Getting the Gang Together

Posted on Mon May 13th, 2024 @ 9:05pm by Colonel Josiah McEntyre & Gunnery Sergeant Bjorn Magnusson & Captain Johnathan Reece & Major Erin Ishikawa

1,670 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: First Deployment
Location: MACO Operations
Timeline: MD 1 - 15:00 HRs

Shortly after the mission briefing, Josiah had called the MACOs together in the MACO Tactical Operations Center. He stood waiting for the others to arrive, as he'd came straight from the CIC, getting changed into his cold weather gear and armor, rifle slung across his chest, and old style Oakley FlakJacket Sunglasses on his head, perched against his black watch cap.

Stepping into the TOC, Johnathan was wearing his signature black Stetson and had an unlit cigar sticking out the corner of his mouth. Aside from his Stetson, he was dressed in his full winter gear, complete with his secondary weapons and kit strapped to him. He would grab his primary weapon, the M-97 Minigun system, when they moved out on the mission proper. "Colonel," he said respectfully as he tipped his hat forward slightly. It was no secret, after one read his file, that Johnathan had any love lost for the Romulans. Not after what they did to the Farragut crew.

"Reese, It's good to see ya again. Thank ya for taking this assignment last minute. I needed the best and not a one I trust more apart from Gunny Bjorn to bring the fight to the Romulans."

Johnathan reached out and shook the hand of one of the few men he fully and completely respected. "Thank you again for allowing me into your unit, Sir. I have some unpaid debts with those Rommie bastards. And I'd like to collect, for the Farragut."

"Not to worry, Master Sergeant, you'll get your chance soon enough."

Josiah assures the ship's senior NCO.

Johnathan nodded towards his commanding officer, a look of understanding in his eyes.

The deck shutters some as the hulking Gunny Bjorn enters the TOC, carrying his upscaled EM-47MR Recon Rifle.

"Sir"

His thick Icelandic accent filled the room with a low reverberance.

Looking over at the larger man, Johnathan chuckled softly. "You must be Mount Bjorn," he said with a friendly grin. "The biggest MSN in the MACOs." He extended his right hand to the other senior NCO. "Master Sergeant Johnathan Reece."

Bjorn shakes Reese’s hand, a firm tight grip of his mighty hand clasped before letting go.

As Major Ishikawa entered she raised her eyebrow at the three hulking men in the corner of the room. The Colonel had personally selected the two senior NCOs to be a part of their unit. Nether were a part of their standard infantry compliment, but rather a smaller more tactical unit of Raiders. She'd have to talk to the Colonel exactly how this unit was going to integrate with the rest of the troops aboard. But that could wait, there would be plenty of time to discuss the intricacies of the Mission.

“Major, excellent! Get changed to winter gear, we’re running the shoot house. Berengeria is in its winter so I want the MACOs to acclimate to its current conditions.”

Josiah said as the Major entered the TOC.

“We’re still waiting though for Major Pel and Captain Nimitz as well”

Noticing the rather attractive woman enter the compartment, Johnathan instantly recognized her as Major Erin Ishikawa, the unit's X-O. He was both smart, and gentlemanly enough, not to ogle her as she moved. Instead, he nodded respectfully as he addressed her. He didn't salute, as they were in a "no salute" area. "Ma'am." His thick Texas accent drawled the word out pleasantly.

"Master Sergeant." Erin replied with a curt nod as she moved to follow the Colonel's instructions. In years past they would have to don a whole separate set of gear for Winter operations. Thankfully clothing technology had come a long way and some simple modifications would only need to be made to the standard MACO battle dress to be suitable. One could of course add heavy parkas along with a watch cap if needed.

Pel sauntered into the TOC with minimal additional gear beyond her leather Andorian battle garb and the patches for the MACO regiment and the Unicorn. Her hands were gloved and her boots were rolled up from her ankles to be knee high. Twin Andorian pistols hung from drop-leg holsters on either leg. On her back was an Andorian plasma rifle with a modified bullpup stock to accommodate her smaller frame than that of the typical Andorian commando. A light breastplate covered her chest which was often left exposed. An Ushaan-tor was strapped to it in a tactical sheath for ease of access.

"Hey, fellas." Pel greeted the whole group with a half smile and a glint in her eye over the human patois she used. "Heard there was going to be some action."

"Ma'am," Johnathan responded, tipping his hat towards the Andorian.

"Sergeant," Pel replied with a more subtle dip of her head despite their vast height discrepancy. The man stood almost half a meter taller than her. She'd killed seen Klingons with less bulk. Her teeth faintly sunk into her bottom lip. Noting his hat, she said, "You appear to be out of uniform."

"I think, Major, that we can let it slide." The Colonel spoke.

Johnathan had a soft grin on his face as he replied after Josiah. "There is also a stipulation in the regs, Ma'am, that allows for items recognized as culturally connected to the individual." He tapped the brim of his hat. "I come from a very long line of Texas cattle ranchers, and have been wearing a Stetson since I could walk. It's as much a part of me and my history, as your Ushaan-tor is for you."

As he launched into his explanation, Pel bit back a smirk. She didn't actually care one way or another. MACOs could do what they wanted with their uniforms as far as she was concerned. She just enjoyed the repartee.

"Yes," Pel said, "and when I tilt my Ushaan-tor at someone, it signals my intent to penetrate them." She canted her head to one side. "I imagine such is not the case with your...rancher hat." Her suggestive smirk buried the innuendo several layers deep. "As you were, now."

"Right, can the chatter. Today we'll be running the shoot house. I want us to be a tight unit before we hit the ground at Berengeria. Also as it's winter on Berengeria, we'll be running it at the current weather conditions on Berengeria, hence the snow gear," Josiah explains to the assembled outside the shoot house.

Moving over to where the unit's weapons were stored for the training exercise, Johnathan removed his Stetson and replaced it with a black beret, which had the Heavy Weapons Skills badge pinned to it. Once he had it seated correctly on his head, he slipped his arms through the shoulder straps of the power unit for his M-97 Minigun. Once everything was secured, he straightened up, hefting the sixty-pound power pack and attached weapon.

After unholstering the weapon from the pack, he attached the carry straps to his web gear, then powered the unit up, enduringvall was operating normally. He ensured the setting was switched to the training setting, then looked overŕ at Josiah. "Let's rock and roll, Boss."

"If no one else has any objections, form up, Bjorn, take point, Reese, take rear guard."

"Oo-rah!" Johnathan grunted in reply as he moved into position. He started scanning the area for any threats as he started to warm up his minigun.

Pel fell into position in front of Johnathan, far away from point. The command position was often in the middle and she had no desire to be there either. There wasn't going to be much call for recon in a shoot house. Defensive support for the rearguard seemed appropriate. She shot Johnathan a wink before turning to face front.

Johnathan couldn't help but grin. Nor could he stop his eyes from moving over Pel's curves. He was a red-blooded man afterall.

Rolling her eyes as she settled into the stack, Erin gave the man a nudge in the plate carrier with the butt of her carbine. "Focus up on your surroundings, not your team member's scenery, Master Sergeant." Distractions got you and others killed, if they were going to go through this exercise she was going to make sure they treated like the real thing.

"Oo-rah, Ma'am," Johnathan replied respectfully.

Pel just smirked at the exchange without turning around. Leveraging her scenery was sometimes part of the mission. She rewarded Johnathan by shifting her weight from right to left enough to make her hip pop. Facing forward, she crossed her arms and let her indifference slowly morph into impatience.

"Cut the chatter"

Josiah called back as he gave the hand signals to stack up on the door to the shoot house, as he raised his rifle and got into his position on the side of the door facing the team.

Johnathan took his position as second in line. The first MACO would breach the door and toss in the stun grenades. He would then he would step in to sanitize the room with his minigun, then step in to allow the rest of the team to enter and go after the targets. Johnathan's role was simply fire support. He didn't go searching the rabbit holes.

It was a quick session to go through, the team moving quickly and effectively. A good sign for future missions.

After the run-through was finished, Johnathan spoke to the group. "While there is room for improvement, you all did adequate on this range. Now, go clean your weapons, and return em to arms room."

"I think we got a solid team here, Tops. Meet later? We can go over Armor Footage and work out where we need improvements?""

The Colonel asked the Master Sergeant.

Johnathan nodded respectfully as he replied. "Aye, Sir, whenever is convenient for you."


OFF:

Colonel Josiah McEntyre
Commanding Officer
Unicorn NX-151
MACO Special Operational Detachment - Alpha

Master Sergeant Johnathan Reece
Heavy Weapons / Chief of the Bost
Unicorn NX-151

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