{"id":55,"date":"2009-03-10T12:07:55","date_gmt":"2009-03-10T16:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=55"},"modified":"2009-03-13T12:48:52","modified_gmt":"2009-03-13T16:48:52","slug":"vong-war-annals-weights-and-measures-part-two-9102009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=55","title":{"rendered":"Vong War Annals – “Weights and measures (part two)” 9.10.2009"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMore caf, sir?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The engineer\u2019s head snapped up, attention abruptly drawn away from specs and equations scrolling across his datapad.\u00a0 He blinked a moment, the tech\u2019s question taking longer than it should to process.\u00a0 Davil Bullian managed to smile as the answer finally registered.\u00a0 \u201cPlease\u2026Tomil, was it?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The technician, barely as old as he was, nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYessir.\u00a0 It\u2019ll only be a few minutes, sir.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil nodded in thanks and looked back to the datapad.\u00a0 It was just past 1100 hours and he already felt like someone should be spreading him on a cracker.\u00a0 Not sleeping the night before was going to take its toll sooner rather than later, he suspected, but he didn\u2019t spare much brainsweat over that.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t much available, what with trying to make sure all these refits had gone according to the specifications appropriate for each vessel.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He blew out a breath between his teeth.\u00a0 R&D had been one thing.\u00a0 This was entirely another.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t a learning curve for any of the men and women who\u2019d be handling these systems once they left Wayfarer.\u00a0 Some of them wouldn\u2019t be able to handle it.\u00a0 Others\u2026up until a major failure in a system component.\u00a0 Hopefully, none of that would happen before the engineers were comfortable with the modifications made to the ships.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Of course, there was a war on, so there wasn\u2019t any sort of guarantee.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil exhaled again and squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing them.\u00a0 They were sore, from lack of sleep and staring at the equations, at the numbers he\u2019d run, the specifications he\u2019d in large part written.\u00a0 Half the equations didn\u2019t even make sense anymore.\u00a0 Of course, once he pressed past the point of exhaustion, they\u2019d start making sense again.\u00a0 After that, he\u2019d have maybe two or three hours before he fell over sideways and slept it off.\u00a0 The alternative was caf, in large quantities, and at the moment, the alternative was failing.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Someone nudged his elbow with a mug and he tried to take it without opening his eyes, mostly failing.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cTrying to spill caf all over my crotch, Dav?\u00a0 I\u2019m not Dad.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil\u2019s eyes snapped open and he stared at his brother, who\u2019d settled next to him on the crates he\u2019d been using as a chair.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMikey?\u00a0 What are you doing here?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His brother shrugged a little.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m on leave.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t have anything else to do.\u00a0 Figured it was better than staying in the rain planetside, so I came up to see what was up.\u201d\u00a0 He handed over the second mug of caf in his hand to Davil and leaned back, stretching.\u00a0 \u201c \u2018sides, I had to collect on a sabacc debt.\u00a0 MP from the Legionnaire<\/em> was short thirty credits by the end of the night and told me I could collect today from his temporary billet up here.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil managed to smile, shaking his head a little.\u00a0 \u201cSomehow, I\u2019m not surprised.\u00a0 How\u2019d you get down here, though?\u00a0 I thought they were cordoning off these bays.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhen you walk around like you own the place, Dav, you get further.\u201d\u00a0 His younger brother shrugged slightly, taking a long sip of caf.\u00a0 \u201cFlightsuit helps.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRight,\u201d Davil smiled wryly, shaking his head and taking a long swallow of caf.\u00a0 \u201cFlightsuit.\u00a0 Who\u2019d you charm, Mikey?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He smiled sheepishly.\u00a0 \u201cThere was this girl watching the lifts one deck down.\u00a0 We\u2019re going for drinks tonight.\u201d\u00a0 The pilot reached up and tousled his brother\u2019s hair.\u00a0 \u201cNot like I\u2019m with anyone back at the fleet, anyhow.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat because Dad\u2019s already had most of them?\u201d\u00a0 Davil bit down on his tongue so hard that it drew blood, he could taste it in his mouth.\u00a0 He sighed, closing his eyes, setting aside the datapad and cradling his caf mug.\u00a0 \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have said that.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cProbably not,\u201d Mikey agreed.\u00a0 He put his arm around his brother\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll let you in on a secret, though, Dav.\u00a0 I don\u2019t agree with half of what he does, either, but it\u2019s not my call to make.\u00a0 I just try to minimize the casualties.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Minimize the casualties.\u00a0 And Mom\u2019s the biggest one of all.<\/em>\u00a0 Davil closed his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know how you can stand it, Mikey.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cStand what?\u00a0 Stand saving Dad from himself?\u201d\u00a0 He frowned a little.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know, Dav.\u00a0 It\u2019s\u2026well.\u00a0 I guess it\u2019s only hard when he\u2019s doing stubborn as hell.\u00a0 Most of the time, I guess it\u2019s not so bad.\u00a0 It could be a lot worse, anyway. That\u2019s what I keep telling myself.\u00a0 A lot<\/em> worse.\u201d\u00a0 He raked his fingers through his hair, taking a long swallow of caf.\u00a0 \u201cAt least I\u2019m as stubborn as he is.\u00a0 Lots of him in me.\u201d\u00a0 He nudged Davil.\u00a0 \u201cLots of him in you, too, though.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil\u2019s expression soured.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, Mikey.\u00a0 I really needed that.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shook his head slowly.\u00a0 \u201cSorry, Dav.\u00a0 Guess I shouldn\u2019t have brought it up.\u00a0 What\u2019s going on up here, anyway?\u00a0 They don\u2019t cordon off decks often.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil managed a smile, picking up his datapad.\u00a0 \u201c \u2018s classified, Mikey.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWho am I going to tell?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davil deadpanned, just looking at his brother, who laughed.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRight.\u00a0 I\u2019ll come check on you in a few hours to make sure you\u2019re alive.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThanks, Mikey.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo problem, bro.\u201d\u00a0 Mikey pushed himself upright, grinning like their father.\u00a0 \u201cStay out of trouble.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou stay out of trouble first.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They laughed and then Mikey was gone, wandering back across the decking in the direction he\u2019d come.\u00a0 Davil glanced down into his mug of caf and took a long swallow, shaking his head a little, dark hair falling momentarily into his face.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I need a haircut,<\/em> he thought, then lifted his head.\u00a0 His brother was disappearing down the corridor, pausing a moment to flirt with a female technician carrying a tray of caf.\u00a0 He shook his head a little, managing to smile.\u00a0 Same old Mikey.\u00a0 He\u2019s got it easy.<\/em>\u00a0 Davil glanced down at the datapad in his hands and exhaled.\u00a0 We\u2019ve all got our jobs to do. \u00a0His is as hard as mine, in some ways.
\n<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mikey had turned back to wave.\u00a0 Davil waved back, smiling wryly.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe harder than mine.\u00a0 Maybe harder\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

~ Erin<\/p>\n

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