| Specializing Tyr |
| Summary: | Bannik is promoted to E-3. |
| Date: | 24 Jun 2041 AE |
| Related Logs: | None. |
| Players: |
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| Hangar Deck - Port - Midship - Battlestar Cerberus |
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| 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: #118 |
With seventeen new Vipers on the Deck, that means a good deal more maintenance on all of them. Bannik is seated in the cockpit of one of them, scrunched over due to his gangly height, working on some sort of control panel with a tiny screw driver. Just long arms. Soooo little screws. It's a fun time.
Tillman wanders down the Deck with a rather serious expression on his face. There's a few whispered words to the enlisted down here and they all seem to direct him towards the Viper that Bannik is sitting in. "Crewman Bannik," the Major greets as he climbs a bit up the ladder. He's in his blues again, sidearm strapped on his right hip - as has become the standard equipment for him.
Bannik jerks his head up suddenly, banging it against the raised canopy of the Viper. "Ow!" Yeah. Rubbing the top of his head, the crewman groans, "I do that /every/ time." But then, more formally, "Major Tillman, sir. You'll have to excuse me if I don't get up for you." He eyes the canopy warily.
"Ah! Damn. Watch the head..shit." The Major cinges as he looks the guy over. "Yeah, don't sweat it, son. Just wanted to talk to you about a few things. Namely how you're doing after getting off Leonis. Doin' alright?" There seems to be some genuine concern for the young man's well-being.
Bannik blinks to get away the last bit of stars around his head — he's used to this by now, before responding. "I'm … I'm okay, sir. A lot of people got it a whole lot worse than me. During the extraction, I was driving a tank. All I saw was the grainy black and white feed. And during some of the —" How to phrase this. "During some of the most challenging stuff, I was back at base keeping watch. I figure, at this point, my job is to just try to be there for the folks who had it toughest, you know? Try to reflect the Gods' concern for them in myself. Like tonight."
Tillman listens closely, nodding. "Aye. When I was in the Corps we were all exposed to a lot of bad things through different engagements. Its frustrating in a lot of ways. Tonight should mean a lot to a lot of different people. Thanks for stepping up to do that. Takes concern for other people and some real compassion for the fallen."
"We all are ministers in our own way, at least as far as I see it, sir. Yours is helping run this ship and shepherding us to where we need to go. Mine is here on the Deck and person-to-person. We've all got our own calling." Bannik smiles. "Is there anything I can do for you, though, sir? It's got to be tough with — uh. All that's happened."
"That's a pretty insightful way to look at things. I hadn't considered that." Tillman looks thoughtful as he thinks it over, finally nodding. "But no, no I'm fine, Mister Bannik. Considering what you all went through? I have zero cause for complaints. A lot has happened but we are all the men we choose to be. And..I must say..after reading some of the reports from the surface, I'm highly impressed with you. Your past actions with the Heavy Raider project? Volunteering for Leonis? Getting tonight put together? I wish we had Senior Chiefs with your kind of drive and determination. I also wish I could do more for you, but alas, JAG won't let me." The XO smirks and reaches into a pocket. There's a small black box produced and he sets it down on the ledge of the cockpit. "Go ahead, Bannik. Its all yours. I asked the Chief if I could do this personally, though. Hope that's not a problem."
Bannik reaches out to take the box, narrowly avoiding knocking it over the edge in the process. He then flips it open; if he was expecting what was inside, he does a good job of hiding it. "Oh! Wow. Oh." His voice trails off. "Thank you, sir. No. I. I don't mind at all." His wide, owlish eyes look up to Tillman. "Thank you." He repeats it. "It — means a lot for a guy who just got out of A-school just before the bombs fell. All I wanted is to not let all the people counting on me down. I'm so glad I haven't, really I am."
Tillman only nods until the young man finishes, though he smiles the whole time. This is probably one of those things he lives for in the military. "Promotions like this come through hard work and determination. It's not just for time served anymore, son. Not only have you proven yourself reliable and competent, but you've impressed me as well. I'm honored to be the one to hand the rank over to you."
Bannik glances down at the new pin again, the slightly more full middle to it. "Well, thank you, sir. That means a lot. You've got twenty-five hundred people around here, so that you'd come down here to do this —" He just nods. "Thank you. I can't even imagine what has to go on in your head each day. But I'm real glad we've got you to do it."
"My pleasure, Specialist. Again, I just wish I could do more for you all. Hopefully at the ceremony we'll see what else can be done." Tillman gives one last curt nod to the young man. "I'm looking forward to what else comes across my desk that has your name on it, Tyr. But I do have about fifty more reports to wade through. I'll be seeing you at the ceremony." He offers another quick smile to the young man and slowly begins stepping back down the ladder.
"Sir." Bannik gives a salute, sitting down in the cockpit, so it looks like the kind that he's seen Viper jocks do before they launch. But out of context, it perhaps looks a bit silly. "Thank you, sir. See you tonight."
"Yes. You will." Tillman returns the salute easily and takes a step back before turning and heading off for the stairwell and MOAR WERK.