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Post by Evangeline on Jul 7, 2010 11:11:52 GMT -5
"I heard their mother works at the space center, y'know, in Florida, so I'd think they were well broke to humans by now." Pepper shrugged at her wing roots. She looked up at the replay of Daryush's takedown of Hammer. "Well, isn't that a moment for th' ages?"
The clinic for mechanians had a garage for ground vehicles and two large hangars for aircraft. A forklift nurse appeared at the open door to one of them and waved the jets inside. Brenda nosed towards an empty bay by the central work area in a WAIT-HERE gesture to Becky, before Bateman walked in from the van outside. The interior was air-conditioned, and became cooler as the doors were closed, much to the relief of all three. The nurse came back with a misting wand to cool down Brenda and a towel for the group captain. Bateman sat down on a toolbench and watched as the doctor came up.
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Post by elizar on Jul 7, 2010 11:34:05 GMT -5
"Yeah." Daryush chuckled. "Too bad I only got two other such moments. Hopefully he'll be occupied by his kids that he won't try to take revenge on this just yet. He replayed the moment where Pepper swooped in to distract Paul. "The thing is I'm slow. Those who know me and my max speed are in no danger of overtaking me should I try to turn while they're going fast. I bet I would be much better in a actual situation against humans in fighter jets. Though it would be surviving few more seconds most likely."
Becky lied down in the bay and watched. This was something she wanted to do when grown up, so she tried her best to pay attention, even though it was just clinical stuff.
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Post by Evangeline on Jul 7, 2010 12:01:31 GMT -5
"Fighter pilots are a dying breed here." Pepper remarked, her tone suggesting that she did not see this as an entirely healthy thing. "The youngest with a real living memory of the skills are in their fifties now, like our group captain. The "Charger" conversion sort of simulates the control, but even then it's only guidance by pressure, like with a horse, that's why they gave it that name. Even then, the wing commander has to work herself into a bit of a trance to correctly interpret the signals, which is why they take all those brainwave readouts at the clinic." She paused for a moment, watching the screen contemplatively. "I still don't know what the point really is, unless as a backup measure. I've been told that I could probably handle the mods, but I'd have to think about it."
Brenda rested, with her head placed in a special cradle, while wires and leads were attached to the circuitry in the cockpit extension. The doctors were poring over the EKG recording on computer screens in the next room. Bateman towelled off his head and neck and sipped at a water bottle while he waited on Brenda. Afterwards, he would assist in dismantling the seat and controls so that the interior could be cleaned out with antiseptic solution. The cavity, though healed over, had to be kept scrupulously clean and then hermetically sealed when not in use. He always insisted on some involvement with that aspect of post-conversion aftercare.
The nurse smiled to Becky as she passed, and offered her a mint.
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Post by elizar on Jul 7, 2010 12:39:06 GMT -5
"It is a nice plan B anyway." Daryush said. "I can see the positives of this. Communication can proceed during dogfights, and during some of the more black ops only the humans inside of high enough rank get to know what's going on while just pointing where the jets should go. It's the override function that I'm worried about, which they've already implemented in the shuttle program."
"There are also some tales of later Flankers being spotted in Asia with no eyes or mouth." Daryush chuckled. "I wouldn't underestimate the Russkies, they've made respectable weapons, some specifically designed to counter mechanians."
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Post by Evangeline on Jul 7, 2010 12:54:20 GMT -5
"The whole override thing would be a deal-killer for most." Pepper blew out uneasily. "It wasn't included in any of the fighter conversions so far as I know. Aircraft types fought long n' hard for their rights in the 50's, my gran still talks about it. Even then you'd never get most of the guys into it because it's an ego thing. Women don't seem to have so much of an issue with it. As for the Russians, it's not so easy for them to get mechanian talent when they're almost third-world in many places. They have to make do with what they have."
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Post by elizar on Jul 7, 2010 13:21:38 GMT -5
"And there are some who can't overcome the cultural hurdle." Daryush said. "We're not really part of their country. We're pretty much on loan from various military forces that have outbred us. Even for all that we do for them, they'll not really consider us as one of theirs. It's not because we're mechanians, it's because we're not from around here. When a country really gets their economic foot down, and doesn't like foreigners protecting their own country, there will be developments. They already have the know-how and as our vigil at the gate can attest to, they could build and fly fighter jets."
(( When the army was here, they were self-contained country. Even when they decided to go for a trip when on a leave, they took their own fuel with them, always. The army did their thing being a cardboard cutouts after the war, while we pretty much left them alone. Only during the war there was real mingling going on where we couldn't ignore their usefulness. ))
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Post by Evangeline on Jul 7, 2010 21:33:26 GMT -5
<<< Sorry for the long gap, had to prepare dinner for Sis, niece and two of her friends and then we went swimming at the town pool because it's so bastard hot here, 34 degrees today >>>
"There'll be some bounce-back," Pepper shrugged again, "But things will never be completely the same here, any more than they'll be the same again on our side after the humans turned up. Especially after more of us are born here and put down roots. As far as Australia is concerned, we might as well be just another group of immigrants."
Tanya stopped at the civilian quarters, and went to the #3 dwelling. She inserted an electronic key, opening the doors. She then held out the key to Amara. "Got a place to keep this?"
Amara had a "multitool" unit attached to one of her hardpoints. A robot arm extended from it to take the key card. "I'm good." she then followed the girl across the threshold. "Thanks."
The room, Amara decided, was quite tolerable as far as such accommodations go - painted in earth tones, a quilted, patterned mat, a refrigerated autoserve unit and a blanket suspended above on cables. There was an LCD screen at one end and a media center controlled by floor pedals. The windows and skylights provided a generous amount of natural light. Yes, this was quite satisfactory.
"We already turned the air conditioning on for you," Tanya went on, "And the wash stalls are at the end of the hangar row. If there's anything you need or you have any questions, just use the intercom to resident services here." she indicated a green button beside the other pads on the floor.
"Thank you. It's very nice." Amara smiled tiredly. After two weeks on the pitching, rolling decks of a transport ship and the hectic day of landing, the F-16 woman was beginning to feel exhaustion catching up with her. Tanya, reading this, took this as a good time to withdraw. "I'll leave you alone now, but one of us will be checking by tomorrow."
"OK." Amara yawned. As soon as the girl took her leave and the doors shut again, the jet collapsed onto the soft, supportive sleeping mat and enjoyed the first real lie-down she'd had in weeks.
Paul sighed as he viewed the family quarters he'd been temporarily reassigned to for the duration of his kids' visitation. Not that there was anything bad about that... except for the location. It was right across from the wing commander's residence, and he was sure that it was no accident, though housing assignments were not her bailiwick. That didn't mean she didn't have influence with them, though. For the next three months, he would be under the eyes of the Alpha Mare and her neighbors. Just f***ing great...
Moira, however, was overjoyed to be staying across the way from Becky, and Gavin had already discovered the media center. A cadet had been assigned to look after the children's simpler, non-technical needs, and young David would take them to the wash stalls soon. David, in fact, was scarcely older than Gavin and while they were worlds apart in species, perhaps they might have other things in common. Paul hoped so. Seeing his teenage boy moping about and complaining about endless boredom would not be much fun...
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Post by elizar on Jul 7, 2010 21:52:41 GMT -5
Daryush glanced at Pepper, then smiled as if he had found some peace. "Yeah, you're right." He said, keeping the smile. "Sorry about these worse-case scenario things, I guess I'm a sore winner or something." He chuckled. He had seen enough on the screen. And the exercise had left him hungry. "I'm going to get some brew." He said.
Marianne didn't need to open the doors. And she made her entrance quite silently when she knew that Amara's eyes were closed. She figured she would sense her company by now, so she went to her side, near the wall.
"I'm sorry for earlier." She said, her tone genuinely apologetic. "I just wanted to tell you that before you would fall asleep."
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Post by Evangeline on Jul 7, 2010 22:42:58 GMT -5
"I'm starving too." Pepper felt a rumble inside. Today had been quite a workout. "A bubble tea mix is looking pretty good to me right now."
Amara had been drifting off, but she was wide-awake now. "Oh, don't tell me that I have what Aunt Karen said she had... so NOW I find out she wasn't talking smack after all!"
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Post by elizar on Jul 8, 2010 9:14:14 GMT -5
Daryush made his way to the on-base watering hole with Pepper. There was a little wait due to that most of those in the exercise had been there before them. He settled for Tropicana blend, even though it was one of the more expensive drinks there.
"At least I didn't continue to talk with you when Paul was there." Marianne said. "He doesn't need more ammo for the courts. The last time I could talk to someone like this was more than a century ago."
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Post by Evangeline on Jul 8, 2010 13:03:22 GMT -5
Pepper gleefully sucked up tapioca "bubbles" along with her fuel mix, and played with the straw in her drum while checking out the other patrons. It was then that she froze. "Heads up, Dary. Hammer at three o' clock! Got his kids with him, though."
Amara raised her head, looking Marianne over carefully. "Might've guessed it, from your clothes. Haven't seen anything like that except for humanside movies set in the past." It occurred to her that what the woman was wearing looked like old-fashioned women's riding clothes - a "habit", they called it. "Is that how you died? Riding?"
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Post by elizar on Jul 8, 2010 15:50:40 GMT -5
"Let's hope he wont try anything with his kids around." Daryush said. He noticed two spaces large enough for the family, and wondered which one Paul would pick, the one nearer or the one further away from him and Pepper.
Marianne smiled softly, but adverted her eyes for a moment. "The horse spooked and I got under him." She said. "At least you don't see me with my jaw shattered like then. Beats me how that works exactly."
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Post by Evangeline on Jul 8, 2010 21:21:22 GMT -5
Pepper held her breath for maybe five seconds, until Paul opted to take his kids to the further cluster of spots. "That's a relief."
Gavin was still looking rather bored, but Moira was a little live wire, bounding around to see all the other patrons despite her father's slightly exasperated admonitions to stay with him. Finally she returned and settled in her own spot once her father promised her a treat for behaving.
"I hope he doesn't make a habit of bribing the kids for everything." Pepper frowned.
Amara didn't really want to dwell on the topic of smashed faces, and sought to change the subject. "Are there... uh... any others like you around here or are they just not talking?"
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Post by elizar on Jul 8, 2010 21:45:04 GMT -5
"It's a shortcut." Daryush said. "He just met them after a long time." He did see where Paul was coming from. "But if he does continue it, it will not be good for the relationship in the long run."
"Just faint echoes." Marianne said. "Even to me most of them is are ghosts to me. Well, if I were living." She chuckled nervously. She had clearly not been able to talk to anyone that answered back!
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Post by Evangeline on Jul 9, 2010 9:17:11 GMT -5
Pepper angled her head, trying to catch some of the gossip going around. "Ooh, this is interesting. They moved him temporarily to the family quarters - right across from our wing commander's place!"
"So I take it that people who can really talk to ghosts are few and far between, since you say you've never met one before now." Amara noted.
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