Collaborating

Posted on Sun Feb 11th, 2024 @ 10:06pm by Lieutenant Didrea Zade & Major Jason Burke

Mission: The Trojan Horse
Location: USS Athena
Timeline: MD-02
626 words - 1.3 OF Standard Post Measure

"Lieutenant Zade, isn't it?" Major Burke appeared in the doorway of the Security Chief's office. "Jason Burke. I'm running the ground operation on our mission in the Naghel system. Commodore Kane pointed me towards you as someone who can lend some support to my team."

Knowing she couldn't spend all of her time on the bridge, Zade forced herself to come to terms with the residual tension she felt in her own office. She had done a little redecorating to help, which mostly involved shifting PADDs from one side of her desk to the other. The voice pulled her attention away from the PADD she was reading and to a face she didn't recognize. "That's me," she responded, resting the device on her desk. "How can security assist?"

"My team are putting together our plans for the ground operation when we arrive in the system. It might be useful to have some of your people on board to help," he explained, pausing before he added, "As hostages..."

Zade nodded slowly, easily catching on to what he was suggesting. She'd want to do the same thing, strategize entry, recovery, and exiting. "Any particular reason behind the preference for real bodies instead of holographic ones?" She asked.

"We've found that it adds an element of realism," Burke explained. "Getting them up-close, understanding what the hostages might do; a computer simulation can't always account for different reactions. Besides, it gives your people an idea of what we might come up against. We're working together, after all."

"That makes sense. Helps account for unknowns." Zade let her mind go into strategizing mode, a far easier state of mind to be in compared to dwelling on recent drama. "Well..." she paused briefly to confirm the rank on his uniform, "Major, shall we talk strategy, make sure we're on the same page?" She extended a hand toward one of the two chairs on the other side of her desk.

Burke smiled, taking the offered seat. "I don't think there's too much discussion required. I don't expect your team needs much training, especially if they're sitting in for our hostages. You might find it even better if they don't know what to expect; I know it might shake a few people up, but in the real thing those hostages won't have a clue what's happening either."

While the Major had a point, he'd really only get that realism the first time. "I'm referring to what each of us knows about the prison," Zade clarified. "Potential escape routes for the kidnappers, possible traps... your team may be executing the rescue, but that doesn't mean mine can't be prepared to support."

"Okay, okay," Burke nodded, approving of Zade's train of thought. "Familiarity with the environment makes some sense, even if you're not dropping in with us, you can still help us spot things. Those science and engineering wizards have got to be useful for something, right?" he smiled. "Mixed groups, then. An observer from your people attached to each of mine. How does that sound?"

The Trill returned his smile, glad that he agreed. "That can work. If we need to adjust, we can figure those out as they come up." Briefly checking her calendar on the computer, she added, "I can send you some times that the holodecks are open, but it looks like the next availability is at 1400."

"Very well. I'll make sure my people are on hand to...educate yours," he said with a faint smile. "Just as I'm sure your team will have some things to teach us too."

Zade gave a nod as she booked the time in the holodeck schedule. "I hope both of our teams get something out of this. See you in holodeck 1 at 1400, Major."