Fallen

[JacobD 0]

Stardate 10403.06

Marine HQ

USS Arcadia

 

The acting commander of the 355th Marine Battallion sat in his office quietly contemplating what his next move is. He has very lingering doubts on the move to take us out of the Neutral Zone into Federation space while a member of the command staff sat on a Romulan warbird as a prisoner. Against her will...behind enemy lines, Commander Dacotah was summarily trapped by a manical captain. He knows that she's not dead. This is Commander Dacotah we're talking about here.

 

This is someone who has summarily handle numerous situations and led countless away teams. This is someone who has been under fire from just about every known weapon in the galaxy, yet it's of the mindset of some people that she has fallen to the Romulans. That word...Romulan...leaves a bitter taste in his mouth every time he speaks it. The other fact that his hands are tied in this situation and not being allowed to do a covert op to extract the commander was even worse.

 

Duncan looked up from his desk and quietly thought to himself that right now is the worse time in his life to have to leave someone behind. Someone who...even though we've had a somewhat rocky relationship...he looked up to and liked to call a friend. Now that person is wasting away on some Romulan piece of space junk doing who knows what kind of menial labor.

 

The young Marine captain picked up the padd with the announcement of the memorial service on it. He made a decision. The marines would have a color guard and prepare for a 21 gun salute...however, unless otherwise ordered, Duncan would not be in attendance. Duncan felt that it was unfair to mourn someone who he personally believes is not dead. It does not do justice to someone he believes to be perfectly alive and waiting for rescue.

 

On that note, Duncan decided that he was going to make a few command decisions with the Marines. Knowing Colonel Quest the way he does, he knows that she would have already been back there and torn that ship apart looking for the Commander. So, mCapt. Duncan sent out the following communique...not only to Starfleet Marine Corps, but to the Captain and acting XO aboard the Arcadia.

 

"In lieu of the absence of evidence regarding Commander Hayden Dacotah's disappearance and also in light of the fact that it is the sworn duty of the 355th Marine Battallion in its capacity as the security detail of the USS Arcadia, the following general order applies to all Marine personnel."

 

"Until further notice, all Marine personnel are to be at yellow alert and battle ready. As Marines, we need to be ready to move on a moment's notice to bring our people home. Without any concrete evidence of the Commander's death, I cannot rightfully close this chapter on a security level without having undisputable proof of her death. It does no justice to Commander Dacotah and nor does it any justice to the name of the Starfleet Marine Corps."

 

"In light of this information, I respectfully request clearance to begin forming a special operations unit within the 355th Marine Battallion with the sole purpose to bring our missing crewmates home to where they belong. I also respectfully request that 2 more Marine fighters be placed on order to complement the two that we currently have in inventory. I fully expect that we will be meeting the RES Talon again in the very near future, and I believe that the Marine fighters...especially with the firepower that they currently have...will be of great use to the defense of the USS Arcadia and the subsequent return of Commander Dacotah."

 

"Respectfully signed,

mCapt Jacob P Duncan"

 

Duncan quietly tapped out the last little bit of information for the letter and also sent a personal note to Captain Moose.

 

"Sir, I understand the request to memorialize Commander Dacotah as an attempt for our crew to move on. However, I do not personally feel it proper to mourn someone that we are not sure is truly dead. I respectfully request permission to not be in attendance of any memorial type service for Commander Dacotah under the pretext that I do not believe nor will I stand by with the judgement that Commander Dacotah may be dead. The Marines will be represented there and I will task Lt. Black with preparing an honor guard and a 21 gun salute for the commander, but I cannot in my right mind standby as our crew says goodbye to someone that they personally don't believe is dead."

 

He tapped the message and hit send...the first message going to Starfleet Marine Corps and the second off to Captain Moose's private mailbox.

 

As Duncan looked around his office, he took a deep breath and quietly began the planning.

 

"Computer...please bring up any known information on the RES Talon and it's commander Khre Riov tRex."

 

The computer chirps as the planning gets underway.