Voltron: Defender of the Universe

Youth Will Be Served

[Disclaimer Continued: Once again, for entertainment purposes. All canon characters and situations belong to the rightful owner, no copyright infringement implied or intended.]

[AN: For those who have read my other works, a chapter of less than 5,000 words probably seems like a drabble from me. I most likely exhaust my readers after a while. In the interest of reforming, I'll try to hold chapters for this story to the 1,500 to 2,000 word range. It will make me a more focused writer – and probably a better writer too. Enjoy! BMillsWrites]

Chapter 2: Pushback

An early briefing between Commander James Hawkins and the uncommonly young Ensign Chip Stoker adequately set the boy toward preparing for an evening diplomatic dinner assignment. Stoker would accompany Hawkins and Captain Richard Newley in representing the Explorer as the Galaxy Alliance ship available to advance negotiations with the Gogus Corporation, which was gate-keeping this system of potentially habitable planets. The Gogians specifically requested hosting whoever was the Explorer's youngest crew member – likely little-guessing that said crew member was an undersized twelve year-old. They also probably had even less of an idea that the same boy was one the 15 essential members of the Vehicle Voltron Force.

Personally, Hawkins was looking forward to seeing the Gogian reaction to the boy's age. If they were trying to ensnare a young adult in a compromising situation for leverage, then the ways that Chip Stoker was still so obviously a child would make such a ploy an absurd non-starter. They were also out of luck if hoping to impress or intimidate classified information out of an inexperienced but ambitious type. The only high-level information the boy knew or really cared about involved the operation of Vehicle Voltron. Both training and pride stubbornly motivated his juvenile intensity to protect that information. In fact, the more someone menacingly demanded that information, the more Chip would likely refuse to divulge it. Yes, a twelve year-old with combat experience would throw any waiting intrigue off its initial game. Still, the meeting with Chip had presented a "loose thread" that Hawkins wanted dealt with before tonight's diplomatic event. Fortunately, a briefing with Newley was part of the Commander's own preparation for the occasion.

Captain Newley signaled his arrival punctually and Commander Hawkins granted access to his ready room. The two men exchanged only the necessary formalities before taking seats and getting down to business. Hawkins silently noted that, as always, Newley carried himself with confidence and certainty that evoked a sense of "cowboy" – well past the term's historical use. The Captain didn't seem to be concerned about hiding anything, and the bulk of their agenda was dealt with smoothly. Hawkins chose to let Newley tip his own hand. "We're set for the Gogus Corporation, I briefed our third attendee this morning."

"May I speak candidly?" Newley asked with the comfort of knowing that candor was expected, and usually welcome.

"Of course," Hawkins permitted congenially.

Newley nodded and settled into a drawl "Actually, I'd hoped you'd let me help you decide which of the Voltron team leaders to bring along. I'm sure you're inclined to Jeff, and if that's who you chose, he'll certainly do the job. Still, either Cliff or Krik come from more refined backgrounds. Of those two, Cliff would have been my choice only because the Gogus VIPs would be more comfortable with someone from Earth. No worries though, any of them can impress in their own ways. So which one of them is coming with us?"

"I'm sure any of them would do the Explorer proud, and I have the same expectation of Ensign Stoker, who actually will accompany us." Hawkins responded evenly.

The certainty in Newley's expression gave way to realization. "Commander, I respectfully request that you reconsider."

"Why?" Hawkins honestly wondered. "Our hosts specifically requested the ship's youngest crew member – and you know that's Stoker. Is there anything on record – good or bad – that isn't comparable to the plus and minus of any of the other Voltron Force members, the leaders included?"

"Stoker's a prodigy, I get that," Newley took full advantage of the right to speak with liberty, now openly debating. "He holds his end up alright in the team context, and if I thought the other four members of the Air Team had a problem picking up his slack, I'd say so."

Hawkins wanted to double-take at that, but he maintained his level gaze. "Slack? Has any other member of the Air Team described it that way to you?"

"No," Newley admitted, "I'm sure they wouldn't, but it's obvious, isn't it? Look, I'm not saying that it's the kid's fault, he can't help that he is -"

"- Is what, Captain?" Hawkins interjected, clearly displeased with Newley's judgmental tone.

Newley said it and meant it, "He's unimposing, Commander." He continued, "Again, it's not his fault – most people from Balto are smaller than people from Earth, so he's 12 and looks 10. This situation with the Gogians isn't on the up and up. You know as well as I do that they're playing some type of advantage game by positioning themselves between the Alliance and the Drules. Now's not the time to showcase the Alliance's scientific merit or progressiveness. We need to impress them with strength. It's not like they can dispute whoever we present as our youngest crew member, if we even want to acknowledge that request. We're not out here for science camp, we're competing for ideological alignment. Taking Stoker along undercuts us from the get-go."

"Superficially discounting a crew member isn't like you, Captain," Hawkins observed and asked, "Why subject Ensign Stoker to a personal litmus test?"

"It's not personal, Commander." the Captain insisted, "I guess it's a way to make a statement about the Alliance being a more secure option than the Drules as other groups pick a side. No twelve year-old could embody the approach I'm talking about. It just happens to be Stoker here."

Hawkins sighed, "Was holding back his request for an internal promotion review just as impersonal?" Hawkins saw Newley's face set and redden with anger at being called out. The Commander continued before the Captain jumped to any more conclusions, "Just so you know, Ensign Stoker never implied that you did, I don't think it even crossed his mind that you might. That's the strength of innocence. Actually, he thought I'd called him in to discuss that request. Now I realize that I was being less than honest when I later assured him that he didn't have to continually prove himself to anyone."

"I don't think that he can prove himself – apart from the safety net of his team or all of the Voltron Force keeping his age from being a liability," Newley's frustration simmered, "The Alliance might not have a problem putting him where he doesn't need to be yet, and we may have to endure it – but we don't have to endorse it with an honorary promotion. I thought we'd be on the same page about all this. I'm sorry that we aren't. If Stoker's going, I acknowledge that it's your decision to make, and we can move on."

"It's not that simple Captain, which I'm sure you realize," Hawkins asserted firmly. "Before you tell me it could be if I let it, I'm telling you that you've created a difficult problem here. You've deliberately sidetracked his submitted review request. Going by the book, Ensign Stoker has the right to immediately know that. However, because tonight's negotiations with the Gogus Corporation involve all three of us, I deem it best not to tell him at this time. I'll take the responsibility for the delay. One thing that will not be delayed is getting his review request to me – within the hour, but Captain, that will not negate his right to know."

The Captain's look was still firmly I'm-right-anyway, "If you telling him is the way you need to play this in order to move on, sir, so be it."

The Commander had no intention of backing down, At the same time, Hawkins valued having both Captain Newley and Ensign Chip Stoker aboard the Explorer. Occasional narrow-mindedness aside, Newley was an experienced officer. Whether the Captain wanted to accept it or not, the young Ensign was every bit the hero that any other Voltron Force member was. Hawkins settled on finding a balance without making it sound like deal-brokering.

Hawkins smiled, but his tone remained unmistakably serious, "I'm asking you to take that opportunity, Captain. When we've concluded negotiations with the Gogus Corporation, the three of us – you, I, and Ensign Stoker will all sit down to recap. I'll present my decision on his review request and – at minimum – you will confirm that it should have been included in the most recent set you sent, and apologize that it wasn't. You can characterize it as a slip-up. I won't require more if you feel you need to save face, as long as the boy has the satisfaction of knowing there was no mistake on his part. However, I hope you'll acknowledge misjudging him after having this evening as a fresh look at how capable Stoker really is. I'm just letting you know what I'd like."

"Is doing that – the minimum – an order, sir?" Newley asked bluntly.

"Yes, it is, but only that, Captain." The Commander insisted.

"Fine." Newly gritted. "I'll think about whether I've let my perspective on shifting the balance of power in the Alliance's favor become a knock against Stoker. To be clear, I think he'd make a great cadet, and he proves that the Alliance could benefit from a Junior Academy. I just honestly think he's in the wrong place at the wrong time – which isn't doing him any favor, no matter how smart he is. I hope our disagreement regarding him hasn't undermined your confidence in me overall, Commander. Don't get your hopes up about my becoming Stoker's biggest fan. At the same time, I'm a professional officer, and I obey orders. There will be no problem from me with him tonight, or afterward." Captain Newley stood, "Permission to be dismissed, sir."

Commander Hawkins stood as well. "One other thing, Captain. As an indication of my confidence in you, at your earliest opportunity today I want you to request a file titled 'Gemini-Vee' at a secure terminal directly from the Classified Mainframe at Galaxy Garrison. It's top secret but I have authority to extend access on a need-to-know basis, and I'll clear you for it. I'd like to know your reaction to the content of that file – in fact, make it a priority today. Just keep in mind that anything on the record about it needs to be marked both confidential and classified."

"Of course, Commander, will do." Newley confirmed, freshly interested. "This file, it must have something to do with the Gogus Corporation, right?" The expression on Hawkins' face fended off the question with an unspoken negative. "Wait … does it have something to do with Stoker?"

At that, Commander Hawkins simply said, "Just read the file, Captain, and get back to me about it." Captain Newley nodded, and the meeting ended.