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Post by Brie on Jul 31, 2007 9:42:05 GMT -6
No one noticed the old man as he fiddled with the large coffee maker on the Callisto's Bridge. No one ever noticed him. That was the way that he liked it. That was how he was able to find out so much valuable information. He subtlety glanced around. Yup, the person he was hoping would be there was, seated comfortably, watching. It looked like he planned to be there for the duration. Good the old man thought to himself. He spread out a large selection of muffins, pastries, and other goodies that only the privileged of the fleet were allowed to enjoy. He stopped, only for a micron. A man was there, someone who looked surprisingly like that buffoon Commander Apollo. The old man caught himself almost staring and swore under his breath. He would have to punish himself later for not staying in control. He couldn't blow his cover, not now. Not when they were so close. Not when so much was depending on him.
"Transferring flight control to Callisto shuttle craft two, launch when ready". Hearing the words that he had been waiting for, the old man finished his rearranging and quietly wheeled his cart away, unnoticed.
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Post by Brie on Jul 31, 2007 9:45:02 GMT -6
"Transferring flight control to Callisto shuttle craft two, launch when ready".
Brie was relieved when both of the shuttles were on their way. She wished that they could take the most direct path, get the prisoners to the Prison Barge quickly and get it over with, but she understood the precautions. Amy's viper was flying slightly ahead of the shuttle. The pathways for the shuttles had been cleared, there wasn't supposed to be any traffic the entire trip. It pained Brie to think that a ship, flown by a green pilot, might end up destroyed, it's passengers lost, because they didn't know that they weren't supposed to be there. She hoped it wouldn't come down to that.
It was awfully quiet in the cockpit. Brie wasn't sure if it was because she and Lieutenant Brik didn't really know each other all that well, or if he, like she, was listening for any disturbance in the back. All was quiet, at least so far.
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Post by Logan on Jul 31, 2007 10:20:37 GMT -6
Comeek sat restrained in his seat on the shuttle, glancing towards the closed door to the cockpit.
He still couldn't believe that she was here. It must mean something. He had never lost hope in The Mission, but now with Logan behind the controls of the shuttle transferring the prisoners his hopes were renewed even farther.
He closed his eyes momentarily, recalling her hands on him as she had searched him. He wondered if she had enjoyed the excuse to touch him, feel his muscular chest beneath her fingers and couldn't supress the thrill that crept up his spine at the knowledge that her hands would be caressing him just as they had in his dreams. Soon.
He opened his eyes and saw the tall blonde Warrior watching him. Comeek didn't know his name and didn't care. He had seen the way the Warrior had looked at Logan as they had talked before launch. The glimmer in his eyes as he had been in her presence, as her hand had rested on his shoulder. Logan played her part well and using her beauty to lull this Warrior was no doubt a necessary part of her cover. But Comeek didn't want to see her touching this man ever again. She had to have limits and he would teach her that lesson before long.
Sizing the man up, Comeek noted that he was as tall as Logan, athletic, but not as muscular as Comeek himself. How could he possibly think that someone like her would be drawn to him when her true master was so much superior. Comeek smiled scornfully at the Warrior. He would learn who Logan's true master was soon enough.
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Post by Logan on Jul 31, 2007 10:40:37 GMT -6
"Flight path clear, Gold Two."
"Affirmative."
Logan heard the chatter between the Callisto bridge and Skyler's Viper on the comm. Persephone looked at Logan and she nodded. "So far, so good."
There was little sound coming from the seating area. Even with the cockpit door closed, she had been expecting the prisoners to be raucous and outspoken as they were hauled off to the Prison Barge. Their silence was unnerving.
Evidently, Rizou thought so too as Logan could suddenly hear her nasal voice through the door. "So, Lt. Hush, wasn't it? You're a member of Bronze, not Gold, correct? Is it now standard policy to mix teams? ANd if so, I would have thought that certain members of Black Squadron would have been more inclined to tag along on this mission."
Hush didn't say anything and Logan shook her head. Hopefully the veiled questions about certain Black Squadron members would die out if she didn't get any information.
She couldn't forbid Rizou to speak on the mission, but she certainly wished she could.
"And Sentry...Duran, correct? How long have you known Lt. Logan?" Logan rolled her eyes in the cockpit.
Duran's confused voice carried. " Uh, I just met her when she searched me before the launch."
"Really?" Rizou sounded disappointed and evidently decided to go back to Hush, who obviously seemed to know Logan better than the Black Shirt.
"Lt. Hush, how long have you known the Lt.?"
"What does that have to do with this mission?" Hush's voice gave nothing away.
"Well, I think the Fleet would like to know a bit more about the Warriors on this mission, their history, service record...personal affiliations?"
"Any relevant information on the crew is in the briefing report you should have received from the Commander." Hush's tone warned that he wouldn't answer any further questions.
Persephone whispered to Logan, "He handled that well."
Logan looked out the viewport at the starry expanse before her. Checking their position in relation to the other shuttle, it seemed they were right on schedule.
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Post by Brie on Aug 1, 2007 9:02:20 GMT -6
The old man hurried as quickly as he could, without calling attention to himself. He was about to undertake the most important task of his life. His heart was beating fast within his chest, he felt half his age. Being given such an important job was an honor and a privilege that he didn't think he was worthy of, but he would gladly do it. The future of the human race depended on it. He stopped in front of the door, asked his Master for success, then knocked. Nothing happened. The old man felt as if his heart was about to stop, she had to be home.
He knocked again. A few microns later the familiar sight of an eye at the peephole was seen. He quietly thanked his Master as the door swung open.
"Den!" a female voice exclaimed. "I wasn't expecting you for a couple more centars. Please, come in."
The old man entered, feeling confident. His Master had guided his way so far.
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Post by Brie on Aug 1, 2007 9:06:38 GMT -6
The back of the shuttle was quiet. Too quiet. If Brie hadn't known better she'd have thought that there were no passengers. Maybe Janey or Jorma had released the anaesthesine vapor and everyone, the guards included, was sleeping soundly in the back. It dawned on Brie that there had been a major oversight in the plan, there should have been some way to alert the pilots if any anaesthesine vapor had been released. Brie glanced at the scanner, they were almost at the point where the two shuttles would separate, Shuttle One going left, Shuttle Two going right. Somehow Brie felt better while they were all following the same flight plan, like the two shuttles could watch each other's backs. That wouldn't be the case much longer.
"I'm going to check in the back," Brie remarked to Brik, temporarily turning full control of the shuttle over to him. She opened the door, expecting to hear another chorus of "Widow." It didn't happen. Brie entered the passenger area and stood there for several microns, checking things over with her eyes. All five prisoners looked at her but none of them said a word. She looked at Janey and Jorma. "Everything okay back here?" she asked.
"Everything is secure, Ma'am," Jorma answered.
"Good. Let me know if anything changes." Brie returned to the cockpit and took her seat again, shaking her head. Something weird was definitely happening.
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BRIK
Viper Pilot
Posts: 227
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Post by BRIK on Aug 1, 2007 23:44:16 GMT -6
Brik checked his instruments, noting that the two shuttles approached the point of divergence for this mission.
He also noted (with more emotion than he'd admit, even to himself) the positions of their Viper escort. He did admit one part of the truth however, that if a Colonial Warrior had to blow him out of the sky to save the fleet from the antics of the mad, that was acceptable and a part of the job. It was, actually, both the first part and the last part of the job.
These thoughts occupied the back of him, the part in the front of him was driving and the front was a Colonial Warrior, a Guardian of the dreams and lives of his people. Modern Colonial Warriors had been born in the fires of what should have been the End and tempered in the hope of What Could Be.
"I'm going to check in the back," Brie remarked to Brik, temporarily turning full control of the shuttle over to him.
The part that was in the front of him had also thought that it was a bit too quiet in the back and was relieved to see that the Major felt the same way. When she got up to check the prisoners he was relieved and gained respect for her. Perhaps they'd have time to talk on the trip home.
He had a feeling that regular conversation would be at a premium during such a stressful deceptively hazardous mission.
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Post by persephone on Aug 2, 2007 0:35:31 GMT -6
Her fingers pressed several buttons at her controls monitoring fuel pressure and the solium level, thrusters and shuttle brake fluid distribution. Persephone listened through her head piece to the unicom communications, keeping an extra ear out for any sudden vital communica between the Callisto bridge, the two shuttles and the vipers.
Persephone looked at Logan and she nodded. "So far, so good."
Meanwhile, Roxanna Rizou, did what she was best at. Being in everyone's face. Suddenly she overheard a voice from the shuttle's seating area.
"What does that have to do with this mission?" Hush's voice gave nothing away.
"Well, I think the Fleet would like to know a bit more about the Warriors on this mission, their history, service record...personal affiliations?"
"Any relevant information on the crew is in the briefing report you should have received from the Commander." Hush's tone warned that he wouldn't answer any further questions.
Persephone whispered to Logan, "He handled that well."
Logan grinned as she checked the shuttle's position out through the viewport.
A thought came into her mind. Oh frack. I hope to Vilium, that Rizou hasn't got an inkling about my own personal involvement with Triton. She'll have a field day with that snippet of news of me and the cousin of Commander Apollo.
Persephone intensified her gaze at the instruments before her, to look as busy as possible to not attract the IFB reporter's attention.
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Post by Brie on Aug 2, 2007 9:30:22 GMT -6
"Sorry for the interruption, Miss Kammy..." Den started slowly. He tried not to sound rehearsed, but he had practiced every word for centars on end. "...but I have something that you just have to try. It's a new dessert that they're going to serve tonight. I was able to sneak you out a piece before the warriors eat it all."
"That's so nice of you," Kammy/Kyla said with a smile, "but I really shouldn't. You see, I'm going to be taking the seal soon, and I kind of want to lose a couple of pounds before that happens."
Den tried not to panic. He had been counting on Kammy's sweet tooth...they all had. He glanced at the baby, sleeping peacefully in the crib in the corner. Seeing the child, Den was able to focus. "Just this once, and I promise I won't bring anything else." Den took the lid off of the top of his cart and revealed the most decadent creation to ever come out of the kitchens on the Callisto. "Please. For me."
Kammy smiled again, obviously weakening. "Okay, just this once. But this has got to be the last time." She took the plate from Den.
"When are you taking the seal?" Den asked, trying to make small talk.
"As soon as this comes off." Kammy pointed to the bandage over her eye. She dug her fork in, took a big bite, and swallowed. "Oh, Den, this is wonderful! It's exactly the type of thing that I shouldn't be eat..."
"As I promised, I won't be bringing you any more," Den said. He picked up the plate off of the floor, making sure there were no crumbs left to be found. He took a baby bottle off of the cart and, stepping over his mother, picked up the sleeping infant. "I'm sorry, little Kumarbi, but this is the way that it has to be. Please forgive me." The baby eagerly drank from the bottle, and was soon fast asleep again. Den knew that it would last for several centars. He would have loved to have held his Master's son forever, but there was more work to be done.
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Post by Brie on Aug 2, 2007 9:32:22 GMT -6
"Everything is secure," Brie told Brik upon returning. "I think they're trying to freak me out, unsettle me. But they're just sitting there. There's nothing wrong." Brie sighed. "I just wish we could have the cockpit door open so we could hear what's going on, but then if they have to release the anaesthesine vapor there would be no one to fly the ship. Maybe this will help pass the time." Brie switched on the IFB monitor.
...still waiting to make contact with Roxzanna-Rizou, aboard one of the shuttles that is transporting some of the members of the New Secret Survival Society from the Callisto brig to the Prison Barge. We expect her to be reporting live any centon...
"No one said anything about a live report from the shuttle!" Brie exclaimed. "That is ridiculous! Logan is supposed to be concentrating on transporting some of the most dangerous criminals in the fleet, not being quizzed by Roxzanna-Rizou about an affair that she's not even having!"
"Logan tends to get herself into these messes, but she always gets out," Brik commented. Brie glanced at her co-pilot, sure that he was suppressing a grin.
**
In the back of the shuttle Raina spoke for the first time since they had launched. "Excuse me, Officer, is that chrono right?"
Jorma looked at the chrono on the wall, then at her own wrist chrono. "It's about two centons fast," she replied.
"Thank you."
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