Traveller Probo

“I’m sorry, Captain Osborne but the allocation of Captain Kartal to the Traveller Team has been confirmed. She’s a highly decorated officer and certainly more than proficient enough to satisfy your needs.”

Osborne frowned into the computer screen and Colonel Babacan, his Turkish commander, smiled knowingly. “So, what has happened, Captain?” he asked.

Osborne cringed a moment, temporarily at a loss as to whom the Colonel was addressing. His recent and unannounced promotion had been surprising and, though welcome, seemed to have come out of the blue. The Traveller team had ribbed him mercilessly by saluting smartly whenever he walked past but after hearty congratulations and a few cold beers, their work proceeded as usual. Osborne rolled his eyes and replied, “Oh, she’s been a little precious and uncooperative with some of our lads, especially the trainers. It seems the only way we can get anything done is for me to either go to battle with her or let her have her own way.”

Colonel Babacan nodded, as if he fully understood Osborne’s predicament. “Captain, you have my support in any decision you make. But before we do anything, please let me tell you who you are dealing with here. Captain Kartal is Turkey’s most decorated army-aviator who has repeatedly distinguished herself in action in support of our troops against extremists, especially remnants of Daesch and the PKK. She has displayed extreme courage in extracting patrols under hostile fire and she is very well respected. She’s essentially a national hero. We decided to transfer her to Byzantium Traveller as she’s one of the best pilots we have. You have nothing to worry about with Captain Kartal, I promise you. She’s very efficient, though she can be relatively abrasive if her aircraft or crew are threatened but we feel she will be a most effective part of your team.” The Colonel paused a moment and frowned, “Has her performance been at a standard below your expectations?”

Osborne shook his head, “No, her flying has been of the highest standard.”

“Has she endangered any of your team through her actions?”

Osborne closed his eyes and shook his head as he gave an exasperated reply, “No Colonel, that has not happened and, judging by her performance, is unlikely to ever happen.”

“Would you like me to transfer Captain Kartal based on an inability to work effectively with your team?” continued the Colonel solicitously.

The big Australian shook his head again and replied with a sigh of frustration, “No! No, you’re quite right. She’s fine in all aspects relating to the operational side of the project. She’s just a, well, just a pain in the arse!”

As Colonel Babacan chuckled, Osborne asked, “What is her problem? She has the trainers almost frightened to speak to her! Even Chuck is wary of giving her instructions. All she does is look at him, as if he’s just crawled from under a rock.”

The man at the other end of the secure internet link nodded and rolled his eyes, “Yes Captain, these are not unique criticisms. It seems our good Captain Kartal has a low tolerance for inefficiency and administrative bullshit. Once your team proves your effectiveness and professionalism, you will not find a stauncher ally.”

“Did she want this post? After all, she behaves as if the whole gig is below her,” persisted Osborne.

The Turkish Colonel paused a moment and then sighed, “That is a possibility, Captain Osborne. After her combat postings, she was pilot for our most senior ministers and ranks, which she found, can we say, largely unsuitable. She felt it was like driving a Dolmus - a small bus. Since she was decorated and promoted, she feels, I think, that we have forgotten her. We hoped the Traveller posting might allow her to engage in activities more attuned to her intelligence and capabilities.”

“Sooo, we’re stuck with her,” confirmed Osborne, barely able to conceal his irritation. He didn’t have time to engage in special attention where some egotistical, bitch pilot was involved.

Colonel Babacan shrugged. “May I suggest she’ll be quite an asset to our team? See if you can charm her into bringing out her best. Get past her walls, you’ll see.”

After the call, Osborne felt frustrated and irritated. How could he motivate the obviously recalcitrant helicopter pilot to be a more productive member of the team? What made matters worse was they were to temporarily transfer their operations to northern Turkey, to a town called Bolu to engage in mountain training with the Hakkari Mountain Commando Brigade. The elite force normally specialized in mountain warfare in rugged south-eastern Turkey. They were a tough crew and but for Professor Taylor, the Traveller team members were keen to get stuck into a change of scenery. In the past couple of training missions, the academic had shown himself to be surprisingly determined and had come a long way. The Turkish Government seemed keen to involve as many of their elite troops in the Traveller project as possible. Which, he had to concede, was okay with him.

Okay, he would do it! He wouldn’t have one member of the team make life difficult. After all, it was his job to make this work.