Sharp Shooting

Posted on Thu Aug 27th, 2015 @ 5:03am by Captain Melody Windsor

Mission: Prelude to War
Location: Holodecks

Breathe.

The frantic motion of the people in the scope was making it difficult to make anything out.

Breathe.

The man being sought stepped out, pulse rifle blazing. Civilians were dying left and right. He was killing innocent people.

Breathe.

Two degrees to the right... ten up... compensate for the wind. Plasma slugs were much more directionally challenged than phaser blasts.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Pull.

The man's torso lit up as the super-heated plasma found its mark, and his rampage was over. Melody was always struck by the light in the back of their throats when they cried out... like something out of a movie, the death of a demon.

She sighed and sat up, "Computer, end program."

She was sitting in the center of the holodeck, rubbing her eyes. It was one thing to shoot holograms. If she hit a civilian here, it would just be regenerated the next time the program ran. If she hit a civilian tomorrow, in the field, that was a soul on her hands.She pondered her next scenario. So far, she'd managed to keep her aim true. So long as she managed the same tomorrow, she'd be okay.

"Computer, load Andsis Conflict, Battle of Tar'ganro. Randomize time," She called out.

Suddenly, the sterile grid of the holodeck was replaced by the wild jungles of Andsis. Shots were ringing out, punctuated by explosions deep in the jungle. A battle raged. She snatched up her sniper rifle, and bolted into the bush. She let out a shriek as a hand snatched out for her and she spun to find an Andsisian, all eight eyes glaring at her.

Kick.

Rifle butt to the face.

Punch.

Kick.

Shot in the back when he's down. Right that moment, it was a hologram. Tomorrow, her life would really be in danger. She had to be ready. She bolted further into the forest.

Melody ran solo, and her men understood that. The more men you send in a direction, the more likely you are to be spotted. The more likely a sniper is to die. Normally, her ears would be filled with chatter from the rest of her men as she mentally tracked their positions on the field and moved to the best place to provide the best cover fire. She'd be barking orders to them too. They'd become such a living organism, it was wonderful. Her superiors had called them her hive at one point... and maybe that was true. That statement had earned her the nickname "queen bee" which she never objected to.

Tonight, in the holodeck, she ran in silence, focusing on her task and particular targets she'd picked out before hand.

Check left.

Check right.

She ran further and further into the wood, moving closer to the sound of conflict.

She dropped hard to her back as another Andsisian smacked her in the face as she was running. Stupid. Stupid girl, not paying attention. Tomorrow, she could be dead. She rolled as he brought down one of the vicious Andsisian barb-swords down into the ground. He was already drawing his blaster, but she'd brought her rifle up and cleanly removed his head.

All but the most essential safeties were off, and she grumbled to herself as blood rolled down her upper lip. She wiped her face and bolted forward again, this time, looking for the signs. When you're eyes are trained, you can spot even the most skilled hider.

She found the hill after a long while, and perched herself on top of it.

Into the scope again. She watched people dying below, soldiers. Both from the SFMC and Andsisian warriors. Tomorrow, those SFMC men would be her own. Friends, brothers. Those that died, would be gone forever. Those that were injured would be changed forever. She had to do everything she could to keep them safe.

She new her target, but she thinned the herd a little first, freeing up more Marines to fight fewer Andsisians. A dangerous smile was on her face when she heard a twig snap behind her. She rolled, instantly, and threw the throwing knife hidden in her sleeve at the sound stabbing an Andsisian square in the forehead.

"Jerk," She said with a smirk, "Sneaking up on a lady while she's sniping. Didn't your mother ever tell you that's rude?" She asked, turning back to the task at hand.

Breathe.

Scan the crowd, look for him. Find him.

Found him.

Breathe.

Ten degrees to the left... he's moving .... lead the target. Lead 2 degrees.

Wait for it.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Squeeze.

The Andsisian General went down spinning, weaving a dazzling spiral of blood in the air as he went.

Melody nodded, and sat up again, "Computer, end simulation."

Back to the grid. She sighed and wiped her nose again, frowning at the blood on her fingers, "You didn't have t bust my nose, computer."

"Simulation was within requested parameters," The computer replied flatly.

"I asked you to bust my nose?" Melody queried with a smirk.

The computer was silent a moment, as if thinking, "Negative." it finally replied.

"Then how was this the requested parameters?" Melody asked.

"Realism," was the computers response.

Melody laughed genuinely, "Sassy broad you are, computer." She teased. Standing up and dusting herself off. Her boys would be waiting for her in the lounge. It wouldn't do to keep them waiting. She had time to clean up and be on her way. And tomorrow...

War.