Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Hideout Fallout - Closed - Sidesim

Posted by Lieutenant Miranda Martel (Chief Engineer) in Hideout Fallout - Closed - Sidesim

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Hideout Fallout - Closed - Sidesim
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

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Returned to the moment she seemed to relax a bit, focusing on him once more. “I didn’t think anybody was still hanging around then. I’m not sure if she was having a really good day or I was having an off day. But it was fun. I need to get back into training regularly. Especially if we get into CQB on the ship. Everybody’s had basic combat at the academy, and anybody who wants to go on away missions has to keep up on qualifying. But… well, more is better. I’ve been a decent shot since I was a kid. But plinking is one thing. Range day is another. And actually keeping up on Battle Drill Six, well that’s different.” Operations people were expected to be more combat ready than the other departments anyway, and worked as a supplement to dedicated security teams. But it was always a good idea to be able to integrate and work with one seamlessly. Fill in the gaps, stay liquid. High speed, low drag.

Martel

Ridad took a pull off of his drink. He picked up a taste for it at the Academy: Cheerwine. “There’s a lot to it, and we always have open practices for all kinds of things going on, all shifts. Chief insists that no one miss out because of scheduling. You come by any time. Hopefully it won’t come to that though. Once we get this shipment of Marine armor and weapons, our strike teams will have the last of what they need. And they’re good if I do say so myself.” He grinned and flexed just slightly, poking fun at himself. “Seriously though, come by when we’re running trainings. I’m happy to help.” He grinned at her over his glass, “And if you do I can keep an eye on all those assets of yours.”

Ridad

She gave him a small nod. “I may have to take you up on that.” Was it an idle promise? She wasn’t sure. There was never any telling how tired she would be after getting her hands dirty with the rest of her team. Dealing with people all day. Staff meetings. Her own constant battles and struggles. But she at least wanted to, on some level. “I’d hope you’d have a decent team there. But I guess we’ll get to see how good they really are. Though I don’t envy the job you gotta do.”

Martel

“Chief works us hard. Her simulations are killer, but they work. Wish she was going, but if her training is good, her computer and hacking is better. She’ll be devastating from the bridge.” He picked up an apple wedge and popped it in his mouth. He watched for face for a moment while he ate. “So how’s the head?”

Ridad

“It’s small, and broken. But still good.” She paused. “Yeah. Still good.” She drained half the water bottle that was left and crushed it down, screwed the lid back on. “It’s mostly better. I still need to finish my food.”

To that point, she took another good sized bite of pancake and downed it. “As for training, well, the more you sweat the less you’ll bleed. Better to die in a simulation and learn than doing it for real. You generally only get to do that once. And I’d rather not lose any friends. Or at least anybody I like on this run.”

Martel

A deep sonorous rumble started in his chest and the laughter made it’s way out in waves. “Oh I agree, though I think Gadi is of the mind to make us wish we already were dead. She keeps upping the difficulty setting and lowering the safety protocols. The more mistakes we make the harder those holograms hit. Couple of the guys thought once we got better she’d take it easy on us.” He chuckled, eyes dancing, again, “Nope, just harder scenarios.”

Ridad

“The only easy day was yesterday,” she quoted back at him. “Good ain’t good enough, boot.” She flashed him a grin then. “i think she’s really worried. The combat isn’t even the hardest part. And I think she might be trying to focus on the work, more than anything else. She wants to make sure everybody is as close to untouchable as possible. Even though she knows that’s not realistic, and not everybody is going to make it back most likely. Not at the end of the mission. This smash n grab? Probably. But it’s only getting harder afterward.” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Do me a favor. … Don’t get shot. I don’t think I can handle too much more loss right now.”

Martel

Ridad nodded, “You’re right about that. Gadi, she’s…got some demon riding her. It’s not just combat training either. The scenarios are wide and varied and heavens save you from her if you break character. Then there’s the surprise attacks. She and Calloway have been taking it in turns to sneak up on us while on duty. It’s crazy, but it’s good, ya know.” He grinned and leaned forward, arms on the table. “I’ll do my best, Gorgeous, but not gettin’ hit, that’s hard. Not gettin’ dead, that’s easier.”

Ridad

She reached up to rub her forehead, found the bill of her hat instead. Her face scrunched up just a little, almost as if she were in pain again, but the pounding in her head had subsided mostly. “That is like the second or third time you’ve called me that,” she groaned.

Martel

Ridad smiled at her, a slow once over followed, “I stand by my words. But if it bothers you I won’t do that anymore.”

Ridad

She didn’t say anything immediately, giving him a partial side-eye and drawing back just a little. Everything was so tangled up inside. Part of her felt like he was just saying it.. in the hopes she might be dumb enough to believe it and let down her guard to get in her pants. She felt like a piece of meat. Which only left her feeling disgusted. At the same time, it was nice to hear. And she probably needed it on some level. But again, was that a game? As if she didn’t have enough body image problems.

There’d been so much reconstructive surgery and efforts to put her body back to rights. But it didn’t stop her from seeing the scars, the damage anyway. Even if they were mostly invisible, save for the cosmetic ones that had been brought back out as part of her cover.

At the same time, if that was all he saw was her looks… Even if his words were true, it was shallow, only skin deep. If he thought he knew what was underneath… and still felt that way he was delusional.

Or maybe he saw something different. Better. There were other attributes besides her looks.

“Of course you’d say that,” she muttered. Taking a deep breath she let it out in a small puff. Why? Why was he after her so bad? It wasn’t like he had reason to lie to her. And maybe she trusted him to watch her back. That didn’t mean stare at her ass or try to take her to bed. “Look, I’m in ratty cargos, boots that have walked about a thousand kilometers, a work shirt I’ve been wearing for the last three shifts. I look like I need to check into rehab, and I’ve got a ball cap on that looks like it’s never seen the inside of a washer. I’m about the farthest thing from whatever saccharine term of endearment you have in mind right now. It does bother me. Because it’s not real. And I damn sure don’t feel like it.” She shook her head with a small sigh. “I appreciate your help, and looking after me. I really do.” She stopped herself and went back to rubbing her forehead, cap pushed up out of the way.

“I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be mean. I’m messed up. I feel like punching bulkhead until I’ve worn a hole through it, or I cant lift my arms. I want to run until I cut a path through the deck.” She shook her head, slowly curling in on herself, deflating. She covered her face with her hands, scrubbing at it some. “I need people I can trust. I need safety, security. Transparency and clarity. Patience and time.” Why was she still here talking to him, much less giving him the keys? “I need good people, and good friends close to me first and above all.” There it was. She could feel the cracks forming again, but this time, she was able to shore it up quickly.

Miranda