(This JL would pretty much take the place of my last log...)
=/-\= USS CHIMERA =/-\=
Cortez pulled his glove on tight and holstered his pistol by his hip. Strapping the rifle over his shoulder he scratched his face and marched down the hallway to the transporter room. Elbrum, Jones, Barnes and Rivers were already waiting in the room. He came to a stop a few feet in front of the team and they jumped to attention and saluted. Richard eyed them all and saluted back, "At ease", he said ending his glare on Cadet Elbrum. Richard understood the look on the mans face all too well, he'd seen it many times before, it had even been on his face once a long time ago, a mixture of nervousness and excitement and a longing to just get the damn mission started. He nodded his head and placed his hand on Elbrum's shoulder, he smiled, then looked at the rest of the team, "Don't any of you die on me", he said stepping back, "I hate paperwork".
Twisting around he looked towards the person operating the transporter controls, "Where is Major Shao and her team", he asked.
"Sir, they are en route", the man answered plainly.
Dare stalked in just seconds later, followed by her team. There was only 4 of them, but they'd be enough. She'd brought along a systems specialist, tactician and weapons expert with her. "Pardon the delay, Major," she said, looking at Cortez. "We had to change our plans at the last moment, seems someone took their sweet time clearing our weaponry and equipment."
She held eye contact with him for a few moments more before turning back to her team. "Final comm check." She hooked an earpiece onto her slightly pointed ear. "Lead, check."
"Mendez, check," her system specialist said, hooking his earpiece over his ear.
"Shura, check," the tactican said, activating her earpiece.
"Kr'Tarn, check," her gruff Klingon weapons expert growled.
Dare turned back to Cortez. "My team is prepared."
Richard held back a laugh as Shao's team uniformly checked their mic's, they seemed like robots, he'd accuse them of trying to show off if he didn't know any better, "I must apologize for that", he began, "staff was tight so I could only spare one person to check your gear. I do appreciate the cooperation though", he added with a smirk.
The seeming neutrality her team showed exactly how prepared they were. They didn't need to chatter incessantly all the time, like most of the 'non-combatants'. Mendez, Shura and Kr'Tarn shared a glance. They'd seen their commander's posture stiffen, but all three knew she wouldn't let the other man get to her too much.
"Your staffing issues aren't my problem, Major Cortez. Considering what is at stake here, I would have thought you'd tried a bit harder to do your job," she finally said, in a very conversational tone. "Regardless, the problem of equipment was sorted." She offered him a completely fake smile.
Cortez returned the smile feeling that he was getting to her"So how much time will you need on the station", Richard asked. "We'll be using timed demolitions, so its imperative that you keep to schedule and if you do get held up you let us know". Cortez wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know, but he had made it his priority since their first meeting to attempt to get under her skin as often as possible.
Dare glanced at her team, then went over the plan in her mind before answering. "I'd say anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour, dependant upon how many Romulan's we get to play with while we work." She cricked her neck and started to recheck her gear, clearing her mind of any harmful thoughts towards the other Major. She knew exactly what he was trying to do and she wasn't about to let him succeed.
"That long huh", Cortez questioned sarcastically, "Well maybe we'll wait up for you", he added as he stepped towards the transporter pads and motioned for his team to do the same. "We'll head on over to the Eagle now and make sure its safe you guys", he smirked as he and the rest of his team de-materialized.
She watched Cortez and his team disappear, was silent for a few long minutes, then said something very obviously rude so quickly in Ka'Leigh that the universal translator couldn't pick it up. When she was done, she pointed wordlessly at the transporter PADD. Her team got onto it quickly. Dare stepped up after them. They *could* get it done quicker, if no-one wanted it done thoroughly. No doubt Cortez was used to doing half-arsed jobs. Oh well, maybe he'd caught get in the cross fire. One could but hope.
Dare smirked as the blue transporter beam spun around them.
=/-\= End Log =/-\=
Lieutenant Major Dare Shao
Platoon Commander
SSF First MEF
Major Richard Cortez
CSEC
USS Chimera
