The Firing Range

Posted on Thu 24th Jan, 2013 @ 3:16pm by Colonel Horatio Drake & Lieutenant Adam Keller

1,205 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Deck 21: Weapons Storage & Firing Range
Timeline: MD-01: 1100 Hours

ON:

The shrill of a the type-2 phaser rifle sounded in Ashton's right ear for the eighth time, he quickly opened both eyes before firing one last time at the last target.

"Level Complete" The dull voice of the computer informed him.

He lowered the rifle from his right shoulder and placed it on the pad in front of him, "Report" Ashton eagerly asked the computer.

"Shots fired, nine. Targets hit, nine. Fire rate, seventy-eight percent. Accuracy, ninety-eight percent."

'So... my accuracy hasn't decreased but I must get my fire rate back up to what it used to be' he mentally kicked himself for slipping over the past year or two since he had stopped practicing on a regular basis.

Preferring the small hand phaser, Kell stepped up and began his session. He heard the report in the booth next door and grinned. "Not bad," He called out over the partition.

"Thanks" Ashton said without enthusiasm, he liked being by himself on the firing range. It was his place to think... it was sods law that someone else would be on this particular range, with him. He waited for the mystery voice, next to him, to take his shots.

Devyn began his program. It took him a few minutes to complete. "Level complete." The computer interrupted his almost trance like state.

"Report." His voice was flat.

"Shots fired, twenty seven. Targets hit, twenty seven. Fire rate, ninety eight. Accuracy, ninety-nine point seven one five percent." Devyn shrugged. The Star Fleet programs, even the Marine programs were easy for him to complete. Throughout his training at the Academy and during his training for his special forces, Devyn had always managed to be the top 'shot' in his group. He'd even taken the title at the Academy and held it for the last seven years.

Ashton came round the corner that separated the two officers. "Very impressive... Commander Kell" He had only met the Security Officer on a couple of occasions and never really had the chance to 'chat' to him.

"So... how goes security?" He thought a departmental check might kick things off nicely.

"Still growing. I have An assistant Chief now which allows me to keep my training up. I could use another seventy five officers to put things in perspective, my team is a little short but with the Marines assisting we should do fine."

"Indeed... it seems that Starfleet thought this station could be fully functional without the requisite amount of personnel. How are you finding working with the Marines?" He was careful how he phrased the question - despite all personnel being first and foremost Starfleet Officers, there had always been a divide between the Marines and regular officers... and a history of not being able to work together.

Devyn shrugged. "As long as they keep their egos in check, it's all good." He laughed. "I did five years in special forces so...I guess my ego is up there a bit too."

"Good to hear" Ashton smiled, as he placed his weapon back into the lockers against the wall by the entrance.

"Anything else that you'd like to discuss, Commander?" Ashton knew something was happening amongst some of the Senior Staff... the introduction of Captain Dobbs had seemed to nearly spark off an argument in the Briefing Room. It wasn't something that he was going to pry into, but more information would certainly be welcome.

"Nah." He grinned. "Just trying to keep Nyx... er Lieutenant Nyx occupied and away from the 'good' doctor." He shrugged as he walked out of his cubicle. He looked at the man. "She has a history with him. It was her DNA that was used in Cara's 'augmentation'. She was pretty upset to find out she'd been violated that way and doesn't remember it. It had to happen when she was at the Vulcan Institute while in her beast form."

Ashton placed his phaser rifle back into the wall holder and pulled down his tunic. "I'm sorry, Commander? Trying to keep Lieutenant Nyx away from which good Doctor?" Ashton frowned, slightly confused.

"I'm sorry, I thought they'd made you aware already. Captain Dobbs coming aboard has struck a nerve with some of the crew. Lieutenant Nyx has an unhealthy history with the man. During her stay at the Vulcan institute of Science, she was violated and her DNA was taken by the man and used in some of his augmentation experiments." He looked at the man and carefully decided what else to tell the man. "Commander Treia was one of his augment victims...it appears she's been genetically altered using DNA stolen from Nyx while in her beast form." He'd said it and there was no taking it back but the man deserved to know. He was the station's Commanding Officer.

"Bloody Hell..." Drake just stared at the Security Officer... then at a bulkhead in the distance. What could he say to that? What was he supposed to say? Should he question why he hadn't been informed of this earlier? No, there were more pressing questions.

"Augmentation is illegal within the Federation... how did Captain Dobbs perform these experiments whilst serving Starfleet?" He dreaded the answer. Had Starfleet authorised these experiments?

"Not sure about that but I don't think Fleet approved it. When we went in to make the rescue, there were no fleet uniforms and the place was guarded by mercs." Kell shook his head. "How or why he got away with it is beyond me. If I could take him down now - I would. But fleet has no knowledge and Cara only recognized the man when the name was mentioned so there is no solid evidence. Without exposing herself, she can't even report the man."

"When did this all take place?" He asked.

"Almost ten years ago." Kell answered. "We went back for evidence about a year ago and found the kid...in the same shape." He looked at Drake. "Nyx was on Vulcan around the same time, but she was supposed to be learning to control her altered state...They kept her in beast form most of the time and sedated the rest, until they came up with the collar.

Drake had studied Dobbs' service record before he came onto Protector... it was lengthy, to say the least... impossible to completely memorize in the hour or so he had permitted himself. He did, however, remember that in the years after the Dominion War, Dobbs' transferred a lot... it seemed that he was shifted from pillar to post almost every couple of months. The Dominion War finished fourteen years ago... who knows where he really was, ten years ago.

He shrugged the thoughts from his head. "Commander, you are accusing one of the most decorated Starfleet Captain's in the history of the service of breaking one of the most heinous crimes we have. Join me in my Ready Room in ten minutes."

He turned towards the exit and tapped his comm. badge, rather aggressively. "Colonel Treia, meet me in my Ready Room in ten minutes, if you'd be so kind".

OFF:
THIS POST WILL NOW BE CONTINUED WITH COLONEL TREIA AND WILL GIVE DRAKE A CHANCE TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

 

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