Testing the Waters
Who: Lunar Mariell & Laura Sapphire (NPC) Where: 1st CEF Headquarters, Sagittaron When: Y02 Dec 28
Things had progressed for Lunar, her position had been maintained despite rumours that she was guaranteed to fail and now she was finally feeling settled, that she actually had a small group of people whom she could call friends. It wasn’t easy with all the frakking schedule changes and demands that the Aide-De-Camp Jill Simmons threw at her. There was definitely a tension between the two of them and being a fighter by nature, Lunar had no intention of capitulating. She would win one way or another and prove everyone, especially Jill Simmons that they were wrong.
Now that she was settled and somewhat integrated into the Admiral’s staff network, Lunar was given free control over the marine unit as long as any changes were sent up through the proper hierarchy. With recent promotions, her marine unit was left a little thin and for the type of man the Admiral was, a public figure always willing to see the masses, she needed a big enough security detail to comply with his image demands. It therefore meant she had to bring in new people that would pass the scrutinising of her superiors, not that she would look to add bad apples to her team.
Today wasn’t like any other day as she had to sit behind a desk, as per her immediate superiors request and hire more marines for her guard. It was painful to sit behind a desk after whining about politicians and bureaucrats. Today she was one of those paper pushers, reading military files, looking out exceptional applications and one or two wild cards just to keep the crop fair and just. Never let it be said she wasn’t just.
After that last meeting, an interview if easier, Lunar tossed the file aside and placed her face in her hands, distraught at how difficult it was to play the part. She was much more a woman of action rather than sitting around behind a desk. At least her main duty was security, on her feet and constantly moving with only exceptions being the weekly security briefings she had to attend, that and the health and safety stuff. God she missed the simplicity of a cockpit nowadays.
Knock, Knock. Two thumps on the door had Lunar ready to pull her hair out as yet another one had arrived. She lowered her hands away from her face and leaned back in her makeshift seat, “Come in, doors open.” Her hands in the same moment were looking over the desk for that file, this next applicant’s folder.
“Lieutenant Mariell?” The voice was female and was followed by the sound of the door closing behind her. So far most applicants were male, kind of the whole marine being a jock thing so it was refreshing to have a military application from a female officer.
“Yes, that’s me. Lieutenant....” She was getting frustrated with this whole desk thing, not that her organisation skills were good because the desk was appalling. There would definitely be hell to pay if she left it in this manner when the actual owner returned.
“Oh, I’m not here for a job.” The answer was precise as heeled boots clicked their way across the hard floor of this office room but came to a silent stop with a shadow being cast over part of the desk the Lieutenant was sitting behind.
Lunar looked up at the sound, knowing that the footsteps weren’t being made by military grade footwear, more civilian. She for a second thought it was that civilian contractor coordinator who called herself a Colonial Officer, Captain Wolff who walked around the place like she owned it but she knew her voice and it didn’t match her guests. Looking up at the woman, a raven haired woman, young and in a fancy business suit. “Eh, this is a restricted area, only authorised personnel are....”
“Are allowed access, I know. Lieutenant, I promise this won’t take long.” The woman remained sturdy in her stance, briefcase in one hand, a long outdoor coat draped over the other as she waited to be properly invited to the table so to speak.
“What won’t take long? How did you get passed the guards?” Lunar by instinct had lowered her hand to her sidearm even though she was seated, her instincts clearly caving into a certain amount of paranoia in this position.
The young woman placed her brief case in a vacant chair and her coat over it before turning back to the Lieutenant, “I’m Laura Sapphire, consultant to the civilian posting of this office and I can assure you, I’m not a threat to anyone.”
Lunar lowered her guard seeing as the woman was a suit and probably had the relevant credentials to get passed the layers of security to this level. “Ms Sapphire, I think you are in the wrong office, Captain Wo....”
“Captain Wolff’s office is a few doors down, I know that as well Lieutenant. I’ve been here a long time Lieutenant, longer than you have.” She reached into her brief case and pulled out a file, holding it under arm while facing the good Lieutenant.
Finding the young woman to be annoying by constantly finishing her sentences, Lunar leaned further back in her chair, “If you are going to finish all my sentences for me then this is going to be a very one sided conversation.”
“Sorry, force of habit.” The woman placed the file rather abruptly on the desk, “This makes for interesting reading Lieutenant.” She pulled her hand away and looked sincere in her facial expression.
Lunar took one look at the file now on her desk and then back to the lady, “And that is?”
“Your personnel file.” An answer was quickly provided almost before the question was fully asked.
Upon taking a look at the file, to confirm that what the woman was saying was fact, Lunar was now no longer finding this a minor inconvenience. “Who are you?”
The young woman, Laura smirked, “I’ve already told you that.”
“Not to my satisfaction it seems. Why do you have my file?” Lunar was obviously concerned because this woman wasn’t military at least not that she believed so how did she have her full military file including her recent act of insubordination to hand?
Laura looked away with a slight chuckle, “My business is recruitment.” She took a seat opposite the Lieutenant, crossed her legs and leaned forward, removing her glasses. “How do you view your current status within the Colonial Fleet?”
“What does that....” Lunar was growing increasingly annoyed that her questions weren’t bringing about actual answers, just opening the door for Ms Sapphire to ask more questions. “You’re not from the media are you?” Part of her mind was now thinking this was a Jill Simmons setup, to get her fired completely from the service by embarrassing her.
With a sigh, Laura shook her head. “No, this isn’t for the media.” Equally as quickly, her expression and mood changed again. “Tell me Lieutenant, how are you settling into your new position, freshly demoted and grounded. Can’t be good for a career pilot to have no wings to fly with?”
Lunar snapped up onto her feet, pulling out her sidearm, cocking back the hammer and aiming directly at the young woman. “What the frak is this? Who are you?!” Her eyes tightened on the woman who was now holding her hands up, not panicked but remaining calm.
“I’ve already told you my name....” Laura pleaded.
“Yeah Laura Sapphire, I remember! What I don’t remember is you telling me who you work for, what you are doing here and all those other questions you dodged politely.” Lunar moved around her makeshift desk, two hands now around her drawn weapon. “So I’m going to ask one more time, only once more and I’m not going to be very polite about it. Who the frak are you?!”
“Lieutenant, I’m with Burnwood okay. Just put the gun down.” Laura’s voice was soothing to try to appease the Lieutenant. She had the answer that she was looking for as requested by her superiors and it was definitely going to be a problem. Getting a gun pointed at her wasn’t exactly in the plan either.
“Burnwood? What the hell do you want with me?” Lunar wasn’t sure how to connect the dots, whether this was a simple misunderstanding or some ploy to have her tossed out the service by any means necessary.
“We...I came to offer you a proposition.” Laura replied as she got to her feet really slow, hands still up in total appeasement.
Lunar loosened her grip a little, just a little to hear the woman out. “A proposition for what?”
“My superiors at Burnwood were impressed with your record and they fully agreed that your punishment did not fit the crime. All they want was to show their support and understanding, that and if you wished, we could use our extensive leverage within military channels to have you reinstated to your proper and hard earned rank of Captain.” Laura spoke like a salesperson, making a pitch even while being held at gunpoint, barely blinking an eye, as if it meant nothing to her.
After listening to the proposal, Lunar chuckled, lowering her weapon a little in her hysterics, “A favour? You came all this way to do me a favour? What the frak? Why would you want to do that hmm? Everybody that is worth a damn wants me gone. What does Burnwood want with me?”
Laura lowered her hands a little, “Burnwood have their reasons, I’m just a messenger with an offer.”
“Well, you can tell your employers that Lieutenant Mariell appreciates the offer but she’s not for sale. You’ll have to try another person with that sales pitch, maybe work on it so next time you don’t have somebody waving a weapon in your face.” Lunar holstered her weapon and gestured towards the doors, “You can let yourself out and thanks again for the impressive offer.”
At a nod of the head, Laura relaxed her posture and moved to get her things, “I appreciate the time Lieutenant and I’ll be sure to pass on your message to my superiors.” Laura started for the door after collecting her things, the file she left on the desk included. “Have a nice day Lieutenant.” She closed the door behind her, took a deep and relieving breath and then started down the lobby with what she needed and somewhat expected.
Lunar stood in the middle of the office room, hands on her hips and then she shook her head, scoffing in disbelief. She couldn’t believe that meeting, if it could be called that. After collecting herself back together, she returned to the desk to get ready for her next meeting, what she was supposed to be doing which was replacing staff on her marine unit. The commander would have a fit if she didn’t get her security force back to full strength quickly.