My Door Is Open
Posted on Sat Feb 11, 2017 @ 11:14am by Lieutenant JG Theodore Bowman & Lieutenant JG Larry Colbert
Edited on on Sat Feb 11, 2017 @ 11:21am
Mission:
An Orion to Die For
Location: Flight Mainenance Bay
Timeline: MD 3 || 1700 Hours
ON:
Theo walked around his bird to find Reggie standing, but most of his body was up in a open hatch on the side of his Valkyrie. Theo looked down at his PADD, "I'm still getting an indication here of static."
Reggie, P.O. 1st Class Reginald Skiel, called from inside the bird, "I'm tracing every line Sir. I'm not seeing it here. It may be in the forward logistics bay." He then bent down real low and closed the exterior panel. Facing Bowman he began to wipe his hands and said, "Ah, I think you have a visitor Lieutenant." And pointed to a Officer walking toward them.
Theo turned to see an officer he did not recognize. He glanced to Reggie, "He might be from the new squadron. You should go check that forward bay." Looking back to the officer which was much closer, "I'll take care of this."
While the rest of his squadron went to find their bunks and drop their stuff Larry walked around the hangar with his bag still slung over his right shoulder. He was wandering around, trying to get a feel for the place, and the people. Seemingly sensing the gaze of the two people working the Valkyrie in the maintenance bay he turned and smiled at them before making his way over.
"How you guys doing?" He asked when he was close enough, inspecting the Valkyrie.
Theo had moved along the wing allowing his hand to stroke it as he walked toward the newcomer. "Alright." He replied and extended a friendly hand toward him, "Lieutenant Theo Bowman."
"Lieutenant Larry Colbert." Larry said, taking the pilot's hand firmly. "Got a problem with one of your ships?" He said, redirecting his attention towards the Valkyrie.
Theo glanced back over his shoulder at his Valkyrie then back to Colbert, and replied nonchalantly, "Nah, just looking for a little mouse." He smiled not saying more. His experience had taught him not always to be honest with others, especially when you didn't know them. "What brings you here to our little maintenance bay in the sky?"
Larry shot Theo an incredulous smirk before chuckling it off. "You can relax Theo," He said with a dry, cavalier tone "I'm just some nobody with the squadron that touched down this afternoon. I have come to announce" his inflection became more regal and his posture more rigid, but his dry expression was marred with the upturned corners of a jovial smirk "that her majesty, the Red Queen, Marisa of Cheshire has become the head of this chicken, as it were, and she'd like her newly appointed subjects assemble so she can address them when she returns from..." There was a pause in Larry's speech as he looked to the side thoughtfully, placing a hand over his chin "I don't know much about the X-O on this boat, so where would she fit in this analogy?" he said, finally "Dragon or high priestess?"
Theo listened to the elaborate dialog coming from this other pilot. He couldn't help but bring up the corner of his mouth when he mentioned 'the Red Queen', but turned into a deep chuckle when spoke about the XO. "Well said my friend. And the 'High Priestess' would fit." He finished his chuckle. "Ya, our XO is definitely no one to be trifled with." After a pause he added, "So, we have a new CAG, eh?
"Well, she's giving me orders to boss you guys around like she's it." Larry said with a slight shrug "So it's either yes, or she's soon to be escorted to the brig."
Theo couldn't help but laugh out loud at that one. After his chuckle died, "So, what time does she want us?"
"1700." Larry said, placing his hands in his pockets and lowered his gaze a little, "I'd appreciate some help rounding up crew, if you're up for it." He continued with a soft smile, "I've got no idea how to get around this hangar."
Theo gave a positive smug look and shake of his head, "Sure. No problem. I can put out a message to all pilots on our private link, and I'll walk you around as well, to meet the rest of the guys and gals who are on duty, checking their birds."
"Alright, lead the way Theo."
Theo checked his uniform at a glance as he passed through one of the large doors into the hanger. He gave Larry a nod and took a few steps toward him as other followed into the room. Stopping before the other pilot Bowman took a quick look about the room then said, "I think we all are just about here."
Larry looked out upon the the gathered deck crew and pilots, all 200 of them, assembled on the main floor of the hangar. He looked at Theo with a smile "We're just waiting on Alice now and we can get over this." He let out a heavy sigh "We're lucky she doesn't believe in long speeches. I hate this kind of thing."
Bowman smiled knowing exactly what he was referring to. They stood side shoulder to shoulder, Theo with his arms crossed turned slightly and asked for just Larry to hear, "How long have you known her?"
Larry let off a soft inward chuckle. "She was one of my flight instructors back at the academy. She was a FAIP back then, and wasn't happy about it. But" He shrugged slightly "She didn't take it out on her students as much as other FAIPs."
Theo rocked his head slight, remembering his first instructors, and how some of them were so much harder on those new pilots, to the point of almost being unfair. "I think I can understand that." He then remembered his favorite flight instructor from that time. It had been an Andorian, who let nothing slide, but was always fair.
Marisa had managed to sneak in from the back of the hangar. She made her way to the Squadron leaders amassed at the head of the formation and began shacking hands and introducing herself.
"Stand at attention!" Larry bellowed as he noticed Marisa make her way in, causing the woman to recoil slightly just before she got to Theo.
"Hi there, I'm your new CAG." she said after regaining her composure. with a wide smile and an outstretched hand. "Lieutenant Lauren Cheshire. Call sign 'Alice'... for obvious reasons."
"Yes Ma'am," Theo replied, "Lieutenant Theodore Bowman, call sign 'Fletch'." He wanted to say 'for obvious reasons', but he actually didn't understand how the name 'Alice' related to this officer nor her name. "I am Squadron Commander for the Jolly Rogers".
"Oh, because Bowman. I get it." Marisa said with a smile, pointing at Theo with a thoughtful wave of her hand. "I Look forward to working with you. Excuse me for just a second."
The CAG took a few steps back so she could take in the entire formation as she prepared to address the deck.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" She started with an authoritative tone "I am Lieutenant Marisa Cheshire. As of 1430 hours today I have taken command of this Carrier wing. You've all got work to do so I'll keep this brief, I expected a level of excellence from my squadron that I will expect from this wing. I will not fly with sloppy pilots who think they're the next Red Baron. I also expect my ships to operate to spec. Basically, do your duty and don't show off and we'll get along fine." She didn't wait for a response from the formation, and went straight to the first item of business. "I want those launch tubes finished and ready to launch fighters by 0800 tomorrow morning. Anyone who isn't maintenance personnel is now under the command of the crew chief until such time as you are ready to sortie with the exception of the 32nd. If they need your help with anything you do it, and if they don't you're to keep out of their way. Questions or objections?"
Theo raised an eyebrow, not in shock, but in awe at this woman taking charge, right out of the catapult. She's definitely got the balls to be a good one. He turned his head toward Colbert and spoke softly, "Nothing more to be said there."
Larry simply shook his head with a slight smirk.
"Alright then, section heads, I want readiness reports when I step back on this hangar deck tomorrow morning." Marisa continued after a moment. "You all have your assignments, dismissed."
She waited a moment for the formation to disperse a little before she stepping towards the small cohort of Squadron leaders, to her wingman in particular. "The 32nd is on duty at 0800 tomorrow morning. Until then you can tell them that they're free to wander around the ship." She said with an authoritative tone with her hands behind her back. "You can let the leaders know that I'm going to be in the CAG's office for the next hour if they have any questions they need to ask me in private."
"Aye aye sir." Larry replied with an overly jovial salute "I'll find you a proper adjutant while I'm at it too".
Marisa simply rolled her eyes. "Your assistance during this transition is appreciated." she said before looking at Theo with a much more gracious expression "Like I said, anything you don't want to air in front of the wing, my door is open."
Bowman smiled and nodded to the CAG then added, "Thank you Lieutenant. I will definitely keep that in mind."
"Alright then, I'm going to sort through the paperwork." Marisa said with a slight sigh "I'll see you guys later."
"Later boss." Larry replied with a smile.
Bowman bowed his head slightly in respect to the Senior officer, but did not say anything. As soon as she stepped away Theo turned to Larry and exclaimed, "Damn! That Lady gives me the impression that she knows her stuff."
"CAGs a new role for her, but she's got the basics pretty down pat." Larry replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders before he began to walk backwards towards the pilot's quarters. "Anyway, I'm going to go square away my bunk, you'd have best rolled your jaw up by the time Her Majesty turns up tomorrow morning." He finished with a slightly derisive smirk.
OFF:
