UES Enterprise. Concealed behind Theta Iota 6-F.
17th May 2151.
Marine Commander's Office.
Reed sat slumped, elbows on his desk, head bowed, palms of his hands pressed hard against his closed eyes. He took a long, exaggerated sigh, rubbed his forehead, and looked up. "Oh, this just gets better and better. Is there anyone else you want coming with us? Some of the maintenance staff, perhaps? The assistant chef? That guy in charge of the laundry? This is supposed to be a commando raid, not a bloody day trip to Blackpool!"
Across the desk Captain Archer was smiling slightly, and this was the sole reason Reed didn't stay his tongue. The Marine was quite good at reading people, and knew that, as long as Archer was indulging him like this, he could get away with venting his frustrations. If the Captain was not in such an accommodating mood, Reed would face charges of insubordination.
Archer leant closer. "Malcolm, if we are to get through this, we need a new dilithium crystal. More than one, if possible. Now if we are lucky, we may find some in storage on the enemy ship. If not, we need an engineer to extract it safely from the reactor array. And Trip here is our best engineer."
Next to Archer Tucker nodded sagely.
"But the chief engineer?" Reed asked. "Why not one of the others? I know that what's-her-face, the assistant chief---"
"Adams."
"---That's it, Adams, she's worked on Neptune class ships. Surely she'd be more familiar with the specific systems on the target vessel?"
Even before Reed had finished speaking Tucker was shaking his head. "She knows the system alright, but I know it better. The Lindel Industries Reactor System Version Four was developed specifically for Neptune's, that's true. But since then it's been used on a whole mess o' ships. Over a third o' all Earth ships, in fact. Includin' Conestoga's, backbone of the UESPA fleet. Plus, at Cambridge, I was taught warp mechanic's by one o' the guy's who designed it. Seriously Malcolm, I'm your best bet for getting the job done."
Reed grunted. He glanced at his computer screen, currently showing Tucker's service record. In one respect at least he seemed to fit the stereotypical view of Texans. He knew how to shoot. All UESPA personnel were required to maintain a basic proficiency with firearms. Tucker's records showed a level of skill equivalent to that of many soldiers. In addition, at least once a week on this journey he'd gone on down to the shooting range. Reed hadn't seen him shoot but some of his people had and they'd been quietly impressed.
Of course, there's a hell of a difference between target shooting and combat, Reed thought.
He tapped his intercom button. "Burke? Pull up Commander Tucker's file. Find an elastic pressure suit that'll fit, and bring it to the staging area ASAP."
"Yes Sir."
***
Marine's Staging Area.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, and you too Tipping, quiet down please. I know we've gone over this a dozen times, but as none of you has the intellect of a sago pudding, I'll say it again. Team A, that's this lot on this side of the room, will be going to rescue the Premier. Not to worry, you will be lead by a fearless military genius. We will---yes, what is it James?"
The short brunette had her hand in the air. "If there's a fearless military genius in charge of Team A, what will you be doing?"
Reed glared at her in mock anger. "Oh very clever James, very droll. No, I am said genius. You will be delighted to hear that Team B, of which you are a part, will be under the command of Sergeant Woo. He is not a military genius, but he does get the job done. Usually by sending mouthy Corporals to their certain death as a means of distracting the enemy.
"For this operation Team A will be accompanied by Captain Archer and Ambassador's Aide T'Pol. In case diplomacy doesn't work, it's our job to pull the fat from the frier."
The hatch to the men's dressing room opened, letting Archer and Tucker in. There were a few jokey cheers and wolf whistles from the Marines, along with some gentle laughter.
"Let me guess." said Archer, looking round. "We are supposed to wear something on top of these pressure suits?"
Reed pointed back through the hatch. "There should be camo uniforms in the lockers."
"Should be, but ain't." Tucker said, holding his hands in front of himself. The skin tight outfit was not only uncomfortable. He also felt it was putting him on public display.
Reed observed his people, making a note of those who seemed to be trying too hard to look innocent, and resolved to speak to them later. "Someone's idea of a joke. I'll have Burke bring you your uniforms in the dressing room."
At that point the Sato and T'Pol entered. Like the Captain and Engineer, they wore only the pressure suits. This time the cheers and wolf whistles sounded much more like they were meant.
"CUT THAT OUT!!" Reed bellowed. "I must apologise, ladies, for the behaviour of my men. Well most of my men. And one of my women. If you return to your dressing room, I'll have uniforms sent in."
"Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Team B, which is everyone who is not in Team A, will be responsible for finding and recovering the dilithium crystal. Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Sato will be with you. Now I'm not sure what dilithium is but these space ship people say it's important. M'boto, you're supposed to be good with technical stuff. What is dilithium?"
"It's a super food sir. You give it to the hamster so he goes faster on his wheel. That's what powers the engines."
***
Ten minutes later Archer and Tucker, now with uniforms over their pressure suits, received the next layer of clothing. The standard issue Marine Body Armour was less protecting than a full environmental suit, but was lighter and more flexible. According to thousands of simulations, plus an undisclosed number of real world combat encounters, it offered the greatest possible level of protection without significantly imparing the wearer's movement or dexterity.
At least, that's what the manufacturer claimed. Reed's view was that it was always preferable to avoid getting hit, so whilst the Beowulf went through it's pre-flight checks he had the UESPA people and T'Pol practice running, ducking, and diving for cover. It wouldn't be of much practical benefit--the target vessel had no gravity, so such manoeuvres would be of little use--but it would at least get them in the right mindset.
Backpacks, with a built in air supply, came next, followed by the helmets. They were shown how to access the suit's basic functions. Communications, inertial mapping, alternate vision modes. The really technical stuff was left out. With such a short preparation time, it'd likely confuse them.
And Reed didn't want a foreign national, even an ally like the Vulcans, learning all the capabilities of the Marine's equipment.
"Check it out! Me and my squad of ultimate bad asses!" came a voice from the hatch. Professor Partridge had turned up with a metal case. Commander Hernandez followed her in, clutching a pad.
"Nothing bad about that ass!"
"Corporal James, are you aware your comms system is transmitting?" Reed interrupted.
"Ah, sorry sir. I was showing the Captain how to work our systems, must have forgotten to switch it off." There was a slight click as it was turned off.
By this time the newcomers had reached him. "Check it out, ma'am?" he asked, deferentially. He still wasn't sure if Partridge was angry with him for those comments in the mess hall.
"I'd bet good money it's a quote. Probably from some old movie or book or something." Hernandez said.
"And you'd win. Actually, now I think about it, I'm sure you and your chaps would enjoy it. We shall have to arrange a showing, Mr Reed. Although it's the second film in a series, so you'd better see the first one first."
"Yes ma'am." said Reed, faking enthusiasm. Apart from the Bond films he had no interest in old movies, and none of his people did either. But he didn't feel comfortable rejecting her offer. Great. Two old movies. How boring is that going to be?
Hernandez lifted her pad. "I better show this to the Captain, and to your pilot. We've got one of our remote drones up over the horizon, keeping an eye on things. It looks like Hotel-2 and Charlie-3 are going to rendezvous. Judging from their flight path, it will be inside the planet's atmosphere."
Reed thought about this. "Probably for concealment. Well, we've got good sensors and stealth systems on the Beowulf. Hopefully we can find them without them spotting us."
Partridge set up her case on the nose of one of the waiting shuttlepods. "OK, who's looking for dilithium? You guys? Oh, OK, I've only got a couple of these, so...ah, forgive the favoritism but I think Trip and Hoshi should get these. All you military types should be far too busy looking after them to spend time messing about with new toys."
Hoshi looked at the object Partridge gave her. "Some sort of scanner?"
"That's right. A portable dilithium detector. They're used by geologists to detect dilithium ore but I've modified these to find the refined stuff. Now it is an active scanner so be careful with using it, you might be detected yourself. Here's the main display screen, gives direction and range. This is the resolution control, here's the power indicator and this is to set the volume of the beeps."
"Oh, it goes beep, does it?"
"Well of course it does. Can't have a detector that doesn't go beep. Except for those that go boop. Or ding."
Next came a pair of devices for Team A. Partridge gave them to Archer and T'Pol. "These should help you find the Premier."
T'Pol lifted an eyebrow. "I mean no insult Professor, but I doubt Earth technology is sufficiently advanced as to discriminate individual life signs. Given the apparent presence of Vulcans in the conspiracy, finding a specific person would be a daunting task."
Partridge squared off to her. "Perhaps so. But there is a factor, if not unique, then certainly rare, that may make the task easier."
"The pacemaker." Archer realised.
"The pacemaker." Partridge confirmed. "Powered by a small amount of thromium. A substance which, when active, emits a distinctive energy wave. Not one that shows up on a standard scan, but, with specially modified equipment...."
"Logical." T'Pol conceded.
Whilst Partridge showed them how to operate the device, Hernandez leant closer to Reed. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you. What are you doing here? I've seen your record. OK, this mission turned out to be rather more than expected, but surely you should be doing more than security on a research ship?"
Reed snorted. "Yeah, it's not exactly as planned, is it? Look, you're military, you know how it is. When Enterprise was given to UESPA there were two sorts of UEMAs. Those who thought it a bad joke, and those who saw it as a terrible insult. Nobody wanted anything to do with it. Let's face it, it's not what the recruitment drives promised. 'Join the Marines, travel to alien worlds, and stand guard for hours on end while some pencil necked egghead looks at mould on a rock'.
"But...there was....an incident."
"An incident?"
"Yeah. You know how there can be a bit of rivalry between Marines and Ground Forces?"
Hernandez nodded. "I've heard. A friendly rivalry, from what I've been told."
Reed nodded "And for the most part that's right. But sometimes it's less friendly than others. Me and my team were on shore leave on Mars, we ran into a group of GF's....much alcohol had been consumed, by both groups. There was a bit of a kerfuffle."
"I see." said Hernandez. "And the results of this 'kerfuffle'?"
There was just a hint of pride in Reed's voice. "Everyone of them ended up in hospital. None of us did."
"How many of them were there?"
"A full platoon. Against my one squad."
Hernandez snorted. "One squad hospitalizes an entire platoon without taking casualties? Really?"
"It's true. None of us went to hospital." Seeing her sceptical expression, he added. "Well, OK, over the next couple of days we all had to go to the medics for injuries caused by accidents that had nothing to do with the fight. Nothing at all. No. And it is entirely coincidental that said injuries looked like the result of drink fuelled violence.
"Anyway, the GF captain didn't want to admit that his people had been defeated in such a humiliating manner, so no official charges were made. But the story filtered up to the guys in charge, including one I had managed to upset in an entirely unrelated incident during the Axanar war. He's had it in for me ever since. So we were 're-assigned'."
Hernandez nodded. Reed and his people were being unofficially punished, in a manner that avoided the unpleasantness of disciplinary proceedings. "Things didn't work out as expected though, did they? Would you be so sorry to stand guard over an egghead if she looks like that?" she said, pointing to Partridge. "Plus, you are about to take part in a raid to rescue a VIP."
Reed grinned. "It's what I joined up for."
A hiss from his helmet's communicator. "Sir, we've completed pre-flight, and are ready to go."
"Acknowledged. Well, Commander, we best be on our merry way."
"Good hunting, Lieutenant."
I also enjoyed the cliffhanger, looks like Archer is gonna have to hijack him a Dilithium crystal or two!
. (If you do go looking for pictures, many will be NSFW).
