This One Just Became a Leadership Conversation

[prettycoolguy]

This is Spartan One-One-Seven broadcasting on an unknown communications array.

[ A few members of the team have seen the Master Chief around, but he hasn't made major contact before now. For most of the group, it's the first time they've seen this scarred face. And for one of them, it's far from the first. ]

I understand that this is a different world than the one I come from, and we have no way to return until we accomplish an... objective.

[ An objective that they all have only vaguely heard about from a weird hallucination. He doesn't have to say that part. They already know. ]

This being the case, I'm offering my skills.

I have significant experience leading teams on a variety of ops. I can work longterm on terrain like this. You can count on me in a fight.

But first of all, I do need to know who's in charge of this outfit.

[ Bless his entire heart. ]

Comments

[okayimin]

[ Just the most pained look. ]

Stone, I knew it. I've helped birth babies that fuss less than these giant warrior types.

[steelandtemper]

Unless he's gotten into a fight since the last time we talked—which is entirely possible, knowing him—I'm aware of the extent of his injuries. He'll be all right.

[prettycoolguy]

Thank you.

[okayimin]

[ plz. ]

It's the all right I'm worried about. I don't like not knowing the state of my crew when we don't know when or where something's gonna pop up at us.

[prettycoolguy]

Trust me. I've done more on worse.

[ He really is trying to be reassuring here. ]

I'll deal with it appropriately.

[okayimin]

If that's you trying to stop me from worrying, it's not working.

[ She's tired and war is heavy and long. ]

If you're still hurting later or if it gets worse, you come and find me. All right? I'd like to have a few more days of not having to watch good fighters die bad deaths.

[prettycoolguy]

All right.

[ He agrees. Maybe. If it doesn't get worse, he doesn't have to do it, right? But the truth is that he just needs some time to calm down. The social stress has been higher for him than the physical. ]

[steelandtemper]

If we see combat, he's more than capable of engaging.

[She likes you, Sis, but the Chief is her problem.]

[okayimin]

[ She sighs and rubs a hand over her face. ]

Him being capable of combat isn't the problem, it's what can go wrong after. I don't know what we got for healers. If shit really blows up and we need an amputation, I don't know if we'll have the supplies to keep him alive, much less upright.

[steelandtemper]

[Sigh.]

Sister, I'm fully qualified as a doctor, and I know the Chief from the cellular level on up. Believe me when I tell you any fight that's enough to kill him will kill the rest of us too.

[okayimin]

Comforting.

[ Her tone is dry, but it actually is a little. Some of the exhaustion eases out of her at least. ]

Well. I reckon I'll trust you on this. But if he's bleeding, at least get him to use that little bundle I threw at his head earlier. There's an elfroot poultice in there that'll help any cuts heal cleaner.

[steelandtemper]

You threw something at his head and I missed it?

[okayimin]

Could try again for you if you like.

[steelandtemper]

No, he'll be ready for it now.

[okayimin]

Too bad, felt nice to do it. Normally ones as big as him walk around in a druffalo load of armor, they don't even notice when you chuck something at 'em.