Second Try

Posted on 15 Nov 2017 @ 12:43pm by Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen

386 words; about a 2 minute read

Application rejected.

I stare at it with surprise before sitting back. Rejected. Wow. It’s a feeling I have had before, but hell…for a moment I let the emotions wash over me. I am disappointed. Not shocked, I know that many wouldn’t want someone with my list of medical problems on their ship. All I need is a bad away team to a heavy-gee planet and come back with squashed lungs. But…

Somehow, this annoys me. It is a long tour, can’t be that many people desperate to go. So who do they think they will get? Someone else? Who else can deal with the creaks and troubles of a long tour far away from pretty much everyone? Not many.

For once I don’t hesitate. I hit the record button and lean forward.

“My name is Petty Officer 3rd Grade Constantin Vansen. This is my second application for a posting on the Galileo. This is my covering letter where I request an interview. Looking at my medical file, I know it is daunting to have someone on the crew who might not be able to go on away teams. But I am not about that. I grew up on a rusbucket of a spaceship with no one to do maintenance except me. I am the fastest worker in zero gravity you’ll see. I’m determined. More than a little. I can improvise. I know the ways to get the best out of a ship’s system even if error after error gather up.

I know how to survive. If the Galileo really is going on such a long tour, you want survivors among you. People who know that there’s worse things than dying in space. You might not see much in my record. But meet me. Give me a chance to show you why I would be a valued member of your crew.”

I sit back and look at the text in front of me. I don’t edit it. It’s me. It’s part of me.

I am getting good at this no hesitating thing because my fingers put in the code and my application goes through again, this time with the cover letter as the first file.

Application received.

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