Pleasantries and Formalities

Posted on Wed Aug 31st, 2022 @ 4:12pm by Major Alexander Preston & Master Sergeant Ezekiel Chambers & Lance Corporal Amber Lynn Blanche Adams & Captain Jason Tahana

Mission: Jumping Right In
Location: Briefing Room
1378 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

It was a rather simple affair for the Major. All team leads were given a slot where they could take over the briefing room and do a quick one-off introduction. Get to know the team, get to know their specialties, and then get ready for their first step through the big ring. From where the briefing room was, he could stare down at it, the large metal structure that was so critical to the future of off-world jumps to the rest of the galaxy. His eyes traced the ring carefully, watching as people moved about in the embarkation room. Tugging at the edge of his rolled-up CADPAT sleeves, he made sure they were seated correctly. It wouldn't be fair to call what Alexander was nervous, more so highly anticipating what was to come than anything else. His eyes tracked over the gathered people below, before finally turning back to the room in question. It was simple, a briefing room like most others he'd seen in the past. A long table, lots of chairs, and, with a quick glance at the paper cup in his hands, piss-poor coffee. Yup, it was military quarters. Still, he tossed his berret onto the table, place the coffee down, and then looked back to the window.

The Stargate.

He was excited, to say the least, to finally go through. He'd read the report about what the sensation could be likened to, and a bit of him was thrilled. It had been a long time since he'd been able to do anything that truly felt new. He'd received his clearance to get trained on the F-302s, which was exciting. There was even a report that a pair of CF-205s were inbound fresh from Beaverworks to receive updated aerospace avionics. Apparently, the once thought dead and fruitless project had been backdoor funded by the Canadian Government after the invasion and the two prototypes were headed to Stargate Command for trials of their new Acahkos Engines in ultra-high altitude combat drills. He was excited to get his hands on those in the future. Still, for the moment he had to focus on the here and now, and for that moment he was needing to focus on Stargate Command, and most importantly, the team he was now working with. So he'd wait here to meet them.

Climbing up the stairs into the briefing room, Jason was keeping himself busy be reading the facilities various manuals on some of the more advanced tech the SGC had come across and were now using, either off world or on base. He’d chosen to dress in the SGC’s camouflage variant of their uniform as it was similar enough to what he was used to from his service in the Australian Army. Looking up from the data pad he’d been reading from, he spotted the man who was to be his unit CO and who had called him up to the briefing room, presumably for a briefing. “Morning Major,” Jason said before walking over to stand behind one of the chairs and coming to attention, “Captain Jason Tahana reporting as requested.”

"Captain Tahana," Alexander said, turning to face the man who'd be effectively his 2IC. "No need for the formality, just a casual briefing and an opportunity to get to know one another," he added, crossing the room to extend a hand for a handshake. "Commando and ASIS training, right? From what I understand of our planned deployments that's going to be useful. Gesturing to one of the seats, Alexander refilled his coffee from the refreshment centre before taking a seat himself.

Zek stepped through the briefing room door, knowing he was going to be meeting the rest of the team he would be traveling through the Stargate with. As he moved into the room, he was dressed in the SGC's ABU black variant. He always liked the color black and this seemed to fit him well. When he spotted the two officers sitting at the table, he gave them both a nod, before going to get a mug of coffee. He didn't want to interrupt their conversation and could always go for a cup of coffee, even if it was terrible.

Alexander nodded towatds the Master Sergeant, acknowledging his presence. In his time on the Infantry side of things, he'd found that the smartest person in the room was usually the senior most NCO, and in this case it would be Chambers. Besides, it was always good to keep one on your side. "Master Sergeant," he said, as a way of bringing the man in. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well."

"Major," Zek nodded to the man, he knew he should probably salute, but he really wasn't in the mood. They could get on his ass if they wanted. He grabbed a seat at the table and took a drink from the mug of coffee. Air force coffee was better than Marine coffee at least. "Captain. I'm gonna explore the galaxy with a Canuck and an Aussie. I reckon this is gonna be fun."

“Sounds like the start of a joke. An Aussie, a Canadian, and a Yank walk into a bar…” Jason said, looking over at the sergeant, “let’s just hope the punchline is good”

"Not just any Yank, sir," Zek replied with a sly grin, before taking a drink from his mug. "A Texan and a Marine, there is absolutely a joke in there somewhere."

Whistling a couple of quick notes of "Dixie", Alexander winked at Zek. "Well I'm from your counter to the North of the 49', so I feel we might get along something fierce. Something about growing up where Ranches run wild makes a man, woman and all others fight just a little bit harder. Il faut dire qu'il va falloir vous apprendre à bien parler.," he concluded in the harsh francophone Alberta accent he'd grown up in. "Though," and he nodded to the beret on the table, "the Queen isn't listening, so it is Ezekial and Jason, yeah?"

Jacen nodded, “that’s right, and as they say in the mother county, Dieu sauve la reine” he said, looking to Zek, “That’s ‘God save the Queen’ for you”

Hair still slightly dripping, Alba hurried into the room, "Morning." she saluted briefly, "Am I late?" She asked trying to look as sharp and alert as possible. Once more she lost track of time at the gym, 'This has to stop', she thought to herself. The smell of coffee reached her nose, she took a deep breath and moved away from the table. Her nerves were always fired up, coffee wasn't ideal for the girl.

"Not at all," replied Alexander, nodded to the tables. "We're just really getting started. Looking to get to know the team, you must be Lane Corporal Adams, right?"

"I see I've got my work cut out for me," Zek's southern drawl came out a little thick as he looked the marine over.

"At your service, Sir." The young Corporal saluted, almost by reflex before she walked to take a seat at the table, "Or Alba, for short." A brief smile crossed her lips as she remembered how she got her pet name, her walk down memory lane was cut short by Zek's comment. She turned her attention to the marine and waited for more clarification on the mission.

"I can do Alba," the Major said with a chuckle, looked towards Zak. "Now now, from what I hear Lance Corporals are still fairly green, unless they get caught as uh... What's the phrase, Terminal Lance?" It was a phrase he'd picked up from the Americans he'd dealt with for years, but mostly from pilot banter while waiting on refueling back in the day. "I'm sure you've got plenty of time to get her up to speed. For now, this is just a chance for us all to meet, and get to know one another."

There was a combination of laughter and passed around stories from the collected group. Time to bond was essential for any unit that was combat focused, and doubly so for one that was going to be the front line on Earth's exploration of the stars.