AWD #275: An Old Kinship
An Old Kinship
Summary: A deckie and an ex-deckie talk.
Date: 08/Oct/2013
Related Logs: None
Kelsey Toby 
Hangar Bay - Deck 3 - Battlestar Orion
Each hangar deck is divided into five one-hundred yard sections, each divided from the others by massive blast doors that close vertically from the floor and overhead. Each hangar section houses all of the Vipers, Raptors, and Predators that the wing operates as well as the vital work areas to support and maintain these fighting platforms. Each bay is large enough to accommodate one of these frames and still get heavy work done, though the fore- and aft-most sections are dedicated to overhauls and major work to be done. The bays along the center section are located across from launch tubes and elevators in order to provide scramble and Alert-Five capabilities. The second-to-aft bay provides major elevator and transport access to the starboard bay as well as the major manufacturing facility. Due to the nature of the work, the hangar decks are major hubs of activity at all hours of the day and all but four hours overnight.
#275

The pace of operations is taking its toll on everyone. Despite only being back on flight detail 48 hours, Kelsey already looks tired. At least she had a break while she was down with her wounds, but a week later pilots are needed and she's in ops. There's a loud commotion from one of the Raptor bays and Squire's voice can be heard yelling something about a bomb rack. Then there's the sound of a Chief yelling at her about something she did, her place, her rank, and… then silence. The Chief walks off from the bay a few moments later looking steamed and Kelsey is left staring after him looking angry and frustrated. Cranked on stims, her eyes are bloodshot and she probably hasn't had more than a few hours sleep to give some other pilots needed rest. She balls her fists and finally kicks the winglet on a Raptor. Twice. Each time letting out a frustrated growl.

Toby is doing better than most, if only please he doesn't quite have full dexterity back yet so he's doing a lot of fetch and carry. Physically exhausting yes, but not too bad mentally. Raised voices are more common these days and it's a fair bet that he's not the only one who caught more of that exchange than they were meant to. He'd leave well enough alone, were it not for the fact that the next Raptor on his list is the one Kelsey is currently pounding on. Oh boy. Deep breath and he just goes for it giving the pilot a brief nod as he moves towards the hatch to retrieve the used scrubber so a fresh can be inserted. "Ensign," he offers in greeting as he draws closer, tone calm and collected, if a little on the tired side.

"If you've got this flight and then one in a pred before dinner than you should be fine. They've all got an inbuilt safety margine and you've not hit that yet." Toby squints at it a moment then shrugs as he looks back down, "just you and an ECO, fine, add a door gunner, fine. Fill this thing with Marines and maybe we have to talk." He waits on her response before either removong ot replacing the scrubber as he listens to her speak. "Guess once they're up to speed though then it should take some of the pressure off, likely weird for them too."He offers her a slightly smile at that then asks, "so what's this one, then. Air support, med-evac, supply run?"

Kelsey nods a few times, listening. "Hey, if you say its okay, man, I'll trust your judgment. I haven't seen this end of crap in months and I only got a taste of the Deck during wartime for about 6 weeks before I had to leave." Had to leave? She hangs an arm over the back of the stool lazily, those glassy and bloodshot eyes hovering on Toby. "sounds good. Next time we go kill shit with Marines? I'll be sure and drag you along. And yeah, it probably is for them. I know a lot don't like having to be told what's up from an Ensign, but I guess that's just how it is. Maybe one day I'll get promoted. That'd be cool 'n stuff. Maybe people would start listening and taking me seriously, I guess. Dunno." She shrugs. "Oh this mission? Gonna go blow up some Cylon munitions depot. Lots of SAMs. We're going in to kill the missiles and pave the way for the strike to bomb the buildings. Its not the sexy, buuuuuut its doing its part."

Toby starts slotting the part back where it's supposed to be as Kelsey talks, although once it's in and secured he grabs a pen and starts to make a quick note on the back of his head before turning to find the raptor's number. "If I'm around, grab me," he replies with a nod, "like I said, not so hot on the fiddly stuff right now but those triggers aren't exactly delicate work." Reaaching for the ceiling panel again he starts to line it up ready to go back on, "playing tag with missles eh? Rather you than me on that one." Concentrating a moment to start the process of screwing the thing back in he then turns back to Kelsey as he works, expression hinting that he's considering something as he does so.

Toby starts slotting the part back where it's supposed to be as Kelsey talks, although once it's in and secured he grabs a pen and starts to make a quick note on the back of his head before turning to find the raptor's number. "If I'm around, grab me," he replies with a nod, "like I said, not so hot on the fiddly stuff right now but those triggers aren't exactly delicate work." Reaaching for the ceiling panel again he starts to line it up ready to go back on, "playing tag with missles eh? Rather you than me on that one." Concentrating a moment to start the process of screwing the thing back in he then turns back to Kelsey as he works, expression hinting that he's considering something as he does so.

Kelsey nods a few times. "I'll keep it in mind. The guns in the back I haven't shot since tech school. I don't remember how to work them except for installing them and that junk. If you know how to do it, more power to you. Its just been lifetimes ago for me." She glances around lazily, head lagging a bit like he might be a little drunk. Typical for someone slammed on stims. "Missiles aren't too bad. I mean, they scare you ever time. But you just gotta keep your eyes peeled for them." She drifts back to him and her brow quirks. "Whats up?"

"Eyes the gun mounting as he finishes re-attaching the plate. "You ECO did the loading and set-up last time. I could probably remember at a push though. Point and click though?" He grins a little as the screwdrives is replaced in the tool pouch, "even a Tauran can manage that." Moving back towards the hatch he stops just inside, resting his good hand on the top of the frame and shrugs faintly, "I dunno, just, before you hit atmosphere, or burn, or whatever you call it, do you get a decent view of the rest of the system?"

She laughs lightly. "Yep! Point and click. Its like using a mouse! But it looks like a lot of fun. Maybe not as much fun as dropping bombs but plenty of giggles." She kicks her feet out to cross her legs at her ankles, trying to relax. She wants to sleep and get comfortable, but her eyelids are welded open. "A little. I mean, you can see Helios Alpha, the star, pretty well. Caprica and Gemenon are on the other side of the system. Why?"

Toby nods shallowly at the response, although his expression likely makes it clear that they're not what he was really asking about. Using one thumb to gesture over his shoulder, behind himself, he then asks, "and the other way?" It's a difficult topic for him to breach and he's trying to avoid having to say it directly, but after a moment or two spent considering the lass on stimms infront of him he eventually mans up and gets on with it. "Tauron?"

Kelsey watches him, not quite sure what he means about the other way. She watches the thumb and leans to glance around the Rap- oh. OH. She slowly shakes her head. "I haven't been up there and it just looks like a spec in the distance, Tobes. Don't do that to yourself, hon." She stands off the stool and walks to the edge of the wing. "You're a good guy. But we'll get payback one day, yeah?" She keeps her voice quiet and extends her hand to him to help him down if he wants it.

Toby nods slowly, it's the answer he's been expecting, what with the distances involved, but then if you never ask.. "We will, yeah," he agrees readilly enough, "we're making a good start of it now infact. Just wanted to know if it was an option though, you know, something to think about." He doesn't need her hand, but in the interests of not being a dick he takes it and once his feet are back on the deck he gives her a brief nod of thanks anyway. He's about done here, but before he turns to move onto the next raptor he turns back to Kelsey and asks, "can I ask you one favour though?"

"I don't know that I could ever get out there. But even if we could, would you want to see it, hon? Would it make anything better? Or just hurt more? I'm not saying you need to get over it, but is it worth stoking that fire in your chest?" There's real concern in her eyes for the Crewman. An old kinship by working-class beginnings. Her hands fold in front of her. "Sure. I'll do my best." Her voice never gets very loud.

"I don't know," Toby admits frankly, "I don't know if I want to or not, it's just being this close again made me wonder. Just a dot? I'm not sure if that's better or worse than a good view in all honesty. Still, if anyone ever wants a reminder of what we're fighting for…" Sensing his thoughts start to disjoint he leaves it there and takes a moment to collect them again before moving on. "It's just a little thing really, but please, don't call me Tobes, I fraking hate it."

Kelsey nods. "If you ever figure out what you want? To see it or not? Let me know. I may not be able to take you but I'd like to hear why. We're at my home. Its still here. But I think I could use hearing your own side of things." She stuffs her hands into her pocket, but the last gets a short chuckle. "You got it. Sorry, Toby."

"Thanks," Toby replies, looking at the pilot briefly and then the raptor, "and I will, if I ever manage to make sense of it myself. Still, something to think about eh?" He double checks the impromptu note on the back of his hand has the right designation for this raptor on it then tilts his head towards the next bird along. "I should probably get moving, but keep dodging those missiles yeah?" And then he's off, busy, busy, busy.

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