'JR' Sully (jrsully) wrote in bsg_avalon, @ 2011-02-27 20:19:00 |
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Entry tags: | jake mackenzie, jilleen simmons, tauron |
WHO: Jilleen Simmons & Jake Mackenzie
WHERE: Tauron Military Academy, Gladius Cross, Tauron.
WHEN: Morning Y02/12/06 Day of Mars
Breakfast was the most enjoyable in a long time, she forgotten how much she liked authentic Tauran egg omelets at the Cadet Mess. It was an honor to be back at the head table again as part of the VIP group even if the focus was rightly on Vice Admiral Pierce. It was a big deal back when she was First Captain of the Cadet Corps to have VIPs at breakfast. It made her proud she managed to pull this off for her boss at the last minute on an important day like this that honored Mars.
As tradition on this day the Grand Hall for breakfast was filled with visitors at each table who were either active, reserve, or retired military officers. With a cadet corps of nearly five thousand and all the guests, it was a big affair. Most of the senior and junior class cadets were paired with an officer after breakfast to tour the campus and for the officer to share advice with the young cadet.
“… If you want to get far in the forces or any endeavor you choose, remember this, don’t ever show weakness and if you do deny it.” She remembered her father first telling her that when she was very little before a debate during one of his re-election campaigns. Those words were so important to her during her cadet years and have been through her military career. She would even deny to this day that she almost dropped out of Plebe camp.
“I’ll remember that, sir,” said the cadet wearing a brown uniform. The color of the uniform symbolized the importance of the soil to the Tauran culture.
“Good and also remember to enjoy this time,” she said to him while they turned the corner on the sidewalk around the engineering building. Her eyes were on the young man whom she first met when he was a little boy, when she wore the same uniform.
It was when the cadet lifted his hand to salute another officer that she saw her old classmate. Her own hand came up to salute the Major. “Timí̱ Pró̱ta,” said the cadet, the academy’s moto which translated to Caprican meant ‘Honor First’. Jilleen repeated what the cadet said in Tauran but with a smile.
“Timí̱ Pró̱ta,” Jake repeated, returning the salutes. It had been some time since he’d been on the campus grounds and he found himself reliving memories at every turn being here on such an important day on Tauron. Running into Jilleen here on a day like this...had to be fate.
“Captain, Cadet. A perfect morning for such a special day, wouldn’t you agree?”
She let down her salute and the cadet followed. “Absolutely sir,” it struck her funny that their roles were reversed from when they were senior cadets here. “Major Mackenzie, you might recognize the young fellow next to me. May I introduce Cadet Burk.” He was Admiral Burk’s son who was in his junior year at the Academy.
“I thought he looked familiar, but I didn’t place him.” Jake smiled and offered his hand to the young man. “How are you Tom?” He purposely didn’t call him ‘Tommy’ figuring that the nickname hadn’t been used in some time. “Last time I saw you, you were a freshman in high school.”
“Good to see you again, sir,” said young Burk.
“Can you leave us for a moment?” She asked but it was implied. “Wait for me by the Hercules statue.”
“Yes, sir.” The cadet turned to Jake. “It’s good to see you again, sir.” He then walked away to leave the friends alone.
“Gods this is a good surprise, both you and me together at the Academy again. What brings you to G. C.?” Jilleen asked. She had not spoken to him since Caprica.
“Must be fate.” Jake agreed with a smile. “I’ve been on Tuaron the last week or so, part of an IG Audit on the Viper Wing stationed here. Our last day was yesterday, but I don’t have to report back for a few days so I thought I’d catch the evening flight back to Fleet HQ tonight.”
“Did you end anybody’s career?” she joked.
“Unfortunately I did.” Jake’s smile slipped a bit. “There’s going to be a Squadron Leader who’ll never rise any higher, and the Colonel in charge of the wing won’t be on the promotion list for Commander anytime soon because of it.” There were some who looked at the fleet as just a place to play with expensive toys due to the fact that there hadn’t been any hint of the Cylons in over forty years, but Jake took his duties seriously and wasn’t one to let others slide.
“What brought you here? The Admiral in town?”
Always mindful of her job. “Admiral come to pay his respects at the memorial,” this was the official line. “Such an awful thing. We flew over the half collapsed building yesterday. I just pray to the Gods that no Sagittaron group was involved in the attack.” No one had accepted credit for the attack that killed the Prime Ministers of Tauron and Sagittaron a couple of weeks ago. “And I’m not saying there is any proof of that, there are too many rumors and theories as it is.”
“Gods.” Jake shook his head. “If the Sagittarions (sp?) are behind it there’ll be hell to pay.” With all the Tauron dead combined with the assassination of the Prime Minister it could put the two Colonies on the verge of war.
Jill lean in to him, so not to be overheard. “It’s why he is here,” she meant the Admiral. “No matter the outcome, we need Tauran support. The government is too fragile in Tawa.” Anyone who followed Sagittarian affairs would know this. The last thing wanted was a flare up on the Colony with rich Tyilum reserves.
“Good luck with that.” Jake had few illusions about how well people would be able to manage the situation between a government about to fall and a planet full of Tuarons out for blood.
“How’s James these days? I haven’t touched base with him since I was stationed on Avalon.”
“James,” she paused for a beat. “He was promoted yesterday, and now he’s on his way to Picon. Don’t ask me why he’s going because they don’t tell their spouses. We are not on the + need to know list.” She sighed. It was one of those things that frustrated her way back when James first started in Special Operations. He would be gone without warning for weeks without a word. Jake’s wife often heard Jill complain about it. Only because they had little time together as it was between their two military careers. It almost ended their marriage years ago.
“I’m glad for his promotion, he’s earned it.” Jake merely rose an eyebrow at her venting. As a fleet brat he had grown up knowing about the hardships on the families of military personnel, Jill wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know but it still had to be hard for her. He couldn’t imagine trying to make a relationship work when both partners were in the fleet.
Jilleen suddenly felt terrible for whining and forgetting about Bridget, her oldest best friend and Jake’s wife who was taken away so suddenly from both of them. It went both ways, she listened to Bridget vent about Jake’s deployment tours. Separation is hard for any couple. At least she still had James, for how long was an entirely different matter.
She made an attempt to be more positive. “I am proud of him.”
“You should be.” He decided a change of subject away from her husband was in order. “Dad asked about you the last time I talked with him. He and mom have been after me to extend an invitation to the farm this summer.” His father was a retired fleet Admiral, ending his career as CNO five years earlier.
“You know me Jake, I’m no farmer,” she grinned.
“And you think we are?” Jake smirked back at her. “You know my cousins are the real farmers in the family, we just go there to enjoy being out in the countryside. I think I have two black thumbs when it comes to plants.”
“You know my tour would have ended by then. Yeah, I would love to visit in the summer, but you will have to promise we go horseback riding. And how are your parents?”
“They’re doing well, Dad’s driving Mom crazy as always.”
“I can imagine without having troops to command anymore. My Dad was the same way with Mom when he left office. I still don’t know what possessed them to volunteer and spend six month at Kryos counting little minnows. I wouldn’t set foot on cold icy Aquarion for more than a minute, but it cured him.” She shook her head at the thought of her parents’ adventure. “I’m not suggesting your parents do the same.”
“I think my mother would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to someplace like that, she enjoys the city life too much.” Jake shook his head at the very thought of his mother the physician and social maven stuck in the back of beyond for six months. “I don’t know how your father survived either.”
“Mom had her ways,” she thought fondly of her memories of her mother who passed away a couple of years ago. Jilleen inherited her mother’s stubbornness which caused her to rebel against her mother’s ways.
“If you decide not to fly out tonight? I can get you an invite to a reception tonight at the officer’s club. I think some of the officers from Avalon will be there,” she offered.
Jake considered the offer briefly, then nodded his assent. “I can always catch the early morning flight. Sounds like fun.”
“Excellent. I’ll see you there. The uniform is service blue.” She wanted to give him a hug, but it was something one did not on campus grounds, at least not in the open public. Instead she reached out her hand. “I’ll buy you a drink.”
“Sounds good.” Jake shook her hand and then stepped back. “I’d best get moving if I want to get some food into me yet this morning. See you there.”
“Very well sir,” Jilleen came to attention and saluted, followed by a smirk. It was not entirely necessary, but she got a kick out of it. They had a rivalry back then when they were cadets, both competed to become the First Captain. In the end Jilleen earned that recognition. Today, he outranked her. “Timí̱ Pró̱ta.”