Targets in the Grass (Part 4)

Posted on 04 Dec 2012 @ 8:16pm by Lieutenant Kiri Cho & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cyrus Kiwosk & Crewman Athlen & Warrant Officer Evan Kell & Vincent Kramer Ph.D. & Petty Officer 3rd Class & Trisant Myrddin

3,943 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: Vega Colony, Galileo Crash Site
Timeline: MD 06 1832

[Twenty odd minutes later]

Kiri wasn't quite sure how, it wasn't like she was moving a whole lot but her muscles hurt, she was quite worn out. Shooting the rifle was marginally less abhorrent to her and there was still a lot to try and think about. Was she really in possession of skills that would make her a good officer, a good captain, what did Chief Kiwosk know of it? Taking a break she looked over at everyone else, closing her eyes for a long set of seconds before bringing it all back into focus. All the fire was giving her a headache, but everyone seemed to be mostly enjoying it, that was good. It was also starting to get a little bit darker, she was starting to get a little chilly.

From the makeshift shooting ranges, the Bajoran followed Kiri Cho with his eyes. Once he secured the safety on his phaser rifle, Trisant Myrddin was quick to scamper over to the weapons shelving and put the weapon down. Even if only for a little while. Turning away, Trisant ventured through the grass to close the distance between himself and Kiri. He saw her close her eyes for a few seconds, and so he announced himself before he came too near, "Lieutenant Cho." As he approached, Trisant asked, "Good hunting, sir?"

She didn't like the words but Kiri got the meaning, "Relatively," She answered with a voice that started wary but was quickly covered over, "Yourself?" She hadn't had much chance to talk to the Bajoran, she was glad that several of the department had turned up for something she organised.

Trisant tried to smile but the expression landed somewhere closer to an uncertain wince. "I wasn't terrible to start with," Trisant replied, "But I was out of practice. I'm getting better, once I warmed up the right muscle memories."

"I see," Kiri didn't really know how to answer that, a dull silence started to fill the void until she finally pulled at straws, "But it was fun?"

------

Liyar had switched out his hand phaser for a mark III, and just finished clasping the last piece of it in place. Once again the Vulcan methodically reduced it to components and rebuilt it in the span of about ten minutes, and he loaded it up and set the gauge to green before unleashing a reign of energy bursts at the holographic target near Kiri's which resulted in several holes being blown through it and the head of it falling off. He arched a single eyebrow. "Fascinating."

Kell walked over near the both of them, placing his rifle down in the rack and standing akimbo. "Neat range," he commented blithely.

Cyrus walked over and smiled. "Turned out pretty well eh?" He smiled.

"Mm," Kell agreed faintly.

"You have quite the talent there for the type three." He set his own rifle down on the rack and cracked his knuckles.

Kell brushed back one of the semi-long strands of jet black hair that fell into his face with the picked up winds. "ECTU still uses the mark I," Kell said. "Guess I can still get a head or two." Kell's right lip twitched a bit in what could pass for a smile on his features. "Kiwosk, is it?"

"Yeah, and you must be Kell. Might be the only one I haven't spoken to yet." He stretched his arms out in front of him and cracked his neck loudly. "I hope you're ready for the last little bit before we are done."

"Yeah," Kell offered in typical nonchalance.

Two chapters into her book, Maenad looked up from her chair. It was starting to get darker out, and she tucked her sunglasses inside her coat pocket. From what she had casually observed so far, everybody was doing quite well. She stood from her chair and took off her hat, wrapping her book in its bonnet. She then made quick pace toward the group several metres away. "How are we doing?" she asked everyone.

Liyar shot off one of the hologram's arms. Athlen emerged from his own corner, but did not fare nearly as well as his comrades. He looked... for lack of a better word, singed. His hair was smoking a bit and he had soot over himself. Athlen and the mark III clearly did not mix. He cleared his throat a little and gingerly set his rifle down on the table. "I think I will stick with t'an krila." He smiled weakly.

Nexi came over from her targets, smiling, while rubbing her left shoulder. She giggled when she saw Athlen. "Oh, Athlen. Are you okay? I thought I looked bad with my sore shoulder, but you....well, are adorable."

"How did you....your hair...but there isn't any gunpowder in a phaser..." Cyrus stood flabbergasted, his moth hanging slightly. "I...I leave...for, " He counted on one hand. "Maybe ten minutes to 15, and..." He started to laugh. "Let's just make sure you stay away from the front lines."

"I think it is safe to say, that the mark III is not for me," the Rigelian said with a small pout. "How have you fared?" he asked her lightly, bouncing on his heels. Now that he wasn't caught up in nasty energy discharges, the tension he radiated a moment ago began to vanish as he relaxed. Sidelines were nice. Sidelines were great. Sidelines were his friend.

Cyrus turned to Panne, noting how she had not participated. "Hope the book was nice." Was all he could think to say.

Maenad wasn't sure if Cyrus was being sincere, but she assumed that he wasn't. Deciding not to respond to him, she moved on. "I'm actually impressed with all of this," she said to him. "I think everyone is learning a lot from you," she hated to admit that anybody could learn anything from Kiwosk, but she knew that credit was due where credit was due. She looked around everybody, and grinned at the sight of a rather sore-looking Athlen. This definitely wasn't a very becoming sport for him.

Cyrus laughed, the compliment felt nice, even more that the admission came from his former teacher. "It's just what my job has been, I want to keep everyone on board alive, and the best way to do that is to teach them how to fish for themselves...so to speak." He shrugged. "Besides it's pretty easy to learn how to shoot. It's not like I'm discovering new races or making scientific breakthroughs..." He said honestly, a little too honestly for his ego...but credit was given where credit was due.

Nexi shook her head as she rested her weapon beside her. "I don't think shooting is for me. Selkies are great at a lot of things, but not shooting....even though it was exhilarating."

"Bah, you're a better shot than a good lot of these people. And you shot much better with the modified trigger grip. Don't cut yourself short....Any of you." He said to everyone.

Cyrus raised his hands to get everyone's attention. "Alright everyone, good shooting, I'm sure we'll get something a little more formal on the go near the end of the LOA." He looked at them all evenly. "Find some partners roughly your size, we're going to do basic hand to hand drills. These won't allow you to win anything fights, but they will keep you alive and throw your opponent off their guard when you do them."

Athlen moved once again, smoothing his hands down over his hair and looked through the various people. He pressed his hand to his chest, two fingers upright and then bringing them outward toward Liyar in some nonverbal gesture. The Vulcan nodded, apparently understanding and they fell into the formation in front of Cyrus.

Kell looked toward the Bajoran beside him. "Up for it?" he asked Trisant evenly.

Sizing up the Capellan, Kell, with his eyes, Trisant nodded with a hint of a smirk on his lips. "I am," Trisant replied. "Got to admit, I'm more comfortable with hand-to-hand than with a phaser rifle."

"Should find this an easy stretch then," Kell said, and it wasn't exactly untrue. Quite the opposite, Kell fared much better with a phaser than his fists.

Kiri wasn't so sure in taking part in this part, more so looking at everyone else, bar one person they were all male, unless she was counting Panne as well. They were all bigger, other than Nexia who Kiri was also wary of. She had seen the muscles that she had, at least in passing, compared to Kiri's flat skinny arms it wasn't really a fair contest. It was the same at the Academy though there was never anyone she had beaten in close quarters. Waiting she stepped closer, watching everyone else, trying to work out who was the least bad option.

Maenad spotted Kiri's uneasiness. She was small compared to everyone else, and Maenad wondered if she ought to avail herself. She had so badly wanted to shock Kiwosk with a good tripping or kick to the chest, but she didn't want Kiri to sit out by herself. "Need a partner?" she asked Kiri as the others started pairing up.

It was a little shocking, Kiri placed herself at ease, left hand at her side, right on the neck of her rifle, the butt resting by her foot. Swallowing she bowed her head a little, Maenad was a head taller than her still, yet it was an offer. One from someone she trusted not to hurt her, someone she liked. There were questions but, really, Kiri was glad, even if she was still going to lose, "Thank you sir, if you are sure." Green eyes looked at the dress and back up, even with tights, it wasn't what Kiri thought ideal.

"Yes, of course I'm sure," she unbuttoned her jacket and tossed it off to the side. She wasn't dressed for rolling around in the mud, but she didn't care, either. Her dress wasn't restrictive in any way, so she wasn't concerned about ripping it or not being able to perform. "You don't have a bad shot, either, Miss Cho," she added.

Kiri nodded, "Thank you," She didn't know if she was really going to be able to do this though. Someone she knew and liked, someone who was her direct superior officer. The idea of fighting even in practice with her was unnatural. Her lack of confidence was clear, that wasn't going to stop her though.

Cyrus waited for everyone to grab a partner before he began. "Take a look at your partners..." He began. "They are, for the most part your height and weight. The ground is smooth and level, but when you are being attacked...you are not going to have such an equal playing field..."

He pointed to Kramer. "Mister Kramer...you could end up fighting someone the size of myself." He folded his arms in front of himself and stared hard at the science department crewman.

Kramer smiled and replied, "I think I can hold my own for a short time with you." Cyrus nodded in approval.

"Miss Panne, you could be fighting someone like Mister Rhodes or Miss Coleman." He stopped and let the idea sink in for everyone.

"During a fight on a starship, we might get hit with a torpedo, your suddenly level playing field can shift against you. "

He held one hand, clenched it into his fist and slammed it viciously into his open palm. "But in a hand to hand fight, it's not the biggest, the fastest, or the meanest person that wins a fight. It's the smartest. If you fight smart and use the environment against them. You can win everytime. Training and practice will hone the body, make it a weapon, but the only way to guarantee success, is out think your opponent.

"Any questions?"

Athlen shook his head. Liyar didn't give any acknowledgment either way, staring at everyone calmly. Kell cracked his knuckles and wondered to himself how much fun it was going to be getting his ass handed to him by a scientist. ECTU or not, outright hand to hand just wasn't his thing, never had been. Trisant looked fairly bulky and most of those Bajorans were skilled at some degree of combat due to the occupation.

Pacing somewhat, Trisant tilted his head, watching Kell while Cyrus spoke. He watched the way Kell flexed his hands, watched the way Kell moved, looking for tells.

Kiri didn't have any questions, she stood rather still trying to get herself into the right mindset. Working through what she should do in her head, stay as far away as possible, don't let there be an opening, remember what Mor'an had told her.

After waiting several moments, it looked like everyone was eager to be finished. "Alright everyone, face your partners, it's time to have a little fun..." He stepped in front of everyone and grinned. "Two things to start. Haymakers....get you killed and don't be afraid to fight dirty. If you see an opening... anywhere you want to take it, because if you don't, odds are you opponent will.

"For the sake of the exercise, we won't be punch any nutsacks today." He chuckled.

"We're going to work with a couple punches, a kick that will not knock you off balance and a couple holds and pressure points that will allow you to restrain someone without exerting too much force." He spread his legs into a comfortable fighting stance, his arms placed perfectly in front of his face, with enough room between them to see, his legs were roughly shoulder width apart.

"This is your Standard Starfleet stance. I'll be teaching you through this, if you have martial arts or various kinds, it allows you to adapt the stance to suit your fighting styles." He dropped his fists to about under his chin, his legs sat with an even weight between them, he cracked his neck loudly again.

"Go ahead and get your stance together before we start smacking the crap out of each other." He finished.

Despite her general ineptitude when it came to actually using what she had leant, Kiri knew the basic forms well. When she was little, her grandmother had taught her T'ai chi ch'uan, if only for two years. After that Kiri spent even less time outside and more studying. Bending her knees slightly Kiri looked at Maenad, since the Academy though Kiri's stance was always the same though. Left side forwards, resting on the balls of her feet, arms loosely up in front of her. She was flighty, ready to move even if she couldn't keep it up for long. Her principles of combat clashed with her training, and common sense. She always tried to evade for as long as possible, keeping out of the fight even though she would also wear out faster than her opponent.

"I will defend," Maenad told Kiri. Her face was severe but not scary. She could tell Kiri was uncomfortable with the whole thing, but Maenad admired her for going through with it anyway.

That was the last thing Kiri wanted to hear right now, while fighting was something she was terrible at, at least in defence she had some confidence. On the attack she was so scared of hurting someone she just couldn't do it, she shuddered. Voice wobbling slightly with nerves she replied, "Okay." Moving to the right she kept the distance between the, keeping her eyes on Maenad. Arms ready, watching for an opening that would likely never come.

It had been some time since Maenad had done this sort of hand-to-hand exercise. In her demented holonovels, she was normally shooting things or wrestling with people who were trying to kill her. She might have been taller and possibly stronger than Kiri, bigger didn't quite seem like the right word, but she thought that Kiri was capable of doing whatever Cyrus' objective was. With her hands out defensively in front of her, Maenad responded to Kiri's body language, waiting for her to make a move.

Kiri had made quite a wide pace around Maenad before she finally realised that nothing was going to happen unless she attacked. Her stomach knotted, there was no choice, she had to just try not to get hit. Light on her feet Kiri sprinted forwards, only a few steps between them. Her aim was to Maenad's left side, to move past her rather than at her. Maybe she could hit, maybe for a second she could get behind her. But it had never really worked before, the closer she got the slower her actions always were.

Kiri started impressively, but when she went in for the hit she slowed down, hesitated even. Maenad was able to react more than timely because of it, and she counteracted by doing what Kiri had planned, but on Kiri instead. She stopped before actually hitting her, though. She gave her a sarcastic grin that said gotcha, and her expression said that she didn't hold it against her. At that point Maenad wanted to call the whole thing off; Kiri was a reserved person, and that was it. She would never feel comfortable hitting her, which said a lot of good things about her. If Maenad were an actual threat, or somebody who was trying to kill her or somebody she cared about, she react much differently. Nonetheless, Maenad wasn't here to undermine the exercise. "Go again?"

Wincing as the blow failed to connect Kiri froze. She didn't have a lot of hope it would work but apparently she had some, it was gone now. That was all she had, it was the only chance she had not to screw this up and it failed before she could even do anything. She failed. Her stance dropped and she looked rather dejected, eyes on the ground for several seconds as she blanked, "Okay," She didn't really want to, she didn't in the first place. She couldn't just give up though, she had to do it. It was expected of her. So if she had to do it, then what? Go though the motions and keep failing? Kiri knew she wasn't fast enough, that she was too scared of hurting someone to do it properly. That she was scared of being hit in the process, so what?

As she turned Kiri worked it though, the facts she had, the words that were given to her. Taking a third path, right, in this context then what did it mean? Would Maenad hit her? She didn't before, could she use that, should she? Well, was there a choice? The part of Kiri that dealt with problems wasn't the same scared little girl part of her that thought about combat. It was analytical, somewhat cold, focused. By the time she was two meters away she had it. Turning she took the same stance again, flat palms at chest hight. Mor'an had said that eyes were windows into people, so she forced herself to look. The numb feeling was back, but she didn't feel heavy, just stiff. As long as it went to plan she was okay. Stepping forwards she made sure to present herself as a target, instinctively shying away without thought.

Once Kiri had gone back into position and turned around to face her once more, her eyes were this time much more determined. Maenad was already pleased, expecting Kiri to be more dominant this time. She took up a defensive posture once more as she noticed Kiri's hands taking a peculiar stance in front of her chest. She said nothing, however, and waited for Kiri to hatch whatever scheme she was now plotting, actually looking forward to whatever she was going to try.

She wasn't doing anything, that wasn't the plan. It was a like a mathematical problem, she needed the opening that allowed her to solve it. Kiri held still for several seconds, keeping her eyes fixed and slowly drifted her right hand to the left, slowly bringing it closer towards the other woman's abdomen. Keeping herself on Maenad's left hand side she hoped to limit what she could do.

Seeing Kiri bring her hand in closer to her, Maenad reached out to block it and push it away, keeping her eyes, however, on Kiri's. She had definitely improved since their last attempt.

Kiri lashed out with both hands, as fast as she could. Trying to grab Maenad's closest limb, if she could pull on it then maybe she could take her off balance.

Taking her by surprise, Maenad had no idea that Kiri could move that fast. She was pulled off of centre of gravity more than she had begun to anticipate. She didn't want to hit Kiri any more than Kiri had wanted to make a move on her, so Maenad held back from doing anything aggressive to break free. She went down like a falling giraffe; hitting the ground hard on the side that Kiri had pulled, her opposite leg kicking out as she tried to stabilise herself. From the grass below, she looked up at Kiri with a wide smile on her face. "I think you've got it," she laughed, rubbing her shoulder. One harm propped her up her body and her legs were outstretched, toes up, in front of her. Her dress ruffled itself all the way to her waist so that it looked like she was only wearing leggings for bottoms, and as she rubbed on her shoulder she realised that her dress had fallen really low on one side, revealing more skin than she would have liked. She looked down and saw that her shoulder had scraped on the ground, but she paid no attention to it and quickly recomposed herself, still sitting, and still smiling somewhat embarrassedly.

The good news was that it had worked, that was also the bad news. Her face burning red Kiri got down on her knees almost at once, offering her hands in a clumsy attempt to help. A drunk giraffe had perchance knocked down a much more elegant one. Kiri had when in exercises pushed and pulled at people, but in somewhat real matches she always failed, how had it worked this time? Worry was more than that though, worry she had hurt Maenad either physically or mentally. Eyes went wider when Kiri noticed the strap, reflex reaching out and pulling it into proper place while looking thoroughly ashamed, "Are you okay, I'm sorry."

Still smiling, Maenad took Kiri's hand and got back to her feet. "I'll be fine," she insisted. Kiri had doubly surprised her now, and both for the good. She had thrown her to the ground and had actually put her hands on her. The cut was beginning to sting against the fabric, but Maenad suppressed it. "I think that's a pass," she muttered.

[TBC]


--------------------------

CWO Kiwosk
Security/ Tactical
USS Galileo

Petty Officer 3rd Class Nexia Alona
Oceanology Specialist
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Theron Rhodes
Asst. Chief of Security
USS Galileo

Vincent Kramer
Planetologist
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Liyar
Diplomatic Officer, VDF/SDD
USS Galileo

Warrant Officer Evan Kell
Intelligence Officer, SFI
USS Galileo

Crewman Athlen
Sociologist, SCC
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Maenad Panne
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Kiri Cho
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Petty Officer 1st Class Trisant Myrddin
Stellar Cartographer
USS Galileo

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