<USS Avalon> Avalon> "Questions and Answers" by Cmdr. Javan Sierra and Ens. Anthony Manson

"Question and Answer" 

by Commander Javan Sierra and Ensign Anthony J. Manson

The shuttlebay was like an immense cavity in the ship. It was a big space where 
there was literally nothing but a couple of small spacecraft and personal 
vessels. Javan didn't like being in the shuttlebay too much, he'd rather be in 
some sort of training program where he could know that a wall would be a safe 
cover just meters away or a statement away. The shuttle was just meters from 
the lift platform and Javan stepped off it with his eyes buried into a PADD. 
After walking up the ramp and into the bowels of the tiny craft, Javan saw the 
man he was looking for manning the controls. "Ensign Anthony Manson?"

Anthony turned around. Not expecting anyone to come into the shuttle just yet. 
He was busy realigning the shield frequencies just incase the shuttle had to 
take any turbulence that could take the dampeners out of it's normal 
compensations. He was requested here to look upon the shuttle just before it 
was prepped for launch, and while he thought he had enough time to do what 
needed to get done; he suddenly felt he was mistaken. "Yes, sir, I'm almost 
done with the shuttle's shield modulations."

"I was wondering if you'd like to be transferred and assigned as the pilot for 
this mission?" Javan tilted his head slightly as he slid in the co_pilot's seat 
and tapped his PADD again. Javan was getting use to the fact that he could 
alter orders from the Captain with little or no recourse, but it was becoming 
tedious to have change things so they fit with him more perfectly. "What do you 
say?"

Anthony raised his eyebrow a little not so much for it to be noticed. It was 
indeed an unexpected surprise. "I'd like that Commander, though I have some 
things to clear that I hadn't been able to clear. Also, the other Ops officers 
don't know..."

"It'll be handled. You're more qualified and, if they have a problem with it, 
they can deal with it. This is my away mission and I'll take whoever I want to 
on the mission. Now, you either want the spot or you don't." Javan didn't mean 
to get edgy with the young ensign, but he found it more in nature as the days 
dragged on.

Anthony nodded, "I'd like that, sir." Not missing a beat.

Something perked in Javan, "Mr. Manson, if I may, have you ever been involved 
with combat piloting?"

Anthony turned to look at the Commander. He was wondering if this was more 
serious than he thought it would be. He frowned a little trying to recollect 
some memories, "I've taken combat piloting, but I?m not much of a pilot, sir. 
The best I've gotten was through the third course."

"And what about stealth maneuvers?"

"At eighty two percentile; I hardly consider it stealth, sir."

Javan smiled, "What was your percentile with bulk cruisers such as 
Sovereign_class and Galaxy class?"

Anthony didn't frown so much this time. On that particular field, "well, I 
managed to slip a Galaxy class undetected. But the Sovereign...I missed 
something and caught it at the last moment. I was told later that it could have 
been traceable."

Making an internal note, Javan stood and nodded as he walked down the ramp. He 
stopped short of the shuttlebay's floor and turned slightly, glancing back up 
at the ensign, "At the academy, did you ever get instructed on piloting from 
Captain Kellon Graves?" Javan again, out of habit, tilted his head at his own 
inquisition.

Anthony nodded, even surprised a little. "Yes, sir. I was instructed by Captain 
Graves." 

"Thought so." Javan nodded again and left the shuttle.

Anthony frowned as he saw the commander leave the shuttle. He got up and asked, 
"have I done something wrong, sir?"

Javan stopped and smiled internally before turning around. "Of course not, 
Ensign. What would give you such an impression?" 

"Well, sir, you walked completely out of the shuttle like as if something was 
wrong. I was wondering if I should sit there like some half forgotten 
degenerated screech cake, or follow." He looked at the commander, "I don't like 
being confused much. I have enough of that with my," Anthony hesitated a 
little, he wasn't so sure to say it, "telepathy."

"Telepath, huh?" Javan smiled and made another internal note, "Nothing is 
wrong, Ensign, honestly. If there was I wouldn't beat around the bush _ you'd 
know immediately that something was amiss. No worries. Carry on." With that, 
and a smirk, Javan whirled on his heel and marched out into the corridor beyond 
the shuttlebay with a new mission to attend to.

Anthony wasn't sure whether to be relieved that nothing was wrong, or to start 
pondering about what the commander said more in depth. He managed to call out 
before the commander reached the doors. "Is the mission to the planet still 
planned, sir?"

Javan stopped again, turned once more, and spoke, "Yes, Ensign, I'll contact 
you with more specifics later."

Anthony nodded. "Aye, sir." And walked back into the shuttlebay. He took 
another look at the monitors and began tweaking at the shuttle again.



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