A wall to climb

Posted on Fri Apr 21st, 2017 @ 11:05pm by Captain Allen Jones & Lieutenant Commander Ziyal Tajor
Edited on on Fri Apr 21st, 2017 @ 11:22pm

Mission: The Trial of Cor Cordale

Ziyal was working out in the gym, practicing her katas. It took her mind off of the vaccine that she would be taking soon. She worked on Parkata Urbatsu, a martial art based primarily on the effective combination of Judo, Parkour, and Capoeira. From Judo, it embraced a philosophy of giving way and using an opponent's own strength to defeat it's self. From Parkour, it embraced the idea of freedom of movement and that escaping a confrontation was a victory in its self. From Capoeira, it derived a sense of fun, of play in the martial art and a sense of style. Of not just moving through the environment or fighting and opponent, but of looking good while one did it. It was the art of taking the third option, the way that no one really thought about. While some of it's detractor's called it inefficient or cowardly, wasn't the goal of fighting to not have to fight? A fight avoided or escaped from was a fight won.

She preferred Parkata Urbatsu over Coup de Vitesse, her other martial art, There was no doubt about the coup's effectiveness, but Ziyal felt she was too small to use it effectively. It was all about hitting fast and hard. Being short and skinny did not help with those parts.

So Ziyal stood in the gym with the climbing wall, practicing a wall reversal kata. In essence, one would traverse to the top of the wall and then use gravity to assist their attack. In this case, it was a sort of falling sidekick. She used a practice dummy to simulate her target which she would then need to escape from, land in a roll and get back up.

AJ had a lot on his mind with the need to get his marines inoculated for this new virus. He had planned on running them through an obstacle course while they fought through the effects of the shot. As he walked into the gym he say Ziyal was practicing some sort of wall kick that looked pretty impressive. He smile. He loved a athletic female.

Ziyal smiled at AJ, despite both of them being from the Cosmos, she did not know the captain well. They had spent their time on there in very different circumstances. "Captain, what brings you here?" She asked, pausing for a moment.

"I was preparing a obstacle course for my Marines. What your doing looks much more exciting." He commented as he walked over.

Ziyal nodded, "Parkata Urbatsu, the martial art of urban movement. I love obstacle courses. Some of Parkata Urbatsu's Kata are basically 'go through that obstacle course' with style. What do you have in mind? Individual or team?"

"I was planning on squad based. Since they will be under the influence I would prefer for them to learn how to lean on each other to fight through the effects and reach an objective." AJ explained to her.

Ziyal nodded, thinking, "Having to do anything while your on a hallucinogen is going to be hard enough." She noted, looking around the room. "How good are they at defeating a four meter wall?"

"They are Marines they have to defeat a six meter for basic boot quals." AJ could see the wheels turning in her head. He looked at the room. "What do you have in mind?"

Ziyal slipped into the almost meditation of analyzing the problem. "Not knowing your marines, I'd be concerned that six meters is a bit much. However, Six meters is just an extension of the same problem at four meters. Four is about right for a single person not being able to get over it, and so they then need to work as a team. It's basic enough that they shouldn't have a problem overcoming it. However, not so basic that they can ignore the teamwork aspect. It can also be defeated relatively quickly by a good team. That allows you to run them through it several times before the hallucinogenic effects wear off."

"I am sure four meters will be plenty. Especially if side effects are as bad as they are claiming." He paused. "So what is your take on this whole conflict we are involved in?"

Ziyal started to put the equipment she had been using away. "My job is taking the information we have and creating solutions. I've got a lot of takes on it. Honestly, the data is not lining up right, and I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'm starting to worry that the worst case scenario, that they have some sort of hive mind or are backed by a powerful energy being is true. What's yours?"

AJ snickered a bit. Not many people asked Marines about their take on things. "Well I have many contacts still in SFI and I agree something seems off. I am not like most Marines that want to run head long into any situation. I have lost to many in the past. I am hoping we can figure this all out, but if need be I will make sure my people are ready to bash in some heads."

Ziyal nodded, "I'd really like to get my hands on some of their clerics and officers so we can get a better look at their society and culture. That's just the left-handed redheads sort of situation that the marines are perfect for."

AJ chuckled. "If we see one we will try and keep one alive. What does a Cardi know about redheads lol?"

Ziyal smiled, remembering, "Well I dated a cute one for a bit. But left-handed redheads was something we said when we were thinking about using Marines. The Fleet can deliver destruction in impersonal wholesale very well. However, the goal of an action is not to kill the enemy, but to get them to do what you want them to do. Oddly enough, the marines are a scalpel. If I told you that I wanted you to go into a city and grab me all of the left-handed redheads, then you could do it right? In a way, there is nothing that can replace boots on the ground." Ziyal explained.

AJ liked how she thought. Most people find Marines as unnecessary and she seemed to have a different idea. "I agree completely." He never had much taste for spoonheads but something about Ziyal warmed him up to the idea of working with a Cardassian.

Ziyal grinned, "Good, let's get these walls moved so your men can train."