CaptStadia
Viper Pilot
Here me roar! Watch me bounce!
Posts: 112
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Post by CaptStadia on Mar 7, 2006 16:03:24 GMT -6
Stadia watched the shuttle as the hatch popped open and a head pop up. She wonder what the frak they were doing but learned not to ask where lucian was concerned.
A short time she noticed the shuttle was coming closer to Dolet's viper. "just a little bit to the right." she cringed as she watched. She paused to look at her scanner to check and see if there were any cylons in the neighborhood. Seeing blip, bigger then her ship, come onto her screen, she opened her comm channel
"Lucian, you better hurry and do whatever your planning because I have a feeling there is a basestar and raiders in our near future."
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Post by LucianG on Mar 8, 2006 6:52:04 GMT -6
Having checked each other's envirosuits, Fallel had depressurized the shuttle, disengaged the artificial gravity, and popped one of the rear roof hatches. Hooking his safety harness on one of the support points, Fallel climbed the ladder and looked out on the wonder of space. He had spent many yahrens as a prisoner on the Cylon moon, Frodar Epsilon Alpha, but had rarely been able to gain an unobstructed view of space. Once he and his few fellow prisoners had been rescued by the Callisto's crew, he had become a valued member of that crew, but still rarely had the opportunity to obtain the view he was then see--
"Fallel! Wake up!" commanded Lucian through the suit's comm. "It's a very pretty sight, but if we want to keep enjoying it, we've got to hurry. I've got something coming up on the edge of the scanner."
Fallel looked over at the Viper the shuttle was approaching. "Lucian, those engines look to be a mess. I am surprised young Dolet was able to keep them going as long as he did. They are going to have to be completely rebuilt, if not entirely recycled."
As he approached from low and behind, Lucian was also looking at the mess that made up the rear of Dolet's Viper. Before he had time to respond, Stadia's voice cracked the comm, " "Lucian, you better hurry and do whatever your planning because I have a feeling there is a basestar and raiders in our near future."
"I see it," replied Lucian, "but I'm not sure if they've seen us just yet. We're not going to wait around to find out though. We're on course for the comet's tail, which should give us a better chance of hiding from them, slipping around back, and then on to pick up JustinB."
Fallel called out, "Lucian, we're within about 25 meters back, about 3 meters left, and about 6 meters below." As the shuttle moved closer, he continued to call out distances, making adjustments by the micron. Within a few centons, he called, "Dead on, dead on, 30 centimeters low, 20, 10, FIVE, CONTACT! LOCK ON!"
Lucian activated the magnetic clamp just as the shuttle was jarred by the impact from the first impacts of the tiny particles of dust from the comet's tail.
"FRACK! LOST HIM!" cried the normally almost clinically calm though somewhat sarcastic Fallel. "Pitch up 6 degrees, yaw 10 degrees left, and he's gone into a roll!"
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 8, 2006 12:52:01 GMT -6
Dolet was quick on the com. "That wasn't me sir! Something hit us."
"Dolet, understood" came the reply. "That was the comet. You can't see the fine particles, but they are there. Listen, you're doing fine. You've got to hit your directional thrusters to stop that roll, and leave the rest to us."
"I'm on it" Dolet replied, relieved that no one was blaming him for the sudden shift in his viper's position. Frack. This sort of thing they can't prepare you for in the sims.
He played with the thrusters, trying to stop the stars from spinning. Slowly, slowly things began to stabilize. He overcompensated, and started to go the other way before he finally got the ship steady again. This is harder than chasing a raider!
"Dolet to shuttle" he said into his com, "I'm ready for another try."
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Post by LucianG on Mar 10, 2006 23:42:10 GMT -6
With Dolet’s Viper stabilized, Lucian adjusted the shuttle’s course, attitude, and primary angle to match that of the Viper. When all was in order, Fallel climbed back up the access ladder, and started giving Lucian closing distance information. It didn’t take too long before they were close.
“One half meter back, dead on left-right, and one meter low,” called Fallel. Moments and a few adjustment calls later, he called, “CONTACT! LOCK ON!”
Lucian activated the magnetic clamp again, and this time Fallel cried out, “GOT IT! It looks like we have the front part of the left landing gear. If we get hit by any more of those dust particles from the comet, it might easily jar it loose. I advise getting Dolet out of there quickly.”
“Agreed. Dolet,” called Lucian, “have you checked your enviro-suit? Are you all sealed up and ready to go?”
“Yes, Sir,” called Dolet. “I’m ready.
“Okay, open your canopy, and then Fallel’s going to whip you a safety line. As soon as it’s within reach, reach out, grasp it, and attach it to one of your safety loops. Don’t release your Viper’s harness until it’s in place, understood? Good! Now just hold on while Fallel whips you the line.”
“How’s he going to do that, Sir?” asked Fallel. “If he throws that line, with no gravity, it’s going to sail out over me, and since it won’t fall into place, I won’t be able to reach it.”
“Just hold on, Ensign,” replied Lucian. “Watch what Fallel does with the rope.”
As Lucian said this, Fallel judged he had enough rope ready, with the weight tied to the end of it. “Here it goes,” said Fallel, who threw the weight directly away from Dolet’s Viper and in a downward direction past the edge of the shuttle. As the rope straightened out, reaching the end of its play length, Fallel suddenly jerked the rope upward in an arc with both hands. The inertia of the small weight, the relatively short rope length, and the induced upward arc caused the rope to whip back around toward the Viper, over it, and then arc on down over the front hood, less than a half meter in front of the open canopy.
On getting the word from Fallel that the safety line was in position, Lucian said, rapid fire, “Dolet, attach that safety line, release your harness, then calmly climb out of there, being very careful not to tangle that line, and get in here. You can thank the Lords for the effects of centrifugal force after you’re safe!”
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 11, 2006 15:28:34 GMT -6
Dolet did as he was told, and soon was near the hatch to the shuttle as he pulled on the line.
He turned to look up at his viper, and was amazed at the seriousness of the damage. He knew some of those cylon bombs had hit close, but the wings, the engines, everything seemed charred, bent, or worse. It dawned on him that maybe he hadn't spent all his fuel unwisely by overusing the turbos. There easily could be a leak somewhere that had caused his tanks to run dry. There'd be no way to know without a full overhaul, but Dolet suspected that it wouldn't happen. He had the feeling that Lucian was going to cut the viper loose once he was safely inside.
Too bad he thought. I would have liked to know the truth.
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Post by LucianG on Mar 12, 2006 13:59:50 GMT -6
"Ensign Dolet," called Fallel, "I suspect it is very painful to lose a ship, especially one of those, but there are occasional dust particles from that comet right over there, meteors if you will, that, if they hit you, will make for a very, very bad time. I recommend that you hurry," said the Frodarian engineering officer.
"Sorry," said Dolet, moving forward, but still wondering about his ship.
Fallel helped Dolet into the hatch, and down the ladder, then closed the hatch. As soon as the hatch sensor engaged, indicating a positive lock, Lucian said, "Welcome aboard, Ensign Dolet. Now, take a seat, gentlemen, at least for a moment. We'll repressurize and bring up the artificial gravity back up in a few centars." Fallel and Dolet grabbed the nearest seats as Lucian already had the shuttle accelerating. Within moments, he had changed direction, trying to put more of the comet's tail between the shuttle and the suspected Cylon Base Ship. Then he called, "Dolet, listen to this message, we don't have much time, so it's to you as well." Then, he went on ship to ship, "R1 to R2. Stadia, we've got a very tenuous hold on one landing pad of that Viper. If we get hit by one of these dust particles, we could loose that ship, and it might damage us in the process as it tears away. I hate to do this, but we're going to have to cut it loose and you're going to have to blast it to keep it from falling into the hands of the Cs. Fall back a bit, and stand clear while I throw it off, just like the first package. Take the shot when you're ready."
"Ready, Lucian," called Stadia.
Lucian put the shuttle into a roll, then released the magnetic clamp, launching the Viper clear. As it sailed free, he saw Stadia moving in toward it on the scanner....
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 12, 2006 16:21:36 GMT -6
Dolet had a depressed feeling come over him as he heard Lucian confirming his suspicions on the fate of his viper. He could feel the loss come over him unexpectedly, for even though he suspected that this was the plan, he had only cared in terms of finding out about his rapid loss of fuel.
Now it felt like he was losing a friend. That viper had taken care of him, became an extension of himself, took on the enemy and had brought him his first two victories over the cylons in combat. He wanted to say something but knew it was useless.
The shuttle began to roll, and Dolet turned to the window and with frustration banged his head on the glass, keeping it pressed up against the viewport. As the shuttle rolled around he could see the viper drifting away. On the second spin it was further away, on the third it was smaller still.
Still looking out the window, Dolet could make out Stadia's viper as it began to close in as the shuttle rolled a fourth time. Then shuttle came out of its roll, and Dolet could no longer see the viper, only the brightness of the explosion as his viper was destroyed...
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Post by LucianG on Mar 12, 2006 19:03:03 GMT -6
Weight.
It was a wonderful feeling after a period of weightlessness, though some people had trouble making the relatively rapid transition. With artificial gravity and atmosphere restored, Lucian announced to his passengers, "Guys, we can breathe again. You can take off the suits if you'd like." He immediately unfastened and then removed his own helmet, but continued to pilot the shuttle. Turning slightly, he said, "Ensign Dolet, care to take a seat up here for a bit?"
Lucian fought down a grin as he saw Dolet's eyes widen in...surprise? excitement? dread? or something...at the invitation. To calm his nerves, if that was what was needed, Lucian added, "You can take fly this box while I shuck out of this suit."
"We're on auto at the moment, but you need to watch the controls and the scanners in case anything comes up," said Lucian after Dolet was seated. He rose from his own seat, stepped back, and began removing the enviro-suit. As he progressed, he noticed that Dolet looked almost crestfallen as he studied the controls. As he resumed his seat a few moments later, he took a guess at what was probably bothering Dolet, saying, "Son, I'm sorry about your Viper. It's really tough for a Warrior to lose a ship since its often almost an extension of ourselves. Remember though, you successfully did what very few Warriors have ever done. You landed your ship on the roof of a flying shuttle--"
Dolet objected, "But sir! I didn't--"
"Wait, Ensign. While the circumstances may be a bit odd, the landing gear was attached to your ship. You participated in the maneuvering with your thrusters, even when you were out of fuel, so it's your landing. Furthermore, that means you brought your ship in successfully, meaning you didn't lose your ship either. Due to the circumstances of the mission, it was sacrificed at the command of a senior officer. I'm sorry to have had to make that call, but under the circumstances, it was the only thing we could do."
Lucian observed Dolet's nod, but there seemed to be something else, maybe something deeper, troubling the young ensign. Looking him in the eyes, Lucian asked quietly, in case Dolet wanted to tell him something without Fallel from overhearing, "Dolet, is there something else bothering you?"
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Post by JustinB on Mar 13, 2006 6:05:26 GMT -6
I walked on the on the surface of Caprica. The meadow was green and the birds were singing. I was on one of my make beleive missions as a colonial warrior on the outskirts of the capital. I was so much wanting to be a warrior. I had an old laser pistol which had been disabled in my hand. Oh how I loved to pretend to kill cylons. My parents had tried so hard to disuede me from wanting to become a warrior. My father wanted me to run his company as soon as I was old enough. It was now night time and I relunctanly headed home. As I did, I noticed what seemed to be lights moving in the sky. Then those lights beame cylon raiders. I panicked and headed home as fast as I could. I had just reached the conrer of my street when a raided buzzed over me. Through the window to my home, I could see both my father and mother sitting down to dinner. the next thing I saw was that same raider turn my house and my parents into a fireball. I screamed and ran faster to see if my parents were alive. I sat there sobbing when I realised they were gone. *********** As JustinB, layed in a hybenation state and dreaming, the dream caused his body to flinch, In doing so it hit his IFF and switched it on. If there was anyone to pick it up on there radar, firend or foe they would find him whether he was dead or alive.
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 13, 2006 7:25:07 GMT -6
Dolet debated in his mind, unsure if he should bring it up. He may have used his turbos too much, but was not sure if anyone had even noticed. He might be better off just forgetting about it, taking the congratulations and the two kills and leaving it at that.
His viper was gone. So did the fuel thing even matter at this point? He'd survived, so it was a learning experience. If he took Stadia up on her invitation for some lessons, he could build on it even further. He'd know for next time not to lay on the turbos so much.
If that was what caused it. It could have easily been battle damage that drained his tanks. In which case he'd made no mistake. All he had to do was bring it up to Lucian...
"No sir" he replied. "Nothing else. Just a little after-battle let down. And losing my ship hurts."
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