Not The Best Option, But An Option None The Less.

Posted on Mon Dec 21st, 2020 @ 2:48pm by Major Tatiana Skobelova

Mission: S0E0: What Came Before
Location: Marine Country, Canopus Station

As the detachment's officers filed out of her office, an exhausted Tatiana Skobelova sat back in her chair. After several hours of work, the incoming marines where finally assigned to companies. The majority where straight out of the academy. There were a few NCOs, but most of them had just been promoted to Sergeant or Corporal before being assigned to Canopus Station. Word had gotten out about the fungal infection and most veteran and senior NCOs turned down offers to transfer to Canopus Station. The same was true for officers. Only a handful of Captains and 1st Lieutenants were among the leadership. The rest were green 2nd Lieutenants. The lack of experienced marines was going to make running the detachment a challenge but it was workable.

One important position needed to be filled, the detachment first sergeant. The most ranking NCO was Staff Sergeant Zamara. She was first rate at organization but only had six years in service. The time she did have in was tapping on a PaDD rather than behind a trigger. Zamara could be a very capable leader with a bit more field time. As of now, the Rigelian needed more experience.

The most experienced NCO in the detachment was one Sergeant Philbert "Fender" McCord. The jocular NCO from the Normandy that humiliated her. Fender had a long list of citations for courage and awards for his skill as a leader. Given those, he could easily hold the rank of Sergeant Major. However, there was another side to his record. While fender could make rank, he could lose it just as fast. He had a long list of disciplinary actions and even spent time in Federation prison for striking an officer. Tatiana hated the man and wanted to put her boot sideways up Fender's ass. That problem aside, Tatiana needed a break.

To be early on her first ay at the station, Tatiana had skipped breakfast. As she worked through he sizable amount of paperwork, she had a small lunch of tea and bread. She felt light headed as her stomach growled. She ordered a grilled cheese sandwich from the replicator and quickly devoured it. The food wasn't great but it filled her.

Tatiana left her office. In contrast to the abandoned feel Marine Country had in the morning, it was now bedlam. Outside in the cavernous hangar, a mass of marines moved as they searched for their units. Officers with PaDDs pointed and shouted at the green clad mob. A few units had already began to form ranks in their staging areas. Amongst the swell of people were several cargo containers that needed to be unloaded. Tatiana took note of two familiar NCOs casually watching as the marines frantically tried to organize themselves.

"Hello Fender. Hello Bug." Tatiana greeted them cheerfully. Tatiana looked at Fender. "What? You're not going to greet me as your Missy?"

The two were silent. Fender was surprised with his mouth agape. Bug looked at Tatiana, as if his mind was trying to process her existence on the station.

"I would like to see the both of you in my office." She told them.

"Your office? Which one is that?" Bug asked.

"The one that is marked 'Marine Detachment Commander' on the door." Tatiana explained.

Bug's face went from confusion to dejection as he noticed the rank on Tatiana's collar. Fender let out a few profanities under his breath. The two marines shuffled their way to the office.

Fender and Bug remained silent as Tatiana entered. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't you two be at the position of attention?" Tatiana more told rather than asked. The position of attention was not used that often, typically for formal ceremonies or disciplinary hearings. The two did not protest as they straightened up.

To show dominance, Tatiana moved to behind Fender's right shoulder. Just slightly in Fender's peripheral vision, Tatiana addressed him. "Tell me Sergeant McCord, would now be a good time to lecture you about conduct becoming a marine?"

"I suppose it would." Fender replied meekly.

"We'll I'm glad you agree. So I guess I do have credibility?" Tatiana asked rhetorically.

Fender did not respond. Tatiana moved around to stand in front of Fender. She removed her eye patch, exposing her milky white left eye. "This little mark on my face, the on I got on Dohla V. It nearly took my face off. Does it make me a real marine? May I now judge you?"

Fender was still at a loss for words. Tatiana turned to Bug. "I'm sorry, should I go to the replicator and ask for a bag to put over my head? I just need one eye hole."

Bug failed to reply. "Nothing else to add Corporal Bugansky? Did I forget anything?" Tatiana asked.

"You forgot about the part were Sergeant McCord was going to put you over his knee, Major." Bug replied formally.

Fender looked over at Bug. "You fucker!" Was all that could come out of his mouth.

"That was a weasel move, Corporal." Tatiana was not impressed by Bug's action. "Report to Captain Calhoun in 1st Company. He will get some use out of you."

Bug moved to leave the office while Tatiana retuned to her desk. "One more thing, Corporal." Tatiana raised her voice. "You are prohibited from buying or consuming alcohol on the station. That is all."

While a grimace formed on Bug's face, he was glad to leave the office. Tatiana started to scroll through her PaDD. "You have an interesting record Sergeant McCord." Tatiana stated in a formal tone while Fender remained at attention.

"You fought against the Klingons, the Borg, and near the end of the Dominion War your unit was captured. You spent a little time in Dominion prisoner of war camp. Besides that, you have several medals and citations. That is an impressive record." Tatiana informed Fender about his own career.

"The other part of your personnel jacket, however, leaves something to be desired." Tatiana stated with resignation as she read her PaDD. "Apparently, you enjoyed the rank of Lance Corporal so much you held it seven times. Some of your disciplinary infractions include drunkenness, disorderly conduct, going AWOL, stealing a shuttle for three weeks."

"Oh, this is an interesting one, you stripped your unconscious platoon commander of his clothes and glued him to a Pakled sex doll. You then left the two in front of a civilian cantina. I'll admit that was creative. How did you come up with that idea, Sergeant?"

"I don't remember, I was drunk. He was a bastard though and deserved it." Fender replied.

"Whatever you motives, you're at the end of your tether, Sergeant McCord." Tatiana became more formal. "One more mistake and not only will you be kicked off this station, you will be out of Starfleet and the marines. Is that clear, Sergeant McCord?"

"Yes, Major."

"Very well, report to Staff Sergeant Zamara in the headquarters section. Give her all the assistance you can. Dismissed."

Given that Fender was by far the most experienced NCO in the detachment, he was the most qualified to hold the first sergeant post. Tatiana would offer the position to Fender shortly. She just didn't want to give him the satisfaction of earning that position right now. Senior NCO or not, nobody was indispensable. If he fell short, he would be on a ship back into civilian life.