Chief of Staff
Who: Jilleen Simmons, Jurgen Belzen, Milena Wallace Where: 1st CEF Headquarters, Sagittaron When: Afternoon local time, Y03 Jan 06
Jilleen finished up her work at the office and was looking forward to spending the rest of the day off, at least to later in the evening. When she neared the office of Commander Belzen, she noticed the door open. The captain stopped at his door and knocked on the door frame. “Pardon me, sir.”
Belzen looked up from the seemingly endless reports and requests he had to look over before the deployment. Seeing Jilleen he motioned fro her to come in.
“Come in, please. You’re just in time to save me from this paperwork, at least for the moment. What can I do for you?”
She stepped up to his desk. “I was wondering if I can help you when we get to Casperon. You know I’m originally from there? If you need any help with reservations or need any recommendations on where to eat, just let me know. I can make arrangements on your behalf.”
Belzen smiled warmly at the offer. He had been to Casperon off and on throughout his career, but he didn’t really know much about the places to go or where to eat. “Please, have a seat.” He said motioning towards the chair closest to his cluttered desk. “As for the offer of help, you are a gift from the Gods. I don’t know too much about the area so I will trust your judgment.”
Jilleen sat down in the chair and placed her laptop case beside the chair. Her eyes lit up. “I’m at your serve, sir. I’ll try my best to make sure you impress the other officers when it comes to dinning out or entrainment.” She was not going to attend the conference with him, but as the Admiral’s aide she felt obliged to make his Chief of Staff shine when she could.
“Outstanding, from what I know about you I would expect nothing less. This is kind of a change for me, I haven’t served off a Battlestar in, well, ever.” He said with a small laugh. “Your last duty station was on the Avalon so I was thinking you might know this officer. Wallace from intel.” He said pulling a file from the stack and passed it across the desk. I pulled her this duty a few weeks ago. I know her father, but the last I heard she was mixed up with a troublemaker named Achillies.”
“I’ve seen her around,” she replied. Jilleen worked daily with the staff, but she had little contact with the intelligence office, and saw little of Mila. “I’m sure Admiral Burk would not have a troublemaker lead one of his squadrons.” She felt it necessary to defend her mentor command, even though she never served as a crew member on Avalon. “But yes, I’ve heard Mr. Mitchel has a reputation. Is this somehow affecting her work?”
He thought about it for a moment before answering. He hadn’t heard anything, but he couldn’t be too careful. “No, I just want to make sure it doesn’t happen. No matter, you are quite correct, The Admiral wouldn’t have a troublemaker running a broom on his flight deck let alone a squadron.” He said, glad to hear that the kid had found his way after all. “So, how do you feel about this deployment?” He asked.
“Here on Sagittaron? The summer heat is murder,” she still felt sticky from this morning’s ride underneath her olive drab uniform.
Mila stood outside the door for a few moments as the two officers talked. Then knocking on the door she waited for an answer. She didn’t have to wait long.
Belzen looked over at the door. “Well, you speak of Hades and Hades appears. Please, come in Lieutenant Wallace.”
Mila walked quickly in and snapped a quick salute. “Lieutenant Wallace reporting in Sir.”
“Welcome aboard Wallace. You know the Captain” He said motioning towards Jilleen.
“Ma’am” She said quickly
Jilleen looked from her chair and nodded. “Lieutenant.” She did not know if she should stay or go now. “How are you?”
“Good, Thank you Ma’am” Mila said.
“Let’s get this started. What I want from you is the report on the officers and civilians that I’m going to be dealing with during the conference. Is it ready?” Belzen asked
Mila smiled like a schoolgirl that had all the answers to a test. “I’ll have it on your desk inside the hour sir. Anything else?”
“Not unless the captain needs anything. Jilleen, anything you need?”
“No, sir,” she said looking back at the commander. “I shouldn’t take up more of your time.” Jilleen reached for her case and then started to get up from her chair.
“Very well. I should get these done anyway” Belzen said looking over his paperwork. “Dismissed” He said as he picked up another file.
Mila turned and walked quickly out the hatch. Once out she faked a cough as she popped a pain pill into her mouth. Chewing it up and swallowing it quickly she walked to her office to get the report.
Jilleen watched as Mila left, and then turned to the commander. “I’ll see you tonight on the flight line, sir.” She smiled knowing Elihu would be his pilot, and she looked forward to spending some time with him. Her affair was still a secret as far as friends and family went, except for her husband knowing.