Thursday, October 19, 2017

Cause for Celebration

Month 6 Day 31
0755 Hours
Lt Abdulla

When Abdulla exited the lift and entered the bridge, she was surprised by Mac’s huge, enthusiastic smile. I don’t think I’ve seen Mac’s full smile since her first month aboard. It’s very good to see it again.

“Good morning, Abs!” Mac greeted warmly as she approached communications.

Abdulla gave her a mock frown as she began the shift-change check of the equipment. “I don’t suppose it’ll do me any good to tell you for the thousandth time that I don’t like being called that.”

Mac shrugged her left shoulder, then her face took on a mock stern look, and her voice moved half a tone higher in pitch. “I know! You just can’t get through to that Mac! She never listens! Why, I’ve heard it said that Bugs doesn’t like being called Bugsy, either. But he’s given up trying to change that wretched, inconsiderate habit of hers.” Mac’s broad smile flashed again and her voice returned to normal. “Maybe you should get used to it.”

Abdulla shook her head and changed the subject. “I heard a rumor that you passed probation. Congratulations. You must have had better luck without me being there. Did I… unconsciously add to your stress level?”

Mac considered the question, but didn’t answer directly. “Have you seen Bugs this morning?”

That change of subject might mean I hit a nerve of some sort. “Should be on the next lift, I imagine. You know how crowded they get at shift change.”

“That’s why I usually take a back route.”

She knows a route to get here using Jeffrey tubes and maintenance passages? I suppose it can be done, I just never bothered to think about it. “Lt. MacDowell, you are relieved.”

“Thanks. Just in time,” Mac said and surged out of her seat to throw her arms around Bugalu as he walked by. “I passed, Bugs!” she said quietly but with joyful enthusiasm.

“Let me breathe!” he requested hoarsely.

Mac immediately loosened her hug, which let him suck air into his lungs. “Sorry. I forgot, in my excitement.”

“I don’t think you broke any ribs.” He smiled and slipped his arms around her shoulders. “But you didn’t need to tell me that; I was there. Still, I’m surprised by your joyfulness this morning. That wasn’t your reaction at the time. I distinctly remember your utter lack of appreciation for the reason for the movie being interrupted.”

Her nose wrinkled in disgust. “That was nonsense! That wasn’t a proper test!” Her smile returned. “I took the test on duty last night, and I passed! Smit even said my answers ‘caught his attention’.”

Abdulla stared at the friends in surprise. On duty? Smythe would have been asleep! Should have been, anyway. Abdulla saw the lift door open yet again, and Mr Smythe stopped short to give the 2 friends a frowning glare. The captain, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to them and walked over to sit in her command chair. And that isn’t the reaction I would expect from the captain upon seeing a couple embracing on the bridge, either. What is going on?

“I knew you could do it,” Bugalu told his friend.

Smythe finally walked forward, uttered, “Not here and not now, lieutenants,” as he walked past them. Mac reluctantly released the daytime helmsman.

“After my shift?” Bugalu whispered. He had only partially released her; he still held her hands.

“Sure,” Mac agreed. “I might be sleeping. Or if I’m not home, check the library. Kolla wants lunch, and we might get carried away exploring some idea or another.”

“Sit down, Mr Evans, you haven’t been relieved,” the captain instructed sharply.

“But Captain-“ The captain must have given Evans one of her looks, because he didn’t pursue his protest. Instead, he returned to his seat at the helm.

“Gotta go.” Bugalu let go of Mac. “I’ll find you.” He headed for the helm, where Evans waited impatiently. Mac turned to leave.

“Captain, here’s my morning report,” Smythe stated.

“Thank you, Mr Smythe, for being so prompt.” Capt Burke’s response was louder than she usually spoke, and she immediately added, “Congratulations, Lt MacDowell.” Mac stopped moving forward and turned around, her green eyes round with surprise. The captain twisted in her chair to smile at the redhead. “I don’t remember if I said it last night, so welcome to the crew of the Fireball.”

Mac seemed uncertain how to react. “Th- Thank you, captain.” The captain turned away, and Mac’s full smile emerged once again. Her hands formed a few movements in Abdulla’s direction before she whirled and bolted through the closing lift doors.

Abdulla’s mind sorted and eventually translated those hand movements. She chuckled, then slapped a hand over her mouth to keep the chuckle inside. She glanced at Smythe, who stood near the engineering console, his gaze on the closed lift. He walked over to communications. “What were those hand signals, lieutenant?”

“It’s an ancient Amerind sign language, sir. Yellow Dog uses it quite a bit, and I’ve seen Tall Bear use it, too, now that there’s somebody else aboard who knows it. Mac knows it better than I do, but I’m fairly certain she told me I’m stuck with her now.”

“Stuck,” he muttered. “Yes, I guess we all are.” Smythe took a step away, told her over his shoulder, “I’ll be in engineering.”

Abdulla stared as he left the bridge. He usually says that to the captain, not me. And Evans was rebuked for attempting to hurry Bugalu’s taking the helm? What a morning this has turned out to be. And no wonder Mac was so full of joy this morning. ‘Maybe you should get used to it,’ she remembered the redhead saying to her. Abdulla’s smile faltered. Well, maybe I should. That’s how she treats all her friends. It’s only people she doesn’t like who she calls by their full name. But no one else gets to call me that!


Thursday, October 12, 2017

Personally Involved (Part 3)

Month 6 Day 31
0145 Hours
Capt Burke

Previously:
“Impress?” Smitty repeated. “Who said you have to impress me?”

The girl flushed, but Jane wasn’t sure if that meant uncertainty or embarrassment.

MacDowell lowered her face to stare at the floor. “Capt Nash of the Bartholomew. When he heard the assignment I wanted, he gave a sour grin and said he’d sign the paperwork, but it wouldn’t matter, because once I failed to impress Mr Smythe, I’d be sent back to a tug.”

  
“Sounds like Nash,” Jane stated, and turned to Smitty. “When she came on board, did you explain what you expect from a new lieutenant?”

“Of course I-” He stopped and thought for a moment. With a grimace, he admitted, “I may have forgotten.” Splotches of color grew on his cheeks. “There’s no excuse for my lapse, of course. I apologize, captain.”

“Don’t apologize to me,” Jane told him. “Apologize to her!”

“Oh. Yes.” He walked closer, facing the girl. “I apologize, lieutenant. I should have explained what I expected from you.”

“You made it plain enough,” MacDowell stated coldly. “I haven’t managed to satisfy you yet.”

“How could you possibly know what he expected if he didn’t tell you?” Jane asked. “That’s like giving a test without even telling the student what subject it covers.”

“I got the general idea with the first question he asked.”

“I shouldn’t have asked that.” Smitty cleared his throat, his face pink. “I believe it was asked when I was on probation for my current rank. It’s definitely not something I normally ask a new lieutenant.”

“Then why did you chew me out when I took too long to find the answer?”
  
I remember that day. He was genuinely surprised by the question he had asked. So how could he…“You chewed her out?” Jane asked.

Smitty put his mug on the corner of Jane’s desk, his cheeks darkening to red. With a glance at the girl, he slipped his hands behind his back. “It’s, uh, standard practice for me,” he stated blandly, either to both or neither of them. “I want my people to be on their toes, not so self-satisfied they don’t notice anything. Lieutenant, I apologize again. That was several hours later, and by then, I had forgotten what question I had asked.”

For someone who wants his people on their toes, he certainly seems to have been forgetful or preoccupied that particular day. How often does that happen? Maybe I should have Duck look him over. “So, if I understand this, her first day aboard, you unthinkingly asked her an impossible question for someone of her experience, then you chewed her out for not having the answer on the tip of her tongue.”

Smitty gave Jane a mournful glance. “I'm afraid so.”
  
Jane had trouble keeping her temper, but thought he might understand what he had done if he received a mild rebuke in front of the girl. “Between you and Nash, it's no wonder she didn't have any confidence and couldn’t answer your questions when you tried to administer a test!”

His face red, Smitty stared at the floor. “You're right, captain, of course. If I'd been more... sensitive, I would have realized what was wrong a long time ago.”

“And I could have impressed you!” the redhead stated. “I didn’t really believe anything Nash said, but... I couldn't do anything well enough, after day 1.”

“My fault entirely,” he muttered, still staring at the floor. He took a deep breath and raised his head, but not quite far enough to look at the girl. “I told you hours ago that you'd passed probation, but you didn't like my reason. Since you've now answered most of the test questions in far more detail than the computer expected, will you accept that you've passed?”

“If I'd answered those questions that way the first time you tested me, -”

“I'm not easily impressed,” he answered before she finished her question. He raised his face to look at her. “But what I usually get are the standard answers. I think tonight’s answers would have certainly gotten my attention.”

MacDowell nodded, then grimaced. “Back then, I would have given the standard answers. That was kind of drilled into me at the Academy. And I hadn't met Kolla yet.”
  
Jane took a drink of her coffee and something Smitty had said finally got through to her tired brain. “Wait a minute. You told MacDowell hours ago that she passed probation? Why didn't you tell me? Why did we go through this when I really wanted to sleep?”

“It would have been in my morning report,” he answered. “As for your plan, you never told me why I was coming to your office. Once I got here, you laid it out and got it started before I could-” He stopped, his gaze flicking to MacDowell.

“Yes, I didn't want to waste time arguing about it,” Jane admitted.

“And, since Colleen hadn't wanted to accept my earlier statement about passing, I thought if she could answer the questions for you, that should settle the matter.”

“Except, I didn't finish the test,” MacDowell stated.

“Yes, you have,” Smitty said quickly. “Every remaining question on that version of the test is a question you've answered correctly during past tests. Face it, Colleen, you've passed probation and are now a member of this crew.”

“Welcome aboard, Lt MacDowell,” Jane told her with a broad smile.

“Thank you, captain. And... uh... Smit. May I return to my post, before Ad- Lt Adams fries the circuits or something?”

“Why would he do that?” Smitty asked.
  
“I had him relieve her so she could take the test,” Jane explained. “Yes, lieutenant, you’re dismissed. Tell Adams for me that he is free to return to engineering, and that I have full confidence you will be able to repair communications yourself, should that be necessary.”

“Thank you, captain.” The redhead turned and walked out, back to the bridge.

Smitty watched the door long after it closed behind the girl, a half smile on his mouth. Has it dawned on him - again - that she's a beautiful woman? I hope not. We just got her to halfway trust him. What did she say to him when she came aboard? Something about them not needing to be at war? Don't remember his answer, but it sounded cold and half angry. She finished her coffee and stood up, ready to call it a day. “Smitty, I'd like you to keep an eye on Adams.”

“Both eyes,” he agreed musically.

She snapped her fingers in front of his face. “I said Adams, not MacDowell!”
  
“What?” He turned to face her, turned again to follow her into the hall. “What have you suddenly got against Adams?”
  
“He and Evans were standing at communications when I went out to get MacDowell. Evans is my problem; I’ll deal with him. I asked Adams if there was a problem with communications, and he implied there was. But MacDowell said she was listening to Yukoskian radio stations to learn more of their language.” She pushed the button to call for the lift.

Smitty scowled. “That doesn't seem feasible. She'd have to find a new station every 3-4 minutes.”

Jane stared at him in dismay and disapproval. After all he’s put her through, he still wants to discount anything she says. “I suspect that's more enjoyable than listening to 2 fools trying to impress her with their version of 'lady-killing'.”

“Then why have him come up to relieve her? He should have stayed in engineering and sent an ensign.” The lift door opened, and they both got in. “Deck 3, north,” he instructed.
  
“You aren't listening,” Jane told him. “Or maybe you're still asleep. Adams was already on the bridge when I walked out. Since he was there – and didn't have a good reason for it – I put him to work.”

“Serves him right for being away from engineering without good reason,” Smitty decided.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Personally Involved (Part 2)

Month 6 Day 31
0145 Hours
Capt Burke

Previously:
Jane stood up. “Stay quiet. I’ll go get her. And don’t fall asleep, or I’ll personally approve her promotion.” He didn’t answer, so she assumed he was following instructions to be quiet. She walked to the door to the bridge, which opened for her.

Jane stopped, surprised to see 2 men standing behind MacDowell at the communications console. The men were talking and laughing, while the redhead worked. “Lt Evans,” Jane greeted as she moved forward. “If communications has a problem, I would expect Lt Adams to handle it without your supervision.”

Red-faced, Evans turned, muttered, “Yes, captain,” and headed for the helm.

That left Adams slack-jawed and looking guilty. “What problem with communications have you been called up to solve, Mr Adams?”

“Ahh. Mac- Lt MacDowell hasn’t told me yet,” he stated.

“Lt MacDowell?” Jane asked.

The girl looked around and was surprised to see Jane on the bridge when she should have been in bed. “Captain, is there a problem?” She pulled a small speaker from the ear closest to the captain.

The speaker is traditionally worn in the other ear, although every person assigned here has a pair of them. She could be wearing both, which would indicate she didn’t care to listen to the 2 men standing behind her. “I assume Lt Adams is here to solve a problem with the communications equipment that you could not fix.”

MacDowell made a short, rude noise. “Communications is working perfectly, captain. I’ve been listening to Yukosk radio stations, learning more of their language.”

Most would just let the translator do the work at this point. And since these people speak and hear at a frequency we can’t speak or hear, that makes sense. But MacDowell still wants to study their language. “There isn’t any problem with communications, Mr Adams.”

“Ahhhh...” He obviously does not have any acceptable reason to be here.

“Still, it’s good that you’re here. Adams, relieve MacDowell at communications. I need to see her in my office.”

“Me?” Adams asked in disbelief. “At communications?”

Jane gave the engineer a cool stare. “You have been cross-trained on the equipment, right?”

“Yes, captain, but... it’s been a while.”

“Try to remember how it’s done,” she instructed. “Come along, MacDowell.” Assuming the girl would follow, Jane walked back to her office and paused next to her desk for a slurp of coffee. Good, I can't see Smitty. I don't hear any snores, so I hope that means he's still awake. She turned and smiled at the redhead. “Would you like some coffee? I just made it.”

MacDowell stood in front of the closed door, looking uncertain, and slowly removed the speaker from her other ear. “No, thank you, captain. I never acquired a taste for it.” She took a step forward. “Have I... done something wrong?”

“Not that I know of,” Jane replied. “But you did ask me something this morning... I mean, yesterday, since it’s past midnight. And I finally have an answer for you. Go ahead, sit down. We might as well be comfortable.” Jane sat, and the girl followed her example.

“I- I’m sorry, Captain. I had a... an upsetting evening before I came on duty, and I don’t remember what I asked.”

What did Bugalu do? Not my business. Unless she lodges a complaint. “You wanted to take your test tomorrow. I mean, today. So I’ve decided to give it to you. If you’re ready, we can do it now.”

The redhead gave a lop-sided smile. “A pop quiz? Why not? Lots of people have quizzed me, trying to figure out how I can be so stupid that I haven’t passed yet.”

“I don’t think you’re stupid,” Jane stated as she turned on her computer screen and called up the test.

“Thank you, captain, but-“

“Banish thoughts like that,” Jane instructed. “They are not your friends. Such thoughts erode your confidence, which makes you second-guess what you’re about to say. And that becomes a self-defeating cycle.”

“Bugs... Uh, Bugalu told me something similar a few days ago.”

“Good. I hope you listened. Let’s get started, shall we?” She read the first question. MacDowell’s answer started almost before Jane finished reading. The answer hit all the marks the computer expected, and the redhead added extra details. Sure hope Smitty’s awake and hearing this. Jane read the next question, and again MacDowell’s answer had more details than the computer expected. Several more questions were answered in similar fashion. If Smitty gave extra credit, she’d have more than 100% correct on each question. Jane covered a yawn and looked up when the girl stopped speaking in mid-sentence.

“Sorry, captain.” MacDowell’s cheeks were pink. “I’ve been answering as if Kolla were asking these things. I mean, we all learned the same technology, but she didn’t. I go into far more detail when I explain something to her. It’s kind of like talking to Takor, except I seldom talk technology with him anymore. The Sciss family dynamics, society, religion... those are all so different from human versions. Even after 6 months, I feel I’ve just scratched the surface of learning about them. Anyway, I’ll try to stick to the details the computer looks for, and we’ll get done faster.”

A deep voice came from the darkness around the corner. “No need. I’ve heard enough.”

MacDowell stiffened, her face white. Her eyes looked past Jane and when those eyes grew large, Jane knew Smitty had emerged from the darkness. “Smit!” MacDowell was so shocked, there was hardly any sound to her utterance.

Jane whirled her chair around, saw Smitty refilling his mug. “What did I tell you would happen if you didn’t stay quiet?”

“You don’t have to personally approve her promotion. She’s passed probation.”

The girl jumped to her feet, her face almost matching her hair and uniform. “I told you no!” she hissed at the chief engineer.

“You can’t tell me no now, Colleen. You’ve got the captain involved in this.”

“The captain is not- Wait.” The redhead looked at Jane. “You were ready to approve my promotion? Why?”

“Because you have skill, knowledge and talent. It isn’t fair to hold you back just because there’s one man on this ship you can’t talk to.”

“But he’s the one that matters! He’s the one I have to impress!”

“Impress?” Smitty repeated. “Who said you have to impress me?”

The girl flushed, but Jane wasn’t sure if that meant uncertainty or embarrassment.

Next Time:
MacDowell lowered her face to stare at the floor. “Capt Nash of the Bartholomew. When he heard the assignment I wanted, he gave me a sour grin and said he’d sign the paperwork, but it wouldn’t matter, because once I failed to impress Mr Smythe, I’d be sent back to a tug.”