A Flight Attendant - page six

6

Cassy loves Men, that is a fact that might be true to say and now here she was in the regular company of strong, virile Males who regularly use and carry firearms. Not exactly a case of the Female choosing the victor in conflict when the upper hand is decided from the inception. Back to the Caravan for the sitting Vice President and an extension, enhancement and escalation is planned according to the morning meeting, the Video call taken back in her room informed her otherwise. 'People are going to be moved about and you could be one of them. There is an extra visit arranged along with an extra night at a Hotel, but the number of people arranged in the Caravan was to stay static with some moving in while others reassigned.' Loosely translated, the budget planned could not be afforded. The VP's management overestimated any popularity that might be attached to the person currently in the role.

'We're switching driver and vehicle on you tomorrow afternoon, it'll be a long drive.' So that was that, the new career as support for a Politician was not going to be possible as real Politicians edged out 'also-rans' and 'contenders' to install the options they might prefer. One thing about the modern Spy arrangement meant that people weren't 'Spooked' or 'Creeped out'; so few real credentials followed Cassy this was the most likely reason for the Itinerat change.

En route and well settled, the search resumed for a good trade off between upgrading the Home arrangement and investing in something to return better than Bank Interest rewards. People who weren't fools suggested the best investment was the property as where you lived gained in value and any upgrade, sideways move or downsize had a reward whatever the state of the Market Indexes. Cassy wasn't fooled, somewhere to live and a good Bank Account had been more than enough so far and what was betting a High Interest account would outstrip the chance of a failed domestic drainage system. The Airline had assets, but the Agency quite simply didn't. It was rumoured they only took on anything of value so the incoming new Management or Administration could strip them of it and claim to have saved the Tax Payer the Millions upon Millions.

There was room to stretch out and the extra space available with the seat now empty beside her, all of it there once again just as the need subsided. Asking to sit up front with the driver did cross her mind, but accepting the luxurious position was the advisably preferred option and any compunction toward easing the boredom could wait, their was nothing much to chat about anyway. Online to the Agency Website a helpful notification popped up about the due check call and a simple 'Verify' button was there to make life easier. One thing was for sure using the Computer was a World away from envisaged Gunfights over and through Parked Cars.

A new task came in on the Organiser, some pages and files to look at and then an assessment to write up and what might make for a possible Press release and speech. All fairly straightforward kind of stuff and none of it too difficult or overly demanding. The subjects varied, but what to do about and with the Computer, IT situations tickled the creative centres the most and the answers given back reflected as much.

Early evening and another change of plan, a Hotel was the residence for the next few days but their could be a meeting mid-morning, venue TBA according to the now constantly updating Organiser application. Half an hour was the most time the Notifications could be turned off and Notes had to be entered regularly along with checking in with the currently active op. centre.

Breakfast at the Hotel found the Dining Room living upto it's online description and at the Coffee refill the meeting was confirmed for mid-morning at a Government Office a few minute walk. The messages she could read back in her Room revealed the details, a large online presence would be hosted through the table by the Military and would be about funding. Cassy would be with her Laptop which would give the answers to any queries or required resolves, the main Army bods. were a Colonel and a Major hosting and they recognised her position as 'CIA ops.', everyone else would not be given an introduction. No notes could be taken and a number of her Spy Masters would be recognisable on one of the screens. Twenty or so people would be at the Table/s. So that was it then, the future of 'Cake cutting' could be determined here, that and the overall size of the Baked Cakes produced. One thing for certain the budget for the Military weaponry would be increasing as per the recent announcement and CIA ops had to put their best efforts forward to ensure they didn't miss out. Cassy presented well, spoke excellently and wouldn't be Effing up so easily, should be a breeze or something and no need for excessive nerves. One pre-prepared answer was there, 'No increase to the Budgetary requirement is being requested and Equipment and Personnel costs might fluctuate due to Market conditions and inline with legislative instruction no assets have been acquired and none slated up for the next year, gauging success would be a question of assessing each and every manoeuvre and specific questions about each of these would be needed before they could be addressed and an adequate answer given.' Nothing much to worry about so far, anything that was not covered here would be in text on her Laptop, she could observe the meeting with a leisurely aspect, although paying attention certainly pre-requisite.

The Offices were within walking distance, but the local transit arrangement would do; a small carry case would take the Laptop and Phone. Plenty of Elbow room was there at the Desk arrangement and the meeting was now to be hosted by a Presidential official with reps. from the Defence Dept. and an out of Uniform Military Man, the main desk took about twenty. An introduction about the topic to be covered gave way to questions and it was not long before the 80+ attendees via Video were asking about Black Operational Sites. By inference if these existed then Black Operations also were taking place, it was not long before 'Someone from Ops.' was announced to be present and Cassy was asked directly for a comment.

'Thank you for your question, it is greatly appreciated. We can trace the linking of a description such as this back to the early 1990's and it was a Media construct then and is still one today. The site you mentioned has no actual Geographical reference, but if you would like to identify where you believe it is situated I could find the nearest Base that we actually have in that region. With regard to actual real events I can consult with the documentation I have available given more information. We have had independent scrutiny and those findings did not conclude raising anything actionable and the main overseers pointed out the origins of that set of actions were last Century.' That was that, thought Cassy, she was not going to Pussy Foot around the matter and they could suck on some forthright language for a while.

The reaction by some attending was not at all civil, guffaws were stifled and people had to have the Video muted. Order was brought about and after some discussion regarding the budget and an assurance that any concern would not be ignored while any Media inventiveness would be labelled as such, the meeting came to an end after about three and a Half hours.

Putting her very portable Computer away the Phone rang, she would be picked up outside in ten minutes to take her back to the Hotel for a change or whatever and then the Car would deliver her for a Dinner date on the outskirts of the City. Bit of a relief as Twilight was closing in although the Public transport had been a nice change. Seven or eight people would be there and Seafood was on the Menu along with a huge dessert. She must have done something correctly unless this was to lure her for a severe scolding over Caviar and Chips. Operations had a policy of recruiting those who were active and enjoyed the cut and thrust more than the cloak and dagger leading to actions as the result of any information or discussion and here they were going out for Dinner putting the huge resultant Bill on expenses the bottomless pit of Defence spending would settle. This new job for Cassy had to be the single best thing in the World, couldn't be anyone richer in the World even those with Yachts.

What a table for a Dinner party, two Spy Masters, one spy, three senior Military men and one Defence Department secretary and a Government Budgetary spokesman. Eight at the Table and Cassy was the only Female, the chances of getting laid had to be higher than the norm. Not having been in this kind of Social situation though, what the best way of going about it was she could only guess, perhaps not talking too much.

A pleasant evening was the result with not too much alcohol and a Military Man gave her a ride back to the Hotel where he left her, not exactly the anticipated outcome. She was not exactly quizzing the Browser about where to get hold of a good travel Vibrator locally, but in another two or so weeks things were going to get a bit more uncomfortable than she'd ever experienced. Getting used to that much Sex and then a complete lack of the same would lead to a self-help book and a new Vibrator. Maybe some clever communicating with a contact could bring on some amour. If their was ever a time to expect the unexpected it might be now and true to form nothing to worry about appeared and the evening finished with an early night going to sleep in Bed; alone.

The new update for a Month's worth of work included 2 days at an Accommodation Reception Desk and a meeting with a man from the D.O.D. An hour of time with this person had a clear day either side of it with the advice that a summary of the questions and or discussion/s would be forwarded beforehand and a transcript sent afterward, something new and interesting in this job all the time, definitely enough to pique the interest consistently. Looking at it, their was not much point in worrying if too much had been revealed ahead of reading the documents and of course what if she had come onto someone too strongly or had a button undone on the Blouse once too often; the number of times this had raised a comment was so far giving the total of one, but you never know.

Looking at the Jobs market and the economy, now was not the time to start investing in anything new and not one of the Property indicators made an accommodation change a good option; take the Cash and Bank it and this in itself was a difficult option. New Computer upgrades were the thing then and the supposed investment leeway disappeared into Technological advancement and subscription promises. The Data centres weren't going to pay for themselves, all hefty payouts and not a second thought given to exploring the dating site, it just all felt like too much hassle for too little reward and the secrecy about things did not help the attempts at conversation, some people were just too clingy and a bit overbearing.

A week into the schedule and the meeting got cancelled as did the Reception Desk work, much as the Market dip dictated everything was slowing up and the chance for the higher earnings disappeared. The Media subscriptions would now be more useful than ever with nearly half of the available time unallocated. The Phone rang, 'Remember I was hinting about Piloting?' The Mistress seemed more friendly after getting the attention she wanted.

'Of course, what's the arrangement; doesn't matter I'll go for it.' Cassy was nothing if not helpful.

'You can have a long weekend at an Airfield near me or arrange your own, I can accommodate.'

Just what Cassy did not want or need at the moment, 'I have a training school near me, I'll get to there. I'll be billing.'

'Yes, that's fine, I have other visits to make.' She didn't sound too disapointed, but was not putting other people forward for attention either, things had definitely changed in the last quarter, not only on the financial markets.

The Airfield was accessible through the Office and the Receptionist asked Cass. to take a seat to wait the few minutes until the appointment. A Man appeared from the door that went to the landing strip and greeted Cassy asking her to step into an Office which was just a separate Cabin back through the Door. He sat down and she sat opposite.

'Thank you for considering us for the Flying lessons, but we both know it's as easy as falling off a Log. Can I offer you a drink?' The Man was older than her, difficult to tell by how much.

'A soft drink would be alright, we're not flying?'

'Not today, I wanted to talk to you about Computer controlled devices, the Navy has a few gaps that could be filled with some careful picks. Their could be a range of machines that require monitoring and steering remotely from the things that fly to tracked vehicles and as it's the Navy there's Boats and submersibles.' He sounded serious but pleasant and not overly persuasive. He was not speaking, perhaps the void should be filled.

'These are for the Military, wouldn't they prefer someone with more experience at that?' Seemed such an obvious point.

'You've got along well with the people we have, what is your actual answer.' Fairly blunt that he was not going to take another evasion.

'I would love to, I'd jump at the chance.' Was she putting this over correctly. 'Yes, is what I mean. When can I start.' Definitely not a question.

'That's great.' He smiled. 'This is not going to be a rush job, nothing is going to happen quickly.' He got the soft drink he promised her. 'There's no working from Home with this, it's all location or site with prolonged time at Home because we don't want you Stewarding when we might need you quickly.'

'I see, do I communicate from Home though?'

'Don't worry, nothing's changed there; just don't expect to Pilot after a call, that would not be good and the network provider would be more informed than needed.

He had mentioned this twice now, must have been a glitch or something. 'I am looking forward to it.'

'You'll get a call then and it will be getting to a USAF base, which one I don't know, don't rule out a Helicopter from here, I've no idea.' Relaxing now he was clearly looking forward to a long conversation.

Drinking the fizzy Lemonade drink, Cassy didn't feel hurried to say anything at all. 'Those V22's do look classy, I bet that's a smooth lift.'

'It's that and more, the Autonomous version is not going to be part of the package we don't think, or as far as we can see. Mainly personnel transport and the guys prefer a person with them, I do as well come to think of it.'

What might their be to disagree with? A relaxing discussion gave way to some technical information about Flying machines and then goodbyes, a new role was there and it was going to be significantly fewer Hours for the same reward.

Back at her Home she looked at the dating site again, that could wait but the Gym in the morning after an early night would not.