Lt Alex Storm - Your Adversary, not Your Enemy
Karen Morris
((Holodeck 1 - Deck 2 - USS Artemis-A ))
Transitioning from being hit by one junior officer and being caught by the other to leading both of them in an evaluation of their performance was one of the most humiliating things that Alex could have experienced.
Yet, here, she was. Once the pain had dissipated, Alex sat up and away from Bancroft’s gentle hands without acknowledging them. A moment later, she was on her feet, tugging her tunic into place. An energy crept up each vertebra, heightening her spine and raising her head. Taking only one five-count breath in and out, she retrieved the PADD from her pocket.
Storm: Computer: Transfer all data relevant to this qualification session to this PADD.
She pivoted – toward Imril more than Roy, though her stance was angled to address them both.
Storm gave a curt nod to emphasize her words.
Storm: That wasn't what I was expecting to happen, but we'll talk through each section of the training simulation, starting with the shooting range portion - which is half of the phaser evaluation.
Bancroft: Understood, ma’am.
Imril: Aye.
Storm: I feel like in a short period of time, you both made significant progress. You both hit the number of required shots, so both of you passed that half.
Alex caught Roy’s nod out of the corner of her eye.
Storm: Questions or comments from either of you before I chime in on the practical half of the session?
She drew in a slow breath, her mouth pressed into a thin line. Her gaze flicked up at Roy for too short an instant before moving on to Imril instead.
Bancroft: No questions, ma’am.
Imril: I think your critiques of our firing techniques at the range were quite thorough, Sir. I don’t have anything to add to that.
Alex turned toward Roy, she forced her jaw to relax and her shoulders fall into place.. oO You’re a professional. Handle this like one, Alex. Oo
Storm: Lieutenant Bancroft?
Roy straightened. Deliberately, confidently.
Bancroft: If this had been a live mission, ma’am – if I or a crewmate was in true danger – I’d have pulled the trigger without hesitation. That’s something I’ve made peace with. ::beat:: But this wasn’t combat. It was a simulation using a Starfleet officer as a stand-in for a threat.
Roy tousled his hair. Alex’s eyes lingered a moment longer than necessary. oO Focus Alex! Oo
Bancroft: Causing harm to a friendly – even non-lethal harm – is not a line I’m willing to cross. If the price of passing this evaluation is crossing that line… then I accept failure.
Alex felt an invisible hand squeeze her windpipe. She swallowed hard, but the hand only released part of its grip.
Storm: Lieutenant, I’m sure as a surgeon, you’re familiar with muscle memory?
Bancroft: Response
Storm: Today, in this simulation, I was your adversary, not your enemy. An exercise like this is supposed to help you procure muscle memory.
Alex’s eyebrow raised asking if he understood, but Imril broke in. Breathing out a little puff of air, she turned to the Bactrican.
Imril: Sound was working against me, against us, so I did my best to make less of it and not let it guide my actions. I focused on the light reflecting off the mists, and on the shadows. Looking for something that didn’t ‘fit’ with everything else. Something that could be you, Sir.
Storm: That was an acute tactical move, Lieutenant.
Bancroft: Response
Imril: Doctor Bancroft and I split up when we reached a new cavern. Which gave me twice as many shadows, twice as many sources of movement, to be mindful of. When I saw a dark patch that didn't match the surroundings, I had to confirm I was aiming at the right person before I fired. I needed to open myself up to being shot at in order to do that. It could have gone either way.
Storm: That’s often the moment where the mission rises or falls, and you’re right. It can go either way. Fortunately for you, it broke very much in your favor.
Bancroft: Response
Alex’s fingers tapped various boxes on the PADD, passing him on the phaser qualifications.
Storm: I’ve sent your official phaser qualification to you and to the CTO. This will last you for a year, after which you’ll need to do another recertification.
Imril/Bancroft: Response
Storm: Unless you have any other questions, you’re dismissed, Lieutenant.
Imril/Bancroft: Response
She drew in a breath, and blew it out slowly. Alex’s eyes shifted toward Roy and softened. She slipped her PADD back into her back pocket and clasped her hands in front of her.
Storm: Lieutenant Bancroft … Roy. Can you help me understand your hesitance in any way other than because this wasn’t a real situation, but a simulation, that you refused to shoot me? I do want to understand.
Imril/Bancroft: Response
~*~
Tags / TBC!
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2