Sheepdogs Ready

Posted on Mon Aug 3rd, 2015 @ 10:19pm by Major General Thomas Jackson & Master Warrant Officer Gaius Aquila & Lieutenant Colonel Jillian "Phoenix" Sullivan & Major Percival 'Percy' Morris & Colonel Danny Lennox & Sergeant Maal son of Torg & Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Ermey & Gunnery Sergeant Agtx & 1st Lieutenant Taz

1,336 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 89 - Futility's Return
Location: Marine Briefing
Timeline: MD2 0030 hrs, Following 'Summer Job'

Marine Briefing Room

The Command Staff of the 1st Marine Division was hastily assembled in the Marine Briefing Room. The hour of this call to briefing marked the urgency of the matter. In the spirit of unit cohesiveness, NCO's were also called into this briefing by the General. He also invited Phoenix as a courtesy, so she would know what is going on.

Giaus wiped the sleep out of his eyes. Between Holly and his boys, he has been turning in at late hours anyway, so he was not quite asleep when the emergency briefing was called. Like everyone else in the room, he waited.

Olga held a giant cup of black coffee between her hands. She only had an hour of sleep before the emergency meeting was called. She figured that some colonists had another disaster or a merchant ship was attacked by some pirates. Either way, Olga figured she would go to the armory and prepare her gear while the officers ironed the situation out. She thought it was typical of officers to overreact and call a large meeting.

Zaiya regretted eating the replicated gagh that was supposed to be as good as fresh. Oddly, Zaiya never really liked gagh to begin with. The discomfort of her upset stomach didn't distract her from the upcoming meeting.

Lennox arrived with several NonComms he’d worked with for many years. Ermey, Agtx, and Taz. It made for an interesting site, two Humans, a Gorn, and a Krazzle. Usually Private T’ork and Corporal Nas would be with them too, but they were on duty down on Kaleb IV still assisting with repair efforts.

Lennox nodded to everyone present, gave Vaal smile, then he along with Ermey, Agtx, and Taz all took seats.

Morris rolled in right around the same time as the others, giving appropriate but quick salutes to all, including the general. He remained quiet - part of it was the hour, although that typically didn't phase him. But mainly, he could only guess at the urgency of this meeting.

Maal walked into the briefing room after being transferred back to the Marines, he stopped and looked around before seeing the General. The big Klingon walked over towards him, handing a data padd with the transfer orders from Admiral Bremer himself "Sgt. Maal reporting for duty sir!" He snapped off a salute.

Jackson returned Maal's salute, and read the PADD. "Welcome back Sergeant."

T'Lyn stood there quietly and waited for the meeting to start.

A Marine Gunnery Sergeant who was acting as Jackson's Aide called the room to attention. "The Division Commander!"

Jackson walked into the room, dressed in his preferred Battledress Uniform. The look on his face was ominous.

"Take seats ladies and gentlemen. " He waited for everyone to sit down. He looked down at his PADD before he began to speak. "At 2347 hours, Starbase 400 received a general distress call from the USS Houston." He nodded to his Aide, who played back the message.

"...shhh...arbase 400, this is ...ssshhhS Houston. Requesting assistence, lo...ssshhh...sector. We're under attack by Borg vessels. We're lo...sshhhh...shields and our engines are dam...sshhhhh..." "RESISTANCE IS FUTILE."

Jackson stood there as the message playback sunk into everyone's mind. "So this is what is happening on the Fleet end. The Pegasus, Essex, Yorktown, and Venator are heading out to the Houston's last known location, which is only a few lightyears from us. The other Starfleet vessels on base are either on standby, or taking up station in the Kaleb System."

" This is what will be happening on our end. As of now, the Division is on ThreatCon Delta. Major Morris, I want you to have both the Saratoga, and the Tirpitz crewed and warmed up in case we need to send out a QRF. In that event, you will take the Tirpitz out with a battalion from Captain Lennox's 327th Marines Regiment as needed. If a second QRF is needed to be sent out, Major T'Lyn will take the Saratoga with a battalion from 22nd Regiment. Soghla' Zaiya, please attach a mixed company of Armor each to those units. If there is a threat to the starbase, the remaining regiments will conduct the initial defense until your units are back off the ships."

"Aye sir," replied Morris. He took copious notes on a datapad, preparing to send prompts to various starbase operations crew to have the ships ready for his arrival at the docking bay.

Zaiya regarded both Lennox and T'Lyn. "2nd Armored Company will attach to 327th Regiment and 3rd Armored Company will attach to 22nd Regiment." The Borg would be a worthy opponent and Zaiya would get a good look at what Star Fleet Marines were capable of.

Olga no longer needed her coffee to stay awake. Tangling with Borg had a way of waking a person up.

"Understood," T'Lyn replied.

"Commanders and NCOs, I need you to make sure your Marine's weapons are set for Borg protocol. Once situated, you may have your people do a 50 percent sleep plan in the Marine Area or their perspective ships, half up, half bedded down on a 4 hour rotation. I will provide further instructions and info as needed."

Lennox nodded, then glanced at all of the Sergeants in the room to make sure they were all taking notes and ready.

Olga was only a few weeks out of Infantry School when her unit was ordered into action against the Borg. That was over twenty years ago and the thought of having to fight them again still bothered her.

Maal stood there leaning against the wall with his big arms folded across his chest listening.

"If there isn't anything else, dis..."

Before Jackson could dismiss everyone, he heard his name over the comm, “Bremer to General Jackson and Colonel Sullivan. General, have two Battalions of Marines heavily armed board the Saratoga for immediate departure. Also, you better bring some of those new Tanks. Colonel, bring along two squadrons of fighters. The Saratoga will depart with the rest of the Task Force in thirty minutes. Bremer out.”

Jackson smiled at the assembly. "Well, that really escalated. Change of plans. Major Morris, get to the Saratoga, and have her warm up. Major T'Lyn and Captain Lennox, I need a battalion from each of your regiments in full battle rattle and aboard the Saratoga ASAP. Include your Artillery attachments. Soghla' Zaiya, load up a mixed Armor Company on the Saratoga. Make sure you leave room for Phoenix's starfighters. On QRF, I want the Tirpitz on standby with two additional battalions and support units loaded up. Commander and NCOs, same weapons checks I outlined earlier. Chief Aquila, I want you and a MARSOC Team to come along as well. Your other Team can stay on the Tirpitz as part of the QRF. I know it is going to be tight, but we are used to it. Now MOVE!"

Morris didn't waste anytime. He punched a few more details into his padd, changing everything over to the Saratoga tags and sent the word to starbase ops to prepare for his arrival. He left the briefing room with nothing but a quick salute, preparing to grab his gear and meet the general on the Saratoga bridge.

"I'll have my Scorpions in the hangars in thirty," Phoenix promised as she finished an apple before she casually walked out of the room to make the call to her wing.

Giaus was already out the door, and on comms to alert Team 1 to get moving.

Lennox looked over at Taz, “Sergeant Taz you heard the Skipper. I want the Second Battalion ready. Leave the Headquarters Company here, I don’t think we’re going to need them. Advise Corporal Schmidt to have to have his Heavy Weapons Company ready too.”

Taz nodded, “Aye Ssirrr.”

Jackson was already heading to his office, where he left his Kit. Once he donned his rucksack, side arm, rifle, and duffle bag, he would be on his way to the Saratoga.

RSS Feed