"Gotcha!"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Note: this log takes place during the four hour TBS.

07.15.08

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“Gotcha!”

 

Lieutenant Commander Kansas JoNs was lying flat on her back, staring up at the blue skies and clouds as the dust and dirt from the ground was whipped up around her by the winds.

 

The visage of a rough looking human mercenary suddenly popped into her field of vision. He was smiling, and the smile was at odds with the small arsenal he had strapped to his person and the rough craggy features of his weather beaten face. “Gotcha again!”

 

“Big Red” put out a gloved hand, and again helped the Caitian feline to her feet for a fourth time.

 

It was funny. The first three times. Now, it was getting downright annoying and JoNs was contenting herself with mental images of going all hunter kitty and pouncing Executive Officer Day with no warning.

 

Lt. Colonel Day had a heart to heart talk with JoNs regarding the second officer’s detachment mission to Africa during the Earth clean up process, and her encounter with some low life mercenaries. Mainly, what future tactical methods the young commander could employ to avoid a similar situation and the resulting injury and mental distress. The acting marine battalion commander’s orders had been simple: she wanted JoNs to replay the scenario in the holodeck, and see what she could have done differently to avoid being roughed up the first time.

 

While the original tactical methods that the Caitian officer had employed during her African assignment -- general recon of the area, sending her cadet squad out of danger, and radioing ahead for reinforcements – was by no means the “wrong” way to go about an engagement with the mercenaries, JoNs had to admit that there was always an option or two to be considered in the heat of the moment. And, this was why Day had suggested the extra holodeck training for JoNs, to explore and expand those tactical options.

 

And, on a personal level, it would be a way for JoNs to work through the latent fear that she had been experiencing as a result of being attack by the mercenaries she had encountered on Earth.

 

The problem was, after uploading the program parameters that would reestablish the African mercenary scenario, JoNs had not considered the dynamic AI that the Agincourt computers employed for the various “supporting actors” within the holo programs. During the program, the human mercenaries were ruthless. But, as soon the program reached the programmed ending parameters, the AI mercenaries reverted to a real time persona, almost as if they were actors playing a role. As such, they had been ragging on Kansas every time that she got nailed by that damn sniper bullet. Some officers preferred to disable the dynamic AI abilities of the holo characters, but Kansas usually left the option on because the holo characters offered solid tactical advice considering they “were” the training program and learned of your tactical patterns (both good and bad) as the program went on. The AI’s could be an invaluable asset to be used and exploited.

 

And they also promptly shot you in the shoulder with a sniper bullet. Three times and counting: she was going to pounce Day. Yes. It would be worth the court martial. Yes.

 

Kansas wore the same Starfleet desert issue fatigues that she had wore during the detachment assignment, as well as the protective goggles, and had the same weapons and equipment. The only difference was that she wore the marine issue protective net vest as opposed to the lighter weight security vest she had worn under her uniform during the actual engagement. Indeed, the marine issue vest, as Colonel Day had pointed out, offered more of a protective shield then the security issue vest. JoNs still got knocked on her rear end of course, but the impact point was of a considerably less forceful blow.

 

Red chuckled again. “Look, I hate to tell you again Kitty, but there’s no way to really avoid my sniper, unless you have at least one team mate watching your back. The first run through with the program, you were successful because you had one of those cadet kids stay with you. Now, these last three runs of the program? We are totally cleaning your clock here Lieutenant Commander.”

 

JoNs tried to discreetly work the kink out of her shoulder, and offered a slight smile to the holo-mercenary. She knew Red didn’t really exist, but … she had always treated the dynamic AI’s of these holo deck programs with respect. “Thanks for the workout and tactical information Red. And I can definitely use this program for training within my department as well.”

 

Red gave her a salute and then turned away, walking back down the small trail toward the mercenary encampment with a swagger to his step.

 

Kansas rolled her neck and then spoke into thin air. “Computer, save and upload program for future training sessions. Send the visual recordings to my private office terminal, as well as to Lieutenant Colonel Day’s private office terminal pending her review.”

 

The disembodied voice of the ships internal computer acknowledged the instructions a moment later, and the feline officer ordered the program to end. The familiar criss cross lighting backdrop of the holo deck room came back into existence as the program setting of the Earth based African plains winked out.

 

With a swish of the tail, Kansas exited the holo deck, a bit sore, but hopefully also a bit wiser from the ordered training experience.