"Lessons Learned"

[LeftEar JoNs 0]

8.23.06

ISS Agincourt ICC-81962

“Lessons Learned”

 

Written by: Colonel “Medusa” Harper, First Lieutenant “Troll” Merril, Lieutenant (sg) “Kansas” JoNs, Midshipman Callack Nimetti

 

(This joint log takes place after the Marine deployment teams have returned from the surface of Psi Velorum, before “Holding the Reigns” of 8.23.06, and follows up to “Upward Mobility” of 8.12.06. A very special thanks to all who participated in the jointing mayhem.)

 

Corporal Gallagos appeared on the bridge at Lt. JoNs's elbow, her face set in a steely mask. "Colonel wants to see you," she informed the Caitian, jerking her head towards the turbo lift. JoNs froze in mid-tap at the tactical console, turning in her chair to face the enlisted Marine. "Oh the Colonel does? Wonderful." She glanced over and waved a paw toward Holt manning an auxiliary bridge station to come over and mind TAC while she was away. The feline stood and walked toward the TL.

 

Gallagos herded her into the turbo lift with the air of a guard. She didn't exactly make any threatening moves, but her hand hovered very close to her phaser. "Deck 13," she ordered curtly as soon as the doors shut. Standing with her paws clasped behind her back, the Imperial security officer regarded her Marine counterpart as the TL started to move. "Did your CO happen to give any indication why you are on escort duty Corporal? Or am I just special?"

 

Jaw working, the corporal replied tightly, "I don't question the colonel." She stared straight ahead at the closed doors of the lift. JoNs merely responded with "Very well then" and remained silent for the remainder of the ride, wondering. She had been quite busy these past few weeks, the summons could be for any activity.

 

When the lift stopped, Gallagos gestured JoNs into the corridor and paced at the officer's shoulder on the way to the XO's office. They paused outside the office door, as the bodyguard standing there gave them both a suspicious look. "Colonel wants a word with the lieutenant," Gallagos told him quietly, and after another moment of examination, he nodded and palmed the door open for them. Immediately inside the door, the corporal snapped to attention and saluted crisply. "Colonel Harper, Lt. JoNs as ordered."

 

"Dismissed, corporal," Harper replied quietly without so much as glancing up from her workstation. Gallagos performed a precise about-face and exited the office.

 

Kansas stood at the proper attention stance. She fixed her gaze at a spot on the bulkhead directly behind Harper. "Colonel Harper. You wished to see me?"

 

Harper let her wait while she finished reading the reports from the surface teams. At last she dimmed the screen and turned to regard the Caitian. "Lieutenant JoNs." She folded her hands, resting them on the desk with studied casualness. "We have a matter of regulations to correct."

 

The Caitian flipped an ear back in curious confusion. "Ma'am?" She maintained her eye contact on the bulkhead.

 

"You have a problem with my junior officers, Lieutenant?"

 

Realization dawned and there was no point in playing games. "You are referring to Second Lieutenant Zimm Ma'am."

 

"I am indeed referring to Second Lieutenant Zimm, Lieutenant." Harper's voice took on the approximate temperature of dry ice. "Shall I read you the orders entered into the record on Star date 74258.9?"

 

JoNs cleared her throat. "I am familiar with the orders Colonel." She did make eye contact with the executive officer. "Permission to speak freely sir?"

 

Brows shooting upwards, the colonel replied, "This had better be very good, Lieutenant."

 

"Your man Zimm and a few of his comrades started a fight with Ensign Rico of security and some of his cronies." Kansas had placed a slight emphasis on the "your man" part. "I witnessed the event and handled the situation."

 

"That's very interesting, Lieutenant." Harper leaned back in her chair, dropping her hands to the armrests. "Now the way I hear it, a pair of goldshirt’s decided to leave their brains at the door and wade into a fair -- if illegal -- fight. Followed by you stunning my lieutenant and excusing the brainless wonders." The colonel raised a hand, one finger extended, and continued, "Now, this leaves me with two questions. Firstly, how is it that you came to be slugging it out with my Marines. And secondly, why did you wait so long to break up the fight."

 

"Why I waited? I figured watch the show for a bit, let them tire themselves out, and then move in. I stunned Zimm, and then told the others involved to get lost. Your other two men..." again with an emphasis on the your, "...Saunders and Biessman decided to be dingbats and attempted to retrieve Zimm. I convinced them otherwise. Ma'am."

 

Her lips might have twitched; it was hard to tell. "I've yet to hear an explanation for why you opted to ignore the other parties in this matter, Lieutenant." She regarded the Caitian coldly. "As I see it, there are three possible explanations. One, you honestly believed them guiltless. Two, security's standards in both decorum and intelligence have been slipping. Three, you felt incapable of properly disciplining them." Harper paused, and then added, "I can think of two other explanations, but I should like to think more highly of our chief tactical officer."

 

The felinoid officer’s tail twitched once, but she maintained her decorum. "Second Lieutenant Zimm was the only one I was interested in, as he started the fracas. The others, yes, are just as guilty, as well as myself, for breaking the general order guidelines. But, I do not enjoy using the Booth; therefore, I chose to only subject Zimm to it, rather then all. I may have also gotten a little carried away regarding my part in the fracas, and I admit that. But, I stand by my decisions."

 

"You have done Ensign Rico and his friends no favors, Lieutenant," said Harper. "Nor yourself, in fact. These rules exist for a reason. As distasteful as the consequences may be, they must be applied evenly. To do otherwise invites anarchy. Do you think the ensign respects you for this?"

 

Her jaw working, JoNs responded. "Rico is now on the radar, so to speak, and will be dealt with accordingly if he transgresses again. And no, he probably does not give a flying Fvai about any respect at this point. But, I do see your point Colonel." She made direct eye contact again and tried not to get lost in the blue depths. "I will, of course, use this situation and this current outcome for future encounters and adjust accordingly." The statement was sincere.

 

The colonel tapped one finger against her desk, considering the Caitian. "I am inclined to let you off, Lieutenant, seeing as you're a young officer yet. Chalk this up to a learning experience. However, in the matter of Ensign Rico..." Slowly, without breaking eye contact, Harper shook her head. "Unacceptable, Lieutenant. Either there is one law aboard this ship, or there is none."

 

Rising, Harper came around her desk. "It's not that I object to you disciplining Zimm, Lieutenant. Although you should have turned him over to us. Marines handle their own." She motioned to the door. "In fact, I think there's something you should see. Come."

 

Elsewhere on the Agincourt, another breach of protocol was also being addressed with swift marine justice. Troll Merril entered Holodeck five. He was followed by Griffin, under the guard of Fire Team One’s Diamonte and Daniels. The big Marine turned toward the fifth member of the little party. “Well, Callack you ready to observe?”

 

The newest member of Agincourt security, Midshipman Callack Nimetti, looked at Griffin and then turned his attention to Troll. “Yes sir.”

 

Troll then began the proceedings. “Computer, record for Medusa. Conduct unbecoming a Marine. Sentencing Staff Sergeant Griffin, for engaging in unsanctioned brawling with other members of your ship, you are demoted to Sergeant Griffin. For allowing Fleeters to take you, without crippling you at least temporarily, you are hereby assigned to survive this simple training program.”

 

Nimetti looked back toward the big Lieutenant. “Should we use my training program or do you have a specific one?”

 

“I've heard you have a nice program that will fit, we'll use that after I ream this sorry excuse for an NCO.”

 

”Roger that.”

 

Harper led the way to Holodeck 5, JoNs in tow. They arrived just in time to hear the heavy grind of the doors closing. "Marine discipline is a somewhat different matter, Lieutenant. A necessity for the cohesion of the battalion." The XO palmed open the holodeck door. The felinoid officer cautiously entered the holodeck area, surprised at seeing Nimetti there. "Midshipman? What are you doing here?"

 

Troll noted the HD doors opening, and noticed the stiffening of Diamonte and Daniels, but didn’t take his eyes off of Griffin. Callack asked Troll, "what difficulty level sir?" Then without waiting he looked at Kansas, "getting a lesson in marine punishing marine sir." Harper nodded quietly to Diamonte and Daniels, tucking her hands behind her back and settling in to observe. JoNs regarded Nimetti, but was in no position to pursue the matter. She adopted a parade rest attention stance to Harpers immediate right.

 

Shifting his rifle Callack asked again, this time to Harper. "Ma'am what level of the program should I run. Levels are 1-10, 10 being the worst."

 

Troll began removing his armor as he spoke to Fire Team One. “Double D, take this armor and get yourselves cleaned up.” He then swung around and responded to Nimetti’s question to Harper. “Eyes Front, Middie! If a senior officer wants you to acknowledge their presence they'll speak to you first!”

 

Nimetti jumped to attention, accidentally setting the program to maximum difficulty. Yes, sir!” Troll then spoke again, a bit quieter. “Set it at 1 with a random time increment on when the level increases.”

 

”Aye, sir. It's ready for your command to activate.”

 

Kansas had bristled at Merril’s tone of voice. "Excuse me, you will refer to our security officer as Midshipman Nimetti." The comment was out of her mouth before she could contain herself.

 

"Lieutenant," Harper said warningly.

 

As he moved over to Kansas's side, Callack gave her a thankful but questioning look and whispered below the marines' hearing, "thanks." Then he fell into a relaxed parade rest. Merril regarded the young security officer. “I apologize Midshipman Nimetti, Marines acting like spoiled children brings out the Drill Sergeant in me.”

 

Glancing at Nimetti, the Caitian commented quietly, with a hint of irony. "Midshipman, no matter how far you advance in rank, never forget that you are always learning." Looking at her out of the corner of his eyes, the young Midshipman replied, "Understood, sir.”

 

Troll glanced at the Cat he's heard rumors about, but never interacted with. “Are you here to observe or play?” He appraised her physique from a combatant's viewpoint, and liked what he saw. “Griffin was dumb enough to go at it with your department.”

 

“Mr. Troll...you are very lucky that my middle digit is currently at parade rest attention. And my participation is up to your Commanding officer."

 

Troll blanked his face and stared past the felinoid with a 'thousand yard stare', then turned to Harper, waiting to see if Medusa had anything to add. Medusa met Trolls gaze calmly. "Proceed, Lt. Merril. Lt. JoNs is here to learn something about Marine discipline. Which will be best served by keeping eyes open, mouth shut." She purposefully did not look at the security officer while speaking.

 

Merril refocused on Griffin. “This program is a sniper training program, for the first half you will be the target. For the second half I will be the target, and you will be one of the snipers. Your final punishment duty will be determined by how few or often you die before the program finishes.”

 

Harper considered Griffin for a moment. "Perhaps we should provide the sergeant with a challenge more... appropriate to his abilities, Troll." She indicated the two barnacles with a nod. "Let them snipe." Merril agreed. “Ok I'll instruct our Snipers for a moment, if you would be willing to get Griffin set up?”

 

Kansas looked entirely too happy at the suggestion; her tail started to swish excitedly. Callack ordered the computer to provide T11 sniper rifles for those participating. The rifles soon appeared laid out in a row upon a plasti-metal table.

 

JoNs risked a comment to Harper. "You and your people do not mess around with regard to departmental discipline." She nodded out toward Griffin. "I understand what you are trying to show me. I should have remanded Zimm to you for his actions instead of circumventing regs, Ma'am.”

 

"Precisely, Lieutenant." Harper smiled frostily. "So far from needing security's assistance... Marines actually get off easily when you goldshirts decide to step in."

 

Merril had taken an interest at the mention of Zimm's name. “Did Z do something worthy of this?” Harper explained shortly, "He and Ensign Rico had a philosophical discussion." Her face carefully neutral, the colonel continued, "Lt. JoNs stunned him."

 

“And he made Lieutenant allowing a Flee…err…security to sneak up on him on his own ship?

 

“Don't underestimate the goldshirts, Lieutenant." Harper strolled over to look at the rifles.

 

“Someone in fleet that actually earned their position in security? Will wonders never cease.”

 

"That'll do, Troll. Back to Griffin."

 

“Yes Ma'am”

 

Kansas glanced to Nimetti and flashed an encouraging smile. "Enjoy this and learn Midshipmen. Despite our differences....these marines are very good at what they do."

 

Troll continued with the program briefing. “In this program the lower levels favor the snipers; the higher levels favor the target. This is why Griffin gets to be target first then sniper second. He's the one being punished, everyone else is just learning. Second half, the target has gone proactive trying to take out the snipers that are pinning the away team from getting to the beam out area. The computer will keep your score and can be viewed afterwards from anyone's perspective

 

The feline security officer turned toward Merril as he started to explain the program parameters, tail swishing. Midshipman Nimetti whispered to JoNs, "Good thing we're not using my other program...it doesn't favor the person using it at all." Callack patiently listened to the brief.

 

:: The holodeck exercise commenced, with some of the best snipers and those sniped that the Imperial Fleet and Imperial Marines had to offer. Griffin was only given a five shot personal phaser, then disappeared to some other part of the program. Everyone, with the exception of Griffin, had benefited from the impromptu training session. Griffin, marine disciplinary justice served, was shakily escorted away by two corporals at the conclusion of said program ::

 

:: The remaining participants and observers have now convened in the Marine Debriefing Room to wrap up the training session::

 

Troll had to admit that there actually were some people on the Fleet side that were worth knowing and even associating with. Looking at the scores, Callack exclaimed to Kansas, "Nice shooting, but did you get hit by Griffin?" Then he looked up and asked a regrettable question, "So how do you think we did?" Nimetti quietly remembered the sight he had on Griffin, looking down the sniper scope as the marine looked down his, before both took the final shots of the sim. Then he began paying attention to the others.

 

JoNs merely winced in response to the question and brought a paw to her neck where a shot by Griffin had nailed her. She then turned her attention toward the executive officer for any comments.

 

Harper nodded to the young officers. "Passable. Robair trains his people well."

 

"Thank you sir. That means a lot." said the midshipman as he nodded to his XO.

 

Troll Merril looked over at Callack. “Some year you might make an acceptable marine. I think Kansas has her own reasons for being in security, it certainly isn't because she wouldn't have made it in the marines.” Kansas merely nodded respectfully toward Harper and saluted Troll with a wink. “You did quite well yourself, Mr. Troll.”

 

Troll signed 'Thieves Cant' at JoNs, meaning “talk to you later about a deal”. Masking her surprise, she merely signed back quickly, covering the motion by reaching for a personal Padd - "Always."

 

Callack continued. ”Now I know just how good the marines discipline marines. I'll bring the marines to y’all from now on, sir.”

 

Merril glanced at Callack. “Call Kansas for backup, when dealing with marines, not all of them are as 'nice' as Griffin.” Nimetti nodded in acknowledgement to the Trill, "Yes, sir."

 

The Caitian flexed a claw happily and then spoke. "I have learned much today as well. I will not circumvent the regulations again as I did. That is a promise."

 

"I'm sure you'll find new ways to circumvent them," the colonel offered, deadpan. "And I have another lesson to give," Harper said, rising. "My day for teaching, it seems."

 

JoNs chose to (wisely) ignore Harper’s comment. “Do we have your permission to leave Colonel?"

 

"Dismissed."

 

"Aye ma'am", said Callack. "And thank you for the chance to prove myself." He walked out the door with rifle case in hand, ready to get some sleep.

 

Troll also began to rise. “And I think I need to cleanup now.” He winced a bit as he moved, owing to a stray shot that had nicked him when he had mimicked Griffin, trying to throw the Fleeters off their game. The highly competent marine exited the briefing room.

 

JoNs rose from the briefing table, also heading toward the exit. Stopping just at the door, she turned and spoke to the marine executive officer who had given her a valuable, and unexpected, lesson in both ship board decorum and marine honor.

 

"Colonel Harper. Thank you for your understanding."

Edited August 24, 2006 by M.S. "Kansas" JoNs