"New Assignment"

"Here's to pops," a Marine Gunnery Sergeant said, lifting a stein of ale into the air. "He somehow managed to 'liberate' us these fine beverages from the commissary and put it on the Lieutenant's tab!" There was a roar of "Huzzah's!" as the enlisted lifted their drinks to a single corporal who rose from his seat and jumped on to the table.

"Thank you, thank you," the Corporal replied over the roaring crowd. Corporal Ira Hendricks and raised his beer stein to the group. After taking a gulp from it, he motioned for the group to quiet down. The assembled group was of Marine Force Recon, Foxtrot Company assigned to the new Starbase 732. "What can I say men? It's been a great few months blowing the crap out of things," he said, being greeted with a few cheers from the group. "Yeah, I knew you'd like that," he said, pointing to a young PFC in the back. "I've enjoyed my time here at the station. This is possibly one of the best assignments I've had over the past few years."

"Many years!" a voice called from the back of the room. It was quickly greeted by a flow of chuckles from the group with some scattered hoots and hollars.

Ira grinned. "O.K., many years, and it's gonna suck to leave. I hope the next group is as good as you guys have been. That's it." Ira gave a wave to the group, and jumped down to the table. He slammed the rest of his ale and put the stein upside down on the table. The group followed suit, and they all finished by slamming their steins down on the tables upside down. Ira mixed and mingled for the next few minutes before making his way out of the enlisted mess and to his quarters.

He pulled the small PADD out of his pant cargo pocket and gave it another look over. It was his transfer orders to the USS Taurus, a New Orleans refit. Strangely enough, however, the transfer orders came from Starfleet Command, and not from the Marine Corps or his Marine CO. This could either be a good thing or bad. Good in the fact that someone upstairs recognized his work and felt that he would serve best aboard the ship. The other, and more discouraging option was that someone had seen his somewhat distinguished yet reprimanded service record and decided this is where a trouble maker should be put. Ira silently hoped it was the first explanation and not the latter.

He entered his bunk room, and finished collecting his things. He tossed the PADD in his duffel and slung it over his shoulder. Ira quickly made his way to the runabout bay and made his way onboard. A somewhat eager and annoyed Ensign gave Ira a stern look as he was the last to board the shuttlecraft. The Ensign closed up the entry hatch and made his way forward into the cockpit. After a silent few moments as Ira took in his surroundings, he noticed that he was in the midst of all enlisted Starfleet personnel, thankfully. He wasn't sure he'd be able to put up with more Starfleet "one dot's" as most enlisted referred to young and unexpected ensigns. With a small jerk upwards, the runabout lifted off of the deck, and made it's way out of the shuttlebay. Ira hoped that his new assignment would be just as entertaining as his old one.