Reporting for duty

Posted on December 20, 2007 @ 08:41PM

Sergeant Touline entered the room, looking at the guards she said, “Stand down, the Captain wants to see the biodroid.”

Corporal Tsu’aki looked at her and said, “How do we activate it? Or does she want us to carry it in, than thing hasn’t moved since you left.”

At that point, I stood up. My movement startled the two guards, and they snapped their M-189 deuterium rifles into their shoulders and aimed in. In a tone that was as calming as I could make it I said, “That won’t be necessary, but if you would show me the way to the Captain’s Office, I would greatly appreciate it.”

Sgt Touline again ordered, “Stand Down and sling those rifles.” Pointing at me she ordered, “Follow me,” glancing at the guards she ordered, “On me. If he makes a false move, cut him down.” And on that note she sharply executed an about face and exited the room obviously used to her orders being followed without question.

I followed Sgt Touline out the door and the guards fell in step close behind. Heading down a hallway, the floor was highly polished and the walls had pictures of various aircraft that the squadron had flown throughout the years, some of which appeared to be decades before the quakes, with intermittent pictures of squadron photos.

One set of photos caused me to pause and look, the title above it said “KIAs,” and below it was a caption, “Remembering those of us who now fly higher than our aircraft.” The most recent were photos that read, LT Cyril “Quirky” Monteil and LCDR Olivier “Hammer” Daudet. The date corresponded with the attack on the student transport enroute to Tosadae that I heard about.

Sgt Touline, hearing the pause in steps behind, turned and seeing what I was looking at said, “Because of your kind, they aren’t with us any more, give me a good reason that I shouldn’t have my guards cut you down for failure to obey orders?”

Turning, I somberly said, “They aren’t my kind.”

Sgt Touline snorted, turned and continued down the hall, stopping when we arrived at the end of the hall. On the door read Captain Kagawa “Firefly” Yu. I was about to ask if she was going to knock when I heard Captain Yu order, “Let him in Sergeant.”

Sgt Touline opened the door allowing me to enter. Entering I was surprised to see Caplan and Maj Geranth still in the office. Without looking up, CAPT Yu said, “Sgt Touline, you and your guards are dismissed.”

Sgt Touline was about to say something when the CAPT Yu’s head snapped up. “I said dismissed Sergeant!” Sgt Touline and her guardsmen quickly exited.

Captain Yu looked at me, considering for a moment, then she said, “Well?”

Cocking my head to the side, I asked “Ma’am?”

Then she ordered, “Report in.”

Stepping forward and presenting my orders and records, said, “Ma’am, OPALMOX reporting for duty.”

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