A Familiar Face

Posted on Mon Feb 27th, 2023 @ 5:12am by Lieutenant Kurt "Berlin" Vogel & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: XO's Ready Room
Timeline: TBD
1042 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Gary sat in his Ready Room looking over crew transfers as well as other mundane tasks that needed to be taken care of and signed off on. He stopped what he was doing as a name appeared on the list of transfers onto the Elysium. "Well, I'll be." He muttered, raising an eyebrow at the name. He tapped his combadge. "Lt.Vogel report to the Executive Officer's Ready Room." Now, he sat back and awaited. "This should prove quite interesting,* He thought as he got up and ordered a vanilla milkshake from the replicator.

=^="Moving out sir"=^= came the reply.

Minutes later, the door to the XO's Ready Room chimed a query. Once granted entry, a man in his late thirties, with thinning but still deep black hair entered the office. He had on the uniform of the Fighter Corps, with twin golden circles denoting his rank upon his throat. His uniform was very neat, the black shoes highly polished.

Those same shoes came together with a click of leather heels as the man came to rigid attention. He stood straight, and saluted, his right hand and fingers coming to his right eyebrow, fingers together and extended, his palm outward.

A German-accented voice rang out as he formally stated "Vogel, Kurt W., reporting as ordered sir."

"At ease Mr. Vogel, before you break something." Gary answered with a smile. "Please, have a seat. If you would like something from the replicator, please help yourself."

The German pilot dropped his salute to his side before moving his feet apart.

"Thank you sir." Kurt said as he moved to the proffered replicator. He keyed in for an orange juice, taking up the materialized glass when it appeared before moving to the indicated seat and sitting down. The pilot showed visibile relaxing by crossing his right leg over his left, resting his right ankle on his left knee.

Gary watched Kurt get comfortable. Once he was Gary asked, "So, Kurt hit anymore walls?" He asked with a hint of joking. Gary had been one of the guests who had seen then Cadet Vogel bang into a wall while trying to impress his supervisors with a good run.

The German's face turned red. "That was one...time...sir!" The raven-haired pilot put up his index finger to underscore the number of times he had hit a wall.

The German than put his thin lips into a smirk. "Besides, that wall was asking for it. All clean and polished."

Gary chuckled and shook his head, "Oh yes, I distinctly remember that wall screaming out, "Hit me Mr. Vogel, hit me. Nice try Kurt. By the way, you still have the same call sign? Berlin?"

Kurt had the glass of orange juice nearly to his lips when he stopped and looked at the XO with affront, as if Taylor had asked if he had cheated on his spouse.

“We don’t choose our call signs, sir. They choose us.” The German stated.

"Perhaps." Gary answered not wishing to debate the issue as his call sign when he flew was Reaper. He looked down at his PaDD, "So, you've been assigned as wing commander. Very good you need to meet Lt. Commander Vaii, the senior wing commander."

Kurt paused. “Wasn’t she given the nickname of the Terror of Tarsis II?”

Gary smiled, "I'll let you ask her that."

“What can you tell me about her?” The German asked.

"She is a heck of a pilot, a natural. Aggressive, not afraid to take risks but not foolhardy. Jessica constantly pushes the envelope with both her and her bird. She's a good instructor as well. Demands one hundred percent all the time from her cadets. Nothing half ass. Oh, and she doesn't tolerate smart asses or showoffs. " Gary replied.

Kurt furled his brow in thought before he spoke. "Tough but fair, sir. Although she and I may butt heads, as you know, I'm quite fond of finding the humor in most things." Kurt finished off the orange juice. "But, regardless, the mission comes first, and the people always. Even if we end up hating each others guts, I give my word it won't be a factor in the efficency of our teams, sir."

"No need to do that Kurt. I know you and I know Jessica. I don't anticipate any problems and if some do arise, I every confidence you and Jessica will be able to work them out without me having to get involved." Gary replied solemnly.

"Of course sir." The German pilot replied, just as solemnly. Did you have any other orders or instructions that I should be privy to?"

"I don't believe so Kurt, if anything comes up, I know how to get in touch with you. For now, get yourself familiar to the Elysium and the fighter wing. In addition, when you get the time, I suggest you meet Commander Vaii. It will do you good." Gary replied.

“I’ll seek her out forthwith.” Kurt replied. The junior pilot came to attention and saluted. “By your leave sir.”

"Gary nodded, "Dismissed Kurt and welcome to the Elysium. I hope you enjoy your time here."

The German dropped his salute. With a nid of his head, he responded "I'm sure I will sir."

He turned on his heel to leave, but stopped after two steps. He turned back to face Captain Taylor.

"Begging your pardon for asking what might be a...silly matter, but would you prefer I address you as a simple 'sir', or by your callsign when dealing with starfighter matters?"

"Not silly at all Kurt, a valid question." Gary replied and continued. "Sir is fine, for any dealings we have on the ground. Use my call sign when we're in the air."

Vogel nodded in the affirmative, call to brief attention, sketched a salute, and turned out the door, back to the Elysium. Her warm lighting seemed to almost direct him.

Lighting the German thought. He can use that to his advantage in case of a crisis or ready alert. He made a mental note and decided to test it.

"Computer." The mechanism chimed obediently. "Using lights on the bulkhead panels, please direct me to the fastest way to the hanger bay."

 

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