Jan decided she would go to the court first and they would meet about noon here again at this table. The court is only 5 levels up. Also tonight I'm going to look through all the documents I sent home over the years and see if I have the full names of any of the other crew and hopefully some addresses. Luck is what you make it and we need to make some good luck and act lucky. See you at noon tomorrow.
In the morning John walked into the office and told the receptionist that he needed to see a supervisor. She buzzed him right back to the interior waiting room and another receptionist then called him in to see one. It was a different supervisor, so John just stated that he needed authorization to use the company's training facilities to brush up on his piloting skills. When the supervisor claimed that the facilities were only authorized for employees he gave him his ID number. After entering the ID number the supervisor stated that he could not authorize the use because John was on administrative leave. John then said, so I'm on administrative leave, I'm still an employee. If you can't authorize it kick me upstairs to your supervisor.
Knowing bureaucracy John hoped and got a visitors pass and escort to the next supervisor. As he was seated in the next office he restated that he just needed authorization to use the pilot training facilities to brush up on his skills because he had to re-certify in a month. As John sat and waited for the supervisor to make a decision he took a good look at the man. Then John said if you don't have the authority to authorize it kick me upstairs to your supervisor.
The man looked cowed and then said I can only give you a temporary authorization for 2 weeks. I don't understand exactly why you were placed on administrative leave.
John then said well give me the authorization and then kick me upstairs to your supervisor and I'll get him to straighten out the mess on the computer.
After the temporary training authorization printed out another escort arrived to take him up to his supervisor. This guy's office finally looked plush. The receptionist served him tea while he waited. When he was finally called in the supervisor behind the desk he recognized as one of the panel that had hired him 10 years before. He started off by saying, you probability don't remember me but you interviewed me 10 years ago and hired me as a cargo handler. It's been a tough 10 years but I finally worked my way up to a pilots seat. How have you been doing?
He looked at John and then said I vaguely remember you, you were the smart ass kid that wanted to go out on the colony moon and said he'd put in 20 years unless they launched earlier. You wanted to go real bad if I remember right. What can I do for you today?
John then leaned back like it was only a minor problem and told him that some clerk had evidently made a mistake and he was now listed on administrative leave and his ID was locked out. I'm sure you can find the error and get it fixed in no time at all. Also that stopped my pay for some reason. It's almost as they entered me as dead. Ha Ha Ha.
Well if your ID is screwed up lets start with your full name. Do you remember the address you gave to the original interviewer. As he entered it John's original file came up and he started paging through it. He looked up questioningly and said you put your self through the pilot course in 3 years working full time?
John smiled and said, Yup it was tough, but I wanted it bad! I did get some help from pilots on the side. I guess they saw some promise in me. If I hadn't gotten a weeks leave before the exam to work in the training facility I never would have passed it.
I see you served on the Orion for 5 years as a junior pilot and then got promoted. Excellent references from the pilots and the Captain. You then served on the Catcher 1. Let see the board results, the Captain took all blame due to one bad decision. My my look at the list of recommendations and SOP changes they listed. It seems that flight control even took a hit. I guess that when the ship was listed as lost they also listed the crew on-board as lost also. There is no separate entry for you after that.
How long will it take you to correct that? I do have some bills and I imagine that most of the other crew also are in the same fix as I am.
He called in his secretary and explained the problem and told her to correct the entries for the crew. The court board listed all the survivors in their final report.
Come to think about it are Jan and Frederick also on the deceased list? I know that they probably need to get on the trainer also. I got a letter stating that I needed to re-certify before the month is up to keep my rating.
Here is my direct number, check by in the morning. By then all the computer data bases should be corrected. Then he stood up and shook John's hand and had his receptionist escort him to the exit on that floor.
It was almost noon so John figured that he had accomplished three quarters of his goals in less than 4 hours. Not bad for making your own luck, hope Jan did as well at the court. He hurried from the door and cut off a couple headed in the direction of the table he said he would meet Jan at. Then he noticed that the nicely dressed woman was Jan. As he reached the table he pulled out the chair and said Jan, I hope you were as successful as I was. She sat and then introduced the older man with her as Judge Albertan. John held out his hand and said, sorry about cutting you off sir, but Jan is an excellent pilot and she deserved to be seated in style. Unfortunately I sometimes forget my manners in my desire to help.
The Judge accepted his apology and took a seat.
John grabbed the third seat.
Jan immediately took control of the conversation and told how she had spent her first 2 hours waiting just to talk to anyone. Once she got in the cue then progress was fairly fast. Judge Albertan wasn't on the board, but he had been consulted before the final decision was written. He was now retired but the younger judges still called him for his expertise.
Then the Judge looked at John and asked what did you accomplish this morning?
John told how he went in an just requested use of the training facilities and using his knowledge of bureaucrats he bluffed his way upstairs to a senior supervisor. I just happened to remember that man because he was on the interview board that finally hired me. He has mellowed a lot in 10 years because he was a SOB when he grilled me before. I got him to start with my name and track my record from the time I started and worked my way up to pilot. Then he got to the entry listing Catcher 1 he jumped to the conclusion that some clerk took a short cut when they entered the Catcher 1 as lost and just listed the whole crew as dead. For now we'll know in the morning if that was the case or if only the bridge crew was blackballed. I acted through out the whole time like I was just irritated because some clerk had messed up. I think it worked, we'll know for sure tomorrow. Now how did your day go Jan.
Jan looked at the Judge and said would you please tell the results.
Judge Albertan started by reviewing the court findings and pulled a data disk and handed it to John. Then he continued by stating that flight control and the company both lodged complaints against the Captain and bridge crew stating that they didn't follow SOP. The flight safety board also lodged a complaint stating that incorporating the changes recommended by the board would cause unreasonable additional cost to the shippers and transportation ships. They are trying all sorts of legal maneuvering to keep from admitting that they may have screwed up. In the morning if your ID's don't work or you find out that you have been blackballed call me. I still have some connections and can get you in for training and a fair evaluation on your pilot re-certifications. I will take years to settle the legal bull that the company, flight safety, and fight control have raised. Tomorrow I shall unofficially drop in to talk to a few of the senior judges and take lunch with some of the junior judges. I'm sure that I can leave the impression that the bridge crew of the Catcher 1 is being unjustly treated. I think I shall also look up the public and private records of all the bridge crew to see what other employers see, and if I see what I think I might I will start the paperwork to remedy any shady entries.
By the way, the reason I was there today was that Frederick is a friend of my grandson and he asked me to look into his problem. I gave Jan the card for a sharp legal representative that you should hire. She can explain how to hire him and what to tell him. Now I have an appointment back upstairs so I'll leave you two youngsters to contemplate your fates.
John stood and shook the Judges hand and thanked him for all the advice and help he'd given. As Judge Albertan departed John sat back down and looked at Jan and said, shall we celebrate with a good meal or just sit here and drink tea.
Jan said that after what she had been through this morning she could eat the innards of a computer.
The next morning Frederick and Jan were waiting when he arrived at the employee entrance to the company. Frederick tried his ID first and it passed him in. Jan went second and hers passed. When John slid his ID across the scanner it beeped red and indicated that he was on indefinite administrative leave and the ID was inactivated. John then said, you two get down to the flight training deck while I work my way back upstairs to find out why mine doesn't work. I'll meet you at the cafeteria this afternoon.
John then went around to the public entrance and walked up to the receptionist and asked her to call the extension number. She was slightly shocked when the phone was answered and the secretary said she would be right down to escort him up. When he got upstairs he had to wait fifteen minutes before he was escorted into the supervisors office.
The senior supervisor did not look to happy when he looked up from his computer screen. I see that you have been busy. After your original try to get back into the company you applied at 11 different companies to get a job. The reasons not to hire you are varied. I've dug as deep as my clearance will let me and I can't find any overriding code that states why you are on the indefinite administrative leave list and can't be removed. I have a meeting upstairs in 5 minutes and you are coming with me. I'm only 2 levels down from the top and this is the first time I've run into a problem like this and I want an answer more than you do. In fact I don't give a damn if I can get you back in the companies good graces or not, but I will find out why. Only the VP's and the Pres are higher and they don't usually get involved with small fish like you. Lets go.
John followed him out. The secretary handed John a blue visitors pass as he passed her desk. Smiling she said keep within 10 feet of the boss or security will automatically be summoned.
They entered a really plush area and the secretary ushered them into an office larger than the bridge of the Catcher 1. John whistled under his breath. The secretary told John to sit in the chair at the left corner of the desk and the senior supervisor took the center chair.
The elderly man behind the desk looked up and said, you brought the problem with you I see.
Yes sir, either something is wrong with the computer or someone on this level is involved. I hired this pilot as a cargo handler 10 years ago and he showed promise until the loss of the Catcher 1. He was even on the short list for promotion to senior pilot and you know how tough that list is to get on. From the reports I could access his calculations and actions along with the correct decisions of the Captain prevented the loss of the crew.
Ah, you finally hit the rivet on the head. We have a live crew that witnessed a few screw ups and survived to talk about them.
Sir, I don't completely understand.
If the crew perished in the accident then no fuss would have been raised by the inquiry court board. The Captain only made one mistake and he'll draw a pension for the rest of his life. The military charged us all cost for rescue and transportation. We are out the cost of a spacecraft and cargo. Now do you begin to see what this pilot has cost the company.
Yes Sir, I begin to see how his actions cost the company. He did what he thought was right for the survival of the crew just like a ship captain would.
He will never, and I mean never work as a pilot again. That was my recommendation to the top and it was approved. The boss did give one option if he managed to get to this level.
Sir, what was that?
Only a few get a chance as young as he is and from his record. If he had your training he would be your replacement.
Sir, I can't see how this pilot could ever learn enough to approach the expertise that a mid-level or senior supervisor has.
He managed to work his way past the public supervisor level in two tries and then up to you, and now to me. This boy has more conniving bones in his hand than you have in the whole section you are in charge of. Here are his new orders and assignment. Now his ID is reactivated, and as soon as he passes his pilots re-certification he is to report to the Phoenix.
But Sir, that is the 2nd best ship in our fleet.
Yes, you now begin to see. At this level we don't mind loosing crews or a few ships, but we want the best working where they are needed. Now get out of my office and bring your section up to the standards that surpass expectations from this level.
When they returned to his office he handed his secretary the data disk and said I want to know everything on this disk.
After looking at the computer for a few minutes she printed out 3 pages and dropped one in Johns lap as she headed into the her bosses office.
John read that upon successful re-certification as a pilot he was to report to the Phoenix as 2nd officer in training. Further orders are encrypted and can only be accessed upon completion of steps outlined and entry of codes entered by certain certification authorities. As she came out of the office she snatched the paper from his hands and said you never saw this, now the boss will see you. As he entered the senior supervisor said you have 2 weeks to bring your skill level back up to your previous standard and get re-certified as a pilot. As soon as your re-certification is entered and verified you will report to the Phoenix as a junior officer in training. I don't expect that you have the education to pass this level, but if you do then it's up to you on how high you rise. I've been ordered to keep hands off, so you are now in charge of your own future. All I can do is watch you screw up and then celebrate, because you showed my section up and I don't like that. Now get the hell out of my office and don't ever darken my door again.
Yes Sir, I'll try to disappoint you said John as he left. He thanked the secretary as he dropped the blue pass on the desk and asked where the lift was down to the training facilities. When he arrived he saw Frederick waiting his turn for debriefing. He asked one of the trainers if he could set up a pilot program in one of the trainers. The guy looked like he was pissed just enough to enter a tough program. As he sat down and fastened his safety belt he saw the display light up. The data showed a routine orbital insertion around Jupiter. Over the intercom came a squeal and yelling. Then half the board went yellow showing that he had lost the main rocket and didn't have enough velocity to maintain a safe orbit. He vaguely remembered this scenario from the master pilot training test. He closed his eyes for an instant and then using the internal gyroscopes rotated the ship and called pressed the emergency maneuvering alarm. One by one he rotated the ship so the maneuvering thrustors were in the correct position to fire as if they were mini-main rockets. As the last thrustor exhaustion it fuel the board indicated he had achieved a stable orbit velocity. He then keyed the intercom and called the bridge officer to call for a rescue ship and report that the ship was out of fuel and had a stable orbit for now. The display went blank and he got up and walked out. The technician looked at him and said the gal said you were rusty. I've only seen 2 master pilots pull off that scenario and you were right between them in completion time. Sir, do you need debriefing or shall I set up another for you now.
John told him he'd had a hell of a morning and would be back after lunch. He then asked how long the others had been gone. After being told they just left he hurried out.
Jan started laughing as he entered the cafeteria and poked Fred in the arm and said we set him up good look at
that expression.
As John sat down he looked at Fred and Jan and said that was a fail scenario from the master pilot training course. I had an old asshole show it to me one time. I'm sure that you bribed the trainer to throw me that one, so I'll have to get even with you by making you buy me lunch. We are due back in an hour for an afternoon of training and then several more days until we feel comfortable enough to take the re-certification.
They were all laughing as they entered the training facility. Jan and Fred looked shocked when all four of the trainers walked over to John and asked what scenario's he wanted run. John simply stated that he wanted to start with junior pilot level and mix them up. He just wanted to knock the rust off his fingers. Then he turned and said they need the same routine. Tomorrow afternoon you can debrief us for the whole series and then we'll redo any failures until we get them right with the minimum time frame plus 5%. Does that sound good to you Jan? Then he turned and entered the 1st trainer.
Jan was told to enter the 2nd trainer.
Frederick was told to enter the 3rd trainer.
At the door to the 2nd trainer Jan turned and asked can you tell me how bad John did on the scenario you ran on him before lunch. With a grin the trainer answered he is one of three I've ever seen pass it. It was a real scenario. The pilot saved half the VIP's of this company on an inspection tour when a meteorite hit the engine compartment on a low orbital insertion 9 years ago. Now get inside and get ready. When you think you're ready I run it for you someday.
They ran one scenario after another all afternoon and were told to report at 0800 sharp for their next shift. The next morning an extra trainer was sitting in a chair by the control panel. He just nodded at the three as they were ushered into the trainers.
The Plan and other short stories Page 10
