Just a Meeting

Posted on Sat Nov 12, 2016 @ 9:28pm by 2nd Lieutenant Gage Aravan & Major James Mattis

Mission: An Orion to Die For
Location: Marine Country
Timeline: MD 2 || 0900 Hours

After Captains Ready room, Mattis sat off on a tour of the ship. After a while he came upon Marine. Noticing his rank insignia, he said, "Master Sergeant."

Gage looked up from cleaning a TR-116 rifle and immediately came to attention when the saw the Marine Major coming into Marine Country. "Sir!" he said.

"At ease Master Sergeant , I need a briefing on how everything goes with our Marines."

"Everything is running smoothly, Major," Gage replied as he came to a parade rest as looked up at the giant Marine. "We have five hundred Marines aboard the Triumphant and all policies and procedures are in place unless you have ones that you prefer specifically."

"A couple actually. Do we have a QRF set up, and also, what is the Marine policy regarding carrying sidearms, and please stand easy, this informal, not an inspection."

"We do have a QRF, Major," Gage responded as he relaxed a bit more. "The current policy on sidearms is only when the enemy is to be engaged, Sir."

"Very well, any disciplinary problems within the Battalion?"

Gage looked aghast at the mere thought of discipline being a problem in the battalion. "Absolutely none, Sir," he said. "It's unheard of in our battalion."

Well, seeing as how i am a bit new around here, hows about you give me a more complete tour of our Marine facilities."

"Yes, Sir," Gage said as he called for a Second Lieutenant to take over the watch. "As you know, Marine Country takes up all of deck forty-three, so the tour may take a while. If you'll follow me, Major."

With that, he headed out to make the first stop the Marine HQ and Administrative Office Complex. "This is the body of our operation, Major," Gage said as he led him past several Marine checkpoints with Marines snapping salutes each time he went past one. Every last Marine was in a crisp uniform, no one was slouching and every one seemed to be performing a duty with no waste of efficiency.

Looking around, Mattis could not help but be impressed. Every Marine was doing their jobs, no questions, no complaints, no nothing except crisp efficiency, something Mattis greatly admired. Not even his height nor heavy footsteps seemed to disturb them, something he had found sorely lacking in his previous posts. Pulling down on the front of his uniform, Mattis said, "I would like to see the Marine Communications Center, Main Armory, the Marine Medical Facility, and my Office, Master Sergeant."

"Not a problem, Major," Gage said as he led the giant of a Marine out of the Headquarters and down the corridor. "This is your office, Sir," he said as he came to a door. "It's coded for your access only, but it has a full holographic interface desk, a small armory, a replicator, a head, and an outer office if you wish to assign an officer to screen visitors before you receive them."

"Yes, please assign one, if you will."

"Of course," Gage said. It wasn't an unusual request since there wasn't a Marine Executive Officer at the moment. "Now on with the tour, Sir." He continued down the hall to a door and stopped to enter his code, then opened it to reveal a room that was easily big enough to hold a hundred Marines and there were half that number sitting at holographic consoles in communication with the Starfleet Marine Headquarters on Earth. A massive holographic display was on the far wall and had the position of every Marine on the ship on it and direct access to each one. "Welcome to the Communications Center, Sir."

His eyes widening, Mattis said, ''Just what exactly is this room capable of doing by way of communications!?"

Gage withheld a chuckle at the Major's exclamation. "We can simultaneously communication with every Marine in our battalion on an individual basis or specific members as needed, Sir. In addition, we can get live updates from Marine Headquarters on Earth and we have encryption and decryption specialists in our Intel Center to ensure that no one is going to break our communications."

"Wow", Mattis said shaking his head. "Very impressive i must say. So, where is our next stop?"

"That would be the Armory, Major," Gage said as he led the way out of the Communications Center and down another corridor. This time, there were two Marines guarding the door and both were armed.

"Identification, please," a First Lieutenant said.

"Master Sergeant Gage Aravan, Delta One Six Nine," Gage replied and retrieved his dog tags from the chain around his neck.

The First Lieutenant scanned it and nodded before he looked at the tall Major and awaited his identification. The Marine with him kept one hand on his weapon while watching both of them.

"Major James Mattis, Fox-Nine six Five four," he said, retrieving his dog tags, holding them out so they could be scanned.

"Thank you, Major," the First Lieutenant said as the second Marine entered his code and opened the armory door.

Gage led him into a massive complex that contained two Ammunition Replication Suites, a Small Arms Manufacturing Bay, the Portable Combat Weapons Manufacturing Bay, and the Heavy Weapons Manufacturing Bay. One entire section was lined wall to wall with every type of modern Marine weapon from mounted heavy slug throwers to heavy energy all the way down to sidearms for individual use. In all, there were enough weapons to easily equip a thousand Marines. "Welcome to The Fist, Major."

"All i can say Damn!!"" Pausing and flexing his arms, Mattis said, "How fast can we have every Marine armed and ready to fight in an emergency?"

"Three minutes is our best record, but that also depends if we need the heavy mounted weaponry or just conventional. For a full deployment with everything to do a planetary landing for a siege operation, thirty minutes."

"Let's see if we can shorten that 30 down to 15 minutes", Mattis said looking at this room of magnificent room of war fighting capacity. A smile spreading across his face, Mattis said, ''Where to next?''

"Fifteen minutes would be impossible, Sir," Gage said. "The logistics of mobilizing an entire armed battalion for a planetary landing and siege takes at least that long even with planning and training. Next would be the Medical facility."

He lead the Major out and down several more corridors until the entered the Marine Medical facility which looked as equipped as the main Sickbay that the rest of the ship used. There were labs, biobeds, operating rooms, diagnosis equipment and more. "And this is where we try to avoid at all costs," he said.

"It will be a cold day in hell before i end up in here but very nice facility otherwise."

"Top notch, Major," Gabe said. "Are you ready for the rest of the tour?"

"Yes, please continue."

For the next hour, Gage showed the Marine Major the secondary brig, the officer quarters, the Tactical Operations Center, the Current Actions and Intel Center, the barracks, transporter rooms, training facilities, classrooms, loading docks, cargo transporters, the storage for the Portable Command Center Module Portable Weapon and Ammunition Replicators, Portable Combat Support Replicators, ILBE Field Packs, Weapons Lockers, Officers Mess, wardrooms, Galley, Coffee Mess, Maintenance, and finished in the cargo bays. "And this is what is now yours to command, Major. Do you have orders?"

"Yes, schedule a drill for later on today, and also convey my gratitude to the Captain, and see if he wishes to see me."

"Yes, Sir," Gage said, wondering if the Major had taken note of his last name. Some people had a problem with him being the Captain's brother and some didn't, but until it was brought up, there was nothing he could say about it.

"Carry on, Mr. Aravan."

With that, Gage turned and headed off to assign a Marine from Communications as his office screener and then went to pass the message on to the Captain.