JP Capt Greaves & Capt Kesaan - “Running Up That Hill” Part 2
Jacob Rittenhouse
JP Capt Greaves & Capt Kesaan - “Running Up That Hill” Part 2
((Outskirts Of Raal, Vulcan))
Kesaan: The Afehirr sector. It’s the far side of Romulan and Klingon space - mostly unexplored but there’s no Federation outposts as such...pretty isolated.
Greaves: Sounds like a good place to have a detachment of Marines. What's the duty like? You stay busy?
The two wound down the dirt path. The struggle that had been running in the heat had seemed to fade away with the conversation. There was something to be said about a good distraction during PT. Anything that could keep you out of your own head usually helped.
Kesaan: For the most part it’s quick response and rescue work. The Ballard is mostly medical but we’ve got a pretty large engineering team too - although we’re rotating some of those guys out this trip.
Greaves: Gotcha. The Thor seems to get all over the place. We just got back from a couple months in the Gamma Quadrant. Before that we were out in the Menthar Corridor, and before that we were over near the Typhon Expanse. The Slipstream Drive really does make travel easy… (more quietly) until it doesn’t.
Memories of the slipstream incident flashed through Wes’s mind. The sight of the mine, the fires, the breaches in the hull. It occurred to him at that moment they hadn’t used the drive since. Everything else had been at warp. oO For good reason… Oo
Kesaan: We’re not slipstream capable. A shame really as it would really aid our response time. It doesn't mesh well with atmospherics though...apparently...I’m not very up on the engineering side of things. Sounds like you’ve had a tough time of it?
Greaves: Oh, you know how it goes. You win some, you lose some. You just try and focus on the wins more than the losses.
The cloud of dust building around the men as they ran was getting thicker - the ground loser and drier, they’d have to take care not to lose their footing.
Kesaan: Sounds like a familiar story. It’s the losses that shape us though Wes...no-one ever grew in experience by things going well.
As the trail snaked around the base of yet another desert hill, a handful of buildings appeared on the horizon. They’d eaten up the miles already without even realizing it, and it wouldn’t be long before they were out of trail to run on.
Greaves: (Solemnly) There’s something to be said for that.
Kessan: Although it’s easier to say that . Having done it four times already, as well as being surrounded by it through most of my career, death has lost both its mystery and sting.
Wes was quiet for a time while he turned over Kessan’s words in his mind.
Greaves: I’m not sure if I should envy you or not.
He let his words trail off again and the two fell silent, just the sound of their breathing and their feet striking the hardened dirt path. The two men rounded the path as they approached the foot of the hill and the outskirts of Raal, the city walls stretching out before them.
Kesaan: Sprint for the finish?
Greaves: (Grinning) You’re on.
The two men broke into a run to push the last of their work out as far as they could. Teyvion could feel the muscles in his calves burning as the two marines passed through the city gates.
Kesaan: ::Breathing heavily:: I’ve been on the ship too long…
Wes underestimated the remaining distance when he agreed to the run, and after finally coming to a halt he bent over to catch his breath. The hot, dry, air stung his throat and he groped for the last bit of water in his canteen. It was a moment before he finally was able to respond.
Greaves: (Walking toward Kessan, offering a handshake) You and me both, brother. I’m pretty sure you beat me by a hair at the last second.
Teyvion took his hand and shook it firmly. The mix of sweat and dust, he could feel the grit on the other man’s palm. He looked back up the track.
Kessan: I’d say we’re pretty much dead even.
Greaves: Nonsense. Obviously honor dictates that I owe you a beer for showing me up. (winking)
Kessan:Well...if we get time I’d be happy to join you...otherwise ::smiling:: we can go double or nothing?
Greaves: I can get on board with that.
Kessan: One thing you could help me with...and you might need a beer yourself after this. One of the groups we’re rotating out is an ordnance disposal team - they’ve not been long deployed but they won’t be much use with our next mission profile, any use to you? Seems a shame to put them on the shelf.
Wes bent over and reached for his toes, stretching the muscles in his legs and back. The thought about being too old for this stuff came to mind as he listened to his fellow Captain.
Greaves: (Standing back up) What kind of numbers are we looking at? The Thor’s pretty big, but the DET takes up plenty of space as it is.
Kesaan: Their security detail won’t need to come with them so you’d be looking at the lieutenant in charge, her number two NCO and their ECM specialist...plus some of their kit and transport.
Greaves: Oh, that’s all? I figured we were talking about a platoon. We can easily fit three more bodies. How’s the lieutenant?
Kessan: Oh yeah, it’s a small unit - and I guess your existing infantrymen would fill out the rest of the teams needed. It’s Tyren, Cerissa Tyren...she’s a little rough around the edges but then so would I be if I spent my time hunched over explosives.
Wes let out a snort of laughter at the joke. He had to admit, the man was right. EOD was always a little… quirky, but for good reason.
Greaves: Is she a team player at least? I can sand down rough edges easily enough, but can’t do much if the base isn’t good quality.
Kessan: She’s solid, she grew up in the colonies so speaks her mind but is generally respectful with it. Prepared to take risks but not a maverick - and certainly not with the safety of her team.
Wes scratched his chin and thought about it for a moment. That was something he could work with, and right now the Thor didn’t have any explosives experts. At least, not any that specialized in disarming explosives. It’d be a handy skill set to have.
Greaves: Good to hear. Next thing that comes to mind is, do they want a transfer? I know how it goes. Some people really get tied to a duty post. I don’t want someone that doesn’t want to be here.
Kessan: They don’t have much choice. Our next mission is purely humanitarian, disaster relief, something about food shortages. We’ll be keeping a team of engineers but Tyren and her unit will be pretty under utilised or back to Earth until they’re mobilised elsewhere. Figured I’d give you first refusal and save them the transport.
Teyvion eyed the man, Tyren had been put out that her current deployment was being cut short. It still would be but at least she’d stay deployed somewhere she could be useful. The Thor’s next mission was much more likely to invite trouble than the Ballard’s.
Greaves: Alright. Toss in that beer you mentioned, and we’ve got a deal. I can work the details of the transfer request from my end if you can get one started.
Kesaan extended his hand and the two shook a second, less sweaty time.
Kessan: Done. I’ll get the paperwork started and let Tyren know. I’ll also get the QMs to start packing up their kit and have it sent across.
Greaves: Perfect. I’ll make sure Sergeant Major has bunks set aside for them.
Teyvion watched the sun start to break through the clouds. The heat starting to radiate off the rocks even more.
Kesaan: I should probably be getting back...before the rabble invent some new game. The last one was loosely based around hockey and - for some reason - involved crowbars.
Greaves: (Grinning) Crowbars? Sounds like a good way to break some shins.
Kesaan: I guess that’s what makes it fun...some people would think we’re pretty cracked running in this heat...but it was definitely fun. You take care of yourself out there, Wes.
Wes laughed again and nodded at the truth behind Teyvion’s words. Marines were a special breed, that was for certain.
Greaves: You too brother. Semper Fidelis.
Kesaan: Semper Fi…::Tapping his combadge:: Kesaan to Ballard - energize.
END
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Captain (SFMC) Wes Greaves
Marine Detachment Commander
USS Thor - NCC 82607
E239702WG0
&
Captain (SFMC) Teyvion Kesaan
C-SAR Commander
USS Ballard-A (NCC-NCC-78931)
A239005BM0
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