Anger among the troops

[Jacob_Wright 0]

After staying on the bridge for a few hours, and coordinating the patrols, and the patrols starting to give me finishing reports, and the next group reporting in, I decide to head on down to and join with one of them. Upon arriving in the armoury, the men can be scene moving around dropping of weapons or just picking them up to go out for patrol. Most of the patrols are still in the groups, the ones coming back just finishing off any conversations they had going, or heading out to the mess hall together, the patrols just about to go out just saying hi. However, one of the groups over at the weapons locker catches my eye, because it was a group of two, not the three like I ordered. Both of the members had almost a lost look on there faces. I decided to walk over to them to find out what is going on.

 

"I'm guessing you realize that all patrols are three right" I comment as I walk over to the.

 

"Ya, however, with it being three man patrols, that's given our shift an odd number and putting us one man short. Not sure why the new chief wanted three this time though, does he not realize that two has always been enough." Commented the crewman standing to the left.

 

"Well, something tells me that you didn't read through the memo about the new chief." I comment again, intentionally leaving out that I'm the chief.

 

"What makes say that" he comments again.

 

"Well because if you would have read it you would realize that you're talking to him." The look on both of the crewmen's faces changes to shock.

 

"Oh ****, I'm so sorry sir. I didn't realize that you're the new chief. It's just that you're an ensign." The first crewmen commented.

 

"Not a problem. It's my fault for not giving you guys a briefing yet. Got aboard and was put right into the thick of everything. I'm guessing your looking for a third man then for the patrol?"

 

"Um, yes Sir, I was just about to call you, and see what you wanted us to do." Commented the other crewman.

 

"Well, if it's alright with you, I'll take that third spot. That's assuming you don't have a third alright lined up."

 

"No one else is lined up for this third spot. Yours if you want it sir." The second crewman commented.

 

"Alright, just give me a few minutes to suit up." I commented as I walk over to a weapons locker. After grabbing a phase riffle, replacing my pistol, and some other miscellaneous supplies, I walk back over to the two crewmen. "OK, I'm ready to go if you are. Oh, I also don't think I caught your names."

 

"Mitchell, James Mitchell, sir" Commented the first crewman.

 

"Cooper, Tod Cooper sir."

 

"Well, its good to meet the both of you, as you could probably guess, I'm Ensign Mark Davis. Now how about we get this patrol underway."

 

The three of us then leave the armoury, and enter one of the maintenance tunnels, and begin to crawl around and head up a deck. During this time, a general conversation about random topics such as life about the challenger, and family at home on earth was always ongoing. However, after about 30 minutes, the inevitable conversation about the current mission started.

 

"Sir, if I may ask, why exactly do we need three man patrols. I have never scene them, even during red alerts. And I'm guessing you wouldn't be doing them, unless you were really afraid of the threat." Crewman Cooper started to inquire.

 

I look over at Cooper, fearing that question would be asked, and trying to think about the best way to answer everything. And without knowing how much is allowed to leave the bridge, or station, became a very difficult question to answer, while still respecting my men's right for information when they're going to be on the front lines. "Well, as I'm guessing you're aware, an unarmed civilian ship was destroyed in this sector, and we have reason to believe that it was due to an attack. Attackers unknown. So far, the only person recovered was a little girl. No one else has been found alive."

 

"THEY WHAT." Cooper shouted out. "Who the **** could even attempt to have such cowardly tactics."

 

"We currently don't know who, or if an attack took place." I commented back.

 

"Understood sir, however theses ships just don't blow up for no reason" Cooper commented again. "Assuming it was an attack, which is the only thing which makes sense to me sir, will we get the opportunity to get revenge on those ********?"

 

"Well, I don't know, however, personally I want to, assuming it was an attack. And I agree attacking an unarmed ship is a cowardly tactic. But at the same time, I don't want to be telling anyone's family that they were killed because they wanted to get revenge, so please keep emotions out of it, and remember your training if we get into a fire fight. However, for now, let's just worry about the current issue at hand. Were not going to be able to get revenge if were to busy talking about it, and miss them." I reply, trying to put an end to the conversation.

 

"Agreed sir." Both Cooper and Mitchell reply.

Edited September 8, 2007 by Mark_Davis