She had been on base a whole week before he came to find her. She was already crossing the hanger to begin her manoeuvres when he entered, but as always, everything stopped when he entered the room. Her CO paused in his last minute instructions and indicated that they’d wait. After all, having the base commander seek you out afforded you a little leniency. No one dared mention that having the base commander as your father could also be construed as a cause for leniency. Sam knew it was flying through their minds anyway.
Having made his way to her, he addressed her in a low voice, at least having the courtesy to limit eavesdropping, even if he hadn’t managed to have this conversation in private.
“Lieutenant.”
“Sir.”
“I just wanted to welcome you to the base,” he said, expectedly formal.
“Thank you, sir.” She refused to notice the slight wince at her ‘sirs’. She remembered when he used to be so proud when she did so.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen one another,” he continued, his eyes begging for her to relent, even a little.
“Yes, sir, it has.” She wasn’t ready to do so.
He sighed. His daughter had certainly inherited his stubbornness and he recognised a loosing battle when he saw one. “You’re only stationed here for a few months, but I just wanted to make sure we’ll be okay; that we can work together.”
What could she say to that? They couldn’t even manage to talk to each other. In fact, aside from birthday and Christmas cards (sent more out of guilt than anything else) they’d hardly talked to each other for years. She hadn’t yet forgiven him for shutting her out, and he, well, she didn’t really know what he hadn’t forgiven her for. Not being her mother, she supposed.
“Of course, sir.”
Jacob Carter nodded, resigned, and turned to leave. Stopping short, he looked back over his shoulder at her, “Fly safe, Sammie.”
She stiffened, remembering many nights long ago, before their lives had been turned upside down. Nights when her father had tucked her in, wishing her sweet dreams with just those words. Would it really be so hard to reach out? She wished she knew how.
“Yes, sir.”
2.
Samantha Carter was one of only two women sitting around the large round table; just she and Dr. Langford surrounded in a sea of testosterone. It was something she was used to by now, as a woman in a still male-dominated military, and it rarely bothered her. Except in situations like this.
General West sat at the head of the table, his expression firm and resolute as he flipped a file of papers closed. “I’m sorry Captain Carter, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to stand by my original decision. Should we manage to activate the device, we just don’t know what the repercussions may be, we don’t know what dangers may be faced on a mission of this magnitude. The bottom line is, that while we are all grateful for your considerable contributions to this program, I am simply not prepared to assign a female officer to a mission with this scope of unforeseen circumstances. You can be assured however, that the team assigned will be of the highest level and you will have access to any scientific data that may arise.”
She tried to loosen her teeth that have tightened throughout his speech. The outcome wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it hurt all the same. She knew of the men that had been assigned to the mission and all of them were good soldiers. But, with the exception of their leader, she had equal or surpassing experience in all areas.
She opened her mouth to say so, but caught Catherine’s eye as she did. The older woman stared at her gently, reminding her of their earlier discussion. Catherine had agreed to do what she could to get Sam on the mission, but they both knew they couldn’t afford to alienate the military funding the program. She sighed and schooled her expression back into that of the subordinate officer.
5 things Sam wished she'd said to a superior instead of (or in addition to) "Yes, Sir," but didn't
She had been on base a whole week before he came to find her. She was already crossing the hanger to begin her manoeuvres when he entered, but as always, everything stopped when he entered the room. Her CO paused in his last minute instructions and indicated that they’d wait. After all, having the base commander seek you out afforded you a little leniency. No one dared mention that having the base commander as your father could also be construed as a cause for leniency. Sam knew it was flying through their minds anyway.
Having made his way to her, he addressed her in a low voice, at least having the courtesy to limit eavesdropping, even if he hadn’t managed to have this conversation in private.
“Lieutenant.”
“Sir.”
“I just wanted to welcome you to the base,” he said, expectedly formal.
“Thank you, sir.” She refused to notice the slight wince at her ‘sirs’. She remembered when he used to be so proud when she did so.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen one another,” he continued, his eyes begging for her to relent, even a little.
“Yes, sir, it has.” She wasn’t ready to do so.
He sighed. His daughter had certainly inherited his stubbornness and he recognised a loosing battle when he saw one. “You’re only stationed here for a few months, but I just wanted to make sure we’ll be okay; that we can work together.”
What could she say to that? They couldn’t even manage to talk to each other. In fact, aside from birthday and Christmas cards (sent more out of guilt than anything else) they’d hardly talked to each other for years. She hadn’t yet forgiven him for shutting her out, and he, well, she didn’t really know what he hadn’t forgiven her for. Not being her mother, she supposed.
“Of course, sir.”
Jacob Carter nodded, resigned, and turned to leave. Stopping short, he looked back over his shoulder at her, “Fly safe, Sammie.”
She stiffened, remembering many nights long ago, before their lives had been turned upside down. Nights when her father had tucked her in, wishing her sweet dreams with just those words. Would it really be so hard to reach out? She wished she knew how.
“Yes, sir.”
2.
Samantha Carter was one of only two women sitting around the large round table; just she and Dr. Langford surrounded in a sea of testosterone. It was something she was used to by now, as a woman in a still male-dominated military, and it rarely bothered her. Except in situations like this.
General West sat at the head of the table, his expression firm and resolute as he flipped a file of papers closed. “I’m sorry Captain Carter, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to stand by my original decision. Should we manage to activate the device, we just don’t know what the repercussions may be, we don’t know what dangers may be faced on a mission of this magnitude. The bottom line is, that while we are all grateful for your considerable contributions to this program, I am simply not prepared to assign a female officer to a mission with this scope of unforeseen circumstances. You can be assured however, that the team assigned will be of the highest level and you will have access to any scientific data that may arise.”
She tried to loosen her teeth that have tightened throughout his speech. The outcome wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it hurt all the same. She knew of the men that had been assigned to the mission and all of them were good soldiers. But, with the exception of their leader, she had equal or surpassing experience in all areas.
She opened her mouth to say so, but caught Catherine’s eye as she did. The older woman stared at her gently, reminding her of their earlier discussion. Catherine had agreed to do what she could to get Sam on the mission, but they both knew they couldn’t afford to alienate the military funding the program. She sighed and schooled her expression back into that of the subordinate officer.
“Yes, sir.”