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Laehval tTemarr

On the Verge...

On the Verge...

Colonel Jocelyn Nidari

Chief of Tactical Operations

 

 

The armory was quiet save for the domestic sounds of the tactical team readying for the next mission. They worked in silence, checking and double-checking armor and weapons in militaristic fashion, each piece of equipment carefully inspected for signs of damage or disrepair. In addition to their normal gear, they were also prepping their biohazard suits, making certain that the life-saving uniforms were free of rips and tears and that their helmets locked securely into place. Because of the NFA’s limited resources, every piece of equipment was precious and carefully inventoried. Though the N.F.S. Reaent was old and not in the best of repair, Jocelyn would not tolerate such shoddiness in her security officers. She’d requisitioned the best of whatever she could, using her personal contacts to nab the first choice of anything that was stolen from Federation convoys or collected from dead Starfleet officers. The result was a mismatch of weaponry and equipment, but all of it was in serviceable condition with most of it being relatively new.

 

Standing at one end of the room with arms crossed at chest level, she sensed, rather than saw, the solid bulk of Major Scherer to her right. Glancing to the Major as he approached, she returned his nod as he indicated his own readiness. Though she had initially been dubious of his abilities he had quickly become an invaluable member of her staff. He had proven his worth several times over by taking initiative in the Tactical offices and completing tasks before they needed to be done. He anticipated her orders with such frequency that she had jokingly accused him of being part Betazoid. Whenever Jocelyn was called away to confer with the command staff, Aaron made certain that her orders were followed and that matters ran smoothly in her absence. As second-highest ranking officer in the Tactical office, he also had the respect of the other officers. Whereas she found it necessary to remain somewhat aloof and impersonal from her officers while on duty, Major Scherer had an open and amiable nature that endeared him to the others. She was pleased of the niche he’d found for himself and took full advantage of his command skills, delegating much to him with the full confidence that he’d not fail her.

 

Returning her gaze to her team, she waited as one by one, the seated crewmen worked through their mental checklists and turned their attentions to her. Her black gaze shifted to each of them in turn, looking them over for any signs of hasty preparation. What she saw pleased her. They were good officers and eager to serve, though most of them were unseasoned. Few had ever seen anything worse than a light phaser fight, much less intense one-on-one combat. Fewer still had ever had the misfortune of losing one of their comrades in the heat of battle. She pitied them, for they were about to be awakened to the horrors of war. If they were extremely lucky, all of them would return from the planned reconnaissance mission on the planet. But she knew that with every mission they undertook, the odds slowly stacked against them. Eventually, one of them would not come back to the ship alive. Jocelyn studied the faces before her, male and female alike, and wondered if this mission would be their last.

 

Tradition dictated a speech to bolster the confidence of her team. She could praise their efforts and boast of the victories that would surely be theirs as long as they worked as a team. She could offer up a rousing speech where she railed furiously against their enemies that would surely have them on their feet cheering. She could fill their heads with tales of glorious battle and massive conquests. But those would be empty words with empty meaning. It would suffice for a short period of time, but it would not last beyond their first engagement. And if their mission on the planet proved fruitless, they would return disgruntled and jaded. So what could she give them that would inspire them to the level of service that she knew was possible?

 

It was painfully simple, and yet so many commanding officers cringed at the mere thought.

 

She would give them the truth.

 

“Each of you has your own reason for joining the New Federation Alliance. Some of you were born to the life. Some of you have seen the atrocities of the UFP for yourselves. Some have lost the ones you loved to those atrocities. Some of you simply fight the tyrants because you feel you have a moral obligation to bring about the destruction of an immoral society. You are not alone.

 

Our mission today is recon. The UFP is somehow involved in this sector and we intend to find out why they are here and to thwart them if possible. They may have allies. They may have fallen into the trap of enemies. At this point, we do not know for certain. Unseen factors are at work here, and more than a few of them may be a danger to us. Your job will be to survive those dangers and return with information.

 

There is little that I can definitively tell you about the planet we’re about to invade. Hostile forces may be present, waiting for battle or to ambush us at the earliest possible opportunity. Though we would prefer stealth, you may find it necessary to fight to defend your lives.

 

As a member of the NFA, your lives are constantly in danger. Simply being on this ship is a danger in itself. This mission will be no different. Some of you may not return alive.

 

Dead or alive, no member of this crew gets left behind. If we do not honor the ultimate sacrifices that our fellow officers may be forced to make, we have no honor at all.”

 

Jocelyn paused, her gaze connecting with each of theirs in turn. “Do not fail me. Do not fail the New Federation. Come back alive.”

 

There was no spontaneous cheering or clapping and no energetic stomping of the feet. She held their attention for a few moments longer until the silence threatened to deafen them all. Then one by one, her crew lowered their heads to gaze at the floor and contemplate their own fates. Some of them may not make it back alive. But no one would be left behind. They would survive or they would perish.

 

 

It was a harsh reality… but teetering on the edge of death, it was all they had within their grasp to cling to.

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