“Take a seat” Major Sender stated calmly, but assertively.
Felix and Blackwell took their seats in two available administrators chairs in the front office of the school. Sender leaned against the main desk.
“I really appreciate you both participating in this. And we have our work cut out for us. There are about 40 civilian trades out there, and a handful of service members. Out of them all, I’m really going to be counting on the two of you to get this thing done. Tomorrow morning, A Chinook will pick you all up and take you to some remote region of the island. There will be instructions there, likely a landnav thing, and maybe a recovery objective. They didn’t tell me much.” Sender paused.
“How do we fit into this, sir?” Felix asked.
“Hard to say. This whole program is tightlipped. For me, you two are the best likelihood that this group will get back in one piece.”
“Sir,” Blackwell chimed in “it sounds like you’ll be staying here at base. Is there a particular command structure in the field? How do we communicate?”
“Right, about that. According to the TORCH itinerary, there is no official rank. I’m not sure I understand the goal of a bunch of people roaming about the tundra, but they were explicit in that we have no authority here. We are facilitators, aids, and participants.” The Major answered.
“Then who is in charge of this operation?” Felix pressed.
“I take my orders from the Pentagon liaise, and my goal here is to coordinate the safety and the logistics of our time here. I need you both to just do what you do and keep people alive. Get the job done, use your team, collect information.”
“What would you like us to do if it appears someone isn’t going to make it?” Blackwell asked.
“This isn’t a mission first environment, and it’s not combat. I would hope that the members of this team are equipped enough that scenario is remote, however, if the team is at risk, use judgement. I’m not in a position to even know what the circumstances are that you might be contending with. That’s why I need you both. Cassian, you’re responsible for getting them through the terrain. Blackwell, you’re responsible for getting them through each other. If either of you fail, the exercise fails. Dismissed”
Felix and Z stood, and rendered a quick salute, turned and left the room.
“Interesting.” Z stated
“Interesting?” Felix mirrored
Z smirked but kept her gaze forward as they walked. “Not sure how to take the idea of cooperation with you.”
“Oh? Seems to me like I’ll be doing the heavy lifting.” Felix quipped.
“A bit presumptuous, don’t you think?” Z jibed.
“Go on.” Felix stopped.
“It sounds like you think their survival is your burden, Patting ourselves on the back?” Z rebuffed.
“Look.” He turned to face her. “Let’s bench this until we know more. We don’t even know these people yet, what they’re capable of, or what their limitations might be. We’ll have to get them out there, and then we’ll see. We have a day of prep. Let’s make the most of it?” Felix cut the argument short.
Z stepped towards Felix; eyes level with his. “Speak for yourself”. She turned and walked away.
Felix stood blankly in the hallway, feeling hire irritation blooming. He checked his arm where the watch should be, then let his arms fall limp to his sides. For a moment, he considered following after Z, but thought that would give her a sense of victory or superiority. He watched he swagger off down the hall. ‘She sure does like to strut off like that, mid conversation,’ Felix furrowed his brow. ‘The view could be worse, though’, the thought slipped in unbidden, catching him off guard. He dropped his eyes.
When he looked back up, Z was turning a corner, looking over her shoulder at Felix, face sly with a mischievous grin.
Artavus Quill 