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Post by Skyler on Apr 1, 2006 19:17:40 GMT -6
Gold Squadron started forming up for landing operations. Looking ahead he saw Ally lining up on Alpha Landing Deck. Beta must be in Launch Mode and unable to deal with a damamged ship at this micron. Brik's idea had merit, and given the chance, he knew he would have volunteered for it in half a heartbeat. Sadly, not knowing what Core Command had up their sleeves, he was betting the request would be denied. By the looks of the disturbance, he doubted a Viper would be able to operate it in for more than a few microns, maybe a centon, if the shields were boosted beyond operational standards, which they were already pushing the limits of thier designs.
"Brik, I love the idea, same kind of felgercarb I would suggest, but don't get your hopes up. Now, your damamge, just the high engine, any trouble with control. You know they like to triage the damamged ships to the back of the line, so the deck isn't fouled before the rest of the Squadron can land."
"Nothing wrong with the flight controls, just lacking that extra punch when I hit the thrusters. Plus the extra strain on the other two engines used up most of my fuel, I will be on vaper before to long."
"You have the Green light to land first. Just keep the deck clear, Bronze is prepping to launch, so Beta bay isn't set up for catching birds at this moment."
"Skyler to Gold Squadron, all Warriors check in with me on you fuel status. Lowest lands first. I will wait till last to make sure everyone gets in."
Skyler startred getting the information he needed and started lining up the Squadron in formation in order they were going to land....
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Post by Logan on Apr 1, 2006 20:22:31 GMT -6
"Logan to Skyler. I have a couple of scorch marks, but nothing serious. I'm good on fuel. Thanks to the fancy flying of Gold while I was assisting Bronze, I took it easy on the turbos for the most part," Logan reported.
She took up position for landing and found herself paired up with Skyler, in a holding pattern on the approach to Alpha Bay. She had the same feeling she always did on a return flight, glad to be heading home but frustrated at leaving before the outcome of an engagement was clear. Probably won't have much time to dwell on it at the rate Bronze Squadron got back out here. A quick systems check and refuel by the techs and we'll be back in the launch tubes.
Since Bronze was already in Alpha Bay, that meant they'd be able to meet face to face as well. Logan felt a kinship with the girl already after everything they had been through out here. She just hoped for Bronze's sake that she had a chance to clean up before they got in. Couldn't have Brik's first impression be of the girl covered in her own lunch.
The most damaged Vipers in Gold were on final approach to the Battlestar. There still was nothing visible of the Baseship that Logan knew hovered somewhere within the mist of the gas giant. She had no idea what Apollo had up his sleeve at this point, but she knew that if that Baseship was drifting helpless, out of power, it was going to be happening soon. And if Gold Squadron happened to be back out here when it did that would suit her just fine.
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BRIK
Viper Pilot
Posts: 227
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Post by BRIK on Apr 2, 2006 23:51:11 GMT -6
She just hoped for Bronze's sake that she had a chance to clean up before they got in. Couldn't have Brik's first impression be of the girl covered in her own lunch Having the green light to land first, Brik found himself flying slightly (ok, significantly) slower than he should, despite the blown engine. He hoped that Wraith wouldn't notice... Brik's helmet speakers crackled to life with the voice of his friend and wingman. "Wraith to Brik...you ok, buddy? Even with that engine trouble you're flying awfully slow. Are you injured???" He smiled to himself to hear the concern in his friend's voice and hurried to assuage his very reasonable fear, given the situation. "Oh yeah, yeah, I'm ok...uh, just wanted to make sure that I don't push my luck too far, you know, after fighting a battle with a severely damaged viper, and all." Frack...he couldn't even *pretend* to himself that he was convincing, not to Gold Squadron...and he could only imagine what Logan will say, although he preferred not to at the moment. "Brik to Skyler...message received and understood, I won't get my hopes up on the recon idea. My plan is to hit the bay, clear my viper, *find another one* and rendezvous with Gold on patrol." He was really looking forward to meeting this new person...but he was still a Colonial Warrior and he was still quite concerned over that "unresolved" basestar and he really wanted Gold to be in on *whatever* was going to happen. But... Given that he truly doubted finding an available space-worthy viper after such a large battle, he still needed to land and clear and that should be enough time, especially if he went to catch a quick shave...
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Post by Amy81 on Apr 3, 2006 5:27:55 GMT -6
Ally brought her viper in on alpha deck, landing and rolling up to a flight deck tech. He motioned to her and she made a cutting motion across her throat, indicating that her viper needed repair. She turned to the right and came to a stop in a line with other damaged vipers.
The sudden lack of motion caught her by surprise, and she felt a little dizzy and sick to her stomach. She popped the canopy and began to climb out.
As she was hopping down, a tech was climbing up.
"What's wron--" he began to ask.
"Stabilizer" Ally managed to blurt out as she dropped to the deck. She fell to her knees, her head down and almost touching the deck.
As she waited for the deck to stop tipping wildly, she heard the deck hand talking. "Geez, Lt! Have a rough ride?"
Ally said nothing. He must have gotten a look at the cockpit... Slowly the deck stopped tipping, and Ally sat up, watching as Gold Squadron began entering the bay. And here I am, covered in my lunch. What a way to meet Logan, or Skyler... Or Brik! She wanted to get up, maybe clean up, but she stayed where she was, just thankful that her head and stomach were cooperating again...
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Post by Col. Charybdis on Apr 3, 2006 10:00:45 GMT -6
"Lt?" came the question from Sheba.
"All Bronze squadron fighters refuled and ready for relaunch, Commander, with the exception of Lt. Ally." Lt. Aegina reported.
"Colonel, get those fighters back out and get Gold squadron in."
"Geenie, get 'em going," I told her. "Lt. Aegina. Get Gold squadron back in. And don't have any mixups on which landing deck they are supposed to come in on..."
Geenie turned her comm unit on, "Transferring control to Bronze squadron recon vipers. Launch when ready!"
Major Jorlan's voice crackled over the receiver. "Coordinates received and locked. See you soon, Callisto."
With that, engines roared to life as Bronze squadron shot out of their launch tubes once again after an all-too-short break...
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Post by Col. Charybdis on Apr 3, 2006 12:30:13 GMT -6
Sheba spoke again, "Once Gold squadron has landed, have them report to their ready rooms for some rest, but to be able to scramble at a micron's notice."
"Yes, ma'am," came the reply from Aegina who was working at the bridge console...
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Post by Skyler on Apr 3, 2006 20:20:09 GMT -6
Skyler checked over the incoming transmission from Flight Op's....
"Gold Squadron, land on ALPHA deck, repeat ALPHA deck..."
What the Frack? Gold Squadron has always operated off of Alpha, why did they feel the need to state that. What ever....
"Gold One, Core Command wants all Warriors not injured to report to the Ready Room for some rest. You are on Stand By, but may have to launch at a micron's notice."
"Core Command, I copy, report to ready rooms...." Shaking his head Skyler rolled his eyes and mumbled. 'Great.... Baseship disabled, or something just beyond the Fleet, an unknown number of Raiders somewhere and Gold Squadron is being ordered to take a Nap.'
Reaching up he tapped his fuel gauge as it hovered just on the edge of the red line. A warning light started flashing and the read out flashed the words FUEL LEVEL CRITICAL. Looking back up at the last few Vipers heading in to land, he tapped the gauge again.
"Those techs have the mixture to rich. Should have lasted a little longer than that. Not unless the gauge is faulty." tap tap tap....
"Flight Control to Skyler.... Our readings show you are low on fuel, do you show same?"
"Don't know what you are talking about..... Its in the green here." Skyler banked the Viper just a bit and the needle rose just enough not to touch the red line. The last of the Vipers were in, Skyler started his final approach. The power was starting to chop some where the fuel was almost gone. He backed the thrust back and dropped his gear. Lining up for landing, he keyed the comm.
"Flight Control, I will be on the deck in 60 microns, have the arrestor cable readied for a catch." The deck crews monitored the incoming communications between Flight Control and landing craft. It took the highly skilled crew only a few microns to have the cable in place. In fact it took longer for the Vipers arrestor hook to lock into place than it took them to pull the cable.
Skyler counted the microns before he would again have the Viper back on the flight deck. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, ... Frack, the engines started chopping and dying as the fuel in the lines ran out. Killing the remaining engine, with any luck there would be enough vapor to fire the breaking thrusters, if not the cable would grab it. The gear hit the deck and Skyler fired off the braking thrusters. It worked, he slowed right before catching the cable with the hook. He was thrown forward due to the sudden stop, almost jarring his helmet loose. He popped the canopy and was greeted by Micklin chewing on a half burnt fumarello. The look he gave Skyler was one he saw all to often.... Skyler just smiled back.... "Chief, fill er up, check the tires and clean the bugs from the windshield" Skyler joked as he jumped down and walked past Micklin. The only response he heard was the gruff Chief mumber something about cocky flyboys.
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Post by Amy81 on Apr 4, 2006 5:40:25 GMT -6
Ally watched some of the vipers landing, feeling her strength returning. Across the way she recognized Skyler climbing out of his viper, and that was enough to get her to stand up. I really have to clean up...
She turned around, nearly bumping into the flight tech that had been checking out her viper. He jumped back like she had the plague, her uniform a disgusting mess.
"So what happened?" he asked.
"Like I said, the stabilizer went" Ally replied. She took a step towards him, and he backed up one. She smiled, taking another step, and another, until he was up against the viper. "Let's see you get stuck in an out of control viper, flipping countless times end over end, nearly splashing into this battlestar and a hundred pieces of space junk, and let's see you not wearing a couple of meals on your uniform."
"Okay" the tech said, smiling. "Just stay away. Better yet go get cleaned up. Unless you want to stay here while I get the shop vac and feline litter."
Ally looked relieved. "Tell you the truth, I'm just happy being able to worry about it." She stepped away, walked around the viper and headed for the nearest wash rooms. She stopped for a moment, noticing that she was in Gold's area, but kept going anyway. The ready rooms were right there, and so was the nearest wash room.
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Post by Col. Charybdis on Apr 4, 2006 9:26:27 GMT -6
"Got it, Commander!" cried Omega.
Commander Apollo came to look at the screen. It showed an outline of a baseship.
"Lock coordinates. Relay them to Sheba on the Callisto," he replied.
"Yes, sir."
"Any readings?" Apollo asked.
"None, sir. The ship has lost all power. It's just floating at the outer rim of the atmosphere. It's in no danger of falling into the planet, at least not yet. It would take sectons before it would plummet to the surface."
Apollo thought for a micron. He turned to face Starbuck who had just returned from his mission. "What's up, buddy?" Starbuck asked.
"We've got a Cylon baseship down there with no power." Apollo replied.
"Yeah, so what's the problem, fire a couple more torpedoes and be done with them," came the snappy retort.
"Starbuck, it's not that easy. Think of the wealth of information we could find onboard that ship. "
"Uhh, yeah, along with hundreds of Cylon centurions just waiting to share it with you."
Apollo shook his head and laughed a bit at his old friend.
"We've got to find out...get me Sheba..."
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Post by Amy81 on Apr 4, 2006 11:33:10 GMT -6
Ally entered the washroom, relieved to find it empty for the moment. She walked up to a sink and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like she hadn't slept for a secton. Her face looked very tired, her hair, though pulled back was still mussed up, strands sticking out everywhere.
She saw her battle jacket in the mirror and immediately stripped it off. Holding it gingerly she ran portions of it under the faucet a bit at a time, scrubbing away the nasty bile with hand soap. The jacket fully drenched, she wrung it out and hung it on a nearby hook.
Thankfully her uniform top didn't look too bad. The jacket had taken the worst of the throw up. She took the top off too so she could get at the dirty spots better, then hung that on a hook as well. She worked at her pants, cleaning them as best she could while leaving them on.
She ran the water as hot as she could stand it, rubbed some soap in her hands, and scrubbed at her face. The hot water felt good, the soap smelling fresh as opposed to the nasty odor of drying throw up. She rinsed her face off, and pulled the clasp from her hair and let it fall loose. It was slightly longer than shoulder length, and it's usually shiny dark color looking dull in the reflection. She wet her hands again and ran them through her hair, slicking it back. She stopped and just stared at herself for a long micron, lost in thought.
Ally put her hands out and leaned heavily on the counter to steady herself. Her mind was replaying the battle, and her lip began to quiver as she could see in her mind's eye the battlestar as she tumbled closer and closer to it. Her head dropped, then she stood and dried her face with hand towels. Sighing heavily, she reached for her uniform top...
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