riverviewlogs | ( closed ) scouting the wall

Entry tags:

( closed ) scouting the wall

who: Jim Kirk, Beverly Crusher, Rodney McKay, John Sheppard, Cassian Andor, Jyn Erso, Chyler Silva, Hana Song, Emma Swan (+ anyone else who's still interested! feel free to PM me, no worries)
what: team mission
when: February 7th - 17th
where: along the wall of the Abandoned City
warnings: monster fighting & consequent injuries at most

With the prospect of more power in the near future, the Government of Riverview is looking for multiple teams of people to take a survey of the wall surrounding the Abandoned City and note all structural damage and areas where the integrity of the wall is compromised. The objective is to note the location and nature of any structural damage or interference with the tech components (laser emitters, etc.) that is compromising the integrity of the outer wall.

The team assembled by Jim Kirk will head out on the shuttle, making the trip at least far quicker, although long stretches of the wall are done by foot, in smaller groups or pairs. No one is advised to be out there on their own. Everyone will be given a handheld scanning device to study the wall, and a device similar to a tablet where they can store all the data, complete with detailed instructions on how to use both. The shuttle will be available to pick people up and drop them off at different points of the wall as needed, to try and make the trip as quick as possible.

[ ooc: this will work as a mingle log, so everyone is free to write up their own top levels and/or tag around as much as they like. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Chyler is on watch when Jim comes walking out from the cover of the camp, toward her position. She knows who he is, of course. She knows he and Sheppard are friends. Industrious person that she is, she's even gleaned some of why Sheppard was gone, keeping company with Jim those handful of days last month.

But she hasn't had reason to seek him out, and surprisingly enough they haven't really crossed paths before now. She won't bother with the shuttle team unless she's flying out with Sheppard and-or Finn, and that hasn't happened before now.

Hence the long, appraising look as he comes toward her, the curt nod. Then she's facing back out toward the jungle, P90 resting comfortably in her hands. ]

I'm not set to be relieved yet, sir.

[ What little does he know about Chyler has come from John, and at the moment that stands on basically: she's capable, and she wanted to tag along. If John thinks she can handle it, then Jim trusts him, and so far he hasn't had a single motive to doubt that trust.

She is pretty quiet, though, evidently used to keeping to herself. Not that he really minds it, what with Jyn being part of the team too, but Jim hasn't been on his usual mental state to try and engage either, in hopes of breaking the ice.

Later at night, once the camp's all set up and everyone's settled in comfortably, that's when Jim spots her on his aimless walk, and decides to make his way over. He's stepping closer when she addresses him, and he mirrors her nod. ]

I'm not John— you can just call me Jim, you know. [ He shoots her a small smile, taking a seat on a log next to her. ] And I'm not here to relieve you. Just didn't feel like sleeping yet, is all.

[ She studies him thoughtfully, wondering if that's just something all servicemen do eventually: not sleep. God knows she has enough trouble with it herself. ] You outrank me, sir.

[ Boot's gotta boot. Still: this is one of John's friends. He must be more like John than he isn't. So she tries a smile, though it's a small one. ] John--Commander Sheppard doesn't sleep well out here either.

[ She suspects John doesn't sleep well back home, either, but she has no evidence to support the supposition. ]

[ Jim can't say he struggles with that much, not usually anyway. Things have just been a little tougher as of late, is all. His insomnia comes and goes, really, but overall he can't complain. ]

Oh, come on. [ He sighs to no one in particular, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. ] Yeah, well, technically John outranks me and you don't hear me calling him 'sir'.

[ Wouldn't John just love that, though. Either way, as Jim sees it, there are no Colonels in Starfleet, so strictly speaking neither of them outranks the other. Besides, it's not like it's worth much here on the moon. ]

It's not exactly the safest place, is it? Being out here. [ He smiles vaguely, looking around them. ] Camp's exposed too, but we wouldn't find anything better than this. It's just... difficult to relax. Especially when you're used to looking after everyone else.

You both outrank me, sir. [ So th-- wait a second. ] He never told me his standing back home.

[ Which is just shy of her asking what the heck rank does he have anyway and how can he outrank a ship's captain. Chyler shifts her grip on the weapon, voice calm. ] My parents taught me there's no such thing as a safe place. Here, the city, it doesn't matter. The only difference is that the things out here are honest about what they want.

He's a Lieutenant Colonel. Where he comes from, that's two ranks above Captain. Where I come from, though, his rank doesn't even exist anymore. At least not in Starfleet.

[ It probably has everything to do with Starfleet following Navy ranks, rather than Army. There were never any Colonels in the US Navy either, so.

He purses his lips a little and shrugs at her observation. ] I agree one should always be careful and ready, but... can't say I completely agree with the rest. Some places do make me feel safe. Some people, too. Maybe it's naïve of me, but I've managed pretty well so far.

He's a Lieutenant Colonel?

[ For a second Chyler gapes at Jim, open-mouthed. John. John Sheppard, the skateboard-riding, lollipop-obsessed, guitar-playing commander of RR-1. Is a Lieutenant Colonel.

Chyler closes her mouth. She tries to find her rigid professionalism again. She does, mostly, though she's less guarded than she was before. ]

There's a difference between feeling safe and being safe, though, isn't there? You can feel safe all you want. That doesn't make it true.

[ Jim nods, shrugging. He's a little curious about what rank did she think he had. Jim wouldn't have expected anything below Major, honestly, considering John's mannerisms and experience, the ease he had while out beyond the wall, around various weapons and the like. ]

And just because you don't feel safe doesn't mean you aren't safe. [ They can be here all day lady, pessimism vs. optimism. He's got practice. ] Some habits are hard to kick.

[ Chyler purses her lips. ] Yes, sir.

[ She's not going to keep disagreeing with him. Not out loud, anyway. It's enough for her to think he's wrong and leave it at that.

(You don't have to agree with orders, you just have to follow them.)

Still, being around John is having an effect. She considers him, considers where the boundaries might be, before she says, ]

Does it bother you, that they don't rank things here the way they do where you're from?

[ Jim takes a deep breath and lets it out with a sigh, rolling his eyes just a hint. He knows all too well what a 'yes, sir' meant to shut him up sounds like, so she's not fooling him here. But much like her, he sees no point in insisting. For now anyway.

The question she poses promises a more interesting topic in any case, though she might be a little surprised (shocked?) by his answer. ]

Not at all. Honestly, I couldn't care less. Don't get me wrong, I am proud of being a Starfleet Captain, of everything I've achieved back home, but it holds absolutely no weight here. And I'm really... really very fine with that.

[ There's a whole legacy he's left behind, expectations, pressure, things he's learned to accept and live with and even grow into, but he has to admit that not having to deal with all of that practically on a daily basis is proving to be almost like a vacation to him. ]

[ Him and John both, it seems. Chyler doesn't get it. She would hate it, working that hard for something and having it taken away. ] Why? You worked for that. You--it's your whole life, isn't it?

[ She still can't really fathom the idea of a life outside of the military. It doesn't occur to her that Starfleet isn't military. Martial force is as ubiquitous as colonization. ]

That's right, I did. And it's a very important part of my life, but... it's not everything.

[ It's difficult to explain. Jim honestly couldn't picture a life without Starfleet, but he didn't have that here, and honestly, he wasn't all that miserable. Hadn't been, anyway, until Bones left. It's been a bit of a struggle lately, but he's working on it. ]

Rank isn't everything. It means precious little, even, if you ask me. It doesn't make you right, and it doesn't mean you do the right thing, or make the right decisions. It doesn't earn you respect. [ He points a finger vaguely in her direction. ] Actions earn you respect.

But if you don't respect someone of superior rank, the entire system breaks down. It becomes pointless.

[ She followed Vickers' orders, even when she didn't agree with his plan. She followed Tom's orders when she didn't understand his plan.

What was it John had said? Do you think your unit will listen to you, if they can’t trust you to have their back?

Maybe that's it, then. Maybe that's the point John was trying to make. ]

So how do you survive in command long enough to earn that respect?

You obey them, because that's just part of the rank. But obedience and respect don't always go hand in hand, and not everyone who ranks higher than you is worthy of your respect.

And again, respect takes time, it takes knowing one another. Knowing you can trust and rely on that person.

[ He pauses and considers her for a moment, then purses his lips and gestures vaguely towards her. ]

I rank higher than you, for instance. Yet you barely know me. You joined this mission because of John. Would you say that you respect me, already? Do you even know me well enough for that?

[ For a moment she's tempted to lie. To tell him that of course she respects him. But does she? She respects his rank. She doesn't really know him. And that's the point.

Still, she hesitates before she answers. She's still not used to COs who prefer honesty to the company line. ]

No, sir.

[ Yes, well... get used to James T. Kirk. He appreciates honesty above all, and it's not like he can accuse her of insubordination. She's not Starfleet. And there's no Starfleet here, either. Just him and Beverly. ]

Well then, there you have it. [ He smiles, leaning back. Then he points his finger at her. ] And I told you, I don't want any of that 'sir' crap. You can try and stick to it, Silva, but you really got no idea how stubborn I am.

[ He'll get a 'Jim' out of her, sooner or later. You just wait. ]

[ Her lips twitch. It's almost, almost a smile. ]

Yes, sir.

[ She's stubborn too. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( closed ) scouting the wall

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