Posted by Mar. Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek (Pilot, Air Group) in Pre-Sim: M’alek Reporting For Duty

Posted by Mar. Captain Siraa ‘IRIS’ sh’Rharror (Squadron Leader, Air Group) in Pre-Sim: M’alek Reporting For Duty

Posted by Mar. Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek (Pilot, Air Group) in Pre-Sim: M’alek Reporting For Duty
Posted by… suppressed (23) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Small streams of light circled the air as M’alek’s form materialized on the transporter pad of the Chimera. His black fur produced a slight blue, brown halo from the bright lights of the transporter room. A quiet guttural growl came from him as he stepped down of the pad.

“Captain M’alek requesting permission to come aboard” he said his voice deep and filled with a low resonant purr behind it. His whiskers danced back and forth as his nose twitched as his body assed it’s new environment.

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

With Oni’s departure, Siraa had stepped into the 2IO position with the Black Sheep. It was a matter of pride that the Colonel placed that responsibility on her. They had a new pilot arriving which meant Siraa was there to great him. “Mar Captain M’alek, I’m Mar Captain sh’Rharror, acting 2IO.” She saluted crispy and then offered her hand.

M’alek’s whiskers twitched slightly as he returned the salute, and shook her hand. “Captain, pleasure” he said then removed his cover and tucked it under his arm. His eyes still taking in his surroundings.

“Welcome to the Black Sheep, and the Chimera. Colonel Lardel is waiting for you. If you will follow me.”

Mar. Capt. sh’Rharror, Delta SQLD

“It’s an Honor to serve with the Black Sheep, Captain a squadron with a very rich human history!” his deep voice sounded like a growl on the hard consonant’s where it was harder for him to form the sounds more naturally.

“Lead the way Captain” he said falling in next to her.

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

The Andorian woman walked beside him, but with purpose toward their goal. “We do, and our space faring history is just as rich. I can’t wait to see you in action. Colonel Lardel is very picky about who he lets join the Black Sheep.” She pressed the call button for the lift and then stepped on. “Deck 13,” she called out and turned back to him.
“We spend most of our working time on the flight decks. You’ll billet on deck 20. We share marine resources with the Marine Battalion Raiders. Their CMB is Lt. Col. Drangon Cull. Training holosuits are on deck 29. Colonel Cull’s people share the deck with Fleet Security.” The lift stopped on deck 13 and sh’Rharror stepped out. She moved to the large double doors of the flight deck. A green light indicated it was safe to enter. She nodded to the two marines standing watch just inside.

“Welcome to the flight deck.” It was busy, but far from chaotic. Birds were being moved from the deck to below for maintenance, support crews were doing inspections, aviators were running pre and post flight checks. A handful of birds were getting ready to take off and others could be seen outside the forcefield approaching for return. “Squad ready rooms are down here. Lt Lardel and Squad Leader offices are up the ladders, technically on deck 11.”

Siraa scaled the ladder/steps up to the flight control level and made her way to the last door and knocked sharply. “Colonel Lardel, Mar Captain Shraan M’alek’s arrived.”

Mar. Capt. sh’Rharror, Delta SQLD

The office was unlike any standard Fleet office. The door opened in the middle of the room. On the left side were three rows of six seats, all in front of a podium which stood in front of a currently blank display screen. Directly in front of her on the far back wall was a table with an old-style coffee pot and containers of sugar, creamer, and the like. On the wall and just above the coffee pot was a replicator. Above that hung the Flag of the Federation Marines, and just below that a white flag with squadron crest emblazoned on it. To the right was a desk sitting next to a window. Out the window could be seen main flight deck of the Chimera. In front of the desk were two chairs, and seated behind the desk was a Zakdorn male in a flight suit, looking at a PaDD. He looked up and said “Come in.” Lardel said, and stood up and held a hand out to the new arrival. “Nice to have you with us, Captain. Have a seat. IRIS, you too.”

Lardel, CAG

IRIS nodded, but before sitting down she beeline for the coffee. It wasn’t as good as boiled water, but she had developed a strong affection for the dark liquid. She pored a cup and then returned to the desk.

M’alek Extended his pawn and took the man’s hand “Colonel.” he said with a firm shake and nod though the word was hard for him to say, and it sound more like a low growl than the rank it represented. His black fur glisten under the bright lights of the room, his tail twitched nervously smacking the side of the chair over and over.
“Pleasure to be in your ready room Sir” he noted waiting for IRIS, to take a seat it was considered a courtesy to allow not only a superior but a female take honors first.
After taking his seat he waited for the next part taking a look around the room and it’s decor.

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

Such manners weren’t within the Andorian military, and it had confused her when she had first joined the Marines. However, she adapted quickly and appreciated other’s cultural showings. She sat with a nod to M’alek and turned her attention to Hannibal.

Mar. Capt. sh’Rharror, Delta SQLD
M’alek sat down in turn and shifted in his seat slightly to get comfortable.

Lardel took a seat and pulled up ‘Shifty’s’ file. “So… Captain… tell me why you made the switch from Fleet to Marines. Started at the Fleet Academy, then went green side. Not many can pull that transition off… vastly different cultures and all… but you seem to have done a good job with it.”

Lardel, CAG

“Well Sir, ” his voice purred in response. “The Marines were more similar to my Caitian training. There was a cross training combat exercise my final year at Starfleet, after flying with them I knew that’s were I belonged. ” he paused looking to the distance for a moment, his voice training off. “The rest was just cutting through some red tape as the humans say” the word human growled of his tongue as he finished.

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

Lardel nodded. “Fair enough. Not everybody gets it right the first time.” he said with a slight grin. “I see you’re checked out on the Templar. Your ride is up to your specifications? Have everything in you need for extended operations?” Lardel asked. This was one of his test questions. The Templar class fighter was not only the finest fighter craft in the Federation; it was perhaps the most complex and difficult to adjust to. No windows, just screens. And the orientation was weird for experienced pilots. Flying feet-first while laying down took a lot of getting used to. But for all of it’s challenges, it had everything a pilot could want… and then some. If a new candidate tried to make themselves seem like a know-it-all and tell Hannibal they would change things about their craft; Lardel knew they weren’t using the craft to it’s full potential.

Lardel, CAG

M’alek’s tail swished back and forth as he thought about the questions. “I’m not sure I’ve had enough time in the seat to fully answer that question Sir” he noted. “I’m checked out sure enough but not a lot of flight time beyond that.” his low purrs and undertones broke some of the words up in unnatural ways.

“It is a most impressive fighter indeed. The learning curve is also impressive and overwhelming at first, but manageable.” he thought a moment before continuing as he was not sure if he had just missed something but it if you don’t know ask. “I do struggle with the COMTAC a little given the various undertones of my speech pattern and I’m not sure how to adjust for it. I’ve gone through the calibration a few times now.”

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

“I’ll put Tolkien on that,” Siraa said. “Kay’vk, aka Tolkien, was a brilliant engineer that was more valuable as a linguist. He made up his own languages for fun. Between that and his engineering background he was amazing with software. He could get it working, no problem.

Mar. Capt. sh’Rharror, Delta SQLD

“Thank you Sir” he noted “I think that will really help me greatly, ” he noted looking around the room not really knowing where to go with the conversation. He was eager to get into the saddle and start making friends on the ship.

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

“If anyone can get it sorted, Captain… it’s Tolkien.” Lardel said, satisfied that he had a pilot with self awareness and not some hotshot. “As for the flight time, you will have all you want and more. Anytime the Chimera is not at warp, we are doing overflights and patrols. So you can get all the stick-time you want. Now…” and he fixed Shifty with a piercing look, “… what questions do you have?”

Lardel, CAG

M’alek’s eyes squinted turning into narrow slits as his brow descended, he thought for a moment not wanting to waste his time. “Well I’m sure my wing assignment will come soon enough, what does the training regiment look like on the ship.” he asked

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

Lardel nodded once at IRIS and said “You can take that up with Captain sh’Rharror here, she is in charge of training and familiarization flights.” He took a breath and then said “Now when was the last time you qualified with sidearm and survival gear?”

Lardel, CAG

IRIS looked up from the PaDD she had in her lap and nodded. “Already working on it, Col.” It might seem she wasn’t paying attention, but while Lardel was conducting his interview, she was making notes and planning out a tentative training and flight schedule for M’alek.

Mar. Capt. sh’Rharror, Delta SQLD

M’alek thought for a moment on the second part of the question it had been sometime since he had qualified on the survial gear side of things. “Side quals last month sir” he said then paused for a moment. “Survival, I would have to check it’s been at least a six months” he noted

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

IRIS made a note on her PaDD, “We qualify every two months. So I’ll get you schedule for a review immediately.”

Mar. Capt. sh’Rharror, Delta SQLD

M’alek’s voice purred ever so softly as he spoke. “I will look forward to it Captain” he noted as his tailed swished back and forth. He hoped he was answering the questions well his co was hard to read.

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

“We will get you plenty of training in the birds as well. Before long you will operate in your sleep,” IRIS assured him. “What is your specialty, Cpt?”

Mar. Capt. sh’Rharror, Delta SQLD

He was not sure how to describe his main skills his voice growled out in a low tone. “Surveillance was what I did mostly with the Defense force back home” he noted his eyes searching hers for reaction. “Other than the normal jobs of a sled jockey, I have done a lot of planetary low level strike missions against pirates and terror groups.” he said thinking back to his younger years.

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

Siraa noded, making a note. He would probably have fit in with the Raiders just fine. “What about in your bird? What position do you usually take up with your squadron?”

Mar. Capt. sh’Rharror, Delta SQLD

Thinking on that M’alek smiled. “Lead has been my thing for sometime now, it’s more where I have been assigned. I would not say that I have a preference though.” It was customary in his culture to take the front when ever it was offered.

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

“How big of a group have you led?” Siraa asked. She was looking at her wings and patrols and squads.

Mar. Capt. sh’Rharror, Delta SQLD

His head tilted slightly as his eyes narrowed in thought. “Largest would have been pre-Starfleet, back home I led a strike force against a pirate base in our system.” he said as he remembered that battle. “It was the equivalent of a Starlfeet squadron plus support aircraft.” he noted

Mar Captain Shraan ‘Shifty’ M’alek
Pilot, Air Group

Her antennae waved back and forth as she thought. “Alright, I think I have an idea of where to start you with our training schedules. We’ll get you with Tolkien first, to get the voice commands on your bird set.”

Mar. Capt. sh’Rharror, Delta SQLD