That condition persisted, even when the group included the E7 Yeoman, Gross, who was Stores Chief. At ten to a class, Peters had expected to need the rest of the llor and part of the next to finish up; as it was, by fifth meal time he was escorting the last group of juniors, including both Nolan, who seemed fully recovered, and a subdued and attentive Tollison, out the door, with only the senior chiefs left for tomorrow.
He was eating when Todd came up and seated himself. “Hear you had a little excitement.”
Peters grunted. “Hnh. You could say that, I reckon. Wish you hadn’t reminded me, I’m afraid I ain’t gonna sleep too good as it is.” He shook his head. “It’s a Hell of a long way to fall in all directions, out there.”
“I guess it must be.” The waiter began setting dishes in front of Todd, today’s Standard Human Meal. “So just what did happen today? Scuttlebutt’s coming in several flavors.”
Peters described the incident in a few words, minimizing his own role. Todd frowned and shook his head, but didn’t say anything. “So what’ve you been up to today?” Peters asked after a few moments of silence. “I been took up with suit instruction the whole llor.”
“Got the Chiefs all fitted, and then we were getting the airplanes put away,” Todd told him. “We’ve taken over hangars three and four. Tomcats forward, Hornets aft. Plenty of room, they’re rattling around in there.”
“You get all the gear stowed?”
“You have to be kidding.” Todd shook his head. “We might just barely get it all done before the officers get back. Last I saw, Warnocki and that Chief Storekeeper, what’s his name—”
“Gross. Met him today.”
“Yeah. Warnocki and Gross were having a knock-down-drag-out over the welding gear. Warnocki wants it where it is, in one of the hangar shops, but Gross wants it stored in the compartments under enlisted berthing where somebody can keep an eye on it.” Todd paused for a couple of bites. “Man’s got a point, some of that wire’s worth a bundle.”
“Ssth. I’m pretty sure theft ain’t gonna be a problem.” Peters’s coffee came, and he took a long sip. “Somethin’ else you’ll be interested in. Got a look at the bridge.”
“Yeah? What’s it like?”
“Just big windows and the ship’s wheel, well, one of them arrowhead things, like on the dli, only bigger.” Peters gestured to indicate how big. “Cap’n had a screen in front of him, I dunno what it did, but the rest looked—” he shook his head, grinned, and held his palm out to indicate his surroundings. “I guess consistent is the word.”
“You met the captain?”
“Seen him. We wasn’t introduced.” Peters took another sip of coffee.
Todd said musingly, “You know what I’d like? I’d like to go outside. You feel up to giving me a look around?”
Peters thought about that. “I don’t mind,” he said. “But I don’t think we oughta just pop out the door without tellin’ somebody.” Todd looked at him, questioning; Peters frowned and went on, “Today was an emergency, and the truth is I didn’t really think before jumpin’, but what if the ship moves while we’re goofin’ around, for instance?”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Todd admitted. He shook his head. “You know, Peters, I think I know why you have trouble sometimes.”
“How’s that?” Peters wanted to know when Todd didn’t complete the thought.
“You’re bright as Hell, but it takes people a while to appreciate it,” Todd said. “Th’ hillbilly acksent thows ‘em off, ah reckon.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Evenin’, Chief,” Peters greeted Warnocki, who was waiting for the elevator.
“Assuming ‘morning’ and ‘evening’ mean anything here, good evening, Peters,” Warnocki said agreeably. “Todd,” he added with a nod. The elevator came, and the chief eyed them as they were clanking and bumping down. “You mind giving me a progress report?” he asked calmly.
Peters flushed. “Sorry, Chief, had somethin’ on my mind. Everybody’s been fitted for suits and got the first shot at learnin’ how to use them. Tomorrow we start on figgerin’ out the controls and how to move around.” He thought a moment, looking at the door without seeing it. “Might be best if you and the other Chiefs came in the first group, if it’d fit your schedule,” he suggested.
“Yes,” the chief agreed. “I’ll speak to Master Chief Joshua about it.” The door opened, and they came out into the ops bay before Warnocki went on: “Hear you had a little trouble today.”
“Aw, nothin’ to speak of, Chief,” Peters said, flushing again. He looked around. “Well I be damned. You folks’ve been right busy, Chief.”
Warnocki eyed him sidelong. “Yes, I’m not real popular right now. I didn’t really believe you when you told us what to expect. I’m not sure what I did expect in outer space, but a week of field days wasn’t it.” There was no clutter at all on the deck, and a couple of sailors were pushing brooms, with others picking up dirt in shovels as it was collected. “Do you know where we ought to put the stuff we pick up?” Warnocki went on after a few steps. “It didn’t seem right to just fling it overboard.”
“No, I don’t, Chief,” said Peters.
When it became obvious that he wasn’t going to continue, Warnocki glanced at him, half a smile quirking his lip. “Ask somebody and report back to me.”
“Aye, Chief,” said Peters. Then, sotto voce: “This is hard.”
Warnocki’s smile was fully evident. “I’m familiar with the problem,” he said wryly. “You’re brighter than you act, but from what I hear about what happened today I think you could use a few pointers. You want to come up to my quarters and talk about it?”
“I’d appreciate that,” said Peters.
“You, too, Todd, you’re in an even worse position.” Todd dipped his head and followed along.
“Take a seat,” Warnocki offered when they reached his room. Todd and Peters sat, and Warnocki pushed his desk chair over to the table. He leaned back, folded his arms across his chest, and regarded the two sailors, remarking mildly, “You know, I’m not sure putting crows on the suits was a good idea, at least at first. We could have done it later, and it’s confusing things a little, wouldn’t you say?”
“Hunh.” Peters grasped his head in his hands and brushed backward, pulling his hair tight and ending with a pseudomassage of the nape of his neck. “Chief, I think you’re right.” He shook his head and looked up, meeting Warnocki’s eye. “We been on board sixteen llor, near enough three weeks, and we know things could help everybody, but seems like every swingin’ dick we meet’s countin’ chevrons an’ sneerin’ if somebody comes up short. I reckon it’d've been better if they sent you and Master Chief Joshua up here instead of us.”
“I don’t think so,” said Warnocki with a twinkle, then grinned. “From all I hear, you two’ve been turning to right smartly, and neither Leon nor I would’ve been quite so willing with a swab.” More seriously, “It might’ve been better to send a First Class and a Second rather than a Second and a Third, but hindsight’s always better.”
“I think that’s one of the problems, Chief,” Todd put in. “I don’t think anybody realized at first just how top-heavy the detachment would be.”
“Interesting point, if I see what you’re getting at,” the Chief said. “You want to work on that thought a bit?”
Todd shrugged in frustration, held his hand out to gesture around. “Well, look at it, the detachment I mean. Two hundred people; if we had that many for something normal, what would it be? Probably a hundred seamen and Thirds, maybe fifty or sixty Seconds, and a Chief to head it up. What we’ve actually got is six seamen…”