Three Become One
Posted on Wed Dec 7, 2016 @ 11:24pm by Lieutenant Martha Cusack & Major James Mattis & Lieutenant Commander Arrda
Mission:
An Orion to Die For
Location: Lieutenant Cusack's Office
Timeline: MD 3 || 1015 Hours
Martha had called a meeting in her office with Major Mattis and Lieutenant Mallory. She and her counterpart in Security along with the new Marine Commanding Officer were in charge of coordinating a defense plan; and Martha hoped that, between the three of them, they would be able to come up with something.
Having followed Martha off of the bridge, Douglas followed her into her office. His PADD was tied into his office terminal, so he did not need to return to his office for any information. Stopping before her desk, he realized that she may need a little time to get her thoughts together before the meeting. "Do you need a bit to gather information or collect your thoughts before we meet?" he asked courteously. "I can go to my office until you're ready." he offered, realizing that he probably should have thought of that before following her in here. But then, they did have only 6 hours to come up with a plan and implement at least the beginnings of it, get their departments on the same page.
"It'd be better if we got started straight away and we can collaborate together. The more we can pool together early on the more time we have to formulate a plan and a back up just in case it becomes necessary." Martha replied.
"Agreed." Douglas glanced at his PADD and initiated the linkup with his desk terminal.
=/\="Cusack to Mattis. Please meet report to my office as soon as possible"=/\= Martha said.
"On my way", Mattis said closing the channel. After gathering a PADD and some data, he left his office in Marine Country, and proceeded to Cusack's Office. After a few moments he arrived, rang the chime, and waited for permission to enter.
Martha and Douglas had arrived at her office just before James and the Chief Tactical Officer was happy with the timing.
"That was good timing." Martha said.
Martha then called the Marine Commanding Officer in.
Martha called. "Come in!"
Walking in, Mattis took a quick look around the room and said, "Someone requested me?"
Martha nodded. "I did. The three of us are tasked with devising an integrated plan to protect the ship now we're entering Orion territory. We haven't got long, so the sooner we can sort this out and put it into practice the better. Any ideas?"
"Well, i know the Orions are crazy, bloodthristy killers, much like the Jem'Hadar in most respects, so i assume we will be tailoring this for internal ships defense against boarders and such?"
Again Martha nodded.
"We're going to have to prepare for all aspects of ship defense - although the primary objective is to stop the Orions boarding us in the first place. I would suggest firstly that we protect all key areas using both Security and the Marines. The more defense we have in those areas then the more likely we can repel any potential boarders...although again it'll be my job to make sure they don't get a chance to board the vessel." Martha replied.
Mattis shook his head in agreement and said, "I can have half my Battalion out and about, with some of them preforming roving patrols while the rest guard the areas you suggest. The other half of my men i can hold in reserve and should we be boarded, they can be deployed in a surge formation, if the two of you so agree."
Martha nodded. "I think that works. What do you think Lieutenant?"
Douglas had sat listening before saying anything. He had wanted to get a sense of the Marine commander's thinking as well as see what he and Martha came up with together. By Starfleet's delineations of department, Tactical was her department, and Marines were specifically trained for tactics of this type, so he wanted to hear their thoughts first.
Now that he had, he nodded thoughtfully. "I like the idea of having part of your force in reserve." he agreed. "It gives us an advantage beyond that which we gain by this being our territory. What about a third working with my people directly, a third in reserve, and a third doing those roving patrols?" he proposed. "And we could set up a pattern for those roving patrols that would appear random to an outsider, making it more difficult for the intruders to get a sense of when and where those would turn up."
"Also, we should definitely have guards stationed at all the normal, secure places -- the Bridge, Engineering, the Armory, etc -- but are there any other areas that aren't typically covered that either of you think I should station people?" He had made a tactical suggestion, but he was also deferring to the judgment of the specialized tacticians in the room on some points, this one being one of those points.
"I think we should include the shuttlebays, cargo bays and all areas that access the main computer. If they can't take the ship then, knowing the Orions, then they'll try and sabotage it or steal what they can." Martha replied.
"And i suggest the addition of anywhere that stores high explosives or fuel or artillery."
"They're well covered already - the torpedo magazines and marine ordnance are well secured and the fuel will be kept secure as part of protecting the cargo bays. Having roving patrols on various decks will allow us to back up any particular areas that may come under a heavier, more focused attack. I will also suggest we either equip all bridge staff with sidearms or post a security team up there - given the circumstances I'd go with the former." Martha said.
Douglas noted all of the suggestions and nodded. "Much of that is already protected in a high alert situation. The weapons and ordinance is always protected in such situations. Shuttle bays and docking bays are usually on a case-by-case because some situations don't involve them. But I agree that this one should. As to the computer core, I think that should always be protected in a high alert."
He glanced at his PADD as he thought through Martha's last suggestion. "As to the bridge, perhaps we should suggest both to the captain." he proposed, looking back up at the other two officers. "Station a four-person team on the bridge -- two people at each entrance -- and arm the bridge crew just in case of unforeseen circumstances." After all, how many times in the Enterprise's logs did such situations occur!
"Agreed. By the way, I feel I need to suggest extreme options for emergencies."
Douglas glanced over. "Oh? Such as?" He was curious to know what they had not covered in the other's mind.
"If any of those areas are seized. either flood them with sleeping gas or suck all the Oxygen out."
Douglas frowned, wondering if the other man had read the security information on the Triumphant. "In such a case, we can flood any area with Anesthizine or neurozine gas through the ventilation systems." he informed. "Both have precedent in Starfleet records."
"Just make sure we flood the right areas. I've been in a situation where the wrong area got flooded with it...although fortunately it was in an empty cargo bay and not taking out the security team that were hoping to find unconscious mercenaries - although that didn't happen." Martha commented.
Douglas frowned. "Well, that shouldn't happen. I'm very careful, and if the fault is one of my people, they'll have to answer to me. So unless Operations has something cross-circuited, we shouldn't have to worry about that." he assured her. "Any other concerns?"
"None from me" Martha replied."
"None from me either, except i think we should keep the oxygen thing on the table." Mattis said
Douglas nodded. "It is always an alternative should other avenues fail." he clarified his position. "That being said then, we should get to it and get our people in motion." He entered some things into his PADD.
Sending two lists of names from his PADD to Mattis' terminal, he continued. "I have sent you two lists of my people, Colonel Mattis." he informed the Marine Commander. "The first is a list of those who will be coordinating with your standing guard details on sensitive locations. The second is a list of those who will be coordinating with your people on the roving patrols. I will get my people moving as soon as I leave here." Standing, he glanced at the both of them again, gave each a nod, and left to begin the work.
"Sounds good to me sire", Mattis said as he left heading towards Marine Country.
Martha watched as Douglas and James left before sitting behind her desk and getting to work on the ship-to-ship aspect of the security plan. She'd been primarily focused on the Tactical department for over four years now and Martha knew it was the making of her. Now she had to put that experience into practice.
