Posted by Mar. Captain Eleanor “Iron Lady” Carnegie (Recon Squadron CO/Pilot) in [Alt-Timeline] USS Chimera – Crew Lounge
It had been a long day. Twelve hours of travel followed by a few extra hours to get everything in order before she was able to settle in on board the Chimera. It had been a long day repressing the feelings she had been feeling for more than a week now.

Eleanor Carnegie was tired and angry. Well… mostly angry. Somehow she didn’t think that was the best state of mind to start her new assignment.

To pass the time, she had read everything she could on the Chimera. It was another carrier, like the ones she was used to be posted in. Only this one was bigger than her previous posts and now she had a full squadron working under her orders. For a moment, she allowed herself to feel nervous.

Dawkins had been in the lounge about twenty minutes, himself just tossing a bag and heading for the Eight Forward. He had taken enough time to slip from his flight suit and into a fresh pair of jeans and University of Houston t-shirt following the fastest sonic shower he’d ever taken. Pulling on his flight jacket, the Marine found his way to the lounge and settled in to people watch more than anything else. The room was massive, over a hundred yards across at the widest point, it was mostly vacant so Malcolm hung out near the service area.

Having just left her quarters, Carnegie walked to the ship’s crew lounge, on deck eight. Docked at Halcyon, the ship was still only half staffed, but she managed to signal one of the waiters before seating at one of the tables.

Seeing the pilot from the wing knocking back shots and since the cavernous room was nearly vacant, Malcolm headed over to join his fellow aviator.

“A shot of vodka, please.” It was not sophisticated, but it would do the job.

As soon as the small glass was placed in front of her, Eleanor downed it in one go, as easily as if it was water, placing the empty glass upside down on the table in front of her. The waiter barely had had time to leave before she signaled him again.

“Another one, please.” She paused and looked at the young man taking her order. “You know what, make it double.”

CPT Carnegie, Recon Squadron CO

“Make it two…” Malcolm said with a smile as he spun a chair and joined the young woman a her table. “… hope ya don’t mind the company.” His tone warm as he settled in his chair, he raised an eyebrow. “Nice specks hun… don’t see a lot of those around anymore.”

Dawkins, FL