A one-to-one with the CO - Charley Wong
[143.34 MHZ Ch:4] You transmit, "Destiny to Silver. Status report, over?"
[143.34 MHZ Ch:7] Connie says, "......................................."
[143.34 MHZ Ch:4] Scortch says, "Inbound with damage to main engines."
[143.34 MHZ Ch:7] Scortch says, "...................................."
[1398] - The roaring flames from the engines of the AFC Silver 4 cease as it disengages afterburners.
Connie sighs, lightly mimes thumping the console with a balled fist.
[143.34 MHZ Ch:4] Scortch says, "ABS Destiny, Silver 4 awaiting clearance landing bay 1"
[143.34 MHZ Ch:7] Scortch says, "......................................................"
Charley Wong says dryly, "Sorry, didn't catch that, Ma'am."
[143.34 MHZ Ch:4] You transmit, "Cleared."
[143.34 MHZ Ch:7] Connie says, "........"
Connie's Chinese is excellent. And dockside-coarse. "I said: another fucking broken system." <Chinese>
Charley Wong sounds philosophical about it, "I'd rather find them all now, rather than in combat, Ma'am. Although I am thinking we should reschedule test firing."
The pilot arrives from ABS Destiny - Main Lift.
Connie nods. "True. While the Tsinghai was considerably smaller, at least when I took her over she'd been in the War for two years." A wry laugh. "We never /did/ fix that starboard manoeuvring thruster, though."
Charley Wong says, "What I'm concerned about is that some of the signalling stuff is pretty low level mistakes. So I want the missile tubes and guns doublechecked for safety before we test fire."
The pilot comes on duty, quietly slipping in behind his station.
There's a pause, and the XO says, "I cannot confirm we have a fully operational combat system at this time. For the record."
Connie nods. "You and me both. And no, I'm pretty sure we don't." Green eyes do /not/ miss the new arrival. "Mr. Smith. What's up with the Silver's engine, then?"
The pilot says flatly, "Unable to sustain military power, ma'am." He's already calling up the necessary maintenance tickets on his console before adding, "She's got sufficient power to get back to Londinium if our wrenches can't get her squared away."
The pilot mans the Primary Flight Station.
Connie mmhms. "We'll be staying here for a while. I assume our other light craft are servicable?"
The pilot nods, glancing to the X.O., then back to the Captian. "Yes ma'am. All have been fueled up, though we haven't inventoried the weapons systems on all four craft yet."
The CO nods, turns to her screen for a moment and pulls up a log entry. "Mm. So. Some more detail on this action with Lt. Jacy, Mr. Smith?"
Charley Wong leans back against one of the walls of the bridge to listen. The arms get crossed.
The pilot exhales audibly, "Not much to say. I was asked to transport one of Lt. Jacy's squads to participate in an excercise planetside. I commented that I had low time in the craft in question, but was informed it would be a simple deploy, loiter and evacuate." Looking over to the X.O. again, he adds, "There was no armement issued... we just had the standard flares and ECM for protection."
Connie permits herself a faintly amused snort. Nods. "Go on."
Charley Wong grunts, "They practically fly themselves. My _mother_ could fly one. Blindfolded. Left handed."
The pilot continues, a little less certain, "I hadn't been on the ground for more than a minute when we pulled up and towards the farm house to start circling for the gunner to cover our troops. As soon as we cleared the tree line and had a clear firing arc, I saw smoke from a shoulder launched SAM at the edge of the building." He swallows as the memory is still fresh in his mind's eye. "I jinked to port but it was no good. There just wasn't time..." He looks at the CO now, searching for any other detail that he would care to admit to, then adds, "I don't know how I got us down, but the gunner's harness broke. I don't think they brought him back to the ship, but the co-pilot... Carson... he got off with a broken jaw.
Connie mmhmss. Glances up at her exec. "Standing orders. There is no such thing as 'a simple deploy'. Wryly. "And next time, we take an armed transport on any mission involving Alpha. Training or not."
The pilot looks to the X.O., "Perhaps your mother could offer some advice on how to react to a missile launched at point blank, too."
Connie murmurs, idly, "...launched at point blank, too, /ma'am/."
Charley Wong says briskly, "Flares. Chaff. Full auto fire to try and detonate the warhead. Hard left break, to give it a huge heat signal, then launch more chaffs, and cut the engines to glide for a few yards. You?"
Connie smirks up at her exec. "Says the retired fighter pilot."
The pilot turns to face the X.O. full on, now. With just a slight tremor in his voice, "I apologize for not being issued live ammunition to add that extra realism for our troops, ma'am. Am I in trouble for failing to disobey orders or not possessing superhuman reaction times?"
Charley Wong gives a little grunt, "I'm sure there was a 'Ma'am' in there I missed, Lieutenant. And neither. You walked away from it. So it's a good landing. BUT.... practice it again. Someone made your training about as realistic as ours was. Learn from the experience. And don't make the same mistake twice. And we _will_ be running that encounter in a simulator. Several times."
Connie mmhms. "Certainly will." A nod to The pilot. "And yes, I'm certain I caught a 'ma'am' too." It's a reminder. She glances back to Charley. "Might I have a word in my ready room, Commander?"
The pilot stands down, visibly relaxing in the chair before turning back to the console with a much less confrontational, 'Yes, Ma'am.' His cheeks hold their color for a while longer. He was no slouch when it came to reaction times, but making the point would not be worth the potential disciplinary action. He opens a fresh log sheet and gets back to his principal duty. He pointedly avoids any further eye contact with the X.O.
Charley Wong gives a brisk nod, "Certainly, Ma'am." She gestures to her eyes, and then to The pilot. A silent 'Watching you'. And then she's heading as directed.
You pass through the secured door.
[...]
Charley Wong arrives from ABS Destiny - Bridge.
Charley Wong has arrived.
"Close the door." She shakes her head, chuckles. "I'm prepared to be relatively tolerant with his attitude, because he's quick, sharp and talented. But I will get it out of him somehow." She takes a seat, gestures for Charley to do the same. "But not what I wanted you in here for..."
Charley Wong slides into a chair, "Oh yes. Yes, he'll make it. But he needs someone to be the evil bitch who he can 'show'." There's a lazy smile there. "And he _might_ have been able to get away from that missile, if he'd done all the right things, and been lucky, but it would have been tough."
Connie nods. A sigh. "So. I have an ... interesting personal issue I need to make you aware of, since as previously discussed, your job description includes /carte blanche/ to call me out when I'm being an idiot."
Charley Wong leans back in the chair, "You're pregnant?" She says, entirely straight faced.
Connie bursts out laughing. "You may be closer than you know." That, it appears, breaks the ice. "OK. My first ship's CMO, Leigh-Anne Duckworth, is currently head of gynaecology in the hospital on Greenleaf. As well as doing stints in the ER and elsewhere." She leans back in her chair. "Mind like the proverbial steel trap, very very good doctor, and I trust her. It appears that they had a patient in a few weeks ago who self-discharged, stealing some expensive meds on the go. Her DNA work, whoever she was, is a match for mine. And not a sibling match either."
Charley Wong pauses, "A clone?" There's some rapid thinking, "Fingerprints won't match, but retinas might, and saliva and blood and DNA certainly will. What haven't you locked down to passwords and fingerprints?"
Connie shakes her head. "/Parental/ match." She shakes her head. "And before you ask, no. I think I'd have noticed."
Charley Wong relaxes a bit, "Alright. That simplifies a lot. So, your mother, then? What's the problem?"
Connie laughs,. "Erm. No. My daughter."
Charley Wong's brow lifts, "I assumed you'd have noticed _that_."
Connie nods. "Exactly. But, since, as the good Book says, 'I know not a man'..." Which is an admission in itself. "Something very odd has been going on. Or was doing about two decades ago."
Charley Wong whistles, "Really? I mean, they have their times and places, you know?" Ah, the Captain Jack Harkness approach. "Now _that_ plot thickens. Where were you then?"
Connie laughs at that. "Oh believe me, there was a chance I regret missing." She frowns. "Can't be specific without knowing her exact age, but somewhere between mucking out stables for Patience and hauling cargo for various assorted trader captains."
Charley Wong says, "Alright. Patience... oh, is that the crazy woman who ran a moon, out on the Rim, somewhere?"
Connie nods. "Yup. Walking around post-war with a dishonourable discharge rather limits your career options."
Charley Wong nods, thoughtfully, "Well, we could ask her some questions, but seems I remember." And there was just a touch of a Borderism there, "That she was none too young last time I heard of her, and I doubt they'd have the tech for that anyways."
Connie nods. "And again, why?" She shrugs. "So, anyway. Today's shakedown run is to Greenleaf. For I trust obvious reasons. If nothing else to collect any security footage and records Leigh-Anne has." Green eyes meet Charley's. "Your job is to make sure I don't do anything stupid," A grin. "Too many stories of people with personal issues similar to this who /don't/ tell anyone, try and hide it and get in over their head. I don't aim to be one of them."
Charley Wong gives a nod, "Understood Ma'am. And if, you know... I happen to find a form you'd neglected to chase up, detailing the leave you requested six weeks in advance, I will be _sure_ to remind you to take it."
Connie mmhms. Teasing, "Not that you want my seat for a few days, of course." She shakes her hair back. Soberly, "For now? I just want more data. Ride my ass to make sure I don't start keeping secrets on this score. If it is some elaborate long game, I don't want to put us at risk.""
Charley Wong says, "Would be incredibly farsighted. I think it's more likely because you were a nobody."
Connie mmmhms. "I kind of hope you're right. But some people knew who I was." Ruefully. "I collected a few bruises from Browncoats with a score to settle. Broken wrist. Couple of nights in hospital with a dislocated jaw..." Her voice trails off, and she looks up at Charley. "Hrm."
Charley Wong says, "It's kind of a cold scent to chase. And it's not really what I _do_. But I can ask around, if you want."
Connie shakes her head. "Let's take it slow. If I /do/ have a daughter, it's going to be interestingly awkward anyway." She grins. "First, more details." That has the sound of 'discussion closed for now'. A pause, then a chuckle. "One other thing: do I have a diary entry for you for a career one-to-one yet?
Charley Wong's brow lifts, "No, Ma'am. Should you have?"
Connie mmhms. "I should." She grins. "See Ensign Harris and book yourself an hour."
Charley Wong says, "Well, it's pretty brief, Ma'am." A beat. "I want to make Captain, then Admiral, and get pinned to a desk finally, running Fleet policy."
Connie reaches for her keyboard, brings up, unsurprisingly, Charley's record. Not that she hasn't seen it before. Skims it for a refresher. "I personally don't see any issue with that. I'd back you all the way. From this, and from what I've seen so far on board."
Charley Wong gives a brief nod, "Not that I don't want to work with you, Ma'am, but... well... I think I could do more."
Connie smiles. "I know you could. I'd be disappointed if you didn't." She shuts the screen off. "However, at least for now, we have to work together. And I have one job for you. Which is to pick out your replacement, and get them up to the point where they could fill the gap you leave."
Charley Wong gives a nod, "Not got my eye on anyone yet. Give Jacy about ten years, maybe..."
Connie nods. "We don't have ten years." She grins. "My gut says The pilot over Jacy, to be honest. Minus the attitude, he has a good head on him. But I know his aim is command on an APC." She muses. "Which, as a commander, is where he'd be better suited."
Charley Wong pauses, and wavers her hand, "I'm yet to see it. The attitude is going to badly piss people off."
A nod. "The potential's there, though. And I value his bullshit detector."
Charley Wong gives a nod, "Yes. If he doesn't get himself killed." A beat. "Or courtmartialed. Or flying a hospital bed for 6 months."
"See he doesn't, then." It's a challenge. And she is teasing. A bit. "I don't wan't that training going to waste. Neither did someone else, or we wouldn't be saddled with him."
Charley Wong's brow lifts, then she nods, "Alright. I'll consider him a project. It's your fault if he shoots me. Deal?"
Connie grins. "I'm the Captain. Ultimately, everything's my responsibility, even if it's not my fault."
Charley Wong gives a nod, and slaps her cap back on, "Finished, Ma'am?"
"Unless there's anything you need to raise, yes." A wry chuckle. "I've been promised us some real orders this week, too. And hopefully a working comms array. As far as weapons go? We'll just have to bluff." She pauses. "Mm. One more thing. As I said to The pilot: one thing that is definitely not in our brief is throwing our weight around just because we wear the purple. I expect you to help nip any of that in the bud should it rear its head."
Charley Wong nods, "There's a time to look big and scary. And a time to look big and unclesome. I think I can pull that."
Connie laughs. "'Unclesome'. I like that." She makes a shooing gesture. "Dismissed. Off with you, and leave the door open. I'll be out as soon as I convince the records system we had the mandatory career chat."
Charley Wong passes through the secured door.
Charley Wong has left.
