Healthy Competition

Posted on 05 Jun 2013 @ 12:56pm by Marine Captain Ray Fernandez (Ret.) & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Oliver Sylver

1,086 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Corridor
Timeline: MD 09 1630 HRS

ON:

Ray yawned. It was one of those days. With everyone doing the surveys he found that he had very little to do. He didn't want to impose himself on the remaining security members and was simply waiting for a call from this Lieutenant Rhodes so he could get started on his training schedule for this team they had so desperately wanted.

Oliver Sylver let out a breath as he slowed down. He had been running. He liked that, just run around the ship. Reminded him of his days as a Marine. He wore combat trousers, boots and a tee shirt rather than the regular training outfit that most general Starfleet personnel wore. He might now be a normal Fleeter, but some stuff was hard to shake. \

Ray spotted the drab and couldn't help but laugh. "Shouldn't you be in Personnel fatigues?" He commented and he walked up from behind the man.

He turned quickly, his body tense as he looked at Ray before he relaxed and gave him a smile. "Off duty I wear what works for me," he said, his voice quiet.

Ray chuckled. "I personally don't give two damns, I was just wondering." He swung out with his stick and tapped the pants. "How long were you in son?"

He looked at him, giving him a weak smile. Long enough, but he knew better than to say that aloud. "Seven years, Sir," he said, adding the last automatically. His eyes went over the other man, quickly observing how he moved and spoke.

Ray nodded. "Seven too long by the look of you. Fighter pilot?" He asked. The questions came quick, sharp.

"Yes Sir, during the war," he said and smiled weakly, before offering his hand. "Warrant Officer Oliver Sylver, Shuttle Pilot."

The older man took it in a firm handshake and grinned. "Ray Fernandez, Former Lieutenant Colonel, now a Captain teaching recruits." Ray looked Oliver over and nodded. "You certainly look the roll Warrant. Why the switch out?"

"Burn out, Sir. Honourable discharge after the war," he said as he let go of his hand. "Nice to meet you, Captain Fernandez."

He nodded, understanding completely. "I'm sorry to hear that son, it's a rough field and it takes the best out of everyone." He grinned suddenly and scratched the scar around his cybernetic eye. "So...fighter pilot...Our fighters can go what...Full impulse speed?" He couldn't recall exactly, Ray was a frontline fighter, he had never had the experience to fly any of the fighters.

Oliver smiled weakly as he looked at him, his eyes gentle. "Depends entirely on what class it is. I started on a Peregrine class, so max was 6.1 officially...in reality, 5.6 was what you actually got. Then there was the Valkyrie, which was warp 4. Could do warp 6 for about ten minutes...enough to get the hell out of dodge..." he frowned, scratching his chin as he considered it. "Broadswords were of course the most used to support the ground. Max warp 2, warp 6 or about seven minutes on average. And then there is the one person fighter, the Raptor. Max warp 5.9." He still remembered these things, having piloted all of these... although he had been shot down with a Broadsword.

Ray nodded, soaking it all up. "I didn't realize that the fighter's we had even went warp." He laughed at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. "I never served on a ship with fighters. Not even the Galaxy I was on had them. It's always interesting to hear about the pilots. "Give me a rifle and I can tell you make, model, year and race. Give me a vehicle...I couldn't tell you if it was the ignition or the self-destruct." He laughed whole heartily at himself. "You seem like a decent chap...Have you heard about this little team I've been ordered to train? "

"No," he said as he looked at him, not wanting to say that the reason most never knew how fast a fighter could fly was because during the war they were shot to pieces before they could even enter warp. "I am afraid I don't listen as much to scuttlebutt as I used to."

Chuckling he conceded the point. "We're making an inter-department team that could use skills like yours. A lot of people don't know the importance of a good pilot. If you're interested...sign up for the registration and testing " He smiled.

Olly looked at him, taking the other man. "I don't think I am good for testing. I'm still up to date with my combat and firing range training. Every Marine is a groundpounder too I suppose..." he frowned as he considered it. "Think they'd want me?"

"I'm teaching it and I'm tell you son: I'd want you on this team. " It's not so much combat oriented like what you would have seen in the SFMC. " He explained quickly. "But the idea behind it is to have a group of individuals that can help Security when they are in a tight spot and need extra support...so if the ship was invaded...we'd have a few extra skilled guns, or if we needed extra security for a diplomat or things of that nature. The need for this group would hopefully be rare." He smiled. "Besides, I've heard that there is a 'Lamar Darius' that's going to register...I'd hate to think he was going to get it without a little competition." He added slyly.

Olly arched an eyebrow, smiling as he folded his arms. "Well, I have to sign up then, if only to show I still have it. I'll do my best, but I am not that great playing with others."

Ray laughed and shrugged. "You don't need to play nice...you just need to do your job and keep those people alive." He grinned and poked Oliver in the chest with his cane softly. "Don't need to be nice to do that."

Just like that Ray turned around and gave the former marine a small wave.

"I'll see you at testing then." He called behind him as he realized that he wanted some milk. Time to hunt down a replicator.

Olly watched him go, taking a deeper breath. He frowned, considering it for a moment before moving to continue his jog. He had to see how it would work out.

OFF:

Marine Captain Ray Fernandez (ret.)
Former Marine Commanding Officer USS fitzgerald
TRT Instructor
Starfleet Academy, Earth

&

WO Oliver Sylver
Pilot
USS Galileo

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