=/\= Conference room 03, Fleet level area, SB 234: UNITY
=/\=
Richard walked along the corridor, still buzzing from his
run-in with that jack-ass security chief, Mumacik, earlier
on in the day. Usually, Richard had nothing but professional
respect for fleet security, and having been an advocate for
improving relations between fleet & marines for most of his
career, he would say he was better than most.
However, that man... just was beyond even his patience
level. He arrived at some conference room, following
Pakosii.
Pakosii showed the General into the room and said: "Please,
sir, take a seat. Commodore Guzman should contact you
shortly, he is usually exact in schedule."
"Oh is he now? How refreshing." Sharpe quipped.
"Can I bring you anything to drink, sir?" Pakosii asked,
trying to make up for the queer impression LT. Mumacik made
on the MEF Commander.
"A mug of tea, milk, one sugar." Richard said.
The Wall screen suddenly changed appearance and announced a
sub space transmission. The transmission was encrypted and
required a SSF Flag level authorization. Pakosii quietly
left the room and left Sharpe alone ...with Guzman on the
other end of the screen.
Richard keyed in his flag level authorization into the
computer terminal at the desk.
The screen blinked once again and the face of Commodore
Guzman appeared on screen. Shane looked at the lone marine
General and said: "I am Commodore Guzman, 1st Task Force CO.
I assume you are our new MEF Commander, General. I am
pleased to meet you"
"You assume correctly Commodore." Richard said. "Brigadier
General Richard Sharpe, at your service."
"I am sorry for the rushed welcome on UNITY, through I hope
Pakosii was there when you arrived, but we've got an
unexpected situation in Romulan space. I have send Captain
Chisulo back to UNTIY where he shall meet with you and
Erassian Ambassador and discuss this in more detail, but in
bulk - we have managed to achieve a surprising victory in
Quorum space and got control over a Romulan starbase named
Passada. There are some underground elements that will help
us to free the Quorum people from Romulan occupation and we
decided that this is a too great opportunity to just let
slip."
Richard nodded. "Indeed it is, and an impressive gain,
especially considering the backfoot the Federation has been
on during this war so far."
Nodding, Shane said: "Exactly, General. For now all we could
do was repelling Romulan attacks and count losses. But now,
we have the opportunity to strike in Romulan territory and
from what I have heard so far, we can strike hard cause the
bulk of Romulan forces reserved for this war are occupied
elsewhere."
Richard nodded, taking in the information. "Fortune favors
those who see opportunities and take them."
"This grants us some time" Shane said, "to strengthen our
position in Quorum space and take even more Romulan
installations in this sector. This is where you and MEF come
in play. 1st Task Force has fleet power to gain space
control in Quorum space for now, but we lack the necessary
ground troops to take over stations, outposts and planetary
settlements. My question is how many troops can you make
combat ready in 48 hours?"
"I've only just arrived, so I am unaware of my entire
command's status, but from the update I got from Brigadier
Stirling just prior to my arrival, I can mobilize at least
an entire infantry regiment within 48 hours, plus two air
groups, and if needed, an armored company. However,
transportation will be the main issue I face with rapid
deployment." Richard reported, reading from a padd he had on
hand.
"Troop transport should be no problem. We have some large
carriers in the Task Force that have plenty of room. We can
remove their fighter compliments for now and station your
marines there for the time of travel"
"If those ships can be made available to me, I'll have units
ready for deployment." He said. "I will need to know where
and when you need these men, and for what purpose. I doubt
you'll need over a thousand marines in one concentrated
area."
Shane shook his head and hissed quietly. It was obvious that
something is giving the TF CO pain. Maybe the blackened eye
and still visible red-ish bruise on his left cheek could
give some hints here. None-the-less he went on: "Well ... we
need a large force that will allow us to take installations
in a short time and then smaller units that would hold the
fort. As I said a strategy is still being developed and you
please discuss this with Captain Chisulo once he arrives at
UNITY."
"Very well." Richard said.
"There will be one special point in this whole operation. We
already have some Klingon forces here and expect more to
arrive shortly. As I know Ambassador Aynani and General
Ivanov from Erassian alliance, they will not want to miss
the party, so their forces will come as well. This will then
be a three side operation and for your part, General, I need
someone who can deal with both Klingons and Erassians."
"So a miracle worker then?" Richard smirked.
Shane laughed: "Exactly." After a moment he added: "Klingons
are easy to make happy. You throw some Klingon curses, eat
their vermin food and drink a gallon on red wine and they
are your best friends . but Erassians are quite different.
They are often arrogant, over-self-confident and easy to
offend. On the other side they value strong personal
integrity and are true to their word once they gave it. It
won't be easy to deal with them."
"I guess, since I don't know any of my staff, it'll have to
be me. My Sergeant Major can suck up to the Klingon's, since
he's a fan of their opera for some damn reason." Richard
said.
Nodding, Shane said: "Very well then, General. I expect you
and your troops to arrive as soon as humanly possible.
That's all from my side, do you have anything?"
"Just a run-in with station security." Richard said. "Your
Lieutenant
Mumacik does seem to like running on the thin edge of
people's tempers."
Shane grinned: "Ah, Mumacik. He's a weird man. I first met
him on SB Aurora when he was Archer's ATAC and he dared to
send 'improvement suggestions' for Aurora's tactical
department. I was CTAC there at that time. Doesn't it say
something about that guy?"
"Anally retentative irritant?" Richard said more than asked.
"Those
People are born to be staff officers."
"Fleet Security is just the right spot for him since he is
sticking to the rules and double checks everything. And I
mean everything. We had some serious security lacks in the
past and I better take someone who complains about me
leaving the office with just 2 body guards then someone who
does not care about an assassin roaming the stations freely.
The good point on Mumacik is that he will send 100
punishment requests and even when I deny all 100 of them, he
wont get tired and sends the 101th. Please do not worry much
about him, he barks but does not bites, just do as he say
when he's around and as you please when he leaves ..."
"He's confiscated personal property of mine." Richard said,
flatly. "I Find it objectionable that he would impound my
possessions when I gave him a firm order not to."
Shane laughed but then said: "I am sorry, General, but
that's just Mumacik. I am sure he recited you some SSF
regulation and presented several possible ways how you could
keep your property. Please do whatever those regulations say
and make him happy. On the other side, Mumacik will make
sure that none will poison the food you will eat on the
promenade or that no burglar will steal your fork" After a
pause he added: "Or have your aide to fill a formular
requesting the release of your property and I will instruct
my Deputy - Captain Rodgers to sign it."
"I'm sure I'll manage something." Richard said. "Is it true
I need to
Have bodyguards with me on the station? I've never served on
a Starfleet installation that required such measures."
Shane nodded: "I can only recommend it. Even now, I am in
Romulan space because Commander Summers and Major Varis were
kidnapped and now I learn that Major Varis was exchanged for
a Chamelenoid for some time already. We experienced the
death of several staff members and none died cause of age.
UNITY is on the edge of a warzone and Tal'shiar is very
cunning and deadly"
"Well, I'll keep it under advisement." Richard said. "But
someone Committed enough can overcome bodyguards. History
has shown that."
Nodding again, Shane said: "Very true. Security is still an
issue on UNITY so please be carefully as well as your
officers. Unfortunately UNITY is no backwards station and
Aeran system is no safe place for holidays." After a short
pause Shane said: "If that is all, General, you are
dismissed"
"Thank you, Commodore." Richard said, and closed the channel.
