Mandatory Refresher

Posted on Mon Aug 21, 2017 @ 7:42pm by Ensign Athyle sh'Paveress & Lieutenant Martha Cusack

Mission: Strange Matter
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: Mission Day 27; 15:30

With the first of her list of phaser recertification tests completed Martha was pleased to recertify Lieutenant Hartley's use of phasers for another year. She'd already done quite a few since arriving on the Triumphant but she had quite a few to get through that day. Next on the list was Ensign sh'Paveress and Martha called her down after preparing the holoprogram for the next person to take their test.

=/\="Cusack to sh'Paveress. If you're free I'm ready for you down in the phaser range"=/\= Martha said.

=/\= "On my way," =/\= replied the Andorian, followed by a chirp as the channel closed.

A few minutes later, Athyle entered the phaser range. She was a bit nervous considering that this was the first time since the Academy that she'd have to do this. Her aim wasn't bad. It was her confidence when brandishing a weapon that needed help.

Martha looked up and saw the Andorian arrive. Walking towards her and stopping when she was around a foot away from the woman Martha gave her the same instructions that she'd given Jacob - although not word for word.

"Good afternoon Ensign. The recertification test you will be taking consists of three rounds with the Type 2 phaser with an option for a further three using the Type 3 phaser. Is there anything you'd like to ask me before we get started?" Martha asked.

To say Athyle was surprised would be an understatement. "Why would the Type 3 phaser be optional?" she asked. "Is it not part of standard procedure?"

"The priority today is to get you and everyone else from the away team recertified so the Type 2 will suffice. If you want to do the Type 3 as well as the Type 2 then we can do so - but the test will take longer" Martha responded.

Given that the Type 3 was optional, Athyle thought it best to let her last scores with the rifle speak for themselves. "Phaser 2 it is then," she said to the Lieutenant.

"Very well. The first round will last 30 seconds and one target which will change colour and make a noise each time you hit it. When you're ready could you please step up to the line on the floor and I will start the countdown" Martha replied.

The ensign picked up a phaser from the checkout stand and quickly checked it for defects and abnormalities. Satisfied, she inserted the power cell, closed the dolphin-head and the weapon whirred to life. The weapon was preset to the proper setting, so all she had to do was stand at the ready once she hit the line.

"Starting in 4...3...2...1" Martha said.

The first round started and the holographic sphere started moving around the holodeck - staying stationary for no more than a second or so. She just hoped that there wasn't a repeat of any crewmembers appearing in the third round.

Athyle aimed at the sphere. She'd taken a second to make sure the target was square, but it moved just before she fired. That's right. These things moved. She adjusted immediately, firing at the sphere, managing just to clip it. It moved again, and she fired, hitting it square this time.

Martha watched as the sphere continued to move around until the 30 second timer elapsed. She reviewed the score from the first round before loading up the second round.

"The second round will be a bit more difficult than the first. There will be two moving spherical targets. Again the allotted time is 30 seconds. This round begins in...4...3...2...1" Martha said.

Two holographic spheres appeared and like the last round they moved at one second intervals - although they were much faster at moving this time.

The Andorian did her best, looking and aiming from left to right. She pressed the trigger often, sending lance after lance towards the two targets. She was not a perfect shot, missing several and just grazing others.

The thirty seconds soon passed and Martha looked up as the two spheres stopped in the centre of the holodeck and disappeared.

"Alright this next round will be different. You will get ninety seconds to shoot as many targets as you can - some will be friendly and others will be hostile. Whilst they are armed that is for effect so they won't be attacking you. If you are ready I will prepare the countdown" Martha said.

Athyle took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to center herself before the next round. After a minute of meditation, she exhaled and opened her eyes again. "Ready, ma'am."

"In...4...3...2 and 1" Martha said.

The first two targets are a Bajoran civilian and a Klingon warrior armed with a bat'leth. Even though she hoped there wasn't any more Martha was preparing herself for another target representing a crewmember of the Triumphant. That Ensign wasn't going to know what hit them after the tests were completed.

Athyle saw the Bajoran first, so she quickly aimed the phaser elsewhere, and found the Klingon in the process. She fired instantly, taking down the Klingon.

The Klingon and Bajoran disappeared and were replaced by an Orion pirate, a Ferengi, a Romulan officer and a generic Bolian Starfleet officer. They slowly started to move towards the blue line whilst moving across the floor horizontally - often across eachother.

Martha watched in between analysing the data on the PADD. She found figures fascinating and always wanted to find ways to improve them - she would often find herself on the phaser range trying to improve her accuracy even if it was just by 0.1% at a time.

The Andorian fired at the Romulan and the Orion, but made no attempt to fire upon the Ferengi. He didn't seem armed with anything other than greed, but that wasn't a reason to shoot a man.

The first four targets disappeared and another four targets appeared - this time it was a Cardassian, a Borg drone, a Klingon and a Bajoran. The Borg drone was the obvious target but Martha wondered if the Andorian would work out the second hostile target before the next set of targets appeared.

Athyle fired at the drone, taking it down instantly. Her eyes moved to the other three, noticing that none of them brandished weapons. Though she kept her eyes open for other targets, part of her kept analyzing the three civilians. After a couple moments, she fired on the Bajoran.

Martha was impressed. The Bajoran was concealing a bladed weapon in their pocket and although this wasn't obvious there were some subtle signs there that the Bajoran was the other target which was armed.

"Very good Lieutenant" Martha commented.

After a number of waves of targets the round ended and Martha called time on the test - at least the mandatory part of it at least.

"Alright Lieutenant. Overall I think you did very well - you have an excellent shots to hit ratio and I think the way you analysed the more difficult hostile targets was very good as well. I'll run the three scores through and it should tell us what your overall score was" Martha said.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," the Ensign acknowledged, lowering the phaser. She opened the front casing and withdrew the spent power cell. Athyle then lowered the open weapon to her side and held the warm cell in the palm of her other hand. "That was a bit easier than I thought it would be."

Martha's PADD bleeped as the final score came up. It was a comfortable pass - as Martha expected from the scores from each round - so she saved the result and signed it off. The Andorian was recertified for another year.

"You got 93% overall which is very good. I'm happy to recertify you for another year - however just to put it out there I run target practice sessions twice a week if you want to come along. I try and include a holodeck scenario once or twice a month to offer target practice in a more realistic environment. You'd be more than welcome to join us" Martha said.

The ensign frowned. Her recent score from the Academy was at ninety-four percent. She had not expected such a reduction this long out of her education. "I will consider it," she said, actually entertaining the idea.

Martha nodded. "Glad to hear it. They are on Mondays and Fridays at 19:00 at the firing range and the holodeck training sessions are usually every other Friday. I'll send you an invite along with a few others who expressed an interest"

She nodded her thanks. Perhaps it would suit her well to keep her skills sharp, especially since they were so quickly dulled. "Thank you, Lieutenant," Athyle replied.

Martha smiled. "Thank you for coming. Take care and enjoy the rest of your shift"

The Andorian nodded her thanks a final time before she returned the phaser and power cell from where she found them. She then left to return to duty.