STF

New Opportunities - Malcolm & Eleanor

Posted Nov. 7, 2022, 6:59 p.m. by Civilian Malcolm "Astro" Dawkins (Director of Spaceport and Orbital Facilities) (Jerome Davis)

Posted by Colonel Eleanor “Iron Lady” Carnegie (Commanding Officer, 1st Colonial Defense Squadron) in New Opportunities - Malcolm & Eleanor

Posted by Civilian Malcolm “Astro” Dawkins (Director of Spaceport and Orbital Facilities) in New Opportunities - Malcolm & Eleanor

Posted by Colonel Eleanor “Iron Lady” Carnegie (Commanding Officer, 1st Colonial Defense Squadron) in New Opportunities - Malcolm & Eleanor
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The chime was soft and slightly unexpected. On her desk, Ellie’s Comm screen rose slowly and automatically, the Secure Transmission logo spinning on the screen. The incoming call information showing its point of origin as OED V Colony, Colonial Customs and Defense Authority.

After a long day, Eleanor was looking forward to the evening of relaxation her and Malcolm had planned. They were going to watch the replay of the Houston Astros game of the previous night and have a casual dinner, and honestly, Carnegie couldn’t wait. It had been a long week, and so the extra long shower she had just taken had seemed justified.

Eleanor had barely had time to put on a pair of jeans and her favorite Pittsburgh Pirates jersey when the alert coming from her desk caught her attention. She smiled when she saw the point of origin, assuming it was either her brother or her father calling to check on her, but her brow furrowed when she saw the description that followed.

Drying her hair for a moment, and placing her bright yellow towel over her shoulder, the Marine pilot took the call.

Upon acceptance, a face that Ellie thought she’d never see again on the screen, the uniform the brunette former aviator wore was completely different than anything Ellie had seen before.

“Ah, Eleanor, I hope I didn’t catch you at an inconvenient time.”

Admiral Sam Halloway, ACS

Three years had passed since both women had been in the same place, and Sam Halloway looked different enough that it took a moment for Eleanor to fully recognize who was calling her. When she did, her face grew pale and her eyes widened, as the clear recognition of who was on the other side of the line sank in.

Never taking her eyes from the screen, Eleanor’s hand reached for the back of her chair, pulling it away from the desk enough for her to sit down.

“Commander Halloway!” Carnegie said with a smile and a note of fake joy in her tone. She wasn’t sure if the rank she was addressing her former Executive Officer by was the correct one, but given how different the uniform she was wearing was, there was no way for Eleanor to know. She could only hope that the former pilot didn’t get upset about it. Especially since she had first hand experience of what Halloway was like when someone didn’t meet her expectations, and she really didn’t want a repeat of it. “It’s been a long time. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”

Maj. Eleanor Carnegie

“It’s Admiral now, Eleanor.” Halloway smiled brightly. “Let’s just say I’ve taken a different… trajectory… in my professional life. And yes, it has in fact been quite a while. I do hope you’re doing well.” The Admiral said in a genuine tone.

Eleanor’s expression reflected her surprise. “Oh, wow! Uh… congratulations, Admiral!” She smiled, kicking herself for sounding like an idiot.

“Now, I don’t want to tie you up for too long. You look as though you’re about to head out and the last thing you likely want to do is have a long, boring Comm call with your former boss.” The woman actually winked, there was a warm playful tone to her that Eleanor would find odd but natural. “Let me get straight to the point. My old friend Devri Hudson is my counterpart here on OED with the new Colonial Customs & Defence Authority. Think of it as a independent system defense force. We took over some time ago from the major Starfleet presence and have been rapidly expanding. That, Eleanor, is where you come in.”

Devri Hudson? As in… Andrew Hudson’s sister? Carnegie raised an eyebrow, intrigued as to what she could potentially do for OED, especially when she wasn’t even on planet.

“Devri is in the process of adding a surveillance and recon squadron… in doing so, asked me if I knew anyone good for the job as it is a bit… niche.” She smiled. “I told her that I had just the girl… that is, if you’re interested?”

Admiral Halloway

Eleanor blinked, not really knowing what to say. Her eyes wide in surprise. “Wait… you want… you want me to do the job?” Carnegie’s words stumbled, and her hands wrapped nervously on the damp towel in her lap. “Ah uh…” She smiled. “I am so sorry Admiral… I’m afraid I can’t take it regardless.” Her expression turned apologetic. “Malcolm… uh… Colonel Dawkins… You might remember him from the Chimera… Uh…” The hesitation in her words was obvious. “He and I… we’re engaged to be married and we finally got posted in the same place… I am not going to give that away. Plus, we’re pretty happy where we are so there’s really no need to change.” Eleanor gave Halloway a polite smile. “I can give you some recommendations if you’d like though…”

Maj. Eleanor Carnegie

Halloway silently raised a hand with a smirk then cut Eleanor off. “First… congratulations to you both. I think any man sharp enough to win the heart of a woman of your… caliber…” The Admiral blushed slightly, paused then continued quickly. “… of your caliber means he’s a hell’of’a guy.” There was, again, warmth in her tone. “Secondly, I didn’t call you for recommendations Major… I called you because we only seek out the best for our team here and you’re the best at what you do!”

Eleanor raised her eyebrows at the ‘caliber’ comment but remained silent. Had the woman changed during the three years they hadn’t seen each other? Or was it just a facet of her that Carnegie had never seen? Either way, it was a surprising interaction for Eleanor.

“Now…” She continued. “… I completely understand not wanting to leave Colonel Dawkins. I totally respect that. However, unlike a starship… the CCDA and the OED government is a far larger outfit than even Yorktown Base. We have room to stretch your legs that no starship or installation can offer. If…” Halloway pursed her lips for a moment then smiled once more. “… if we can find a role that Malcolm would enjoy, civilian or military… I can’t promise one or the other, would you reconsider my offer Eleanor?”

Carnegie let the silence hang for a moment before speaking. “Look… Admiral…” The rank still sounded foreign. “I really appreciate your kind words and the opportunity that you are giving me. However…” She hesitated. “… we’re pretty happy here… regardless of… leg room. You should know better than anyone else that pilots don’t really care for that.” She smiled.

There was another slight pause before Halloway added. “I am not a woman that begs but I will absolutely make this a dream role for you. I repeat my previous statement… we are only pursuing the very best, we believe you to fit that description and want you on our team. What’dya say Major… ready to make a jump to the big leagues?”

Admiral Sam Halloway

Eleanor sighed. “You sell a hard bargain, Admiral.” There was a hint of a smile in the corner of her lips. “Look… I’m absolutely sure that there are others out there that are just as qualified, if not more, for the job than I am, but I’ll talk to Malcolm about it. I can’t promise you a reply just yet. Not until I talk to him about it and see what he has to say. I’m sure you understand.”

“Of course Eleanor…” Halloway smiled brightly. “… I understand completely. I’m sure that there would be something that would strike his fancy. Trust me on that! OED isn’t the backwater dump it was ten years ago! This place is sharp and clean… HHI has poured, literally, billions into the colony over the last year! We’re really going places. I want you both to be a part of it!”

“I do have one condition though.” Carnegie continued. “In the event that I do take you up on your offer… and that’s in the event that I do. I am not saying one way or the other right now… I can take my crew with me, should they so wish to go. That includes Lieutenant Thunderhawk, that you’re already familiar with, and Lieutenant Hudson, who, if I am correct in my understanding, is… your old friend’s brother. I want to make sure there’s no issues with that… and if you trust me that much, you’d also know that I run a tight ship. They are nothing short of exceptional.”

Maj. Eleanor Carnegie

“That goes without question Eleanor.” Halloway said smartly. “We hire the commanders… then the commanders help us fill their rosters. You can hand-select whomever you want from where ever you want.” There was a pause and snicker. “That includes Thunderhawk and Andy Hudson… as so long as you promise that they won’t break the new toys! As for Civs, of course, need to get their clearances but Fleet & Marine personnel in good standing with Allied Forces have contract buyouts and direct commissions waiting on them.” There was a glimmer in Sam’s eyes. “Many find they come over with a few extra pips!”

“Also, when it comes to equipment…” The Admiral practically beamed. “… we have access to the very best! If you need something, it’s yours. You wanna keep something… bring it with you, we’ll cut the check!”

Admiral Sam Halloway

Everything seemed way too good to be true. Either OED’s CCDA was swimming in credits, or Halloway really wanted her there. It at least meant that she could bring her ship with her, and somehow Carnegie suspected that that had been the exact reason behind the former pilot’s words.

Eleanor nodded. “Give me a few days and I’ll have an answer for you. But again, I am not making any promises.” Carnegie shot a meaningful look at the woman on the other side of the screen, before a thought crossed her mind. “Oh… and another thing… I know you are aware but… since you’re just the recruiter and this is not a Starfleet position…” The recon pilot sighed. “Is my colorblindness going to be an issue? I’ve had to sign my fair share of wavers during my career… I know the general sentiment. I just want to make sure that the CCDA is okay with the prospect of having a colorblind pilot within their ranks.”

Maj. Eleanor Carnegie

Sam smiled a kind, gentle smile. “Eleanor, if I didn’t want you here and I had any… and I do mean any reservations about you coming to OED and flying for Devri, I wouldn’t have asked. With the convertible cockpits in the new, top-of-the-line Tempies Raven secured for us… color-blind pilots can fly anything in the arsenal, from fighters to the Astro Control Service’s largest light craft.” There was confidence in her smile. The woman was laser focused and Carnegie would feel it.

Halloway’s casual mention that colorblindness was not an impediment to flying the new Tempies was not lost on Eleanor. Her heart skipping a beat at the thought that maybe she could finally become a fighter pilot. Yet, the thought was immediately crushed at the idea of leaving Sloan and Badger behind.

“Do you have any other questions of me, Eleanor?” The Admiral asked politely.

Carnegie shook her head. “No Ma’am. I’ll let you know as soon as I make a decision, one way or the other.”

“Now, with that out of the way…” Halloway grinned broadly. “… I’ll let you get off of here and think about your future here in the CCDA. You have a wonderful day Major. I look forward to hearing from you soon! Halloway clear.” With that, the Starfleet Communications symbol was once again the only thing on the screen.

Sam Halloway, ACS

Eleanor nodded. “Thank you, Ma’am.” And with that, Halloway was gone, leaving a stunned Carnegie behind, staring at an empty terminal.

It was the feeling of the damp towel she was still holding that brought Eleanor back from her torpor, realizing that she was already late. Quickly finishing her hair, putting her shoes on, and placing her towel back on the replicator, Carnegie took off for Malcolm’s quarters.

Five minutes later she was pressing the chime to the CAG’s door. There was no banter on her part, rather the seriousness of her expression would tell him that there was something on her mind.

Maj. Eleanor Carnegie

The moment Malcolm opened the door, he opened his mouth to greet his fiancée but immediately stopped the second he saw her. Seeing the look on her face, Malcolm decided against harassing the woman for her late arrival and instead asked as he moved them both into his quarters.

“Ellie… my love… what’s going on? Is everything OK? You were supposed to be here 20 minutes ago.” Mal looked over his shoulder at the paused MLB logo on the screen. “We’re all good to go here… but dinner might need to be reheated.” Leaning against the bar, he added “Talk to me Baby…”

LTC Malcolm Dawkins

“Oh.. it’s alright… I’m so sorry I’m late.” Eleanor said looking around and planting a kiss on Malcolm’s lips as way of greeting. Stepping back, she looked at the food that her better half had prepared and that had been waiting for her for the past twenty minutes.

“So…” Eleanor started, mindlessly arranging the food so that it could be reheated. “I just got a job offer…” She looked at Malcolm expectantly.

Malcolm looked momentarily dumbstruck. “You got a what?! From who… from where…!?!” There was the slightest hint of panic in his voice. The couple had only been together on this current assignment a few months and the thought of being without Ellie again made the man feel as though the deck plating was falling away from under him.

With a tired sigh, she continued. “I just got off a call with none other than Samantha Halloway… I’m sure you remember her from the Chimera.” Eleanor worked on the food as she spoke. “She uh… wants me to work for Devri Hudson… Black Sheep’s sister… as commanding officer of the surveillance and recon squadron she’s putting together on OED V.” Eleanor sighed again. “Of course, I told her that there was no way I was taking the position and leaving you behind and she asked if I’d reconsider if they found a job that you’d like on planet… civilian or military, she couldn’t promise one way of the other.”

The Marine looked as though he’d been slapped and then, as a smirk grew across his face… knowing that, at the very least, he wouldn’t be losing Ellie… Mal asked in a more relaxed tone. “Sooo…” He began, leaning against the kitchenette counter. “… what’d you tell ol’ Loose Canon Halloway?”

Eleanor shrugged. “I’m flattered but… I don’t know… she did say I could take whichever crew I wanted. Even Smoke.” She chuckled, before looking tiredly at Malcolm. “So, now that I dumped all of that on you just like I had it dumped on me, any thoughts?”

Maj. Eleanor Carnegie

Dawkins sighed, rubbing his hand across his closely cropped hair. “It’s really up to you Babe…” He smiled softly. “… my contract is up next month and I had planned on resigning for another six but…” Another sigh. “… there is no promise that in a year or two, Command might split us up again.”

Walking over to Ellie, Malcolm put his arms around her, squeezed her in a tight hug then kissed her. “If it meant knowing I’d always wake up next to you… I’m all for it. That is, if you think it’s something you really wanna do Baby.” His warm brown eyes looked down into hers as it was his turn to shrug. “When it comes down to it, being with you and seeing you happy is all that matters Love.”

LTC Malcolm Dawkins


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