Two Voices

A veteran Australian Jaeger gets rookie pilots.
==Meta==
October 2016
==Text==
Admiral David Rowland looks up from his notepad and stares at the door to his office.
/click-click /click-click /click-click /click-click
"You're an admiral, Rowland," he mumbles. He sets the pen down decisively and scowls at it. "Pull yourself together. They know the risks. They're the best; they have a better chance of survival than the others."
Opens one of the three folders atop the blotter.
Cadet Iorangi Parata, age twenty-six. Almost two meters of charisma, muscle, and tā moko.
Closes and sets it aside.
Opens another.
Cadet Elizabeth Davies, age twenty-eight. A meter and a half (in boots) of blue-eyed, textbook officer.
Closes and sets it aside.
The best and brightest at his disposal.
Waiting in the anteroom.
Opens the last.
Assignment papers. Parata and Davies to the Jaeger /Triton Tasmania.
In need of the cadets' signatures.
Closes and sets it aside with a deep breath.
Folds his hands and taps his thumbs together.
"At my disposal," he mutters. He shakes his head. "You wanted to be an admiral; this is what admirals do."
Straightens his posture, squares his shoulders: he owns the space. Presses the intercom button with authority.
Commands, "Officer Leggatt, send them in, please."
""Yes, Admiral.""
The doorknob's well-oiled components engage seamlessly.
Parata enters, slides to the right, too smoothly for such a bulky man.
Davies matches him step for step, too easily for such a small woman.
They cross the rug and stop together before Rowland's desk.
He gestures to precisely placed chairs. "Take seats, cadets."
They do. In unison.
Rowland studies Davies. Parata.
They regard him levelly, expressions unreadable.
"I won't mess about," announces Rowland. "/Triton Tasmania needs pilots. We want you to take the jobs."
Two voices: "Yes, sir."
"We-I'd like the two of you to be sure. Discuss, take some time—,"
"We accept, sir," says Parata.
"The paperwork, please, sir," says Davies.
Rowland picks up his pen. "Surely you wish ...."
"With respect, sir. We've wanted this job since we were matched," says Davies.
"Sir, we've already thought it through, discussed, and decided to jump if it was offered," says Parata.
/click-click /click-click /click-click /click—
Rowland sets down the pen.
Two voices: "We're your Rangers, sir."
Rowland swallows. "Yes ... right. I have the papers right here."
He schools his face to neutrality. Takes the third folder, grabs his pen, and passes them both to Parata.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Rowland
Category:Rowland's POV
Category:Rowland (ficlet)
Category:Iorangi
Category:Iorangi (ficlet)
Category:Iorangi (description)
Category:Elizabeth
Category:Elizabeth (ficlet)
Category:Elizabeth (description)
Category:Leggatt
Category:Leggatt (ficlet)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Team Triton Tasmania
Category:Team Triton Tasmania (ficlet)
Category:Sydney (setting)
Category:First Breach Assault (mention)