A Flight Attendant - page ten

10

Breakfast was various snacking things that could be eaten around the Computer and with the Filter Coffee machine storing nearly half a Gallon of Coffee the pair could float in and out of the usually darkened room as they liked. Before doing anything maintenance was needed on the various bits of Hardware, the Servers and Clients and Storage; plugging in the new hardware was not going to be 'Plug and Play' straightoff. Neither of them could be bothered to do much outside of the Bed for the last 14 hours, 'You need to make a call?' He asked.

'I could do it by text and that's about it, but no I've no need.' The Toast was Crunchy, just like the Peanut Butter.

'When do you have to be back?' Two questions, he hadn't held back.

'I don't. I'm yours. Marry me.' The flat tone didn't come across as sarcastic.

'Thanks pal, I'll decline. How's the White fluffy thing.'

'Nice, I like Bathroom Robes. We're going to make this broadcast?' Future determinism, she'd been reading a lot on the subject.

'Their is one over the Satellite, but the exact same thing is going out over "American World Today" just after the program start, we'll get set up for that.'

Cassy got back into her Fatigues and joined him back in his Computer Room, the information wouldn't be changing in a 24 Hour window for a while until the system was up and running. The small Plug-in blinked away as expected and then the News Show broadcast over the Net. came on and a change in the light sequence indicated it was waiting for an Ultra quick File reception and nearly a minute later blinked in Amber and then Red to show a success.

'I have to get to the Base for a full report later today so you can help me write up the written section and then we can go through what I'm supposed to say about all this.'

'So these Files are going to someone else?'

'No, the man in charge wants sight of anything relevant, but this is my communication really. Are you getting to the Base with me?'

'Yes, of course. I can stay with you until the Phone rings with something else, if I stay here I'm getting paid by the Military rather than an Airline and I've only a Computer and a Home to get back to other than that.' He had been nice last night and the Sleep was Okay as well, she wouldn't mind 'sight' of the material that had been broadcast herself.

'I'll show you round the place while we're there, the Noticeboard has an updated list of open activities to join in with and of course I would really like the company for a while, if not longer.'

'I need a High Street for some more Clothes today or tomorrow.' Not wanting to stress him out, but she had travelled about as light as was possible.

'No problem, you'll have to pay out for a Taxi. When he turns up at the Gate looking like a Taliban fighter at the wheel of a death trap try not to look too startled.' He smiled at her while running the Decrypt.

The Burst transmissions depended on the request from the operators, but what was requested was broadcast to all; useless information was in fact useful information any way. This selection was schematics and Video of a newly serviced Missile arrangement from North Korea whose details were now in the hands of the CIA before it was even hitched to its truck for placement. Quite a lot of material, none of it was of use to anyone else although the range and general capabilities could be summarised and put in as an Intel. brief to the highly ranked and very interested. Early afternoon wrapped up the presentations and a walk to the Base with a USB drive and a call to the Taxi company gave Cassy the Clothes, Accessories and Luggage for an extended stay and a look at the Noticeboard supplied a useful list of activity for the next 2 weeks.

The Taxi pulled up outside his semi-detached Cottage and he helped with what she'd picked up over the last couple of Hours. Now fully recovered he was definitely randier for the evening and night.

A couple of days had passed in quite a pleasant sort of a way although the Washing machine was fairly antiquated and no dishwasher, but the Chest freezer was fantastic, who would have thought that Bread could be frozen for so long and taste so good. The new system continued to work well with the up-to-date Crypto software, the new Hardware and what looked like fairly simple software that went along with it all, he was a nice guy and if not already she would be pregnant very soon, moves would have to be made.

The base had a Mili-Fit session that lasted 2 and a half hours from 11 am, Cassy left the 'very nearly a Cottage' and dawdled up to the barrier. A Peak cap was just about visible through the high slide windows, but the security features looked more prominent somehow; the curved mirrors and Cameras stood out and what could have been mistaken for a large Umbrella leaning unobtrusively against the back of the guard hut was now clearly recognisable as a Detector of some sort. A small backpack featuring one shoulder strap containing a Towel and change of Clothes plus a bar of soap and this was the accompaniment now, still the staff were very low key although the armaments were definitely there. This was to be Females only and open to anyone who could get there, but a guest instructor could be Male. Today the main instruction would be given by AI trained Bots with sufficient amplification to be heard while constantly monitoring the Heart and respiration. The dawdle didn't do much to make the physical exertion more attractive.

Running up and down, star jumps, medicine ball. 'All the usuals', although this was anything other than usual to Cassy and neither was the size of the training area or its complete lack of pleasant acoustics. Next door and onto some of the machines and weights the time went well, but the two hours were declared as a stopping point and the showers could be preferred. Putting in another five minutes, the showers now seemed like a good place to be over the exhausting gymnasium areas; a sit-down was also preferable.

Sitting down at a Terminal, 20 minutes of computer time with the desktop would be enough to sort out any outstanding communication and check in with the standing Itinerary which was empty, pretty much. She'd try to listen and pay attention to this guy a bit more. The amount of her time set aside had to have a reason other than he hadn't slept with anyone in quite a while.

Cassy tried to hide the slight hobble heading back toward the base entrance, it was a couple of hours before twilight, but two armed, uniformed men were nearly standing on the road and looking very alert as she stepped along the elevated path that ran beside the guard house. They again didn't give her any attention, the technology updated expected movements automatically these days and nothing unusual was expected at any time. The nervousness of the weaponized soldiers was catching though and she quickened the pace while swapping the gym bag to the other shoulder. Presumably they had the latest Facial recognition and X-Ray capabilities, but she would have to remain in Uniform to get in and out through this Gate and she made a mental note to ask about a locker to reduce the amount of luggage that needed carrying. Walking along a bit of Chicken Wire gave way to some knee high Green wire and then the Picket fence and Stone arrangement of the neighbouring houses. Not all of these accommodated Military persons, but the security vetting made sure they might as well be back in the Army; you wouldn't be able to sneeze around here without getting a Medical referral. The door wasn't locked and she dumped the Boots, it felt like it might rain in an hour or two, this was definitely England.

Cassy was in the Shower, the landline rang and he answered immediately as he was sat at the Desk. Back in her main 'other outfit' of a Towel Robe he passed the message. 'You can be at General Trenthe's Office at 4:30.'

'Okay.' She replied, not exactly convenient as she'd only just got back after a Gym session and some recovery time was slated in as the only thing to do for the rest of the day. Not left with much time Combat Fatigues and Boots were clearly going to be the most appropriate and the Phone could stay charging.

Trenthe's Office was easily found with directions from the General Office at the main Admin. block and she took a Chair outside with a good ten minutes to go, but the Door opened almost immediately and a smartly dressed Uniformed Soldier asked her to enter and stand in front of a Man behind the Desk, everything for her was still, 'At Ease' as she was not signed on as a Soldier, the Pay Remittance said she was an Administration Assistant.

'Hello Cassy you have a flight in less than five minutes to take you to an assignment that will last at least 3 Months and could go to 9. We might take a representation after 6 Months other than that it's a 'No-one needs to know' role. Follow the Officer and thank you.' Clearly the man didn't want to hear anything from Cassy and she followed the Uniform out toward the waiting area for the Chopper.

The Soldier had Pips on his Shoulder and carried a file and he sat next to her where they had a vantage point looking out toward a Military Helicopter. 'You will be a Remote Operator based on one of the newer Floating bases that mainly facilitates Copters and VTOL's; the thing can do other things as well and one of these is House a Remote Operation room. You'll be joining this within a week, but first you're going to be working at other places the first of which is the Control Room of the RQ-4 and you'll be helping out for about a day, supervised and under instruction of course. After that their'll be work at Fuelling stations and Computer Rooms before we get you to your Ship that could well still be in Port as it takes you on.' He presented her with the file and a Pen, 'Turn to the last page and sign.' He said and that is exactly what she did.

The flights took her between the Jobs that had been outlined and she joined the Platform Vessel by Helicopter at about an Hour after it's departure, no-one was there to tell her what she was doing, but heading for the nearest Door the Toilet was going to be the first Port of call.

The briefing went ahead and what they were there for was the Remote Operation of a Zumwalt Class ship that the Navy had built as a Fully and Semi-Submersible and Remote operation only Craft, the only people expected to be on board would be the Emergency Pilots, Dead Bodies and Unconscious Patients held in Medical stasis during transport.

She was 4 Months into this deployment, everything was automated. The Laundry ran by order from a console, the underwear was standard Blue and the Food could be ordered if you prefer. It was an incredible operation with the Zumwalt doing just as advertised, Surfacing to deploy the remote Helis. that in turn could let loose a Drone swarm or Fire off a Missile or more likely Surveil. Staying submerged for stealth and repositioning, surfacing to allow for temporary landing pad use, a full range of capabilities that required monitoring the whole time and then of course their was Missile firing that might not require anything altering for a good number of the weapons carried. Target acquisition was monitored by everyone on the main Screens and done by the higher Ranks, the only thing they didn't do was take out a vessel using the Gun. It had been Steered from the Port the whole time and was now finished with the Tour and was making good speed back to a Friendly Port Base for assessment and a possible re-arm. Left alone to Pilot and Monitor no-one was here to make lasting relationships and the relays included the RQ's and the Surveillance was usually by these. The option for getting off the Mini Carrier early was there although Cassy was quite happy to take the whole journey. Apparently the Mobile Phone was now fully charged and waiting at a Post Box at the disembarkation point. The communications were being seriously Nailed here and the efficiencies frightening to a casual observer, not an organisation you might want to get on the wrong side of.

One thing that was surprising was the non-use of the latest and greatest surveillance capability that went with lighter than Air materials. On release these things could Float up to extent of the Earth's atmosphere and of course just stay there available as a known reflective surface easily reading Ground activity. Maybe it was because this represented a hazard to Aviation and Space launches with enough of them released and could block the Sun. The most likely was because they would be of as much use to a potential enemy who could harness the characteristics given the upgraded and updated Tech. Fear was the main component Cassy reasoned and after all Stealth might be more useful as a deployable and re-callable resource allowing Humans to behave normally and without interference. Beside an adversary getting Wind of what the latest capabilities were could only add to a determination. They were not needed at the moment despite being the Coolest thing imaginable. Materials that just floated in the Air to the Altitude you might want depending on the Density set; just absolutely incredible.

Various messages were held in Text on the now pocketed Mobile device and the Hotel would allow her to deal with all these and the Civilian Clothing had been ordered and delivered to the Ship, just a normal person doing normal things back on Shore. Lots to communicate with and about, but 4 Months and she was definitely feeling as though an onset of Horniness was about to happen, it was by now closer to 5 Months away at Sea. The Dating Application was one of the first priorities from the Hotel Room. A good possibility was waiting, 'Male Government Employee' was the main brief. He would do, the forwarded Photo and suggestions for contact brought in a swift affirmation and the Afternoon of the Morrow was going to be a light late Lunch just out of the City near a recommended Hotel.