Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape

Posted on Sat Aug 12th, 2017 @ 3:28am by Major Parker Jacobs & Commander Talia Varen & Major Alexandria Somers & Captain Duncan Foster & Lieutenant Erin Whitlam PhD & Ensign Jenna Steel & Lieutenant JG Erica De'Havean & Lieutenant JG Allison Price

Mission: Call of the Wild
Location: Auditorium 4

[ON]

Major Parker Jacobs stood at the front of the large auditorium with several of his squad leaders at his side as the crowd filtered in. After the call had gone out from the Captain sign ups had actually swelled to a much higher number than he had expected but nothing he hadn't been able to plan for. As it stood there would be at least eight groups going out on the training with the Major planning to lead at least one of the groups himself, the final grouping, however, was to be determined.

Erica entered the Auditorium at the appointed time. She looked over the those that had gathered as she made her way to her chosen seat. Close enough to hear, yet back several rows from the front for easier viewing of those on the stage. She settled in her seat, got out her pad for notes.

Talia walked in alongside another of her doctors, a Lieutenant Lyr. She didn't know much about the man other than what she'd read in his fit rep, but that was enough for her for the time being. He felt confident and curious, two good traits to display.

Lyr's eyes darted around the auditorium, wincing a little at the noise of over a hundred people in the same small space. Noticing his Chief's eyes on him- he smiled in her direction. His earring made a tinkling noise as the two crystals linked together and he silenced it with a caress of his fingers. This was going to be extremely interesting.

Ugh, too many people, Erin sighed as she entered the auditorium. This is going to be nightmare. Although she acknowledged the importance of this training, or, more to the point, how vital it was that she have her accreditation up to date, she still didn't want to have to spend a week away from her work roughing it in some alien wilderness. It had been made clear to her that this wasn't negotiable, but that didn't mean she had to love it.

Allie was a little intimidated at the size of the crowd at first, though it did remind her of her academy days. Although she was nervous about the training, she was excited about the chance to get off the station for a while and get some fresh air. Engineers didn't often have that opportunity, though she hoped that she never actually needed to use what she was preparing to learn. Allie found a seat next to a young science officer that looked to be about her age and got settled in. With the rest of the volunteers still getting situated, she tried to make conversation. "Hi there. Lieutenant Allison Price. Well, Lieutenant Junior Grade. I don't believe we've had a chance to meet," she greeted, extending her hand towards her fellow jay-gee.

Erin was doing her best to hide beneath a mask of disdain for this whole process but found it impossible to direct her displeasure on someone who was only trying to be friendly. Her mood cracked and she smiles crossed her face as she shook the hand of the gold-shirt who'd sat next to her. "Erin Whitlam," she replied, deliberately omitting the rank. "I'm new to the station; only been here about a week." She sighed and glanced around at the filling auditorium. "I've barely unpacked and they've frogmarched me into this thing."

Allie's smile faded. It was clear that the new officer was not entirely here by choice. "I see. Well, I'm sure you'll get settled in soon. I've been on the station for a while, served my internship here. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to help."

Erin saw the change in Price's demeanour and quietly chastised herself. Way to alienate the first person to be civil to you on this place! she cursed before conjuring up a sincere smile from somewhere deep inside. "I appreciate that thanks," she said. "I know nobody here, so I just may call on you a lot," she added with a chuckle.

"Well, if I had an office, my door is always open. Though since I don't have an office, I suppose that still applies," Allie replied, amusing herself a little with her own joke.

Jenna was one of the last to walk in. This was going to be her first big training exercise with the crew of Starbase 332, so she was a little bit nervous, taking a seat on the opposite end of the room from everyone else, but still close enough to hear everyone. She took out a PADD from her EMT bag, which she had brought along, in case of any emergency.

Erica waved to Allie when hearing her voice. She got up and moved to join her and Erin. "I see you decided to leave the engineering room for something more challenging, Allison?" She gave a nod to Erin as she directed her next comment to Erin. "You going to be assigned to the USS Jackal?"

Allie looked insulted. "You know, Erica, if it weren't for me keeping those engines running, you wouldn't be flying us anywhere. Don't think I've forgotten about that impulse coil you burned out last mission."

Erin suppressed a smile at the banter between the two. If there was one thing she had already learned over the course of her burgeoning career it was to always keep the engineers on side. She jumped in and extended a hand to Erica, "Nice to meet you, I'm Erin Whitlam. They haven't given me a garrison assignment yet, so I'm tied to the station. At least, when I'm not being marooned planetside."

Erica chuffed softly with laughter as she took Erin's hand in hers. "Erica De'Havean, Senior pilot of the USS Jackal. Shuttle pilot for the station when not out with the Jackal." She looked at Allison. "Your work is superior and it's my job to push the ship to its limits when needed for the safety of the crew to do their jobs." Her body language and tone showed she had high respect Allison Price.

The intercom in the room roared to life with a tap as Jacobs tapped on the microphone he held. "Alright attention everyone, please take a seat now." The roar of the crowd in the room dulled a bit as people turned to look at him and his command staff before turning and looking for a place to sit. Slowly but surely the din lowered to a whisper and then to almost no noise at all.

"Alright. So if some of you do not know yet, my name is Major Parker Jacobs, I am the commanding officer of the 14th Marine Battalion here on the starbase. With me up here are various officers and senior enlisted members of the four companies that comprise said battalion. Over the next week to two weeks you will be getting to know our faces rather well and in some cases might come to hate them. That is alright we won't take it personally." Parker said with a slight pause to let the small chuckle that had rippled through the crowd die down.

"You've been gathered here, either volunteered, voluntold or have need for re-certification for your SERE training. Now I hope you all know what SERE stands for but in case you don't I will refresh your memory. SERE is an acronym for Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape, its training that all Starfleet officers must complete for at least the survival aspect. In the next few days you will be assigned to group which will be lead by one of these marines standing up with myself, we will lead you on a hike from one end of a island on the planet below to the other. This will take as I said multiple days and at the most two weeks. You've all had your assignments changed for the time being to reflect this." Behind Parker the massive auditorium holodisplay shifted from an image of the Starfleet chevron to an overhead of the island on the planet below. To give a bit of context to the crowd that would be hiking it, and a bit for Parker and his marines a picture of who might be a problem with reactions to its size.

"Now... are there any questions?"

Price tried not to react to the image of the island. It did appear to be a bit daunting at first, but despite how she might have let on to De'Havean, she was excited to get out of the engine room. A little rain and mud might do her some good. She remained quiet for now, her brain trying to decide if she had any questions.

Erin looked around at the assembled crew, wondering if anybody would ask a question. She considered publicly re-stating her objection to this whole misadventure, but decided it was a lost cause.

"Major?!" Erica stood up as she spoke. "Are we allowed any equipment when we start out on this SERE Event?"

In the back of the room a comm badge chirped. Rising to go to the far back so she wouldn't disturb the presenter Talia tapped her comm badge. =/\=Varen here=/\=

=/\= Quincy here Doctor, we've got a problem with your locked down patient.=/\= The doctor could hear a faint alarm ringing in the background.

=/\= On my way.=/\= Waving her apology to the presenter, Dr. Varen exited the room. Speeding her steps to the urgent not quite run of a Medical officer headed to an emergency.

Out of the corner of his eye Parker watched someone rush from the room as he looked towards the lieutenant who had asked the question. "Equipment and survival gear will be distributed before departure to the planet. You will not need to bring anything other than yourself. Said equipment will be a full survival kit that should be on every standard Starfleet shuttle. While in real life you may not get full kits like you will now during the training we will be showing you alternative ways to create fire, purify water and the likes." Parker said as he waved a hand dismissively, "Anyone else?"

"No? Okay then. Up front with myself you see 5 other Marines of rank. These Marines will be assisting me in heading the survival groups." Parker said waving to the officers behind him, "Marines do be kind and introduce yourself if you will?"

Alex was like the new kid on the block, she thought there were too many in the room, then she chided herself for being intimidated by so many people, she was the daughter of an Ambassador a retired Marine officer no less and she had been brought up around diplomatic functions both Klingon and non-Klingon, she preferred the Klingon function's better as tghe was the only time Starfleet Officers were allowed to drink real alcohol, but sucking it up and growing a pair she stepped forward.

Stepping forward "I am Major Alexandria Lynne Somers, I am the new Commander of G "Omega" Company, 14th Battalion Starfleet Marine Corps, I may be young but I am a combat veteran so I want those of G Company who I have yet to meet know that their new Commander is not some greenhorn and I am happy to be here" Somers finished and mumbled under her breath in her native tongue, it was too low for the translators to pick up, but she stepped back to allow another new officer to announce himself.

Parker waited for a moment while the rest of the marines up front introduced themselves to the assembled crowd. It took a few moments but eventually all had done so. Taking a step forward again to reach the center and draw attention to himself Parker cleared his throat. "Alright everyone that's it. We leave tomorrow morning at 1000 sharp. If you're not at your assigned transporter room you will be transported any way. Dismissed."

---

Major Parker Jacobs
Marine Commanding Officer
Starbase 332

Lieutenant JG Erin Whitlam PhD
Science Officer
Starbase 332

Ensign Jenna Steel
Paramedic
Starbase 332

Major Alexandria Somers
Company Commander
Starbase 332

Lieutenant Commander Talia Varen
Chief Medical Officer
Starbase 332

Lieutenant JG Erica De'Havean
Flight Operations Officer
Starbase 332

Lieutenant JG Allison Price
Operations Officer, Resident Ships
Starbase 332