Colonization Protocols

Orders

"Andros how long have you been working for Redlands ? Fourteen years if I'm not mistaken. You know you can't always get the best. They could care less about your so called personal  policy These new guys have to start somewhere."

"I know Portsby. I just wish they'd start somewhere .......else." I replied with a toss of my hand.

"They start at the bottom. As far as the guys in the corner office are concerned that means us."

I met with my crew the next day as my ship the Exelon was sitting in space dock 24 and refueling. They trickled in around 6:00 AM.

I greeted them each by name as they arrived.

There was only one name unchecked and he was over an hour late. I was just about to leave when I caught sight of a disheveled young man who was carrying 2 large pieces of luggage on a cart.

I bit my lip and tried not to laugh as he attempted to carry both through the small airlock entrance.

Seeing me nearby he called out."Hey Buddy could you give me a hand?" he asked passing me one of his oversized bags.

"Sure." I replied leaning into the entrance.

As soon as I got hold of his bag it's extreme weight almost pulled me down on top of it as it fell to the floor abruptly. I heard the distinct sound of glass breaking and heard the man curse angrily as he jerked the bag back from my hands.

"Clumsy fool!" he yelled.

Opening its zipper shards of broken glass tumbled out onto the deck as he looked around for a waste can.

"Oh Crap! Do you have a trash can or dust pan? I can't believe you broke my beakers! I need to let the Captain know I'll need to replace those."

"OK. You must be Barkley?" I asked looking over the crew log.

"Yes, Jason Barkley." he answered searching the area for a can.

"There is no trash can here. It's inside but first I need to scan your ID."

Pulling it out of his shirt pocket he presented it to me annoyed and more than just a little angry as I verified its authenticity.

"Look I'm late and don't have time to clean all this." he said shaking out the last bits of glass from his bag onto the floor.

"I'm going to leave this here while I meet Captain Ziko. Andros Ziko. Do you know where his office is?"

"Yes. Upper deck through the red doors."

"Great! Well since you broke the beakers I'm going to leave the clean-up to you. Gotta it?"

He started walking away without waiting for my reply  before I said, "Oh ....Mr Barkley? Just one thing. The captains not there right now. It's customary on the Exelon that the Captain greet everyone who comes aboard."

"Greet everyone? You mean you're ...?"

"Captain Andros Ziko." I replied smiling.

"Oh , Captain Sir ....I had no idea. I mean I thought you'd be in uniform or something. I'm sorry I-"

"Mr Barkley I expect a certain level of RESPECT to be extended to ALL members of my crew. By the way, we each clean our own mess around here regardless of rank. And the rude behavior you've just exhibited will not be tolerated on this ship no matter WHO you think you are. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR ?" I said.

Lowering his eyes and swallowing deeply he nodded.

"We speak English on this ship Mister and when I ask a question I expect an answer!"

"Yes Sir!"

"Good Mr. Barkley. Find a dustpan and clean up your own mess!"

I pressed the button which both initiated the external door seal and retracted the passageway extension.

From inside I suspected Portsby was watching it all unfold on a monitor. He was somewhere on top deck probably laughing his head off. I only hope he wasn't recording it too.

I walked away and suppressed the urge to laugh at Barkley's reaction. I looked away and kept as serious a scowl as I could muster up frozen on my face. I did have to show him his place after all. In my business first impressions were often lasting ones.