Bright Ideas (Mid afternoon)

“This better be good,” Riley said to the two raps on the cockpit door. She was in no mood for whatever bullshit was going on now below, not with the Captain about to spring some ‘surprise’ on them, his sort of surprises always tended to cost the ship credits - credits they didn’t have, not to mention the refunds they’d have to give if passengers were upset. “I don’t know why I put up with this gorram fèihuà (bullshit,)” she swore under her breath.

“Afternoon Lieutenant.” Vas said stepping in. “Reporting in.” He added stating his intent, motley to see if she even wanted a report at the moment. The young punk was already braced too though he was half hoping she would have forgotten how she wanted to reprimand him for the little … Team Building Exercise … he arranged on the roof of the ship last night. Unlikely but hope springs eternal, right!

Riley glanced over at him. She’d gotten his report that morning about the mining equipment being offloaded and the cargo bay being resecured before take-off, so she knew all was well there.

“Passengers on board?” She asked curtly.

“Mr.Chakel, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Gui, Ms. Meadow …”Vas said continuing to list the passengers off by name. “ … as well as 4 Monks 2 Nuns and a partridge a pear tree.” Vas said finishing. “Not really, there is no partridge or pear tree.” He admitted.

“I want rations checked in case we’re making a detour. Tell me how many days we have provisions for that amount of people, including all crew,” she replied, not acknowledging his ‘humor.’

Vas blinked surprised. An unscheduled detour? With so many passengers? He would be so serious to warrant that. He stowed his curiosity if it was important for him to know she would have said it. “I’ll get that to you ASAP.” He said with a sharp nod.

“Good. Sit.” She ordered, pointing across from her for him to take a seat.

“Yes, Lieutenant.” Vas said taking a seat. Yea fat chance she forgot about the plum wine ... either way, worth if his deckhands to get to blow off steam that didn’t result in him carting them across town back to the ship!

“Last night. Rooftop. Your idea?” She asked.

“Yes Lieutenant.” Didn’t really mattered actually who came up with it. He okayed it.

“You think that was one of your better ideas, or one of those shitty ideas where if you could turn back time, you’d make a better decision?” She stared at him with raised eyebrows.

“I worked with what I had. I may have also been quietly hoping that Darwin and Murphy’s Laws would have a baby but no such luck …” Vas shrugged. “ … I was trying to show some leniency. The person who caused all trouble that put the crew under lockdown is no longer under my purview and by proxy is not also being punished while they are. They are all paying for something they didn’t do.” Vas explained. He could only hope she showed him a touch of leniency herself.

“And drinking, roof of ship, passengers - any of that raise any red flags?” She took off her headset to give him her full attention.

“It … uhh … “ Vas stared trying not to cringe under her gaze. “ … didn’t want to come off as not inclusive. Not really much has gone on in terms of entertainment after all! Also, Crew and Passenger interaction was at an all-time low!” Vas explained. “Plus as the roof had a fantastic view, the breeze was great and you could see all the star out in the sky. It had a great atmosphere!” He reminded.

“And a fall of about what, 12 meters? Combined with alcohol? I don’t care if your crew wants to get shit faced in the cargo bay, the galley, the lounge, hell, Keller does it all the time. But if someone broke their gorram neck who would it be on?”

Vas was going to say something about a shovel paused and then though about hacksaws and pigs. He stopped again because he was positive neither was the answer she was looking for. “Me. I’m sorry Lieutenant it won’t happen again.”

“You don’t start using your brain on shit like that, your skull’s gonna collapse in on itself. Think first next time, understood?”

“I understand. I will work harder Lieutenant.”

“You work harder than anyone on this ship - that’s what made you crew chief. I want you to think smarter. Consequences. What could happen. Don mah? People aren’t always going to like the choices you make, and that’s too ruttin’ bad. This is a ship, not a commune. Run it as such.”

“Boy is that true ... “ He muttered under his breath. Going on near five months and he could think of one person who at every corner could not stop acting like an angry parrot.

“Anything else to report?” She asked curtly.

“No Lieutenant. I should that count, make sure we have enough for the trip. Whats the ETA if I may ask?”

“When you need to know, you’ll know. And if you don’t think the crew should be punished - unpunish them. Tell them you went to bat with me for it. Your call. I’ll back your play.”
Vas nodded accepting her answer. “Thank you, Lieutenant but I’ll own up to it. The crew values my honesty with them they’ll understand if just unpunish them.” He said waiting for his dismissal.

“Good.” She said with a nod of approval, genuinely impressed. “Now, get off my bridge.”