Аннотация: A conversation with XO Presley. Disembarkation of part of the crew from the ship. A conversation with Darg.
Chapter 13.2 A conversation with XO Presley.
It's not for nothing that they say that repairs are akin to a fire, and moving is like a flood. We had something between the first and the second, at least my participation in the renovation of the infirmary was minimized: Dr. Chakvas quickly found a common language with the head of the brigade, and further action took place under her strict guidance.
Nihlus was moved to the captain's cabin during the repair of the infirmary, as the only one spacious enough to accommodate both the seriously wounded and the equipment that the doctor required. The "Norm" had cabins, but damn, they were so cramped! Interestingly, there were no sleeping capsules at all. I mean, they didn't exist in principle, and the crew lived in cabins designed for four or six reasonable people.
But the captain's cabin turned out to be an exact replica of the game prototype: a large, completely meaningless room with two work terminals, a double bunk, a round table of unknown purpose and three chairs. The funny thing is, the bed really was made up of two standard bunks, just pushed side by side.
Well, we pulled them apart, adapting one of them for a hospital room, bolting medical equipment to the wall. Nevertheless, Nihlus wound, despite the nourishment and accelerated treatment, was still severe.
After making sure that everything was fine with my colleague, I started solving a lot of problems that had befallen me along with the ship. And I started with the most problematic part of them. From the crew.
Reading the list of people who, by the arbitrariness of the command, ended up on board my ship, I slowly fell into a state of prostration. That's why there are five signalmen and three navigators on a small ship? What, one isn't enough? And why so many signallers? It would be nice if the ship was used for its intended purpose as a stealth frigate and a mobile command center, but no! They gave it to me.
Farther. They took off the combat squad, but they left eight parasites from the military police! That's why I have almost a ton of lightly armed meat on board, standing like a pillar at the door, and a special agent poking his nose where he shouldn't? You can't even send them into battle - they're not supposed to! Get away to the demons! Especially the special agent. That bastard even managed to eat my recipient's brains!
What's next? And then... thin out the crew. I won't touch the engineering section. You never know what this trough will fall off on the way. Pressley? I won't give it back. He's a great XO. There will be someone to take care of "Normandy". The Joker? It's not even up for discussion. Karin? Similarly. The butler? He's a mean-spirited brute, but he's useful, he knows his job, and he won't let you squander the good. He'll get up to his death. It remains. A full-time psychologist? Overboard! I mean, get off the ship. We have plenty of room, and we don't have much time left to fly to Alquera. People will last six months. Or leave it? I'll check with Pressley, he'll decide the fate of the ship's psychologist. The navigator? One is enough, and so the Joker sets the course. I asked him specifically. The co-pilot? But there isn't. Bad. I wonder if Garrus can pilot ships. I should have asked. So... what's there? The communications department. One is enough. I won't be in touch that often anyway. I don't have anyone to talk to. So-o... And what are the other parasites doing?
With this sacramental question, I approached the XO. Pressley, after listening to me, took one attentive look at my bestial face full of kindness and with an unwavering hand crossed out almost half of the crew. In total, the number of people was reduced from thirty-nine to twenty-one, counting the XO himself, Karin, Joker, the entire engineering team of seven engineers and Adams. And this is not counting the eight men from the military police and the special police officer, who still do not know about their good fortune.
"That's the minimum required, ma'am."
"Great."
"Commander. Let me ask you a question."
"I'm listening to you."
"I'm talking about the aliens on board."
So... it started. It's just not the right time. I'm on edge right now, tired, and my body is on the verge of exhaustion, because I'm blocking all its attempts to interrupt its energy supply. I'll say something else wrong, then I'll get tired of correcting the situation.
"Did something happen?"
"I don't understand the need for their presence on the ship."
That's a sensitive question. And it must be solved here and now. Pressley is kind of a smart guy, he should understand my arguments. However, even if he doesn't agree with me, he won't argue. Another thing is that arguments and real motivation are two big differences. But few people are interested in the true reasons, as well as my personal glitches. So the XO doesn't need to know them at all. It will be easier to sleep.
"Pressley. From this day on, I am a member of the Council. My field of activity is the entire Citadel Area and the territories adjacent to it. My mentor is Spektr Nihlus Kraik, a Turian. In any case, he will be by my side for many years. I hope you understand the need for mentoring?
"I understand that, Captain."
"That's fine. As for the other aliens. I will work with those with whom I deem it necessary to work. If I need to, I'll take vorcha's squad to the ship. Garrus Vakarian and Urdnot Rex have been accepted by me into the landing group, which is resplendent for its absence. The command left me only Williams and Alenko."
And here Pressley was genuinely surprised. He knew Kayden pretty well and had an idea of what kind of fighter he was. The XO was not familiar with Ashley, but he understood that two people were not an amphibious group, but one name.
"Garrus is an excellent sniper. Rex is a Master of War. I assume you know who the Krogan Masters are and what it costs to get them."
"I know." The XO sighed. "What about Darg and Dylan?"
"I managed to get them back and now they are officially serving under my command."
"I understand you, Commander."
"If you have any questions about the aliens on board or any problems with the crew, let us know."
"Yes, Captain."
"Pressley, there is one more point that I would like to resolve before you take off on your first flight."
"I'm listening to you, ma'am."
"I will speak honestly and without embellishment." the XO flinched slightly from this start, quite reasonably expecting some kind of setup, and I did not disappoint his expectations: "I was appointed commander of "Normandy". Officially. But I can't be captain. I have not received any specialized training and have very vague ideas about what is required for the normal functioning of the ship and its crew."
The sincere relief of the XO, who took my appointment to the post of captain of the ship very cheerlessly, went through my tender and tense nerves with a pleasant coolness. That's wonderful!
"I understand it."
"I am very pleased with this, because I want to transfer the duties of captain of the Normandy to you."
Pressley was taken aback by this turn, but quickly pulled himself together.
"Excuse me, Captain..."
"Pressley, I'm a Spectr. Yes, I retain the official status of captain, but you will have to take over the actual management of the frigate. There is a high probability that I will be leaving the ship for days and weeks. Maybe for months. "Normandy" cannot remain for such a long time without leadership. You know the ship. You know the crew. I just don't see a better candidate."
The XO thought about it. In fact, I left him no choice, just pinned him to the wall when I signed my insolvency as captain of a spaceship, adding information about frequent absences from above.
"My interests relate exclusively to my squad and my work. I need the ship as a vehicle and a mobile base, nothing more. There is a very high probability that I will need to transfer to other ships for a long time, which is unacceptable for a captain at all."
Pressley nodded slowly.
"I will deal with the issues of "Normandy" maintenance at your request, but I will not have time to deal with the crew and their problems. Moreover, I do not want to be distracted by questions of discipline. I'm afraid my methods of conflict resolution may seem somewhat... inhumane. Think about it, Senior Assistant. While you're thinking, deal with the crew. If you have any problems, please let us know."
And on that cheerful note, I took off, leaving Pressley to digest what I said. Let him be puzzled if he doesn't want to get into trouble out of the blue. But they will be. They definitely will be.
An hour later, the military police and those who had been removed from the crew lists left the ship, and the commander received an order from me to settle the crew in their cabins. And I specifically specified that I would need at least three cabins for the alien crew members. Seeing my haggard face and angry eyes, the butler did not dare to argue.
After running through the "Normandy", I made sure that all the work was going on as usual, and the reasonable ones were settled in their cabins. Rex had given up the cabin and was now comfortably ensconced in some kind of utility room located between the hold and the arsenal. Does he want to live there? Let him live. His right. The butler didn't really resist either, just moved the boxes to another warehouse. I must say, Rex helped to free up his new living space and carried boxes along with the butler.
***
By ship's time, night had fallen, but for me, this crazy day was still not ending. Just think ... the first day at the Citadel, and already so many events. It's been a very busy day. At least I managed to take a nap on a bench in the Council Tower. I thought for a moment that Garrus had been running around the Citadel with me for the same twenty-four hours, and nothing happened. Kind of pretty bouncy yet. And that's it for me. It is necessary to stop the constant attempts of the body to cut off the leakage of energy and block the recharge.
Sprawled on a chair in the dining room, I pushed the whitish pasta around my plate with a spoon and couldn't bring myself to eat it. I was terribly hungry, but it's impossible to eat! I pushed the plate away from me and dropped my head on my crossed arms. There's simply no time to refit the dining room now, but as soon as we get back to the Citadel, I'll set up a proper kitchen and hire a cook. I don't think the Special Corps will refuse to pay for food.
There will be at least another six hours of work on the ship. The renovation of the infirmary has just begun: technicians literally half an hour ago took out the cladding panels and opened all the stuffing. And we were very surprised to find a wiretap there. I'd be surprised too if I didn't know.... They promised to get everything out. Both in the infirmary and in Dr. Chakwas' cabin, which is adjacent to it. But they warned that then they would have to work all night. When we get back, we'll have to sort out the whole ship.
I wonder if Udina will scream when she finds out that the "experimental and secret stealth frigate of the Alliance" is being gutted like a dead fish by Special Corps equipment? Probably, it will be. And the demons are with him, let him scream. At least there'll be a reason to eat my brain.
A chair creaked as it was pushed back, and the table shook slightly.
"Imrir, what are you doing?"
Oh, Darg has come. What does he want from me?
"I'm a little tired." I raised my head and frowned at my fighter. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
The captain's burden is heavy, isn't it? He chuckled. "Don't worry about it. You've been running around the ship for hours.
"It's necessary."
"I know what I need. Go get some sleep."
"The cabin is occupied." I said, frowning.
"And the old one?"
"And that's where Ashley was settled. At least I got the butler to move Tali out separately."
Derg laughed softly.
"Yes, it would be a scary neighborhood."
"Don't talk nonsense. Who would settle a Quarian teenager who had just left the Migrant Fleet with an aggressive xenophobe?"
"What's the big deal about this little thing?"
I sighed, scratched my head, blinked sleepily, and explained:
"Tali is a brilliant engineer who has not even begun to reach her potential yet. And we are flying on an experimental trough, which can easily fall apart in the run between relays. The fucking prototype!" I shook my head. "I hope you don't have any questions about Rex and Garrus."
"What kind of questions? A C-SEC officer and a Master of War. I'm actually surprised that Rex decided to ask for your company. By the way, who is the Saren he was talking about?"
"Saren Arterius. A living legend of the Special Corps. One of the best living Spectr's Council. A Turian, about forty-four years old, if I'm not mistaken. Smart, absolutely ruthless, practical, always achieves his goals. Very cruel. He hates humanity and the Alliance. He failed the first candidate for the Spectr from the Alliance. Initiated the Geth attack on Eden Prime. He is also Nihlus's mentor.
"A colorful personality." I appreciated the brief description of the Derg.
"Very. And they sent me after him."
"Behind him or behind his head?"
"And this will be decided by Nihlus. And I."
"I can hear the "but" in your words. Did you find out something?"
"Did you find out? No. I have certain guesses and doubts about Saren and his motives, but this is not the right place and time to share them."
"Is it important?"
"This is very important."
"Go to sleep. Anyway, Kraik is either sleeping or reading. Tomorrow you'll be nothing at all. I've been on my feet for over a day now."
I didn't argue, it was pointless. Sometimes Darg has a mother hen instinct. This time, I was his victim. And at such moments, arguing with him or appealing to the voice of reason is useless.