Lt. JG Natasha Cole - The First Lesson
Natasha Schell
((Security Training Facilities - Security Center - USS Artemis-A))
The range was quieter than Natasha expected it to be at this hour. The low hum of the ship wrapped around the room in a steady, familiar way, broken only by the occasional chirp from the control panel and the faint power-cycle tone of training phasers on standby.
Natasha stood near the console in her gold-shouldered uniform, one hand resting lightly against the edge as she reviewed the programmed drill parameters. She had kept it simple on purpose: movement, target acquisition, controlled firing, and recovery under changing conditions.
Nothing flashy. Just enough to let her see how the new ensign handled a weapon, pressure, and instruction. She tapped the combadge at her chest.
Cole: =/\= Lieutenant JG Natasha Cole to Ensign Gavrin Tarsan. If you’re available, report to Security. =/\=
Tarsan: =/\= Ensign Tarvin here. Sorry. Uh. Tarsan here, Lieutenant. On my way. =/\=
She let her hand fall back to her side and glanced out over the range. Holographic emitters along the walls stood ready, their surfaces giving off the faintest shimmer. She had loaded a basic urban corridor simulation first, then a second sequence with reduced visibility and moving targets. Enough to test instincts. Enough to open a conversation.
The doors parted a moment later.
Tarsan: Ensign Tarsan reporting.
Natasha turned, facing the ensign as they entered.
Cole: Ensign Tarsan, I’m Lieutenant JG Cole. I’m one of the Security Officers here on the Artemis
She offered a small, easy smile. The Ensign appeared to have a worried look on his face.
Cole: Relax. You’re not in trouble. ::beat:: I thought we’d take some time to run a phaser drill.
Tarsan: Oh! Oh. ::blinking, his shoulders slowly sliding down from somewhere around his ears:: I guess you saw my range scores already?
Cole: They're not the worst. ::offering a reassuring smile::
Tarsan: ::giving her a wry smile:: Yeah that's uh.. generous.
Cole: Academy scores are more of a base line. Rarely does anyone’s skills stay there once they graduate.
Gavrin nodded as he looked around the room more closely now, taking the time to investigate. Now he could see the tell-tale reflections of the emitters.
Tarsan: Will there be anyone else joining us? oO More people to watch me in my inadequacy, maybe? Oo
Cole: No, Just you and I.
She stepped toward the weapons table and picked up two training phasers, checking each one before handing one over grip-first.
Cole: I won’t bite, ::beat:: promise.
Tarsan: Response
Cole: We’re going to start simple, standard target practice. From there I’ll assess what you need to improve on and guide you as needed.
She moved to Gavrin’s right and stood just behind him.
Cole: Computer, Run Standard Phaser target range.
Half the room shifted from the default setting to that of a standard firing range with targets set at ten feet, twenty five feet and fifty feet.
Cole: When you're ready Ensign, I want you to fire three shots at each target.
Tarsan: Response
She watched as the young man fired at each target. Watching his body language as he worked through the three targets.
oO Well at least you didn’t throw the phaser. Oo
Cole: I see some things that could immediately improve your score. Your stance needs to be like this, May I?
She stepped up in front of him and took her normal stance. Feet shoulder length apart, her right a quarter step forward. She breathed in, then out and fired a volley of three shots at each target. Each shot landed in a relatively tight formation on each target's upper chest.
Cole: Stance and breathing can resolve most people's comings when it comes to firing a phaser. Let's see you try it again.
Tarsan: Response
Tags/TBC
Lt. JG Natasha Cole
Security Officer
USS Artemis-A
Writer ID A240205NC4