Post by Amy81 on Apr 10, 2006 5:29:01 GMT -6
***I copied the pilot posts from the battle thread to here, since what's going on with the pilots is way different from that thread right now.
I thought this would make it easier to read and for the pilot writers to post...
I've included all posts since the pilots landed here to start things off:
* * *
BRIK
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...
ALLY
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...
SKYLER
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.
ALLY
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.
BRIDGE
"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...
ALLY
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...
LOGAN
The door to the washroom opened at that micron and Logan walked in, uniform jacket grasped in one hand as she massaged the back of her neck with the other. She was wearing a frown, mumbling something about 'fracking naptime' and it took a micron for the girl's presence in front of her to register.
Ally stood there, frozen in midmotion, hand still extended towards her uniform top.
Logan saw the tell tale stains on the Warrior's pants in front of her and the pale complexion and put two and two together. Her expression relaxed into a smile.
"Well, Bronze, I almost didn't recognize you. I'm not used to seeing you so...still." She extended her hand and shook Ally's. Ally was surprised by the warmth of the gesture which seemed to contradict Logan's nonchalant tone.
Ally seemed nervous, but Logan couldn't blame her. Not exactly how I'd want to meet a fellow Warrior. But hey, I probably look just as harried as she does.
Logan took a look in the mirror and sighed. She hung her own jacket next to Ally's and splashed water on her face. "Battle sure does make you pretty, doesn't it?" she laughed as she pulled her own hair out of its knot on top of her head and began running her wet fingers through it to work out the tangles.
BRIK
Landing his Viper and clearing the deck for others, Brik sat in his cockpit for a few sentons. This was a custom that he'd picked up early in his career that made him feel better, only the Lords of Kobol knew why.
This particular day his custom became fateful as his new and unmet friend Ally (but still and always Bronze, he guessed) happened to pass his damaged viper as he was bent over in rest and she never knew he was there, nor he her. It helped that his ship was not on the end, thus hidden from easy view, Two battlestars passing in the night, as it were.
Gathering his wits, he left the damaged ship. One look around the bay told him that getting another ship was almost out of the question but he thought to try anyway.
About that time a certain grumpy, fumerello chewing chief walked in his general direction muttering something about flyboys...
"Hey Chief...what's the chance of getting another ship before Gold has to take off?"
The man looked at him with a grim face covered with silence.
"Uh...well, you see, my high engine was blown off in the battle and-"
"Of course it was, I can see! Frackin' flyboys...and I guess you want a brand new one, as if parts grow on trees!"
The grim silence returned...
"Well, see me before your next launch and I'll see what I can do. Oh, and I'll take that!" and the man made a suprisingly quick move to snatch a new fumerello out of Brik's pocket before the stunned warrior could begin to react. And walked away to inspect the useless high engine with a veteran eye, putting the new fumerello in his mouth and tossing the other on the deck.
Brik decided (rather correctly) that he should just walk away now.
As he neared the ready room he heard the distinct sound of Logan's voice and the new and unmistakeable voice of Bronze.
Frack!
He slowly backed away from the room and contemplated actually going to his quarters but that would be a BIG no-no.
Hmmn...he kept a kit in the squad-room...
And thus Lt Brik, SIC of Gold Squadron and Colonial Warrior of the Battlestar Callisto, veteran of many battles and bane of still more Cylons, beat a hasty retreat from the ready room to retrieve his mighty...shaver.
BRIDGE
Sheba walked back out to the bridge. She turned to Lt. Aegina, "Lt. get me Major Brie and Captain Skyler on the double."
"Yes, ma'am."
The call went out immediately...
BRIK
Entering the squad-room at a brisk pace, the Lt went directly to his cubicle.
Looking at his face in the mirror, stuble and all, he realized that he'd forgotten how much a battle takes it out of you. The mild bags under the eyes and the harried look in general reminded him of the price that all warriors pay to be the true defenders of their people...which made him wear the "marks" with a certain grim yet unmistakeable pride. He smiled at himself in the mirror. Then his look turned to mild concern...as he began shaving the stuble from his face in preparation for returning to the ready room.
(...several sentons later...)
Well...he was now clean shaven and about as ready as he could reasonably get while on alert. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Turning sharply on his heel he left his "sanctuary", headed for the ready room, not really knowing what to expect...but looking forward to the meeting regardless!
ALLY
(with Logan in the washroom...)
Ally took her top off the hook, turned, and looked at the warrior at the sink. She held the top close to her, squeezing it to her with both arms wrapped around it. "Logan is it?" she asked with a hesitant voice.
She'd seen Logan from a distance enough to know it was her, but when they shook hands she hadn't said her name. Her voice made it obvious enough too, but something that'd been inside Ally far too long wouldn't allow her to admit that to Logan. Especially since until a centon ago Logan didn't know Ally from a daggit hole.
Still, she saved my life, Ally thought. Obviously I've been wrong about her. Well, too late now, I've already asked who she is...
The warrior at the sink stopped what she was doing long enough to look at Ally through the reflection of the mirror and nod.
"Name's Ally" Ally said with a shakey smile. "Not bronze. I don't know how that all started..." Sure I do: Brik... "Look, I just want to say I owe you big time for what you did out there for me. If you hadn't done what you did, keeping me focused and concentrating and everything, I would have bought it for sure..."
BRIK
There was a minor yet non-accidental clearing of a throat from the door of the ready room.
"Ah-hem!"
Brik cautiously poked his head around the corner...
"If I may, I can tell that you would've done the same for any other warrior, you're made of strong stuff."
He glanced at his friend Logan knowing that she would give him all kinds of grief later...but also REALLY knowing that she always had his back and that he could say anything in front of her.
"Logan...good to see you in one piece." and they nodded to each other in the casual way of old friends.
He wasn't sure whether or not to proceed but was a betting man by nature. Therefore...
Stepping full into the room and standing at his full height (there was a reason that he was called Brik), almost as if he were at a formal inspection, the man walked over to Ally and extended his hand. What was the correct social requirement for truly meeting a fellow warrior who happened to have a great radio voice...and managed to be striking even when cleaning up after a "lunch mishap" in her own ship?
Looking mildly uncomfortable and a bit awkward, he extended his hand...and quickly retracted it...then seemed to consider extending it again...and decided on the ancient formality (and he hoped that she would understand it also as a compliment) of a bow.
In a deep voice he merely said:
"Greetings Bronze...pardon me, Ally. . .Lieutenant. I am Brik and it is my profound pleasure to finally meet you!"
He was mostly satisfied with that course of action.
He waited most anxiously to see what would happen next...
ALLY
Ally looked from Logan to Brik. She wasn't sure about Logan, but Brik's entrance made her forget about that for a second. She held her top to her chest, and made no effort to shake his hand the couple of times he half-offered it, fearing she might drop the top. She still had a bra on, but wondered what was worse: wearing a barf-covered top or no top at all.
She looked at Brik. He stood nearly a foot taller than she was. He was strikingly handsome, and clean shaven too! How did he manage to look so fresh when she looked like she'd just been dragged through a field by three daggits?
Brik bowed. He bowed! That was so charming. Putting a face to the voice she'd heard during battle, she knew adding it up that she'd never met anyone like him before. His gallant behavior made her feel downright special. She wondered if he acted like this to all the women.
And it depressed the felgercarb out of her that they weren't in the same squadron.
In a deep voice Brik said: "Greetings Bronze...pardon me, Ally. . .Lieutenant. I am Brik and it is my profound pleasure to finally meet you!"
Ally held her top up firmly with her left hand, and extended her right hand, smiling. "Nice to meet you finally, Brik. I should thank you too. You saved my a$$ out there... both you and Logan..."
LOGAN
'In a deep voice Brik said: "Greetings Bronze...pardon me, Ally. . .Lieutenant. I am Brik and it is my profound pleasure to finally meet you!"
Ally held her top up firmly with her left hand, and extended her right hand, smiling. "Nice to meet you finally, Brik. I should thank you too. You saved my a$$ out there... both you and Logan..."'
Logan leaned back against the counter, arms folded across her chest and did nothing to hide the broadening grin that was on her face.
She gave Ally a reassuring nod as the poor girl looked like she wanted to run, standing there with her uniform top clenched tightly in front of her. "No worries, Bronze. Thats what we're here for. And you did a good job of saving a few a$$es out there yourself." She looked pointedly at Brik when she said this.
Brik seemed nervous too, so she couldn't help but rub it in a little. She knew he'd return the favor if given half the opportunity. "And Brik, the only time I've seen you bow was that last time I beat you at Pyramid."
Ally smiled a little at that and Logan was glad to see her relax. Brik could be intimidating upon first meeting with his height and deep voice combined. Logan thought she should probably make an exit to allow them to talk, but she was enjoying the consternation on Brik's features just too much this micron.
Logan noticed something on the floor of the wash room just beyond Brik's feet, near where her and Ally's uniform jackets were hanging. It looked like a picture. Ally seemed to follow Logan's gaze and when she saw it, her complexion turned a little paler. Logan realized it must have fallen out of Ally's jacket. A red blush had started moving its way up Ally's face.
Logan was enjoying Brik's discomfort at the situation, but didn't want Ally to worry over whatever the picture was. She liked this Bronze Squadron pilot and admired her grit. Lords know, everyone has pics in their cockpit for luck of one kind or other.
She saw Ally glance at her with a little panic in her eyes and Logan moved slowly as if she were getting her own jacket from the hook. Ally seemed to know what she was doing and relaxed her features a little.
As Logan's fingers closed on her jacket, she let it slip between her fingers and to the floor. Brik was oblivious to Logan's movements as she knelt down and retrieved her jacket and the picture. She tucked it into an inside fold and returned to lean against the counter, sensing Ally was at least relaxed over Brik seeing whatever the picture was. Probably some Triad player, Logan thought.
"So, Brik, you look good. When the frack did you have time to shave? Final approach or did your blown engine singe it off?" She had her best serious expression on her face as she waited for someone to say something.
I thought this would make it easier to read and for the pilot writers to post...
I've included all posts since the pilots landed here to start things off:
* * *
BRIK
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...
ALLY
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...
SKYLER
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.
ALLY
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.
BRIDGE
"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...
ALLY
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...
LOGAN
The door to the washroom opened at that micron and Logan walked in, uniform jacket grasped in one hand as she massaged the back of her neck with the other. She was wearing a frown, mumbling something about 'fracking naptime' and it took a micron for the girl's presence in front of her to register.
Ally stood there, frozen in midmotion, hand still extended towards her uniform top.
Logan saw the tell tale stains on the Warrior's pants in front of her and the pale complexion and put two and two together. Her expression relaxed into a smile.
"Well, Bronze, I almost didn't recognize you. I'm not used to seeing you so...still." She extended her hand and shook Ally's. Ally was surprised by the warmth of the gesture which seemed to contradict Logan's nonchalant tone.
Ally seemed nervous, but Logan couldn't blame her. Not exactly how I'd want to meet a fellow Warrior. But hey, I probably look just as harried as she does.
Logan took a look in the mirror and sighed. She hung her own jacket next to Ally's and splashed water on her face. "Battle sure does make you pretty, doesn't it?" she laughed as she pulled her own hair out of its knot on top of her head and began running her wet fingers through it to work out the tangles.
BRIK
Landing his Viper and clearing the deck for others, Brik sat in his cockpit for a few sentons. This was a custom that he'd picked up early in his career that made him feel better, only the Lords of Kobol knew why.
This particular day his custom became fateful as his new and unmet friend Ally (but still and always Bronze, he guessed) happened to pass his damaged viper as he was bent over in rest and she never knew he was there, nor he her. It helped that his ship was not on the end, thus hidden from easy view, Two battlestars passing in the night, as it were.
Gathering his wits, he left the damaged ship. One look around the bay told him that getting another ship was almost out of the question but he thought to try anyway.
About that time a certain grumpy, fumerello chewing chief walked in his general direction muttering something about flyboys...
"Hey Chief...what's the chance of getting another ship before Gold has to take off?"
The man looked at him with a grim face covered with silence.
"Uh...well, you see, my high engine was blown off in the battle and-"
"Of course it was, I can see! Frackin' flyboys...and I guess you want a brand new one, as if parts grow on trees!"
The grim silence returned...
"Well, see me before your next launch and I'll see what I can do. Oh, and I'll take that!" and the man made a suprisingly quick move to snatch a new fumerello out of Brik's pocket before the stunned warrior could begin to react. And walked away to inspect the useless high engine with a veteran eye, putting the new fumerello in his mouth and tossing the other on the deck.
Brik decided (rather correctly) that he should just walk away now.
As he neared the ready room he heard the distinct sound of Logan's voice and the new and unmistakeable voice of Bronze.
Frack!
He slowly backed away from the room and contemplated actually going to his quarters but that would be a BIG no-no.
Hmmn...he kept a kit in the squad-room...
And thus Lt Brik, SIC of Gold Squadron and Colonial Warrior of the Battlestar Callisto, veteran of many battles and bane of still more Cylons, beat a hasty retreat from the ready room to retrieve his mighty...shaver.
BRIDGE
Sheba walked back out to the bridge. She turned to Lt. Aegina, "Lt. get me Major Brie and Captain Skyler on the double."
"Yes, ma'am."
The call went out immediately...
BRIK
Entering the squad-room at a brisk pace, the Lt went directly to his cubicle.
Looking at his face in the mirror, stuble and all, he realized that he'd forgotten how much a battle takes it out of you. The mild bags under the eyes and the harried look in general reminded him of the price that all warriors pay to be the true defenders of their people...which made him wear the "marks" with a certain grim yet unmistakeable pride. He smiled at himself in the mirror. Then his look turned to mild concern...as he began shaving the stuble from his face in preparation for returning to the ready room.
(...several sentons later...)
Well...he was now clean shaven and about as ready as he could reasonably get while on alert. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Turning sharply on his heel he left his "sanctuary", headed for the ready room, not really knowing what to expect...but looking forward to the meeting regardless!
ALLY
(with Logan in the washroom...)
Ally took her top off the hook, turned, and looked at the warrior at the sink. She held the top close to her, squeezing it to her with both arms wrapped around it. "Logan is it?" she asked with a hesitant voice.
She'd seen Logan from a distance enough to know it was her, but when they shook hands she hadn't said her name. Her voice made it obvious enough too, but something that'd been inside Ally far too long wouldn't allow her to admit that to Logan. Especially since until a centon ago Logan didn't know Ally from a daggit hole.
Still, she saved my life, Ally thought. Obviously I've been wrong about her. Well, too late now, I've already asked who she is...
The warrior at the sink stopped what she was doing long enough to look at Ally through the reflection of the mirror and nod.
"Name's Ally" Ally said with a shakey smile. "Not bronze. I don't know how that all started..." Sure I do: Brik... "Look, I just want to say I owe you big time for what you did out there for me. If you hadn't done what you did, keeping me focused and concentrating and everything, I would have bought it for sure..."
BRIK
There was a minor yet non-accidental clearing of a throat from the door of the ready room.
"Ah-hem!"
Brik cautiously poked his head around the corner...
"If I may, I can tell that you would've done the same for any other warrior, you're made of strong stuff."
He glanced at his friend Logan knowing that she would give him all kinds of grief later...but also REALLY knowing that she always had his back and that he could say anything in front of her.
"Logan...good to see you in one piece." and they nodded to each other in the casual way of old friends.
He wasn't sure whether or not to proceed but was a betting man by nature. Therefore...
Stepping full into the room and standing at his full height (there was a reason that he was called Brik), almost as if he were at a formal inspection, the man walked over to Ally and extended his hand. What was the correct social requirement for truly meeting a fellow warrior who happened to have a great radio voice...and managed to be striking even when cleaning up after a "lunch mishap" in her own ship?
Looking mildly uncomfortable and a bit awkward, he extended his hand...and quickly retracted it...then seemed to consider extending it again...and decided on the ancient formality (and he hoped that she would understand it also as a compliment) of a bow.
In a deep voice he merely said:
"Greetings Bronze...pardon me, Ally. . .Lieutenant. I am Brik and it is my profound pleasure to finally meet you!"
He was mostly satisfied with that course of action.
He waited most anxiously to see what would happen next...
ALLY
Ally looked from Logan to Brik. She wasn't sure about Logan, but Brik's entrance made her forget about that for a second. She held her top to her chest, and made no effort to shake his hand the couple of times he half-offered it, fearing she might drop the top. She still had a bra on, but wondered what was worse: wearing a barf-covered top or no top at all.
She looked at Brik. He stood nearly a foot taller than she was. He was strikingly handsome, and clean shaven too! How did he manage to look so fresh when she looked like she'd just been dragged through a field by three daggits?
Brik bowed. He bowed! That was so charming. Putting a face to the voice she'd heard during battle, she knew adding it up that she'd never met anyone like him before. His gallant behavior made her feel downright special. She wondered if he acted like this to all the women.
And it depressed the felgercarb out of her that they weren't in the same squadron.
In a deep voice Brik said: "Greetings Bronze...pardon me, Ally. . .Lieutenant. I am Brik and it is my profound pleasure to finally meet you!"
Ally held her top up firmly with her left hand, and extended her right hand, smiling. "Nice to meet you finally, Brik. I should thank you too. You saved my a$$ out there... both you and Logan..."
LOGAN
'In a deep voice Brik said: "Greetings Bronze...pardon me, Ally. . .Lieutenant. I am Brik and it is my profound pleasure to finally meet you!"
Ally held her top up firmly with her left hand, and extended her right hand, smiling. "Nice to meet you finally, Brik. I should thank you too. You saved my a$$ out there... both you and Logan..."'
Logan leaned back against the counter, arms folded across her chest and did nothing to hide the broadening grin that was on her face.
She gave Ally a reassuring nod as the poor girl looked like she wanted to run, standing there with her uniform top clenched tightly in front of her. "No worries, Bronze. Thats what we're here for. And you did a good job of saving a few a$$es out there yourself." She looked pointedly at Brik when she said this.
Brik seemed nervous too, so she couldn't help but rub it in a little. She knew he'd return the favor if given half the opportunity. "And Brik, the only time I've seen you bow was that last time I beat you at Pyramid."
Ally smiled a little at that and Logan was glad to see her relax. Brik could be intimidating upon first meeting with his height and deep voice combined. Logan thought she should probably make an exit to allow them to talk, but she was enjoying the consternation on Brik's features just too much this micron.
Logan noticed something on the floor of the wash room just beyond Brik's feet, near where her and Ally's uniform jackets were hanging. It looked like a picture. Ally seemed to follow Logan's gaze and when she saw it, her complexion turned a little paler. Logan realized it must have fallen out of Ally's jacket. A red blush had started moving its way up Ally's face.
Logan was enjoying Brik's discomfort at the situation, but didn't want Ally to worry over whatever the picture was. She liked this Bronze Squadron pilot and admired her grit. Lords know, everyone has pics in their cockpit for luck of one kind or other.
She saw Ally glance at her with a little panic in her eyes and Logan moved slowly as if she were getting her own jacket from the hook. Ally seemed to know what she was doing and relaxed her features a little.
As Logan's fingers closed on her jacket, she let it slip between her fingers and to the floor. Brik was oblivious to Logan's movements as she knelt down and retrieved her jacket and the picture. She tucked it into an inside fold and returned to lean against the counter, sensing Ally was at least relaxed over Brik seeing whatever the picture was. Probably some Triad player, Logan thought.
"So, Brik, you look good. When the frack did you have time to shave? Final approach or did your blown engine singe it off?" She had her best serious expression on her face as she waited for someone to say something.