Details (Nibbled to Death)

[LeftEar JoNs 0]

Revenge Hanger Deck

Aegis CAGs Assigned Office

 

Within the ranks of Aegis Security and the Aegis Aero Wing, there were a creative number of ways for an officer to die. If you happened to be dual posted within the departments, well, then things got a bit more complicated:

 

Shot in the line of duty

Any number of starfighter malfunctions

Friendly fire

Pirates

 

The list could go on. Left Ear JoNs would most likely be nibbled to death by Cats…erm, details, because it was these little things that were the real killers.

 

With CAG* Harada detained elsewhere, the felinoid was handling - or attempting to handle - the day to day operations of the detached Aegis fighter wing. Fighter repairs, personnel injuries, rotation of personnel who needed to rest with personnel who were relatively fresh, assignment of ready alert fighters, SAR* teams to supplement any fighters on patrol or ground teams investigating the new target planet: Ankami Prime. With Aegean, Revenge and Missouri closing formation, there was also a possibility to ready available personnel for joint or single CAPs*.

 

She had no less than five data PADDs, ten sheets of transpari-flimsy sheets, tactical maps, and several recorded reports and typed reports, two cups of Caitian tea, and a cardinal in a pine tree. Or was that a partridge in an apple tree? It was no matter on the Earth bird and tree, but she was a feline and wanted to pounce something. It was a natural reaction. Moving on now.

 

There was also the matter of young Ensign ‘Highway’ Harriman to deal with; he was definitely heading in the wrong direction on the highway. Capable, yes. Good at his job, yes. Potential, yes. Inflated sense of self-worth on his first deployment? Yes. His ego was increasing despite being exposed to the reality of what Nike squad and the other squads did for a living.

 

He had escaped injury during the frantic starfighter bug out over Maasune. His newer starfighter had fared better than the others. Not as well as her Peregrine 14, but well enough.

 

And that was another…annoyance that the Caitian officer had yet to deal with or let go of: the lack of respect.

 

“Actually, Sir, we are flying starfighters that are worth a few thousand credits. You are flying a Peregrine-class, and we cannot figure out why you are so attached to that bucket of a starfighter.”

 

Her ears flattened in reflex at the memory of the comment. Lieutenant Harada had given her permission to deal with Harriman as she saw fit. And, the matter would be dealt with at some point, breaking out the ‘Big Guns’, so to speak.

 

Pushing him out an airlock was not an option. Well, yes, it was an option - in the Rihan Navy if the stories could be believed - but for now the thought would need to remain a thought and a result of the more stormy aspects of her personality. The ones she rarely showed.

 

The Cait’s ears remained flattened….

 

******

CAG – Commander of the Aero Group

SAR – Search & Rescue

CAP – Combat Air/Aero Patrol

Edited August 17, 2012 by LeftEar JoNs