Leap: Sims - The Next Generation
Sims - The Next Generation
Summary: New faces with familiar names show up in the Sims to meet familiar names with familiar familiar.
Date: 27/03/2017 (OOC Date)
Related Logs: None
Niko Elena Melissa Garrett Shay 
Simulators Room
Its the room with the Sims
Mid-2028

The Orion isn't quite finished with the refit yet, but the final pieces are starting to come into place. New personnel are coming aboard, though it's still a trickle at this point. Chain of command is in flux, with lots of 'acting' squadron commanders and flight leaders in the wing. At least the CAG and DCAG are in place and working to get things organized for the expected influx. Maybe Niko thinks they need to get some team-building going right away, or maybe he just wants an excuse to goof off in the sims for a few hours. But the CAG has asked the DCAG and the most recent arrivals to report to the simulators at 1300 for a training and eval sesssion. The CAG is there early and already in his flight suit, helmet in hand. Despite the bit of gray at his temples, the years haven't slowed Niko Janik down much. He's idly tapping his foot as he scrolls through sim data and possible scenarios at the console.

It's weird to be back on this new-old Orion. The DCAG is easy to mistake for one of the new ensigns if you don't happen to see the Major pins on her collar. She heads in to the sims early, clipboard in one hand, water bottle in the other. She walks up behind him with an easy familiarity. "Man, nuggets today are so much more qualified than we were," she remarks, pulling up a chair.

Through the door walks a face that might make Niko and Ellie look twice. They knew she'd been assigned to the wing as a squadron leader, but the woman looks a lot like her mother. Melissa's face has many of the same traits but she just looks older, having outgrown being the kid. Her hair is a shade darker towards brunette, too. But she's in her flightsuit and carrying a helmet bag. The Captains pins actually look like they belong on her. There's a steady confidence to her and no sense of confusion. "Sirs," she greets, moving up to the table where they are gathered at. "Captain Wescott, reporting as ordered." Its like looking at what Melissa could have been if the war had never gotten hold of her.

A pair of earbuds looped around his neck, Lieutenant Fawkes carries his helmet bag with him, patched up with his two former squadron assignments and a simple 'Survival Officer' tag as he makes his way through the halls. Even the paint smells new on the grand ole dame and since he arrived, it's been like being on a piece of living history.

Slipping into the sim room, Garrett's seen a few of the people that have undergone the Arpay therapy, but it's still surprising on occassion, but the Loot snaps to with a salute. "Afternoon, sirs. Lieutenant Garrett Fawkes, Viper stick, and.." he blinks in paticular at Elena's youth, but it's like seeing a picture from your favorite book sprung to life. "You're Phalanx, right. Folks used to tell stories about you back on Aerilon. Is it true they called you Danger Close because of how much you skirted the regs.." and then he realizes the company he's in and ahems.

"I mean, you have an excellent track record, sir."

With the war and its aftermath, enlistment ages are lower and they'll apparently make anyone an officer. Including twenty-one year old punks who are barely old enough to drink, never mind pilot an airframe that can pull six Gs in a pinch. Ensign Ynyr strolls into the sims - last as usual - also in her flight suit, with her helmet under one arm and her free hand rifling through shoulder length blonde hair with a faint blueish tinge. Repeated washings have faded the colour, but not quite eliminated it yet.

Niko looks up as Elena enters. "Hey, speak for yourself," he responds with a grin,"I was a bad ass before I ever stepped aboard, you know?" Surely no one remembers that it took him three wave-offs to make his first landing on the Orion, way back then. Melissa gets a first look, and then a double-take as the resemblance triggers surprise in the CAG. Holy frak, it's a ghost. He stares at the Captain for a second, then recovers with a quick smile. "Wescott. Right. Welcome aboard Captain. Sorry about that. I mean, ou look a lot like your mom. Bet you get that a lot." Garrett's arrival is a bit of a rescue, giving Niko a chance not to gape at Melissa further. He turns to the new Lieutenant and returns the salute. "Fawkes." What the new guy says about the DCAG causes him to bust out laughing, but his only comment is a pointed look at Elena. Then he catches Shay's arrival, and nods to the raptor pilot. He peers at the name tag, then flashes the young woman an easy smile. "Oh yeah … you're Nyx's kid, right? Welcome aboard."

Elena is too distracted by seeing a ghost to care too much about Fawkes' sass. For a moment. "Captain Westcott," she says formally, the words feeling like marbles in her mouth. She turns to the lieutenant. "/Who/ calls me that, Lieutenant Fawkes?" she asks, possibly rhetorically, with an incisive gravity that betrays her real age. When Ynyr comes in, she nods politely. "Ensign. Good of you to join us. I wasn't aware either of your parents was a blueberry. I'll have to send some apology cards."

Melissa steps to the side as the others arrive and she looks back at Niko. That reply from him seems to surprise the Captain. "Uh, no, sir. I don't think I've met many people who saw her more than once in passing. I-" She wants to say more, looking oddly at the CAG, then to Ellie. She looks similarly distracted by Melissa. "Sir." Her voice sounds /exactly/ like her mother's, but without the strain and stress. Seeing how names and reputations are taken by the leadership, she keeps her quiet and looks to Shay with a little smirk. Buuusted. Twice.

"Well, sir, in flight academy, in the same breath they talked about the things you did, it was also said that in peacetime, we tried the same, our asses would be lacquered, placquered and hanging on the CAG's wall like a trophy. I just thought it was exciting to read about." Though at the mention of the Wecott name, Garrett cuts a glance towards the brunette nearby and quickly looks back to eyes front. You're alread hip deep in the manure pile, no need to go wading in further without your waders, Fawkes. "Just looking forward to flying with you, sirs."

Shay slows her steps when she spots the pilot with captain's pins who's garnering a lot of stares. It seems like she might follow suit, though her expression isn't so much surprised as.. agitated? "Sirs," she addresses the room at large. Since everyone's pretty much guaranteed to rank higher than her. Elena's comment causes her to make a bit of a face, though she seems to know better than to engage. For now.

Niko looks highly amused at the exchange between Garrett and Elena, but he's staying well clear of the engagement zone, there. Melissa's response seems to be a bit of a disappointment, somehow, as the CAG tips his head, then sighs and shakes it slowly. He can see she has questions. "Come talk to me sometime when you're in the mood for a good story, Captain." Shay's reaction seems to restore his natural good humor, however. Niko gives the Ensign a quick grin and a nod. And with the opening banter out of the way, Niko takes a moment for formality. Such as it is. "So, I'm Scythe, Or Lieutenant Colonel Janik if youre filling out paperwork, the CAG on this ship. This is Phalanx — Major Heron — the DCAG. Im the viper stick, and shes the bus driver. Well have squadron commanders sort soon, but in the meantime were going to run a little exercise and see what we've got to work with." He looks over the three newer arrivals. "Meaning you. Then he turns to Elena. What do you think? Cylons? Kind of in the mood for something nostalgic, you know?"

"Well, I'm glad your professional flight instructors are telling you not to do things that I did as an eighteen-year-old ensign with no formal military training. Very astute." Major Heron looks at the young faces. "I see we have one Waptor pilot," she says, very intentionally, giving Westcott a sideways glance, "a Raptor pilot and a Viper stick. I think Cylons are always good in the sims, Scythe. They're just plain /scarier/. This should be fun to watch. Maybe a bombing run with a few canners harassing them?"

"Don't look at me, Fawkes. I didn't fly in the first war. I sat on Piraeus playing in sandboxes." Melissa just deadpans it to Garrett. The woman then looks to the CAG and looks curious. She isn't going to say much more to the topic of her mother, tough. She's the one here flying, not mom. Elena's comment of being a 'waptor' pilot has Wescott purse her lips. Something is going on here. How do these people know this stuff. She almost voices when it starts to kick over in her mind. Oh. Oh. Oh my Gods. She forces herself to look away and down, rubbing the back of her neck.

Shay just looks relieved that the heat's on Melissa rather than her, and seems quite content to say and do nothing until she's given her orders. Eyes on the sim pods, she waits not-so-patiently for go time.

"No offense, sir. But none of us were around for the First War." Garrett points out mildly, but nods. "Message recieved, however." He's not going to be piling on anything as he just looks between the others. "So, Cylons. Let's do this, sirs. Eager to get back in the seat and give the new sims a whirl."

"All right," Niko gives Elena a thumbs up for her agreement and mission outline. He looks over their group. "Wescott, you're lead on this mission." The CAG is leaving the personal chatter aside now too, and getting down to business. There will be time to mortify the young officer later. "Marines are surrounded on a hill top and calling for close support. Enemy SAM are reported to be in the area. You decide who flies which bus and has what load out." Then he turns to Garret, "Fawkes, you're lead viper and I'm your wing. We're on top cover in case Raiders show up to join the fun. We've got KEW only. No AAMs." Seriously old school. Briefing delivered, Niko flashes another grin and starts programming the simulation. "Questions?" he offers while happily hunt-and-pecking at the keyboard.

Elena arches an eyebrow at the chatter. "Get in the frames, kids. I'm observing." She heads over to another console to quickly select ECO profiles for the Raptor/Waptor pilots.

Melissa looks over at Garrett and there's no mistaking the daggers. They aren't overt but its clear how she feels about him very rapidly for the comment. Back to Niko, she nods slowly. "Copy, lead." Hearing out the briefing, she shakes her head. She looks back to Shay, "Ynyr, you and I are going in bombs and missiles. I'll attract the SAM and I want you to take it out. Understood? Otherwise, be prepared to land on the LZ for extract of wounded or any downed pilots." Looking back to Garrett, "Fawkes I want high cover. Don't get down low until we've taken the SAM out. Once we take it out, come on down."

"Pounce and bounce, got it, sir." Fawkes offers way too cheerfully as he snatches his helmet from his bag to head to the Viper pit, and settles in plugging up and running through the preflight sim setup with ease. The earbuds? They remain around his neck. If this was just a normal flight, that would be a different story, but since it's a real training mission, he's focusing in on it. But he's humming to himself as he does so.

And muttering a few words to himself as he does so. Hearing Wecott's comments. "You call, we'll ball, sir!" he offers with a sharp grin as he finishes the setup and starts to pull the pod close to put himself fully into immersion mode.

"//Another restless night, That's when I hear those voices, Calling me to push the edge, I wanna feel my blood rise.. //" he sings to himself once he's settled in before switching the comms over to get on the proper channels.

She looks to Ellie, then to Shay. The woman shakes her head and heads off towards a Raptor pod. Climbing into number one, she gets herself strapped in before putting on the helmet. She takes her time with it, getting settled and straps tight. There's a glance over to Shay and she flashes a thumbs up before looking forward.

Shay's chin comes up, eyes bright with anticipation when her orders are given. "Yessir," she replies, even managing to meet Melissa's gaze directly for a split second before pivoting on her heel and jogging off toward the second of two raptor pods. Her helmet is crammed onto her head, mid-stride, and once she's in she begins the startup sequence with clammy, slightly fumbling fingers.

Niko keeps an ear on Melissa's briefing as he finishes up prepping the simulator. And with the push of a key, he gets to stop being CAG for a few minutes and just see what happens. "Aye aye, Captain," he says to Wescott, grabbing up his helmet and getting ready to head for the second viper pod. "Mind the store for me," he says as he passes the DCAG. "Can't let the kids have all the fun, you know?"

Elena grins at Shay and Garrett's excitement once their backs are turned, and watches Melissa's serious, methodical procedure. It's giving her flashbacks. She claps Niko on the arm as he passes by. "Have fun, Pony," she teases quietly. She settles back in her chair, eyes on the frames and monitors. She chews idly on the cap of her pen.

The sims fire up and they find themselves in low orbit over Picon, approaching the daylight side of the planet under a sky full of stars. Below them the surface of the world looks hard and cold, with a giant, debris-ringed crater in the distance to mark where fleet command once resided. A Picon that has seen better days since. There are scattered clouds at medium altitude, but visibility is generally good. The target area on the HUD is dead ahead, a hilltop overlooking one of the main highways. Nothing on DRADIS and the threat warning receivers are all quiet as they descend into the atmosphere.

"So this is what it was like.." Garrett looks over the weapons systems, and makes sure to switch the master arm on both of the AAMs to the off position. The CAG wants this to be just like it was for him. "Was that the ruins of Fleet Three?" he asks himself, trying to keep his questions off the comms as he keys up the comm finally to speak into it.

[Into the Wireless] Garrett says, "Flight, Fawkes. Viper Overwatch shows nothing on DRADIS. No squawks or chirps. You copy same, over?"

Wescott pops into the sims and the Raptor gives a bounce as it skips its way into atmo with a load of bombs. She takes a look around at the pit and then the surrounding terrain. All clear. She rests back in the seat and looks towards the waypoint and IP straight ahead. She reaches forward to flip a switch and then settles in.

[Into the Wireless] Melissa says, "Flight: Master Arm On. Warning Green, Weapons Hold. Target twelve oclock. Fawkes, hold at cloud level until we verify the SAM threat. If it doesn't show we'll call you down. Doodle, diving in, out."
[Into the Wireless] Garrett says, "Flight, Fawkes copies. Standing by for your chirp."
[Into the Wireless] Niko says, "Scythe copies. Got a whole lot of nothing over here, Fawkes. Standing by."

Shay slots into formation behind the lead raptor, her bus's hardpoints bristling with payload. Pulling her eyes away from the viewscreen briefly, she flicks a switch, and there's a short chirp along with the words MASTER ARM ON that briefly flash across her console.

[Into the Wireless] Shay says, "Doodle, Ynyr. On your six."

Things remain quiet as the raptors descend, leaving the pair of vipers circling overhead. The wireless crackles to life as shortly after the busses drop below three thousand meters. «Incoming birds, Golf Zero Four. We are on hill top position six miles north of you. We have Canners on all sides, closing in. Request immediate support, over!» And before anyone can reply the threat warning receivers start to warble. A SAM radar just went online and is searching.

«Golf Zero Four, this is Rico One and Two. We're inbound flight of two Raptors. Mark your position with smoke. We have anti-air contact and are going to take it out first before plowing the road. Standby, over.» Melissa sounds cool on the radio, not quite relaxed but confident. She's a Captain so no slouch. Ten years at the stick will help anyone like that. The Raptor begins to peel left, "ECO, music on."

[Into the Wireless] Melissa says, "Flight, we've got a SAM lighting up down here. Attempting to draw it off. Ynyr, hustle in there and get it and hopefully it'll go after me."
[Into the Wireless] Shay says, "Doodle, Ynyr. Copy on the hustle. You go high, I'll go low?"
[Into the Wireless] Garrett says, "Doodle, Viper Flight. Copy. Staying out of reach. Happy hunting, Raptor team."

At least nobody can see how nervous she is, off in her own sim pod. Shay has to wipe her palms off on the thighs of her flight suit once, before reclaiming the controls for her attack run. With the CAG and DCAG and her squadron commander watching, she's sure to frak something up. The raptor's afterburners light up, and she's off like a shot.

«Rico, Golf Zero Four copies. Yellow smoke on my position!» comes the voice of the besieged JTAC down there on the ground. Down here they can spot flashes of explosions and movement around the hill top. It looks pretty hot. As Melissa breaks off the SAM tries to lock onto her, and from some three kilometers away they can see the first missile lift off, roaring skyward to try and kill them.

<COMBAT> Shay uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Aa Battery-4957r - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Melissa passes.
<COMBAT> Garrett passes.
<COMBAT> Niko passes.
<COMBAT> Eco2 passes.
<COMBAT> Sam-1 uses a MISSILE AA!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Very Far From Raptor-0313k - Light wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Raptor-0313k is not hit by shrapnel.
<COMBAT> Eco1 suppresses Sam-1 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Niko has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<FS3> Garrett rolls Alertness: Good Success.

«Gold Zero Four, Rico has eyes on yellow smoke. Solid copy. Be advised we are still working the SAM in this area but I am going to come in and drop bombs on your western approach. Repeat, bombs western approach. This may be danger close.» Melissa keeps the Raptor banked and looks back as the SAM launches. She tightens the turn and grunts a bit as the missile explodes distant. A few prangs and then she rolls in on the target area. «Hows it going back there, Ynyr?»

Glancing at the DRADIS after looking towards the ground, Garrett hears the chirp in his helmet of new contacts. Too high for SAMs.. what.. swiveling around his cockpit seat to look around in the direction of the contact, he sings out into the comms as he tries to figure out their course. His orders were clear, keep the Raiders off the Raptors. And he's not sure if CAG is sneaky CAG and feeding him a bit of bait to leap at while other Raiders swoop in to finish off their charges. Once he's sure of their plot, he wing waggles at Niko. «Scythe, Fawkes. Got a flight of Raiders in bound. Will bounce them if they get in after our Raptors.»

Not too far behind on Melissa's tail, Shay's raptor barrels in to take advantage of the SAM's missile lock on her wingman. She pitches her bus into a nose-down attitude, taking it into a fairly steep dive to gain airspeed and lose altitude. With a few hundred metres to spare, she pulls out, bombs peeling away from her raptor's belly and plummeting toward her target. The hits are solid, but the installation looks to be still standing. "Frak!" she hisses, off the radio.

[Into the Wireless] Garrett says, "Flight, Fawkes. Raider flight at 11. On path to intercept, won't stray from the support."
[Into the Wireless] Niko says, "Fawkes, Scythe. Roger that. On your five and standing by."
[Into the Wireless] Shay says, "Doodle, Ynyr. Looks like solid hits to me, but be advised the SAM is still firing. I'm going in for another pass."

<COMBAT> Shay uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Aa Battery-4957r - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Weapon stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Aa Battery-4957r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raidery passes.
<COMBAT> Melissa uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Pretty Close To Centgroup1 - Critical wound to Head.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Centgroup1 - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Centgroup1 - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Centgroup1 - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Centgroup1 - Moderate wound to Left Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Centgroup1 - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Centgroup1 - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Garrett passes.
<COMBAT> Sam-1 passes.
<COMBAT> Raider1 passes.
<COMBAT> Niko passes.
<COMBAT> Eco2 tries to suppress but doesn't have enough ammo.
<COMBAT> Eco1 suppresses Sam-1 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Centgroup1 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Centgroup1 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup1 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup1 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup1 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup1 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup1 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Centgroup1 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup1 attacks Melissa with LMG Tripod - Critical wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Eco1 - Light wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Eco1 - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Eco1 - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Eco1 - Light wound to Left Foot.
<COMBAT> Raiderx passes.
<COMBAT> Niko has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Centgroup1 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Eco1 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raptor-0313k has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Melissa has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Aa Battery-4957r has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Sam-1 has been KO'd!

Elena winces viscerally at the screens and pulls the pen from behind her ear, scribbling some notes.

The DARADIS resolves those bogies — a trio of Cylon Raiders coming in hot. Two break high and go after the vipers while one rolls over and dives, heading down toward the raptors below. Meanwnile Melissa's attack run is met with a storm of small arms fire as the Centurions raise their arms and stream tracers all around her raptor.

Melissa flies in and drops a pair of five hundred pound bombs across the target zone. It doesn't exactly seem routine for her, but there's a sureness to the way she flies. It isn't precise angles so much as if she learned something or picked it up somehow. But not everything is so simple. There's a wife puff of smoke at the Captain's canopy glass. When she calls back, there's alarms in the background. «Flight, my ECO is bleeding out and dying. I need to divert immediately. Fawkes, take command of the flight. If those Raiders come in, get everyone out. Doodle, out.» And she's off to the southwest.

Meanwhile Niko seems to have managed to get himself in trouble, with both the incoming Raiders jumping on his six. The CAG turns and burns, laying on the throttle and trying to shake the pair of bandits. It looks like he's decided to stay totally defensive.

[Into the Wireless] Niko says, "Fawkes, Scythe. Two Raiders on me."

«Scythe, Fawkes. We have joy, Raiders breaking on the Raptors. Moving to intercept and give them a bad day.» Garrett's orders were to keep the Raiders off of the Raptors, after all. As Melissa sends the orders, Fawkes considers for a moment and then nods to himself. «Doodle, Fawks copies, good luck.» He has to look to the screen, figure out which path is the best way out for the Raptor.

Then he hears Niko's chime and curses to himself for a moment. Now he's sweating. Does he leave Niko to the doubleteam. Does he protect Doodle's retreat? He bites down hard on his lip and makes the call.

[Into the Wireless] Garrett says, "Flight, Fawkes. Ynyr, break contact, head northwest, climb to atmo, cycle jump path to Orion. Scythe, keep them busy, Doodle's damaged, I'll keep the vulture off of her. Break the Raiders away from both contact, will rejoin when Doodle's clear, over!"

Shay blinks at what she hears over the comms, and starts to key the mic in order to reply. «Doodle, I..» She cuts out, reconsiders, then tries again. «Doodle, Ynyr copies. On your six, and preparing to lay down more ordnance on the target zone. I'll try to draw fire.» Her flying isn't particularly graceful, but it's sure as hell aggressive; she chops the throttles only briefly before shoving them all the way forward in preparation for another attack run. Fawkes's orders are.. ignored? Yep, definitely ignored.

<COMBAT> Niko passes.
<COMBAT> Melissa passes.
<COMBAT> Raider1 attacks Niko with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Garrett attacks Raiderx with KEW - Serious wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Shay with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Cabin stops the attack!
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Eco2 - Moderate wound to Left Foot.
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Shay with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Left Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Shay with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Shay with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Shay with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Shay with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Shay with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Shay with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 attacks Shay with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Shay uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Close To Centgroup2 - Critical wound to Head.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Centgroup2 - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Eco2 passes.
<COMBAT> Raidery attacks Niko with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raiderx attacks Melissa with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Niko has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Centgroup2 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider-4641t has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raiderx has been KO'd!

Still at high altitude, Niko is in a rolling, twisting furball with the two Raiders. Luckily he hasn't been hit yet. Keeping them busy is working, so far. Hearing Fawkes call out his kill, the CAG takes his own viper into a dive, bringing the bandits down to his wingman.

As his kew chews up the Raider, tearing off the engines and clearing Doodle's six, Garrett calls out. «Doodle, Fawkes, you're clear. Sending Ynyr back to send SAR to recover you, head to friendly lines at point ANVIL…» He's looking over his map to make sure he has that right before he turns the Viper around, a quick waggle to the Captain. And then he sees Shay still here. There's a growl into his com before he's turning his attention to Scythe's call.

[Into the Wireless] Garrett says, "Ynyr, Fawkes. Get your Raptor clear, Scythe, moving to engage, I'll take the one to the left!"

<COMBAT> Niko attacks Raider1 with KEW - Moderate wound to Right Wing.
<COMBAT> Melissa passes.
<COMBAT> Shay passes.
<COMBAT> Eco2 passes.
<COMBAT> Raidery attacks Niko with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raider1 attacks Garrett with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Garrett attacks Raider1 with KEW - Moderate wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Niko has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Raider-0070q has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider1 has been KO'd!

Seeing his two pack-mates shot out of the sky, the third Raider tucks his tail between his legs and makes a run for it. It's possible Fawkes and Niko could pursue, but that would mean leaving the raptors behind, and the CAG himself calls an end to the sim at this point. «All right people, we'll call that a mission. Pop your pods and see Phalanx for the debrief. I'll join you in a minute.»

«Flight, Ynyr, splash two. Both SAM sites are down, I repeat, we've neutralised both SAMs. Breaking off and clearing out.» The girl's voice sounds downright giddy over the comms, bloodlust and adrenaline making for a heady cocktail as she screams away from the smoking wreckage her bombs wrought, and slots back in on Melissa's tail.

There's a tone of frustration. «Ynyr, Fawkes. Your orders are to jump clear to Orion. SAR is moving into position to recover Doodle and her ECO. Repeat, break contact, withdraw.» Garrett says over the radio, frowning as Shay's little blip follows Doodle.

The DCAG sets her chair back down on all four legs and stands up, stretching. She leans back against the table and waits while the pilots get their bearings, slow their heartrate and ooze out of their cockpits.

Melissa waits for her sim to shut down and gets out, heading for the walkway. Helmet goes back into the bag and she hauls it over her left shoulder. She doesn't look at anyone, just straight ahead before she reaches Elena. The Captain glances back over her shoulder to the sims still moving and then back to the Major. Then the screens. She seems pretty calm and composed.

Shay starts to reply over the comms, but the sim screen blanks out right about then, and there's a mechanical sound as the pod slowly reverts back to its starting position. Game's over. "Shit," she grumbles to herself. Spidey sense tells her she might be in a bit of trouble, but she keeps her face neutral as she hops out of the pit and tugs her helmet off. Blue-blonde hair everywhere, in a fuzzy halo. She's suddenly interested in a coffee stain on the raptor's wing, and rubs at it with her fingertip.

Once the sim ends, Garrett sits there for a good thirty seconds to unwind before he finally sets the switches back to normal and moves to exit the simulator. If they were alone, he'd totally bean Shay with a wad of paper, but with the DCAG and her SL here, he keeps it formal as he tugs off his helmet and moves to join the others, coming to attention.

The redheaded Major holds her clipboard loosely at her side and takes a drink from her water bottle. "Okay. Self-evaluations first. Any order you want." She meets Westcott's gaze for a moment, even though she's not meaning to single her out. It's hard to do it. But she does it. She casually diverts her gaze to her clipboard.

Melissa drops her helmet into the bag and zips it closed. "We came into the target area at the right height. I believe the approach was executed properly, as was the attack. Whether or not the attack should have been pressed based on conditions was a coin-toss. The Raiders' advantage would have been the deciding factor for me. But saving the life of the ECO was the right call, probably. Combat might change my answers based on the situation."

Shay reeeeeally doesn't want to submit herself to self-evaluations, whatever those are. But she wills herself to stop fussing over the coffee stain and slouch on over to where the other pilots are gathered. Her pale blue eyes are focused anywhere but Garrett and Melissa, jaw set in a way that might be familiar to those who knew her mother.

"Orders were to keep the Raptors clean. Scythe staying with the Raiders that didn't go after the Raptors was the right call. If one of the other two Raiders had moved to intercept the Raptors, I'd had to make the decision on whether or not to bring the third Raider in with in order to engage both of them.." Garrett frown a little, considering for a moment. "Perhaps I should have been more decisive in engaging the Raiders in the first place instead of waiting for them to declare."

"There's not always a right or a wrong call, Wescott. It's always harder than that. The question you have to deal with is whose lives matter more: Your ECO or those Marines on the ground. There will never be an easy answer and we just have to make our best calls in the moment. Do you think you did that?" Phalanx asks, meeting Melissa's — no, Melissa's — gaze again. She turns to Garrett. "Maybe. You might be granted the benefit of the doubt because you've never dealt with Canners before, but they did't ever show up for tea and scones. Well, maybe that one time." She deadpans it, and it's not clear whether she's kidding or not. Lots of weird shit happened during the last war. She points to Shay with her chin. "Ynyr, do you require a written invitation?"

Melissa considers it and nods slowly. She doesn't answer right away. There's a consideration and a slow nod. "I think a second bombing run by the other Raptor would have been the right choice. But given the situation, I think I also made the right choice. Both correct, sir." She did what she could to save lives.

Shay drags her gaze back to the DCAG, and stares at her for a moment with those odd space elf eyes. "Our orders were to assist the marines on the ground. My bus wasn't damaged, and I had a good a-oh-a on the last few canners, so I went for it." And she got them, too, but that's kind of besides the point probably, when one is disobeying orders. Her gaze cuts over to Garrett for a heartbeat, then back to Elena. "I didn't hear Fawkes tell me to jump out. I frakked up. Sorry."

"..Lieutenant Fawkes," Shay corrects herself belatedly, cheeks flushing a little.

Garrett starts to say something, but when Melissa steps in to defend Shay's action, he considers for a moment. "I don't have much of the pratical and experience that Captain Wescott has. Perhaps it was better for the bus to go home light than not go home at all." he says finally, catching Shay's eye for a moment and offers her a reassuring smile. For just a moment. Then his attention drops back to the DCAG and SL.

"All told, you guys didn't embarrass me. That's good. You're on my ship because you're good. Next time we do this, I want you guys to try getting out of your own heads. I know you were acutely aware of being watched. When the chips are down, the Gods will be watching, and they don't give feedback." All this coming from an officer who looks like she's ten years Wescott's junior. Gods. She must be thirty by now. Ellie tries to reel herself in. "I'm heading down to the mess to grab some crappy sandwiches if any of you want to come." She looks directly at she nervous Ensign. "You look hungry."

Shay looks like she was preparing for some sort of shit to hit the fan in her general direction. So when it doesn't, she slowly releases a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "I'm starving, sir," she confirms, scrubbing her fingers through her hair briefly. "I'm gonna go grab a shower first, though." She hesitates, caught off guard by Garrett's smile. And then she looks away, and waits to be dismissed.

Wescott stares at Elena. Ellie can look bak at her and know what Melissa is thinking. Melissa is always being watched. She can feel it. If she doesn't, other people are watching her. Mom was apparently important, so people tell her. "Thank you, sir."

Not having anything to add to it all, Garrett glances around. "If that was all, sir?" he asks, waiting to be dismissed. A sandwich sounds great, but he's not all shiny and chrome like the two others with him.

"You're free to go as you please," Ellie adds, realizing she never formally dismissed them. "Ynyr, next time I see you, I expect you will have had a heart-to-heart with a bottle of bleach. You read me?" She turns to Melissa. "I know you're not your mother, but she meant a great deal to many of us. You're going to get some funny looks for a while from us old folks. It's not a bad thing. Be proud of where you came from." She's not going to go into the weird complexities right here, and she knows there's a million of them.

Dropping his helmet into his bag, Garrett gives a salute, and starts to head out, since they've been dismissed. "And sir.." he says, turning to Melissa. "Sorry for being a smart arse. Got nervous being around all .. this.." a gesture to it all and how they're all connected and he's the rank outsider. "And just tried too hard to fit in. Please forgive my being a jerk towards you?"

Shay pitches her helmet into her own bag, and promptly heads for the hatch. She'll leave Garrett and Melissa to sort things out without her interloping.

It would look terribly fake for Melissa to suddenly perk up about hearing those words from Elena. There's no such reaction, though. Its clear that Melissa really jut doesn't know much about her mom, though, so she isn't sure how to interpret a lot of this. "Yessir," is about the best response she can give. "Ynyr, a word in the hallway." She doesn't look to Shay, but starts moving. The words from Garrett get a slow nod. "Apologies are good. We'll see where it goes."

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