Commander's Rounds

Entry 93: Adrift

"What I'm saying is, you should be available to give them a second opinion, too."

Albert needed a moment to consider what Melissa was telling him. "I don't see why they wouldn't necessarily trust your professional expertise. They surely should respect your own opinions on the matter."

Melissa took a sip from her coffee. "Yeah, but it's the professional expertise of someone working on behalf of someone else who wants to take their money, you see."

"Understood." Albert leaned back in his chair. "While I understand the conflict of interest some Kansen may be concerned about, I hardly see what makes me qualified to assist in your professional endeavors."

"It's not like I'm asking you to work in the shop- between your job and all your girlfriends, you've certainly got your literal and figurative hands full. Just... Say something if they ask you all right?" She picked up her orange scone. "Besides, you're an honest guy who also likes the, ah, ample ladies."

Albert tapped the table with one finger for a moment. "I would like a clarification." He then leaned forward again. "Did- Did you just say that I like big butts and cannot lie?"

Melissa sputtered and nearly choked on her coffee. "You did that on purpose! Anyway, have no room to talk seeing how down bad I am for St. Louis, but... Just help a girl out all right?"

"Of course." He finished his coffee. "After all, that does seem to be the reason we're here, from the commander all the way down to us, and we both serve a vital purpose."

"Seriously?" She replied. "You're involved in combat and strategic planning, and I..."

"In some capacity, yes." He replied. "However, cultivating good relations with the Kansen and helping them feel like a part of our world has importance beyond the duration of any single military conflict." He looked at his phone. "I must be going. Consider what both I have said and what the Kansen tell you."

Melissa let him go without a word- she had things to think about.

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Albert sat down on a couch in the commander's office.

The commander wasn't there this time, as he had to take ships and start doing training for the riverine assault that they were going to be making against the Rebel Kansen. The commander wanted them cleaned up as soon as possible before making any big moves against Tester. The fact of the matter however, is that this had left Albert's inner circle somewhat depleted. The commander had taken Foch and Eugen with him specifically so they could show him and Kronshtadt exactly what kind of tricky defenses the rebels might have put in place to stop or slow down any attackers.

However, the others were also away from home for one reason or another, on some assignment or commission or other duties that took them away from the port, leaving him on his own to complete the work that the commander left him. Albert found himself strangely at sea when being a loner was something that suited him not too long ago. He shook his head, and sighed.

Enterprise looked up from the commander's desk- He'd given her permission to use his chair while he was away. "Is there something the matter, Leutnant Kesler?"

He put the binder in his lap. "Nothing in terms of the reports, just... Thinking about them."

Enterprise responded, "You don't need to worry about their return- Kansen who have a reason to live have a greater ability to continue to do so."

Albert blinked. "I didn't know you thought about things that way."

Enterprise looked up from her papers. "It's actually a scientific fact proven by Yuubari- Kansen who form strong bonds become more capable with their weapons and equipment. We don't know how it works aside from that it's somehow related to the cubes, but there are many things we don't understand, even about ourselves."