A Waste

A Waste
August 2019
Sydney, Australia
There's a knock on Nguyen's door. "Yes?" "Hey, Dad, ten o'clock's here," says Chantell. 
"Titles please, Officer." 
"Whatever. Fine. Marshal, your ten o'clock is here." 
"Thank you, Officer. Please see him in. Still on for lunch?" 
"You got it."
A moment later: "Marshal." 
"Admiral. Have a seat." 
"Thank you." The Suit sits. "/Striker Eureka's team seems promising." 
"They do, sir, thank you." 
"Hansen's kid and this Vos fellow. Interesting case." 
"Yes, sir. We're lucky to have found them." 
The Admiral snorts. "We've always had our eye on Hansen. Vos, though." Drums his fingers on the file. "It seems such a waste to limit such a unique ability to a single co-pilot and Jaeger." 
"He's the only one we've found able to maintain a stable handshake with Ranger Hansen." 
"Is the kid that important? He can't be replaced with someone else?" 
"Ranger Hansen's the best pilot candidate we've ever seen. I'm not benching him." 
"That decision isn't yours to make, Nguyen." 
"/Striker Eureka is /Australia's Jaeger, sir, not Command's, and she's in my 'Dome, under my roof, subject to my authority, which, as per PPDC rules, is final on all personnel decisions. Rangers Hansen and Vos pilot that Jaeger. Together. Sir."
"Hm. Has Doctor Lightcap spoken to you about Vos' potential?"
"She has."
"Good." The Suit snaps the file closed. "I see I need to leave for my flight. Thank you for your time, Marshal." 
"It was a pleasure, sir."
The door swings closed.
Nguyen pinches the bridge of his nose. "Idiot ... "
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