The Green and the Mean

Posted on Sun Feb 7th, 2016 @ 12:02pm by Ensign S'ryaa Tiriaq & Staff Warrant Officer Connor Gabriel
Edited on on Tue Feb 9th, 2016 @ 2:53pm

Mission: First Strike
Location: USS Manoora - Fighter Hangar
Timeline: [Backpost] - 1 hour before launch

S'ryaa felt a tingle of trepidation flood through his nerves as he thought about his first ever active mission. He knew that his piloting skills on paper were a match for many of the other pilot's in the Manoora's compliment - the Academy had always rated him highly on the technical aspects of flying - but although he had been in simulations and live flights during the years of his tutelage in the Sol system, he had never been in a real live battle before. He wondered if his skills would really hold up to the grades his instructors had granted him.

"So, you're the green-ass pilot I've been assigned then?" S'ryaa looked up from his stride as he approached the fighter he had been instructed would be his own. A human, mid-to-late twenties S'ryaa guessed, was walking out from under the wing towards him. The rank on his collar identified him as an enlisted man - a warrant officer - but he walked towards the ensign as though he were the senior officer. "Typical I get assigned some rook after Ros gets herself relegated to starbase's medical for some stupid accident. What's your name again?"

S'ryaa blinked a few times before he answered, unsure of how to respond. He knew that he was freshly commissioned, but his understand of Starfleet regulations had always said that though enlisted personnel often bore greater experience than junior officers, they officers were indeed the superior officer in their interactions, and were to be given the respect of their rank. "Ensign S'ryaa Tiriaq," he responded after a beat.

"You a good flier, Ensign S'ryaa Tiriaq?"

"Yes. I scored top technical marks in flight classes at the Academy."

"Well technical marks don't mean shit when you're out there. If you manage to keep us both alive during this mission, then we'll see just how much those technical marks are worth. I'm Connor Gabriel, most around here call me Gabe. I'm stuck as your Tac systems operator. As you're the pilot I guess that means I'm technically subordinate to you when we're in the ship, but listen up; I've got a hell of a lot more experience in these things than you do. If I give you some advice, I don't want you to ignore it because I'm some lowly non-com - you got it? I have a vested interest in keeping our asses alive, and I hope you do too."

"Yes," was all S'ryaa could think to say in response to that.

Gabe shook his head slightly. Why did he have to get stuck with the rookie? "Whatever. Help me finish up our pre-flight checks and then get strapped in. We're due to launch in an hour."