"A Good Hair Day"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

10.29.07

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“A Good Hair Day”

Lt Major Hanna-Beth “Hair” Rieve waited at the entrance to the NNC gym, prepared for what she hoped would be one of Marine Trainee “Kansas” JoNs’ more challenging tests. Along with her were five lance corporals -- some of them had this same test fresh in their minds from their own days in basic.

 

Said marine trainee (and she was still snarked off) entered the training area, equipped with standard issue rifle programmed for stun, and a phaser net vest. The feline quickly jogged over to the assembled group, the pale color of her desert camo training fatigues almost blending in with her gold toned fur. Kansas came to a stop and adopted an attention stance. "Lieutenant Major. Recruit Lieutenant JoNs reporting for training duty. I see you get Kitty duty today?"

 

"And in turn Kitty gets to take the Basic Training Command Test. For most Lance Corporals going through this training maneuver, it's their first time in a 'command' in simulated combat. But, for someone of your stature, this should be easy." A light chuckle could be heard from the corporals. "To you, these Marines are squad Alpha. They are attached to you, they are under your command, and they all passed this test."

 

"In the gym locker room are other squads of Marines. Some of them play friendlies. Some of them are your enemies. They are either under orders to assist you or to stun you. It's up to you to tell who is who. The gym is set up as an obstacle course in three dimensions. The sand is off-limits to your squad. And... one more thing... you'll need your full battle pack." There was a special emphasis on the word "full."

 

An ear flipped back. "A simulation of the chaos on the battlefield? No sand. Full battle pack. Very well." She looked over to the corporals who would be her squad, and nodded at them in greeting before turning her attention back to Rieve. "Hair...,” JoNs shook her head in annoyance; she kept forgetting these people were now her 'instructors' instead of fellow officers and needed to be addressed formally and not with call signs, "Excuse me, Lieutenant Major, once a being is stunned, they are down for the count correct?"

 

Rieve didn't comment on the slip into familiar language. She had to prevent herself from doing it as well. "That is correct. And the same rules apply to friendlies and unfriendlies alike."

 

"....and will I be scored? And if that score falls below certain parameters, can I expect to be doing laps later Lieutenant Major?" Her green eyes latched onto Rieve, holding equal parts understanding and annoyance.

 

"The computer is recording everything that happens in the room, and has been programmed to flag breaks in the rules. Let's just say that no Marine passes basic without passing this test. Those who take it more than once find their experiences more challenging than those who don't. And, I feel obligated to remind you that this is not the holodeck. There are no safeties in the NNC gym."

 

"Understood, sir."

 

"Are you ready?"

 

Ready? No. Willing? No. Not backing down? Yes. "Aye sir." The feline moved into position.

 

Rieve picked up the 45kg battle backpack with one hand, and handed it to the Kitty-trainee. The door to the gym opened. In another era, the room would have resembled a cross between an oversized jungle gym and a paintball or laser tag court. It was filled with obstacles, rope meshes, sand traps, and rope bridges that crossed them. Hiding places abounded. "Your primary objective is a flag hidden somewhere in this room. You have 15 minutes to bring it to me."

 

Kansas took the pack - and tried to keep the frown from her features at the weight - and adjusted it on her shoulders. She nodded to the Lieutenant Major that she was ready, and then threw a glance over her shoulder at her assigned squad, seeing that they as well were getting ready. The corporals threw on their packs - a measly 20kg each - and entered the gym behind their commander-for-a-day. For them, participating in this ritual was something of an act of revenge against the system that made them go through this experience. Rieve stepped into the background and closed the door behind them. She put her hand on the computer panel just outside the room to watch and to direct the action from afar. Once everyone's roles had been keyed in, she walked away from the door and made a turn around the halls of the NNC deck...

 

JoNs and her squad stepped into the outer perimeter of the obstacle course, and the feline immediately began speaking commands into her mouth piece comm. "Bernathy and Quist, I want you two taking the left and right flanks respectively....." The feline security officer claimed the route right up the middle, as she wasn't about to send anyone where she herself wouldn't go. As one, the team moved out, watching and searching for the flag as well as the other friend or foe participants

 

Less than one minute was allotted for organizing the entry squad. The gleam of phaser crossfire could be seen at the other side of the sand traps. The Marine comm chatter turned to calls for assistance from "Squad B". The participants in the firefight were well hidden from Kansas' squad. It posed no immediate threat to them.

 

The felines' squad continued their forward movement, staying in contact with one another; each of them would find cover, stay there for a few seconds, and then move out to the next area.

 

The comm chatter increased, with combat orders now being passed around from Squad C as well. The flash of a stun grenade went off inside one of the plastic tubes that formed a part of the course. A lone phaser bolt almost grazed Bernathy, who called out the live fire warning while he took a quick dive for cover. JoNs mentally noted Bernathy's position, and then commed T'Varis to assist her, "T'Varis....pull off of your point course and assist Bernathy; try a stun grenade if needed..." The feline ducked down behind a wedge shaped ramp as she gave the order.

 

Connor T'Varis wiggled toward Bernathy on the ground, sliding toward cover as they tried to identify the target. Phaser bolt hits could be seen sparking on the equipment. "Cannot acquire target, repeat, cannot acquire target."

 

The one quarter Vulcan male marine commed Kansas. "Sir, we can not get a lock on a target. Orders?"

 

Kansas moved behind a large tube as she spoke. "Withdraw and you both continue on your forward perimeter and point courses; fire if necessary." The human female and Vulcan male marine both acknowledged the order and then continued forward together.

 

Three pairs of legs moved behind the gym equipment. Phaser fire intensified as the Squad continued their forward run. Sand traps surrounded the equipment, such that the only way around them was through the jungle gym. The comm chatter continued. "Squad B, Bolis is down, require assistance. Squad C, moving in to coordin ---”

 

A flash bang ‘nade from Quist in his position as right perimeter guard intercepted the incoming squad, causing them to scramble and re-form.

 

Meanwhile, the other two members of JoNs' squad continued forward as well - Brannigan was on the inner right perimeter, shadowing Quist, and I'Chenta had hooked up with JoNs in the forward middle position.

 

The comm chatter continued. "Squad B, enemy has broken perimeter. They're in the jungle. Pursuing." Just as the warning came in, phaser fire began from inside the "jungle" itself. It wasn't yet aimed, but the advantage of the high ground was becoming clearer to Kansas' squad of marines.

 

"Alpha Squad, hold position and cover. I am taking the lone point to recon quickly." The feline darted off, using various objects as cover, trying to get a line of sight to a target or the flag.

 

A figure positioned itself on a ledge just next to a rope bridge and I'Chenta, scanning the area visually, spotted the figure. "Incoming! ID friend or foe unknown yet..." Kansas froze behind another tube as she received the comm from I’Chenta, trying to ascertain the position and intent of the new arrival to the immediate area.

 

The unknown target figure waved its phaser in a number of directions, doing the motions of acquiring a target. Meanwhile, the general raging battle moved into a set of tubes leading into the rope bridge and from that set of tubes another figure fell into the sand. Quist got a lock on the first figure attempting to target with the phaser and fired off a shot at them. The first figure fell backwards into the tube they had emerged from. Fire was returned at the Marines holding position from four independent positions.

 

"Continue pressing forward..." Kansas spoke into her comm unit, "… look to myself for signals, and keep your ears open for commed commands..." the feline darted into the jungle area proper.

 

Within the sets of tubes, mirrors, ropes, and obstacles, sounds and echoes came from all directions. The comm traffic didn't relent either. A low-powered stun grenade went off in a tube just ahead of Kansas. A helmet could be seen in a mirror, and the feline held her fire, but darted around in an attempt to flank the helmeted figure, and all the while she was attempting to get a line of sight to the other participants who were firing at her team.

 

The helmeted figure approached through a narrow tube and turned around the mirrored corner, pointing the phaser, and then backing off. Kansas reverted position again, coming in from behind; she moved behind a ramp and then darted toward the last known position of the figure.

 

The set of tubes had small breaks in the material, allowing a small view in limited directions. Kansas happened to be traveling just above the sand trap where the first figure had fallen. The downed marine wore a black uniform, and a red triangular object poked out of a uniform pocket. The second moving figure in the tubes continued to retreat.

 

JoNs stopped abruptly, her tail going to attention as she spared a glance at the downed marine target in the sand trap and the red object spotted - the flag!! The flag was in the pocket of one of the “enemy” marine squad members. Now how to grab it! The Caitian spoke excitedly into her mouth comm piece. "Alpha! Covering fire on my position, we have a Flag!" The feline then hooked her rifle over her shoulder and started using the rope bridge she was on to her advantage, leaning to the side and down to grab the red flag from the pocket.

 

The phaser fire barrage continued from the top of the jungle-gym equipment, mostly focusing on Kansas' squad. One of the enemy figures noticed the cat on the rope system and aimed to fire at the rope. His first shot missed. Quist laid down some peppering fire at the advancing adversary teams, covering the cat as she maneuvered to take a swipe at the flag. The cover fire held back the advancing enemy from aiming properly. The comm activity continued "Squad B. Activity at the bridge, over"

 

Kansas almost flipped over with the weight of her pack, but between the use of the flexible bridge and the odd balancing act, she managed to swipe at the flag with a long claw. Another swipe and she grabbed the prize, flipping herself back upright. The weight of the pack was murder, and she felt her left shoulder starting to protest.

 

In front of Kansas, huddled against the top of one of the tubes leading to the rope bridge that the cat occupied, was a woman in a brown camo uniform. Her phaser was pointed in the general direction of the rope bridge, and firing.

 

Kansas, flag in mouth, fell backwards as a shot came a bit too close and landed hard on the rope bridge which swayed with the impact. The security officer turned marine trainee scrambled backwards, unslinging her rifle and sighting down the scope. Team Alpha began the process of closing the ranks as they all backed away from the area.

 

Just as Kansas had scrambled back, a black-uniformed man fell into the sand trap from behind her. The woman on top of the tube waved the rifle, and then continued firing behind Kansas and the others. T'Varis spotted the movement as well as the fire trajectory, and commed the Alpha Team, "Hold fire on friendly! On top of the tube! Hold fire and co-ordinate, outbound combat fire."

 

The feline commander continued backing off, mentally acknowledged T’Varis’s tactical heads up, and whirled around to greet any knew incoming threats. The cross fire at the rope bridge ceased, and the woman disappeared behind the tube system. Kansas popped off a few shots, deterring an enemy trooper that had attempted to flank her and the team. "Alphas! Move out now, we only have five minutes left. On me, standard diamond formation.”

 

The Alpha Team as one tactically retreated, covering each other's backs and protecting the flag. Within a few minutes, they had reached the inner perimeter of the exercise platform. Thrown low-intensity stun grenades began falling from the air as the enemy assault team let out their attempt to prevent Kansas' team from making it to the door.

 

"Cover!" The feline yelped out to her squad mates.

 

The stun grenades popped at the random places they fell. What was left of the black-uniformed assault team used similar infantry tactics to Kansas' to keep under cover, and tried to set up a cross-fire.

 

JoNs whistled, and her team began moving again under the covering fire of the Brown Camo "Helper" Team. Within seconds, she and the others were at the outer perimeter. The outer perimeter fire guard teams held position, continuing the cover fire and allowing the felines’ team to make it to the exit area. The assault team slowly advanced against the fire. Using the crossfire as cover, the Alpha Team breached the perimeter of the exercise course. The resulting whoop of an alarm indicated that the course had been completed.

 

Kansas then let loose with a loud “Mrrowl” of triumph, and jumped into the arms of Quist who literally greeted the incoming feline with open arms.

 

The light levels in the room returned to Starfleet standard, and the cross fire raging on the exercise course stopped. Hair walked through the door, wearing a brown uniform. "14 minutes, 52 seconds. Sometimes, you relied on luck... or instinct, I'm not sure which. But, you passed. And, you didn't shoot me."

 

Kansas, still ensconced in the arms of Quist - and the big blond human corporal did not seem to mind holding the feline - flashed her fangs as she grinned broadly. "That was you Hair?! The one in the tube area, with the helmet, that kept doing the shadow play assistance act?"

 

"You didn't really think I was going to stay outside playing with the computer the whole time, did you?"

 

"I wouldn't have!"

 

Sgt Mendez walked past, wearing a black “enemy” uniform. "And, the flag Sgt once again fell in exactly the right place."

 

Rieve offered a small smile to JoNs. "We might make a Marine out of you after all."