"Well, Lieutenant Channing," Kallan smiled at the red-haired Scotsman and the last of her current students to receive their qualification, "you're now a certified Master Rescue Diver and ready to join a very elite number within the IRO. Congratulations, Blue."
"I hope," he teased while accepting the small holographic disk containing his updated certification, "I don't have to complete too many missions similar to the last three you dreamed up, Skipper. I still can't believe they're real situations modified for the Arctic conditions."
A chuckle erupted from Kallan's cherry red lips. The cold of the last two days affected them all in different ways, although each diver survived hours the sub-zero waters of the Frigid North Pole. Immediately after the final dive, Goose turned Gilligan towards her home port in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and a much warmer climate. All too soon they'd be in more temperate waters and well on the way to the Marine Research Base. Not long after, a heli-plane sent form Arcology would arrive to ferry the student's home. If Kallan's theories about Dylan's role within the IRO proved correct, the transport would be waiting on the landing pad to return the captain to his rescue team.
"I just hope we never have to encounter something as dangerous," Dylan's soft but serious words drew the others attention, "and as complicated as our final dive. I read the historical account written by one of the divers on the original rescue team. It goes all the way back to the days when the Tracy's started to expand IRO operations. Their teams didn't have the equipment or technology and yet they managed to save every person trapped in the submarine. The fact all the divers survived is miraculous."
"I think," Ozzy, the first to recover, replied in a teasing tone, "we'll leave that kind of complex assignment to you, Beyda. After all, you've been trained by the best." Pausing, the brash Australian watched and waited for the exact moment to place his parting shot. Dylan and Blue both remembered his bragging about Thunderbird Captain Kin Lee on the way out to the Marine Base. Before Dylan's expression darkened, Bruce added with a wide toothed grin, "Lieutenant James, of course."
Letting the jovial words wash over the small crowd, Ozzy timed his delivery perfectly. Even Ziggy has to laugh, realising how little Dylan wanted to be on board The Gilligan at the beginning of the cruise. Even he'd come to see the young captain's reluctance to leave and the reason behind it. It seemed Captain Beyda had uncovered more than he'd bargained on this assignment.
"You won't be laughing," Kallan managed to keep a straight face, "if my next assignment is the lead diver for Sydney Rescue. Then I'll be your boss, permanently."
Scowling, Dylan couldn't help observe the glee on Ozzy's face. If Kallan did become the Sydney Rescues Base Team Leader, Bruce would bet his professional reputation they'd be seeing a lot more of Cpt Beyda in civvies. The Australian's teasing nature saw the humour in this particular situation, and the unlimited ability to torment 'Trimmer' as he lived up to his call sign with their new boss.
"Do you really thing the IRO is about to reassign you?" Blue asked, obviously considering how he felt about this probability.
"We could do with a broad like you," Bruce added with a wink, "but not as the team lead. That's a position I've been working towards for years."
"I told Kallan," Ziggy responded carefully, weighing in with his opinion, "before we cast off, I think the IRO has plans for her career. It wouldn't surprise me if those boys at Arcology have something more than the Marine Base in mind and very soon. There is an elegant desynchrony to your previous assignments, Kallan. If you look at them in a prudential light, it's almost equivalent to the training program for an elite squad."
"Ziggy," Kallan managed a taught grimace which she attempted to pass off as a smile, "I'll probably end up in central Africa, about as far away from the ocean as possible. Or on TB6, now it's been open to the general population and International Rescue is staffing it with more than a skeleton crew."
"I helped to design part of the environmental systems," Dylan butted in, shocking the others in the room with this piece of information about his past. "What," he didn't like the way Ozzy and Blue looked at him in disbelief. "It formed part of my PhD project in Astro-Engineering."
"So now you're telling me it's Dr Beyda?" Goose's rich baritone asked with a sense of mockery.
"Hey," Dylan managed to react in a similar vein to draw the attention away from his accomplishment as such a young age, "you have your very own Doctor on board. I can see by your expression you don't remember Kallan telling you about her Masters in Marine Biology."
"That's right," Blue rubbed his chin. "I'm gathering you have a PhD as well?"
"Doctorate in Aquatic Engineering," Ziggy added in a proud voice. "We've needed Kallan's expertise once or twice over the last year. That," he added quietly towards the woman standing beside him, "only proves my point. You're very versatile, Kallan. Going to Africa or a space assignment would add to your list of accomplishments, not detract from it."
"Hey, Ozzy added, somewhat shocked he hadn't remembered earlier, "I remember Beyda with a picture of you on the flight out. You were on some king of gymnastic equipment, I think."
"Actually," Kallan found the topic uncomfortable but found telling the truth about her accomplishments often stopped speculation, "I managed my undergraduate degrees while on the English Summer Olympic team. I had to give up gymnastics when I learnt to fly and attempted my advanced studies at the same time. The IRO recruited me straight into flight school while I finished up my PhD. Don't look so surprised, it's all a matter of public record. How do you think I knew about you three before you stepped on board?"
"Official personnel records?" Blue responded in a quiet, confused voice. They all knew Kallan has read their bio's before this assignment.
"They only tell me so much," Kallan seemed amused. "Your profiles on social media are much more amusing and gave me a better handle on who you are. Well, except Dylan's," she turned her attention on the man.
Ozzy watched the byplay between Beyda and Kallan over the last five days. Even now the young captain blushed at the thought of Skipper trolling though his personal site. They were much more evenly matched than he, or any of them realised. Yet in all the time aboard Gilligan, Ozzy still hadn't uncovered if they'd known each other before this mission. He suspected not, but the Australian learnt not to underestimate either of the officers before him.
"I think," Goose stated as he picked up his drink, "we've talked enough. It's time to get this party started and celebrate your achievement, gentlemen."
With that, the five men and one woman each raised their glasses in a toast. As usual, Goose broke out the party food for the festivity that would last all the way back to the Marine Base. At least the students could take this time to enjoy a job well done and relax before returning to their posts. Kallan needed the return voyage to complete her paperwork. Excusing herself after half an hour, she intended to retreat to the training room, and the waiting administration piling up on her desk.
"Mind if I join you?" Dylan asked quietly into her ear when she prepared to slip away.
"I think," Kallan responded with a half-hearted smile, "you'd be more of a hindrance than help. Besides, I have reports to submit to each of your commanding officers, which I have to finish and send before we dock."
Dylan's chocolate eyes watched the woman exit the room. Sighing, he turned back to the other men in the main cabin. It seemed they'd been observing them and the quiet interaction between the couple.
"Loose something," Ozzy smirked, well aware the pair had been inseparable the last two days. They'd acted completely professionally on the dives. In fact, Bruce wondered if Kallan hadn't come down a little more harshly on Dylan because they shared a cabin at night.
"No," Dylan once again let his eyes wander down the short corridor, "just set it aside for a while."
Goose whistled at the byplay before allowing a grin to spread across his face. "I'm glad Skipper can't hear you two talking about her like that. Shaky ground, boys, shaky ground."
"Kallan," Dylan agreed, keeping a straight face, "is the most vibrant and spirited woman I have ever met. I'm sure she'll keep me on my toes."
"I'm not sure you should plan on seeing her again," Ziggy stated, his eyebrow rising, "after this cruise. Like I said before, the IRO's got plans for that young woman as I suspect they have for you, Captain Beyda. You'll be very lucky if your careers are compatible in any respect."
"Anything," Dylan almost made a promise of the word, "is possible, if you want it enough. There are some things in this life I don't intend to let slip through my fingers."
With that, Dylan carefully replaced his empty glass on the table. Pivoting on one foot, he waved a hand over his shoulder. Sitting alone in his cabin, the cabin he'd shared with Kallan for the last two nights, Captain Beyda began making plans to see the woman once this interlude ended. True, it wouldn't be easy with them in different locations, but that didn't mean he wasn't about to give the relationship every chance of succeeding.
Kallan, on the other hand, had only just finished the report on Blue and turned her attention to Dylan's file. Blowing a stray piece of hair out of her eyes, she wondered how to approach this particular situation. Lieutenant James knew she'd become too emotionally invested to be completely unbiased.
"Saved by the bell," she stated into the empty room when her wrist communicator signalled an incoming call.
"Kallan," Captain Kin Lee's voice issued from the tiny speaker.
"Lee," shock coloured the young woman's tone. "We haven't seen each other in years and this is the second time I've spoken with you this week." Greeted with a moment of silence, Kallan wondered if he wanted an update after their last conversation. "I was just about to start on your young Captain's report. I didn't expect you to be invested in his results."
"I trained Dylan," Lee corrected in a tone stating this was official, not a friendly call. "I am not Captain Beyda's commanding officer. The information I imparted was as much for your benefit as his."
"I'm sorry," Kallan wondered if she'd over stepped her authority. Like the others on Gilligan, she'd assumed Dylan's position on the Thunderbird back up team. It seemed Captain Lee had little intention of confirming his role within the IRO. "What can I do for you, Sir?"
"I have Commander Jack Thurman with me, Lieutenant," Lee explained. "Can you put us on visual?" It took a few seconds and a stroke of keys to place the communication onto the main monitor in the room.
"All I need to know," Jack watched the young officer regarded him carefully after the formal introductions, "about Captain Beyda is if he passed." When Kallan nodded, Commander Thurman grunted, before moving onto the reason for his call. "Good, not that I'm surprised. Lee tells me you have a similar background and skill level." Once again waiting for the young woman to agree, he continued. "There will be a heli-plane waiting to return Captain Beyda directly to Arcology the moment you dock. The pilot I'm sending will remain at the Marine Base and act as transport liaison in your absence. You are to fly the remaining students as far as IRO headquarters. Pack a bag for several days, Captain James. I want you to report directly to me the moment you arrive so we can discuss your new assignment. Oh," Jack added, "make sure you go via your quarters and pick up a formal uniform. You'll be needing it."
"Yes, Sir," Kallan saluted, a little confused by the lack of detail. It seemed Commander Thurman had delivered his message. He returned her motion before retreating beyond the camera. "Lee," she questioned, a puzzled expression covering her face.
"There is much I must acquaint you with, Kallan. We will dine together one night when you are at Arcology," the Asian man offered. "Congratulation on your promotion, Captain. Lee out."
Confused, Kallan sat quietly in the training room trying to make sense of what just occurred. This, she knew, meant changes to her career path, although neither man had given her any real hints as to the direction. Looking up Commander Thurman, the young woman's eyes bulged. He headed up the Thunderbird Training Program, otherwise known as the backup team.
"No use assuming anything," she smiled cautiously. "Assumptions only make an ass out of you and me. Gilligan will be docked in a little over thirty minutes. An hour later I'll be on the ground at Arcology. I guess it won't take long after that to find out what this is all about."
In the back of her mind, Kallan considered the issue of Dylan Beyda. She knew how the young man made her feel and what could occur between them should she be posted to IRO headquarters. A few days spent in Arcology, they might be able to go in a date or two and really come to know each other. The thought made her heart swell with hope. Yet she still had work to do. Her personal life would just have to wait.
Focusing her attention at the blank screen before her, Kallan began to type the hardest report of her life. Even if Commander Thurman stated he didn't need official paperwork on Dylan's experiences while on this course, she needed to supply an official documentation. It went against her professionalism not to complete the report. Besides, it might negatively impact on Dylan's career in the future.
