New CAG

Posted on Tue Nov 10th, 2015 @ 7:13pm by Colonel S'er'in'e & Lieutenant Lynsi Mason
Edited on on Tue Nov 10th, 2015 @ 7:13pm

Mission: By Dawn's Early Light

Slight Backpost

S'er'in'e was seated in his office still reviewing service jackets and histories of some of the pilots, though he was gaining a familiarity of the craft in use it they themselves were only as good as the pilot at the helm. He was expecting Lt Mason to arrive soon since patrols being what they are could often over run or or not as the situation presented itself. Having read up on Mason he gleamed she was a capable pilot but that only went so far when it came to the person out of the cockpit.

Still in her flight suit, fresh from her flight's patrol debrief, Lieutenant Lynsi Mason approached the CAG's office cautiously. She was still reeling from the sudden departure of Colonel Maxwell; the two had become quite close. But she was a soldier, and wasn't about to let any personal feelings get in the way of her job. There was a new sheriff in town, though Lynsi had already reviewed his service record with Captain Von when she was serving as the acting CAG. It was a position that Mason had found herself in more than once, and she knew that she wasn't fit to lead a whole air wing, at least not at this point in her career. She needed to be with her squadron, and the more time she spent in that office, the less stick time she got.

Meeting the new boss was always hard enough, but it did make it a bit more challenging when the new boss ended up being so physically imposing. Mason didn't know many Caitians, so she didn't know much about how they would act. She just figured the best approach was to be herself, and not step on the tail. Lynsi took a deep breath and pressed the chime on S'er'in'e's office door.

As expected S'er'in'e was prepared for his meeting with Lt. Mason. He was standing next to the window overlooking the combat hanger lined with craft and people busy about duties they had to perform. "Enter." When the doors opened he was not surprised to see her in the doorway. "Lt. Mason, please, come." He gave his usual slight bow afforded all females . "I was hoping that we might talk, get your insights and fill me in with recent events prior to my arrival." He didn't move to touch or greet physically, it was against his teachings to touch without permission or touch offered first.

Lynsi entered the office, and not knowing the proper customs, offered a slight bow in return. He seemed to be a formal sort, so she hoped that she wasn't under dressed for the occasion. "I hope you don't mind that I just came back from patrol. I've not had a chance to clean up first." Mason joined her new supervising officer at the window instead of taking a seat at the desk. "I assume that Captain Von told you that we may be expecting company, but just in case, I'll back up a step. Intel has reported a fleet buildup in the Thane system, most likely Sojourner. From that position, there are a few targets that are within reach, but with a fleet that size, Archa IV seems to be the leading candidate. We've been increasing our patrols, sending additional flights out just beyond the outer marker to keep an eye out on anything out of the ordinary. We've also have been keeping a tighter control on traffic flow in and out of the station. Ships not in the process of docking have been ordered to stay outside of the inner marker, and out of the thruster only zones. The hope is if we are attacked, we can minimize the number of ships that are left exposed, and can send the others on their way before the attacking fleet arrives." She offered an undignified shrug. "That's pretty much where we are. Our pilots and deck crews haven't been getting much time off lately. I know that's not about to change, but I still feel like I should let you know."

Mason had filled in some grey areas and given him additional information about the inner workings of the department, he felt her insight of utmost importance as he was going to be depending on such insight for a while until he was firmly planted within said department. He turned slightly unable to help looking down on the smaller woman before speaking. "What can you tell me about the pilots of the wing, I have only had a brief chance so far to look at some of them on my computer, are any of them specialized or role preferential? I understand we have nearly 240 craft but how many of these are deployed on CAP at any given time?" He asked because with pilots not getting much time off it lead to tired personnel and tired people make mistakes which in the heat of a battle could cost lives.

Lynsi sighed under her breath and glanced out the window. Out on the flight deck below, the deck crew were hard at work moving the unused fighters into the maintenance bays, and making whatever repairs or adjustments were necessary to make sure the birds were operating at peak efficiency. A few pilots littered the area, chatting with each other, or speaking to their crew chiefs.

While she watched the activity below, Lynsi collected her thoughts. "We have patrols running around the clock. Normally each patrol is half a squadron, while the other half is on alert while they conduct training. The truth of the matter is that a lot of our pilots are green. They perform well during patrols, but that's mostly against freighter captains who get out of line. Nearly 75% of our pilots have never seen real combat, and over half have never fired their weapons at something that can fight back. They're good kids, but I'm worried about them in a real fight. I've been stepping up the number of simulator hours in preparation of an attack, but that's been putting more strain on the vets to pick up the slack. Let's just say that it's not been a pretty sight around here lately."

"In light of what we expect to happen I'd like to initiate a four shift rotation system, we have 240 craft, I'd like 60 of those of mixed craft class assortments on patrol at any time." This would reduce patrol times to 6 hours a shift which everyone knew first hand that unless something was happening it was rather boring and idle minds were distracted ones. "Continue simulator training but I would like to see mock engagements take place in flight, a simulator can only go so far." He knew the same could be said for mock engagements in flight. "Keep engagements to 15 minutes, any longer and the strain of concentration will take it's toll, every 3 hours per shift should suffice."

Mason nodded along. Mock engagements during patrols would be an interesting way to keep up training, though they would need to stagger the engagements so that not everyone pulled away from patrol duty at the same time. The shift assignments were already rolling through her head. "Consider it done, sir."

S'er'in'e had no intention of sending inexperienced pilots needlessly to fight and potentially die without having made an effort to do something about it. "I have my personal fighter housed on the Akiashiro deck." He doubted Mason would know the particulars so he opted to explain. "Caitian males who have attained the position I have are upon completion of training granted a fighter craft, it is expected that it be used in the Caitian Defense Force on the Homeworld but I enlisted with Starfleet before I was able to have it moved to my assignment. Captain Von has permitted me to bring it here instead of leaving it on the Homeworld."

The thought of a Caitian fighter in their midst was an intriguing one to Lynsi. "I'm sure we can find a place to keep her in the hangar, Major. Just don't be surprised if a crowd grows around her when you bring her in. You know fighter jocks and mechanics. They find something new, they either want to take it for a spin or take it apart. Neither is necessarily good for it's shelf life."

"An interest in is expected, touching however would be.....detrimental." There was a grin on his face if Mason could pick it out from the directional flows of his fur. "Is there anything I should be aware of now that I am here, any standing orders, customary routines from the pilots, traditions and such?" S'er'in'e was not here to cause waves but he'd rather cause as few as possible if he knew all the elements that formed his department.

Lynsi grinned at S'er'in'e's remark. She wasn't sure if that was an attempt at humor, or him being too serious. Either way, it left her amused. "Probably, but it's hard to say what you really need until we start getting your feet wet. One thing that might be important is that we need to know what to call you."

"The Human translation for my Caitian designation would be Shadow." The story of how he was given that name was one for another time but no doubt one that would be shared at some point. It also reminded him that at some point it perhaps would be worth a note to have the Federation standard translation on his fighter cockpit, as it was everything was in Caitian.

"Well, I am very much interested in hearing that story someday, Shadow," Mason replied with a grin. Stories of call sign origins were among her favorites. "I go by Blaze, which is also a story for another time."

"Perhaps when time is less of a luxury and without the pressure of an enemy fleet approaching we might do just that." He paused as he saw the men and women move about the hanger. "Action my orders, I will speak with the Akiashiro Deck Chief about moving my fighter."