. He'd heard her berating the men, getting them ready for the mission in the fewest, harshest words.
Vivano nodded. "Bravo is green across the board. Loading up the supplies as we speak. I'm bringing one of my demolitions experts to set the charges for the installation just in case."
"Alright, let's get up to the Flight Deck and saddle up," West said with a smile. He always enjoyed getting ready to go on a mission. It was like all the stress melted away as they finally got into action.
Kage led Delta down to the flight deck, ordering them aboard with a word. He entered last and paused to check each man, including his NCO's before strapping in and sending the ready signal.
Deck 20 - Flight Deck
Flight Control had moved the two shuttles and runabouts to the Flight Deck to make it easier for the Marines and the fact they were training with them meant it didn't bother the normal shuttle flight schedule above. Piloting was a perishable skill and training was paramount for them also.
West eyed the shuttles and runabouts. They were pretty shiny and it was time for the Marines to break them in.
He boarded one of the shuttles carrying the sensor components.
"Raider Three to Bravo Actual, do you copy?" West transmitted to check the comms.
"Roger Raider Three, this is Bravo Actual. Good copy, over."
"Raider Three to Delta Actual, do you copy?" West repeated the comms check for the other company.
"Delta Actual to Raider Three. We read you Raider Three." Kage replied.
"Launch mission," West ordered.
The two shuttles and two runabouts departed the Hawaii. The ride down was uneventful, which meant Akio had smoothed their arrival over. The cover story was that the marines were conducting a training mission in the mountains.
Salmon's whiskers kept twitching on the way down. He wasn't used to being aboard ships and now shuttles, let alone surrounded by so many people trained to kill in an instant. Zim longed for his lab where the only danger was yourself if you mixed something incorrectly.
Vivano took a breath and let it out slowly. "Alright we've been through the simulations dozens of times. You all know what you need to do once we touch down."
Vivano looked to one of the marines. "Wilkinson, you make sure to place those charges correctly. If it has to blow I don't want there to be any sign that there was ever anything there."
"Prepare for atmospheric entry," the pilot warned.
Bre'el IV Mountains - 40 clicks south of the capital
"Landing in 3... 2... 1..." the pilot counted down as the shuttle touched the ground.
As soon as the shuttle was on solid ground, West got up and egressed the shuttle. Hot tropical air met West and he knew this job was going to be that much more difficult.
"Bravo Actual, it's show time," West transmitted.
He looked down range and saw Kage's marines pouring out of the Honolulu in the distance, setting up the perimeter.
Vivano stood up and stepped to the hatch as he saw his men get in place. He opened the hatch waving them through. "MOVE, MOVE, MOVE! GO, GO, GO! GET THIS GEAR UNLOADED!"
Salmon scurried out of the runabout. He didn't want to be crushed by a marine trying to get away from the even louder marine.
West helped one of the marines carry an unwieldy piece of sensor contraption. They could not beam down the equipment as that would be too easy for the Bre'ella to detect.
"You got that, sir?" One of Vivano's men asked.
"Don't worry, I'm not above doing grunt work," West answered. As a former enlisted man himself, West understood the life of an enlisted marine.
As they got to the site, the piece West was carrying found its staging area.
"Captain, report," West asked as he found Vivano nearby.
"We're about half way with putting this contraption together, sir," Vivano reported.
"Very well, make it snappy," West confirmed.
“Sirs.” Tarif said as he lightly jogged towards the Marine senior officers. “My team have set up a perimeter while the shuttle is being unloaded.” The Bolian reported.
Just then, a voice crackled on the comm link, "Outpost 3, we have one subject approaching, walking alone with a couple animals. Three clicks out. What are your orders?"
“Keep an eye on them. It might be someone out walking their pets.” Tarif replied after tapping his comm badge.
"Keep the chatter to a minimum. Ready phasers on stun, fire only if you have no choice." Kage stated, his voice hushed.
West turned his attention back to the sensor being put together.
Salmon and Vivano were arguing about something.
"Is everything alright?" West asked.
The two stared at each other before the Science Officer explained, "Sir, the Captain here wants to place four charges throughout the equipment, yet I think that's overkill. Two should do it at most and really, if you just want to prevent the access of the sensor, we just have to blow the main dish controls and the access terminal."
"However, if you want to ensure no one can figure out who owned this equipment, we need to blow it all up," Vivano contended.
"A risk to whatever life discovers it," Salmon retorted.
"What's the commonality of this equipment?" West asked.
"This is a common long range sensor suite, sir. Aside from the markings in the software, and maybe the dish antennae, this could be traced back to almost anyone," Salmon answered.
"Fine. Split the difference and place three charges, include an auditory warning before they blow," West instructed Vivano to placate the good point the Quim brought up, "and dirty up the equipment. It still looks way too new."
The Quim nodded, satisfied and Vivano gave a curt yessir.
After a few minutes, the comms came to life again, "Outpost 3, subject is not turning around and is now half a click from the perimeter. Subject has spotted our patrols and outpost; subject only waves to verbal directions to turn around. Should we apprehend or stun?"
“Apprehend for questioning.” The Bolian replied, suspicion now evident in his hushed voice. “Find out what they're up to and report back.”
A few minutes later, the outpost was again on the comm.
"Outpost 3, subject in custody. He says he was just coming to thank us for what we did 22 years ago? Something about fixing the moon."
“Surely a letter 22 years ago would have sufficed. Did you search him?” Tarif asked, unconvinced.
"Yessir; we only found a comms device. Subject doesn't seem too happy; claims he has a right to graze on this land," came the reply.
“Send him on his way, keep an eye on him for as long as he’s in the area.” The Lieutenant ordered.
Kage's hand performed a quick hand gesture. Gunny Melota hit her comm and said, "The captain orders you to monitor the civilian's com and cut down on the chatter."
Outpost 3 acknowledged. West didn't want a diplomatic incident, yet the longer they detained someone, the more likely they'd get complaints. It was a prudent course of action to release the individual since he didn't post any threat.
"How much longer, Bravo?" West shouted from the ridge.
"Planting the charges, now, sir," Vivano replied via comms.
"Pack it up," West ordered over the radio.
Tarif nodded before turning and heading back to his team. “1st Marines, start packing up and drawing in the parameter. Keep your eyes peeled.” The Bolian said as he tapped his comm badge and broke into a soft jog.
Just as quickly as the Marines arrived, they swept up and left. Unless someone scanned the mountains with an instrument, the outpost was quite camouflaged.
West was the last one aboard his shuttle and smiled at a job well done for their first mission.
OFF:
Terrance "Terry" West, Maj, SFMC
Commanding Officer
3d Marine Raider Battalion
Sular Vivano, Capt, SFMC
Commanding Officer
Bravo Company, 3d Marine Raider Battalion
Jason Kage, Capt, SFMC
Commanding Officer
Delta Company, 3d Marine Raider Battalion
Melota of House reHDep, GySgt, SFMC
First Sergeant
Delta Company, 3d Marine Raider Battalion
Rakin Tarif, 1stLt, SFMC
Team Leader, 1st Marine Special Operations Team
Delta Company, 3d Marine Raider Battalion
Zim Salmon, LT, SF
Chief Science Officer, USS Hawaii
