Reporting for Duty
Posted on Fri Apr 3rd, 2020 @ 12:40pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Staff Warrant Officer Jennifer Masters - Calhoun
Edited on on Mon Jul 20th, 2020 @ 11:12pm
1,043 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: Starbase Sirius
Timeline: MD004 1000 hrs
As Kilij continued to jog, he felt the felt a gentle breeze glide across his sticky, sweaty skin. The grass around him was a vibrant green and looked so soft, that he kind of wanted to lay in it. Instead he came to a stop at the edge of a hill. The sun shone down on him but not harshly, nor directly in his eyes. He starred off into the distance, which consisted of a rolling green valley that ended at the base of a beautiful temple.
The newly minted Starfleet Petty Officer had run six miles that day. The salty dog didn’t need to perform unending tactical drills, even though he wanted to sometimes; that muscle memory lived in his DNA. But he wanted to be in top physical shape for his first mission as a member of Starfleet. Unlike many other members of Starfleet, his ability to physically perform was the basis of his job, in some ways his expertise came second.
The Angosian took in a deep breath and felt refreshing air continuing to blow at his back and gust over him. The sweat that had poured all over his body, felt even cooler as the air surrounded him. Kilij took a deep breath, and for one moment marveled at the technology that could make simulated grass smell so much like real grass.
“Computer, opponent, Klingon, scaling difficulty. Two Bajoran fighting sticks.” Etah stated machine like, knowing that the computer favored a natural tone.
Following a jarring dinging sound issued by the holodeck’s computer, a Klingon warrior appeared in front of him. Etah could tell by his markings that the warrior was from House of Duras. He had a mean look on his face, the armor of the Klingon Fleet on his back and a mighty Bat'leth in his hands. Kilij briefly mused about the fact that the Starfleet holo program created a warrior of the extinct Duras family to be his opponent.
Etah bent down and picked up the two sticks, taking one in each hand, holding them by leather straps wound around the handle. They looked similar to what people on Earth might call Escrima sticks but had metal bands across the striking surface, one on the opposite side as the leather handle.
“Begin simulation,” Etah stated with some amount of resolve, as he dropped into a battle stance, but remained on the balls of his feet as if to spring forward.
The Klingon yelled and moved forward. “Arrrrrrr” the unnamed son of Duras screamed and swiped the pointy end of his weapon downward at Etah’s head.
Taking the stick in his left hand he swiped his hand upward with the striking surface of the stick angled up inside the Bat’leth. Jerking forward on his own weapon Kilij redirected the arc of the Klingdons stab. With a smooth and priced movement Etah swiped the weapon in his dominant hand toward the Klingon warriors exposed wrist, with a practiced ease. A metallic echo sounded as the strike landed on the warrior’s gauntlet.
The warrior launched into a more complicated series of attacks that Etah parried with his Bajoran fighting sticks. During the exchange a couple of repost strikes slammed into the warrior’s bicep and the back of his thigh, but it didn’t stop him.
As the simulated Klingon warrior’s ability scaled upward, his attacks became faster, more powerful and more accurate. Etah continued to counter and repost the attacks, blocking with one of his sticks and attacking with the other to keep the Klingon Warrior of balance. As the simulation continued to increase the Klingon Warriors skill and ability, the dowerness of the Klingons scowl increased.
Kilij snapped a strike around, contacting the Klingons wrist and resulting in a loud snapping sound. Hundreds of faces momentarily fluttered through Etah’s brain. Everyone whose wrist bone he’s ever broken in a fight like came rushing through his mind like a flip book or an old roll of animation. In that moment, the Klingson’s blade savagely tore into Etah’s arm.
The Bajoran citizen looked at his arm briefly which was fully intact, with no wounds before stating in an exasperated voice “Computer freeze program. “Remove safety protocols,” he asked the computer again.
“Safety protocols are locked behind a command grade firewall,” the computer responded in a metallic voice.
Etah signed deeply and replied “Door.” As the door to the entrance of the holodeck appeared in the middle of what used to be the valley. The Angosian looked over at the frozen Klingon and shook his head as he began to exit the holodeck. It was a run and then a great fight but if the Klingon can’t injure him, then it won’t be a real fight. It would be like a cheat code on an old earth game.
Etah walked through the endless corridors of hallways, bulkheads and turbolifts that made up so much of Starbase Sirius, eventually arriving back at his temporary quarters. He stepped through the door as it swished open automatically for him. He stopped at the replicator and stated “drink, citrus, cold,” and after a short but intense sound a drink similar to what humans would call orange juice appeared in a glass in front of him.
“Computer, when is the USS Pioneer due to arrive?” Etah asked the consul near the door.
"Estimated time of arrival two hours" the computers sing song voice chirped back at Kilij.
"Save progress and deactivate Kilij 1," Petty Officer Etah commanded of the computer.
"Confirmed" the computer curtly responded as the program froze for a second and then cascaded away in pixels.
After returning to his quarters, showering and putting on his duty uniform Petty Officer Etah was waiting in the docking area as the USS Pioneer began offloading onto the station.
A Joint Post By
Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Staff Warrant Officer Jennifer Masters
Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Petty Officer Third Class Etah Kilij
Infiltration Specialist, USS Pioneer
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