Basic Combat instruction
18 Feb 2020Aries Reaper Xevi
3306-02-18 2 Captain Aries Reaper Xevi reporting. HJHF 1st officers log.As 2nd in command of my squadron, it sometimes falls on me to engage our fleet is basic combat maneuvers and today was especially nice as it gave me a chance to pull an old lecture out of my grey matter from my teaching days at the Imperial Academy on Achenar 6d where I taught Combat maneuvers, Anyway one of my JR officers asked a question of how to avoid Torpedos in combat so I gave my old lecture on the topic and it was well-received.
After I had finished my lecture one of the newer recruits made the statement to the Questioner in a rather rude manner "Geeze didn't you pay attention at the Academy?" I was a bit caught off guard by the abrupt outburst so I looked at the recruit and asked "and how is it you know that material?" he said he had sat through my class when I gave that same lecture about a year ago (a time I was on leave after suffering severe injuries from a war and had been invited to the academy to teach for the semester) So I said to this recruit "Well I guess that means your pretty versed in the practical application of that lesson than I take it
Almost beaming with arrogance he said "Yes sir I could do it in my sleep"
Really, I thought to myself. "OK Recruit," I said, "I have the training drone parked in hanger 5, Go climb in and you can demonstrate your expertise to the squadron."
Um, Sir? he replied, "Is there a problem recruit?" I said
"Um, NO SIR" came his response as he trotted away to pad 5
Well needless to say the demonstration was short-lived the recruit instead of avoiding my torpedo instead ran right into it guess its a good thing for him I was firing dummy rounds or he might not be alive now,
After the failed demonstration and tarnished with shame the recruit parked the Training Drone exited the craft with the entire squadron in the hanger bay clapping for his epic failure despite his bragging, The chief petty Officer he had mouthed of to in the lecture walked right up to him with the most serious look (how he managed not to smile Ill never know and said "Wow, recruit. Thank you so much for showing us all what the hell not to do. BTW your on cleanup for the next month I'm sure every ship[ in the hanger needs its manifolds scrubbed."
I think two valuable lessons were learned today 1st don't demean another pilot Question especially when he outranks you and 2nd Don't Brag unless your truly sure you can accomplish the feat for which your bragging
All in all a good day my squadron learned valuable lessons and my ship can get cleaned while I go down to the officers club, Win-Win for everyone (except maybe the recruit)