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Front 6 - The Am-Fluchtig Squadron
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6.1 - Politics Part 1
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Hoki once more found herself standing to attention in a hallway, resisting the urge to stretch away the strain in her body from such a long time spent in the uncomfortable briefing room chair. In the end the session had ebbed out for the better part of 2 hours - Combining that with the shocking scenes of the enemy attack, aswell as the sudden newfound pressure of a very close feeling mission - And Hoki found herself feeling claustrophobic more than anything else.
Batty's group had of course made to leave the meeting first, only to be stepped in-front of by the ever smug-faced Louise and the almost ghostly Tabitha.
Once most others had filed out, Hoki had quietly made her own way and now awaited Kolme who had approached Nate and his aides.
A part of her wanted to say something to the man, to reprimand him for putting her on the spot, but ultimately she had decided to let it go. Not because she thought it would end badly for her, if anything the opposite.
Commander Nate wasn't the worst for it but he could still be expected to act 'skittish' around her. Admittedly he was that way around alot of people but really she just didn't want to be seen as receiving any 'speical treatment'. In some fashion she pondered she might actually of been more upset over having her lineage highlighted in-front of the whole procession - More so than not having been informed on what the meeting was going to be about.
This time Kolme actually arrived quite promptly and seeing as they still had some time until their next engagement, he suggested they go in search of 'a proper breakfast'.
Kolme for the most-part seemed almost lost to thought, in a way Hoki was unfamiliar with seeing on the older man's worn face. They made their way through the somewhat broader but equally dull corridors of the ship's amenities area in relative silence.
"Something the matter Sir?"
"Hmmm? No, not exactly Hoki-Lass."
'Lass' - Whatever else Kolme did, that much always stayed constant. Whether he was acting clumsy and unpunctual, or with surprising tact and poise - He never let his preference for addressing people informally fade. This was by no means unique to her, he addressed people he hadn't even been acquainted with in much this manner - With commander Nate being the only real exception - But maybe that was the point. She didn't hold it against them or anything but a twinge of disappointment always passed by her when Una or Sabban would continue to address her as 'Miss' and well, Scarlet made a point of using the word 'Princess'.
But Kolme was different in that way. Even during the interview when she had first met him - Back when she still outranked him - He had never treated her as anything other then another colleague.
Maybe it was just how he had been raised, or the fact he was older than almost anyone else aboard the ship, but whatever the case it was something she couldn't help but appreciate.
Kolme seemed to pick up on this quagmire of social contemplation as he spoke his next question;
"You thinkin' about Nate or me?".
"Er what Sir?" She replied earnestly but then reconsidered what benefit there was to playing dumb, "It was just... well, the Commander is he...?"
Kolme laughed lightly at this, "Ha, I can understand that al'right. 'Is he acting at being dumb?' that kinda' thing rigth?"
He nodded as if to confirm his own comment; "People are tricky like that, I can't speak for 'da man obviously but in my experience he really is a grade-A toss-head."
'...oh....' Hoki thought sullenly.
"But. And it's a big one, he's also one of the bravest men I've ever met, good under-pressure and loyal to a fault. Back when I was with the Tradech Flag-Fleet we came under attack, lost the escort cruiser that was my home back then and well I was in shock ya know?
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
So last thing I expect ta' see is a group of lifeboats - Not from the destroyed ship but from the moon. We were fighting above the moon, guess I shoulda' mentioned that first eh?
Well anyway the ship explodes and the Tradech, well 'she' were busy with her own problems - So Nate just decides, unescorted, to launch some dinky boats into the middle of a battle-field to go rescue any survivors of the destroyed cruiser.
First 'order' I ever got from him was along the lines of--"
At this point Kolme's tone changed to one of a Nate impression;
"'You over there in the MBT, I don't suppose you would mind giving us a quick hand would you chap?' -- Well after that I thought he was insane! But the sort of insane I can respect if ya get my drift.
That's Nate Novel for ya Lass."
Hoki thought on this for a few moments as they passed some other crew-members heading in the opposite direction - Before presenting her answer with Nate's almost 'character breaking' moments of intellect contrasted by downright idiocy, still fresh on her mind;
"As um... Admirable as that is Sir, isn't he a little..."
Again Kolme kindly helped her out of her awkward position with a knowing grin - "Aye that's true to a degree I suppose. Than again it's just the way of these things. When you have a man like Nate, someone who won't hesitate to make a good judgement call in battle and who always looks out for those below 'im, what you then need as-well is someone who's the opposite.
You saw it today, that Wally fella didn't say two words in that 'ole meeting, while the commander herself couldn't stop yakkin'. You can be sure Lt.Wally took all the notes and listened the most careful of all 'us sure, but he ain't got the backbone to command by himself, while Batty sure as heck can't be all gun's blazing without Wally to back her up ya get me?"
It was Hoki's turn to nod in agreement, that did sound like a reasonable, if simple, assessment of how a Captain and their First-Mate should function.
"Then your saying commander Nate needs someone more, ah, 'formal' to back him up?"
"Well it might not be that simple, Lt.Aurin does his best but before the Fluchtig he was an admin officer - Really ya need Emelia about to keep Nate in check. She's got that, 'Discipline' that Nate lacks.
'Fraid there's only so much I can do about that in her place. Discipline ain't really my MO."
"It's funny really." Kolme continued, seemingly rolling into a tangent; "In stories and such, meetings always go one a' two ways right? Either everyone sits around respectful like, while some big-wig gives orders in a dramatic fashion as lights flicker and the excitin' music plays - Or ya get all the generals round some large table, laughing and smokin' evilly.
Really though every meeting I've ever seen is more like that today - People bickering and bartering even when there's important 'stuff ta' be discussed.
Unless you have one person who can command the room, who everyone really respects, then I guess it's ta' be expected. I suppose it could be a coping thing - Ha! Or just bruised egos, but I guess really lass, a meeting of military types is no different to putin' a load of people who don't really like, or know one another, in a room for a few hours, an' seeing what happens. Don't matter if it's people or groups, we're none of us so simple as to fit one mould or other."
"I guess I'm no different--" Hoki stopped mid-sentence, realising she was speaking aloud.
Kolme only gave that same knowing look. "Hmmm what was that?" He grinned once more;
"I suppose we all do a bit of that eh? Maybe, as a random example say, a teacher - Puts on a good front for all her colleagues and students but underneath ends up feelin' lonely in all that false solitude.
Ah what am I saying, ignore my random ramblings lass."
Hoki didn't know how to respond as they rounded into the entrance to the canteen and made it up to the familiar counter at the end of the long room.
'I suppose having an 'abnormal' boss like Kolme could be worse.'
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