Just One of the Guys

Posted on Wed Oct 3rd, 2012 @ 3:39pm by Captain Tobias Naros & 1st Lieutenant Michael Watters & Lieutenant Commander Joseph Thompson & Major Drake Lexon & Lieutenant Amanda Owens

Mission: Episode 1.1 - "MystiQue"
Location: Midway Lounge, USS Yorktown
Timeline: Mission Day 02, 0600

ON: [[White Star Lounge, USS Yorktown, Mission Day 02, 0600 Hours]]

Joe and Michael (PNPC) made their way along the corridor in companionable silence. One didn't have to be talkative to be a morning person - especially if being a morning person was a direct result of years of Marine Corps training. Joe had already established a routine of joining the marines for their usual morning PT, and a few of the other Security personnel had even began coming with; it was somewhat inspiring to their separate departments to see the two leaders enjoying one another's company.

The companionable silence was broken as they rounded a bend and came in sight of two men waiting for them. "I'm still not convinced you ever sleep," Joe told the older of the two. Usually Joe and Michael were the first to arrive, but Joe had half-expected this from the moment he learned of their new "passengers".

"I see you've finally decided to get up on time," Drake Lexon (PNPC) replied with a small smile. "Lieutenant Pent and I decided to see if we could join you."

"I don't see why not," Michael said with a look in Thompson's direction. It hadn't taken much to recognize the familiar banter between the two gentlemen from the moment the major had first entered the observation lounge the previous morning. Even before the major had been formally introduced by the captain, Michael had been certain the man was the very same Drake Lexon he had heard so much about. Perhaps it was because of those stories that Michael had little concern over allowing the man to join them on their morning routine...and even welcomed the opportunity.

"Just don't let him challenge you in hand-to-hand," Joe muttered to Michael as they led the way inside.

"Hey, Lieutenant," Drake said casually as he and his squadron mate followed. "You think any of your men would be up to a bit of hand-to-hand combat practice after the run?"

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The run was as refreshing as usual for Joe, providing him with clarity of thought and perception. He wasn't surprised to see that Lieutenant Pent fell back among the Security personnel during the run; even marine fighter pilots, he surmised, probably didn't get as much time for dedicated PT as ground-based marines did. Major Lexon, of course, was a whole other matter; years off the field had certainly not lessened the man's fitness as far as Joe could see.

"Alright folks...you know the routine," Michael said as the two groups slowed to a steady walk, "those of you responsible for relieving the shuttlebay security detail, get outta here." He watched as a handful of his own personnel peeled off and disappeared from the holodeck before continuing. "The rest of you have exactly eighteen minutes to clean yourselves up and then I expect to see you working on something," Michael barked, "Dismissed!"

"I appreciate your help with our fighters," Drake said to Watters while Joe issued further orders to the remaining Security personnel. "It's nice to be able to have some Marines to rely on."

"With all due respect, major, Commander Thompson's people are just as capable," Michael replied as he pulled his towel from the nearby rack and began dabbing the sweat off his face, "then again, you already knew that."

"Drake just doesn't like Starfleet," Joe said with a grin as he joined them at the towel rack and grabbed his own. "Every time he transfers into it he transfers right back out."

"Yes, well, I just haven't found the right calling in Starfleet yet," Drake replied.

"Right," Joe snorted with amusement. "Because they won't let you live off ration bars in Starfleet."

A smile tugged at the corners of Michael's mouth as he listened to the two gentlemen continuing their banter back and forth. He reached into the small shelf under his rack and tossed a standard ration bar in the major's direction. "Speaking of which, I thought I might offer you some breakfast, sir," he said with a slight chuckle.

With the dexterity of a pilot, Drake caught the ration bar. "Well, thank you," he said. "But Joe was just thinking we should all go grab some breakfast in the lounge."

Michael raised an eyebrow at the major's rather frank remark on the commander's thoughts. There had been nothing in Thompson's stories or the major's service file to indicate the man was a telepath, though Michael supposed that did not necessarily rule out the possibility.

"You know you've served under a man too long when he starts reading your mind," Joe quipped to Michael. He turned to Drake. "Get out of my head, old man."

Ignoring Joe's verbal jab, Drake glanced back to where Lieutenant Pent was just heading out. "Well, now that our departments are all off taking care of themselves, shall we?"

"After you, gentlemen," Michael said, motioning for the two senior officers to go before him.

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Amy (PNPC) was not happy with herself. Lieutenant Command Thompson had extended an invitation to the department for anyone interested in joining the marines in a morning workout, and she had been meaning to go. Unfortunately, she had been kept up late perusing reports of the Tactical department; it seemed like every tactical system had a minor bug somewhere. None of it was critical - or even necessary to the successful operation of the systems - but Amy didn't like leaving things sit, so she had been sucked into working late and consequently slept too late. Now, she was finally arriving at the lounge for her breakfast...and as if by some cruel twist of fate she found herself entering at the same time as the three people she didn't want to face quite yet.

"Mornin' Miss Owens," Michael said, noticing the young lieutenant who happened to be entering the room at that very moment, "care to join us?"

"Sure," Amy said, somewhat reluctantly. Nevertheless, she followed them into the room as they crossed to an empty table.

If Michael detected any reluctance in the lieutenant's voice, he certainly didn't show it. He lowered himself into an open chair nearest the large viewports and shuffled himself forward to make room for others to pass behind him if necessary. As the others began taking their seats, Michael motioned to the nearest waitstaff that they would be needing a few menus.

"Miss Owens, is it?" Drake asked as he took a seat across from Amy. "I've heard a bit about you. You're the Assistant Chief of Security, right?"

"Actually, I'm more of a Tactical officer," Amy replied as she slid into her own seat. "You're Major Lexon, right? With Starfighter Command?"

"For the moment, yes," Drake said. "You can call me Drake, though."

"Something tells me the two of you could have quite a bit to talk about," Michael remarked as the waitstaff placed a short stack of menus in the middle of the table before disappearing again, "I mean...considering the tactics involved in coordinating starfighter operations..."

At the mention of such tactics, Amy brightened. "Actually, I'm very interested in starship combat tactics," she said.

"Is that so?" Drake said, barely glancing through the menu before making his decision. "Well, now that you mention it, we do have need of a control officer onboard the ship."

"I thought that Flight Control would be handling that," Joe said, taking a bit more time to select his meal.

"Flight Control will handle all the standard things like launch clearance and arrivals," Drake replied. "Combat control, however, is another matter entirely. We'll need someone who can handle both the stresses of controlling a fighter squadron and coordinating it with the Yorktown. Lieutenant Blackfur would certainly be able to, but her excellent skills would be needed at the helm of the Yorktown. Truth be told, I had considered you, Mister Watters."

The marine let out a short chuckle. Overseeing security for the starfighters wasn't the most difficult assignment, but it certainly fell within Michael's field of expertise much better than starship tactics. Most of what he knew had been learned during his stint in as a member of the security/tactical aboard the Pandora and the Endeavour. "With all due respect, sir," Michael said with a glance in Owens' direction, "I'm not sure I'd be the best man for the job."

"Actually, you do have some of the necessary skills," Drake said. "You understand the nature of squad tactics and their relation to the unit as a whole."

It was true Michael's specialty lay with combat tactics involving ground operations, though even with his security/tactical experience, he hardly felt qualified to serve as coordinator for starfighter operations. "Maybe some other time," he replied.

Drake shrugged and turned to Amy. "Well, what do you say?" he asked her. "Think you can handle the position?"

Amy was quiet for a moment, considering. She didn't have any prior experience with such a thing, especially not with four ace pilots flying top-of-the-line fighters. Still, one had to start somewhere... "Okay," she finally said. "I'd like to get some practice in, though."

"I'm sure that can be arranged," Drake said amiably.

The waitstaff returned at that moment with a large tray which he placed on a nearby table in order to free up his hands. One-by-one, the young man distributed each order to its respective recipient at the table. Micheal leaned back slightly as a steaming plate of hashbrowns, sausage links, and eggs appeared before him. He smiled and reached over to start unfolding the napkin. "Lookin' good this morning," he remarked.

"Indeed it does," Drake said. Everyone looked over at his plate, which contained a series of stacked, concentrated nutrient bars. With a round of laughter, the four began their meal.

OFF

A Joint Mission Post by:

Lieutenant Commander Joseph Thompson
Chief Security/Tactical Officer & Second Officer
USS Yorktown

Major Drake Lexon (PNPC)
"Phantom" Flight Leader
USS Yorktown
Played by: LtCmdr Thompson

Lieutenant Amanda Owens (PNPC)
Assistant Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Yorktown
Played by: LtCmdr Thompson

and

First Lieutenant Michael Watters (PNPC)
Marine Commanding Officer
USS Yorktown
Played by: Capt Naros