Post # 41 Questions and Training

Posted on Sun Aug 1st, 2021 @ 9:50am by Captain Alesha Rivers & 2nd Lieutenant Murdoch Thirman

Mission: Mission Guardian Shield
Location: USS Amandora
Timeline: Concurrent

On

Murdoch Thirman heard the skuttle butt making it's way around the ship. Being the new guy he quickly made way to his flight Commander for the juice.

" Hey Cag what's going to be our role on this mission?" Thirman asked her.

Alesha looked up at the man who had entered her office and nodded to a chair in front of her desk "As for the mission I don't know. Lieutenant McKeon is going to call a briefing soon."

" Starfleeters love to make the marines wait and see. Well we will be ready Lieutenant." Thirman replied.

"Sometimes they do but they also have reasons for it," Alesha said looking through her paperwork on him "I don't see your last report on how you did in the simulator? Since your new here I need to make sure you can handle a fighter in a crises."

" Yes ma'am. I will access my Sim fighter and forward it to you L T...I mean Lieutenant." Thirman replied straightening up act.

"Have you been in the simulator since you transferred aboard?"Alesha asked "If not you will need to. I also can't stress enough that while we're fighter pilots we're still marines and we answer to Major Hurd."

" GEN Hurd us aboard the Amandora?" Thirman replied. " No wonder we are heading into a top secret situation."

"It's Major Hurd, and the mission is from the Chief Intel Officer, Lieutenant KcKeon," Alesha said.

" Well I'm new here and perhaps this Hurd is someone different. I will up load my past sims to you and go log a fresh one Lieutenant. Do you care to join me?" Murdoch replied.

"I can use the break," Alesha said getting to her feet "Lead the way."

Murdoch headed toward the sim unit and uploaded his program. The secondary system also loaded for the Lieutenant to join him.

" Where are we going today Lieutenant? Romulans, Itasix or space spiders? What the hell are space spiders?" Murdoch asked aloud.

"Right now we're just spending time in simulators, I need to see how you fly, then you'll do a simple patrol with me, then I want to see how you are under pressure, before I turn you lose on your own in a Delta," Alseha said "As for space spiders, don't ask. I hope to never see them again."

" Can we go now?" Murdoch asked

"Go where?" Alesha asked.

" For a flight?" Murdoch clarified.

"The ship is at warp, I won't risk letting you take a Delta out, the only flight your taking will be in a simulator," Alesha said .

Murdoch rolled his eyes but then refocused on the simulator program.

" Okay the simulators are loaded up if you want to join me?" Murdoch replied.

Alesha checked the program and added a couple more items to it as well "You take the lead," Alesha climbed into the simulator and turned on the computer interface that would allow her to see what he was doing. But he'd not know that she could monitor his progress.

SIM

There were two of them and a dozen targets ten thousand kilometers ahead.

" Sabre one to Sabre 2 tracking 12 bogies dead ahead. What are your orders Wing Commander?" Murdoch asked

"Identify the bogies, you need to know what they are before we take any action," Alesha responded "Have they spotted us?"

" No scrambler codes are in place. Scanning for identity of bogies....indicates fighter size crafts in a V formation. Computer does not identify these targets." Murdoch replied.

"Your in the lead, what do you suggest?" Alesha asked.

" This is Amandora patrol squad one please identify yourself." Murdoch announced over the comm channel.

Tapping a couple buttons on her console Alesha had two ships break off and head straight for them weapons fully charged and ready.

"This is Commander Zot of the Horrian Empire, your violating our air space. Surrender and prepare to be boarded."


" We are with in Federation boundaries and on a patrol. However we can alter our course back to the Amandora if you are feeling threatened by our squad?" Murdoch replied as he was getting into the role .

Alesha tapped a few more commands revealing they had violated their space.

""I suggest you check your readings again," Zot said "And how can two teeny fighters threaten us? Your no match for us. Surrender is your only option and we'll let you live, we have you surrounded."

" There appears to be a boundary gravitational error here Commander. We will with draw but I am afraid I do not have authority from my superiors to surrender. My general orders state : I will do everything with in the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved. " Murdoch looked at Rivers in his viewer. " This is sabre 1 to Amandora please be aware we are surrounded and in need of assistance " he sent in a coded message back to the simulation Amandora.

Alesha paused the simulation "Join me outside,"

Murdoch pushed pause and joined the Lieutenant outside the simulator.

" What's wrong Lieutenant was there a glitch?" Murdoch asked.

"In a way yes, remember the ship may not be able to get to us in time, it's up to us to de-escalate the situation. Apologize and even if we're in the wrong request to retreat to Federation Space and assure them we'll not venture into their space again. We're alone there is no superiors to refer to. This is what I meant by a crises," Alesha said.

" I see but our telemetry reader said they had encroached on our buoy...then it changed to us being wrong. I am a pilot not a diplomat but sure I'll go back in there and make nice." Murdoch replied . A he reentered the scenario Murdoch recalled a sort of similar situation in which his craft had stalled and coasted on reserve power before his CAG realized he had not been with the formation.

" Horrian Commander my instruments are not working properly and my astrogater appears to be off line. We are only on patrol and will gladly leave your space if you will allow us to do so?" Thirman replied.

Alesha returned to her simulator and re-engaged the test.

"I'm glad that you've admitted your error, I give you thirty of your seconds to leave our space or we will fire on you," Zot said

"Okay let's get out of here," Alesha called "Lead the way out."

Murdoch found the parabolic course and zooted past Alesha's craft.

" Sabre 2 catch up. Zit or Zot means business. I believe the program isn't done. There is an asteroid field up ahead I think we should hall ass and get behind those rocks " Murdoch warned.

"Let me see how good you are, try landing on one of the larger ones," Alesha said catching up with him. "Match the pitch and roll and give it a shot."


Murdoch guided his craft and aimed for the alpha rock, matching pitch and roll. Shutting down the main thrusters he opened the landing systems and thrusted his craft gently onto the rocks front porch.

The green lights glowed as it showed a proper landing.

" Your turn Lieutenant " Thirman giggled.

Alesha pulled a barrel roll and came alongside the asteroid, shutting down engines, dropped the landing gear the gravity well of the asteroid took over and the Delta settled gently onto the surface.

" Showboat. My call sign is Midnight but yours should be Showboat." Murdoch commented.

"My call sign is Firefly," Alesha said "You have guts not many would try landing on a asteroid."

Before he could speak the Horrian fleet passed very near their position just as Murdoch had said but their stunt to land on the asteroid easily secured them.

The accuracy of the simulator was quite complex and Murdoch knew not to use an open channel lest he would reveal their position.

The perimeters of the program did have a limit as the empire ships turned around and proceeded back across the established buffer to their systems.

When Murdoch realized it was time he quickly powered up his craft and blasted off.

" Let's rock and roll Lieutenant.."

Alesha fired the thrusters on her Delta and lifted off and returned to the Amandora,

The simulator ended and Murdoch exited his sim unit. Coming to attention Thirman awaited Rivers verdict .

" Well how did I do?" he asked her .

"Not too bad, you have guts. I like that in a pilot, now you tell me why I should take you on as a pilot," Alesha asked.

" Well I am handsome, then there is the fact we are already underway and finally You need a good Marine pilot and wing man. Midnight is your man " Murdoch smiled.

Alesha couldn't help but smile at him "Yes I need a good pilot and a good wing man. Tell you what I'll give you a try. I'm in command of the fighters and Major Hurd is in command of the marines. I answer to him and the pilots answer to me. In the end he does have the final say."

" Lieutenant I will not let you down. I am up for officer candidate school and I really want that butter bar ma'am." Murdoch replied.

"You follow orders, not only mine but the major's and the commodores. Prove to me your worth it and I'll speak to them and have them contact General Long," Alesha said.

" Yes Ma'am." Thirman replied. " One more thing Lieutenant. I look forward to serving with you too."

"Likewise," Alseha said "I take it you've found your quarters okay?"

" Finally yes. Say is it ok to grab some chow with you sometime? We can talk shop?" Murdoch answered.

"I'd like that," Alesha said.

" Well all right then... Ma'am" Murdoch corrected as he was all business until he wasn't.

"Off duty you can call me Alesha,"

" My friends call me Midnight."

OFF: