Negative Ghost.. Viper?

Posted on Tuesday October 13th, 2020 @ 4:01am by Captain Tobias Bishop III & Lieutenant Commander Albino "Viper" Jackson

Mission: The Forgotten Outpost
Location: Various
Timeline: Current

Tobias stood in the very center of primary operations, look out through the transparent aluminum view ports, into the darkness of space, peacefully taking in the quiet all around him.

A moment later a rumble could be felt through the deck, and his coffee mug began to rattle on the table he had placed it on.

Suddenly, without warning, a Scorpion class fighter shuttle zoom passed at a disturbingly close distance.

The Colonel tapped his commbadge and told security the 'tail number' of the fighter and ordered them to bring him that pilot the moment they landed.

Alie landed the Scorpion fighter sweetly and silently as a coon cat lands on it's four padded feet, not a sound! Looking out the cockpit she saw her welcoming party of security officers. Popping the canopy, "Hm....guess I upset the boss with that fly by hay?", she said dismounting quickly. "Take me to the captain already," she said chuckling.

The security guards just shook their heads as they escorted her to the operations center where the captain was waiting for them.

"Lieutenant Commander Albino "Viper" Jackson reporting, Sir." she said snapping a salute. 'This is not going to go over big with the captain' she thought looking at the spilt coffee.

"Couple of items Commander." Tobias said with his hands held tightly behind his back. "The first is 'If you ever do that again, I will personally ground you permanently.' and the second is, 'Nice Fly-By.' I almost felt like I could have reached out and touched your fighter as it went by."

Slightly confused, "Understood Sir. Um.....?", she said looking confused. "Nice Fly By.......? I was just getting a feel for Rattler 01. She is new and unbroken and needs to get worked like a new horse would. Gotta get the bugs out," she said. Still unsure, she smiled at her new captain.

"Well, yeah, it was nice, but you damn near shook my mug off the counter, and you came within 5 metres of taking the long range antenna off the top of the station."

"Sorry boss....er....captain. So what's the scoop out here?" Alie said, looking at the Colonel. "I'm trying to figure out why I got rerouted here?" she added.

Tobias made a show of looking to his left, then his right, then he turned and looked behind him. "Who are you talking to?" he asked, sarcasm *thick* in his voice. "It's just the two of us, and I am not a Captain."

After a pause, he continued. "As for the situation out here, we are on the very doorstep of a completely unexplored section of space. An unexplored section that has lain claim to many ships and vessels. We literally have no idea what's out there, and you and your team are going to serve to protect this station, the vessels garrisoned to it, and anyone else that ventures into the Shackleton Expanse."

"Outstanding!" she said. "Now, any idea on what type of fighters or ships that are being used out here?" she said, but before he had a chance to speak, Alie cut him off quickly. Serious business now, "Colonel, I was re-routed out here to do a job and I will do that job. I am a fighter pilot, and I will defend this station, my home, and any yahoo that threatens to destroy that, my team and especially me, will blow them out of the sky. Anybody that threatens the Federation and those that we protect, my group will take the appropriate action and remedy the problem without prejudice," Alie said sternly. To her, this was no joking matter. Starfleet had their reasons in sending her here. Maybe it was because she was a no nonsense fighter pilot that took her work seriously, or that she was the best of the best, however, whatever the reason, she was here and had a job to do!

"I'm not sure which is more off-putting Commander; your arrogance, your bravado, or the aggression you seem to feel the need to express in my direction. Either way, you're going the right direction to being confined to a desk for a very, very long time."

"With all due respect Colonel, I am not angry at you. I was making a point, and I guess it came across the wrong way and for that I apologize. I take my career seriously and take my job with equal seriousness. For what ever reason I was re-routed here, you do have the best of the best to defend DS3," Viper said softly.

"It is forgotten Commander. We all misunderstand one another from time to time." he said. Then he continued, "I never doubted your skill. If I had, you would not be here. And for what it is worth, I can appreciate your passion."

"Thank you Colonel. Now down to brass tacks......Care to meet for a drink later?" Alie asked. Being bold with her new boss, she decided it was time to break the ice, as it were.

Tobias was completely caught off guard. After a moment he answered, "Not this evening, but maybe another time in the near future?"

"Of course Colonel, in the near future is acceptable," Ali said smiling. "Now, if there is anything you want to know from me, now is the time to ask. I have to take a visual of my fighters and pilots records," she added, chuckling.

"I think that will be all Commander." he replied, picking up a PaDD and beginning to 'read' it to hide his embarassment.

:: To Be Continued ::

Colonel Tobias Bishop III
Commanding Officer
Deep Space Three

Squadron Leader Albino "Viper" Jackson
Commander Air Group
Deep Space Three