Two months had passed since Kimberly had been pulled away from her desk and asked to work on an assignment by General Kosan Tammer. It had been the kind of assignment that on the surface level seemed simple enough but was actually much more complicated then one would imagine. What he wanted simply didn't exist – so it became Kimberly's responsibility to make it exist in whatever ways possible. Much as she had originally thought, the buildings he wanted were easier to design than the shelters. She had worked closely with engineers and builders and research and development to try and create the structures he'd requested and she finally had something to show for it. While they were only basic outlines and summaries, it was silly to attempt to move forward to more detailed plans without the General's opinion of what had been designed. If changes were to be made, now was the time to make them.
So when Kimberly arrived at her neatly organized desk that morning, she had reviewed the information once more and then forwarded encrypted copies to his office with a request that he contact her at his earliest convenience. Clearly Kimberly knew nothing of the man's schedule and wasn't even sure if he were on the planet or not. It seemed like a good plan to simply wait for him to contact her. Besides, it gave him time to review the information and formulate questions or requests.
Once that task had been accomplished Kimberly switched gears, her attention now focusing on other assignments. Kimberly was quite skilled at multitasking and there was no point worrying about something she couldn't move forward with yet. General Tammer would contact her eventually, she had no doubt of that and when he did she woould be one step closer to finishing the task he had given her.
Kosan's arms and legs burned intensely as he quickly ascended the thirty-foot cargo net. It was still relatively early in the morning and Kosan was just finishing up the physical examination of the Marine Expeditionary Skills Exam. Every member of the Royal Anzatan Marines from Kosan on down to the newest enlisted was required to pass a quarterly examination of academics, mental toughness, and physical ability. The exam was different from the semi-annual Physical Readiness Test administered to the Royal Anzatan Navy. The reason for the difference in standards and frequency was due to the nature of any Marine's mission. Responsible for being ready to forward deploy in support of the Anzatan Commonwealth or any allies at a moment's notice, the Royal Anzatan Marines maintained a rigid, august training and logistical support program.
As he reached the top of the obstacle, Kosan grabbed the long rope he would have to quickly pull himself along, upside down. If an operator fell from the rope, a cargo net was waiting to keep them from breaking any bones. Having already completed a two mile run, five-hundred meter swim, seventy-eight push-ups in one minute, one hundred and ten curls in two minutes, twenty pull-ups, and half the obstacle course, Kosan was running more on willpower than physical prowess. This part of the exam was designed to test the limits of a person's endurance. For the time being, the Brigadier General remained well above the 'satisfactory' time. Kosan's biggest leadership trait was that...he never expected to be the best at everything. In fact, he openly acknowledge that every member of the Royal Anzatan Marines brought their own specific abilities to the organization. However, Kosan did expect himself and every Marine to be able to excel at everything. Egos tended to run high amongst his people, but that was a side effect of grouping a number of Class-A personalities together. While largely benign throughout most of the Marines, it sometimes got out of control within TF 916. No matter - Kosan would rather reign people in than kick them in the ass to put out.
Reaching the end of the rope pull, Kosan grabbed yet another rope and free-rappeled down the thirty foot wall. The Thyferran only permitted his feet to touch the wooden wall once at the halfway point. Speed was any person's greatest ally on that particular obstacle. With his left hand, Kosan maintained the proper body position. His right hand was positioned near the small of his back and regulated the speed of his fall. Nearing the bottom, Kosan applied steady, firm pressure with his right hand. As his body slowed rapidly, he used his left hand to keep from flipping around. Approximately five feet from the ground, Kosan let go of the rope and fell to the soft sand. Turning, it was a three hundred yard sprint to a series of barbed wire stretched over the top of a low crawl obstacle.
As he reached the next obstacle, Kosan dove into the now muddy sand and quickly began pushing himself along. A common mistake in most obstacles was the excessive use of upper body strength to succeed. The best of athletes always had extremely strong leg muscles, period. Anyone that tried to tell you a soldier was not an athlete obviously never served in any type of combat unit. With his legs flat against the ground, Kosan pumped his feet and used his arms to keep his body flat until the pain all but subsided. Were his legs even still there? He had no idea - all feeling was gone.
After fifty meters of low crawling, Kosan reached the last obstacles. A series of logs at varying heights above the ground stood between him and the end. Literally jumping to his feet, Kosan grunted heavily as he used his arms to vault his lower body over each log, quickly. At the end of the obstacle, only one test remained. It was all well and good to have the endurance to make it through the physical examination with speed and precision, but Marines were expected to be able to do that and not suffer any degradation to marksmanship. Picking up the rifle, Kosan dropped to a knee. His arms and legs were shaking slightly, but the General took in a deep breath and pulled the butstock of the rifle tightly against his shoulder. Lowering his head, Kosan timed his breaths.
Inhale...
Exhale...
Inhale...
Exhale...
Quickly, the General noted that with each inhale, his sights went high. With each exhale, his sights dropped back on target - ideal positioning. The range was only about two hundred meters, so weather effects would have a negligible impact...particularly on energy weapons like the A-280. Two hits center of mass followed by two hits to the head - simulating a failure to stop - were all that the final part of the physical examination required.
Inhale...
Exhale...
Shot
Inhale...
Exhale...
Shot
Kosan adjusted his sighting to aim for the head of the target.
Inhale...
Exhale...
Shot, Shot
"Time! Safe and show clear."
Kosan didn't take his eyes off the target as he flicked the safety on and ejected the power cell. Coming to his feet, he handed the weapon off with his left hand. It was quickly collected by one of the exam proctors.
The proctor smirked slightly before clapping Kosan on the back. "Good enough for an Outstanding High, General."
Kosan turned to the proctor - a Captain from the 916. "You sound as if you doubted me."
"Well, you are getting a little old for this sir. Wouldn't want a General to hurt themselves out here."
Kosan laughed slightly. "You earned an Outstanding Medium yesterday, if I recall."
The Captain frowned partially. "I had a cold."
Kosan chuckled as he walked off to get some water. Caked in a mixture of wet mud, dried mud, and sweat - he looked fairly disgusting. All of his muscles ached in the 'good' way. The way that lets any person know they just pushed themselves to the max. That was never a bad thing. It reminded Kosan of selection - which he'd personally put himself through after designing it.
As Kosan was gulping down water, a uniformed, clean-shaven approached the General that looked like something out of a survival movie. "Sir. You just received an encrypted communication from a...Ms. Knight?"
Kosan arched a curious brow. "And...?" His personal staff knew damn well that he dealt with paperwork as little as possible. Thus he expected them to actually read any messages not marked eyes only and get back to him.
"It's regarding recent acquisitions. She sent what appears to be a few brief outlines and plans and requests you contact her at your earliest convenience."
Kosan dumped a cup of water over his head before nodding to the officer. "Very well - send word that I can meet her after lunch if that agrees with her schedule." It would give Kosan a few hours to finish up paperwork that he couldn't avoid.
"Yes sir."
-----
Ministry District
Kosan stepped out of his personal speeder after parking in the visitor parking area. Dressed in tan work boots, blue jeans, and a white polo shirt, Kosan was in what passed for 'uniform of the day' at Sierra 12. He was, however, groomed to the point of having closely cut hair and an obviously trimmed goatee. Walking into the main lobby of the Ministry, Kosan made his way to the security desk. Smiling, he produced photo ID. "Good Afternoon. I'm here to see Kimberly Night."
The security guard looked at his identification briefly before conferring with a list. "Ah yes. You were addedd to the access list...General...Tammer." The security guard gave Kosan a questioning look ever so briefly.
"Don't let my appearance vex you too long."
"Here is a visitor badge. You can go on up." The security guard handed Kosan a small 'no escort required' badge.
Kosan smiled at the guard and clipped the badge to the front bottom of his polo shirt. Quietly, the Thyferran made his way to a lift and pressed the button for Kimberly's floor. People around him gave him the occasional curious glance. To be honest, Kosan had long since gotten used to the stares. Whether it be his casual appearance in largely formal settings or his body type in general. These days - it tended to barely even register to the dark-skinned Marine.
As the lift stopped at his floor, Kosan stepped off and walked casually down the corridor towards the office area Kimberly worked out of. Remembering where she worked from his last visit, Kosan approached her desk, smiling slightly. "Sorry for the delay in my arrival. You caught me in the middle of a bit of business. You've been well, I trust?" As he'd come to expect, Kimberly looked...extremely good. In truth, Kosan still couldn't shake the feeling there was more to her than met the eye. If he even remotely carried about galactic politics, a simple picture probably would have explained all of that.
Brigadier General Kosan Tammer
Royal Anzatan Marines
When Kimberly had received notice the that General would meet with her after lunch her eyebrows had raised ever so slightly. She hadn't actually asked to meet with him in person, but remembering the man's penchant for secure environments it somehow didn't surprise her that he would prefer face to face conversations. As her schedule was relatively flexible she replied that it would be fine and made sure to inform the front desk so that they would pass him through without any problems.
When the time came she straightened the few out of place papers on her desk, pulled the information she would need for the meeting and began to read it over as she waited. She wore a knee length cream colored pencil skirt and a black blouse. As was fairly typical for her, she had left her slightly curled brown hair loose around her shoulders.
She stood when he approached and smiled softly. “Very well General, thank you. And the delay is no problem, I would be here either way. Please, have a seat.” She took her seat again, her legs crossed and her hands folded and resting on her thigh. Her eyes met his and a slight smile rested on her lips. “Have you had a chance to review the information I sent you?”
Kosan took the offered seat and nodded to Kimberly after she'd ask if he had reviewed the information. "Certainly have - impressive work, not that I doubted you or any of the engineers. I've spoken with various members of the Ministry regarding the project. Specifically...I explained to them that costs for the project could very likely increase as development continued. While they weren't happy with the prospect of cost overruns, I can ensure you that you'll receive sufficient funding for the project." The financial aspect of the program, in all honesty, was something that Kosan could understand relatively well. Managing money was a key aspect to any activity, really. In fact it was probably the hardest part of actually running any military operation. It didn't matter how capable or well-equipped a unit was if it was not well-funded. "I understand these plans are not final, but I am relatively curious what you see being a realistic timeframe for final acquisition of both the shelters and training facilities?"
Casually, Kosan sat back in the chair and awaited Kimberly's response. For the time being, his face was completely neutral - a mask of professionalism.
Brigadier General Kosan Tammer
Royal Anzatan Marines
"I'm certainly glad to hear that funding won't be an issue. It will make things run more smoothly." It was, in truth, something Kimberly hadn't thought much about until this moment. She realized nearly the moment he mentioned it that it should have been. She was used to having unlimited amounts of credits and hadn't put into prospective the fact that she was no longer working for her own very wealthy family. Each person had their flaws and as much as Kimberly was striving to fit in she knew it would take effort.
"As for a time frame..." Kimberly paused, her lips pressed together for a moment. "That would depend on a couple of things. First, on if you're satisfied with the plans or on if you'd like changes to be made and second, on how many facilities in how many different locations we're talking about and on how many individual shelters you'd like produced."
"Once that information is received I can give you a more accurate idea of how long it will take to complete." She smiled slightly. "I can't say it will be done quickly, but I can say that it will be done in a timely manner."
Kosan rubbed the facial hair on his chin gently for a moment before responding to Kimberly. "Well... We're funded for four total training facilities - all in different locations and three packages of the shelters. The exact specifics on the content of a package were drafted by my staff based on 'tactical input'." Kosan didn't elaborate but tactical input largely consisted of him injecting realism and practicality into the project. Which, come to find, had still appeared...innovative...to the civilian world. It was, honestly, irrelevant to Kosan. He very simply knew what soldiers of the Anzatan Commonwealth required to effectively carry out their mission in engaged, remote locations.
"A package effectively supports one of our Expeditionary Combat Companies. I've selected three companies to serve as the test bed for the upgrade program. I can have my office forward you specifics on the exact number at a later date. Naturally - I want to see prototypes of both the shelters and training facilities prior to suggesting production continue any further. I imagine that's agreeable to you?" Pausing, Kosan allowed a subtle smile to touch his lips. "Oh...and if I didn't approve of the plans, I would have simply done this via teleconference. Takes a bit more than merely your air of professionalism, melodic voice, or good looks to get me inside any office."
Casually - Kosan motioned to the attire he'd come to the meeting in. "If the prototypes look good, I may even dress for the occasion next time around." Kosan winked playfully at Kimberly - not necessarily entirely kidding.
Brigadier General Kosan Tammer
Royal Anzatan Marines
Kimberly pulled the datapad she had been looking at earlier closer to her and jotted down a few notes as he spoke. She hummed quietly and when she spoke it was more to herself than to him, her concentration now more focused on thoughts of building and time and organization. “Four facilities in four different locations...so I'll need either four different crews working simultaneously...or this will take longer then I expected.”
Then, as if remembering that he were still there, she looked up and smiled once more. “The details would be much appreciated, especially if you want a time frame. And of course I can understand your desire to see prototypes for each before moving forward. I have every intention of checking in with you every step of the way. This is your project after all.” A slight smirk crossed her lips. “I'm not quite sure why you would need to be dressed any differently then you are now. Uniforms, after all, are a bit stuffy. But whatever floats your boat General.” Her smirk grew then and she leaned back in her chair once more. “I think we've covered it all then. You approve of the plans so I'll have work begin on the prototypes immediately. I'll also begin making plans for further construction so that once the prototypes are approved we won't have to wait for construction on the final products to begin. Do you have any other questions for me?”
Kimberly generally enjoyed working. She enjoyed the sense of accomplishment one felt when a project was completed or even when, as with today, a step was taken towards completion. Some people that came into contact with her in this environment might think her cold but work was something Kimberly could control and so she focused on it throughout her day, perhaps overly so. It kept her thoughts from wondering and right now that was a good think for her. Maybe she was vastly over qualified for the position she was in, but she didn't seem to mind.
Kosan could not help but smirk at Kimberly's comment regarding multiple crews. "I'll defer to your expert knowledge of the mechanics." Really - one of the things Kosan prided himself on was the ability to read people. Something about Kimberly didn't...really add up in his mind. However, he wasn't overly concerned about pressing the issue. She was roughly one of the most interesting people he'd met since moving out to Anzat. Never screw up a good thing, as it were...
Tilting his head slightly, Kosan flashed Kimberly a mischievous smile. "Every step of the way? Well then I suppose we should start getting used to each other's company." Kosan's smile slowly transformed into a subtle smirk. Did he have any questions? Yeah he had a number of questions. However...none of his questions really had anything to do with the project. Kosan enjoyed his work...in fact it was usually all he enjoyed. Well - all he had time to enjoy. Slowly though...that seemed to be changing. Perhaps he was just becoming more comfortable around the Anzatan Commonwealth. It was almost a...disturbing thought.
"Yes, I do have a question." For a moment, Kosan's expression turned serious. "Seeing as I really don't understand a lot of the economic ins and outs behind this process, I was wondering if, perhaps, you'd be willing to explain to me in greater detail..." Almost immediately, Kosan rolled his eyes in moderate disgust at himself. He really didn't prefer the whole 'suave' approach to life. Kimberly wasn't a conquest or some random fling from a planet he never planned to visit again. The Thyferran really just wanted to have a conversation with someone and not have it be completely about work. "Screw it. Kimberly - I don't really have many friends here, and I think that's because I can't actually stand most people other than the men I work with." It wasn't to say that Kosan hated anybody - he simply treated them with relative indifference. He would defend them to his dying breath, but that was all they could reasonably expect from the General. "It'd be nice to spend an evening with someone that doesn't make me want to bore out my brains with a blunt object and isn't royalty." Kosan flashed Kimberly an innocent smile.
If only he knew how ironic his statement really was...
Brigadier General Kosan Tammer
Royal Anzatan Marines
Kimberly's eyebrows raised simultaneously and she looked at him for a few long moments before laughing. A soft laugh, clearly not aimed at him, simply at the whole situation. He had, in truth, completely disqualified her with the second part of his statement but of course he didn't seem to know that, which was exactly the way Kimberly wanted it - for now at least. “You and I are very similar then.” It wasn't like she had asked to be royalty after all. And she had come here to get away from the vast majority of the ones she had been surrounded with at home. “I, being completely new, don't have very many friends and I tend not to go out of my way to make them. But...” Kimberly paused for a moment, just to be sure “An evening having a conversation above a three year old level sounds rather enjoyable.” Kimberly was intrigued by Kosan, which wasn't necessarily a good position for her to be in. Still, she felt confident that she could handle herself – what harm could one evening do?
Kosan laughed softly at Kimberly's comment about having conversations above the three year old level. "Oh I don't know. There's always the chance that your son is infinitely smarter than I am." Kosan had certainly seen plenty of people that couldn't possibly have an intelect level much above a three year old's. It was something of an...unfortunate reality of life. Smiling, Kosan briefly glanced at the time. He did have another engagement coming up soon - a promotion ceremony for one of his people actually. "Kidding. At any rate...how does seven-thirty sound?" Kosan figured that was plenty of time for anyone to spend a couple hours or so at home after the conclusion of the working day. Then again...his schedule wasn't everyone's schedule.
Brigadier General Kosan Tammer
Royal Anzatan Marines
Simply the thought of her son caused Kimberly's smile to widen, as it often did. “Well, I do like to think that my son is exceptionally bright, but I happen to be a bit biased in that area.” She pulled a blank datapad from her desk and entered in some basic information before sliding it over to him. “My direct commlink number and address. 7:30 is perfect.” Her smile remained, bright and genuine, showing not only on her lips but in her eyes and dispelling any awkwardness that might creep up in these situations. “Enjoy the rest of your day Kosan. Try not to work too hard.”
Kosan smiled as he inputed the information on to his personal datapad. Slipping the datapad back into his pocket, Kosan left the blank one that Kimberly had slid across resting on the desk. "I'll do what I can." Kosan winked playfully before turning and stepping away from Kimberly's desk. He'd gotten roughly three feet before he stopped and turned. "Oh...dress casually. I have simple tastes." A small smirk slipped across Kosan's lips. As if it weren't obvious that he was a simple man... Could he rise to the occasion if it were truly necessary? Yes - he managed to clean up pretty well when the situation called for such. He just...tried to avoid those situations. It was probably the primary reason he really wished he wasn't the ranking member of the Royal Anzatan Marines. However, his offer to take a demotion back down to Captain had fallen on deaf ears...repeatedly.
Turning - Kosan continued on his way out. Once he was back in the lobby, the Thyferran returned his badge to the security desk and exited the building. Back to work.
-----
Later that evening...
Kosan stepped out of the black and silver speeder casually. Sighing slightly, the Thyferran closed the door gently behind him. As he walked up the steps towards Kimberly's residence, Kosan slipped his communicator back into the pocket of his khaki slacks that he wore with a long-sleeved, light cream colored shirt. Stopping at the top of the stairs, Kosan rang the bell and waited patiently. He'd been sure to call Kimberly prior to leaving his place. For a 'casual night out', Kosan had to admit that his stomach was turning with a bit of anticipation.
Brigadier General Kosan Tammer
Royal Anzatan Marines
Kimberly hummed to herself as she glanced in the floor length mirror that stood in a corner in her bedroom. Several different outfits were thrown about, seemingly out of place in the well organized and neat room that she stood in. It was rare for Kimberly to care so much about her clothing but then again it was rare for Kimberly to actually leave her house for a purpose that was not work or child related. She frowned as she inspected her outfit, looking at herself with a critical eye. She wore a pair of white pants, which was slightly amusing since up to this point she was fairly certain that he had only seen her in skirts or dresses. Still, they fit her perfectly and contrasted well with the black tiered halter she wore. She added a pair of black heels and silver teardrop earrings. Casual, classy and very...Kimberly. Finally satisfied with her choice she grabbed a jacket and headed downstairs.
She had already ensured that Rachel had taken charge of feeding Joshua and that he knew she wouldn't be there to put him to bed. He wouldn't like it, of course, since he hadn't had to share her in a long time, but Rachel had been his nanny for most of his life and he was very comfortable with her. She was like a grandmother which was perfect since Joshua didn't have any of his own.
She found her son playing and kissed him goodbye. She knew Kosan was on his way thanks to his call and so hearing the bell wasn't a surprise. She grabbed her jacket and slipped it on while pulling open the front door with a smile. “Hello again.” She grabbed her purse and stepped out, shutting the door behind her. “I hope the rest of your day was enjoyable?”
All in a Day's Work
