in the ship’s registry, and grimaced to see it just a moment later as the computer located her. `Great’, she thought, `this is not good.’ Outwardly, she said, “Well, non-classified Valesque it seems you are assigned to this ship.”
Valesque grinned smugly, supposing the woman had finally found her mistake.
“As maintenance Ensign, second class.”
“What!” Valesque shouted, grabbing for the handheld screen, which the Captain deftly snatched from her reach as she continued:
“According to this you are a classified military ensign, Ensign.”
“Since when and by whose orders!!” the young woman snapped, disbelieving. Nothing like that was possible; you cannot just go around classifying people. “Who is the commanding officer of this outrage?!”
“According to the records you became an Ensign second class, just over two hours ago.” the Captain replied. “Congratulations.”
For some reason she just seemed to enjoy irritating this young woman, although she knew it probably was not a wise thing to do. Especially seeing as the young Virrilian was beginning to go into hunting mode, her eyes filming over, but at least her nails were cut.
“And in answer to your second question, which as I remember was also your first,” she continued, looking up at her new Ensign calmly, “the commanding officer of this mission is General Gorbok. My superior and friend, who has assigned this ship to report to the Corseccan Galaxy as a military defense vessel.”
Valesque gaped in disbelief, she couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t stand, all she could do was stare. “General `Warlord’ Gorbok?!” she asked in shock and alarm.
The same General who had been snooping around the project for the last few months? The same General who had felt it necessary to infiltrate a construction crew with spies?
The same General who her partner had just this morning gone to get a restraining order and injunction against, that General Gorbok?
She could not believe it. It could not be true, why would anyone in their right mind hand over a science vessel to the `Warlord’ General?
“Insubordination will not be tolerated on this ship, Ensign. I suggest you refrain from referring to your commanding General as `Warlord’. Do I make myself clear? Because as of . . .” she checked her screen, “two hours and twenty minutes ago General Gorbok became your commanding General, and I was given command of this vessel. If there is any more discussion on this point I will throw you into the brig, Ensign, is that clear?!”
Valesque was steaming now as she crouched low over the Captain’s desk, placing both hands before her on the smooth hard surface, her brown eyes glowing silver as she spat, “Let me make myself clear, Captain. I am not, have not and will never be an Ensign on any ship and certainly not on my own ship. And as for your Commanding officer, well, we will just see about that!” she seethed, “But for right now, let me just say that your taking this ship into Corseccan space would be a grave mistake, you would be destroyed in an instant. If you even made it there to begin with.”
“I don’t know what you could possibly mean,” Captain Fairbanks replied defensively, relieved to see that the Virrilian had at least backed off just a bit, “this ship is equipped with weapons far superior to anything the Corseccans have. It should be an easy victory.”
“Ha!” Valesque laughed, “Victory? Do you have any idea what state your weapons systems are in? Or even how to run them? I don't think you do. What’s more, I don't think your dear old General had enough time in those two hours he used to take over my ship to get you an optimal crew. Just how many poor souls did he manage to round up for this death march?” she asked sarcastically.
The Captain was not sure she entirely liked what this young engineer was alluding to. “In case it is any concern of yours, we have a crew of over two hundred and fifty.
Valesque grinned smugly, supposing the woman had finally found her mistake.
“As maintenance Ensign, second class.”
“What!” Valesque shouted, grabbing for the handheld screen, which the Captain deftly snatched from her reach as she continued:
“According to this you are a classified military ensign, Ensign.”
“Since when and by whose orders!!” the young woman snapped, disbelieving. Nothing like that was possible; you cannot just go around classifying people. “Who is the commanding officer of this outrage?!”
“According to the records you became an Ensign second class, just over two hours ago.” the Captain replied. “Congratulations.”
For some reason she just seemed to enjoy irritating this young woman, although she knew it probably was not a wise thing to do. Especially seeing as the young Virrilian was beginning to go into hunting mode, her eyes filming over, but at least her nails were cut.
“And in answer to your second question, which as I remember was also your first,” she continued, looking up at her new Ensign calmly, “the commanding officer of this mission is General Gorbok. My superior and friend, who has assigned this ship to report to the Corseccan Galaxy as a military defense vessel.”
Valesque gaped in disbelief, she couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t stand, all she could do was stare. “General `Warlord’ Gorbok?!” she asked in shock and alarm.
The same General who had been snooping around the project for the last few months? The same General who had felt it necessary to infiltrate a construction crew with spies?
The same General who her partner had just this morning gone to get a restraining order and injunction against, that General Gorbok?
She could not believe it. It could not be true, why would anyone in their right mind hand over a science vessel to the `Warlord’ General?
“Insubordination will not be tolerated on this ship, Ensign. I suggest you refrain from referring to your commanding General as `Warlord’. Do I make myself clear? Because as of . . .” she checked her screen, “two hours and twenty minutes ago General Gorbok became your commanding General, and I was given command of this vessel. If there is any more discussion on this point I will throw you into the brig, Ensign, is that clear?!”
Valesque was steaming now as she crouched low over the Captain’s desk, placing both hands before her on the smooth hard surface, her brown eyes glowing silver as she spat, “Let me make myself clear, Captain. I am not, have not and will never be an Ensign on any ship and certainly not on my own ship. And as for your Commanding officer, well, we will just see about that!” she seethed, “But for right now, let me just say that your taking this ship into Corseccan space would be a grave mistake, you would be destroyed in an instant. If you even made it there to begin with.”
“I don’t know what you could possibly mean,” Captain Fairbanks replied defensively, relieved to see that the Virrilian had at least backed off just a bit, “this ship is equipped with weapons far superior to anything the Corseccans have. It should be an easy victory.”
“Ha!” Valesque laughed, “Victory? Do you have any idea what state your weapons systems are in? Or even how to run them? I don't think you do. What’s more, I don't think your dear old General had enough time in those two hours he used to take over my ship to get you an optimal crew. Just how many poor souls did he manage to round up for this death march?” she asked sarcastically.
The Captain was not sure she entirely liked what this young engineer was alluding to. “In case it is any concern of yours, we have a crew of over two hundred and fifty.
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