Entry tags:

aidan reilly, artemis crock, data, deanna troi, jack harkness, kitty pryde (aoa), kitty pryde (evolution), martha jones, nico di angelo, piper halliwell, sam winchester, sougo okita, tenma, tieria erde, wally west, zatanna zatara

day 289 [ mingle | defense force ]
[ training ]

The specified location for today's exercise, detailed in communiques to the Defense Force at large, wasn't far into Sector 6. It's unfortunate that they must meet here, but it had been the obvious choice for its open spaces, organic terrain, and relative seclusion. Data is there early, ensuring that a perimeter is well established and all safety precautions are in place. There is also, of course, a detailed emergency response plan on standby in his memory banks - an absolutely necessary precursor to his agreeing to hold the exercise here.

When he is satisfied with the course, he waits and makes himself available to any arriving members who may wish to approach him prior to the beginning of the exercise. Once everyone is present, a precisely calculated few minutes after the scheduled meeting time to allow for any stragglers, Data will step forward and address the attendees.

"Greetings, and thank you for coming. As you have likely been made to understand, the purpose of our assembly here is to encourage a higher level and increased efficiency of cooperation, communication, and coordination among the individuals comprising the Defense Force. As opposed to focusing on individual ability in combat, we will focus on the dynamics of the team as a whole, becoming more comfortable working with one another, and trusting each other in hazardous situations."

And that's just what it is: not about how well any one person can fight, but about strengthening their teamwork, developing a better feel for where an individual's strengths fit within the group dynamic, where one should turn to the strengths of others, and what they can expect from their teammates. It's about getting to both know and trust the people alongside whom they work. With the increased threats in the dome recently, and their experience facing them, it seems only prudent to refine those skills.

That is what brings us to the main feature, and the focal point of their gathering - an obstacle course of sorts. It's incredibly involved, complex, and at several points requires the efforts of more than one person to successfully proceed. There are climbs that are too high to make unassisted, what are essentially puzzles that must be solved to traverse rough terrain, and even technological barricades that must be bypassed through tinkering or hacking of the non-physical variety. While the presence of so many people will keep most of them away, it is possible that some of the sector's inmates may slip through and pose a threat. While Data is carefully monitoring for such a possibility, he'll only intervene if necessary to prevent injury - other than that, it's an accepted additional challenge for the team.

"There is no success to be gained as an individual. If any one person does not complete this course, then the team has failed. Your purpose here is to assist your teammates and ensure their success alongside your own."

In other words, work together - it's why you're here.


[ socialization ]

When the course is behind them, the assembly relocates out of the sector - together - and to Två park, near the Force headquarters. There is food and drink to be had here, free time during which the members in attendance are of course expected to speak to one another. Training to work together and trust each other under pressure is one aspect of fostering a sense of teamwork and camaraderie, but without a personal familiarity with each of your teammates as a person, it's a shallow and incomplete semblance thereof.

True teams not only cooperate to accomplish goals but also know one another extremely well. Data is certainly accustomed to what is essentially a familial bond among his crew, and it is this type of relationship that he feels they must begin to encourage among the Force if they are to become a more effective and united crew. Fraternizing is not only encouraged, it's the entire point. Don't just get to know how the others respond in a dilemma, get to know who they are, what motivates them, and what matters to them. Become invested in not only your own wellbeing in a dangerous situation, but that of your comrades as well. This is what it means to be a team.


[ ooc: please assume announcements about this went out to the defense force over the past couple of days ic! just not much to play out with that, of course. jump in on the course or after, threadjack, go nuts! have fun!

also open to ALL DEFENSE FORCE MEMBERS regardless of your department! ]