Lt. Robin Hopper: Target… Acquired
Robin Hopper
((Amity Outpost – Security Center))
Iovianus: Target practice is where we are going to begin. A simple challenge game, you will all have targets of your assigned color and most hits wins.
Robin nodded. It sounded straightforward enough – much like how their training at the Academy had kicked off, after the initial safety protocols and weapons handling had been drilled, skills which Robin was sure she could recite in her sleep. But knowing how to hold the weapon and feeling confident in its use were two very different things.
Hopper: Yeah, I think I can handle that. ::A look at Wong:: Ikaia? ::To Richards:: Nathan?
Wong: I think I can do this too.
Richards: I’m good to go. ::Smiling:: Just as long as I am not the target.
Robin smirked at Nathan’s comment, but didn’t give him the satisfaction of looking his way.
Instead, she looked over the assortment of phasers and, given Iovianus’ direction to ‘start small’, she once again retrieved the Aquilla. It fit nicely in her hand and was neither cumbersome nor ugly – in fact, it reminded her a little of the older ‘laser-pistol’ models used by the crews of the 22nd and 23rd century. She picked it up carefully and held it at her side, pointed downward.
Iovianus: Wonderful. Then let's get started.
Richards: Oh, and Commander… Did you consider my proposal for the projectile weapons training? I brought my… training aides.
That comment did draw Robin’s gaze. She turned her head, with eyebrows raised, tilted at an inquisitive angle. She’d never handled an old-fashioned projectile weapon before… except in a handful of holodeck adventures – and even then, she’d never had occasion to use it for anything other than ‘costuming’. The thought of handling a gun simultaneously worried and excited her.
Iovianus: We are absolutely going to try those out later on.
Wong: Wait. I thought it was just phasers for today?
Hopper: I think it sounds fun! I mean, um, fascinating. ::To Ikaia:: It won’t be any different than using the phasers on inanimate targets – and it’ll be something new to try!
Richards: ::Sly smile:: Just some more weapons training.
Wong: Just as long as everyone is careful with what they’re doing. I’d rather not have to patch someone up during this training session.
Hopper: Oh, of course. Safety first…
She shot Nathan a glance to indicate she was impressed with his audacity – a look which she hoped her nervous Klingon ‘study buddy’ would not notice. She could almost imagine herself in shining leather boots, brown denim pants with a linen blouse under her gun belt and bandolier, setting off into the jungle – tilting her hat to keep the sun out of her eyes.
Hopper: It’ll be a blast! ::Looking back at Wong and Iovianus:: …A safe blast. ::Grinning::
Iovianus: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves yet.
Richards: Of course. Phaser training first. ::Chuckling:: We need to do what we came here to do originally, right?
Iovianus: Wong you have the red targets, Hopper aim for the green ones, and Richards you have blue as your target.
Wong: Okay. Red. Got it.
Hopper: ::Nodding:: Yes Sir!
Richards: Blue, can do!
With their target colours confirmed, Iovianus pressed a button on a nearby table and the room seemed to extend outward, far beyond the shooting lane booths.
Iovianus: Pick a lane, and remember your colors.
The trio of ‘students’, having collected their weapons of choice, made their way up to the safety rail of the range – polarized transparent aluminum barriers between each of them. Robin took one end, with Ikaia in the middle and Nathan on the far end from her. She looked over at both of them and smiled.
Wong: Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten that I’m the red ones.
Richards: Let ‘er rip.
As the simulation initiated, the three lanes filled with distant glowing orbs of various colours – green, red, and blue. While they appeared to be more ‘concentrated’ in front of each of their assigned lanes at the start, they quickly began moving about, mingling in order to increase the difficulty of the practice.
Nathan had already begun making quick work of his blue targets. Robin raised her Aquilla and took aim, trying to move as quick as she could to keep up with the targets… It had been easier on Idrustix – the probes had had little self-preservation initiative programmed in and had more-or-less ‘stood still’ while they fired. But now, with moving targets she was finding it more challenging. She found herself tracking the same target for several seconds before being able to let off a shot – hesitation which, in a real situation, could cost lives.
Hopper: ::To the targets:: Stop moving and let me shoot you!
Wong: Ah! Dang! I missed!
Richards: Just gotta relax there, Ikaia.
Another two blue targets disappeared in flashes of phaser fire.
Wong: Wow! This is really tricky!
Hopper: I can tell… ::Shot:: I need to work on my… ::Shot:: Acquisition speed.
She fired again, her shot going wide and striking a blue target as it moved into spot previously occupied by her green target. She scowled. That could well have been her own crewmate getting shot in place of the attacker she had been aiming for.
A moment later, Nathan chuckled as he took out one of Ikaia’s red targets.
Wong: Huh? What happened? Someone just got one of my targets?
Richards: Just trying to help you out!
Iovianus: Response
Richards: I was hoping no one would notice. Figured I would help Ikaia with his numbers. Rambo over there is doing pretty well for herself so I wanted to help someone. ::Smiling::
Robin rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but smirk at the new nickname she had earned.
Hopper: If I were “Rambo” I think I would have cleared the range by now… ::Shot::
Another green target evaporated. The other end of the range was beginning to take on a red hue as the blue and green targets dwindled. Robin had noted that she was hesitating before taking her shots, trying to ensure she was firing accurately. To her eye, Ikaia was also hesitating – but out of nervousness, or perhaps discomfort.
Hopper: Besides, we don’t need help… Just practice.
Wong/Iovianus: Response
Richards: In a real world scenario, if your crewmember is being overrun by targets, we must do what we can to keep them safe. ::Chuckling:: Best practices and all that.
Iovianus/Wong: Response
Hopper: Nathan’s just showboating – ::looking at Richards with a sly grin:: he’s a ringer brought in to show us up, Ikaia. But remember, they’re just simulated targets. Nobody’s getting hurt here.
As the range finally started to clear of all targets, Robin actually felt the ‘difficulty’ increasing. With fewer targets to choose from, and more empty space for her green orbs to move around, she had a harder time anticipating their moves. She could feel herself getting frustrated by her own lack of confidence.
Iovianus/Richards/Wong: Response
Hopper: Almost… Got it… ::Shot::
With that, the last green target was gone. She turned around, lowering her phaser to her side again, and put her other hand on her hip.
Iovianus/Richards/Wong: Response
Hopper: So… ::Not looking forward to the answer:: How did we do?
Iovianus/Richards/Wong: Response
TBC
