Shayla's Day

Posted on Wed Sep 16th, 2020 @ 1:23am by Staff Sergeant Shayla Kunadt & Major Cornelius Tremble
Edited on on Wed Sep 16th, 2020 @ 1:38am

845 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: Marine CO's Office/The Snake Pit - Deck 9 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD008 1000 hrs

Neil sat in his office, dressed in his service dress (working) uniform and looked at his chronometer and then at his open door and saw Corporal Kunadt appeared dressed in her own service dress and hesitated before entering.

He held up a hand as she was about to pop to attention per the manual and gestured toward the waiting chair, "No need to stand on ceremony just now, Corporal. Take a pew."

"Sir yes sir!" Shayla replied and took the seat offered. Her normally mousy black hair was pulled back neat and tight. It was not often that your CO wanted to see you and when they did you made sure everything was in the right place. She looked across the desk at Tremble. She looked up to him, idolized him in a way. He as enlisted like her and made it to officer, that was something that she hoped to do. They had been through life and death together, so much in such a short time. She wondered now what he wanted from her.

Neil picked up a flimsy and read off, "Congratulations Corporal. By an act of the Federation; approval of the Corp, and recommendation by me, your glorious leader. You are officially invited and ordered to attend Warrant Officer Training, sponsored by the Rapid Deployment Force."

"Specifically," Neil continued, "As primary flight officer of the Cure's Hawkeye, you'll be getting specialist training to incorporate the MARVEL-EAS suits as well and be our subject matter expert in those systems."

Shayla was stunned, it took all of her energy to not allow her jaw to drop. "Ummm, sir... I am not sure really what to say. I mean it has always been my dream. But this... this..." She was at a total loss for words and after a moment managed to gather herself. "Thank you sir, for your confidence in me. I won't let you down. When do I start the courses?" Shayla already pictured that silver oval with bar in it on her chest. The rest of the pilots would have to keep their mouths shut now.

Neil stood then with a smile on his face and pulled a small box our of his pocket, gesturing the pilot to her feet. "These were mine too many years ago and they're the start of your stepping stone. Things will be going fast, so hold on Shayla."

Saying that, Neil removed her rank insignia and replaced them with Sergeants chevrons, then stepped back and saluted her.

"Now you owe me a drink, but we'll wait until you get through Warrant School," he said with a smile and he stepped back to perch on the corner of his desk and gestured her back into her chair.

"Ok, so now you're a flying sergeant and you have more than enough flying hours to qualify for Warrant school. Given your hours and stick experience, your schooling will focus more to the officer side of being a Warrant. With me so far?"

After returning the salute Shayla swelled with some pride to be wearing the Captain's chevrons. It was indeed an honor that she had not imagined that she would have. She smiled still feeling as if she was on cloud nine, and nodded that she understood everything that he was saying. "Yes sir I understand thus far." Internally she screamed like a young girl, Shayla was bursting with excitement.

"Right then," Neil said as he took a step back. "The course material is in your mail queue as of now and we'll start pre-school day after tomorrow or whichever afternoon suits you, in case you've made plans I haven't seen scheduled. That should only take a couple of days, and then you'll join a small training cadre on Sirius for up to two weeks before returning aboard to finish the rest on the job."

He smiled and said, "As I've said, you're a crack pilot and the Cure, especially me, are proud of you Sergeant Kunadt."

"Thank you sir. I will try not to let you or The Cure down. On a personal note sir, I want to thank you for giving me a chance and showing me what it means to be the best of the best of the best." Shayla replied as she stood to attention. Her smile beamed as she thought of her brother the big bad fighter pilot. Well if he could only see her now. I am on your six and I have you in my sights. Shayla thought as if she were talking to her brother.

Shayla came to attention saluted and when the order was given executed an about face and left the office. She entered the office a mousy enlisted pilot, and she was leaving a spunky officer in training.

A joint post by:

Captain Cornelius Tremble
Marine Commanding Officer/Second Officer, USS Pioneer

Lance Corporal Shayla Kunadt
EVAC Specialist, USS Pioneer

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