No patrol like snow patrol

Posted on Sun Jul 9th, 2023 @ 9:37am by Captain Addison 'Rico' Leyton

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: MD07 1300 Hours
593 words - 1.2 OF Standard Post Measure

The Gryphon Class Strike Fighter sliced through the blowing snow like a razor-sharp knife, leaving only icy contrails in its wake. Inside the two-person cockpit, Captain Leyton focused on the sensor image produced inside her HUD helmet visor that could be activated during low visibility conditions as she piloted the craft.

"So, I never did ask you how you earned your callsign, Hammer," she questioned her Weapons Officer, Lt. Talas that sat in the seat behind Leyton.

Talas chuckled. "Because when I was in the Academy, I learned about a late 20th Century musician named MC Hammer. I love his songs and would play them constantly. You haven't seen anything until you see me get down to 'Hammer Time.'

Leyton laughed in response. "Now that's something I have got to see!"

"Oh, definitely!" Talas replied with a full smile, hidden by her helmet. "So, what about you, how did you get your callsign, Rico?"

"Because of this guy, right here," she indicated to a sticker of a cartoon penguin carrying a wide assortment of ancient 20th Century weapons on the lower right rear corner of her helmet. I tend to go into combat with a near overweight ordnance load and so my former Squadron CO, who liked 20th Century cartoons began to call me Rico, and it stuck."

"Ah...we have to get you a better one," Talas chuckled.

"What's wrong with Rico?" Leyton asked as she banked the fighter into a turn.

"It's boring, to be honest. We have to get you an awesome one, like mine. In fact, that's my mission from now on," Talas chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Leyton replied, smiling. "Ready for some target practice?"

Tala smiled. "Always! Let's light something up," Talas replied excitedly. "Launching target drones. Pulse Phasers armed."

The Gryphon Strike Fighter registered the target drones as they emitted a hostile IFF signature, relaying the information instantaneous to Leyton's and Talas' Visors and tactical displays. Leyton pulled hard on flight stick bringing the Gryphon into a tight turn as she gained altitude to match the first target drone. A quick squeeze of the trigger sent a dozen pulse phasers into the drone, obliterating it.

The second drone was moving fast to avoid being targeted as it sped through the clouds with Leyton in pursuit. "It's all yours!"

"Got it!" Talas replied as she launched a micro photon torpedo at the target drone, as the small torpedo tracked its target and a split second later, exploded, destroying the drone. "Woo! Bullseye!"
The sensors picked up the third and final drone flying fast and low to the ground as Leyton rolled and pulled the Gryphon into a dive. She squeezed the trigger as she gained target lock. The phaser pulses narrowly missed the drone. Leyton pulled the nose of the gryphon up and fired another burst, this time turning the drone into a small fireball."

"Nice shooting!" Talas complimented. "Hold up! picking up two life signs on that rocky outcropping five kilometers to our north."

"Let's check it out," Leyton said as she piloted the craft to the designated coordinates, slowing to a hover.

Before her eyes were two large cat-like creatures with white fur engaged in sex.

"Oh! Wow," Leyton said in shock.

"Dammit. Now I'm horny," Talas grumbled.

"Damn animals on this frozen rock get more action than I do," Leyton chuckled.

"You and me both. Let's give these two some privacy," Talas agreed, laughing.

"Certainly," Leyton said as she turned the fighter around and sped away back towards the base, climbing into the sky.