A Seabee's Arrival

Posted on Fri May 10th, 2024 @ 12:39am by Major General Richard Lockhart (Raynor) & Lieutenant Colonel Jonathon Raynor & Chief Petty Officer Marisa Harlan

Mission: Jumping Right In
Location: Stargate Command
1981 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

She breathed in a slight gasp, feeling the excitement of stepping foot upon the frozen surface. That bubbly feeling of anticipation and feeling surreal of actually being here. She made her way towards the building to where she'd be meeting with someone. Entering inside Marisa paused to wipe her boots in order to not track moisture further into the building. A quick glance around and she headed towards the receiving desk, "Hello, I'm Chief Petty Officer Marisa Harlan, I'm supposed to be meeting with someone." shifting her duffle which was on one shoulder.

As Marisa approached the receiving desk, she was greeted by a uniformed security officer who nodded in acknowledgment of her arrival. "Welcome to Stargate Command, Chief Petty Officer Harlan," the officer replied with a friendly smile. "I'll need to verify your credentials before granting you access. Could you please provide your identification?"

After verifying her credentials, the security officer nodded again. "Everything checks out. You're clear to proceed. Take the elevator to the sublevels, Colonel Raynor is expecting you there."

"Thank you sir." she replied and headed towards the elevator and there she met the man she was to meet. She gave him the once over, tall broad shouldered looked like he was physically fit. Dark brown hair, greenish blue eyes plus some stubble. From what she was observing he wasn't a nambe pambe someone who wasn't afraid to work To her assessment that meant she can work with him. She didn't have time to work with someone who liked to loaf about.

"Hello Colonel Raynor." she finally spoke at the moment not having a smile.

"Chief Petty Officer Harlan, glad you could make it," Raynor greeted her with a warm smile. "Let's head down to the sublevels. We've got a lot to discuss."

"Thank you sir." then she gave an answering smile, the smile reflecting in her eyes. Marisa stepped inside the elevator with him. "Nice place you've got here."

"What can I say, we got a great set deal on the place. Remodeling was a pain but what can we say?" John countered as he smirked ever so slightly as the elevator moved down the sublevels. "How was the flight in?"

"I still am processing the fact that I am actually here, McMurdo Station. I kinda hope that I will find a signature that my grandfather and my father left somewhere on here. Sort of like a Kilroy was here sort of thing." giving a light laugh. "Anyway, am looking forward to seeing what goes on here." glancing over towards Raynor then looking up to the digital read out of the levels they were passing by.

"You're more than welcome to explore it during your downtime, but I should mention that most of the base was devastated during the initial assault from that armada years ago," John recounted, casting his mind back to the extensive data collected during those tumultuous days. "The Seabees were among the first to return, lending their expertise to the rebuilding efforts in the primary areas. As we gradually reconstructed, contractors and civil engineers from various branches joined in. So while you may find remnants of Seabee branding, tracing back to the initial group might be a bit more challenging."

"Lucky Seabees who got to come here." Marisa said with a small amount of envy. "Well perhaps I will get to find something, sort of like a treasure hunt. And don't worry it will be during my down time. I'll make certain to have some down time." giving a grin. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation at seeking to find some sort of connection to her dad and grand father.

The elevator came to a halt and the doors opened to share with the new arrivals to an underground hallway. Constructed from reinforced concrete and metal alloys, the corridor's walls were adorned with fluorescent lighting fixtures, casting a steady illumination that banished the darkness of the subterranean environment. The ceiling loomed overhead, supported by sturdy steel beams and interspersed with air vents and utility conduits, while the floor beneath was paved with durable linoleum tiles.

Along the length of the corridor, rows of doors lined either side, leading to offices, laboratories, storage rooms, and other essential facilities. Each door was marked with identification plaques, indicating the nature of the room beyond, and secured with electronic keycard access systems to maintain security protocols.

At regular intervals, recessed alcoves provided space for emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and emergency communication panels, ensuring that personnel could respond swiftly to any unforeseen incidents or emergencies.

Throughout the corridor, the hum of machinery and the echo of footsteps reverberated off the walls, creating a constant backdrop of activity and movement. Despite its utilitarian nature, the underground hallway/corridor at Stargate Command was a lifeline that sustained the base's operations, serving as a silent witness to the countless endeavors and discoveries that would unfold within its confines.

Raynor and Harlan rounded the final corner, approaching an office with an open door. "And here's the general's office," Raynor announced, but as they entered, they found it empty. Their curiosity piqued, they moved through the office and discovered another door leading to the observation room. Stepping inside, they beheld the sight of General Lockhart standing over a sprawl of files scattered across the long table.

"General, I see you've made quite a mess," Raynor remarked with a chuckle, surveying the scene before him.

Lockhart looked up from the file he was examining, blinking in surprise before shaking his head. "Comes with the territory of being a general, John. Maybe one day you'll get to experience it firsthand."

Marisa's eyes had gone rounder and rounder as they had proceeded towards the next area. She was impressed and falling in love with the whole facility. She could hardly wait to get involved with maintaining things here or even elsewhere. She kept her rising enthusiasm in check, though she wanted to at the very least touch a wall just to get the 'feel' of the place. Maybe even whisper introductions or sweet somethings to the place. She will wait at a more opportune time to do that, They were now in a rather official room and talking to General Lockhart. She snapped to attention, giving a salute. "General Lockhart, sir." she didn't know what else to say, just feeling goosebumps prickle up her skin.

"Ah, Colonel Raynor and Chief Petty Officer Harlan, welcome," General Lockhart greeted with a warm smile, setting aside the file he was perusing. "Just a bit of organized chaos, I assure you. Comes with the territory, as they say."

He observed Marisa's awe with a twinkle in his eye, understanding her enthusiasm for the facility. "Take your time to familiarize yourself, Chief Harlan. We're glad to have you on board," he said, acknowledging her salute with a nod. "No need for formalities at ease for now. We're all on the same team here."

"Plus, we're indoors," John interjected with a slight smirk, injecting a touch of humor into the conversation. "Thanks, General."

"Indeed," the general affirmed with a nod, acknowledging John's observation.

"Uh well... habits you know." Marisa lowering her hand, a grin appearing. " I am feeling very honored being here in truth, and hope that I can be a good addition to this team." Marisa felt like she was babbling just a little bit. "Anything in particular I am going to be needing to know, or will that be found out at a later time?"

General Lockhart listened attentively before responding, his expression thoughtful. "Honestly, it's up to you, Marisa. Stargate Command serves as the hub for exploring through the Stargate and conducting our off-world operations. While we're still in the process of getting things fully operational here on Earth, we have our Earth delegates and a security team supporting our newest allies as they establish their base of operations. In return, they're assisting us in gathering information on the status of the Goa'uld system lords. It may not seem like much, but we know for certain that we didn't eliminate the entire fleet in the initial attack on our planet."

Lockhart paused, considering Marisa's question. "So, back to you. What would you like to ask or know?"

"Pure plain and simple, when can I get to work, and start learning about the newest tech I will be needing to know about. And will I get a place to have a mobile garden. I know that is probably a rather out of the ordinary request. Just need to get that confirmed as to what I am allowed." Marisa giving a simple shrug and a smile.

"We'll ensure you're fully briefed on all the necessary tech. As for the garden, that's a new one for me, but why not? We'll consult with the engineering team to find a suitable spot. A touch of green in space sounds refreshing, doesn't it?" John replied, casting a glance at the general.

Lockhart considered the idea for a moment before responding, "Well, a bit of greenery might boost morale. Let's see what we can arrange. I'll follow up on that soon."

"But don't get too comfortable just yet. We're all heading up to the Gladiator in the morning. Once you drop off your bags, make sure to check in with medical. Then pack a bag," the colonel smirked, shrugging casually. "Let's just say we expedited your in-processing process."

"Sounds great to me, sirs, and go to medical right. Can do!" Marisa being rather eager to get a move on. "See you tomorrow then won't take too long to pack a bag. Always ready to move when needed." it wasn't difficult to see how pumped Marisa was. A whole new experience was waiting for her.

As Marisa left the room, Colonel Raynor couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. Once she was out of earshot, he turned to General Lockhart with a wry grin.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a real go-getter, sir," Raynor remarked sarcastically, his tone laced with amusement. "I'll make sure to have the medical team on standby for when she inevitably crashes into something on her way to pack."

Marisa once she was out of that room and away from anyone's scrutiny, paused for a moment to touch the wall of the facility. "Can't believe I am here, but this is real. On towards a new horizon, and oh boy... going to be a whole lot of horizons."

Lockhart, observing Marisa's moment of reflection, approached her with a gentle smile. "It's quite a journey you're embarking on, Marisa. The path ahead may seem daunting, but every step you take brings you closer to new discoveries and adventures beyond imagination. Embrace it, and remember, you're part of something much bigger now."

"He has always been good with his words," Raynor replied as he smirked slightly.

Marisa gave out a slight gasp, whirling around having not heard the two men approach her. "Sirs, no disrespect, we may need to put a bell on you both." her cheeks going a slight pink in color. Then she gave a grin. "And it is true he does have a way with words. Both of you do. Don't worry I am ready to embrace it."

This caused the general to pause before raising his eye brow for a moment before he simply huffed with a slight smirk. "Carry on, Chief, Colonel."

"Yes sir," John nodded with a two finger salute, not requiring to salute at all inside unless receiving an award or discipline. He smirked at the chief petty officer and nodded to her as well. "I'll catch you later. Remember, pack light."

"Yes, Colonel and General a pleasure." With that Marisa gave a smart salute of respect to them both, turned and left the area. Her mind all abuzz with what lay before her, new horizons and interesting people to work with.