RidOv Chpt-26

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==Ridiculously Overboard!! (A Captain Roberts Tale!!)Chapter 26 - Meeting Mister Seron==
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"Captain, this is Mister Seron...
...he's a data analyst with some military background." Lori introduced a tall, dark-skinned man in trim, almost-formal clothing.
"Military?"
"Yes, Ma'am." he said stiffly, "I was told you were looking for crew."
"You were told what we do, right?" Amanda asked, "We don't have a government sponsor, pay could be...irregular, no home port, are you okay with that?"
'Yes, actually. I have...reasons to stay away from home." his voice was melodious and riveting.
"Larry??"
"I've got this. Mister Seron, if you'll sign here please?" Larry studied the man in front of him. "Have you crewed on a ship before, Mister Seron, or was your expertise more ground warfare?"
"I was part of a ship's marine complement for ten years, sir." Seron said it respectfully, "I know some of the ropes."
"Well, we'll see, Lori Crowe vouched you, so that's a start, but we'll see if you fit in...now, if you'll come with me??"
"Of course sir..."
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"You're with Clan Snow Raven's Watch." Larry stated, "Don't lie, I'll know."
"I am...how-?"
"That part doesn't matter, I'm going to give you 'the speech' now, and if you're wise, you'll listen, and listen damned close." Larry instructed, "My grandmama was of The Folk, and we have our ways. I wandered from it for many years, but I'm back. Don't try to screw us over, don't try to screw Captain Roberts over. It's not what I'll do, it's what it'll do to her, and what she'll do to you. are we clear?? that girl is on a balance-beam over the abyss. Don't make her fall off, you won't like it."
"I may have a better understanding of that than you think." Seron stated.
"Good. Keep it in your mind. We're going after the predators and the monsters, that means while you're on this crew, regardless if you report to the Clan, your first, last, and only thought is how to make sure we succeed. If you can't do that, a file will show up where Amanda will find it, and you'll be out. Am I understood? It's a long walk back to Alpheratz from here, you don't want to be making it without a suit."
"I get that." Seron agreed, "FOLK? as in The Folk-stateless spacers?"
"Back to my roots now. Third thing? Share it up, Seron, you're not here on a coincidence, I want to see what you've got on my Captain, so I know what to run interference on for her, and what to let through, You sabby??"
"I...'sabby'."
"Fourth, you're experienced and an officer by training and bearing, that means a couple things; First, it means you make sure to offer two things, and two things only: Advice, and Solutions. if you disagree with something, you take it to me in private, not in front of the crew, not in front of strangers that are not crew. as command staff, we present a united front, she sets the policies, we make sure they are carried out, we advise her on policy, and if she says 'no' to our suggestions, we eat it, no 'challenges' or 'trials' or 'grievance', am I one hundred percent clear here?"
"Af-yes." Seron nodded.
"Good. Let's get you squared with quarters, Mister Seron."
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