(no subject)

[malnosso]

Attention, Region Six. A draft is scheduled to commence on August 25th for five days following. Your location will be the West Central Ocean, en route to Kano Harbour via three ships. Choose a suitable captain for each, and the pilots will be programmed to follow your orders. Don't waste my time with incompetence, either. Put in charge only those who deserve it.

These are the residents who have been selected to participate.

[As usual, the list posted HERE is offered in text form, sans the mun names.]

Your mission is to protect the cargo ship above all else. Within three days you will reach your destination. Opposition numbers, rank, and skill are impossible to predict, however, their equipment often prevents them from attacking at night. Remain on guard, but take advantage of the respite you may receive by night. Upon reaching the harbour, the cargo will be unloaded. You are to continue protecting it until it is safely out of range of their attacks. I would advise against swimming unless you want to die.

For those of you who were involved in the last draft, I have only one thing to say: your performance was acceptable.

Over and out.

[Once again, the commandant will not reply to anything but draft-related questions or particularly inspiring comments, so if you're looking for a response, be sure to give her something worth answering!]

Comments

[voice]

[simplestgift]

Of course. I'll keep you on his ship. And you can still be sergeant of the marines.

[voice]

[herotypical]

...I don't even know what that means, Archie.

[ frustration! not at him, but at herself. she hates this lack of knowledge. ]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

The marines are, well, sort of the army presence on board a ship. You would be their leader.

[voice]

[herotypical]

...I'll talk to him about it.

[ not that she doesn't trust archie, per se. but she's all shades of uncertain.

and she's clearly crossed over into simply not bothering to say jack's name at all. ]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

Of course. This is all speculation, in a way. I'm only making a list.

[voice]

[herotypical]

...If I can't be with the Captain then -- then if your list does become the game plan? I'd at least have to be with Giles.

[ her voice tenses on the name. buffy has learned some more bad news -- something that has managed to blow losing dawn straight out of the water. ]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

Buffy, there aren't enough people in the village to fill every position on any rated ship. I'll put you with Jack. He won't have it any other way.

[voice]

[herotypical]

A very wise man once sang that you can't always get want you want.

[ snerk. ]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

You can when a good friend is in charge of recruiting.

[voice]

[herotypical]

I believe they call that patronage, Archie Kennedy.

[voice]

[simplestgift]

[He sighs.] I will do what I can. At the moment, I see no reason you cannot have your preference. You're not a sailor.

[voice]

[herotypical]

...My resume's got me coming up a bit short, yeah. So preferences'll be nice. Appreciated.

[voice]

[simplestgift]

You're welcome.

[voice]

[herotypical]

...They're all throwing their hats around.

[ she comments, finally, with a pang of envy. ]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

It's what captains do.

[voice]

[herotypical]

You mean...behave like twelve year olds arguing over who has the coolest Pogs collection?

[voice]

[simplestgift]

You're not going to become a captain if you have no ambition. Any officer craves a command of his own.

[voice]

[herotypical]

...And here I thought it was a raw deal coping with cravings for barbecue chips.

[ if possible, her flippancy is at twice the potency tonight. ]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

Well, you understand, at least.

[voice]

[herotypical]

Partially.

[ the difference being that she rarely had to fight for her command. oh, but when she did... ]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

It's like wanting anything else. You have to want it very badly in order to get it.

[voice]

[herotypical]

...But wanting's not enough. Not really. Not in the end.

[voice]

[simplestgift]

No. But you won't get it if you don't.

[voice]

[herotypical]

Come on. There's gotta be at least one captain in the navy who's had a command thrust unwanted on him. Unasked for.

Re: [voice]

[simplestgift]

None that I've heard of. Not the posting itself, at least. A first lieutenant might make acting-captain, but it isn't likely to further his career.