| One Last Thing |
| Summary: | Alessandra goes to the XO to get one last set of instructions. Respect is mutually shown. |
| Date: | 28 Mary 2041 AE |
| Related Logs: | TBA |
| Players: |
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| Map Room |
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| The one object that dominates this room is the one it is named for: the giant plotting table in the center of the room. Bottom-lit like the plot in CIC, this one is twenty feet across and about the same distance wide. The maps, which are rolled and kept in a locker at the side of the room, provide much more detail than most of the charts in CIC and are especially useful in planning tactical operations. Unscaled models of ships are available to be situated on the surface of the table and risers on each side of the room allow for a small audience to watch or be briefed. A single large LCD screen is built into the wall at the far end to display reconnaissance or other supplemental material. |
| Post-Holocaust Day: #90 |
Not much has changed with Tilldozer since they last met. Except that the gun is reloaded and he's sober. The man is hard at work pouring over the latest intelligence photographs of Leonis and reading dozens of old reports about positions and after action reports. They're all spread out over the map table along with a physics book and another one about skydiving. Crazy bastard was serious!! There are two Marines outside the door allowing entry for Allie, but the red light is technically out.
Stepping in, Allie nods once to the Marine guards before they close the hatch behind her, the pilot's demeanor as serious as it's ever been, perhaps even more so. She waits for the sound of the mechanism catching before she says anything, her voice slightly awed once she sees what Clive's looking over. "I see the planning has been elevated to past just theorizing and talking about it," she mutters thoughtfully. "I wish I could say this is my forte and can help with it but unfortunately the only experience I've had is ejection training. Not a very reliable source of information or advice, sadly." When she talks her right hand is allowed to rest upon her right thigh; the upper span of her leg bare of holster, she's all too aware of the fact that she's unarmed and it's discomforting, causing her to fidget.
Tillman glances up to see who it is that walks through. Only a few people are being allowed access. Apparently Allie is one of them. The XO doesn't look like he's about to bust out into a smile either. "Copy that, Lieutenant." Those eyes fall back to the notepad in front of him. He's swapping between notes and a grease pencil and a sat map of Leonis where he's marking off air defenses. "Looking over the intel provided by those three Raptor jockies that ran the rescue op. Quinn put them in for letters of commendation and a recommendation for promotion. CAG agreed. If you haven't thanked them, you should." A few more tick marks and he looks to her leg. "I talked to Major Hahn to confirm what you sent along. Seems you did the honorable thing and talked to her. That's a huge godsdamned relief." What part is a relief isn't really alluded to, but he seems at least thankful.
"I'll thank them as soon as I can." Alessandra has been meaning to but with the way her mind has been pre-occupied she hasn't thought of it, that bringing a rather sharp pain of regret to her. The photo she picked up is set down, put back carefully where it was when she took it in case it was placed in that precise spot for a reason. "They deserve the promotion and commendations. And more." Stepping away from the table, she turns away for a second, letting Tillman's next words sink in, something about them causing her to laugh humorlessly. "I promised you I would, Major. I wouldn't lie to you." Nor would she risk a spot on the jump team but that's rather selfish of her so that's left unspoken. "Major Hahn didn't really seem overly pleased at first but I think she realizes that I have my head and my heart in the right place so allowed for me to act as is needed."
"No, I don't imagine the Major was overly happy. But that's why I wanted you to face her. I wanted to make sure you weren't afraid to stand up to someone like her." Apparently Tillman doesn't think he counts. He marks off another SAM site and looks up to the Lieutenant. "Get your sidearm. Keep it racked and loaded at all times, Lieutenant Sophronia. I will send a runner for you when it goes down. But when it does, you don't want to worry about whether or not that thing is loaded. You may have to sleep in your uniform but make it happen." No, the Major doesn't sound like he's joking or kidding. "I'm not going to question your commitment to the act, Lieutenant, but I need to hear it from you one last time. A Viper is one thing. Mutiny is another. Are you prepared to be charged and executed for a duty and honor that potentially nobody will recognize? Be remembered as a traitor by all but a few?"
A deep breath in is slowly exhaled. "It wasn't easy to do so but the things that mean the most to a person never are, usually, Clive." Twisiting to face him now, Alessandra returns to the map table, the items upon it given one last look before she looks into his eyes. The thought of sleeping in her uniform and remaining armed at all times when a pilot normally isn't is slightly discomforting in that it'll surely call attention to her but it's one more thing she has to do and it'll be done. Willingly. "Yes, Major. I'll do so." When asked if she's sure this is what she wants she nods, not even waiting for Tillman to finish before beginning to give her reply. "I am very sure, Major. I am one-hundred percent certain. This is what I wish for. I want to help."
Tillman just gives her a stern nod at the end and rises to stand a little more straight. "Alright then." He sets the grease pencil down. "I don't know where the arrest will be affected, but when it happens I will be instructing the Marines to leave their weapons down. I will not have guns being pointed at the Admiral if I can avoid it. We very well could encounter resistance but your sidearm will be in your holster unless someone else draws first. Period. I don't care if you want to have your hand on it, but you -will- keep it leathered." He looks about as serious as he ever has. "When we approach the Admiral I will announce the charges and detainment, explaining that I am assuming temporary command until the charges against him can be proven false. Once the Admiral is effectively detained, I will address the crew to inform them of the situation. If these charges are false, you and I will both submit written resignations immediately and remand ourselves to the custody of Major Cavanaugh without any resistance or protest. Have the resignation prepared, signed, and on you at all times, Lieutenant."
Alessandra nods right up until the end, the Lieutenant in full comprehension of what is expected of her. "Aye, sir." Reaching up, her hand settles on the back of her neck, fingers kneading roughly at the muscle, muscle that's most likely knotted as she grimaces more than once. "So this is it, sir. We're about to face Hell." Not what most people would want to say while facing odds like they are, but as she does she grins again, almost as if she's actually looking forward to being of some use in this, the gravest of scenarios. "Are you ready for this, sir?"
Tillman shakes his head. "Hell no I'm not ready for it. But I'm going to do it anyway. We owe it to this crew and what's left of humanity to do this. And if we swing for it? Then we swing together knowing that we did it for something greater than ourselves. There's no glory to be had here, Lieutenant, but we will know what we had to do and that we did it knowing what our outcome is. I call that worthy." Tillman seems quite sure of this. "I've already talked to Captain Quinn about it and she's aware of it. Have any loved ones that you might like to say goodbye to before this comes off?"
"I call it worthy as well, Clive." Alessandra gives him a faint smile. That's rather short lived as he asks his other question, it being the one subject that still cuts her like a knife. "All those I would want to say goodbye to have either been lost to me or are still on Leonis, sir. So…I guess the answer to that would be no." Her hand is yanked back from her neck and it, along with its mate, grips the edge of the table, knuckles going white for how tight she does so. "Do you think that it'd be alright for me to write the Captain a letter or would that be too risky?"
"I understand, Lieutenant. We've both got people down there we'd want to say goodbye to. But writing them a letter, I don't think, is going to make a difference. When they come back, they may well join us. If they do, you'll be seeing them at the firing squad. Save your letter." The man takes a long breath. "If you need to draw a Will, do that as well. Don't register it with JAG, but leave it in your locker. What goes into that is none of my business, though. Just make sure nothing in it can give away our plans."
Alessandra's face pales. "I'll get one written up tonight. And, Clive…" Allie looks the Major right in his eye, her expression blank. "I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I am proud to call you my friend and my superior officer." Snapping to, she gives the XO a salute, her body held straight, arm rigid, hand held just before brow. "Thank you, sir."
"Same, Allie. Its good to have someone with me. I was beginning to think I really might have to face this alone. Thank you." He takes a long breath and raises his own arm. "Its been the greatest honor of my life, Allie. May we both survive this to drink about it later." His hand drops sharply.