SOUTH CHINA SEA (June 10, 2021) Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class David Smerdon, from Brawley, Calif., installs a lock pin into the main rotor of an MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, assigned to the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), June 10, 2021. Charleston, part of Destroyer Squadron Seven, is on a rotational deployment, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam Butler)