[Lady]
"Lights at eighty percent. Squad up!" CL-0745 called out briskly as she left the forward compartment. FO-1282 followed her. The designated ten hours had passed (eight sleeping and two on watch for some of them). With the exception of DL-1364, the troopers woke quickly and without protest. DL-1364's eyes opened, but she just stared at the ceiling.
For now, CL-0745 left that alone. She knew the trooper's problems and didn't want to call attention to them in the view of the Resistance. "FO-1282, you're first in the refresher. Blaze and Ten-ten, get your boots on then you're next. The rest of you armor up and go in rotation as the room is free. Relieve yourself, wash your hands, and see to your teeth and face. No shower."
The Resistance members woke as well. A few of them were already awake, although out of consideration for those sleeping, they'd stayed quiet. K-nel was sitting cross-legged on a sleeping mat she hadn't had when they'd bedded down. There had been only two mats. As they were assigned by rank, CL-0745 had slept on one. Hux, the other. CL-0745 looked over at where General Hux was sitting on the floor against the wall, knees half drawn up and trying not to look half-asleep.
That meant Hux's sleeping mat was under K-nel's posterior. CL-0745 looked back to her with narrowed eyes, especially given Hux's state. He needed that sleeping mat. The woman had combed through, braided tightly, and pinned back her impressive amount of hair. She met CL-0745's suspicious gaze, appeared unfazed by it, and said, "They have-" she cut herself off and switched to TN-1017, "You have names? You do have names!" She sounded delighted.
"That's trooper Tee-En-one-oh-one-seven to you," CL-0745 bit out. Ten-ten continued with putting on his boots like K-nel hadn't obviously addressed him. FO-1282 opened the rear compartment to enter the refresher. A moment later the sound of a lightsaber igniting saw her stop in the doorway. A red glow emanated beyond her outline, then it powered down. FO-1282 continued in, ears plastered to the side of her head. CL-0745 couldn't see what had transpired, but she gathered.
"Someone wakes up grumpy," said the pilot, from behind her. He'd scooted to where he sat upright next to the general, their backs against the bulkhead that separated the main compartment from the forward one. DL-1364 finally sat up, shooting the rear compartment a haunted look before fumbling with her boots.
K-nel wasn't done with her complaint about names. "Tee-en, ten-seventeen," she said slowly. "Ten-ten." She smiled. Ten-ten continued to ignore her.
CL-0745 said again, voice harder, "That is trooper Tee-En-one-oh-one-seven!"
Next to K-nel, Finn nudged her and explained, "Ten-ten's a squad name. You wouldn't call him that."
"Really?"
"Not even General Hux would call him that," Finn said soberly.
Various people looked over to the general. He looked thoroughly rumpled from the night. He shook his head, confirming Finn's statement.
The pilot tapped the general on the side of the knee with the back of his knuckles. "I already gave you a squad-name, Hugs."
"You can call me whatever you like," the general said carelessly, before his eyes widened at what he'd said. His gaze flashed up to CL-0745's. She stood frozen, surprised by this declaration.
"I can?" the pilot said.
Hux's face flushed. "No! That's- That's General Hugs to you. Hux-! Stars!" The general scrubbed his hands over his reddened face. "I haven't had enough sleep," he complained. Slowly, enunciating clearly, he said, "General. Hux."
"Sure." The pilot tapped Hux's leg again with his knuckles, this time twice. CL-0745 turned back to her squad. The general was clearly (mostly) receptive to whatever was going on between them. She mentally compared and contrasted the pilot's touches to Finn nudging K-nel. Though at the moment, it was the reverse – she saw K-nel nudge Finn and whisper something to him. CL-0745 wished she had her helmet on, because even in the same compartment, she didn't hear what was said with such a smirk.
Finn's expression went to shocked. "What?" He looked over at the pilot and the general, eyes darting between the two men.
"What is it?" Rose said from the other side of Finn.
"Stars," Hux said again, quieter and long-suffering. The pilot chuckled dryly.
"Tell you later," Finn said.
Rose said brightly, "Kaydel, how'd you get your hair to do that? Do you have a comb? Don't hold out on me here."
"Yes." Kaydel cleared her throat and handed over a small, toothed rectangle. "Here. There's one in the refresher that came with the ship, but this one's mine. It's better for longer hair."
FO-1282 came out of the refresher. Blaze went in. This time there was no lightsaber ignition from disgruntled Force users.
General Hux got to his feet and straightened his uniform. "First sergeant? Join me in the forward compartment. I need a unit report."
"Yes sir." She turned to FL-2216 and handed over command by saying, "Flag, you're up."
Hux looked at Commander Dameron, then scanned over the other Resistance members. "I will want a unit report from the Resistance members as well. If I am truly in command here, I'll need it. Whoever gives it will be your unit commander. After that we'll have a situation report and determine our strategy for the day. I'll leave you to determine who I'll be working with." He turned to CL-0745. "Sergeant?"
They evicted the Wookie from the cockpit – who was presumably still standing sentry duty – then shut the hatch behind them. Hux said, "I need your assessment of our people – rank, designations, skill sets. Start with yourself and proceed down in unit and rank."
"Sir! Yes sir. I am First Sergeant CL-0745. As of my last performance review, I was cleared for promotion to lieutenant, to be formally implemented upon completion of transition training for FL-2216, the staff sergeant of this unit and my replacement as section commander."
"Ah. An officer. Or a hair's breadth from it. Go on." He sounded pleasantly surprised.
She was glad to hear nothing of him rescinding the promotion or saying he'd have to make his own decision. "This unit is second section squadron of the first platoon, ninth company, Footsoldier legion, Finalizer Internal Security. We have two fire teams. One is the original FN squad. The other is a post-Crait reconstituted unit from personnel previously on the Supremacy and Avenger. Squad command is officially mine with Staff Sergeant FL-2216 currently functioning as XO. This is her first squad command. Or will be, once … if … I'm reassigned."
Hux didn't give her any help on that looming uncertainty, so she continued. "First fire team squad is led by Sergeant FL-9013, special skills noted in communications and exobiology. It contains Weapons Specialist FN-9037. He is the best shot in the group," she said as an aside, then went back to reciting members. "Also, Electronics Specialist FN-9021, Security Specialist FN-9028, and Private FN-9048.
"Second fire team includes Corporal H-482, Weapons Specialist TN-1017, Security Specialist DL-8192, and Electronics Specialist DL-1364. I lost two members during the assault on the Finalizer to an explosion in the bridge tower, but we picked up Private FO-1282. She was the sole survivor of her unit. I have placed her in second fire team as a battlefield assignment."
"Are there any injuries among your people?"
"No … no sir." Various bruises didn't count. "DL-1364 has an ongoing behavioral issue from the Battle of Crait, but performs nominally. No physical injuries."
"What sort of behavioral issue?"
"Depression, disorientation, lack of focus and motivation." Hux stared at her evenly, no change in expression. CL-0745 wasn't sure what that meant, so she elaborated, "Grief, sir. She lost her- She lost everyone she knew. She's been to reconditioning twice-"
"I understand grief," he said, cutting her off. "And losing people. Thank you. Are there any other issues or skills I should be aware of in the rest of the unit?"
"Corporal H-482 was an adult recruit. Specialist TN-1017 has had significant planet-side experience. Given our … current situation, I think that's worth mentioning."
He nodded. "It is. Are there any who have known New Republic ties, sympathies, or interests, including Rebel idolization or Resistance interest?"
"No sir!"
He pursed his lips and there was an expression there … disappointment? Understanding flared in her mind. He wasn't asking if any of them were sympathizers because that was a bad thing, but rather, maybe he wanted some of them to be sympathizers? "That's good to hear," he said finally. And that was definitely disappointment.
"No, sir- If I may?"
"Speak."
She struggled to find the right words. "You are … the ranking officer here. Whatever you order, we will do. In regard to the Resistance … if we need to work with them, we will work with them. I've seen the ship. I understand," he looked like he wanted to interrupt dismissively, so she wrapped it up, "the situation, sir. We can work together, if that is your order."
He reconsidered what he was going to say and said instead, "It may be." He did not look disappointed now. "What supplies and armament does your team have aside from personal kit?"
"None, sir. As you've seen, Weapons Specialist TN-1017 is equipped with riot control gear. Weapons Specialist FN-9037 has a heavy blaster rifle. We were moving through the halls, all in standard kit. FO-1282 had lost her belt. She had no spare blaster charge cartridges. We gave her one."
"How did she lose her unit?"
"Lost in a power system breach, probably when the forward shields went. Electrocution."
Hux twitched hard and changed the subject. "Well, then. Let's see what the Resistance has to say for themselves." She started to move to the door, but stopped at his hand gesture. "No. Stay here. I want you to hear this. If our units are to work together, you'll need to know. And as well, I'd rather not be alone with them."
"Except … Commander Dameron, sir?" she asked almost timidly, not sure how that would be taken.
He sighed. "No, I should probably have someone with me with him as well. It may be what he's angling toward, but stars knows he's already had his opportunity."
"Yes sir," she said, wondering what opportunity Dameron had had. But she didn't ask. She retired to a corner of the cockpit.