Phaser Certifications

Posted on Fri Jul 1st, 2022 @ 9:06am by Lieutenant Slouk & Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey

Mission: The Lost Brother
Location: Holodeck two

Boucher whistle does he finish setting up the table with phasers for the practical test. He was looking over weapons as Wagnor walked in, "Are we all set CJ?"

"Yes sir," The officer answered. "You alright?"

"The next time you ask me that you'll be scrubbing the floors in the brig," Soran sighed. "I'm fine, is the standard target program set?"

"Yes Sir."

For most vessels the phaser certifications were simply routine. However with the threat of the Dominion and his recent experience with Klingons, he intended to make sure his fellow officers were were ready.

Sky had received her call to head to holodeck two for phaser certification, being a Counsellor she didn’t use weapons very often, but she understood the importance. She just hoped she’d pass first time. Arriving at the holodeck she took a deep breath then walked inside offering Soran a smile. “Reporting as requested Commander.”

"Thank you Counsellor," Wagnor said. Lt Boucher will take you through the test."

"Right this was Ma'am." CJ said in his southern drawled motioned to the table.

Sky nodded and moved across to the table, to say she was nervous was a bit of an understatement but she’d do her best.

"Let me introduce you to some friends of mine." The young officer said, pointing to the type one phaser. "This here is Peter, I call him Pete. He's so small you never know if somebody is carrying one one of his brothers. Pete the one you're most likely to use. Next we have Dolly."

He pointed to the type two phaser. I'm usually joined at the hip with her, she is a loyal partner who won't leave your side. Her aim's a bit better than Pete's."

Sky smiled. “I can’t say I’ve ever given a phaser a name, but then I don’t use one much. Given a choice I’d pick the type two, Dolly.”

"Type two is my recommendation for the uninitiated Ma'am, they're easier to aim." CJ smiled.

Slouk entered the holo deck, "I hope this recertification course isn't like 98.87% of others I've attended, that seemed to be more of how do you humans say.. a dick measuring contest., which I've found curious as there measuring device and no male reproductive were ever displayed is it one of your quaint Colloquialisms?" he said coldly

Sky couldn’t help but smile at Slouk’s comment. “I think it would be pretty distracting if that were the case Lieutenant.”

Soran gave Vulcan a cold stare; "One I'm not human, two this is just a test of your skills. So keep your ignorant bigoted opinions to yourself, I will oversee your results personally."

The Angosian moved to the and motioned for the Vulcan to pickup a phaser.

Slouk walked over and picked a type one phaser, "I did not mean to give offense commander I was simply stating what statically I have encountered." He replied as he did so

"I personally don't give a damn if your ignorant statement is backed up by statistics, If I hear another bigoted comment I'll have you brought up on report." Wagnor said in a neutral tone.

The Vulcan's attitude reminded Soran of the aristocratic pricks that sent him off to war. Normally he could separate his past from the present, But everything was blurring together lately.

"I see commander, I shall endeavor, to refrain from any further quaint Colloquialisms, be more thorough in my analysis of the which races are around me, I would however point out that I'm incapable of bigotry which by its very definition is obstinate or unreasonable attachment to a belief, opinion, or faction; in particular, prejudice against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular group. As a Vulcan My actions are dictated by logic alone, I state facts, statistics, and postulate theories based solo on the available data." The Vulcan responded coldly as finished checking the phaser

Paige walked into the holodeck, only the hear the end of the conversation and see Commander Wagnor glaring daggers at her assistant. "Everyone is capable of bigotry Lieutenant, Vulcans included. ". Her rebuke was gentle but firmly spoken. "Commander Wagnor, it's lovely to see you again"

Wagnor smiled he liked Paige, "Hello Bryant I see you've never gotten your phaser certifications. Lt. Boucher will instruct you on what to do."

Boucher smiled "Call me CJ."

"CJ. I hope you don't mind that I've never held nor shot a phaser in my life." Paige said with a small smile, hoping her anxiety about the situation didn't show.

"You've come to the right place Ma'am." CJ smiled. then spoke in a low tone that was meant to be overheard. "This is why the commander asked me to help, He is good with the more martial minded types. He lacks the gentle hand required for the novice."

Soran rolled his eyes before turning back to the Vulcan.

Paige snorted her amusement at both the statement and the eye roll before turning her attention to CJ "I'm not in Starfleet, no ma'am required. Just call me Paige."

"I'm a Southern boy, sir and ma'am are part of my natural vernacular. I'll try to make an exception for you, Paige." Boucher picked up a type to phaser, "I'll found that the type two is the easiest to learn, point and shot."

"Nothing more to it than that?" The scientist questioned as she gazed at the type two that CJ had indicated to. Not picking it up, she waited for an answer. MShe preferred to know how things worked usually, but point and shoot might be enough for her at the moment. "Is there a whatsit called ...a safety?"

"Safety is for firearms, Ma… Paige. The activation button is here," CJ explained.

"I'm an anthropologist, a firearm would be more apt to be in my hand than a phaser." She muttered sotto voce, her unease rising.

Sky was watching Soran with concern, it looked like they needed to talk about his attitude towards Slouk. Now she and Ren were becoming friends, and after what she’d seen in his mind, she wanted to do everything she could to help.

"I just need you to get over eighty percent on the target range and you can go. I don't want to take anymore of an officer's time that I need to." Wagnor explained, he kept his face and tone neutral as he observed the welcome.

"A Reasonable standard, Commander I'm prepared to begin at your convenience."

Sky was holding onto the type 2 she’d chosen, looking down at it she shook off a sudden flash of imagery. She knew it wasn’t her memory, it could only be one of Soran’s memories, and right now she couldn’t afford to go to pieces. “Let’s get this over with” She moved across to where the target range was set up, taking her position ready for testing.

Soran saw the change in Sky’s demeanor and wondered what she thinking. He found himself wondering how much of his mind had imprinted on hers.

Sky readied herself before taking aim with the type 2, she’d passed after a couple of tries last time she just hoped she’d do the same, or better this time. She waited for Soran’s permission to begin.

"Two on the firing line," Wagnor called out.

"Acknowledged Sir" Boucher answered.

"Begin,'' Wagnor ordered.

Holographic targets appeared several meters away.

Sky took aim and fired, considering her last test had been a while ago it looked like she hadn't done too bad with her first shot.

Paige flickered her eyes to the firing line, then back to CJ.

"It's alright Paige we're still familiarizing you with the phaser's functions." Boucher said.

"Right." Paige muttered indicating the button he'd mentioned "Activation button, yes?"

"That's right here hold on, Computer make us a type 2 Ringer" CJ instructed.

A type two object materialized and Boucher picked it up offering it to Paige. "This is a non firing replica of a type 2 phaser. It's the same weight and the controls have the same feel. So you can hold it without worrying about harming anyone."

The tension visibly eased from the set of Paige's shoulders as he handed her the replica. Learning on something other than a live pistol felt much safer. "Thanks for that. Please continue."

"The trigger is there where your index finger is and the controls are on top you'll use your thumb to adjust the power and beam as needed. As I'm sure you're aware we prefer to use the non lethal settings whenever possible." Boucher explained calmly.

"How does one determine a lethal setting, I mean, obviously maximum power will kill..."

"The button by your thumb," Boucher explained. "The color of the display changes from blue to red."

Slouk took aim with the type 1 aiming center at one of the targets and hit 6 centimeters from dead center.

"Nice shot," Soran said.

"Indeed commander, however, there was a 0.61 difference from my point of aim to the point of impact. I shall make the appropriate adjustments for the next series of targets." Slouk replied

“You’ll have to teach me how to do that sometime Slouk” Sky offered a smile as she readied herself for her next target.

"I shall endeavor to teach the technique to any to whish to learn it. " Slouk replied as he took aim at the next target.

Sky took a deep breath, focussing all her attention on the task at hand she took aim as well. Her eyes widened in surprise as she hit her target dead centre.

Slouk followed suit and fired hitting the target perfectly dead center.

Soran gave her an inquiring look, Sky was standing with her nondominant foot forward and the phaser in her dominant hand. This was not the standard federation stance, however it was the way he'd been trained by his people and still did to this day. "Excellent shot Lieutenant Jansen, you should widen your stance slightly to adjust for your pregnancy."

Sky nodded and offered a smile. “Like this?”

"Yes just make sure your forward toes are pointed in the same direction as your aim." Soran instructed.

Sky smiled, and widened her stance as Soran had suggested getting a feel for the stance.

Slouk repeated the previous process and hit a third target two millimeters from perfectly dead center.

Soran nodded approval at the Vulcan's aim.

Paiges eyes flicked to them again and she winced, she was never going to be able to shoot like them.

"I don't think you'll be getting your certification today and that's alright." CJ explained. "We'll just get you familiar with the tools today. There just tools. "

"I wasn't kidding when I said I'd never handled a phaser before today"

"That alright," Boucher smiled. "We'll get you onto a training schedule."

"I...great?" it was as halfhearted as her smile but Paige knew as well as anyone how important it was being here on a ship. Part of her wanted no part in such activities, yet her assistant was shooting as well as anyone else.

Slouk had analysing the target pattern, allowing him to predict the location the next target would appear, and the timing between targets he quickly adjusted his aim and fired just as the target appeared.

Sky kept up her pace until she hit her final target, she put down her phaser and waited to see what grade she’d get.

Slouk fired the final shot on the target with Vulcan precision as it hit he adjusted his gave to see his score

Wagnor gave passing grades to Lt. Slouk and Lt. Jansen, he wanted to speak Sky but this wasn't the place.