New Digs

Posted on Fri Sep 3rd, 2021 @ 9:19pm by Major Amy Ludd & Lieutenant Colonel Jonathon Raynor & 1st Lieutenant Ayana Lavi (Hanley)

Mission: Jumping Right In
Location: Raynor's Office - Sublevel 18
Timeline: BACKPOST
2372 words - 4.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Amy was sat in the back of an almost new Hercules, also known as an AC-130 transport. She had been on dozens of these birds and this one was only slightly different; the major change was that this bird has skids other the landing wheels. The trip so far had taken her from her posting back in England by plane and even a boat and then back onto another plane before being shoehorned into the bird.

She had, in her ears ear buds that not only played music but also blocked out the constant rattles from the four big engines. The hull of the Herc was just enough to stop everyone from freezing and just sound dampened enough not to deafen them all. Other than that, she was sat in a jump seat that was normally folded up flush with the hull. Of course, using a Herc to fly her all the way out here was just stupid, thus she was surrounded with other personal, equipment and supplies all bound of the Antarctic station.

She had been forced to wait until there were enough to warrant a trip out. She had spent a good few days in Punta Arenas waiting for her flight to leave. She had read the entire time, outside, by the pool, in the sun.

As she looked out the window, she saw that they were still crossing the open ocean, they were flying high, but she did notice what looked like a cluster of ships. She used her clearance to access the classified data and found that there was a battle group in this location, and they were attempting to recover an alien mothership. It was the most intact one they had found to date and if they could get it up then they would maybe have a spaceship to use as their own.

Amy didn’t pretend to understand some of the technology she was reading about, but she understood the tactical advantage it would give them. Hell, some of it had already filtered back into civilian life. It was exciting none the less, the idea that they would be able to travel through space, faster than ever before and even visit other worlds… Well, that was what the Stargate does but that seemed like cheating to her.

Hours later and the plane crew informed them they would be landing soon. She stood, stretched her legs, and grabbed her winter gear. Even if they only had to walk from the plane, a few dozen feet to the base it was still going to be very much below zero! So, she pulled on the thick, insulated trousers and jacket and pulled on a beanie hat. She was ready when the plane bounced to a landing and slowed, it took mere minutes for the Herc to taxi into a parking location.

From there the back ramp opened, a gust of chilled air greeted them, but they seemed to be in a large hanger rather than the open air. For this she was grateful. The temperature outside was a nippy −60 °C. A little colder than she normally liked.

Captain Amy Carter was lugging her bags along the corridor that the gate guard had insisted would lead her to her state room. Well, she was expecting more of a low budget hotel room than officer quarters. Better than sleeping on the floor at any rate, the corridors were painted a dull grey; battleship grey! But they were brightly lit, wide enough that even on alert they wouldn't be crowded so there was hope that if she were to be living here for the long term Amy was hopeful that there would be plenty to do.

She had brought with her plenty to read, her eReader was filled with thousands of books on hundreds of subjects and genres. Novels, comics, short stories and text books. She had also brought with her a personal laptop; well... it had been enhanced a little. It was packed with computer games, writing aids and other assorted programs that helped her stave off boredom.

Her quarters were in officer country and not car from the messhall, nice quick easy to obtain coffee. Exactly what she wanted. Her room was somewhat simple, just a shared space that operated as a bedroom and a living room, with a shower room. A simple wooden desk sat in the corner with an equally simple chair. The Bed was sat in the middle of one wall, opposite the door. That was the first thing she was gonna change, Carter had no intention of wasting what little space there was so she bitched and moaned as she shoved the large bed to one corner. Then she dumped her bag on the bed and started to unpack.

Amy knew many of her fellows wouldn't, generally her postings were mobile never really staying in the same place for very long. She always unpacked when she was assigned a bed, usually meant she was gonna be there for a little while at least. In the small 'go' bag she keeps a few personal items as well as the standard stuff, among this was a tablet and a Switch; and spare batteries plus a small but efficient solar charger.

Everything else was packed away, her clothing in the draws and wardrobe while her other personal items on top of surfaces and and cupboards.

On the desk was an envelope, she picked it up. She pulled what happened to her orders out and read them. They confirmed that she was the new leader of SG4, there was a note attached that said to report to the leader of SG1, a Colonel Raynor. She pulled off her cold weather gear and made sure her uniform was in order before heading out to find the colonels office.

It took a few minutes but she found his office door and knocked.

There was a slightly long pause before a voice called out in response. "Yeah, come in!" John was rubbing his eyes a bit as the door opened. He had started to fall asleep at all the documents and what not before him. He was tasked with assigning the other team leaders for the general and that put him in charge of the SG Field Unit. Oh what a privilege.

He hated paperwork, and now before him was even more. So when he had seen the short officer walk in, he wasn't surprised. He stood respectfully and reached out a hand. "Captain Carter. The short firecracker of an officer I hear."

Amy Carter tilted her head "So my last commander suggested" she paused "Once" she allowed a hint of a smile to cross her lips. "Captain Amy Carter, formally of 22 Regiment." She didn't need to mention which regiment, anyone who was anyone knew what that meant. It did feel strange declaring it though, she had spent her time with the 22 denying she in fact worked there.

He smirked slightly before offering her a seat on the other side of the desk before plopping down in his chair once again. He grapped a tennis ball and squeezed it for a moment before he looked at her and smirked. "So what brings you by. I'd assume you have been briefed of this command further and you know of your assignment as SG4 Leader?"

She looked a little confused. "I got a note with my formal orders to come to your office?" It was a question, if he hadn't written the note who had?"

This confused the colonel for a moment before it hit him. "OH that's right. I wanted to welcome you here. It was all about the SG4 team leader position and see how you feel of leading the medical and exploration specialized team. It isn't completely what you are used to or came from, but I need a good skilled officer and hell, you fit the bill."

She shrugged "As long as i get to do some exploring as well" she said "I am happy with having a medical heavy team." she was nodded "Also, have i gotten a 2IC yet?" Team members, like every other part of military life, were being assigned, but she had ben able to make a short list from candidates on the plane trip here.

If perhaps by unwilling coincidence, that was when another knock came at the door. Ayana hadn't had time to do much but hand her bag off and let Duke do his business outside before coming here, still in her green/brown IDF fatigues. Supply said there was a miscommunication with her sizes, they'd have to swap out what had been drawn out for her soon.

"Make a good impression, now. This is our new CO." She said quietly to Duke. The dog's eyes looked up at her expectantly, his tail wagging in anticipation. Either that or he was still wound up from having all this new white stuff outside to play in.

Carter glanced around at the door before checking with the colonel. Getting a slight nod Amy got to her feet and opened the office door. She smiled at the younger women before looking down at the best behaved 'dogoo' she had ever see. Fighting the desire to, you know just hug the puppa and rub his fur up the wrong way she instead stepped back to allow them to come through the door.

"Lieutenant" she said smiling. Carter wondered if the Israeli military gave their animals ranks...

"Ma'am. Sir." Ayana said, "Lieutenant Ayana Lavi, Sergeant Duke, reporting as ordered." The two entered the office smartly, with Duke sitting down next to Ayana upright.

"Welcome to the SGC, Lieutenant," John looked down at the dog and even though he had one of his own, he wasn't completely used to dogs out of the kennel area that was housed with Security Forces. "Ok, so I haven't worked with many work dogs, but how does it work?"

"Duke and I are a team, he's a search dog. This means he's more trained to sniff out IEDs, explosives, people and even narcotics. The last one, we didn't have too much use for but Oketz Unit attaches personnel to various IDF units. I just happened to be sent back to my original unit once we finished training." Ayana explained, "He can still fight, but from what I was told, his skills will be best used here for search and rescue operations."

"As for myself, I served with a recon battalion most of my career, one in a brigade focused on counter-terrorism and urban warfare. So I'm comfortable operating in small teams with minimal to no backup. I'm not some mysterious Mossad type, not here to spy on the Program and report back to Tel Aviv. I suspect the General Staff already sent someone for that." Ayana continued, "I'm just here because this isn't the sort of thing you say no to."

Carter had worked with dog teams before, "I assume you recon able? Teams I had worked with had camera units mounted on the combat vest of the dog." She really didn't think they would have much use for IED's or explosives in general and if they did it was likely the aliens would use different materials to those used on Earth. Of course the people hunting and maybe even the narcotics could come in handy.

"We can do that with Duke, but I'm hoping to get him trained up on alien materials too. Nothing but experience is going to help him there. And all of us, I think." Ayana commented, "But when the shooting starts, I'd feel more comfortable with Duke close to me. We never deployed to any of the hot zones in or around Israel. The world might be at peace but not even alien attacks will truly stop the things going on there. The worst he and I dealt with were some Egyptian border guards acting like jerks. Made up for it the following week hanging out with the Jordanians, they loved Duke. He even got his own shemagah."

Carter smiled "Okay" she said "Good enough for me" She looked at the colonel questioningly.

"Sweet! How do you think your pup will do on other planets? I would assume its going to be the same outcome with ourselves. Unsure, possible that people will take some time getting used to walking into a big vertical paddle," the colonel pondered as he looked at the four legged creature before returning his focus on the owner.

"I suppose that will be the question for each and every one of us. And I think the answer is that it will be a mix of excitement, curiosity, and caution." Ayana explained, "However, if there are circumstances where Duke's presence may be more a liability, we are not conjoined. I would rather give him the day off than put him and others at risk where that risk has been identified and outweighs any benefit of him being with us."

Duke looked up at the people talking, his tail wagging a bit, but otherwise sat patiently next to Ayana.

"We can do that one a mission to mission basis" Carter said "We will have some information before we go through the gate." She smiled. "I assume you understand that you are also SG4's 2IC?" she asked of the Lieutenant.

"There was a little lack of clarity at first on that point until I showed up at the airfield, but yes, I've been told." Ayana replied, "I've got some experience in leadership, but honestly I just want to make sure I'm setting the right example and doing the right thing. So I'll be there to support decisions and offer second opinions."

"Unless I am out of action for whatever reason it's unlikely you will need to take command" Carter said "But, that said we will work on your command skills together." she nodded "But we have a big day tomorrow and I have paper work to do..." she frowned at the Colonel "Somehow" she narrowed her eyes at him. "May we be dismissed?"

"Yeah of course. Knock them dead, and I'm hear if ya need me, " John replied as he nodded in kind. "Good meeting you all."