| PHD #297: Shining Apology |
| Summary: | Shiner apologizes to Khloe, Khloe (in her own way) apologizes to Shiner, a new slate is turned. |
| Date: | 20 Dec 2041 AE |
| Related Logs: | No Respect |
| Players: |
  |
| Hangar Deck - Port - Midship - Battlestar Cerberus |
|---|
| The single largest rooms on the Cerberus are the hangar decks. Each flight pod consists of two stacked landing bays with adjoined decks and hangars, which along with computer-assisted landings results in a faster Viper recovery rate. Mirror images of each other, these two huge areas are located on the flight pods. The inboard sides of the deck, closest to the ship's main hull, are lined with parking and maintenance bays for Vipers and Raptors based aboard the battlestar. The outboard side of the deck contains the launch tubes used by the Vipers for standard deployment. Huge blast doors seal the deck into four sections, each one containing an elevator that leads up to the flight deck directly overhead. The fore-most section contains an elevator system that leads towards Aerospace Fabrication. |
| Post-Holocaust Day: #297 |
The hangar deck is, not unusually, a mess of activity. Aircraft are being repaired as fast as possible and the ready tubes loaded, the whiteboard is a mess of duty stations and names, and over in another corner, fire extinguishers and hoses are being refilled and recoiled. Shiner's job today is as ever a glamorous one, today's fun task being to sweep down behind the working crews on the Vipers.
Having landed just a few moments ago, Captain Vakos emerges from her Viper, which is currently being attended to by the 'more glamorous'. She's quick to tug off her flight helmet and put her signature on the required documentation. She's not quick to depart, however, watching the deck crew go over their checklists and their manual inspection of the bird.
Shiner sweeps a bent piece of metal away with a soft 'ting' across the deck, idly looking up to see who's flown in. His head quickly goes down again as he spies who it is, however, and the brushing becomes a little more frantic momentarily. And yet, after a moment, he grits his teeth and straightens his shoulders. Readying the broom like a shouldered rifle on parade, he takes the few paces over towards the pilot, halts, and brings his arm across his body in salute.
Khloe glances over at the approaching Apprentice, and her eyes narrow. She, too, squares up, but she seems mildly surprised when he approaches and salutes. She returns the salute, perhaps slightly less crisply than his, considering she's just been flying for four hours. "Crewman. You needed something?" She asks of him, glancing away only because another deckhand produces yet another clipboard for her to sign.
"Wanted to apologise," Shiner mumbles, then clears his throat, takes a breath and repeats himself more clearly. "Wanted to apologise for being a dickhead, sir. Fair enough you just want what's best, sir. You're flying these things."
"I see." Khloe takes a moment to look the Apprentice up and down, looking as if she were considering whether or not to purchase him, maybe, if he were an animal on auction. "Well, I suppose, you're the ones fixing them, so I may have been in error, as well." Her other hand goes up to rub at her lower ribcage, where one of his stronger shots hit her. "You know, it takes a lot of balls to strike a superior officer." A pause. "I know. I did it, when I wasn't much older than you."
Shiner pauses. There has to be some kind of trick here. He just nods slowly to that, swallowing. "Sorry, sir. Won't happen again, sir, I promise you."
"With me, or with anyone else?" Comes Khloe's quick question, tone sharpening a little. "Also, I see that you changed your mind about quitting. Were it up to me, I would've made sure that you spent the rest of your days sucking sludge out of the waste system, because I absolutely detest quitters. But, fortunately for you, the Chief is nicer than that." A beat. "So is the CAG, I hear."
"Already spent six months on that, sir," Shiner can't help but note, a faint grin appearing. "Shit can't faze me. I love this fleet." He shakes his head, becoming more serious. "Not with anyone, though, sir. Only /I/ get to choose if I fail, no matter what. Do your worst, sir, it's your job. I'm going to frakking well fly, no matter what you say." A pause, then an added, "Sir," and another salute.
Khloe half-salutes half-waves; it's clearly not necessary, according to her. "I've no intention on seeing you fail, Apprentice. If you fail, it looks bad on us as well as yourself. Just hope that the CAG's kindness holds out." As she turns to go, another thought dawns on her. "You know, Apprentice, if you ever want to throw down again, there's a time and a place for it. Tags off. If you're game, let me know."
"You kidding, sir? You're vicious!" Shiner protests, cracking a half smile. "I'm not a boxer, sir. You let me know any time you want a swim buddy, though, and I'm your man."
"Neither am I. I just know how to throw a punch. And swimming?" Khloe shakes her head, returning to her usual stoic half-frown. "Swimming's for little girls. Catch you on the flipside, Apprentice." And off she walks, presumably headed off-deck to catch a shower.