Chapter 2: "Good Luck"
“Hey, so that’ll teach you to speak up so quickly!”
John Hall chided Nick as he prepared for his trip. John was another engineer that worked with Nick at VIP Interior Products. Actually, he was the first one to stop by his cubicle and introduce himself to Nick when he first started. All of the other engineers were so busy finishing up the TZ-12 project, that no one even noticed that there was a “new guy” in the department. John, however, worked mostly on commercial, rather than private, aviation projects, so he wasn’t really involved in the TZ-12 project.
“Yeah. Right.” Nick darted around the department like a humming bird. Hovering in any one spot just long enough to gather what he needed then flitting off to the next.
“When do you fly out?”
“As soon as I get everything put together here.”
“Crazy. Let me give you a hand.”
“Thanks.”
The two engineers poured through the department photocopying any schematic, drawing, or specification, which may be relevant to Nick’s newly assigned mission. Before long, Nick had amassed a sizeable stack of paper on his desk.
“That should cover it.” Nick assessed the pile of papers as he contemplated how he was going to take it all with him.
“Well, you will definitely have enough reading material to keep you occupied for the flight.” John slapped him on the back as he headed back to his cubicle. “Good luck.”
“Thanks! I think I’ll need it.” Nick put everything on his chair and headed for the bathroom before going home to pack and get his passport. Entering the bathroom he headed for a urinal and began to unbuckle his belt.
“So what’s going on?” Nick was startled by the sudden break in the silence but quickly recognized his coworker’s voice. Alex Meyer stepped up to sink, turned on the water, and began slowly washing his hands.
Oh, great.
“Just going to the bathroom before heading out.” Nick replied as he continued with the business at hand.
“Yeah. I worked for over a year on that TZ-12 project. I guess the installers must have messed something up on their end.” Alex continued, wringing his hands under the faucet.
Right. Blame anybody else except for yourself.
“Uh huh.” Nick flushed the urinal and stepped over to the sink next to Alex.
Alex shut off the water and dried his hand with a paper towel. Tossing the now damp wad of paper into the trash, he turned once more towards Nick and addressed his reflection in the mirror.
“I wouldn’t want to be the ‘new guy’ assigned to this one. Better not mess up, Nick.” Alex’s sarcastic grin oozed through his goatee as he walked out of the restroom. Nick managed a tight-lipped smile as an acknowledgement to his coworker’s concern.
Jerk.
Stepping out of the restroom, Nick was intercepted by Tony’s secretary, Donna.
“Nick, I was coming up to see you. Here is your flight information. All you have to do is show your I.D. at the ticketing counter and they’ll give you your boarding pass.”
Nick looked over the itinerary. Six hours to Frankfurt, Germany then another three hours into Kiev.
Donna took a step closer to Nick and lowered her voice as her eyes glanced around. “Listen, I talked to Tony and got him to approve business class for you since you are flying the whole night and then you’ll have to start working as soon as you get in.”
“Wow, thanks!” Nick was sincerely grateful for this gesture. Especially since this would be his first time flying business class, not to mention his first time flying internationally.
“No problem. Just don’t tell anyone.” Donna continued, handing him an envelope. “Here are some traveler’s checks for your per diem and incidental expenses and your paycheck will reflect two hundred and fifty dollars per day for hazard pay.”
“Hazard pay?”
“Oh, don’t worry. It is not as bad as it sounds. We tack that on for anybody traveling at the last minute overseas. Just consider it a bonus.” Donna winked slyly at the young engineer who was beginning to have second thoughts about this “assignment”. “Any questions?”
“I don’t think so.” Nick flipped through the papers that he was just given.
“OK, good.” Donna turned and began to walk back to the other end of the building. After a few steps she stopped and turned her head towards Nick. “Oh! I almost forgot. Don’t forget to stop by Tony’s office on your way out. He wanted to give you some last minute instructions. Good luck!”
Why does everybody say ‘Good Luck’? Am I the first guy to be sent on this type of assignment?
Hazard pay?
Nick walked back into the engineering department and gathered his things. John looked up from his desk and gave him the ‘raised eyebrows and pursed lips’ salutation which most men are so comfortable with. Nick reciprocated in kind. Alex Meyer didn’t even look up from his computer screen as Nick passed by.
Downstairs in Tony’s office, Nick received some last-minute advice from the company’s executive vice president. Just outside of his office was a large, cardboard box. Nick noticed that his name was all over the labels.
Great. I’m going to have to lug that thing around.
“Hi, Nick. Are you all set to head out?” Tony motioned for Nick to step into his office. “I had the guys down in the shop put together this box for you. Inside, you’ll find virtually any tool or spare part that you might need in case you can fix the problem once you figure out what it is.”
“That’s a big box.” Nick extended his arms to mimic the height and breadth of the package.
“We’ll help you load it up, then once you get to Kiev, I am sure that you can pay for someone to help you.”
“Actually, how do I know where to go to once I get there?”
“When you arrive in Kiev, you’ll meet up with Jeff Barrie. He’s the liaison from Trace Worldwide, the company that handled the installation. He is coming in from their Moscow field office. He is an American citizen, but he lives in Moscow, so he will be able to translate for you and be sure that you can get to where you need to go. We’ll work on getting you a visa while you’re in flight and he’ll give it to you when he meets up with you in the terminal.”
“Okay. So I’ll just hang tight until I meet up with him?”
“Yes. Also, if anyone asks, just tell them that you are there to work on a Tupolev TU-154 for the Ukrainian Air Force. Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Whatever you do, do not tell anyone that you are there to work on the President’s airplane. Understand?” Tony suddenly got very serious.
“Yes. Understood.” Nick knew better than to question why at this point.
“All right then.” Tony stood up and extended his right hand out to Nick. “Good luck.”
Nick accepted the gesture and shook his hand firmly. “Thank you.”
John Hall chided Nick as he prepared for his trip. John was another engineer that worked with Nick at VIP Interior Products. Actually, he was the first one to stop by his cubicle and introduce himself to Nick when he first started. All of the other engineers were so busy finishing up the TZ-12 project, that no one even noticed that there was a “new guy” in the department. John, however, worked mostly on commercial, rather than private, aviation projects, so he wasn’t really involved in the TZ-12 project.
“Yeah. Right.” Nick darted around the department like a humming bird. Hovering in any one spot just long enough to gather what he needed then flitting off to the next.
“When do you fly out?”
“As soon as I get everything put together here.”
“Crazy. Let me give you a hand.”
“Thanks.”
The two engineers poured through the department photocopying any schematic, drawing, or specification, which may be relevant to Nick’s newly assigned mission. Before long, Nick had amassed a sizeable stack of paper on his desk.
“That should cover it.” Nick assessed the pile of papers as he contemplated how he was going to take it all with him.
“Well, you will definitely have enough reading material to keep you occupied for the flight.” John slapped him on the back as he headed back to his cubicle. “Good luck.”
“Thanks! I think I’ll need it.” Nick put everything on his chair and headed for the bathroom before going home to pack and get his passport. Entering the bathroom he headed for a urinal and began to unbuckle his belt.
“So what’s going on?” Nick was startled by the sudden break in the silence but quickly recognized his coworker’s voice. Alex Meyer stepped up to sink, turned on the water, and began slowly washing his hands.
Oh, great.
“Just going to the bathroom before heading out.” Nick replied as he continued with the business at hand.
“Yeah. I worked for over a year on that TZ-12 project. I guess the installers must have messed something up on their end.” Alex continued, wringing his hands under the faucet.
Right. Blame anybody else except for yourself.
“Uh huh.” Nick flushed the urinal and stepped over to the sink next to Alex.
Alex shut off the water and dried his hand with a paper towel. Tossing the now damp wad of paper into the trash, he turned once more towards Nick and addressed his reflection in the mirror.
“I wouldn’t want to be the ‘new guy’ assigned to this one. Better not mess up, Nick.” Alex’s sarcastic grin oozed through his goatee as he walked out of the restroom. Nick managed a tight-lipped smile as an acknowledgement to his coworker’s concern.
Jerk.
Stepping out of the restroom, Nick was intercepted by Tony’s secretary, Donna.
“Nick, I was coming up to see you. Here is your flight information. All you have to do is show your I.D. at the ticketing counter and they’ll give you your boarding pass.”
Nick looked over the itinerary. Six hours to Frankfurt, Germany then another three hours into Kiev.
Donna took a step closer to Nick and lowered her voice as her eyes glanced around. “Listen, I talked to Tony and got him to approve business class for you since you are flying the whole night and then you’ll have to start working as soon as you get in.”
“Wow, thanks!” Nick was sincerely grateful for this gesture. Especially since this would be his first time flying business class, not to mention his first time flying internationally.
“No problem. Just don’t tell anyone.” Donna continued, handing him an envelope. “Here are some traveler’s checks for your per diem and incidental expenses and your paycheck will reflect two hundred and fifty dollars per day for hazard pay.”
“Hazard pay?”
“Oh, don’t worry. It is not as bad as it sounds. We tack that on for anybody traveling at the last minute overseas. Just consider it a bonus.” Donna winked slyly at the young engineer who was beginning to have second thoughts about this “assignment”. “Any questions?”
“I don’t think so.” Nick flipped through the papers that he was just given.
“OK, good.” Donna turned and began to walk back to the other end of the building. After a few steps she stopped and turned her head towards Nick. “Oh! I almost forgot. Don’t forget to stop by Tony’s office on your way out. He wanted to give you some last minute instructions. Good luck!”
Why does everybody say ‘Good Luck’? Am I the first guy to be sent on this type of assignment?
Hazard pay?
Nick walked back into the engineering department and gathered his things. John looked up from his desk and gave him the ‘raised eyebrows and pursed lips’ salutation which most men are so comfortable with. Nick reciprocated in kind. Alex Meyer didn’t even look up from his computer screen as Nick passed by.
Downstairs in Tony’s office, Nick received some last-minute advice from the company’s executive vice president. Just outside of his office was a large, cardboard box. Nick noticed that his name was all over the labels.
Great. I’m going to have to lug that thing around.
“Hi, Nick. Are you all set to head out?” Tony motioned for Nick to step into his office. “I had the guys down in the shop put together this box for you. Inside, you’ll find virtually any tool or spare part that you might need in case you can fix the problem once you figure out what it is.”
“That’s a big box.” Nick extended his arms to mimic the height and breadth of the package.
“We’ll help you load it up, then once you get to Kiev, I am sure that you can pay for someone to help you.”
“Actually, how do I know where to go to once I get there?”
“When you arrive in Kiev, you’ll meet up with Jeff Barrie. He’s the liaison from Trace Worldwide, the company that handled the installation. He is coming in from their Moscow field office. He is an American citizen, but he lives in Moscow, so he will be able to translate for you and be sure that you can get to where you need to go. We’ll work on getting you a visa while you’re in flight and he’ll give it to you when he meets up with you in the terminal.”
“Okay. So I’ll just hang tight until I meet up with him?”
“Yes. Also, if anyone asks, just tell them that you are there to work on a Tupolev TU-154 for the Ukrainian Air Force. Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Whatever you do, do not tell anyone that you are there to work on the President’s airplane. Understand?” Tony suddenly got very serious.
“Yes. Understood.” Nick knew better than to question why at this point.
“All right then.” Tony stood up and extended his right hand out to Nick. “Good luck.”
Nick accepted the gesture and shook his hand firmly. “Thank you.”
© 2004 by Rob Suarez
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