Backlog - A silent mission: Protection

Posted on 06 Oct 2025 @ 9:58pm by Lieutenant JG Faith Benson & 1st Lieutenant Cassandra Matthews & Ensign Alexi Michelle Brevet & Master Sergeant Thomas Zang

2,244 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Open Seasons Episode 5: 95th Regimental Missions
Location: MCO office - Tomcat-
Timeline: 3 days into shore leave. Early afternoon

ON:



Cassandra dismissed the pilots leaving them to go gather what they might need. Also to go overlook the stealth ship they would be responsible for and try to get acquainted with it. Next was setting up protection for the engineers and the team in general. She needed infiltration specialists and thankfully had three on hand. So, she sent for Faith Benson, Alexi Michelle and Thomas Zang. Now on her third cup of strong coffee she waited for their arrival at the MCO office on the Tomcat.

Thomas was the first to arrive as he was already in the area. When he wasn't off spending time with Martha or meeting new people, he was around the marine's area constantly checking his gear and equipment. He wanted to always be ready for anything and any mission he might be put on. When he entered Cassandra's office, he shot her a smile before he took a seat. "Hey Cass, we got ourselves a mission already?"

Cassandra looked up at him her usual carefree demeanor was gone. Her blue eyes held intensity of responsibility. "Yes Master Sargent Zang. I have asked you here about a mission. Big will elaborate further once the rest of the party has arrived. Please in the meantime remove your comm badge and put it in the box on the corner of my desk please and then retake your seat as we wait."

Thomas dropped the smile as he stood up and removed his commbadge. He dropped it in the indicated box with a raised eyebrow. "I take it that this is very important mission." He said as he sat back in his seat.

"Yes. It's... Important in its own way I guess." Cassandra said as she got her paperwork in order. It was easy there wasn't much. She had been tasked with destroying the files as she expelled their information to the needed parties. She didn't want Thomas to go. But she needed the best and he was one of her best. Still, it ate at her heart. "How are you with mines?" She asked. "Or being underground in general?"

Thomas thought a moment. "To be honest, I've never been underground or in a mine before." He said after a pause. If the mission required him to go underground, then he would accomplish the mission even if he discovered that he was claustrophobic. His father had often told him that fear was something to control and use instead of letting it control him. He was once afraid of heights, but his father had encouraged him to climb a tall tree and then to look out over the forest. It had taken him almost a year before he had actually made it to the top. Once he had reached the top and actually looked out over the top of the forest, his fear had melted away at the sight that had been laid before him. A vast panorama of treetops with various bird species flying above the forest canopy with the snowcapped mountains in the distance. It had been breathtaking view.

Faith smirked hearing Thomas, throwing her arms out wide. "Come now, Mr. Zang. Sure you have, you had to go through Zero-G training at the Academy. It's pretty much the same.'

Thomas nodded and saluted as he stood to Lt Benson when she entered. "I highly doubt that as zero g training is weightless and being underground you still deal with the inherent gravity of the planet that you are on, Lieutenant." He smiled with a chuckle as he took his seat again.

Alexi Michelle was not expecting to be called to meet with the MCO's. That wasn't ever a consideration as far as she was concerned. She was security. Okay so she was also an investigator and had been instrumental in decrypting those data crystals. But being summoned by Matthews was totally unexpected. She arrived at the appointed location and looked around, "Master Chief... I mean Ensign Michelle, Reporting as requested."

Thomas nodded to the next person to join their little group. He stood and offered a salute and his hand to the ensign after she spoke to Cassandra. "Nice to meet you Ensign, I'm Master Sergeant Thomas Zang."

"You should know not to salute without having a cover on. And you're not suppose to have a cover on indoors. So..you don't have to salute me Sergeant." Faith smirked a little bit, but gave a nod in return to it. She was about to say something else before Alexi said what she did. It was a good thing she hadn't been drinking something, because it would have just been spewed all over the office and them.

There was still almost that sound made as Faith looked to Alexi, "Did you just?" She started giggling a little. Explaining before someone asked, "There was this video game in the 20th century, video games are very very old entertainment programs, think of it as a holodeck with one screen. Called Halo, it was pretty fun actually, particularly co-op. The main character was a marine but special and a badass, and only called Master Chief."

Alexi shook the offered hand, "Nice to meet you as well." She lifted her eyebrows at Faith. "I am not quite used to this rank yet. Sort of still think of myself as Master Chief Petty Officer."

Cassandra watched the exchange then after the banter seemed to lull she took a breath and began. "As interesting as that sounds I have a very limited time to prep you all. So if I could please have you secure your comm badges in the box there we can begin the briefing." She motioned to the box that Thomas had already placed his inside.
She waited for the other to comply. Once the commbadges were secured she began.

"We only have a short time before deployment so refrain from questions until the end of the briefing, please. Doctor Hawthorne will be in shortly to record your vitals and do an impromptu physical before we depart. You will have a ten-minute window to gather any supplies you feel you will require beyond armor and basic necessities. You will speak nor interact with no one as you do so. then meet promptly in the rendezvous point in Hanger X-0. A security code will be provided to you for the main transporter room they will get you there. Please take a seat."

As if on Que the doctor entered with a Padd in one hand a scanner in the other. Cassandra nodded towards Thomas and wordlessly the doctor walked over and began to scan him.

"I require you three to act as security for my away team of engineers. You are all highly qualified in stealth, weapons, and hand to hand combat. As well as secondary skills that may be required should things go south. A report has come in in regard to one of Starfleet's Dilithum mines and we are being sent to discreetly gather intelligence and plant equipment for long term assessment if necessary. Your jobs are going to be to infiltrate a few of the shafts with an engineer and deploy special surveillance devices without being seen. or caught." It sounded easy enough. "Starfleet doesn't want its miners knowing we are watching them. There is a chance that something screwy has happened and there could be possible hostiles. That however is not OUR mission. Ours is as I said, Infiltrate, deploy and leave real stealth and Ricky tic like. Any questions so far?"

After depositing her combadge as requested she turned to listen to the instructions. Alexi was fairly certain this op was a result of those decryptions she'd done not too long ago. She was intrigued by the mission at hand. As for infiltration, she would bet they would go in looking like miners as must as possible. "Ricky tic?" She said quietly, not expecting an answer.

"It's an old Earth story about a mongoose." Cassandra waved a hand dismissively. "It means to be really really fast." She was gathering herself there was alot to cover still.

Thomas chuckled as he was being examined by the Doctor. "Rikki tikki tavi. It's a story about a mongoose that is adopted by a family then ends up saving them from a couple of cobra snakes." He said as he remembered his mother having read it to him as a child along with a few other stories that were part of a collection based in the ancient Indian jungles.

Alexi merely raised her eyebrows at both of the explanations and turned her attention to Matthews. "Anything else that is required for this mission?"

"My combat suit?" Faith gave a shrug a little throwing it out there, even if it wasn't finished. "I think we should be good."

Alexi raised her eyebrows and looked at Faith, "I sincerely doubt a combat suit would meet the requirements of quick and stealthy."

"Or would it?" Faith simply gave a little wink.

Mathews gave the matter a moment of consideration then nodded. "Bring it if you think it will help. The job is simple enough. Get the engineers in and out safely and quick as possible. No comms will be used once deployed from the main ship. So you will discuss your plans enroute with your assigned teams. There are specialized gear on board the ship that is at our disposal however you are free to use your own equipment if its more comfortable."

Faith's nose crinched a little bit, "Unfortunately it's not done, yet, or technically even allowed." Squaring her shoulders a little bit. "Got it." She already was thinking about her rifle.

"If there are no other pressing questions, please go gather your gear and we will meet at the main lift in a hour passcode zelpa4." Cassandra said evenly. "Oh, and Faith... I am going to need you as a possible back up pilot. If anything happens to the one assigned to your team I will need you to step into that position and get the team out."

"I can certainly do that, Lieutenant." Giving a nod. Faith gave Cassandra a 'good game' slap on the ass as she walked by. Heading to go and get a couple of things, one of which was a T-116 sniper rifle.

Thomas raised an eyebrow at Faith slapping Cassandra's backside. He wondered if the other two were going to be checked over by the doctor or if he was the only one that was required to be checked. He shrugged his shoulder and dismissed it from his mind as he turned to Cassandra. "Is there any specific items that we will be required to bring with us?" He asked as he stood up.

Cassandra tried not to smile at Faiths retreating figure. Thomas's voice drew her gaze away. There had been a time before Thomas had come to the Tomcat that Cassandra had shyly carried a crush on the El'Aurian chief of security and tactical. Unfortunately it had never blossomed into anything more than a good solid friendship. Cassandra had been to afraid to take the risk of pressing for more. Looking at Thomas now she felt no regrets. He loved her. She knew he did. There was no question, no need to press anything, he was very clear about his affection for her. "There will be specialty gear provided, however if your more comfortable with your own gear I'm clearing you to use it instead." Cassandra clarified as she moved closer to him. "I want you to be at your very best, take anything you need for that "

"Aye Ma'am, is there anything else I need to be told?" Thomas asked as he fought the urge to close the distance and give her a kiss.

"Not yet. Not until we have left Starbase fifty-one." Cassandra stated. She saw the look he gave her. Wished she could indulge him. Unfortunately she was not his girlfriend in this moment, no, she was his commanding officer right now and therefore a line of professionalism must be maintained. Even if Benson had tap danced over it only seconds ago. Benson wasn't one of HER Marines. So. Easier to let slide. Thomas Zang as much as she'd welcome a confident slap on the ass or two from him would have to wait until they got back from the mission alive.

Thomas nodded then saluted Cassandra. "If there is nothing else Ma'am, I shall take my leave to get ready, I'll be waiting in the designated location in t-minus ten minutes. He stated.

Cassandra saluted back, sending him on his way.

Thomas left after the salute to get his gear gathered. He had a field pack prepped but needed to double check that everything was in order before he deployed.

Faith gave a glance as Zang left, looking back to Cassandra. "I saw that look, he needs to learn to ease up, particularly before a mission. There anything else?"

"Then everyone out. We've got work to do." Faith motioned to the doors and waited until everyone else had filed out. Giving a glance to Cassandra before she left herself.

OFF::

 

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