High Noon Express Part 1
Posted on Tue Feb 5th, 2019 @ 1:40pm by Gunnery Sergeant Flarn & Lieutenant Commander Larim Myles & Major Cornelius Tremble
Edited on on Thu Feb 28th, 2019 @ 4:31am
1,543 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 6 - Old Habits Die Hard
Location: Holodeck three
Timeline: MD001 1230 hrs
Wilhelmina had gotten to the holodeck a good twenty minutes early, already dressed for the occasion, a black suit. Complete with bow tie, vest and pocket watch, with a large black duster thrown over it, and a matching hat.
She had less picked the holonovel of the occasion. And more chosen to invite others to help her finish the story. She had already played through the novel to the last act.
A train robbery set in the western expansion period of American History. She had done the scene once already and had admittedly botched the whole thing. Being shot on the holodeck wasn't painful but it was embarrassing. So she had simply called for backup. And on the other hand it would be a good exercise in small unit tactics and team work in a enclosed space.
Flarn had been released from Sick Bay and approved to return to full duty. No sooner did he get to his quarters than he saw a request for him to report to the holodeck for training. The request stated that he should wear Earth old western attire. The Tellarite grumbled at the thought of the training but looked at it as a way to get back out there. When he arrived at the holodeck he saw the new gunny that he had been told about. "Staff Sergeant Flarn reporting as ordered ma'am."
Without actually looking up from the replicator console at the door of the holodeck she answered Flarn. "Wonderful, guid tae see yer in workin' order again. whit dae ye happen tae ken abit gunpowder projectile firearms?"
She tapped the console one. "Computre winchester mark six an' a winchester model eighteen eighty seven please." The computer produced a revolve and holster which the gunny put on, and then a lever action shotgun that she likewise stowed with it's sling over her shoulder. "once evry one is haur i'll gie ye th' rundoon oan th' exercise. it's jist a holonovel, but it shoods be guid small unit practice in a enclosed space, but try tae hae fin wi' it... Swatch over th' list ay available firearms, if ye need helpin' pickin' a one ye can wark wi' lit me know."
Flarn let out an indignant snort at the idea of a holonovel serving as a training exercise. However, there must be a reason that she was the First Sergeant. So, he went along with it. Flarn examined the list of firearms and found the one that interested him. "Computer 12 gauge, double barrel shotgun. The Wyatt Earp special." The computer produced the shotgun and two bandoleers of shells. Flarn put the bandoleers crossed on his chest and held the shotgun on his shoulder. "Right Gunny what's next." A slight smirk crawled across the Tellarite's face for the first time in a long time.
The gunny gave a nod at the choice of weapons. "Interesting choice, and next? We way fur the others."
Neil stepped off the turbo-lift and walked toward the holo-suite. After the Gunny’s training notification, he’d done his research and opted for simplicity. He’d chosen button fly dungarees, blue checked shirt with a ended collar, battered fedora and tooled leather black boots with riding heels.
He felt positively silly. Neil had read westerns at some stage of his adolescence, but hadn’t given Earth’s history a lot of thought through the years.
His boots made slight scuffing sounds on the carpeted deck as Neil joined Gunny Wilson and Sgt. Flarn in front of the designated holo deck and nodded. “Gunny. Sgt. Flarn. Glancing over their array of weapons, he touched the computer wall plate.
“Computer, give me a Smith and Wesson Schofield, seven inch barrel chambered in .45 long colt with a split front, forward throw drop holster and cartridge belt. Attached to that, a cross draw holster with a 1860 Navy, cartridge conversion with six inch barrel.”
Glancing at the two, he said non-plussed “What?” Then he grinned.
The gunnary sergent gave a nod in approval of Neil's getup and choice. "Ya luk a bit lik a coowhand. But I sapose tha's the point?"
"Generally, I suppose. Out of work, desperate. Just this side of the law, however works." Neil picked up the cartridge belt and holsters and strapped them around his waist, tying down the quick-draw holster to his right thigh. "From the stories, an ombre could go either way some days."
"I never truly understood your people's penchant for admiring those who killed others." Flarn snorted. The veiled insult was as close as the Tellarite could get to complimenting humans.
Turning to Flarn, Neil pushed the brim of his hat up with one finger and told him, "Well sir, some folk just need a good killin' every once in a while. Helps clear the sinuses." He chuckled then and shrugged, "Every race has it's dark side.
Larim walked in, a little late. "Howdy" he said. He was dressed in a white shirt, leather vest. Around his waist a brown gun belt, khaki pants, and boots.
"Computer...uh Colt Peacemaker and Winchester model 1873" he said, opting for the "classics"
"It tends tae be a fascination wi' those tha refuse tae wark within whit was often a corrupt an' unfair system. but in fool disclosure.. we willnae be robbin' onie trains the-day." The gunny reached into a pocket and produced a set of items handing them out. All of them being metal five stared badges each having "United States of American" across the top and then "Arizona Ranger" across the bottom.
Flarn grabbed one of the badges and fixed it to his chest. He had studied a fair amount of history but was unfamiliar with this section of Earth history. "I am going to have to follow your lead on this one. I am not quite sure how to act or proceed." The usually confident Tellarite was sheepish and wary of his actions and words. This could have been partly because of his unfamiliarity and partly because this was his first action since being released from Sick Bay.
The gunny nodded. "Weel th' simple rin doon is 'at, we ur gonnae be clearly a train.. a ancient tracked transport, ay armed criminals. they ur attackin' fur goods an' bunsens, an' main tak' hostages."
Neil took the proffered badge and slid it onto his gun belt, just ahead of the holster. To Flarn he said, "It'll all fall into place, Sergeant. Let yourself respond and don't worry about the window dressing. Unless it's a train full of soiled doves. That could be distracting." He winked toward the gunny as he shifted the unfamiliar belt and tightened it another notch.
"I believe the term is posse. Since we have one formed I guess we should proceed." Flarn said to Wilson. He looked around the setting and on one hand was quite impressed with what the holodeck had created. On the other he still did not see how this would help in tactical scenarios. However, he was willing to give the Gunny the chance to show him what she was thinking.
The holodeck had made a rather impressive scene of a wide open vally, tracks and a train, the train currently being 'paused' in place. A few horses waiting paused also.
"Reit, so here is whit we know. tha' train itself has just over ninety passengers. ten ay which belong tae a crew ay armed robbers. so our simple goal. board tha' train usin' thes animals an' 'then it becomes a very confined clearin' mission wi' th' heavy chance fur hostages." She moved over to a horse and mounted up on it. "Sae we need tae figure out who is gonnae jump from a horse tae a train an' 'en help every un else ontae tha' train. Ah can ride a horse damn fine, but Ah also think ye awl out weight me."
"It's been ten years since I had the Corp's training on riding animals: herbivore, quadruped. At least these should be more stable than those Tellarian ostriches." Neil walked into the scene, then mounted what looked (and was described in the novel's he'd read) like a paint. Nodding to the gunny, he said "I'll give it a go. Worst case, I get to experience a train running over me."
Flarn mounted up. He was unstable on a horse but had been taking lessons since he boarded the Pioneer. He planned on impressing the Captain with his knowledge of horseback riding. However, at the moment he did not look too proud to be showing anyone anything. "Very well then I believe the term is saddle up and let's go." He snorted.
A Joint Post By
Second Lieutenant Cornelius Tremble
Marine Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Gunnery Sergeant Wilhelmina Wilson
First Sergeant/Rifle Fire Team 2 Leader, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Larim Myles
Chief Security/Tactical Officer, USS Pioneer
Staff Sergeant Flarn
Rifle Fire Team 1 Leader, USS Pioneer
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