Forging a Combat Force

Posted on Fri Mar 13th, 2020 @ 7:19am by Commander Carrie Hawkwood & Commander Horatio "H" Lorne & Lieutenant Commander Chauncey Sparrer & Fleet Captain Vrr'Srhann'rr 'Siranna' & Vice Admiral Valerie Dessaix & Lieutenant Commander Hamilcar Stonne & Lieutenant Commander Anji Zamara
Edited on on Fri Mar 13th, 2020 @ 7:26am

Mission: Mission 94: Shattered Shields and Crack'd Swords
Location: Admiral Dessaix's command ship - Wardroom
Timeline: 0800Hrs, July 25th, 2392

Dessaix looked over the PaDD. "Can you tell me again, Commodore, why you think this Lieutenant Sexington is fit to command a star ship?"

"I think he has all the needed attributes. He did well on his placement tests and all his paper work submitted has been impeccable." Dumford answered.

Dessaix could feel her blood pressure rise. She and Dumford had already had one previous argument. Dessaix wanted Dumford to put his flag on one of his destroyers until his was available. She had given him tactical advice and strategic reasons why that would work best to maximize his leadership. Dumford had countered with regulations and found every excuse not to command a ship. The talk frustrated Dessaix and she finished half a bottle of cognac in her desk. It took everything she had to resist the urge to take the heavy glass bottle and smash it on Dumford's bald, vulture like head.

"But he doesn't have any real leadership experience," Dessiax told him. "He has only limited experience on a ship."

"He wrote a theory paper about star ship tactics and some of the brass back at Star Fleet headquarters were impressed." Dumford informed her.

"Theory is no replacement for experience." Dessaix argued. "i'm not approving him for command."

"It's not up to you." Dumford told her with a grin. "His command has been approved long before you were commander of this division. You don't like it take it up with Star Fleet Command."

"I intend to." Dessaix told him. "He has no business being in command of a ship. Just like you have no business being here. Your nothing but a pencil pusher with too much rank."

"Don't be sour just because some one with potential like Lieutenant Sexington is moving up. I know this must be tough for a line officer like you. You have limited potential and abilities so you toil away out in space. You just have to understand that those of use that can use our minds should not have to waste our time in mundane positions." Dumford told her.

Dessaix was gritting her teeth. "How dare you!" She snarled. "Better officers than you give their lives every day to Star Fleet while you sit behind a desk writing theory papers. You have no idea what it's like out here."

"Are you done?" Dumford asked her in a condescending voice. "I have to get my command ready."

"Get out of my office." Dessaix snapped at him.

"Your conduct has not gone unnoticed," Dumford told her.

"Never threaten me again in my own office." Dessaix sternly told him. "Consequences be damned. I will make you suffer."

Dumford scowled as he left. Dessaix was unsure how the 54th Squadron would come together. Dessaix had no concerns about the 32nd. Commodore Siranna had a very good record and the unit had done the tasks asked of it.

The door chimed. "Enter," Dessaix replied. Sparrer entered. "Ah, hello Commander Sparrer. I'm glad we could meet."

"Hello Commodore, I'm glad to be here." He replied.

"Captain Sorvok has written you a glowing report. Not to sound mean but I'm glad to get you away from him." She told him.

"Captain Sorvok was a good commander and I enjoyed my time aboard the Argonne but I do like having my own flag." He stated.

Dessaix nodded. "Unless you need anything, you're dismissed to the conference room."

"Not at this time Commodore, thanks." Sparrer smiled as he left.

Dessaix planned to run some squadron level drills for the 54th. They were still short on a few ships so she would have to borrow a few from the 32nd. She tapped on her display, "Commodore Siranna, are you there?"

Siranna was seated in her office. She tapped the display once as the face of Division Admiral Valerie Dessaix appeared before her. "Admiral." the Caitian female seemed to almost purr at her. "What can I do for you?"

"Hello Siranna, are any of your crew back from leave? I need to borrow a couple of ships for a training exercise." She asked.

"I have four ships crews back from leave with five and six scheduled back today. I'll have my force back to normal by the end of this week," she explained. "Sure. I'll route them to you."

"I just need two ships please," Dessaix explained. "Have them report to me in two days.

"I'll have the Ericsson and the Miami report to you," Siranna responded. "Their skippers are Commanders Horatio Lorne and Carrie Hawkwood," she explained.

"Good, thank you. I would also like you to be there as an observer too." She told her.

The Caitian nodded. "I'd like that," she responded. "It'll give me the chance to see these guys close up."

"Well, you may not like the view," Dessaix added.

"I will survive." the Commodore responded. "Besides. It can't be that bad.. right?"

Dessaix just smiled but said nothing. "Alright, we'll keep in touch."

"Sounds good." as Siranna smiled. "Siranna out."

Dessaix stepped out of her office to meet her captains. "Good you could come." She greeted the crowd of officers. She looked at Sexington. "Why are you wearing that ridiculous cape and sword?"

"Because they define who I am." Sexington told her.

"Yes..." Dessaix was unsure how to react. "Please take those off. Especially the sword. You could hurt someone."

"He isn't a child." Hubert interrupted. "Besides, code amendment 752 states officers are allowed to wear accouterments that are part of their culture."

"I think that applies specifically to Klingons with their weapons, not to vain Human officers." Dessaix corrected him. "I don't know any human officer that wears a saber."

"We go by the letter of the regulation Admiral, not how we think it should work," Hubert added.

"You know, all you little regulations and policies won't help you if you can't command," Dessaix warned him.

"Giving orders isn't as hard as you think," Dumford told her with a smirk.

"For your sake, I hope not." Dessaix fired back and walked away before Dumford could reply. "And you must be Commander Zamra?" She asked the Rigelian.

"Yes, Ma'am." She replied. "This is my first command and I'm a little nervous."

"You don't have to call me ma'am unless you're being reprimanded," Dessaix replied. "I read your dossier, you should be fine." Zamra smiled and Dessaix moved on.

"You must be Commander Stonne?" She asked the half Vulcan. "I read your files, I must admit that I'm impressed."

"I get that a lot, Admiral," Stonne replied with nonchalance. "I expect to raise the effectiveness of the squadron significantly. Your lucky to have me assigned."

"I see..." Dessaix reacted, not really sure what to say to his arrogance.

Commodore Siranna smiled as she chuckled softly before she simply broke down and before long was laughing hysterically at the conversation before she pointed at Stonne. "Wow... Oh wow... you are... a fucking retard." she got out between waves of laughter. "Do you.. actually believe the shit you are saying?"

"It is not whether I believe it or not." Stonne coolly told her. "I'll let me record do my speaking for me."

Siranna continued laughing as she slowly calmed herself. "Oooh okay," she responded. "Well, lets see. No starship command experience whatsoever so the closest you've come to combat is a policy seminar and a lecture at the Academy on tactics that you've never seen implemented. You are all talk and theory."

"I'm sorry, you must have me mistaken for some one else." He stated. "I've spent my whole career on board star ships. I was awarded the Star Cluster for courage during a skirmish along the Breen border. When we were patrolling near Draco Epsilon VII our ship the USS Tinian was ambushed and our captain and first officer were casualties and I took command of the Tinian. And for the record, I never wrote any tactical paper, although now that you mention it maybe I should." Stonne told her.

Siranna laughed some more as she sighed. "Ahhh I think I like you," she commented with a grin on her face. "Yes, please do so. I look forward to reading your report on theories."

"Yeah, I'm going to wait until I have some more time in the captain's chair though before I put pen to paper. I mean, what kind of hack writes a theory paper about commanding star ships and tactics without actually sitting in a captain's chair? Am I right?" Stonne asked. Behind Stonne, Sexington had a dejected look on his face.

Commodore Castaln Tholo, commander of the 88th Destroyer Squadron walked in, however, he didn't try to interrupt the ongoing conversation.

Siranna slowly blinked her eyes. "Well that is actually a matter for debate as Lieutenant Sexington.." she stopped. "Did I pronounce that right?" the Caitian female inquired. "Anyway, he did a few papers despite having no command experience, someone must have liked them as he is here, where he frankly, has no right to be... But that's me."

"Sexington?" Stonne asked. "Never heard of him. I guess he just isn't that important. And Yes, I agree with you assessment." And with those words Sexington retreated out of listening range.

the door opened and in walked Commander Carrie Hawkwood. She nodded to the assembled personnel gathered here before making her way over to Siranna.

"Hey, skipper." Hawkwood greeted the female Caitian. "Hey, Carrie. This is Lt Commander Hamilcar Stonne." as she handled the introductions. "Hamilcar. This is Commander Carrie Hawkwood," she commented

"It's good to meet you," Hawkwood said to Stonne.

"Glad to meet you." Stonne gave Hawkwood a friendly wink.

It was then that Sexington made his move. He threw the right side of his cape over his shoulder in a sweeping, grand gesture. "Hello, there gorgeous. Lucky for you my last girlfriend put a restraining order on me. Now I'm free to be with you."

Hawkwood's answer to Stonne was cut off mid sentence before she blinked before the tall female shifted her attention over to the newcomer. "Umm... I don't know you," she answered bluntly to Sexington. "I don't think I want to know you either."

"A lot of women say that before they get to know daddy LaJaye." Sexington smiled at her. "I make all the girls scream and cry."

Hawkwood blinked. "Yes. I like it when men don't make me scream and cry." she commented. "My husband would also protest and then he'd want to murder you." the tall female answered a moment later.

"Really?" LaJaye seemed surprised. "According to your file, your single. Your also a medical officer, which means your qualified to give my a whole body exam."

Castaln sensed that Hawkwood wanted nothing to do with Lajaye so he spoke up," Hey pudgy, she quite plainly told you to go sod off. Now I recommend that you leave her alone or you will be in the brig for sexual harassment, where the only girl you will be with is your own left hand."

"You're loss." LaJaye told Carrie before he threw his cape about him and moved off.