New Beginnings

Posted on Tue Jul 19th, 2011 @ 11:46pm by Lieutenant Colonel Damian Highsmith & Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer

1,905 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Mission 76 - Home comings
Location: New Quantico OCS/ USS Pegasus-B
Timeline: One day after Taking Aboard the New Guy (0800-1245)

ON:

It was a cold morning in New Quantico.Located on Regulus IV, this place, once the home of one of the original Starfleet Marine Corps infantry regiments was now the home of Starfleet Officer Candidate School BRAVO. Pulling from the enlisted ranks, Starfleet's Officer Candidate Schools churned out over 6,000 'mustang' officers each year. This particular morning, however was a solemn one. He had just recieved new orders to rendezvous with Admiral Mike Bremer onboard the USS Pegasus-B, attached to Starbase 400 to assume new duties as the Chief of Staff for Lieutenant General Janice Fultain-Bremer. Damian had heard both names before but never much about them and now he was going to find out what all the fuss was about. First, he needed to take care of some important duties. Looking out the window, he saw that a line of Marines in their finest Class A uniforms were grouped outside of the building in preparation for morning colors. He walked out of his office, which was on the second floor and hurried down the steps. Walking out of the two massive oak doors, he put on his cover. The color guard noticed him and snapped to attention, snapping off sharp salutes.

"Stand at ease, Marines. Do you mind if I walk with you?" Damian asked the most senior officer, a Captain who Damian recognized as one of the feared Officer Instructors or Black Hats. These individuals, who wore a black campaign hat, were responsible for enforcing discipline and teaching a full company of officer candidates- over 84 people altogether, they did everything by the book and were not afraid to give some unlucky student a very lengthly and loud explanation of why things were done the way they were, at many times, this would be topped off with a large number of push ups.
The Staff Sergeant snapped to attention as he addressed the superior officer "No, sir!"

Damian checked his chronograph and noticed it was five minutes until morning colors was scheduled to begin. "Enough talk then, proceed with Morning Color Detail, Captain." Damian stepped to the left side of the formation.

The captain fell in, the four other Marines falling in in front and behind him. The two closest to him in the front and rear were each holding on flag, folded in a strict pattern reminiscent of the tricolor hats of old: The dark blue of the Federation in front and the red and gold of the Marine Corps in the rear. Two Marines on the edges functioned as guards, their sole function was to operate the mast and protect the colors from damage or theft.

"Detail, Forward- MARCH!" the Captain bellowed, the detail began to march, the clicking of their heels on the pavement perfectly synchronized. After about a half mile, the detail reached the parade ground where the flagpole was located.

"Detail, HALT!" the captain bellowed again. The detail stopped, the simultaneous click of their heels echoing across the parade grounds. Colonel Highsmith walked over to a reviewing stand and stood at stiff attention as the detail's guards took one step forward and faced inward, undoing the tightly wound loops on the flagpole. The two colors clipped their flags to the halyard and took one step back to their original positions. The guards checked the halyard and simply waited.

The captain bellowed "Colors, Present- ARMS!" the two color bearers,the captain, and Damian snapped off sharp salutes and held them as the flags were raised to the top of the flagpole. The captain dropped his salute and as he did, the guards saluted as well and dropped them promptly. The halyards were secured and the guards rejoined the formation. Executing a right face, they waited for Damian who was coming towards them. Posting at the right side of the detail, he motioned for the detail to proceed. The command was given for them to march and the synchronized clicking of the six shoes began again. It was times like this that made Damian realize why he loved being a Marine: The tradition.

About halfway back to the command building, a gunnery sergeant in the gray fatigues double timed up to Damian. Damian halted, making a left face and saluting the passing detail. Executing an about face, Damian was about a hair away from the NCO who quickly saluted.

"Sir, your shuttle to the Pegasus leaves in ten minutes, I have a vehicle waiting to escort you to the shuttle pad when you're ready." the Gunny dropped his salute and ran to the rear of the staff car to open the door. As soon as Damian climbed in, the unnamed NCO closed the door and got into the drivers seat and activated the lights and flashers which cleared the people out of the way. As soon as they reached the shuttlepad, the Gunny opened the rear door again and saluted as Damian got out of the back seat. Damian noticed a green carpet rolled out to the open door of the Class 11 shuttle. As soon as he stepped out, a group of Marines dressed to the nines saluted and a choir started to sing The Marine Corps Hymn also known as The Corps. Damian stood at stiff attention, his gaze not wavering from the figure of his executive officer who was standing in the doorway to the shuttle. Walking forward, Damian quickly returned the salutes of the enlisted sideboys and stopped before his Executive Officer, Major James Riley, the man who had ensured become his trusted friend and confidant over the past three years. Major Riley snapped off a salute which Damian promptly returned. Then, the major wrapped his former superior officer in an embrace. Releasing him, he handed him a sheathed KA-BAR knife.

"Jim, you didn't have to-"

"Sir, I felt it was prudent. It's the least I could do." the major said, smiling slightly.

Damian started to speak with some difficulty "You have command, Major. Make me proud." he was one of few words but Major Riley understood their weight coming from him. Damian turned and entered the shuttle, strapping in. As soon as he did so, the doors closed and the shuttle started to lift off. As the shuttle cleared the ground, Damian started to think about what his new life would be like...

Three Hours Later

A short while later, a voice came on the shuttle's intercom "Colonel, we are nearing the USS Pegasus. Due to the flight schedule, we will be unable to land. Please prepare to be transported to the USS Pegasus in Five-Four-Three-Two-One. As soon as the pilot said "One", the colonel felt a sensation akin to being frozen and burned again as he dematerialized and rematerialized on board the USS Pegasus. From what he could tell, he was on the bridge of the vessel, he had visibly startled a Lieutenant in security gold who raised his phaser at him. Damian raised his hand menacingly

"Lieutenant, I suggest you put that weapon down unless you want to be manning a remote deep space probe." he said, his signature edge coming into his tone. The lieutenant was slightly ruffled at this and lowered his weapon. Handing over his orders to the security officer, he waited as the man read them and then paled considerably as he saw where those orders came from. Taking the PADD back, Lieutenant Colonel Highsmith strode over to the door and tapped the doorchime.

"Enter." Mike replied to the chime. He and Captain Harrison had just entered his Ready Room to talk about what they might find when they arrived at Earth. They didn't expect the `cold`welcome to received last time, but they wanted to have a plan in place, just in case.

As the door opened, a Lieutenant Colonel stepped in. Mike didn't recognize his face but he knew who he was. Lieutenant Colonel Highsmith looked like a Marine's Marine by the way he carried himself. Lieutenant General Fultian-Bremer's new Chief of Staff had a serious expression as Mike rose to great him.

"Welcome aboard the Pegasus. I apologize we didn't have time to come pick you up, but we're in route to Earth to pick up the General now." He motioned toward Harrison. "This is Captain Alexandra Harrison, Starbase 400's Chief of Security."

Alex nodded as Mike motioned toward the empty seat beside her, "Please, have a seat. I'm sure you have questions about why we rushed though your transfer and getting you here."

Damian didn't even have time to begin his reporting statement before the Admiral motioned towards a chair. Turning to his left, he noticed a stunningly beautiful woman. Keeping his stone face, he nodded curtly to both officers. Taking his seat, he turned to Admiral Bremer.
He knew that Commanding Officers, especially those on ground based command duty didn't get pushed spaceside that quickly, so either he was a hot commodity or they had no one else to turn to.

"Sir, I'm only wondering why I was requested as opposed to someone else." Damian asked

"Simply, we need someone that will be dedicated and provide leadership to the First Marine Division as well as other Marine assets in the Ares Sector. We recently lost our Marine CO and XO due to transfers, and while Colonel Pike is more than capable of leading the First and has some experienced Officers and Non-Comms, I need him to focus on the First. In your role as General Fultian-Bremer's Chief of Staff, you'll help her better direct other Marine units close to SB400 or under our influence, especially right now with tensions high with the Romulans, Gorn, and Tholians. Furthermore, you're being assigned command of the USS Kearsarge, an Intrepid class ship. This will allow you to quickly deploy Marines where needed, or move in to assigned already deployed units. Of course, once we pick up the General she may have other duties for you too."

Mike paused to let his words sink in. The position of Marine Chief of Staff was definitely different from being the Marine CO aboard a ship or station.

Damian nodded slightly, indicating his understanding. This was the next step in his career. Doing the math quickly in his head he figured that he was now responsible for over 120,000 Marines in the sector, more than he had had ever commanded in his entire career, he had a big job now and it was time to fully accept it although it would take some time.

"Understood, sir. Will there be anything else?" Damian asked, he had a lot of studying to do on the various force conditions in the other sectors and it wasn't going to get done if he kept chitchatting with the Admiral. Although he wouldn't be opposed to talking with Captain Harrison.

Bremer stood, "That'll be all for now. I recommend getting yourself familiar with the Station's Command Crew, as well as SB400's crew and ship complement, and the Ares Sector of operations." He paused a moment, "Welcome aboard."

Damian nodded silently and snapped to attention, saluting the Admiral and the Captain. Executing an about face, he walked out of the office. After the doors slid shut, he pumped his fist up and down in the air. Looking around, he saw several crew members staring at him. Adjusting the coat on his dress blues, he made his way to the turbolift and stepped inside, allowing the doors to shut around him.

:OFF

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