The Grinder (Part II)

Posted on Thu Jun 8th, 2023 @ 2:30pm by Major Cornelius Tremble & Lieutenant JG Mira Jayna
Edited on on Fri Jun 9th, 2023 @ 5:59am

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Bridge
Timeline: MD009 10:00 hrs.

[PREVIOUSLY]
 
"Correct," Neil said, smiling at her. "The SIM tubed you into a relative comfort zone and something you should have been able to handle: which you did. That sets a base line."
 
He activated the testing controls via his contact and began making adjustments. "We'll build on what you just did. This time you're going to be aboard the USS Puller, on the bridge reporting to the ship's captain. The Breen aren't done with you..."
 
[CONTINUED]
 
Jayna didn't realize how much her attitude influenced the scenario—until she went through the first bridge training program. She liked working in the background, gathering intel. She'd never seen herself as someone in charge. Or even someone who could be in charge. A lot of it, she now realized, came from the way she and her sister had been treated those first years in Starfleet. Even after the Dominion War, many were hesitant to trust someone who'd been Maquis and it affected the way she interacted with the crew in general.
 
When she immersed herself in the second bridge training program, she immediately noticed the difference. The first time was to get her comfortable with the idea of leadership. It was a scenario she was familiar with—more or less. She was generally the one on the ground, but it was still familiar territory. Even when it went south, she could adapt. She was able to let go and go with everything she'd learned in and outside of intel.
 
The second time, the computer put her in charge of the Puller as the Breen retaliated and attacked the ship directly. It was more of a challenge than the first one and built off what she'd done, focusing on her weaker areas as the program was designed to test how you reacted in a crisis situation, not a likely one. Then again, there'd been quite a few times in her various careers when she'd found herself in one of those unlikely situations—and as an infiltration specialist, she often had to think on her feet. She used all of that training and instinct now.
 
Expecting the program to compensate for the more obvious responses, and because she preferred back-door tactics, Jayna kept tactical busy fighting the Breen while ops kept shields up and power allocated to the more important systems. This, she hoped, gave the rest of her crew time to go in through more subtle paths. Intel was able to piggyback a worm on a communication channel and overload the weapons array, limiting the Breen to torpedoes. Once they took down shields, the Marines were able to board the ship itself.
 
The battle took longer than she liked, as she preferred to take prisoners whenver possible, but with the combined efforts of the crew, the Puller was finally victorious.
 
The Puller took extensive damage and there were a number of injuries—some fatal--but Jayna felt that she'd done the best she could.
 
When the prisoners were taken to the brig and the wounded to sickbay, the program again dissolved and she was facing the mission ops station.
 
She turned to Neil and grinned. "Better?" She knew it was better because she was able to let go of her self-imposed reservations and react, but she wanted to know if it was good enough to pass.
 
Neil rested a hand on her shoulder and said, "There wasn't anything wrong with the first run through, Lieutenant," he said, using her rank, mindful of the bridge crew. "This cycled you through another scenario where you used your experience to handle a crisis. You've been under fire and had lives in your hands before. The computer scored you at 93%. So, you did well. Nice work today. You're signed off to work the bridge Marine Ops station. I'd recommend...," he stopped and then grinned at her. "How about I go over recommendations at supper tonight? We can either dine in or optionally we'll be docked at Poseidon by then. We could take a couple of hours and explore. You get to pick the place?"
 
"Thank you." She was pleased with both run-throughs, although there were places where she could definitely improve. But then, there was always room for improvement. "Yes. I'd love to hear your recommendations, sir." She flashed him an impish grin. She wanted to spend the evening with Neil and exploring the station together was something she wasn't going to pass up. "I'd love to explore the station." She raised an eyebrow as she met his gaze. "Then we could have a one-on-one after."
 
Neil ghosted her a wink and said, "That sounds like a plan. Exploration sounds like a good idea." His chrono told him they were basically done for the day. They were ahead of schedule (as far as. Starfleet was concerned) with training and there would be precious little time before he started working on the FMC Birthday ball proceedings.
 
That gave him an idea. "Speaking of exploring, I may have to mix in a little bit of work. How about we check out the space they're setting aside for the Birthday Ball? Then find a suitable place for food before you have your way with me?"
 
She chuckled softly. The more time she spent with Neil, the more she looked forward to it. "That sounds good--as long as I don't have to promise to be gentle." She did want to look for a new knife while they were on the promenade. She liked collecting them when she had the opportunity.
 
"As long as I don't end up in sick bay trying to explain it to Hermia again," Neil said with humor in his eyes. "I'm all for a vigorous outing..."
 
Again? She raised an eyebrow, not sure if she wanted to know what happened to land him in sickbay—especially if it involved a Klingon woman. She grinned. "That does sound promising." She stood and turned to face him. "I'm all yours."
 
____
OFF
 
Major Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Commanding Officer, The Cure


Lieutenant Junior Grade Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Intelligence Liaison, The Cure

 

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