Shortages

Posted on Saturday February 28, 2026 @ 7:50pm by Captain Macon Chandler

303 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: M1 - Boxed In
Location: Portside Hanger
Timeline: Mission Day 1

Macon was standing next to his assigned Viper with the leading petty officer for the squadron's maintenance division. He was being given some unsettling news.

Sonja 'Momma Bear' Torres, Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class, was holding a refurbished fuel pump for his Viper. "Look sir. Supply issued this as a brand new part. It obviously is anything but. I install this in your bird and you go to afterburner you probably have a ten percent chance of the whole unit failing to work. I can't sign off on this Viper being safe to operate. You might get two, maybe three, sorties with it before the craps out in mid flight."

Macon felt a headache forming. This wasn't the LPO's first time bringing issues like this to his attention. He blew out a long sigh. "I know, I know...trust me...I know. We have to work with what we have." He looked down the line of Vipers crowding the Deck. "Just...install the damn thing, note your objection in the maintenance log and I'll sign the override for safe operation of the aircraft report."

Sonja snorted with derision. "You're going to get yourself killed one of these days sir. You know that, right?"

Macon gave a weary sigh as he took the maintenance record and signed in the override block. "Just install it Torres. I need this Viper certified to fly in the morning." He knew the woman would grumble, but also that she'd get the work done. He turned and walked off. He had several readiness summaries to prepare for his staff meeting with the CAG come morning.

Sonja watched the Captain wall off and shook her head as she grabbed her tool cart and got to work. Someone was going to die if Fleet Logistics didn't sort out their shit soon.

 

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