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Post by Amy81 on Jul 12, 2006 5:42:36 GMT -6
"...the sheer force of his crankiness." Hush thought about what she'd said, and smiled.
"I've heard Lazant described many ways, but crankiness is new one" he said, leaning over again so only she could hear. "I'd pin it more on getting up on the wrong side of the battlestar, or maybe he's got an overloading sidearm up his hindquarters..."
He smiled again, sitting up straight. What was it about her that increasingly put him so at ease, and right before such a dangerous mission no less? He looked over at her, saw the looks that usually made him want to run the other way, and was amazed that he'd actually found anything to say, and that she didn't seem to find what he said stupid at all.
He was sure it'd all go away. It's just the mission. People drop the felgercarb readily when they figure they might not have much time left. Once this is over, and by the grace of the lords they all made it back, things would be back to normal. A girl like her had to have a steady boyfriend anyway, and Gold and Bronze don't mix well besides.
He looked over at Ally suddenly. She was supposedly going out with Brik.... No sooner did he feel the hope start to build, he pushed it all back down again.
Never happen.
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Post by Logan on Jul 12, 2006 21:56:29 GMT -6
Logan watched Hush with interest. He seemed to be more relaxed than when they had started talking. He was even smiling. And he had that sort of crooked smile that she found charming. Frack! First, the eyes and now the smile. You don't have time for this Logan. There's a mission to focus on and lives at stake, including your own. No time to act like a lovesick Cadet straight out of the Academy. But, even as she admonished herself, she turned back to watch him for a micron.
He was only slightly taller than she was, with dark hair and brown eyes. She wondered if he played Triad because his muscle tone suggested some sort of athletics. She found his eyes to be the feature that kept her intrigued. There was something there, a quiet intelligence, that she could appreciate.
Logan was a great observer of people. She had schooled herself in the fine art of looking beyond outward appearances to what people held in check. It had started out as an exercise to help her size up her opponents in Pyramid games, but had developed into a habit she used in her everyday interactions as well.
He smiled again and sat back, his face undergoing a subtle change, a hesitance. She noticed him look over at Ally and thought she understood. We're still Gold and they're still Bronze. The division is going to be hard to overcome. But, hades, if Ally can do it with me and Brik, the rest of them can too.
Then she noticed Bulk-Up looking at her and Hush with a frown creasing his forehead. Well, most of them can.
She couldn't hold back the grin on her face as she said to Hush out of the corner of her mouth, "One good thing. If Lazant's overloading firearm goes critical on this mission at least he'll be in the rear guard."
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BRIK
Viper Pilot
Posts: 227
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Post by BRIK on Jul 13, 2006 4:03:17 GMT -6
"Brik, I just want you to know. If I'm being confusing to you, I don't want you to get the wrong idea. Between what's going on between us, and our two units mixing, this has been difficult for me to juggle it all. There's some things going on that I don't expect you to understand." Just then Bulk-up passed by. Not too close, but he looked their way briefly. "I don't understand it all either. But I guess I'm just asking for you to be patient with me..." He paused before he spoke. His father used to always say "Never miss an opportunity to shut up". He also noticed Bulk-Up as he passed. He had a gut feeling that the warrior might have a chip on his soldier...and that for some reason he made Ally, not nervous, but... wary. Yes, that one must be watched, particularly on such a dangerous mission. "Ally" he began, "it's ok, I promise you." Another pause caused by his fathers words. "Please don't worry. It speaks well of you that your mind is on the mission...and all of the potential issues facing us 'foreign and domestic', as they say." His eyes unconsciously glanced at Bulk-Up as he said this. Had he known that he'd done it he would wonder if Ally noticed. But he did not. He continued. "And look...it seems like all of this is new to you and it's definitely new for me and I don't really know what's going on completely, or where it'll all lead. "But I do know that I like you VERY much." He wanted to hold her hand so very much, or to touch her still-beautiful face, to make her smile that radiant smile again, take her in his arms and kiss her again. One thing at a time, old boy!"And I know that I'm willing to give you any space you need or listen to anything that you need to talk about or both. But also know that I want to see were this...were we can go and I'll not quit. Unless of course you ask me to." What he wanted to do at this point was something to re-assure her and put her at ease but he had no clue as to what that was. And wearing the extra weight of dual blasters, grenades and an assault rifle reminded him acutely of where his thoughts and energies, for the time being, needed to be focused. You can't have a date if you don't survive the mission. He had to remember to make reservations for dinner aboard the Rising Star! So, not knowing what else to say to Ally, and knowing completely that he had a dirty job to do (as did she), he did the only thing that he felt strongly about and took her hand in his for just a moment, when it seemed that everyone else was aboard the dropship and squeezed it affectionately as he looked into her beautiful (and troubled) eyes. As he (reluctantly) released her hand his face unknowingly changed its expression, with a startling quickness born of many battles to one of business-like hardness and resolve. "We should be seated Warrior, we have a battle to win." He turned and strode into the craft to take a seat with one of the Bronze Squadron members, he didn't recall the name. He looked over all warriors present, remembering their faces. Trying to do this in battle would be far too late. He checked his weapons again...and would do so many times before reaching the basestar. It kept his mind off of her, you see.
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Post by Amy81 on Jul 13, 2006 5:45:04 GMT -6
..."One good thing. If Lazant's overloading firearm goes critical on this mission at least he'll be in the rear guard."
Hush sputtered with sudden laughter before he could stop himself. He quickly silenced and sat up straight, hoping that it would be overlooked. Hey, these were tense times but a little laughter meant that the squadrons were mixing well, and that's what the higher-ups wanted, right?
It was a pretty good joke. And totally unexpected. He wanted to lean back over to Logan, but he concentrated on keeping his expression blank when all he wanted was to break out in a big smile.
The mission... the computers... getting back safely, those were the priorities here. But for once Hush, in spite of knowing better, had something more to look forward to when got back than the same old routine. He really, really wanted to see Logan again after, if for nothing else than to confirm that things had gone back to normal.
Or see if they hadn't....
He caught the gaze of Bulk-up as he sat across the aisle. He was looking at Hush, then running his eyes up and down Logan. She's in full gear for Sagan's sake, Hush thought. But Bulk-up would never change. His look seemed to say 'forget it Hush', and 'I should knock you on your behind for getting so friendly with Gold', and 'Has everyone in Bronze gone crazy?'
Hush didn't feel like smiling anymore.
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Post by Amy81 on Jul 13, 2006 6:13:38 GMT -6
Janey sat with Ally, but was wishing she'd found a different seat. "Brik's a real find, Ally. I can tell..."
"There's a mission, Janey" Ally replied, lost in checking her gear.
"Yeah, but I think he's..."
"Prep your gear" Ally advised, cutting her off.
"I did, like a million times" Janey said, putting a hand on Ally's rifle to get her to stop looking it over. Ally gave her a look, and Janey pulled her arm away. "What's gotten into you?" she asked. "You have me worried about you, Ally."
"Do I have to spell it out?" Ally asked sternly. Her eyes met Janey's for a moment, the steely hardness softening slightly before solidifying again.
"Yeah" Janey replied, a slight waver in her voice. "Maybe you do."
Ally talked low and fast. "I hate this fracking squadron. More than I ever thought I did. I wasn't going to re-enlist, but I know now that it wasn't cause I was tired of the service. It's the squadron I'm tired of, and everyone in it." She knew it sounded hurtful, but didn't soften it at all. "I've seen the better side to all this, and what we have in Bronze I can't tolerate anymore. And sitting here trying to make small talk isn't helping."
Janey just looked at her friend. "Maybe you were happier before today...."
"Blind is all" Ally said. "Now prep your fracking weapon, Ho-down."
"Sure, L-tude" Janey replied. She wasn't going to allow herself to feel hurt. Ally wasn't herself today, that was plain to see. She looked around the room, saw Hush actually smiling with Logan. It wasn't just Ally, it seemed to be the whole Bronze team that wasn't the same.
Janey suddenly missed the miserable old days, as opposed to these miserable new days....
She reached around and gave Ally a little hug, just pulled her closer for a second then let her go. She looked at Ally until Ally looked back, caught Janey's gaze and quickly looked down. Just as I thought, Janey sat back thinking, Too much change, too soon. She looked back at Hush. Maybe it was a bit much for her too.
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Post by Logan on Jul 13, 2006 12:43:40 GMT -6
Hush's sudden laughter at Logan's joke made her smile.
But her smile faded as quickly as his laugh. She noticed that he was looking over at Bulk-Up who seemed to be very disapproving of the comaraderie she and Hush seemed to be sharing. The big man made a point of looking her up and down in an appraising manner. She raised her eyebrow at him and he seemed genuinely surprised when his eyes had made their way back to her face and she was gazing at him defiantly, refusing to look away. She had a feeling he was used to people being intimidated by him, but she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction.
The moment passed as Grease started talking to Bulk-Up and he reluctantly turned his gaze from Logan to his squadron mate.
Logan found herself rechecking her blasters, without conscious thought. And suddenly, she realized something. She was nervous. Not about the mission, but about Hush. He was sitting next to her and for some reason she didn't want him to have a bad impression of Gold and more importantly, her. She knew she came across as brusque and all business and she kept replaying the scene in the Ready Room and her altercation with Bulk-Up over in her mind. She was disgusted with herself for letting him push her buttons that way. All of Bronze probably thought she was just as arrogant as they assumed Gold Squadron to be.
And she realized that sitting here talking to Hush, it had become important for her to let him know she wasn't like that. It was an interesting feeling. Logan had always been one of the guys in her squadron, playing Pyramid with a fumarello between her teeth and joking with her friends. She had her duties as a Warrior and her loyalty to her friends, but beyond that, she had never had time for relationships that went any deeper. The uncertainty of life in the Fleet and her fear of losing any more of the people she loved always stopped her from creating attachments of a romantic nature. She had built a safe little wall around herself, albeit a lonely one.
So now here she was on a drop ship with her fellow Warriors, loaded with more weaponry than she'd ever had on her at one time, headed for a Cylon Base Ship that may be packed with a new type of virtually unstoppable Cylon and the unknown and the one thought that kept coming into her head was how to get Hush to smile at her again.
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Post by Amy81 on Jul 14, 2006 5:28:59 GMT -6
Grease leaned over to Bulk-up. "What do you think, big guy?"
Bulk-up let out a short laugh. "As if you can't tell." He looked at Grease, then back toward Logan and Hush.
"Yeah, she's pretty hot..."
"Not you too" Bulk-up snapped. "What's going on with all of you?"
"What?" Grease asked. "What are y---"
"Everyone in Bronze has lost his mind, I swear. Ally, now Hush over there. Look at him. Practically drooling on her. Not that I'd kick her out or anything, but where's the pride?"
"Pride?"
"Squadron pride. I swear this is all a plot to break us up. Bronze has been a black mark on the warrior record. They're either hoping we don't come back, or it's a divide and conquer thing to break up our loyalty to each other. Think about it, take a few of us at a time, mix us with Gold, treat us like they get treated, and suddenly we're all kissing Gold's behind like everyone else does."
"Maybe we just need to work together to defeat the cylons today. You know, the real enemy?"
Bulk-up looked over at Grease. "We've always had each other, Grease. It's all we knew. Now look. Hush drooling over there, Ally lovestruck over some jerk. I don't like it. Things are changing. And it's a fracking clever plot too."
"You're crazy."
"Think so? Look what it did to me. Got me so upset I hit Ally. I'd never ever have done that. I swear Grease, it's a plot. Sheba or that stuffed daggithead Charybdis probably thought it up, though I'd never think that..."
"So" Grease interrupted, "weapons prepped? Good! Mine are too."
Bulk-up looked away, staring at Logan. "Go ahead, make jokes. We'll see if I'm wrong. We'll see."
Grease was about to say something, but thought better of it. He looked over at Hush. He had to admit, for a guy who usually was impassive and unreadable, Hush seemed downright animated. He couldn't ever recall seeing him like that before. Then again, all Hush was doing was talking, occasionally smiling. Yes, for him that was being very animated....
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Post by Brie on Jul 14, 2006 13:12:01 GMT -6
Lazant continued to keep to himself, continued to watch those around him. What had ever possessed Skyler to assemble such a group? Mixing squadrons could be done, but breaking up those who were used to working together and sticking them into subgroups with people that they didn’t know or trust was just plain stupid. To make matters worse, Lazant had picked up on several subtle gestures or looks, it seemed like more than one couple was forming. “They’re on the most dangerous mission of their lives, and they think it's the fracking Love Boat,” he mumbled to himself. He immediately started looking for what would be the weak links in the group. At first he had thought that Logan would survive, but her obviously conscience behavior from sitting next to Hush lessened her chances greatly. He didn’t know why she was wasting her time, Hush had almost zero chances of survival. Grease fared slightly better. Ally, she was interesting. She apparently knew some of Gold Squadron better than the rest of her squadron-mates, she seemed to want everyone to get along but didn’t know how to facilitate it. Her obvious affection for Brik made both of them history. Out of the rest of the team, the person who had the best chance of survival was Bulk-up. He was too stubborn to be killed by the Cylons.
Then there was the mission’s leader. Skyler, well, he was the heroic type. He’d probably end up taking a shot for someone else. He was also overconfident, he had in his arrogance ignored all the warnings about the Purple Cylons and decided that they could be stopped with a slightly stronger weapon. If would be hard to bring news of his death back to Brie.
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Post by Skyler on Jul 24, 2006 20:12:20 GMT -6
Skyler did a quick scan of everyone. All were in place. The other ships were checking in with Flight control that they were ready. He glanced at his Chrono, five centons to spare. No matter how bad he thought this idea was, if they pulled it off, they would have needed fuel, and hopefully a computer core to tear apart.
"Col. Charybdis, Skyler here, all ships ready for launch. Waiting for the green light.."
Skyler glanced around at his fellow Warriors. He knew some wouldn't make it back, frack, he might be one of them. If that Purple Cylon showed up in numbers, it would be a nightmare. Any of them would be lucky to survive.
He picked up his personal communicator and tapped out a quick message.
"Major, waiting on launch orders, see you when we return, take care." he pressed send and tucked it back into his pocket.
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Post by Col. Charybdis on Jul 25, 2006 10:49:14 GMT -6
"Commander. They're in!" I shouted across the bridge.
Sheba nodded and pulled up Apollo on the screen. "We're ready, Apollo."
"Good. Proceed to launch on schedule. My squadrons will provide cover and any assistance needed. May the Lords Guide us all."
The screen flickered off.
"Launch all units!" Sheba commanded.
The call went out. Geenie keyed her comm unit. "All coordinates are locked. Transferring control to mission patrol craft. Launch when ready!"
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