Battle Plans Over Lunch
Posted on Sun Dec 22nd, 2024 @ 7:25pm by Captain Edmund Merrick & 1st Lieutenant Jeksyne Vale
Edited on on Mon Dec 23rd, 2024 @ 1:48am
1,378 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: The Breakers - Promenade - Empok Nor
Timeline: MD002 1800 hrs
Ravenous from the parkour exercise he had done with Buster, Audie and Azure, Edmund thought about getting something to eat. He went to take a shower while he contemplated on where to get something. Either replicator or, real food. Real food won out. After getting cleaned up, and a change into a pair of black denims and a green tee shirt. Edmund activated the computer to check on work information. He looked at the listed marines there, his eyes pausing on the profile of Jeksyne. It had been just a brief meeting during the reshuffling of positions. This might be a good time to get to know, his company XO.
A little bit of a chuckle came from Merrick as he shook his head, thinking of the fact he had been made company CO. Tapping on his combadge Edmund sent out a call to Jeksyne.
"Lieutenant Vale, its Captain Merrick, if you're not in the middle of a shore leave activity, you got time to grab a bite to eat?"
"Aye, Sir. I can meet with you. Is there a specific place you would like to meet?"
Jeksyne replied as professional as always, even while he was supposedly to be off duty.
"Meet me at The Breakers, and then we can decide what to eat there." Edmund smiling to himself, as this was giving him a sense of Deja Vu. And it was only fitting at the very least to Edmund, as he had stepped onto Empok Nor as the new XO of the Cure and had arrived there first.
"Also wear some civvies, remember you are supposed to be on shore leave." Edmund added. "See you very soon." once he closed the link, he pulled on his comfy pair of boots and headed out the door.
The Breakers, Edmund remembered it fondly when he first arrived on Empok Nor. The Breakers was familiar, in a pub sense. The deck was carpeted, except for the dance floor which was a 8x8 meter section in one corner near the band riser. On the other side was the bar.
Jeksyne arrived sometime later. He had followed his orders to the letter, and dressed in a SFMC shirt and blue jeans with boots. He filled out the shirt, straining against his broad build and heavy muscles as he walked over to Edmund.
“Sir” he said as professional as ever.
"At ease Jeksyne, have a seat, take a load off. We are on shoreleave," Edmund remarked, his eyes drifting over towards the waitress who was walking towards them carrying two menus.
She paused at the table laying down the menus, turning towards Jeksyne, "Can I get you a drink?"
"I'm good, thank you." He replies cordially before turning back to face Merrick.
"Was there something specific you wished to discuss, Captain Merrick?"
"Actually yes, I feel this is a good time to get to know each other. Especially since you are now the company Executive officer. Have you been one before? And have you eaten?" Edmund gave the waitress his order then watched as she waited to see if Jeksyne was going to get something.
"I came from the Non-Commissioned Officers. I was a Staff Sergeant before being accepted into OCS. I've commanded fireteams and small platoons into combat."
Jeksyne replied just as cold and professionally as he had answered every other question before. He was an immoveable rock of a person.
Edmund gave a nod at Jeksyne's answer. "Are you hungry?" noting the waitress not leaving until she finds out if his table companion was going to order some food.
“Nothing for me, thank you though.” He nodded courteously to the waitress before turning back to Merrick.
“After OCS, I spent time on Proxima at Tarkin Ridge, training in the broader aspects of Special Operations.”
The waitress looked in askance to Edmund, who just gave a silent nod. And the waitress headed off to turn in his order.
It didn't bother Edmund to eat while someone wasn't. The need to eat, outweighed the normal cursory politeness.
"And what sort of scores did you receive?" Edmund was watching Jeksyne, noting the shields the man had placed around himself. He was familiar with similar shields from others he's served with.
“Fairly good scores. Near top ratings. Aced written work with my background from Memory Alpha.”
"What do you do to combat stress Jeksyne." Edmund feeling there was a need to know. He shifted his weight a little bit, leaning against the back of his chair.
“I read and I train. Mind and body must be one to be an effective marine.” He says coldly, calmly. Still, very much, a rock.
"Do you often eat alone or do you eat with others." There was a reasoning for Edmund's question. With Jeksyne being his XO he felt the man would need to be more a part of the rest of the marines. His questions though were not malicious nor judgemental. It was fact finding.
"I tend to eat in the Marine Barracks when I can. Otherwise, I take meals in the Officer's Wardroom." Jeksyne still replying as neutral and professional as a brick wall.
"Are you more of an observer than an engager when it comes to other marines or anyone else for that matter?" Merrick finding this conversation to be interesting. "In a tactical sense mind you."
“To defeat an enemy, you must know your enemy. Observation is a key skill. Knowledge is half the battle.” Jeksyne retorted.
A slightly raised eyebrow from Merrick, though he did know that more often than not there were those who observed people, situations before deciding to trust anyone or any situation. "Have you ever heard of General George S Patton?"
“I hold a double Masters in Military Science and Comparative Literatures.” Was all the answer that Jeksyne would allot to the question.
"A simple yes wouid have sufficed." Merrick responded quietly and evenly. "I have not looked at your packet as of yet, as i feel that what is there in your files does not truly show who the person is at this particular place and time. Do you have any questions you would like to ask of me?"
“I too, haven’t had a chance to go over your background and CV. Is there anything I need to know about your command style or how you wish to organize the Company?”
"As what you had witnessed my becoming lead of the company, and you becoming my XO; before becoming that, I was Colonel Tremble's XO. He had his own style of running the Marines which was a tight ship however allowed personal developments as well. I am currently in the process of getting to know key members of the Marines, of which I do recommend, that you do as well. Meeting with them and learning who they are and what they look like and what they are capable of is important, of which I feel I don't truly need to speak to you about. I do plan on doing exercises as well, to make us into a more cohesive unit." Merrick leaned forward " Just like you there are other new marines who have come onto this ship. New as in Newly arrived Marines."
"We'll be ready. I'll pull the playbook and start organizing training programs. If there are specific scenarios we should be running, I'll add them to the rotation."
Edmund gave a nod. "Alright, thanks for coming Lieutenant." finishing off the last bit of his drink. He rose from his chair, "If you need something, have ideas as to where the marines are concerned come see me." In the back of his mind, Edmund knew this wasn't going to be easy. Jeksyne was a brickwall for the time being. He seemed immovable and resolute in his decision to keep himself at arms length. This was going to be a battle, and one that will be hard won.
A Joint Post By
Captain Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
First Lieutenant Jeksyne Vale
Company Executive Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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