<USS Avalon> "Qualifying"

Qualifying
By Lieutenant Commander Anthony Manson and 
Senior Lieutenant Elissabeth Marksbury

A message bleeped through his console, pretty much drawing his attention from 
work. Tapping a few keys, he found that he was due for a weapons test. It was 
already that time? The captain was not on the bridge, letting Anthony take over 
during his absence. He replied to the message immediately.

"Alder, oversee for me for a while," Anthony walked to the turbolift.

Alder turned around from his conn station. Part of it was just recently 
converted to share the Operation duties Anthony had. He simply nodded.

*

Elissabeth had sat back down at her desk, rather stunned by Monroe's visit. She 
nearly had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach and her heart was racing.

She sat back comfortably and closed her eyes. She slowed her breathing, 
gathering strength from the quiet around her.

*

Turning the corner he found himself at a different office. Anthony then 
realized this was one of the new offices and he tapped the chime. 

Startled from her meditation, Lissi stood quickly to her feet, senses instantly 
on alert. She walked to the door. "Open."

Mr. Manson was standing on the other side. She blinked. "Lieutenant Commander," 
she said, coming to attention. 

Manson gestured for her to relax, he didn't like formalities unless absolutely 
necessary. Flashing a small smile, he decided being friendly would help. Her 
emotions were being projected out- no need for scanning, "How are you?"

She returned a small smile.  "Doing well, sir.  Thank you."  She stepped aside 
so that he could enter her office.  "I see the Rydyn incident didn't affect 
your promotion," she smiled wider.  "Congratulations." 

He shook his head with a smile that had lessened a degree, "Thank you, but 
Command is still looking over this. I don't know if they'll accept what 
happened. Again, thanks." There was a moment of silence, but Anthony didn't 
come here for just pleasantries, "You wanted me to take a test?" 

"Yes, actually. I didn't expect anyone to respond so quickly. At least not 
until shoreleave was up," she said quietly. Liss moved to her desk to pick up 
the correct PADD. "You just need to qualify on your phasers again. We can go to 
the training holodeck and I'll bring up the program, if you like. Shouldn't 
take any more than half an hour." Honestly, she was happy for the distraction 
and wished it was a much more time consuming affair. 

"Sure. I'm actually back on duty. So is Lieutenant Shimbrodus. Shoreleave tends 
to wear thin after awhile," Anthony gestured, letting her walk ahead out of the 
office.

"I completely understand. I returned early myself. I need something to keep 
myself busy. And with Sierra being gone, it isn't hard to find. I figured to 
get things done now instead of playing catch-up after shoreleave when everyone 
else is milling about." She led him to the holodeck on the security floor used 
for training exercises.

Anthony just nodded, "There's been a cargo load of spare parts, torpedo casing, 
transporters and replicator parts. A plethora of other things that I have to 
get the other teams to square away." He looked at her, "Phaser?" 

She handed him the type I palm phaser she had taken out of the weapons cabinet 
on their way out of the security offices.. She also handed him her PADD, "Enter 
your security code here." She shifted on her feet slightly while he finished. 
"I noticed we seem to be taking on a lot of new crew members, especially in 
security. I'm rather excited." It sounded funny to hear her talk about being 
excited when her voice was so still and quiet. "You ready?" she asked when he 
handed her the PADD back. 

Anthony's smile widened, "Lucky you. I'm ready."

"Computer, Phaser Qualifications, authorization Marksbury delta three kappa." 
The computer bleeped it's response and after a moment the door opened and she 
gestured him inside. It was set up as a firing range. "Okay, Lt., I'm sure 
you've only done this a hundred times. Long distance, close range - standing, 
kneeling, prone.  The computer will prompt you when to switch.  Use phaser 
setting two. Any time you're ready." 

He changed the phaser to its setting and began. The computer registered the 
power eminating for the phaser and instantly materialized a number of targets 
with the computer saying, "You have twenty seconds. Begin." It was the first 
round. That much was clear.

Out of the eight targets, all at different areas of the room, seven were 
disintergrated before the computer began level two. He took a breath, but not 
before he had to aim and start firing. With moving targets and a more 
restricted time; of the twelve, he got ten.

By round three, the computer raised the time limit, as the targets were moving 
faster, this time with a pattern and instruction to shoot a specific one. 
Anthony got them, but missed three. By the fourth one, the time limit was 
decreased, and Anthony concentrated more on breathing than aiming. He missed 
one. The last was the toughest as the computer not only moved targets, but 
there was an ever changing pattern. Specific colors for you to hit, and if the 
color changed- two points was deducted from the overall score. Of the twenty, 
he got seventeen, the remainder being either fired too late or missed. 

The test ended, and he looked at Marksbury with a surprise in his face, "I'm 
getting rustier." 

"Actually, that wasn't bad at all, Lt. You almost qualify as a security 
officer," she smiled. "Average crew only has to qualify up to level 14 
marksmanship. Security personnel maintains level 17. At the moment, you are at 
16.  Much better than average crew." She reached for his phaser and traded him 
the type I for a type II. "One more time." She stepped back as she activated 
the program.

Setting his phaser at level 2 once more he prepared to aim, taking a breath 
before he was ready. Once again, the computer registered the power signature 
and began the program. Levels 6 through thirteen had consisted of picking out 
specific hostiles at random patterns with a time limit that was constantly 
reduced as he progressed. Anthony missed four at levels six and seven. Another 
three for levels eight and nine. He grinned when he missed none on levels ten 
through twelve, but frowned at missing six at the last level.

The program ended again. Anthony looked at Lissi, "I thought there were 
fourteen levels?" 

"Actually," she explained. "That was more than 14 levels. Each thing you're 
calling a "level" is a round. Some rounds cover two phaser levels because of 
the complexity. You're done," she told him. "85% at level 15.  Very good, Lt." 
As an afterthought, she added, "Unless you wanna go ahead and qualify with a 
phaser rifle. It's not required, but it looks good on your record. I don't have 
anything planned, so you're more than welcome to keep going." 

Anthony shrugged, "Sure." 

Lissi nodded and excused herself for a quick trip to the weapons locker.

Switching weapons with Marksbury, he made sure the rifle felt comfortable 
before he powered it on. The computer registered again, "Program initiated. 
Begin."

He couldn't count the levels, now that he knew the computer was compressing a 
few of the rounds into one level, or however Marksbury worded it. For the first 
three rounds, he managed to get most of the targets. The rifle was smooth, and 
light enough that it wasn't becoming a strain standing and holding the weapon 
for a prolonged period. He had to switch to a kneeling position halfway 
through.  By the last round, he calculated his losses, there were twelve misses

"Computer, Nelpha program." The deck changed to a rocky terrain. "Prone," she 
told him. "Tell it to start whenever you're ready." 

Perking an eyebrow, he did as told. Making sure the rifle didn't affect his 
movement, "Computer, begin program." 

As the faceless humanoid targets moved from around boulders five hundred yards 
away and began a coordinated assault on Mr. Manson's position, he began firing. 
They ducked and rolled, moving from different angles. The simulation would 
remove the target if it got too close. Only one of the shapes disappeared by 
the computer's designs. The other five were destroyed by Manson's rifle. The 
final battle lasted nearly twelve minutes of intense concentration.

"Excellent," she told him as he stood and handed her his weapon.

"Thanks. Are we done?" Anthony took a breath, suddenly appreciating all those 
shooting games Alder had organized with a few others.

She chuckled slightly. "Yes, you're finished. With that last bit there, you 
qualify as a level 17 marksman at 82.3%. A true marksman is 80% at level 23. So 
you did really, really well, Lt. I would happily have you covering my back on 
an away mission." 

They exited the phaser range and made their way back to the weapons locker. 

"If you wanted to up your score, not that it's necessary, but only a personal 
choice, I'll be offering some additional classes here soon and you're welcome 
to join them," she explained.

"I'll think about it. Alder is always pulling me and a few others to shooting 
programs anyway. But they're either Jem'Hadar or some sort of nasty looking 
alien. Or the boogeyman, go figure," he chuckled, "You said you sent notices to 
the entire crew right?" 

She smiled. "I sent notices to the department heads about which crew needed the 
qualifications. If we do this about three to four times a year, we keep 
everyone caught up." She paused for a moment, as if she were going to say 
something and then changed her mind. 

He nodded, "I'll send Alder then."

"I'm sorry, Alder..?" she was searching for his last name. "And today? Or would 
he rather set up an appointment?" 

"Shimbrodus," he said nodding, "Yeah, he could come by if you want." 

"That's fine. I don't mind. I'm only working on some new training programs for 
the ops teams. We're really going to be getting into shape and I might be a 
little over zealous about it." She quirked an eyebrow as she chuckled at 
herself.

"Alright, I'll send him by. Don't work too hard, Miss Marksbury, it's 
shoreleave after all." 

Elissabeth watched him walk away, wishing she had more work to do so that she 
wouldn't be feeling this nagging ache deep inside her chest.



                
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