Case #48: Video

[19centconstable]

[It's formal announcement time! George stands in his cabin with his helmet tucked under one arm. The brass buttons on his uniform are particularly shiny.]

It's my duty to inform you all that Detective Hoffman is no longer my inmate.

[George lets that hang vaguely in the air for a moment, before continuing:]

Because Detective Hoffman has graduated! Please do heartily congratulate him. He has earned it.

Comments

Useless

[umgekehrt]

[Stildyne isn't sure what to say, but he looks like he might be fighting a smile.]

Re: Useless

[19centconstable]

[Oh Stildyne. Don't fight it.]

I believe he'll be staying on as a warden.

Useless

[umgekehrt]

[His smile is calibrated to break reflective surfaces. He's worried about his comm.]

He's said so before. I'd be glad to work with him.

Toothless

[19centconstable]

As would I, of course. I think getting to help someone will be good for him.

Loveless

[umgekehrt]

He wants to do good by somebody.

Pantsless

[19centconstable]

I had gotten that impression as well.

Helpless. Hopeless. Brainless. Unemployed in Greenland.

[umgekehrt]

And he wants to keep me on my toes. He knows I'd be bored if he left.

[That's why.]

Topless.

[19centconstable]

Would you really, Mr. Stildyne?

[umgekehrt]

Oh, deeply.

[Look at this sincere face. Isn't it believable?]

[19centconstable]

[George certainly thinks so.]

Then I'm pleased he's staying on for your sake as well.

Private

[umgekehrt]

And I'd miss the bastard. I really would.

Re: Private

[19centconstable]

I would as well. It's an unfortunate consequence of what we do here: we must always be prepared to say good-bye.

Private

[umgekehrt]

Not so different from Fleet. Bearable, but never pleasant.

Private

[19centconstable]

I would think it would be quite different.

Private

[umgekehrt]

Not the day to day procedure. The comings and goings. Most fleet ships see this Kim of turnover. It was only Ragnarok that people didn't get cycled out.

Private

[19centconstable]

Ragnarok?

Private

[umgekehrt]

My last ship of assignment. JFS Ragnarok.

Re: Private

[19centconstable]

Ah, I see. It must have been quite a large ship.

Re: Private

[umgekehrt]

Large but under-crewed. Less than two hundred souls, and she a cruiser-killer.

Re: Private

[19centconstable]

She was alive?!? But why did she kill them?

Re: Private

[umgekehrt]

[...]

Aren't ships called 'she' even in Earth parlance? It's not like Commander Rhade's universe. She's just a vessel--a very large one, quite dangerous, Cruiser-Killer class ships aren't a joke-- and her crew is fine when last I saw them.

Re: Private

[19centconstable]

Oh. I had mistaken the cruisers for people who were taking a cruise.

Private

[umgekehrt]

Ah, no. She both cruises and kills. More the former than the latter the last few years-- diplomatic assignments, then a bit of... well, that's a longer story.

Private

[19centconstable]

Do people ever find it difficult to enjoy the cruising knowing that the same ship has been used to kill?

Private

[umgekehrt]

We're all Fleet doing the cruising. It's menacing cruising. Designed to remind other people that Fleet's about.

So we're used to it.