Winston Chronicles Qob/Tranquility

[Mitar Precip 0]

2408

 

Vole Hunting Part 1

 

Vesta Prime Surface Colony, Vole and Pest Eradication Office

 

A glorious day on Vesta Prime brought the hunters out in force and the Winstons were no exception. Besides his seven year old son, Mark, today Daniel had brought his senior officer, Sean Baxter, to join the family hunt.

 

“Well if it isn’t the Winstons,” belted out the familiar elderly official manning the deployment desk. “And I see you brought a friend! I take you are here to help the citizens of Vesta Prime eradicate the pestilence which is the Cardassian Vole?”

 

“That was the plan for today,” declared Daniel. “I figured I’d invite some reinforcements from above in our battle. Mr. Smith, this is my commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Sean Baxter, Starfleet Engineers. Sean, Mr. Smith here has been manning the command post for as long as I have been here.”

 

“Pleased to meet you.” Baxter shook Mr. Smith’s offered hand. “We’ve actually had a few voles make it up to the station and chew up some wiring. Blasted things.”

 

“Sounds like I’ll have to put out an advisory to the colony spaceport.” Smith sighed as if a battle had been lost. “We cannot have these things spread to any nearby systems. I was once in Starfleet, before all the troubles came.” He left off, not wanting to bring up the war threatening to tear Starfleet apart.

 

“Well I do not want to delay your civic duty.” Smith smiled. “I take it all three of you will be out there against the pests? If so, I need your prints on these PADDs here. You will also be given these arm band transmitters for your safety and the safety of other hunters. Your ODRIs will be able to pick up the transmitters on your sector map should any hunters stray into your assigned sector.”

 

Daniel promptly handed a transmitter to his CO, demonstrating how to wear the device. Baxter attached it around his upper arm, resulting in a nod from Mr. Smith. Mark already had his on and seemed eager for the next item in the check-in.

 

“Since there are three of you, you’ll be assigned to grid 30. That’s about two klicks northeast of the old well. There is a drainage canal in that area that seems to draw the vermin, so you should see some action,” Smith said while typing information into the computer at the deployment desk.

 

“Time to show what we brought to zap them Voles!” Mark pepped up.

 

“The young man is right, let us see what you will be using out there. Remember you need to be equipped not just to hit your targets but clean them up. As we call it-”

 

“Shoot and Vape!” Mark interrupted with enthusiasm.

 

“Yes, the boy is right. You vaporize your kills, else more voles will be drawn to the kill.” Smith mainly addressed Baxter, clearly the ‘new’ guy present.

 

“We have two type two phasers, for vaporizing our kills,” Daniel, began, setting the ‘safed’ pistols in front of Mr. Smith. “As you already know young Mark here is not allowed to use these. Sean, want to show him what you brought as your vole killer?”

 

“Standard Federation Rifle, current type three design.” He set the weapon, on Smith’s counter, safety on. “I’m fully qualified to use it otherwise I wouldn’t have access.” Baxter smiled.

 

“Ah yes, so glad to see a Federation officer taking time to fulfill his civic duties.” Smith cataloged the weapon.

 

“And of course you know what my son brought to zap the vermin with.”

 

“Standard plasma bolt hunting rifle for until I reach 17,” Mark said proudly as he ‘safed’ the smaller weapon before placing it on the counter. Smith took a quick look while making a note and nodded.

 

“And what’s in the case Mr. Winston? A surprise?” He cleared the table and Daniel pivoted a rifle case, opening it for inspection.

 

“What in tarnation is that!?” The elderly inspector exclaimed. “Looks like some sort of home made rifle. I will not tolerate an illegal weapon….”

 

“Mr. Smith,” Sean interrupted with haste. “It was built up on the station and thoroughly tested by several Starfleet personnel.”

 

“So you are saying it’s a new Starfleet design?” Smith asked with extreme curiosity, lifting weapon which was in excess of a meter long out of its case. “Amazingly light for its size. But the barrel? I have not seen anything like it. It’s square the bulk of its length.”

 

“Yes,” said Daniel. “It takes a different kind of ammunition than you are used to as well. Take a look.”

 

Smith’s eyes nearly rolled as he lifted one of the rounds from the case. “A projectile weapon? Son, what made you even think of going back to such an ancient style of firearm. You know the disadvantages of using a projectile weapon? I won’t even mention those at long ranges.”

 

“Yes sir,” Baxter interjected. “but we will not be one klick or even half a klick from a vole. We plan on getting much closer. Many officers on the station were curious about this project and I… agreed to sign off on it. We are Starfleet engineers, after all. We try to keep an open mind.” The ‘new’ guy smiled directly at Mr. Smith.

 

“Uh huh” Smith answered with the most skeptical look he could possibly make. “At least you’re testing it on pests first instead of sending it to the frontlines. Projectile weapons are always limited by the amount of rounds you carry. That’s why they were phased out centuries ago. I am going to trust your CO on this one. Mr. Winston this is the largest weapon I have seen in years in the Vole Eradication Program. I will sign off on it, but I DO want a report on how it does when you return with your transmitters. Is that clear?”

 

“Yes sir!” All three replied.

 

“Alright. Grid 30 is yours. Remember, never remove your transmitters, and vaporize your kills! Good Luck!” As the three left the office, the elderly Mr. Smith sat in his chair muttering “Engineers...they’ll be the death of me quicker than the kids.”