On Wings of Eagles

Posted on Wed Mar 29th, 2023 @ 5:34pm by Lieutenant Kurt "Berlin" Vogel

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Hanger Bay
Timeline: TBD
1552 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Kurt had been following the lighted panels from the XO's quarters to the Hanger Bay, and they now dumped him out into a cavernous room with high ceiling and numerous personnel.

It was everything Kurt loved about hanger bays. The smells: engine oil and lubricants, mixed with the musty smell of sweat and old coffee. The sounds: the thrum oif engines being tested, spanners turning, tricorders beeping cheerfully, and best of all...

"Damn you, you little dirtbag!" a voice bellowed. The sound and profaneness could only belong to a NCO, and Vogel turned to his left in the general direction of the roar to see a woman with Chief Petty Officer insignia with her face inches from some hapless Ensign's own mug.

"These things are expensive! It costs more just to fuel this bird for a month then it takes to educate you at the damned Academy!" the Noncom continued in her tirade. "They are not entrusted to you just so you can lose your temper and smack it with a spanner!" The female Chief's face was turning red with rage, her right hand was to the side of the young officer's face, nearly touching his eyeball, in the dreaded "NCO Knife Hand". You hear about it at the Academy, and pray you never receive one, because it means you messed up real bad and earned the ire of people you were only nominally superior to in rank, and not at all in experience.

"Put that tool down, step outside of this hanger for a minimum of 20 minutes, and when you return, you and I will work together to figure out what is vexing you so badly thast you decided to vent your frustration on this poor girl." The NCO pointed to the craft in question, a Valkyrie Space Superiority Fighter.

"Ye...yes Chief. Sorry Chief." the young Ensign stammered before beating a hasty retreat away from the enraged NCO.

After the officer had gone, Kurt noted with amusement that the Chief Petty Officer's features had relaxed into total serenity. Her anger, either a show to indicate to the young Ensign the severity of the situation or already forgotten, no longer showed upon her weathered features. She wiped some sort of brownish smudge on her cheek away as she noticed Kurt was there.

She came to attention briefly before Vogel waved her efforts away.

"Don't worry Chief. He'll learn to do better. We all do." Kurt said with a sly smile.

"Yessir." the NCO replied. Her demeanor requested that Vogel get to the point so she could return to her duties.

"Please, where can I find Leftenant Commander Vali?"

The Chief pointed towards a row of other Valkyries. "She should be over there sir."

The German thanked her, and made his way to the area he had been directed to. He noticed a woman with the characteristic dark hair and eyes of Betazed with a PaDD in her hands, directing other officers and NCOs to various tasks.

Vogel and the woman were technically equals in position, but she was his superior in rank, and protocol ran deep when he was in the Reserves.

Let her decide if things should not be so formal Kurt decided.

"Excuse me ma'am." Kurt said, coming to attention with a thud of leather heels and a crisp salute. "Leftenant Kurt Vogel, new Wing C.O. The XO directed that I introduce myself to you."

And Jess was anything but formal. She was working on a Valkyrie's EPS Main to a music player with Twisted Sister's 'We're not gonna take it.' playing. She looked down from the access port. "Welcome aboard Lieutenant. Hand me a plasma shunt please."

Vogel took it as a sign that informality shall be their watchword. He dropped his salute, looked around for the aforementioned device, found it, and delivered it to the hand of the higher ranked woman.

Kurt pointed at the fighter. "Something wrong with her, or just tinkering?" the German inquired.

“She was kinda shakey on acceleration the other day, I tracked the problem down to the EPS system.”

"What do they call you by the way? In the air I mean." Kurt asked.

"Callsign Valkyrie. And there's a reason I'm called that. Because I fight like the wrath of a shieldmaiden of Nordic Lore." Jess noted.

Vogel pointed to himself with his index and middle fingers to his sternum. “Berlin.”Kurt then thumbed in the direction of the music. "I'm more of a Clash man myself."

Jess walked over to her infamous cooler and opened it. Inside was a variety of drinks. "Welcome to the Fighting Tigers, get yourself a drink." Jess noted. "And there's a reason why we've earned that name, Lieutenant. I have had a hand in training most of our pilots here on the Elysium." Jess noted. "All of our pilots are professionals. Two rules; we've been through hell here on the Ely. The marines here don't like to boast and neither do we. We do not care who you are or were, we care about your commitment and dedication to our squadron. Also, we have a special comradery and relationship with our marines born through mutual respect. I expect anyone who disrespects our Marines to be immediately reprimanded, as my fiance is a Marine." She noted.

Of course she's engaged. The pretty ones always are Kurt thought idly. He pushed that thought aside quickly,. as not only was she engaged, but she looked like she'd kick his ass if he so much as gently flirted with her. Then again, Kurt was always intimidated by attractive women.

“Yes ma’am.” Kurt replied outwardly. He could tell from the woman’s tone that this was one such time protocol would be observed. Kurt himself did not look down upon Marines; the foot sloggers had their role, just as Vogel himself did.

Jess tossed him a drink. "I am also the flight instructor for the Elysium Academy's cadet squadron. Here we follow in the footsteps of the finest aces of the past, Most of the Tigers came from the Elysium Academy. There is no nuggets here on the Elysium. Everything we do, is to train the next generation of pilots. They train under us and some of the finest pilots that have ever existed. We have a holodeck training simulation that has advanced holomatrices made from the experiences of Baron Manfired von Richthofen, Major Erich Hartmann, Colonel Pappy Boyington, Astronaut Armstrong usually teaches intro to orbital flight, Astronaut Lovell teaches our pilots on what to do if things go wrong in a fighter. Everything we do here Lieutenant Vogel.. is for the new pilots and helm officers at the academy. Add to that, Colonel Yeager takes our recruits through dealing with speed. You probably know what the Elysium can offer you, Lieutenant, but what can you do for the Elysium? I wonder." Jess noted. "You should know that serving here is not about you."

Kurt's ears piqued at the sound of the familiar German fighter aces. He of course, and heard of them. Every German youth who had even a passing interest in flight had heard of them. Baron Manfred Freiherr Von Richtofen, the Red Baron. 80 victories in World War I. Erich Hartmann, the most successful fighter ace of them all. 352 victories in a span of about 3 years, a record not even approached. His closest competitor, Gerhard Barkhorn, another German, was credited with 301 victories.

But Kurt was focused on what the senior Wing Commander had asked him. What could he offer?

"Ma'am, I have not yet seen combat. I have no victories to my name. I cannot give much advice on fighting and flying that cannot be given by the sims or far more veteran pilots. But I've been flying a long time. I know a few things, practical things. Things the sims won't or can't teach you. How to coax just a bit more power from the engines or the weapons, how to pull maneuvers that are 'highly discouraged' just a bit more safely if needed. I've also made plenty of mistakes in my time. Silly mistakes, dumb mistakes. If nothing else, I can offer the young pilots my experience of what NOT to do. Let them learn from me before they have to figure out the mistake the hard way. With that knowledge, perhaps they will be just that little bit better. That little bit may be the difference between fighting and living, and you or I having to write home to their families."

"We're all here to learn, Lieutenant. Life is learning. And what you said has impressed me even more." Jess noted. "You are capable of understanding what you know and what you don't know. That's a powerful tool, and you've already earned mine and the bosses confidence."

Kurt issued a boyish smile that belied his years. "Thanks..."

and now for the final bit of courage. You might get kicked in the face for this.

"...Val."

"Yes, Lieutenant?" Jess noted.

Kurt noted in turn that, apparently, they were not yet on a callsign basis just yet.

"Nothing ma'am." he answered.

"One more thing 'Berlin'." Jess noted. "Call me Valkyrie."

The German smiled in a way that did away with his years, "You got it Valkyrie."

END