Moving Up
WHO: James Chase & Jon Randell WHERE: Battlestar Avalon WHEN: Morning 05 Dec Y02
The truth was it made him sick that his wife was having an affair. So much had changed in the last five years after his near death experience on the dusty street of a Sagittaron village. All he wanted was to prove he was able to command a special operation unit again. He had worked so hard to not only walk again, but to earn the right to command. Now he sat alone in his quarters, wondering if he made the right decision.
Jilleen fooled him. He never suspected she was having an affair until the other day. It was only a weird vibe he picked up by the way she acted in the last couple of days as if she was hiding something from him, and then meeting Elihu only made him suspicion. He had hoped he was wrong and bluffed his way as any descent triad card player would with a bad hand.
Why? He pondered for a long while until the phone rang. He must have fallen asleep because the clock read 7 A.M. He picked up hoping it was Jilleen on the other end of the line. “Chase,” he answered.
“Captain, I hope you have your bags packed, you’re going to Picon,” said Colonel Randell on the line. “It’s late notice I know, but the T.D.Y. orders come directly from the Admiralty. Also may I be the first to congratulate you, Major.”
“Major?” He was overdue a promotion, but was not expecting one since being passed over on the last promotion list.
“Temporary it says on the orders, but it a formality until the next promotion announcements. Hey since your wife is here, maybe we can set up a quick pin on ceremony for you before you leave.”
“Ah, yes sir, I would have to check with her schedule,” he replied. How was this going to work?
“We will work something out for a quick five minutes of the Admiral’s time. Congratulation again, Chase. Someone is on the way to deliver the official orders, and I’m sorry but this means your liberty pass has been cancelled.”
“Thank you, sir. I love nothing more than to serve the fleet,” he said with a tone of sarcasm.