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) The first one can be found here. Hopefully the chapters will start coming a bit more quickly and I'll add it to my serials section.In the meantime, enjoy!
***
TCS Tiger’s Claw, Midpoint System
17:45 Hours, shipboard time.
Theodoric massaged the back of his neck as the turbolift headed to Deck 5. He’d spent the last 8 hours in Shotglass’ makeshift cantina, studying the data pad of technical files Jaheira had given him, and developed quite the crick in his neck as a result.
Now all I have to do is find my quarters he thought sourly. Navigating a carrier was an exercise in logic and, for a new face, luck. Theodoric recalled the alphanumeric designation Chief Faeber had given him.
“5-41-5-L”, Living quarters on the fifth deck, aft of bulkhead 41, on the starboard side. Got it.
It took Theodoric several tries to find the right compartment (not realizing several passages didn’t run the length of the section), but it was quite the relief when he did find it.
All I want is a quick shower and some sleep. Except I’ll probably study this damn pad another three or four hours before then, he thought with wry humor. He wasn’t sure what Jaheira had planned for him, but had no doubt the Major would grill him in detail over the assigned material.
Theodoric tapped the control for the door, which slid open with a quiet “woosh.” The young lieutenant actually got half a step into the door before being intercepted.
“Well, hell, it’s about time you showed up.”
It hadn’t occurred to Theodoric that the cabin would be occupied. Or rather, he’d not been thinking about it at that moment. Private staterooms were the province of a very few people aboard a military vessel. The ship's captain, a few very senior officers, perhaps the commander of the shipboard troops. Everyone else had a least one bunkmate, and in this case, two bunkmates. A pair of lieutenants were giving Theodoric the once over from their bunks.
“Ah, uh” began Theodoric, still somewhat lost in his previous thoughts.
“Oh lordy, where did they find this one?” said the first pilot.
“Easy there, Frost”, said the second. “The kid’s obviously recognized me and is in awe of meeting such a legendary pilot.”
“In your dreams, pud-puller” laughed the first. “I heard it took the docs sixteen hours to sew up all the bite marks the Cats left on your ass in the Krieger system.”
“Only because I was saving *your* hiney, pogue,” retorted the second.
Theodoric interrupted “ah, I’m 2nd lieutenant Grayson, ah, Theodoric.”
The two pilots exchanged amused looks and hopped up from their cots.
“Welcome to the Killer Bees, FNG” said the first, a wiry, blond-haired fellow with piercing blue eyes and aqualine features. “I’m Frost, and that’s Cummings” he jerked a thumb towards the other man, who had coal black hair and eyes to match. “You can call us Wyvern and Falcon, though.”
“Thanks” Theodoric said, extending his hand. “It’s good to be aboard.”
“Manners. That’s a good sign”, said Falcon, as Wyvern took Theodoric’s hand. “Might be hope for the kid yet.”
“Ah, he’ll be fine” replied Wyvern. He eyed the data pad under Theodoric’s arm. “Met the XO, did you?”
Theodoric shifted a bit uneasily and nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been studying at Shotglass’ for a while, but I thought I’d hit the sack for a few hours before giving it another go.”
Wyvern gave Theodoric a look of mock horror. “You aren’t serious, are you? You weren’t planning on skipping the party, were you?”
“Party?”
“The one were holding down at Shotglass’, FNG” chimed in Falcon. “A little thing the squadron put together. We were just about to head down there when you came in. Hey – you should come too!”
“But, I have to study these technicals some more” Theodoric protested. “If I’m not ready for the Major tomorrow…”
“Tomorrow, tomorrow” repeated Wyvern, while snatching the pad away and tossing it onto a pile of flightsuits. “There’s plenty of time of time until tomorrow. Besides, you’re the guest of honor at this party, rookie.”
“I don’t think I like the sound of that”, Theodoric said suspiciously.
“Nonsense, you’ll have a great time!” Falcon interrupted, grabbing Theodoric by one arm. “You do want to meet the rest of the squadron, don’t ya?”
“Well, sure. It’s just that-”
“Then it’s settled” Wyvern finished, taking Theodoric by the other arm. “Let’s get going. By the way, do you play poker, Theodoric?”
“Not really.”
“Just learning the game myself”, said Wyvern. “Hey, maybe we can play a few hands tonight. You bring your credit chip?”
*
Shotglass’ “Pilot’s Bar”
Six other pilots from the Killer Bees squadron were seated around the tables by the time Theodoric and his escorts reached the bar. Shotglass looked up from a mug he was polishing and gave the new pilot a friendly, if oddly sympathetic, smile. The other pilots looked up from their drinks and looked Theodoric up and down.
Sizing me up. Well, that’s to be expected. Theodoric thought. It was actually a bit of a relief. It reminded him of the looks he and every other freshman had gotten from the upperclassmen at the flight academy. Only these stares were coming from hardened combat veterans who were looking not for some petty infraction of the rules to lord over, but for any sign that their new pilot might not be up to snuff.
Wyvern led the introductions, which went well enough. The greetings were professionally friendly, but left no doubt in Theodoric’s mind that he was going to have to prove himself before being accepted as a true member of the squadron.
So be it, he thought, welcoming that particular challenge.
Theodoric settled in a chair at one of the tables, where Falcon was already shuffling a deck of cards. One of the other pilots, who went by the callsign of “Lightning”, tapped him on the shoulder.
“How about a drink, FNG?” he said.
“Uh, no thanks” Theodoric said. “I appreciate it, but I have to meet with the XO in the morn- OW!!!”
It was at this moment that Theodoric would have his first (though certainly not last) experience with the curious pilot custom known as “Low Bridge.”
“Uh-oh! Low bridge!” said a pilot called Drake, as he butted Theodoric on the back of the head with his elbow. “Gotta watch out for those, FNG. Might knock yourself out running into a bulkhead that way.”
Theodoric rubbed his head, keeping good cheer. “I take it the drink is not for me?”
“Hey, the FNG learns quick!” Drake said to Lightning.
Theodoric sighed and called over to the bar. “Hey, Shotglass!”
“What can I do for ya, kid?”
“I’d like to order a drink for Lightning, here.” Theodoric pulled out his credit chip. Pausing to rub the back of his head, he looked around.
“On second thought, better make that a round of drinks for everyone” he said. “I think it’s probably safer that way.”
A roar of laughter erupted from the squadron.
“The kid *does* learn fast” murmured Drake.
*
The party, such as it was, continued from that point. Several of the pilots excused themselves after a time (and several drinks charged to Theodoric’s account), while others from the squadron straggled in as duty allowed. Introductions again were made, and drinks were again purchased, with only a few minor breaches of squadron etiquette on Theodoric’s part (each such mistake quickly followed by a sudden appearance of a “low bridge.”) Wyvern and Falcon chatted him up while having an amazing run of “beginner’s luck” the last several hands of poker.
“You’ll like it here, rookie” Wyvern assured. “We got the best damn squadron on the ‘Claw. We’ve got 78 confirmed kills on the furballs this tour. Captain Corthala’s got nine of ‘em himself.”
“Where is the Captain, anyway?” asked one of the recently arrived pilots, passing by the table.”
“Running an unscheduled patrol” replied Wyvern. “Wanted to test something out. Something to do with the LIDAR upgrades or something. Valkyrie’s flying on his wing.”
“It sounds like the commander is really thorough” Theodoric said.
“You don’t know crap, rookie” said Lightning, sternly but not harshly. “You ain’t been here long enough to have an opinion on the Captain.”
“Sorry” Theodoric said sheepishly. He noted that at least he didn’t get a smack in the head for this one.
The door to the bar slid open again, and another pilot from the Killer Bees squadron entered. This particular pilot happened to be female, and happened to have red hair dyed to a most distinctive shade of pink.
“Imoen?” Theodoric looked up from his cards. “Imoen?” he said, standing. Several of the other pilots exchanged looks.
“Theo!” Imoen said with surprise. She began waving enthusiastically from across the room “HEYA!!!”
The two rushed across the room and met in a bone-crushing hug.
“When did you get here, ya big goof!”
“Uh, just this morning. Im, I thought you were assigned to the Ark Royal?”
“Oh, that. Yeah, I was. I transferred here 3 months ago, when the Royal went in for drydock repairs in the Eddings system. They offered me a slot on the base there, but the color scheme on their Hornets totally grodied me out. I mean, who paints a fighter orange and lime green?”
“Ah, well, I don’t suppose-”
“You know this FNG, Imp?” interrupted one of the pilots.
“Huh? Oh yeah. Me ‘n Theo were at the academy together.”
“Imoen was a year ahead of me” Theodoric supplied. “Ow!”
“Didn’t ask you, rookie”, said the pilot. “Watch those bulkheads, now.”
“Got it” Theodoric said. This is going to be a long evening…
Edited by Clovis, 31 July 2011 - 08:03 AM.
