High Noon Express Part 2.
Posted on Thu Feb 28th, 2019 @ 12:39am by Gunnery Sergeant Flarn & Lieutenant Commander Larim Myles & Major Cornelius Tremble
Edited on on Thu Feb 28th, 2019 @ 4:33am
1,327 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 6 - Old Habits Die Hard
Location: Holodeck three
Timeline: MD001 1330 hrs
"It's been ten years since I had the Corp's training on riding animals: herbivore, quadruped. At least these should be more stable than those Tellarian ostriches." Neil walked into the scene, then mounted what looked (and was described in the novel's he'd read) like a paint. Nodding to the gunny, he said "I'll give it a go. Worst case, I get to experience a train running over me."
Flarn mounted up. He was unstable on a horse but had been taking lessons since he boarded the Pioneer. He planned on impressing the Captain with his knowledge of horseback riding. However, at the moment he did not look too proud to be showing anyone anything. "Very well then I believe the term is saddle up and let's go." He snorted.
The holodeck had already created the scene for them. A train not to far off, and not going to fast as of yet. There horses ready, the whole thing looking much like a painting at the moment with the holodeck paused.
Neil put a foot up and stepped/levered himself into the saddle, appreciating the computer smoothly adjusting the stirrup lengths automatically as the program was paused. Glancing at the others, he pulled his hat off and moved the leather latigo 'stampede strings' from the front to the back. That would keep him from losing his hat in the pursuit that was coming.
"C'mon Pards," he told his companions, "We're burning daylight here!"
Flarn had no idea how to sit a horse let alone ride one. So he had the computer create a suitable wagon that he would drive. Two horses had been hitched to what appeared to be a standard wagon. Flarn climbed into the driver's seat and took a quick look around. He saw the pedal that released the T bar breaking mechanism. He also saw the reigns which he picked up. To his right was a leather sleeve, and after a moment's thought he realized that it was a place to stow his shotgun.
Mina got on the horse that had been made for her, and started off at a trot. "Computer, begin program." With that the train that had until now been stationary, started to move, it wasen't going all that fast to be honest. The train seaming to have just started off. "Alright, niace and easy boys. Just get ta th' train and get onboard."
"Yes ma'am..." Flarn shouted over the din of noise. He cracked the reigns and the horses stepped first into a walk, then a trot, then an easy canter as they pulled the wagon into motion.
Neal touched his heels to the horse and had to grab the saddle horn when the dappled appaloosa reacted with a half leap into a flat gallop in less than a heartbeat. As expected his hat flew off and tightened at his throat and he had to stifle a cough. He held a rein in each hand, trying so steer the horse and it slowed, it's head tossing and it tried to make a sharp turn to the left.
Sawing the right rein, Neil frowned as he fell behind and he kicked his heels into the animals side. It squealed and leaped after the horses and Neil felt frustrated. He was doing something wrong: then he realized the horse wasn't a cart animal and had been trained to turn at the reins touch to it's neck.
He experimented and the horse responded to the rein's touch and the horse snorted, happier, and gained speed.
Neil let out a whoop as he caught up to the others, a broad smile spread over his face.
The gunnery sergeant had enough experience with a horse to at the very least get it going fast enough to quickly catch up with the train. First awkwardly standing in the straddle then simple reaching out taking hold of the railing on the back train carts. And simply falling off her horse, holding on and dragging herself up on to the landing platform on the back. It wasn't graceful looking but was at least effective. With her new position on the train cart she held on with one hand and offered her a hand out to the next person trying to get onboard.
Neil's horse gained speed, past Flarn's wagon and slid up, trying to mirror Mina's action. He caught her hand as he drew even, then slid his foot up and over the saddle and then the handrail of the platform.
It worked, mostly.
One heel of his riding boots caught a bit and he went half sprawling as she levered him across to the opposite railing, his hands barely catching the rail before he went head first over the side. Both hands were numb and he was breathing hard from the adrenaline. Recovering after a beat, he moved up to lend a hand to the next rider keeping out of the gunny's way.
She gave Neil a nod. "Wel that wasn't ta bad. Now fer Flarn."
Flarn found that driving the wagon was relatively easy. What he did not relish, nor did he know how was getting off the wagon on onto the train. As the wagon pulled up to the train it seemed to him that no matter how fast the wagon went it would not gain enough for Flarn to reach the rail and jump on. After a quick assessment of what he could do Flarn tied the reigns off to the bench of the wagon. He stood and gained his balance, after a brief three count he jumped onto the T bar that attached the horses to the wagon. For a large humanoid the leap was rather graceful and the landing easy. Once on the T bar he inched himself toward the heads of the horses. It was from this vantage point that he could see how to reach the train. He coaxed a small amount of speed from the horses and extended his hand. The first two tries he missed, but on the the third his three fingered hoof like hand found the wrist of Tremble. Tremble's hand found Flarn's wrist in return and the lumbering Tellarite was pulled aboard.
Neil set his foot and leg against the protective railing and when the Tellarite was able to grab ahold, Neil reached down and got ahold of the Sgt.'s tricep and with the gunny's help, levered him onto the platform. "Nice of you to join us," Neil grinned at him. They cleared personal space and moved to the door.
Moving to the door, he took up a position on the left side, turning to his companions. "Right, well lets gets this done. Gunny, is this a robbery in process or do we have to prepare to repel boarders?"
Then he cocked his head. "Or is it a mystery and do we need to find out?"
Mina took a moment to stuff some of her hair under her hat and out of her face. "We know thar already on th' train, but not if thar robbing the thing yet. might do to lay low until tha make thar move."
A Joint Post By
Second Lieutenant Cornelius Tremble
Marine Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Gunnery Sergeant Wilhelmina Wilson
First Sergeant/Rifle Fire Team 2 Leader, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Larim Myles
Chief Security/Tactical Officer, USS Pioneer
Staff Sergeant Flarn
Rifle Fire Team 1 Leader, USS Pioneer
RSS Feed