Pre-Launch Briefing

Posted on Fri Apr 26th, 2019 @ 12:08pm by Colonel Danny Lennox & Lieutenant David Hannigan & Gunnery Sergeant Agtx & First Ramata`tar & Major General Thomas Jackson & Brigadier General David Hurd Sr & Captain Jack Solomon & Commander Hades,MD & Lieutenant Colonel Chuck McDaniel & Brigadier General Kaden Ross & 1st Lieutenant David Henry & Master Warrant Officer Gaius Aquila & Staff Sergeant Sam Hopper

2,275 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 98 - A Raid on Peace
Location: Marine Briefing 1
Timeline: MD1-1036hrs

SB400 Marine Country

As soon as the Status Board in the Command Office went to ThreatCon Delta, the Staff Duty Officer initiated a division-wide alert. Marines scurried to numerous locations to gather their equipment and their weapons. The 22nd Regiment started boarding the USS Kearsarge, and MT2. The 4th Regiment, along with 1st MARSOC Group, started boarding the USS Saratoga, and MT1. Everyone knew their jobs, so micro-management was not needed.

Just minutes before the alert, First Lieutenant Henry just came off a runabout, returning from Recon School on Mars. His MARSOC Wings were still new and shiny. He did not even unpack his bag when Staff Sergeant Hopper found him. "Welcome back and congratulations Sir! Now follow me. We are kitting up, and boarding the Kearsarge with the rest of the regiment."


Marine Briefing Room 1

Jackson already had PADDs placed on the tables, as he waited for his officers to show up.

Walking in, Hurd picked up a PADD and retreated to the shadows of the room, observing everyone and the events occurring.

Jackson noted his XO's entry, and gave him a nod. He knew David wanted to get to the knitty gritty.

Lennox walked in with GSgt. Agtx, Hannigan right behind. Hannigan didn't know anyone there so he stood head the back of the room. He started tapping on his PADD then noticed the big Jem'Hadar Ramata'tar walk in and stand beside him. Hannigan eyed him for a moment before Ramata'tar gave him a respectful nod.

Lennox on the other hand said hello to the Generals and a few others as he took a seat, activating his PADD to take notes. Agtx sat to his right.

Kaden entered first saluting the General. “Captain Kaden Ross, reporting in, Sir!” He said.

Jackson shook the Captain's hand. "Welcome aboard, Captain. Sorry you will have to get acquainted with your regiment this way. The 22nd was recently replenished. They took a beating several months ago, along with the rest of the Division."

Kaden offered a smile but he had to agree this was not ideal of getting acquainted with his regiment but he was going to try to not overwhelm them or himself. “I agree not exactly how I envisioned it but trial by fire I suppose, Sir.”

Freya wasn't far behind her husband as she arrived straight from her office. Saluting the General as she did so, "Petty Officer Ross, also reporting as ordered Sir."

Jackson returned the salute, and shook her hand as well. "Also, welcome aboard. Chief Braxton will be here as well. He heads the Marine Medical, and coordinates with the Fleet Medical Department."

"Thank you Sir" Freya smiled. "I've already met Chief Braxton."

"Excellent. I am glad that you are on top of your game." Thomas smiled back.

"I do my best Sir" Freya smiled warmly as she walked to the replicator and got herself a drink before standing beside her husband.

Braxton gulped down his coffee and entered the briefing room. He gave a quick salute to Jackson whom he came across first. "Sir. Warrant Officer Braxton Reporting as Ordered." He'd been away from his Troop a while pulling sickbay shifts and Marine Medical shifts. He had great news that he was a step away from being a full MD. He had no doubt that it would be an asset to the Marine troops. When he was a full MD and surgeon he could do so much more.

Jackson returned the salute. "Long time no see Chief. From what I hear, Captains bars might be in order for you in the near future."

Braxton shrugged. "Not necessary. I'm happy where I am. Glad to be fully back with my brothers...and sisters." He gave a nod to Freya.

Freya smiled at Braxton. Being the senior field medic she'd follow his lead when out in the field, depending on numbers of casualties they were going to need a system agreed on triaging patients but that could be sorted later.

Kaden walked over to the table and proceeded to pull a seat out for his wife to sit he was glad to see Freya had already established a rapport with her superior in the field.

"Thank you Kaden" Freya smiled warmly as she took the seat he'd pulled out for her.

Taking his seat beside her Kaden sat there in silence for a moment trying to figure out how to ask her of his concerns that he brought up with Ariana and Dr. Corrigan. Instead he figured he wait till after to talk to her since currently there was a more pressing matter at hand to deal with it seemed.

Jack had made his way to Marine Country as soon as he'd received the notice from Major Jackson and took a seat in the audience area, making sure he had a PADD ready to take down notes and in case he needed to ask any questions. He'd never visited this area before and made sure he was as comfortable as possible.

Braxton sat down ready to make some notes on what was going on. The way his bones hurt told him that this was going to be a tough one.

Hades Holo linked into the briefing from the Mercy. His last check came in tight and he needed to be there yet he needed to hear the briefing. He was glad he tied in well and the feed was great to his ready room.

Once everyone was here, Jackson stood up at the podium and began to speak. "Good morning. Time is scarce, so I will try to make this short. A short time ago, our outpost on Tarod IX was attacked by what has been reported as Reman Commandos. So far, the official story is that they are part of the Reman Separatists movement. Casualties are unknown. Number of tangos, unknown. Whereabouts of the tangos, unknown. The details are on the PADDs in front of you." Thomas gave them time to read.

"This might just be a raid, it might be a probe, or it might be something else. We do not know. So we are going to conduct our operation like it is something else. We travel to the Tarod system as a group. Once we get to the system boundaries, we switch to impulse."

"Major McDaniel, when the fleet goes on impulse, I will order you to launch birds to Tarod IX. There are sensor jammers on the surface, so we will need eyeballs to evaluate the outpost and any potential hostiles. If no major threat is evident, you can send us the green light to conduct our operations. And I will need you to provide a system-wide CAP. Your call on who, and how many."

" Yes General. Our teams are already preparing to deploy with the frigates. I'm meeting with my squad leaders and will inform them if our orders sir." McDaniel replied.

"General Hurd, Commander Solomon, Doctor Hades, if and when the CAG gives us the green light, we will proceed tactically to the planet. Upon arrival, General Hurd will commence landing Captain Ross' battalion planetside. Secure the outpost and other facilities. The landing method and dispersion is your call. Then signal the Mercy to conduct their medical mission. The Ark Royal will provide high orbital cover, along with the Saratoga."

Hades gave a nod. "Understood. Mercy will be ready."

Jack nodded as he understood the orders so far. "Understood sir, I'll make sure that the Ark Royal is ready once we arrive and drop to impulse."

Nodding his head, General Hurd.retuned to being motionless.

"Major Lennox, your unit will remain on the Saratoga and MT1 as a Quick Reaction Force, if needed."

"Understood sir." Lennox replied. He wasn't happy to be left behind, but understand the need. He sent a quick message to First Lieutenant Taz to make him aware.

He then leaned over to GSgt. Agtx, "While in route I want a deployment drill."

"Yesss sssirr." The big Gorn replied.

"Chief Braxton, your team goes down with the rest of the Kearsarge Group to provide immediate aide as needed. When the Mercy gets called, you can coordinate with them."

"Understood."

"Any questions?" Jackson asked.

Freya may well have been the newbie but she wasn't afraid to raise questions. "Sir..." She smiled politely. "Could you use my senses in the field?"

Looking at Freya Hurd said, " Yes, yes we can, but remember due to the implants I have you will not be able to read or contact me telepathically understood?"

"Understood Sir!" Freya smiled and nodded.

Hades interjected, "If you will excuse me I have new crew coming on so I have to cut holo. Is there anything else that is required on my end for now?"

Jackson answered, "You have my leave, Doctor."

"General Jackson, General Hurd, I was ordered to attend this meeting and embark aboard the USS Kearsarge by Fleet Admiral Bremer, he said I was requested by General Hurd. What do you require of me?" Ramata'tar asked.

Stepping out of the shadows, Hurd walked over, extended his hand and said, "I need a First Officer, and I could think of nobody better than you, what do you say?

Ramata'tar looked at the General for a moment, then at his hand. 'This Human tradition of shaking hands, unnecessary' he thought, but he grabbed Hurd's hand and shook it. "I accept."

Jack took note of the previous questions and thought it best to raise the one that was the biggest on his mind at that stage. "Sir, just for clarification and understanding, when will the Ark Royal Engineering crew be able to be deployed for any damage reparations and repairs to the Outpost?" he asked. Pressing further, Jack continued. "That is why the Ark Royal is also being sent on this mission after all?" he proceeded further.

Jackson said, "You can send a small team to accompany the line Infantry in order to make an initial damage assessment, just advise them to stay behind the grunts. After the area is declared secure, the rest of your engineers can deploy when the Mercy commences their operations."

"Thank you, sir, we'll hold back until the all clear has been given," Solomon replied.

"General Jackson." Hannigan started, "Intel believes the Reman Commandos are led by Colonel named Xiosek. He’s a Dominion War veteran, was a part of Shinzon’s coup, and an old school believer in the might of the Romulan Star Empire. His motives could be simply trying to test Starfleet's response to gathering intel from the facility on Tarod IX, or, he could be trying to start an all out galactic war.”

"Well then, if it is a test, we will just have to pass it, in a way that would discourage future surprise quizes." Jackson continued, "If is it a way to spark a major war, we can't and won't bite, seeing that we are nowhere in their territory, and they have no legitimate presence in the sector. If a large Reman presence is detected, we will consider them rogue, and hostile unless we hear otherwise. If this is an intelligence gathering raid, they will never make it home."

"Sir" Freya looked at Jackson. "From what I know of Remans they're a telepathic race. If they use their abilities anything like I do then they'll sense our people coming before we even reach them. They could have us, particularly the advanced group at a considerable disadvantage. Our people could be slaughtered " She paused. "I can advise our group.." She looked at Braxton then back at Jackson. "But the connection goes both ways. "I'll stick out like a sore thumb to them "

"Petty Officer Ross, please sound off if you do detect a mental probe upon our arrival. We are not keeping it a secret that we are coming, and landing anyway. Unless they managed to sneak a whole fleet and army into the sector, it should not present a major problem. " Jackson continued, "During our voyage there, you will have time to determine what telepathic countermeasures you will employ. I will expect you to employ them immediately upon detection. "

"I'll do what I can Sir" Freya nodded.

After Jackson had addressed Freya's concerns Hurd added, " They can sense all they want, but the fact of the matter is either the Remans surrender or we annihilate them".

"Then might I suggest everyone learn to run whatever song they like, he'll a playlist of songs around in their heads. It'll be the only thing the Remans will be able to read and it might lead to some confusion." She smiled.

Stepping forward, Hurd said, "Permission to address the troops General Jackson sir?"

"Permission granted General Hurd."

Walking to the front of the room, Hurd cleared his throat and began to speak. "Marines, make no mistake, we have a viscous fight ahead of us, and furthermore the enemy we face is equally as viscious." "But we are Marines, we are more vicious, more ruthless than any enemy." Looking around the room he added, "And I can think of no group of Marines that I would rather lead into battle than the fine group of people assembled in this room." Looking down at his feet for a moment he looked back up and said, with a booming voice, " HOO'RAH!!!"

This being his first briefing in Marine country, Jack was impressed at the respect that General Hurd commanded and could feel a sense of pride in the room. After his conversation with Deela, Jack was starting to feel a little brighter about this mission.



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