Start With The Top
Posted on Sun Aug 10th, 2025 @ 4:24pm by Rear Admiral Timothy Rice & Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble & Brigadier General Francis 'Judge' Sobel
Edited on on Sun Aug 10th, 2025 @ 5:13pm
4,473 words; about a 22 minute read
Mission:
The Amalgamation Interrogation
Location: Wardroom 1 - Habitat Ring Deck 11 - Empok Nor
Timeline: MD001 0900 hrs
Francis finished stirring his tea, frowning at the beverage as he walked back to his chosen place on the boards table. " The Wardroom was comfortably furnished and the air handling system had just the right mix of smells and freshened air that it was comfortably. Glancing at Tim, he said, "Tempest has me on less coffee and more tea lately. I miss it but what do you do?" Slipping into his seat, he took a sip, hid a grimace and eased the cup away from him. "Perhaps we should start with Tyler? We've both read his reports but I think seeing if he had views that weren't directly tied to his own center seat. I like officers that can detach themselves and work with outside views."
Tim smiled broadly and sipped the coffee in front of him. "My Georgie knows that I can't live without coffee. So, for me it was red meat. I had to cut back. She wants to make sure I live forever I guess." His gruff voice always made it seem like Rice was angry. It served him well as an Admiral.
He considered what the General had suggested. "Perhaps. I am not sure separating them will matter. Judging my the reports it seems that they have bonded well and would have each others back regardless. Lets bring them both in together and if they are giving us bull shit we separate them and see what happens."
Neil waited. He was used to it when it came to the brass. They had their agendas and time tables. The waiting area was small, utilitarian and staffed by a gunnery sergeant and a brace of petty officers as a nod toward intermingling of staff. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the light over the hatch to the Wardroom turn from red to green.
The gunnery sergeant looked up and smiled, "Commodore. Colonel, the board would like you both to go in."
Standing, Neil straightened his uniform and glanced to Tyler. "Neither of us left to stew in our own juices. That a good thing or a bad thing?"
Tyler stood and straightened the tunic of his uniform. He was glad that dress uniforms were not required for this, whatever it was. He smiled. "Well then I think we should get our story straight now." Tyler reached out and clapped Tremble on the shoulder. "You have been one hell of an XO, and I will make sure that they know that. Besides I don't think anyone else wants to put up with me." He stepped into the wardroom.
Wondering at being referred to as XO in the past tense, Neil followed, saying "That's a point. And what other CO would put up with a warmonger like me?"
Tim stood up as the two top officers of the USS Pioneer stepped into the room. "Colonel, Commodore welcome please sit. Help yourself to a refreshment. The General and I have asked you here to discuss how the intermingling of fleet and marine assets are going. I would like to start by saying if your logs are any indication the missions of the Pioneer may be some for the record books."
Neil was NOT used to not saluting immediately on entering a Flag Officer's presence, but he slid into the proffered chair and looked around the wardroom, which was a fairly standard rendering.
Sobel looked over the men he knew well and said, "Welcome gentlemen. There are a few items on the agenda for us today, but nothing overly serious that we can't just park rank considerations and get to facts for the brass hats." Smiling at his own play on words, he continued "How the Cure is fitting into the Pioneer with their split responsibilities. How the marines and fleet crews are integrating. Growing pains can always be expected but we," he said as he go to the crux of his interests, "Are more curious about what's not in the reports."
Rice decided the he may as well cut right to the chase and get the ball rolling. "Commodore. When we began this program you went on record with your displeasure. In fact you stated: 'This is going to be the biggest mistake in Starfleet history.' Lets start right at the very beginning. Has this view changed? Or should we simply cut the cord and run as it is said?"
Tyler did not know what this meeting would have been about. He thought that somehow Tremble was going to be promoted and this was simply to make sure he was up to the task. However, to hear something he wrote in his logs read back to him caused him to color slightly. "Admiral, General. Forgive me but that was then, and this is now. Very often Captains make snap judgements and later realize their mistakes. After serving with the Colonel I can say that I was wrong. We are, if you excuse the parlance, the yin and yang. There are times when I have to be reminded that muscle over diplomacy is the answer, and times when Neil is reminded that a sharp wit, and kind words can be a better weapon than any phaser. If it were up to me I would implement this program on all available starships."
Sobel saw a look on Neil's face that he knew fairly well and he bit back a grin. "What about you Neil," he asked. "You weren't exactly thrilled at getting that Exec mantle aboard the Pioneer."
Neil started to open his mouth and the General cut him off with a raised hand.
"And don't give me that tired but true, I serve at the General's pleasure drahk, Neil," Sobel said dryly. "We know your motto is Shut up and Soldier but this isn't just about you. You were none to pleased to get the offer for the Pioneer Exec yourself." Biting back another grin and perhaps a snicker, he glanced towards Rice then speared Neil with his gaze, "I do believe the quote was: Sweet suffering fates, I'm no fleet weeny or thraggling POG."
Glancing toward Rice he met the Admiral's eyes and said, "For the uninitiated, POG is: Person Other than Grunt. A not so endearing term that typical is used to refer to chairborn commando's and administrative types."
Biting back a disrespectful sigh, Neil slumped a little in his seat and let himself brood for a few beats before meeting the General's eyes, requesting permission to speak out of habit. At Sobel's nod, he said, "I said it and I'm on the fence still. Tyler and I make a good team. I'll agree up and down there. I'll be the first to admit that I owe a lot of my rank to being aboard the Pioneer. I'm not sure I'd have gone officer, much less been a Colonel now if not for him."
He went quiet for a few more beats, marshalling his thoughts. "I've grown personally as XO of the Pioneer. Balancing all the taskings. Making sure the ship and crew are ready whenever needed. That experience I'd have gained cycling through a HQ element's staff position. Between say a Regiment and a Starship, the paper shuffling isn't all that different. It's a lot and Pioneer has fine officers."
Cracking a smile, he said, "Even those that don't like me. Which is fine. I knew going in that I'd likely run into some resentment on behalf of the Fleet officers and crew. A fairly common point of view is that I'm taking a promotional opportunity from someone. Exec of the Pioneer is a plum position after all. Going in, I decided it didn't matter if the officers and crew didn't like me or even hated me, as long as they did their job we'd get along. There's been less of that than I expected and, as I said, Pioneer has a top crew. That's more of a testament to the Commodore and than me."
Taking another breath, Neil wondered if he was talking too much before he finished his thoughts. "As to every ship in the fleet. I'd disagree. But sector flag ships and any command that routinely has marines embedded, I'd recommend it. Having a marine officer as part of a command team instead of attached makes a difference, if you want the fleet and marines to feel like they're a single unit rather than separate."
"So, you believe that this has been a help to both sides of this equation? Marines learning about the fleet, and fleet learning about Marines." Rice said with a nod of appreciation. "What about you Commodore? Would you agree with that assessment?"
Tyler sat for a moment and thought about all that he and Neil had been through. As well as the rest of the crew of the Pioneer. "I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that in the time Neil has served as my XO I have learned more about the Corps than they would ever teach in the Academy. I have learned how they think, and most of all how to effectively use their talents in every scenario."
Keeping his face straight, Neil said. "And I've learned..."
Sobel snorted at that, Neil might learn but he never learned
"That the Fleet is good for something other than atmospheric bombardment and driving the bus," Neil finished, refusing to look in Sobel's direction."
"Further I would add that the mission logs of the Pioneer should be made available for Command study at the Academy. Even if this program is not integrated fleet wide it would extremely helpful to up and coming Captains to learn as I have." With the official business said for the moment Tyler's demeanor changed, it became somewhat defiant. "Admiral, General with all due respect. Removing Neil from the Pioneer would be perhaps the largest mistake that either of you has ever made. He is not only an asset to myself, but to the crew at large. He is a member of the family. What's more if I may be so bold the fact that you are having these hearings is part in parcel to the problem. There should never be a division between Fleet and the Corps. We are all in this together, one goal, one mission, one mind."
"Personally, I'm on the fence Commodore," Sobel said as he settled back into his chair. "From the Corp point of view, Neil has virtually skyrocketed through the ranks and that makes some of the old marines sour. I really don't care too much personally, but I have to listen to the Commandant. Especially when he gets the bit in his teeth, looking at TO & E's with a shortage of qualified officers and then this program comes up. Right now I could stick Neil into half a dozen regiments. But then he'd likely stall out and be ten years with mandatory rotations to FMC HQ where he'd be under a microscope the whole time."
Now it was his turn not to look at Neil as Francis said, "Don't make those faces, Neil. I know you'd rather be busted back to Gunny before going to HQ. But the needs of the Corp and Fleet..."
Neil didn't rise to the bait but shrugged and grinnned, "I go where I'm told and do the best job I can, General. No use being nasty..."
Tim has listened to the banter with interest and after a short pause he spoke up. "That is just it, isn't it. The needs of the Fleet and the Corps. Bottom line we are going to have to make this work one way or the other. As I see it if we can't then there won't be a Fleet and a Corps. There will simply be one entity that does the work of both. I know that no one in this room wants to see that happen. I also know that there are a number of Academy graduates that would give their right arm to be where Neil is. So, bottom line it gentlemen, is this working? Don't give me anything that you think we want to here. I want the straight talk."
Tyler smiled he rather liked the take no bullshit attitude of Admiral Rice. "Well Admiral from where I sit yes, it works just as planned. If you were to implement this in other ships I would make sure that all involved are given training about how to interact. As I said making this training at the Academy can go a long way. If both sides could get over this stigma that they have for each other this would be one hell of a program."
Neil considered for a moment, then spoke, "The primary difference to all you sirs is that the majority of the fleet, at least ship level hold an officer's rank.I believe it's at about thirty five to forty percent. Aboard the Pioneer, we have a higher than normal number of senior PO's and enlisted, but by contrast in the Corp, we have nearly eighty to eighty five percent enlisted. Some don't past that difference." Pausing, he said, "Aboard the Pioneer, we're getting past that. The Marines circulate with the corp and I don't see very little instances where anyone, tends to stand on rank and fall into a more tight chain of command structure."
Sighing ruefully, Neil looked around at the others and said, "Except by me. I've likely ruffled more than a few feathers. But, that's my style and I won't apologize for it either."
"Nor should you..." Tyler chimed in before the General or Admiral could. "...There are moments when a Starfleet crew can benefit from more protocol, and a tight chain of command structure. Neil has a point the training can and should go both ways. There could be a system in which Marines are given courses in starfleet operations, some offered officer training should they want it. I would be happy to start this program on the Pioneer so that you can see how it progresses."
Rice thought the idea had merit but kept his words to himself until he could gage how the General felt about it. This idea of Malbrooke's skirted very close to combining the Corps into the Fleet and Rice knew better than most that would not go over well with anyone.
Sobel kept himself from wincing at Malbrookes words and was proud of himself for not glancing toward either Neil or Tim. "Commodore," Sobel said slowly, "Be aware that effective Marines who get put through OCS will likely be lost to Pioneer. It's good for them and we would never keep anyone from reaching their potential. Fast tracking enlisted ranks isn't as much of a slog, but once you hit E4 it's all competitive throughout the Corp, which is also limited in it's number of personnel by the Federation."
Smiling then he did let himself look at Neil and Tim, "They don't want us to scare anyone by growing beyond what the Council thinks proper."
"Perhaps, perhaps..." Tyler began. "But there is the possibility of making it optional for those that may want this kind of experience. Marines who want to do more than your standard fare. Look, I know that the members of The Cure are more than Marines, more than a detachment on my ship. They are my crew, and in that way they are indispensable to the operation of my vessel."
Picking up where Tyler paused, Neil said, "That's why all of the Cure second into damage control. Back up Security if and when they might need a force multiplier and even lend a bit of tone if pomp and ceremony are called for. All traditional duties of marines that reaches back to the origins in earths Navies. Damage control and security put you nearly anyplace on the ship lending a hand to any department." He thought for a moment then said, "What we haven't done so much is imbed fleet personnel into traditionally Marine duties. For instance, we haven't cleared any of Pioneer's engineers to work on the Suits. If we want to to get the kids working more elbow to elbow, that might be a place to start."
Tim Rice nodded in agreement with the point that Tremble just made. "There I would agree. Perhaps that is something we need to start. If we expect the Marines to perform Fleet duty we should also expect the reverse of that. I will see that a program for that is structured." Rice took a note on his PADD as he spoke.
Nodding slowly, Sobel said, "I don't see a problem there, as long as provisions are seen to. I don't want the suits worked on outside of the Morgue. The Council is still on the fence on the mobile units benefits and there are guidelines..." What do you think, Commodore. Think your engineering department can take on more work?"
"I think Redstone and her people are dying to get their hands on just one of those suits. With some study there can be some applications on a starship for those suits. Repairing warp nacelles for example. Any dangerous repair that extra protection in needed." Tyler replied with a small amount of excitement in his voice. The ideas for these changes actually piqued his interest.
Sobel mused on that and said, "Having suited marines work on those areas should be a matter of course and training. Neil, expand your damage control training further aboard the Pioneer." Looking at Tyler, Francis said, "The suits are customized to the wearer and the interface between the computer and marine is the tricky part. Neil's suit is one of the test-bed's for an advanced AI. Based on his field reports, all Battalion commanders and up will have a more limited form of AI than Rommie to help juggle complex combined adaptations." Francis nodded toward Neil then.
"To be fair," Neil began, working his way through his thoughts. "Rommie reduces my stress while wearing the suit. She's a learning AI and can anticipate what I might ask for...gather and analyze a ton of data while on mission rather than after or wait to process it during. She has way more access than the AI's your talking about, from my understanding Brigadier. Tyler isn't the only one that doesn't like them, I'm lucky he tolerates me." Glancing sideways at his CO, Neil grinned, "That being said, and answering the original question, the Cure are absolutely available for any Hazard missions they can handle that include dangerous repair work and fits in with Red Team responsibilities as well."
With his own wolfish grin, Neil said, "Knowing how things work makes things easier to break or spoof." Rubbing at the back of his neck, he said, "Aboard Pioneer, we have cross trained Lieutenant Mira into the suits since she's the intel liaison. There's precedence there if we want to cross train a couple of engineers as mission specialists. We're going to hit a mission at some point where we'll need that expertise in a suit. They wouldn't have to be full on MARVEL kits, more defensive. Leave them in learning mode longer than we expect of marines."
His glance flickered toward Rice, then back to Tyler as his own mind saw the applications for the Pioneer. "Right now, Marines aren't signed off for full combat readiness till they have two hundred hours in the simulators and fifty hours of real time training in the suits. That's so the computer gets to know their quirks and the user understands that the servos duplicate your muscle reaction. If you go to punch a squishy in a suit, using the same force you might on mat, you'll punch through a chest or take a head off. Same goes for running, jumping...you get the idea. If I can get a couple of volunteers, we can put them in the tanks as soon as the General writes off on the program." At that, Neil gave an innocent smile and looked at the Brigadier.
Francis gave Neil a sour look and sighed, "I don't see why not. As you said, Jayna was approved so that opens the door. Small experiment. Two engineering personnel aboard the Pioneer. No heavy weapons on their suits and you'll have to make them the suits there. Should be a perfect project for your engineers anyway. They'll get to see how all the components work..."
Tyler was extremely happy about the addition of engineering to the use of the suits. "General, if I may. I would like the two chosen engineers cleared to learn how to repair the suits as well as operate them. It would assist in alleviating the trust issues we discussed. As for AI I am one who has read the numerous reports from around the fleet where an AI has taken over a vessel to agriedious harm. However, thus far Rommie has shown to be a valuable asset including a well rounded and exceptional bridge officer."
Tim Rice looked impressed and interested in the idea that the AI was given bridge access. "Yes, I read your report about Rommie manning the Cure's station on the Bridge during the last mission. Quite interesting if I do say so. Which reminds me Commodore. There will be an official reprimand in your record. Starfleet does not take kindly to Captains commandeering their own vessels. That said. The incident with The Silence goes to show you that this experiment is working. The unity between all is seen by simply reading the after action reports." Rice paused and then smiled knowingly. "Oh, Commodore and Colonel I will also be putting a commendation in both of your files as well as the file for the rest of the crew of the Pioneer. It is rare that a Federation starship saves an entire race of people."
Neil said, "I appreciate the pat on the back, sir. But I should catch a reprimand as well. I am just as responsible for taking the crew into harms way. The Silence's affect on the crew, as far as the sealed logs indicate... well I won't justify my . And I was, at one point, suggesting it was an attack on a Fleet ship by an unknown party." He considered and said, "I was only partially kidding when I suggested glassing the planet."
Keeping his gaze level, he met the Brigadier's eyes and Neil continued, "My people were under unknown attack. My CO and second officer had very recently been taken under the influence of an entity that was playing with minds and were just recovering. Maybe I should be up on charges."
"Shut up, Neil," Sobel said, looking at the Pioneer's Exec. "That was suggested and we listened. The Commandant saw your comment about glassing the planet and yelled at me for about five minutes. Then the Federation Security Council handed down their recommendation. Fleet Officer's opinions were mixed. Once you got past the initial protests: protests you were supposed to make you all did the job. And every single member of your crew went along. Not because they were ordered to, but because they believed in their command team. Your officer cadre all bought in despite giving opportunity to bow out."
Glaring at the colonel, Francis took a breath and said, "So. Just shut up. No need to martyr yourself. You were injured pretty badly during this encounter. And I know others in your crew were hurt too. But everyone lived. That's a win. So, yeah. Shut the hell up. That's an order. You and I. Merrick. Maybe Tyler if he would like, and Tim if he wants to slum it with the Marines will hash out that ground action later."
Under orders, Neil bit back a sigh and nodded, simply saying, "Aye aye, General."
Tim smiled at the General's comments toward Niel. "Well, gentlemen it seems to me that the two of you have made this work beyond our expectations. I believe that as it stands now this program should continue. However, Commodore refrain from hijacking your own vessel in the future. You gentlemen are dismissed. I am sure your crew is missing you. If you are not careful we will promote both of you."
"I make no promises about not taking my ship. But I will promise that if you try to promote me I will never take it." Tyler laughed and turned toward Niel. His XO and friend, in this moment he realized that there was no one else he would rather have on his bridge.
Neil came to his feet with Tyler and held his tongue. He really couldn't promise to avoid promotion, even though he likely would be doing so by merely remaining aboard the Pioneer. That was an inner battle. Pushing to lead was ingrained and for now he had his hands full of challenges. And the Pioneer was home and her crew a family.
That worried him a little. The mindset wasn't fully at ease in him and when Neil thought about it, it probably shouldn't be. Being too comfortable could make you sloppy.
Sobel watched the pair exit and stood. Stretched. And said, "The Commandant also said this last action was in the Best Interest of the Federation and exemplified the missions of both Fleet and Corp. I think telling them that would have puffed up their heads. And from a ground commander's viewpoint, it was close. We could have lost the whole detachment and maybe the ship. All MIA even though I know Neil had failsafes. Let's hope they don't push it too far one day."
"I agree. What troubles me is that Malbrooke decided to simply hijack his own vessel. That is something that Starfleet does not take kindly to. What's more is that if he had told us what went on we would have approved the mission. Captains... You can't live with them and you can't live without them." Rice was on the fence about the Silence incident as it was called. It all worked out, but what if it didn't next time.
A Joint Post By
Brigadier General Francis Sobel
Commanding Officer, 258th Starfleet Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Empok Nor
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Battalion Commander, The Cure
Rear Admiral Timothy Rice
Sector Commanding Officer, Trivas Sector
Empok Nor
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
RSS Feed