Starfire
Copyright© 2025 by UtIdArWa
Chapter 9
Later that afternoon, the word went out that Thad was going to start interviewing pilots for the Red squadron. The largest conference room on board was scheduled for the next morning.
In the meantime, Thad decided that he should take care of some personal business. Personal and professional business. So, he headed for the Electronics shop.
Susan had just finished her team’s daily after-work meeting. She used these meetings to advise them on what they had accomplished and what was expected for the next day. They would have another meeting in the morning to review the teams’ individual assignments.
Just as she was dismissing her team, the front desk called over the speaker. “Susan, Ms. Collier, you have a visitor at the front desk.”
Everybody looked at Susan, and a collective “OOOOO” could be heard.
Blushing Susan looked around and said, “What? So, I’ve got a visitor. Big deal.”
A voice from the back of the room called out, “Could it be that cutie pie you punched at the canteen the other night?”
Susan blushed even brighter as she turned and fled the shop.
When she got to the front desk, she was surprised, and strangely happy, to see Thad Sawyer standing there, a big grin on his face. Meanwhile, Sadie, the receptionist, was smirking behind her hand.
“Mr. Sawyer, can I help you with something?” Susan asked.
“If I’m not interrupting anything, I’d like to have a few words with you,” he said, glancing at Sadie, who was unashamedly listening in. “In private, if possible.”
“Sure,” Susan said, “We can use the conference room.”
As Thad closed the conference room door, he saw that Sadie was holding her thumb up.
Susan had sat down by the time Thad turned around. “Please have a seat, Mr. Sawyer.”
“Call me Thad, can I call you Susan?”
“Yes, please do. What can I do for you, Thad?”
“You know that I’ve been given command of a squadron of Starfires?”
“Yes, that’s become a hot topic around the ship.”
“How much do you know about them?”
“Starfires? Not much, but the electronics are pretty standard, except for the weapons systems. I’m afraid I’m clueless on that, and the power plants are an even bigger mystery.”
“That’s OK, I was just wondering about the avionics packages. Do you think you could handle keeping them up and working?”
“Well, I’d have to do some reading of the tech manuals, but yeah, I guess I could figure them out.”
“Great, when can you start?”
“Start? Start what?”
“Your new job, that is, if you want it. You’re the Avionics chief for the Red Squadron.”
“I’M WHAT?” Susan exclaimed loudly. Then, remembering big ears could be listening at the door, she continued in a normal voice. “What avionics chief? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Look, Susan, I need an avionics specialist, and not just any specialist. I need someone who can think outside the box. What we talked about last night showed me that you and I think alike. You are just as unconventional when it comes to sensor packages as I am, and that’s what I need.”
“I don’t know, Thad, I mean, this is kind of sudden. I’m not even sure if I can handle it.”
“Susan, if I didn’t think you could handle it, I wouldn’t have offered. But let me offer this: you take some time. Think about it, talk to your friends and family, see if your husband agrees.”
“I’m not married.”
Thad grinned broadly. “Really? I didn’t know that. Still, take your time, think about it.”
“When do you need my answer?”
Thad paused as he was leaving the room. Looking over his shoulder, he said, “Tonight, at dinner.”
“Dinner?” she blurted out.
As Thad stepped out of the room, he said, “Yup.”
When he looked over at Sadie, he gave her a thumbs-up.
When Susan finally stepped out of the conference room, she was greeted by Sadie and her team. They were all grinning at her.
Before she could say anything, the group started pressing her for details. The most common question was, “Well?”
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