Trying a different tack

Posted on Tue Jan 26th, 2021 @ 11:08pm by Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: Arcadia Bar & Lounge
Timeline: MD 2 1700
1889 words - 3.8 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON]

The group meeting had been an utter flop. A wreck. having your gravity and repulsor lifts go out at ten thousand meters was less of a disaster. It nagged at her, and she knew she'd have to try again, but Miraj couldn't see how it would improve anything. A different tack was needed. Instead of a group meeting, maybe something more one on one was the way to go. She made a quick enquiry of his location, and seeing him in the public lounge, decided that that would be a far better place than a stuffy office to get to know him.

Jason sat in ten forward, looking out the window. He was angry with himself. He felt bad about what he had said to Carol, he had no idea his words would affect her like they would. He had apologized and he considered the matter closed. No, he was angry because he had cut and run instead of standing and confronting Carol. His running, made him look weak and he was anything but. Not to mention, Miraj had probably also had a low opinion of him after this.

"Freakin great." He muttered and sipped his drink.

She saw him across the lounge, sitting alone, looking out at the stars, and realised she might not get a better time. Hurrying over she asked, "Jason? Is now a good time to talk?"

Jason was jarred from his reverie by Miraj's question. "What? Oh Miraj." He answered looking up at the bubblegum haired young lady and the expectant look on her face. " Sure, it is fine. Please have a seat. What can I do for you?"

She slid into the chair opposite him. "I wanted to talk to you again. After the other day. With Carol and Jade."

"Um yeah. I apologize for me bugging out like that. That was wrong. I don't know why I did."

Miraj nodded, she wished she could have bugged out as well. "Well, i've been to more fun meetings." she allowed. "I was hoping now its a bit more less stressful that you could talk a bit. tell me what you like to fly. How it makes you feel. You know. stuff the file doesn't tell me."

He nodded, his interest growing. "I like flying the Baton Rouge. She's not as grand as your ship. But she's still a lady. The Excelsior class is a solid space frame and can take a lot of abuse. As to how it makes me feel, it makes me feel free, like I can soar like a bird. Not trapped or hemmed in by the confines of space." He smiled, "I also like flying shuttles, like the Delta Flyer. What a great little ship!"

"Excelsiors?" Surprise and a little bit of scepticsism in her tone. "Well, they are classics I suppose." And old ladies, the dowager duchesses of the fleet, long since retired. "And Delta flyers are good, but they aren't any good in atmosphere, no different to any other space craft." It was so nice to talk to someone who seemed to know what they were talking about, and didn't treat a ship like just a box to take people places. "Waveriders are where its at., great in whatever medium you fly in. Especially once you boost the inertial dampers."

He caught her skepticism, "They are good ships." He said defensively. "Never flown a Waverider, so I'll take your word for it. Miraj."

"you can have a go in mine if you like. She's got no repulsors though. Its purely aerodynamics and an impulse engine. Have you flown fixed wing in the holodeck at all?"

Jason looked at her, "Yes, I have, old WWII fighters the P-51 Mustang is a favorite. So is the British Spitfire Hurricane. You wouldn't mind me flying your ship? I no pilots are particular about their ships. I know I am."

"Oh," Miraj waived a hand. "Queen Anne is complete attention whore and she's been in mothballs for six months, She'll appreciate the chance to show off."

"Queen Anne? That's an unusual name for a ship. How did you come by it?" Jason asked. Then a grin spread across his face. "Oh, you want me to fly your ship that's been in mothballs for six months, so if crashes. It's my fault. Thanks Miraj." He teased.

She looked mortified, "No! I didn't mean that! I wasn't going to accuse you - I wouldn't ever set any one up. I meant she deserves to get out. Its no fun to be caged up."

Now Jason laughed. "Relax Miraj, I was only teasing you. I'm honored that you would allow me to fly your ship and I agree about being caged up. She needs to spread her wings."

"I'm glad you understand. Most pilots I've met don't listen to their ships."

"I do understand. The pilots that don't listen to their ships are poor pilots. You have to be in sync with your ship. Know it's sounds , what it is telling you. If you can't do that, then you aren't a pilot, you are a glorified taxi driver."

"Amen." Miraj hesitated, needing to broach the next subject, "Do you think you could instill that attitiude into the cadets?"

Jason favored her with a confused look. "Me? Are you sure you want me to work with cadets? You saw what happened with Carol and myself. Aren't you worried about a repeat?"

Yes. but she didn't want to upset him further. "I'm sure cadets will be a little easier. I was a cadet not six months ago." She winced at that. Jason looked quite a bit older than her. And she'd been a nightmare cadet, bored rigid and better qualified than the tutors in piloting and navigation, and barely scraping bottom in everything else.

"Well, if you think so and I'm not sure you really do. I'll give it a shot. One I can promise you. Is I won't run away."

Miraj breathed a sigh of relief. this was going okay. "Good, thank you, I appreciate it, I was running out of hours to get things done. So." she checked the notes she'd made on her Padd. "I was going to put you on Gamma shift. if that's okay?"

Jason nodded, a smile still plastered on his face. "You're the boss Miraj if that's where you want me, that's where I'll go. Now exactly what do you want me to tell the little darlings? Screw up and your out."

"What? No!" Miraj was a little horrified at the thought. "Just help them see that pilotings not hard, and basic astrogation and stuff. Mistakes are normal."

" Sure Miraj. I'll use the three strike rule. Three screw ups and your out. That better? " He bantered, He enjoyed teasing Miraj and seeing her reactions but he knew when to stop which was now.

"Well, no, I'm not sure thats, its not that..." Miraj coughed to try and pull herself together. "Just, if there's people not making progress, just, let me know. I can teach anyone to fly."

Jason nodded, "I can do that Miraj but I thought we wanted people who were more than just glorified taxi drivers. Sometimes you just have to cut those who can't cut it loose."

She opened her mouth to deny that, and stopped. She had said that, but she also wasn't sure she could be that ruthless. "I...guess?" she said at last.

Jason could see Miraj was hesitant about making any decision like that. "Look Miraj, we'll cross that bridge if and when we come to it. Let's worry about just what these cadets think they know about flying."

She felt a bit more relieved. She wasn't sure she was making any of the right decisions, but he sounded like he was. So she'd go with that. "Okay, that sounds good." Making progress. She could do this. "So, is there anything you wanted to ask, or need?"

Jason shook his head, " I don't believe so Miraj. Just knowing I can talk to you is great. Between us, we'll make pilots out of these cadets. If I see there is something I need once we actually get down to teaching, I'll let you know but right now, no nothing."

"oh. Okay. Good." Something was going right at last. Miraj gave him a sunny smile. "In that case, I'll let you get back to your own thing."

Jason laughed, "My own thing? Right Miraj. sitting in the lounge, looking out a window, drinking by myself. What a terribly exciting thing."

She hesitated half way through getting up. She wasn't the best at reading people, but that seemed fairly obvious. She let herself fall back into the seat next to him. "Do you.." she wasn't sure what to say. "Do you do that a lot? Drink by yourself, I mean?"

He didn't answer her at least not right away. He looked out the window for a second, maybe two before he returned his attention to her. "Drink? No, I'm not a drinker at least not a big one but in the case that just transpired I thought I needed one."

She frowned, the gesture wrinkling the feint trident crease in her forehead. "Did something happen? Before I arrived? Is there something I can help with?"

He shook his head, the gesture seemed weary. He sidestepped her question and countered with. "You are helping Miraj. By giving me something to do and by sitting here and talking to me. Both which I appreciate very much by the way."

"Okay good." He sounded rather maudlin, and Miraj felt a flash of concern. "Is there anything you'd like to talk about?"

Jason flashed a smile, " You are sweet. Oh there's plenty I'd like to talk about Miraj but not about what your asking. At least not now. Perhaps later when drink loosens my lips more than they are now."

"I'm not sure I should be plying you with grog. Maybe a counsellor?" she asked hopefully. They would probably be better.

"What an excellent idea. why didn't I think of that?" Jason bantered. "Talked to them until I'm tired of talking to them. This...." He said holding up his glass, "Is easier and it only affects me."

"Oh." She wasn't sure what to say. She'd have to ask Alicia to have words. Or would that be breaking confidence? "Well, I'm here if you ever need me. But I'm not a counsellor, so I'm not sure I'd do you any good."

"You underestimate yourself Miraj. Your a good listener, with a friendly smile." Jason countered and those both go a long way in my book. So thank you for the offer I just might take you up on it someday."

She smiled at him. This was progress. "Well, don't wait too long." He obviously needed to vent some more. "You know where to find me. Anytime."

He nodded his head, "Indeed I do Miraj and thank you for your offer. I may just take you up on it, so don't be surprised if you hear your chime ring and find me standing there."

"Okay." Miraj nodded and smiled again, getting up. "Whenever you're ready. My door is always open"

"I do." Jason agreed with a grin "And thank you Miraj. I look forward to working with you."

[OFF]