15671/=A Good Meal and Better Advice

=A Good Meal and Better Advice
Date of Scene:	21 August 2023
Location:	Food Court: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Stadler and Natasha have a discussion that helps Stadler realize how he needs to move forward.
Cast of Characters:	Natasha Romanoff, Richard Stadler

---

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
She's not a romantic. She's efficient. While she's in the food court Natasha isn't bothering to take any of the food that's available. Things from throughout the word to serve the large number of agents that can come and go through the Triskelion at any point. Back from deployments, quickly getting something between missions. They canc ome from anywhere in the world, at any time. The food court has to serve a great many palettes and do so well. Because soldiers and full stomachs.

Natasha is not availing herself of any of this. She has a large nutrietn bar in front of her that she's workingw hile taking the occasional bite of and going through various old manuals in front of her.

Richard Stadler has posed:
     "Ahh.. Agent Romonaova. Don't suppose you'd mind some company?"

Distrubing the manual review would be Richard Stadler, with a slight quirk of a smile, rueful to the interruption he knows he's causing. The consultant access badge hands neatly on the lapel of a bargain suit jacket that's at least nicely pressed, and his own tray shows no such furgality; salad drenched in vinaigrette and the best roast beef sandwich that the mess hall here could conjure up.

Rick peers over the manuals she does seem to be reviewing, and at least offers a little bit more of a reason to his interruption. "I'm making it a bit of a mission to network with the personnel around here; Just getting a proper feel of the organization. My apologies if I'm interrupting."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would shake her head over, "Not at all. I was merely engaged in some passive reading." The manuals themselves are Warsaw Pact era combined arms doctrine manuals. Looking like they were ancient photocopies that had been stapled together, pages long since yellowed away and the stapes rusted, held over in thick plastic binders to keep them together. "Nothing of any import."

Then she would turn her head to face him directly. "So what can I be of assistance with?" Natasha was direct and to the point. Few came to her out of want to socialize or chatter - she kept up that reputation easily enough. So someone approaching her meant they had questions or needed assistance. Whichs he was fine with.

Richard Stadler has posed:
     "Oh?" Rick says, moving to carefully set his tray down at the table, while leaning forward and craning his head to peer around at the copies themselves, his brow furrowing behind spectacles. "Motostrelkovyy..." He manages through a halting accent, before shaking his head. "Sorry; I can sound out a bit of cyrillic but I count the words I recognize on one hand. Still good to see it though; let me know if you have anything from the DDR there." He says, making a bit of small talk as he moves to pull the chair back and sit down.

He's caught a bit off guard by the question, his smile turning a bit sheepish. "Oh... well. I wasn't planning on asking anything... at least before you asked. Networking, like I said; there's a lot about an organization you get to know by talking to the people in charge, after all." He pauses, for a moment, looking down at his sandwich more for the excuse to gather thoughts than pondering a bite. "Though, the reason for that is might require some... advice, if you're up for it. I've already talked with Commander Morse on the subject, but I'm still.. between myself, if that describes it."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod, "It's command and control procedures for coordination of armored, infantry, artillery, and aerial columns." Not to mention all of the logistics and transportation infrastructure that said columns took up. The sort of reading that would put most to sleep - even wihtin the military leadership of the era. "It's unimportant unless one has a need for it for archival purposes." The binders are folded up and pushed to the side as Richard settles in.

"You're unsure as to what sort of direction, i fany, you might wish to pursue within the roganization? Whether joining us full time in some capacity or moving on as you feel that it does not quite match with your skillset? Or you wish to enjoy your retirement with something tha tisn't likely to end with a heart attack?" Natasha keeps her tone jocular. She's also very, very good at feigning it. A lifetime's skill.

Richard Stadler has posed:
     Rick at least can nod to the description of the documents themselves. "Important things to research; my own experience has been... focused, in that regard. Though I've always disliked the formula's the Soviet's used for calculating responses. Reasonable, certainly, given doctrine, but a bit... rigid in terms of response. Though you could probably say that for any authoritarian force structure." He pauses. "But that's... ahh... off topic. As for the rest, I think you have it."

He leans back in the chair he's in, peering slightly past Natasha. "Moving on... maybe. But not really. It's..." He starts, bringing up his hands in a helpless gesture to try to explain. "It's a lot of factors; what I do know is that, skillset or not, the things I've seen... done in the time I've had this," He notes, giving the consultant badge a brief flick of his fingers, "Has shown me a side of operations I didn't know existed. I thought I was dealing with high level operations back at Detrick, and I know it was important, but it was so... small scale, compared to this. So. That's part of it. Not /all/ of it, but a large part, because I'm not sure how I can just... walk away while knowing it."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod over at Richard, "Yes, it took into account the limitations of technology. How effectively it would have worked.." Is probably the best that they never had to actually confirm. something left for the armchair generals, the wargames, and the simulators. No one wanted to see Europe ground underneath the boot of war once more and smothered. Or any part of th eworld. As romantic as reminiscing of endless tank columns was.

"There's a difference amongst many things. Nations and their miliatries are responsible for their own security, their own enemies. SHIELD's mandate.. Is far more open ended. There are a great many more threats to the planet, as you've seen. And you have done your part to save the world. You have the right to say that you've fulfilled your service and can step back before it swallows you up again." The man has earned the right to decide for himself where he will cast his dice.

And she also feels obligated to make it clear that it's entirely appropriate for him to decide to back out without guilt, without reproach, without recrimination.

Richard Stadler has posed:
     Rick's track seems to be a bit different than the one Natasha's was on. "To be debated, certainly. But you can see some of it in Russia's little adventures after the break up of the Soviet Union. I'd bring up their performance in Afghanistan, but... well, glass houses and stones and all that." He remarks, and that seems to be the most he'll be saying on the subject.

In terms of stepping back, Rick's face breaks out into a grin, though certainly a rueful one. "Oh, how I wish /that/ would work." He notes. "That was what I tried before, you know, and don't get me wrong, I like being a teacher, and that's not going to change. As I mentioned to Morse, it's a rewarding career, especially with those kids at Happy Harbor. So I can say I'm happy. But... I can't say I'm content. Because I thought that I could simply leave that part of me behind with retirement, and then I find myself behind a podium at the UN with a handgun and realizing I'm not exactly ready to give that part of me up."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would sit back over and listen. "You don't want to let all your skills go to waste and you feel like you've takena few steps to a larger world that you weren't aware existed until recently." She goes to offer this as a contrast over then to her earlier statement. "And that's a more effective way of dealing with the UN than most times spent on committee." That part of her cynicism was something that dated back to Tsarist times.

"Well, Doctor Stadler, your services to SHIELD in an expanded, official capacity would be greatly welcomed. I'm sure that Commander Morse would vouch for your credentials."

Richard Stadler has posed:
     Stadler waves his hand in a slightly dismissive fashion. "Oh, the UN does their best. I worked with the WHO on a few missions, and maybe took a tour or three. You can't fault them for enthuasium, and they got this handled in the end, didn't they? Not that my skill set goes toward making deals, as you've seen." He says, his face grimacing a little. Despite the voice of endorsement he still looks uncertain.

"If it were that easy, I'd have made a descision already. I had thought I did. myself. Considered working some... deal with the Reserves to join back up and have here as my drill site, but then Morse indicates the options for being an Agent, and.... I can't say the offer hasn't tempted me. Tempted me greatly. But I'm used to being a soldier, and there's a lot that uniform, and what it represents that I find... helpful. Truthfully, a bit more than I thought before the question was asked. I'm not sure.... I'm pushing fifty. I don't know if I can go back to taking orders."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod, "The United Nations works in an attempt to foster consensus and discussion. Which helps minimize friction amongst member states, but also does not often lend itself to rapid and coordinated response." She's rather deadpan there - as virtually every person throughout existence has said about any form of bureaucracy ever, regardless of scale or import.

"Then you can simply say that after a period of acclimation to SHIELD that you cannot be put at a rank that is more fitting to your experience. I see no problems with the issue, though ultimately I am merely a field operative. I feel however that with Commander Morse's recommendation there will be no issues if she agrees."

Richard Stadler has posed:
     "I suppose it doesn't." Richard concedes. " But it can be a bit seductive, especially within an organization that can commit decisive action, to think that consensus is a flaw to be avoided. Helps in the emergencies, sure, but the only way to get the sort of difference of ideas to be truly effective is through collaboration like that."

And with that, he frowns a bit more. Silent for a few seconds longer. "At the end of the day... I don't really have a choice, do I? Oh, no, I mean. I have a choice. There's nothing forcing me to... sign up, to fight these battles, but myself. And I... I don't plan to stop teaching. If that's a problem, then that's a problem. But I simply can't just stand by, partly in and partly out off this world, knowing that I could make a difference. It'll... be tough. But I think I need to start the process."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod, "Well then, consider it. While I am not in personnel assignments given your record and experience I prsume there would be few issues with granting you an officer's commission within the organization when you decide to approach it. It is far from unusual." The joys of an organization that often required /extremely/ specific outside experts of very niche fields for life and death situations that came up so often within thsoe niche fields it was easier to take on said ecelctic eccentrics on full time.

Richard Stadler has posed:
     And Stadler nodded once more. "Oh, I don't doubt that; the Army gave me one and they just needed 4 years of college; I was getting that anyway." The tone is light, but it seems he was a bit distracted with the thought. "I think... I need to do some planing here." He says, looking down at his untouched tray. "And I don't think I'm.. actually all that hungry. Or I don't think I have time to eat. One or the other." He says, moving to pick up his tray. "So I think I need to find a box. Thank you. This has been... well. Helpful in narrowing things down. I appreciate it."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod over at Richard, "Of course, Doctor Stadler. I wish you the best of luck and the best of results with your approach, whatever you decide is the course you wish to pursue. I fear that I can't offeryou much advise. If you approach her, Commander May or Commander Morse can help you better identify ways to achieve optimum results."