Tip of the Sword
Posted on Thu May 28th, 2015 @ 6:21pm by Captain Julius Whitlam & Captain Melody Windsor & Lieutenant Colonel Nuveshis ch'Gortha
Edited on on Sat Jun 6th, 2015 @ 1:13am
Mission:
Prelude to War
Location: Fort Templeton, New Venice, Mars
Lieutenant Colonel Nuveshis ch'Gortha stood straight as an arrow in front of the large tactical display that adorned most of one wall of his office with his gloved hands clasped firmly behind his back. His antennae were bent forward as he pondered the deployments scrolling down the screen. Those deployments represented the carving up of his battalion and he wasn't particularly happy about it. Nonetheless, he was a marine and he would do his duty.
In the hours since news broke that the Romulan Star Empire, in all it's craven treachery, had signed a Treaty of Non-Aggression with the Dominion, orders had been flying out of San Francisco like locusts. The Federation was finally mobilising some forces in anticipation of aggression from the Dominion. Something big was being planned, but even ch'Gortha was too low on the pecking order to know exactly what. All he knew was that the companies of his battalion were being split up and assigned as insertion companies aboard starships. He would soon be a desk-bound colonel while his troops were off at the front, and his Andorian blood hated the very thought of that.
He had already given orders to two of his company commanders, both of whom exhibited a kind of tentative elation at the news. They were going to see action. Ch'Gortha envied them. Deep in his heart he hoped that the next one wouldn't be so excited, but he had a feeling that wasn't to be the case.
Melody had wasted no time getting back into the swing of training and running her men through every scenario should could think of after returning from a mission to take out an Orion slave-ring. That mission had shown her more than one weakness in her squad, and she needed to tighten those up. Crenshaw had come far too close to not coming home this time.
She was none too happy when she was pulled out of the training runs to see the Battalion commander. Normally, those visits were reserved for dressing downs and other less-than-fun activities. Something about the base, though, gave her pause. It was teeming with activity. If she didn't know better, she'd say they were mobilizing. But there was no reason to do that... right?
She picked up the pace and arrived at the CO's office, stepping past his officer on duty with a knowing nod and into the war room itself, "You wanted to see me, sir?" She asked, looking over some of the things going past on the screen in front of ch'Gortha... they were mobilizing.
The colonel turned around and narrowed his eyes eyes at the new arrival. "Come in, Captain Windsor," he said, gesturing for her to join him where he stood. He turned back to the screen and said, "We've received orders."
"I gathered as much," Melody replied with a nod as she contined into her COs office. She stood at parade rest before his desk, waiting for the details.
"Delta Company will be embarking aboard the USS Manoora," ch'Gortha said, manipulating the display's interface and calling up a wireframe model of an Akira-class ship. "You and all of your people are to be aboard by nineteen hundred hours tonight. Major Cromwell in the shuttle pool is making arrangements to transfer you all to the Manoora."
Melody's lips quirked to the side as she looked at the ship on the screen, "Sir... A ship assignment, sir?" She hated everything about that idea. Marines belonged in the dirt. Starships had security, what did they need Marine's for? She was trying to keep her displeasure from showing, but she was fairly certain she was failing.
Ch'Gortha immediately noticed the displeasure in her demeanour and found a perverse enjoyment in it; much better than the excitement of the first to company commanders. "It's not your average fleet-minder job, Captain," he said, pulling a PADD from a stack mounted on the wall next to the tactical display. As he spoke, he tapped at the PADD and transferred Windsor's orders onto the device. "The Manoora is being co-opted as an assault carrier. Delta Company will be their insertion team, which means yours will be the first Federation boots on enemy planets.”
He handed Windsor the PADD. “You’ll be the tip of the sword, Captain.”
Melody narrowed her eyes as he spoke, but she took the PADD. As she look over the orders, a hint of a smile seemed to be at the corner of her lips, "So they're our taxi cab is all?" She asked, with a slight tone of bemusement.
The Andorian bared his teeth in a menacing smile that was followed by a light chuckle. "I doubt Captain Whitlam would appreciate the analogy," he said in a lighthearted way, pleased by her humour. "But speaking as a marine, that's exactly what they'll be. Just let the Fleeties think they're the important ones."
"Always do, sir," Melody said with a smile, "If there's nothing else, I'll get Delta Company rallied and ready for the next transport."
"Dismissed, Captain," ch'Gortha nodded sternly. They exchanged crisp salutes and the colonel watched yet another of his company commanders walk off to the front. Before she got to the door, he called out after her. "Oh, and Captain! Make sure you kill a bunch of Jem'Hadar for me."
"I'll send you their heads in a bottle!" Melody called back with a laugh as she left. With a smile on her face she headed over to her boys. Finally... some real action!
Captain Melody Windsor
Commanding Officer
Delta Co, 10th Marine Special Forces Battalion
Lieutenant Colonel Nuveshis ch'Gortha [NPC]
Commanding Officer
10th Marine Special Forces Battalion
Played by Captain Whitlam
