Posted by Ensign Elemirre Serinde (Engineering Officer) in Main Sim - Sickbay - The Sargent’s Checkup

Posted by Vice Admiral CockRoach (GM) in Main Sim - Sickbay - The Sargent’s Checkup
[snip]

The first couple of lines were your usual, MACO service tags, name, current rank, current assignment (originally for the 6th Alpha S/R Training squad on Mars colony), current handler (formerly listed as to be a Corporal Samantha Haynes of said squad), as well as her MACO service tag number and DNA listings related to her breeding/parents/litter mates. After that was a list of her current health status before being shipped off from Earth, it showed she was up to date as of four days ago on all shots, vitamin aides, and enhancements given to such animals and that such would not be needed again for another 3 years or situations changed to warrant an update. The last section showed her current finished training lists and those which still needed to be finished.

The finished list of trainings first were for parade/march/off duty commands, ‘Sit’, ‘Heel/Stay’, ‘Rest/Sleep Time’, ‘Go Eat/Play’, ‘Attention!’ (said with a sharper command tone), ‘At Ease!’ (same command sharp tone), ‘Fall In!’ (again same as before), ‘Parade Rest!’ (same as before), ‘Salute!’ (same as before), ‘Handler’ (which seemed to be a command where one pointed to who was in charge of the dog for a ‘mission’, and finally ‘Release’ which was to indicate to the dog the current handler was no longer such. Beyond these there was also those related to completed training for morale/phycological care of squad mates like, ‘Observe’ (which seemed related to watching a designated person for signs of stress or the like), ‘Report’ (which was usually combined with other commands like Observe for the dog to do so for a trained period of time then report back with either one bark for ‘no’ and two barks for ‘yes’ signaling same person had a problem), ‘Physical Care’ which seemed to be for the dog to attempt to get a target doing something physical to distract them from a perceived issue, and ‘Mental Care’ which seemed to be for the dog to attempt to lure the target to someone else for mental well being care, last in this list was ‘Help’ where the dog would either help the designated person to something they pointed at in some way say by helping to drag a bag or something, or attempt to locate help for a person who called for such if say they had fallen or were injured etc. The last bit of completed training commands it seems were related to simple ‘find, locate, and/or retrieve’ commands where she could be given various scented things, simple pictures of an item or person, and then attempt to locate them within a certain range of the handler usually about 50 yards or so if the dog found what was indicated, or failed after this range/time it returned to the handler and gave one bark for ‘no’ and two barks for ‘yes’. No meaning it couldn’t find what was sought, or yes meaning it found such but could not reach it/return with it. The last bit also showed she was conditioned for light combat engagement at the squad level so in theory should not cower or run off unless directed if fighting started, though in such cases the dog was trained to stay close to its handler and take cover until ordered otherwise.

The list of training for on Mars for the dog to complete was related to things like search/rescue of a person or target, alerting patrolling forces of threats, drug/contraband search, bomb location, and the like, as well as commands related to restraining/attacking/etc of an enemy target. None of this had been done to completion however.

While the examination was taking place, Rick looked through the list of commands, occasionally glancing toward Nessa. “Let’s not show this to Lt Green,” he murmured toward Sasha. “He might want to use that on us.”

“Copy that” Rachel said stretching, an amused crooked grin on her face as she stared at the dog “And check to see what language the trainers use, My old farm had three separate trained dogs, one only took dutch commands, another only Tagalog. The third wasn’t trained but he only listened to you if you swore” Her grin widened considerably “Nobody is sure how that happened”

Checking the language it was common English.

Setting the tablet down next to the box he carried, the Petty Officer rifled through the box of food. How much was there? He wondered and how long would that last for? Chef might be able to be convinced to make something up special for her, but then again. He didn’t know the chef and hoped he might be able to convince him to do that? Glancing at Nessa he noted that he didn’t see a ‘beg’ command. Hopefully that was intrinsic to all dogs, but she was a cutie and rather not threatening in her look, unlike some military dogs. He was bunked with Mark Sayers, a nervous, nerdy science geek of similar rank. They didn’t have much room in their cabin, but Rick snapped the bottom bunk, having gotten on board before him. Hmmm, let’s see. Food yes, but about toys? Unlikely to need a leash with all those commands he knows, Rick thought.

Looking through the box there seemed to be about two months worth of food for the dog to have two scheduled meals a day plus a smaller packet as a ‘snack’. There was also a box (still in the cargo bay) that was to be used for training purposes as rewards for things, with that alone it was enough for roughly two or so weeks of food.

“Rick,” Sasha said quietly. He sounded a bit nervous. “Should we not continue our checks?”

Rick glanced toward the taller Ensign. “Sir, we’re golden here.” Sasha looked confused by that expression. “Captain said to take the good sergeant here. It would be lax of us to just leave her here.” He looked at the attention the pup was getting and felt a twinge of jealousy. She might overdose on attention, he thought to himself. “Besides, I have a feeling we may need to introduce her to the arboretum.” About to ask about that, Rick noted that Sasha suddenly came to understanding there. The man knew his engineering things but seemed useless about other stuff, apart from highlighting the glories of his country in a highly exaggerated fashion.

Rick did a scan and rummage about in the food containers. How much did a dog her size eat anyway? Might be a couple weeks here, maybe more, he thought. They seemed to be the defacto guardians of the Sergeant but Rick had a growing desire to look after her. “Look, Ensign, if you don’t mind, and as there isn’t a standing order on this, but I’d not mind looking after the Sergeant, even temporarily. I’m sure we’ll have to give her up back to the MACO’s when we’re back to earth but I’m from the farm. I can do this.”

Sasha seemed pretty quick to reply. “Any wampires or verevolves start to come out, you get out. Your horoscope looks chancy for the next month.”

“My what?”

“Horoscope. I saw the duty assignment before shift and that ve vere paired so did a quick check. Perhaps you vould be interested.”

“Were there any dogs in it?”

“No but something about being cautious as troubled times are ahead.”

“I’ve got a dog to scare anything away.” Sasha shrugged a lanky shoulder. “What do you have there doc?”

“Good call, doktor,” Sasha said, his tone expressing that this was not anticipated.

Suddenly Rachel half dropped to the floor in a deep squat “Well Sergeant, I’m Lieutenant Grey, ye can call me Rachel” She said in full seriousness to the dog.

Dr. Grey - CMO

Sasha looked curiously at Rachel, tilted her head slightly to have one of her ears flop lazily down a bit then the dog panted, and barked twice, then leaned a bit forward to sniff at Rachel before sitting back down. The dog then looked to Rachel and did three circles in the spot she had been sitting in then looked to Rachel again barking once and gave a slight whine.

If someone checked the PADD reference they would see that was and indicator of having to heed the call of nature soon.....

Rick peered down at the Sergeant. By all accounts thus far she seemed to have understood them – eerily a little too well for his comfort. And knowing another language? Rick knew a smattering of French – though were he to try to say anything to the Captain whom he heard was French – he would likely butcher it spectacularly. Growing up in the heartland of Canada, he was away from the centers where French was more prevalent. He had taken it in school, but really, outside of that never had cause or reason to use it. Thinking of Nessa having a better command of more than one language, not including ‘dog’, was unnerving. As the doctor knelt down, Rick double checked on the tablet. The fact that the commands were in Earth Standard English when he read them suggested to him that it was consistent, but it couldn’t hurt to check.

OOC: Fixing another split!
OOC: Thank you for that Rob. Saw it a tad bit after I had posted .. Gene

Checks on the known language was confirmed that the dog did indeed only get trained and raised around common English commands and languages.

GM CockRoach

That was a relief, Rick thought, as he read that Nessa trained in English. “Looks like we’re in luck, Doctor. The Sergeant is good with English.” No Dutch lessons for him, and what on earth was Tagalog? Was that from one of the colonies? His finger rested on the tablet as he watched the dog do a little dance. He saw Sasha tip his head curiously and then nodded. What did the Russian mystic know about this?! His finger moved again, swishing about for a listing of non verbal communication. A long, thin finger pointed. The Ensign trying to be helpful. “Got it, sir,” he said, teeth gritting. He should know this. “Right there,” Sasha said, ever the help. “Oh, uh,” Rick replied, glancing at the tablet and then to Nessa and back again. “That’s the ‘gotta answer the call’ sign.” He looked at the Sergeant. “I think we’re about to visit the arboretum, then have something to eat.”
- Rick and Sasha

Rachel cocked her head at the dog “That would be best, are there plans for where the Sargent’ll be stationed” She asked the two officers.

Dr. Grey - CMO