Demon on the Wing (backpost)

Posted on Mon Feb 1st, 2021 @ 4:21am by Captain Gary Taylor & Captain George Charles [Reece]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Valkyrie 765, USS Elysium
Timeline: Tbd
1408 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

The stars flashed by as the powerful, yet small Valkyrie Space Superiority Starfighter was moving towards it destination at warp speed. In the sleek two-person cockpit was, in the REO(Rear Equipment Operator), Warrant Officer Jillian McNichols, a human, callsign Badger. In the front seat, in control of the craft as pilot, was First Lieutenant George M. Charles, a Betazoid, callsign Demon.

Their, or more accurately his, destination, was the USS Elysium. George was to fill a fighter slot in the 45th Tactical Wing (Fighting Tigers). Once they arrived, Badger would head back to Earth in an unassigned Valkyrie.

“Coming up on the rendezvous coordinates,” Badger reported from the rear seat.

“Roger that,”George replied. Manipulating the throttle controls, he brought the starfighter out of warp. Suddenly, the mammoth starship appeared about three kilometers to their port side. George opened a comm channel. “USS Elysium, USS Elysium, this is Valkyrie 765, First Lieutenant George Charles, callsign Demon in command. How do you copy, over?” As he spoke, he brought his fighter parallel to the starship and kept the distance at about 1500 meters.

Gary was on the bridge when the call from the fighter came through. Opening a channel he replied, "Valkyrie 765, Elysium here, we read you five by five. Make your approach to main shuttlebay. You have the ball."

George acknowledged the reply, then closed the channel. Throttling up, he flew towards the front of his new home, taking in as much of its graceful lines as he could see. He began to bank to his port side as they reached the bow. Following the tip of the saucer section, George brought the agile starfighter within fifty meters of the Elysium’s hull.

Continuing back down the Elysium’s port side, George steered clear of the large warp nacelle, continuing about two hundred meters aft of the starship. He then brought his fighter around and lined up on the shuttlebay. As he approached, the large doors slid open. He opened another comm channel and spoke “Shuttlebay control, standing by for tractor beam capture.”

Jessica was in the bay working on a Gryphon when the Valkyrie entered the shuttlebay. A stereo system was playing Queen's 'We are the champions' at a modest volume. She picked up a rag and walked over. Her uniform jacket was on a crate nearby and she was wearing a tanktop with her combadge along with her uniform pants. Wiping some grime off her hands, she examined the new pilot.

Once George’s fighter was securely on the deck, he began shutting down the engines and putting the rest of the fighter’s systems into standby mode. Badger popped the canopy and started to climb out and stretch. Once he was done, George did the same. As he reached the deck, he handed his flight log to the deckhand that was standing there. He then noticed an attractive woman approaching him, wiping her hands clean with a rag.

Jessica walked up to George. "Welcome aboard, El-Tee." Jess presented her hand that still had some lubercant residue on it. "Lt. Commander Jessica Vaii. Callsign; Valkyrie. A privilege to meet your acquaintance, Sir. You landed well. I'm one of the Wing Commanders here." Jess mentioned. "Welcome to the 45th."

Hearing her name, rank and position, George snapped attention. “Thank you, Ma’am. I am looking forward to serving under your command.”

"Very well, Lieutenant, and at ease. When I want you to snap to attention, and if I want a salute, you'll know it. We're a combined unit of starfleet and marine pilots here. The USS Elysium has the benefit of the most successful fleet-marine relationship in the fleet. A special relationship based on mutual trust and comradery. This crew has been through hell together, and we left hell wondering what hit them." Jess mentioned. "That being said, you have already made an impression with me. Our squadron was named after one of the most successful squadrons that ever flew, and what made the Flying Tigers so renown was their strategy and operational efficiency. If you have a bandit on your tail, I can guarantee you one of us will be lineing up on that bastard, and he or she will be dead before they even know it." Jessica mentioned. "You and your REO look as professional as they come, I think we're going to get along well here. Get squared away, and I'll have the crew chief look your bird over, top off the tank, fill the tires, and wash the canopy. How long has it been since you two had a shower and something to eat?" This woman was a true leader, she cared about the pilots.

George relaxed as his new commander spoke to him. When she was finished, he responded. “I hope it was a good impression, Ma’am,” he responded to her statement about him. He then continued. “While Badger and I have been cooped up in my bird for about three days now, Earth time, she won’t be staying. She’s gonna grab a shower and some grub before taking one of your spare Valkyries back to HQ.”. He had a slightly confused look on his face as he spoke. “I thought word came about that with my assignment orders?”

Jess spoke. "Negative. I want Badger to get a good nights sleep before she heads back to HQ. If someone gives you grief about it from HQ, kindly send them my direction and I'll explain that even astronauts slept in the Apollo CM while on their way to the moon. It doesn't matter how long you stay under my command, no one does an extended sortee like that without eight hours. Understood?" Jess looked at them both.

The pilots looked at each other, clearly relieved. George then looked back at Jess. “That’s very appreciated, Ma’am.”

Badger then excused herself, to allow the two officers to bet better acquainted, and headed off to enjoy the promised hospitality.

After she left, George addressed Jess. “Permission to speak freely, Ma’am?”

Jess nodded. "Granted." She walked back to the Gryphon she was working on, Her music player continued to play at a respetable volume. She was a Lt. Commander, but she was one of those kind of officers that did not like being on the upper decks.

Following Jess toward her fighter, George lowered his voice to keep the others in the shuttlebay from hearing. "I imagine that you have read my file. Do you have any questions about my past, Ma'am?" He was used to people stumbling over themselves when they discovered just how horrible of a past that he had. While it was touching at first, there were times when it really annoyed him. Especially being a Betazoid, he couldn't help but hear the emotions of those around him.

Jessica was, as always, flled with confidence and professionalism, experience and discipline. She was the woman anyone wanted to follow in a warzone. "No I do not. I am aware of your record, Lieutenant. Despite that, I have nothing but admiration for a man who goes from 'green to gold' in his life. I too started with nothing after I left my house on Betazed. I will make what I expect from you perfectly clear. I expect you to become the Starfleet Officer I know you can be, and look yourself in the mirror each morning with pride. The only way you fail here in the 45th is by giving up. In conclusion I will give you this notice. Make me proud, and I will be the best Squadron Commander you've ever flown nder. Fuck with me in any way, and I'll have you for lunch and I'll invite Commander Taylor to feast with as well. Understood Lieutenant? Lieutenants are not a food group in this woman's Starfleet." Jess's voice did not raise above a professional calm.

George was relieved by the general feeling of calm and acceptance that he felt from Jess. He then also felt something else. He suddenly realized that, like himself, she was Betazoid. He immediately worried that she could sense his lack of training. "I appreciate that, Ma'am. I do have another question. Am I correct in saying that you are a fellow Betazoid?"

Jess spoke, "Come with me, it's a long story."

OOC: hey Jess, perhaps we should wrap this up and continue in another jp, keep from filling everyone else's mailboxes will tag notifications?