Inspecting the Troops

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 10:28pm by Major General Alan Masters & Colonel Brianna Hobbs
Edited on on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 11:37pm

Mission: Mission 49: The Stars Look Down
Location: Various Locations - USS Argonne
Timeline: 1000Hrs - November 9th, 2391

Corps General Alan Masters peered out the shuttle viewport as he regarded the Nebula class lookalike which was a class all her own as his pilot, a young Ensign who looked like she was about twelve humans years old tapped the display before her. "Argonne Flight Control, this is Shuttle Two Two Zed Five, out of Starbase 12. Requesting permission to land."

"Shuttle Two Two Zed Five. Permission Granted."

"Thank you Argonne control." the young pilot responded.

Masters was sitting in the co-pilots seat as he said nothing and did nothing, except he watched his pilot work.

A few minutes later he walked off the shuttle after it was secured. "No honor detail. good." he responded. "I hate that shit." he added.

The pilot, followed along as she suppressed a soft chortle, clearly she was used to the unusual ways of the General. "Hello... Where can we find the colonel?"

"Colonel Hobbs?"

"Yes, that Colonel."

"I believe she's working in her office." The Ensign responded before turning away to complete his various duties as the pilot tapped the PADD affixed to her leg before she pulled it loose, calling up a quick map. "This way General."

Masters followed along in silence and before long, the two of them reached their destination.

The General tapped the doorchime.

"The door is open," Hobbs yelled without looking up.

The door opened and in walked General Masters. "Mornin' Colonel." he smiled. "How's things?"

Hobbs sprang to her feet. "Hello, General." Hobbs hastily spoke. "I wasn't expecting you."

"I know." Masters responded. "I arranged that quite deliberately... I prefer to observe my people in their native environment," he responded. "I read about what happened on the last mission this vessel and her marines were involved in... Could you mind giving me your perspective on the matter."

Hobbs pursed her lips. She had given a written report of what happened. She didn't like talking about it but had little choice.

"For one thing, our marines were not completely ready. We had never conducted any joint operations with all the marines in the task force before the operation. That said, it was a simple mission and we just didn't have the time." Hobbs told Masters.

"The ships didn't entirely provide the fire support we needed. It wasn't their fault, however. Nye mutinied after the mission started. He ordered units in before we could properly soften the objective. He insisted on costly frontal assaults. By the time we stopped him, the mission was a bust. We suffered horrible casualties and didn't achieve our goals."

"We are in the process of rebuilding our units," Hobbs informed her senior.

"Well... My visit has two parts to it... I'm bringing the rest of your marines plus your new gear and equipment." Masters explained. "Also... I wanted to meet Nye's replacement.... but frankly... he has disgraced himself and the Corps... Unfortunately.. this means that you will be cleaning up much of the mess he left behind... How you sort things out with your new command I leave to you." he sighed. "But the Marines in the battlegroup are all assigned under your command so sort things out as you deem fit..."

Masters regarded Hobbs closely. "Would you like me to save you a seat at his Court Marshal?"

"Thank you Sir but no." Hobbs replied. "I'm sure I'll be called as a witness. That will be enough for me."

"If you would like to show you our armory or flight deck I can do that," Hobbs told him.

Masters nodded. "Of course." he responded. "Lets start with the armory."

"Very good, Ill show you the way." Hobbs replied. "We don't have any scheduled training for today, I can arrange some though."

"No need Colonel." Masters responded. "I won't be here long enough anyway.... I just wanted to drop by... and say hello." as he grinned at her.

"Okay." Hobbs smiled back as the two went into the turbo lift. "Like I said, we are still rebuilding."

"Fair enough... Colonel Nye's court marshal is going to be a couple of weeks yet and I have no doubt that you and much of your command will be involved in various details of it." he explained. "I frankly think you have better things to be doing with your time.." Masters added.

"Somehow that fucker survived." Hobbs said with a little bit of angst. "I hope he takes the honorable way out and just pleads no contest."

"Oh I doubt he will." Masters responded. "My youngest child has a better record then Nye does and she's eight years old." he shook his head. "Its disgraceful if you ask me."

"Sadly, I think you may be right." Hobbs admitted. "Nye honestly belived he was doing Star Fleet a service when he mutinied."

"A service.?" Masters shook his head. "He was either deluded or a fool to think we would respect such service."

Hobbs sighed. "He was obviously in his own reality. I'm just glad he is no longer commanding troops in the field."

"I am sorry you and your troops had to suffer his insanity Colonel." Masters responded. "You can be assured that you will have final say on all marines assigned to this battlegroup. You answer only to me and Commodore Tane."

"Thank you." Hobbs replied. The doors to the turbolift opened and the two got off. "Nye was a Nechayev plant. Not to many more of them around. at least not in plain site." Hobbs told Masters as the two entered the armory.

Master nodded his head. "I've been looking at various Marines." he rumbled. "Looking for Nechayev plants.." he shrugged. "Maybe I am being paranoid.."

"She planted plenty of bad seeds. The question is will they sprout?" Hobbs asked rhetorically as the two looked around the armory. In one corner near the weapons vault several marines were busy doing maintenance on their weapons.

"Over there are a few survivors of our last mission." Hobbs pointed out. Werner came over to meet Hobbs. He came to attention when he spotted Masters.

"Well Colonel. We will soon find out." before he turned to Werner. "Stand easy. I've never been big on formality." as he returned Werner's salute. "You and your men did good... you had shitty leadership Gunny on your last mission...." he sighed as his pilot who had been following in silence sudden;y handed Masters a PADD.

Masters accepted the PADD as a smile crossed his face. "Excellent, my request has been approved." as he handed the PADD to Hobbs. "You and your people will be getting those in a week."

"Thank you General." Hobbs responded. "Would you like to meet some of them?"

Werner jumped in before Masters could answer. "Colonel, I don't think that would be a good idea." He told her. "Those marines are...what is a nice word for weird?"

"Eccentric?" Hobbs answered.

"Yah, we'll go with that." Werner told them.

"I don't wish to distract people from their work.." Masters responded. "No... I've got no need to meet them.."

It was then that Lance Corporal Shalmar seemed to appear from nowhere. "Hello General and Colonel." She addressed them. "I wrote a haiku to remember my friend who served with the mortar platoon. Would you like to hear it?" She asked as Werner cringed.

Masters raised an eyebrow. "Sure.." he responded.

"Thank you Sir." The Andorian replied. She cleared her voice and began. "Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom,
Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom,
Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom" She did a curtsy and smiled.

Masters chuckled softly. "Fitting, for your friend that is..." he responded.

"Thank you Lance Corporal." Hobbs replied. "That was...different."

"But fitting For someone who liked explosions." Masters answered. "Are there any issues with the armory that need to be addressed?" he inquired.

"We seem to be short on weapons." Werner was honest with Masters. "We could also use some new armor and a replenishment of demolition satchels. Our pioneer tools also look thin."

Masters received a PADD as he jotted down notes. "Okay.." he responded as he jotted down what Werner was saying. "Anything else you guys want or need?"

"Orion slave girls for our downtime?" The marine named Bug answered rather quickly.

Masters chuckled. "I'll send some holoprograms." he responded. "With the rest of this consignment." he turned back to Werner. "You'll have your shipment in two hours.."

"Thank you, Sir." Werner smiled. Hobbs gave Bug a nasty look.

"No worries... anything else you guys want other then Orion slave girls." Masters inquired with a soft chuckle. "Takes stones to say that to me son. Very nice."

Bug smiled but Hobbs did not. "No General." Hobbs replied. "Thank you for showing some interest in our ship."

"No worries Colonel. I will leave this battlegroup, her marines and such... in your capable hands." and with that he saluted her and Werner before taking his leave.

Masters made his way back to the Hanger deck as he looked around, his pilot following him in silence. "Alright... Time for us to leave..."

"Yessir. I'll get us clearance." the female pilot responded as she disappeared back into the shuttle as Masters took a moment to admire some of the fighters nearby. "Fine craftsmanship went into these.." he commented aloud before he turned and departed.