Reed had spent the last half hour or so going through his gear and setting up everything as he liked for the placement of explosives as well as his energy packs, medical kit, rations pouch, and the like. His backpack was probably heaviest it had been in quite some time, but testing everything in place mattered too, even with the inert test munitions. They definitely made sure they weighed the same.

A few rows down in another locker, Solana was doing the same. However her medic back and equipment had already been put together so the only real piece she was working on was where to put ammunition and her own rations. She also had an extra set of clothes and while her carbine almost seemed counter intuitive to her job, she understood it. That was why she kept to shorter range and combat in close quarters. She didn’t have to shoot as far out when it called for it. Perk of the job she figured.

Having finished up the last of his rigging, Nitro took everything to a nearby table and set everything up on top of it.

Solana, hearing the noise, peeked out and saw him. Deciding it was best to get to know everyone else as she could, she introduced herself. “Hey, how’s it going? I’m Nurse Vey, or Damona.”

He looked up from his bag “Senior Chief Bishop, breacher, you can call me Nitro.” He reached out and shook her hand before returning his focus to his bag. “First time down here? It certainly is mine. I have so much crap to carry…”

“You and me both,” she teased back. “In case you blow off any fingers I have to be able to reattach them.”

He stopped mid close of his bag and looked at her. “Hasn’t happened yet.”

“We’ll strive to keep it that way, hm?”

The third voice cut through, softly accented,quiet, and touched with humor. Oksana had appeared like some sort of apparition while the two had been engaged with each other, and was standing several feet back behind Bishop who’s bulk had hid her body from Solana.

Solana leaned over and looked past the man, noting the grey uniform and the woman beyond. She made note of her rank “Looks like we’re not alone. Why don’t you join us, Lieutenant?”

Reed turned around and saw her as well. However neither of them knew exactly who she was. “Well hopefully if it becomes a real problem, it’ll be big enough that I don’t have to worry about it for long” he joked.

“Unfortunately, it rarely turns out that way.” Oksana walked forward and stood to the side and between the two so they formed a triangular engagement. She looked at each in turn, her piercing blue eyes seeming to take their measure. “Chief Bishop and Lieutenant Vey. I’m glad to see you both here preparing yourselves.”

Maybe she had overheard their introductions, Reed wasn't sure. “I just want to be ready for anything once we sign the covenant and get final approval from the captain. It's what I'm here for. I also got my evaluation completed so it's just a matter of final steps for me. Im ready to take on some Romulans.”

Solana however, caught on. “I'm in the same mindset Lieutenant Volkova. I exceeded my medical evals and recertified in combat medicine so I can answer the call when the time comes.”

Bishop was a little embarrassed he hadn't quite paid attention.

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” Oksana smiled and briefly turned toward her own locker, touching it but not opening it. “When you two are finished, perhaps you’d have time for coffee or a bite to eat? I would like to get to know you both a bit better.”

“Of course” Solana replied. “I think I have everything setup I'm just making adjustments for fit. Plus my recovery straps and modular recovery litter are all ready.”

Nitro decided it was best to chime in as well. “I'm just figuring out the best placement for charges by type and likelihood of use. The layout the simulator gave me was terrible. I definitely could use some coffee. Need help with anything?” He figured she could handle her own but an offer never hurt in the long run.

“I always suggest never listening to the simulators, really. They are a good base if you are a cadet just coming out of the Academy, but those of us with experience have learned what works best for us.” Oksana moved a little closer to Nitro, but kept both of them engaged in the conversation. “Will you show me what changes you’ve made? Both of you?”

“Oh I agree” Reed said. “They just make you follow it for testing to make you uncomfortable. An interesting baseline to say the least.” He pulled up his satchel and opened it, laying out all of the inert charges and their locations, held in small opened top pockets you could slide them out of. “I decided to go with most likely needed such as anti personnel, corridor walls, and the ones that have a higher utility, so they could go through different types of metal or hardened materials without having to be too picky on what is selected. Better in the moment without having to worry too much. Then down the way I have much larger charges including hull breachers. They direct the blast so they have a higher chance for penetration versus a large explosion and backblast., Safety first for those fingers.”

Solana had also placed her backpack up on the table and opened up each of the different pouches. “I went ahead and prioritized similar, with the items for casualty care and trauma the easiest to get to, for treating wounds or stabilizing shock. In the bottom of the main pouch is my rollable litter, and on the sides I have the other medications for things like slowing metabolism, keeping people awake longer, the stuff that is more for increasing the longevity of individuals for operational needs. The part I like best is when the front pouch opens and then a flap comes out and extends so I’m able to have more supplies available and trauma care items immediately. As far as my weapons, they’re able to be slung comfortably and my holster is out of the way.”