Taking Charge
Posted on Saturday 26 January 2019 @ 20:53 by 2nd Lieutenant Bilhana Karki
Edited on on Sunday 27 January 2019 @ 08:10
Mission:
The New Collective
Location: USS Merlin, Marine Barracks
935 words - 1.9 OF Standard Post Measure
It took John a little bit to find Sergeant Max Mason. They had only known each other for a couple of weeks, but John liked the Gunny. Max was in one of the lounges with his wife. John smiled, he was glad he had managed to save her. He had met Max's wife, Tara, once on the colony. She seemed nice.
He walked over to the couple and asked, "May I sit with you two for a few minutes?"
Max looked at his wife, who smiled, and then said, "Sure thing el-tee."
John took a seat and said, "The Captain of the ship asked me to take charge of the Marines here."
"Congratulations John", Tara said.
"Thank you", John replied. "Well, I need a first Sergeant. I am not sure what you two have planned after our little party, but Max, I want you to take that role. I mean I wouldn't blame you if you were looking to retire after all that we face there."
"Well, I think this one is going to need my lady's approval as we were talking about what's next ourselves", Max said.
Tara looked at the two of them and said, "Well, if he retires, he is going to be under my feet all the time. This ship is pretty big, so I don't think I will be bored, so if you want to dear, I will support you."
"Well sir", Max said with a grin. "You have a First Sergeant."
John nodded and said, "Glad you agreed Max, I really am. Can I steal him for a little while Tara? We need to go meet the Company second-in-command."
Tara nodded and the two of them left the lounge.
Ten minutes later, John and Max walked into the barracks. A young private saw them and jumped to his feet.
"Officer on deck!" the private called out.
"At ease", John said quickly. "I'm looking for Lieutenant Karki."
The private did indeed ease up and gave a directing nod
"The Lieutenant was in equipment bay signing off for the quartermaster last time I saw her Sir."
"Carry on then private", John said with a smile and a nod.
A short around the corner would indeed reveal the quartermaster and Lieutenant standing in the middle of the equipment bay. The short dark haired Lieutenant ether dressing down the quartermaster or at the very least mildly mad about something.
"Well they have to be somewhere Corporal. Check with the security equipment bay, maybe there just misfiled."
John observed the interaction for a little bit and then asked, "What pray tell is missing?"
She turned to the door way giving the 1st Lieutenant a nod. "Two of our EVA suits, they're not fit for use, and I think some one sent them for repair without sighing for them, now we have to track the blasted things down... I'm sure they're in some other department." She handed the PADD in her hands to the Quartermaster and made her way over to Kayhill. "What can I help you with?"
"Max, help the Quartermaster find our suits", John said, motioning for Karki to follow him.
Max nodded and went to help out.
"I feel there are somethings that shouldn't get spoken about in front of the NCO's until the officers get to discuss them", John said. "I wanted to let you know that Captain Barstow offered me the command of the ship's Marine unit and I accepted. It only happened a bit ago, so I am not sure if it made it into the rumor mill. Anyways, I know you came on board a few days ago and I wanted to give you the option to stay on as the number two of the unit or if you don't want to, I will make sure to write you a good recommendation. I would prefer that you stay as you know these troops better than I do, but I wanted to make sure you had a positive choice in this."
She listened and nodded. "Well I'm positive I trust the captain's judgement. So there is that, and in all honestly I came on board assuming that I was would be tho XO, so there's no ego to bruise if nothing else sir." She held out her hand. "I'm Bilhana by the way, you can shorten it to Hana if you want."
"I'm glad to hear that", John said extending his hand. "I'm John Kayhill."
"So, I haven't had time to read your jacket", John said. "Tell me a little about yourself."
She gave a shrug after shaking his hand. "What would you like to know? I mean I grew up mostly on earth in the Himalayas. Father is a Master Chief, One brother is a Captain, mother is.. Well my mother is politician. Went enlisted, did time in anti-piracy, then transferred to the Vega Colony's anti-borg task force. Almost died.. A bunch." She actually stopped to rub her temple right above her eye, one of them visibly blue with the circuitry of a prospective easy to make out, the gesture seaming to be a reaction to some twitching. "Applied to OCS while I was recovering from injury, and.. here I am... Oh right, I taught/lectured at the Academy for a bit before coming here."
She gave a smile. "I mean other then that, you would need to read up a bunch of Himalayan culture and in space ship to ship boarding tactics. I know a great author... How about yourself? What is Lieutenant Kayhill like?"
*tag Kayhill
2nd Lieutenant Bilhana Karki
Company Executive Officer
USS Merlin
