Waves from a Rocked Boat

Posted on Fri Jul 22nd, 2022 @ 2:25pm by Ranger Blue & Lieutenant Colonel Shaun Bradley

1,907 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Roll With It
Location: Haumea Colony
Timeline: MD02: 0530 HRS

Security feeds were a thing.

It was nearing the morning of the second day of the blasted bubble and they were no closer to a real solution. At some point, everyone sleeps, but Marines get real good at the power nap over time. For Shaun it was crawling into one of the fighters on the deck after it had been used for surveillance. He'd meant to check the service logs and readouts but the mundane work had led to him dozing off. He'd gotten three undisturbed hours before a call had come through. A routine run-through of security records had caught the eye of a security officer. They'd flagged it, and that had gone to Lieutenant Issacks' office, who was distracted with the bubble. So someone had scrolled through the list of Officers who could deal with security concerns and landed on the Lieutenant Colonel.

This meant, in rapid succession three things had happened to piss off Shaun Bradley. One, someone had woken him up. This was enough to make most senior officers annoyed, as there should be someone dealing with this before it got to him. Two, it turned out that someone had been seen actively allowing themselves to be inside the security field with the captured Fenris Ranger, and even so much as relaxing with them inside their cell. This lead to problem three, that someone was a member of Starfleet. Of the three, number three was the one he'd get the most to gloat about around a beer after all was said and done - Marines loved to remind Starfleet they were inept when it came to guard duty. As he'd crawled from the cockpit, he'd acknowledged he'd be there in thirty minutes, and then called for a pair of Marines.

It was a short stop at his bunk to change and freshen his appearance. The dark circles under his eyes were likely to stay, but that was fine by him. Marines had two duty uniforms, one that was the more standard BDU style - like his two escorting Corporals were wearing, and the Starfleet Adjacent duty uniform he'd taken time to put on. The latter gave the true appearance of an annoyed officer, of which Lieutenant Colonel Shaun Bradley was definitely annoyed. As he approached the bridge, his escorts slung their Type IV's up out of their arms and onto their shoulders. "Doors," the Marine growled at the Starfleet crewman standing. The Fleeter looked like she was about to object, but Shaun's eyes pivoted to meet hers. In that moment years of dirty looks from General MacTaryn came to fruition as the same annoyed look of "Be careful of your next words," was angled towards the NCO, and she nodded. The doors hissed open, and he was through.

Haumea's cell block was mostly unused, with the interior dedicated to the several large cells. There was a single, currently sleeping occupant in one of the cells and a Starfleet guard inside. "Out." The junior Lieutenant looked to the Lieutenant Colonel pips, then to the two Corporals standing next to him, nodded, and scurried from the room. Alone, Bradley now stood next to the cell door, reached forward, and keyed the alarm code, setting off the alarms inside the brig itself.

Ranger was instantly awake, he had become a light sleeper over the years, he was inside a Starfleet prison cell, so there was little danger posed to him. He turned to see the Marine standing outside his cell. He looked, as they say, all business.

Stretching, he tossed off his blankets and moved to the replicator, “Pants and a t-shirt.”

“So,” Ranger started as he pulled on his pants without a rush. “I expect this isn’t an invitation to a buffet breakfast in my honor, Colonel?”

Killing the alarm, Bradley offered an impolite smile that showed no teeth and didn't meet his eyes. "No." One of the Corporals chuckled, and looked to their partner, who rolled their eyes. Killing the force field, the Colonel stepped back. "How about instead some exercise." It wasn't a question, though it was phrased like it should be one. "We should talk."

“Well, Colonel, you’ll excuse me if I don’t join you in your exercise routine. I’ve caused enough trouble already without getting into a fight with a senior officer.

I don’t mind a bit of conversation.” Ranger pulled on the white t-shirt. He moved back and settled on the bed. “We can converse here, or if you like, in one of your conference rooms, I’ve already seen one of those.” Ranger returned the colonel’s smile, mirthless and unkind. His eyes were hard and cold.

"Ah."

The comment carried no tone of confusion or realization, but a slight sound of amusement crept into Shaun's voice. "You seem to be confused Ranger. That wasn't a request." He nodded to the Corporal, the Andorian of the two, who entered the cell and yanked the young man to his feet. "Your cock sure attitude might work on the Fleeters, but not here. If I need to I'll have them drag you by your arms as we walk. As for fighting an officer..." he looked between the pair. "I hear they tell stories that Marines are the dumbest of the branches. Can't be sure the infantry types know what the stun setting looks like." Stepping back into the main space more, he swept an arm towards the main door, in a gesture that suggested they walk.

“I guess you’ll have to have your men drag me. I don’t intend on cooperating with your exercise routine this morning. I’d file a formal complaint, but I’m guessing that would just stop at your desk.”

Shaun shrugged and the two Marines looped their arms under Blue's and dragged. "Actually as I'm stationed here, Captain Mahone will get the complaint, who will likely filed it with Rear Admiral Minawara. Minawara will then likely pass it to Major General MacTaryn, who'll be mad I didn't personally dump you on a moon with only your junk pile of a ship and a prayer that that Rangers never found you." The doors opened at the end of the row and the Officer present stammered as the quartet passed by by the Lieutenant Colonel waved them off. No doubt as soon as they were out of earshot there would be a call out to Captain Mahone.

"Marines don't care for the Rangers much, can't blame us. Barely a step above pirates in a lot of cases, cowboys at the best of times. You're brash, have no regard for common sense, and do far more harm than good. But," and he paused to look back at the man as they passed into the main stretch of Starfleet buildings. "You do have a use, from time to time. I'll give you that, miles ahead of your average Fleeter as far as I am concerned." He continued his slow pace. "My boys and girls were even worried with your crashed ship you'd have been hurt. Your attitude is still intact, so at least it was only regular injuries, nothing to your head. No, my concern, Blue, was it? My concern" Shaun said, nodding to a blue uniformed science Ensign who stopped and watched with mild shock, "is what you are actually here for. You show up, a strange and unexplained spatial phenomena happens, and then we have video evidence of you making advances on your guard. All... convenient."

Finally, the group had reached a central square in the Starfleet quadrant, where the two guards dropped the man and stepped aside. "So either you are the master of coincidences, or you're up to something. And I am curious as to which."

Ranger laughed. “I’m glad you’ve already said that Marines aren’t all that smart. I guess that shit just rolls downhill, huh. Lieutenant Issacks and I already had a a conversation regarding your ‘Bubble’ problem, as she put it. Now, I don’t have the power or intelligence to actually create and/or sustain something of that nature. The Pakleds, who are the main reason I crashed here, are dumber than your Marines, no offense. They certainly couldn’t develop any type of technology on that scale without a lot of help, which would require a nearby ship and massive power output, which you would easily be able to track down."

"As to making advances on my guard, I assume you’re talking about Ensign Devers?” Ranger shrugged. “As I recall, and your video evidence should show, Nick approached me about being bored. We watched a movie, ate some popcorn and had some soda. It’s what we do on Friday nights on Tychen Colony. Just because your ensign was bored and obliged a movie doesn’t mean we were making advances on each other. He didn’t lay his head on my shoulder, we didn’t kiss goodnight. So if you think romancing my guard is my way out, there are easier ways. Besides, as I already explained to Lieutenant Issacks, I could have been off this colony at least a half dozen times over by now."

"I suppose a few bruises are what I'm going to get for behaving myself. Just know, I won’t defend myself. You’ll have to beat me without getting a swing from me, colonel.”

Crouching down the Marine found himself eye level with the young man. Reaching out, he patted Ranger’s cheek, then leaned in close. "If I was going to beat you down," he whispered, "I would have done it in the cell where I can disable the the security feed." He stood back up and nodded to the Marines, who turned and walked off. "Now. Before I go, I want to make one thing abundantly clear. If I find out you had anything to do with this at all you will not make it off this planet. Hell, you won't make it to Starfleet Security, I'll hand you over to Starfleet Intelligence myself." He looked around at the small collection of people and living accommodations. "I wanted to know where you stood, and you've given me an awful good idea of that. Also I didn't have a chance to know the Ensign's name yet, someone was rude enough to wake me up, so him and I will have a little chat next."

"But for now, make yourself useful, if you Rangers actually give a shit about that kind of thing." He extended a hand to help the man up.

Completely confused, Ranger asked, “Where am I supposed to go? How do I make myself useful, Colonel?”

"If I were you, first I'd find a good place to shelter in place, and then I'd talk to the Councilwoman Seshi. Failing that, I recommend getting a job as a bartender, I hear the Silver Tongue is still always looking for new hands," he continued, a smile playing on his face as the Colonel thought of the owner of the establishment squirming. "I don't personally care where you go, so long as you do something. The beauty of the edges of Federation space is finding your way. And besides, if you want to prove you're not here to cause mischief, it's the best way."

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