AWD #043: Super Viper Bros 2 - Raptorlifter
Super Viper Bros 2 - Raptorlifter
Summary: A day in the life of the Air Wing. Simulator Run, Mess Chatter, The Usual.
Date: 18/02/2013 (OOC Date)
Related Logs: None
Zachary Holtz Ceres Cassie Agrippa Nico Kelsey 
Flight Simulators - Battlestar Orion
The Air Wing has access to flight simulators to train pilots off the ground in combat maneuvers and situations that are hard to replicate with regular dogfight practicing and this is their home. A rectangular room, the hatch opens up beside the bank of computers that control the simulations and what is seen by the individuals when training sessions are in progress. The sims are actual cockpits cut out of old frames and installed here to function exactly as the real thing, right down to oxygen plugs for suits. In front of each cockpit, complete with armored glass, are LCD screens that cover most of the front view to the front and above. There are two Vipers, two Predators, and one full-cabin Raptor available.
18 February 2005

The Flight Simulator Room already has one occupant inside so far and that would be a Viper pilot, Ensign Alexander Agrippa. He isn't in one of the simulation pods though, instead he is lounging in one of the outside seats viewing his mission recording for the Ops over Aerilon. And it appears that he isn't reviewing the tapes for training purposes but to perhaps bask in his awesomeness in how well he did on his first mission with the Orion and her Air Wing. Watching the film with a wide grin, when it gets to the point where the vidclip shows him nailing a nice Raider kill from a steep angle of attack, he let's out a 'whoop' before settling back to watch some more.

Leaning against the console, Zachary arrived.. at somepoint and watched the footage. "I see at least three things at this very moment.." he pauses the footage. "..that would have going from having the kill to being the kill. Can you point them out to me Ensign?" he asks Agrippa, arms folded across his chest.

Having been out of the cockpit for a little under a month, Lieutenant Gallo is stepping into the simulator room with a notebook, a clipboard, a writing implement, and a need to scrape off any rust which has accumulated on his wings, figuratively speaking. Coffee is part of his training agenda, but that's already been swallowed, making this the moments between then and when it kicks in. Entering the room, he snaps a salute at Zachary, "Sir.". He stops to look over the simulator equipment.

Ceres has another date with the sims and steps into the room to sign in for her time slot and pauses upon hearing the DCAG's voice. Glancing over at the two, she adjusts her green fatigues and continues to flex that left hand occasionally. Scarred and knotted from her last two missions, she tilts her head and smiles. She glances up to Nico and lifts a brow. "Hello. HOw is your afternoon?" She asks lightly and then eyes the sims and does not immediately move towards them in favor of lingering with the others.

When the CAG's voice is heard, there is an 'Oh Shit, it's Buzzkill' that bounces around a few times inside of Agrippa's skull as he quickly scrambles to sit up, and then rise to his feet to stand to attention, doing his best not to fall off his seat and onto his ass. After the question finally registers in his head, there is a slightly puzzled frown that forms on the young Viper jock's face as he studies the film again, pushing a button to replay that segment. "Uh… three things, sir?" A questioned answered with a question, perhaps trying to buy more time. The CAG is the superior officer here so that is the only person who has Agrippa's focused attention at the moment.

Kelsey is here in her greens but has a duffel bag and helmt bag with her, probably with all of her flight gear. She follows Nico in and realizes she's once again severely outnumbered in the experience department. She looks over the assembled group and wonders if maybe her own sim time wasn't double booked. Or perhaps someone had more nefarious ideas.

"One, your underside is exposed to enemy AA fire. If Nags and I had not surpressed the FORGES, you would be wide open." Zachary points out. "Two, you broke away from your wingman for a moment. Make sure you keep an eye out. Third.. I'm just messing with you on the third one. But good kill, Ensign." the DCAG offers as he looks towards the new arrivals. "Great, perfect. Dash, I want you to get in some training with Kelsey on flying the Raptor and relaying information to her ECO." he comments.

"Actually, if you want to practice some mock combat.. Redux?" he asks towards the arriving Ceres. "Good to see you back around. Anyway.. how about this. Punch, you will fly escort for Deli and Dash." he says. "Redux - your job will be to destroy the Raptor." he smiles thinly. "I'll fly along, as OPFOR as well, but at least I'm not as well versed at flying them as she is." he gestures to Redux.

"Hey, Captain. It's… well, I suppose it's alright. I'm in a hurry to get some practice in before I'm in a live bird again. I feel okay, but it's been…" And then there's the iCAG's sudden flurry of orders. "Sir?" He looks to Kelsey and nods, "Hey. Okay. We can do this." Though he's blinking at the sudden proposal, "Riding shotgun with a nugget works just fine for me." Adds he to Kelsey, "Lieutenant Gallo." He makes a brofist towards Kelsey and adds, "No pressure or anything, right?"

"Well then you came to the right place, Lieutenant," Ceres replies to Nico and then tilts her head, "Sir, yes sir. Thank you." She seems to be on board with it. "Wescott." There is a bright smile for the young woman and she moves over to grasp her shoulder. "Seize it." She says and winks, her finger touching the side of her nose. "Sir, I will take Sim five." That said she gives a pass of her hand to her ponytail, tightening the long length of inky black hair.

Setting herself into the sim, she starts to spool up the machine as she waits for program set up.

On point one, shit… the CAG is right, his lightly armored belly could've been torn to shreds by the Cylon Double-A. The second point, he had to break away slightly to get a better angle of attack to cover his wingman, but Agrippa has learned from his Academy and Flight School days not to argue with a superior and veteran, perhaps ask questions later. The third point… that draws a slight grin back onto the young Viper jock's face as he nods, "Understood sir. Thank you sir." He then falls silent as Zachary begins to create an impromptu training session, the Ensign's eyes looking over to the newly arrived Kelsey, Nico, and Ceres.

Kelsey stares at Zach as he suggests all this. She absently reaches out to explode the fist of Nico's. Kerblew. "Right. No pressure. Petty Officer Wescott, sir." The Petty Officer flicks her eyes back and forth to everyone else. Ceres gets a knowing smile, though. Awwyeah. She trots heads off to a bathroom with her bags. "Looks like the bookwork is going to wait until Picon," she observes, heading for the door and disappearing inside to change like a rabbit.

As the simulators are programmed, Zachary passes over the control to the techs. "Set us for Picon, Lieutenant." he says to the control booth, "That's where our next missions will be taking us to." As he sets up, he looks over the unfamiliar controls and settles. "Alright, not much different than the Predator."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Sim Flight, this is Raider One. Deli, you and Dash will be escorting supplies and Sister Arden to a hospital to collect wounded children. Punchdrunk is your wing. Buzzkill and Redux are Raider One and Raider Two. We're going to be hunting you. The area is urban, destroyed. Good luck."

Nico climbs into the simulator and pulls up a seat next to Kelsey, "Yeah, well… you're going to have to do both. How many flight hours have you got, Petty Officer? Simulated and real? Just so I know what to expect." He starts flipping switches and powering various systems up, doing his co-pilot thing, "And how much experience have you had with an ECO?"

Eyes focusing on the two Raptor crew for a few moments longer, Agrippa finally turns and goes to claim one of the simulators. He goes through the same start up sequence as everyone else, loading up the systems for Viper training. Once everything loads up, Punchdrunk gets himself situated and checks the comms, hearing the brief mission briefing that is given over the Wireless. He waits for the Raptor crew to get situated before he would pipe anything over to them, not wanting to add confusion or extra info to the bit until they are ready.

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Oh, and if you lose - you get to apologize to the Sister for getting her killed. I hear her disapproving smile made Augustus cry once."

Piling into the Raptor, Kelsey is strapping on her helmet as she hops over the side of the inert ejection seat to take the lead pilot position in the right seat. She straps herself in and gets plugged up. There's a nervous glance over to Nico. "Uh, well," ahem. "I've got thirty-eight simulated hours, sir. Nothing real, sir. Nobody has let me touch actual controls yet." She gives him an apologetic look and goes back to pushing through the checklist superfast. At least she knows how to get one pre-flighted like a champ. "I've never worked with an ECO as a pilot, sir." This is going to be a disaster.

[Into the Wireless] Kelsey says, "Raptor up for checks. Loading armaments." She sounds nervous and a little rushed. "Uhhhhh, green across. Looks like we're ready, sir."

Screen up and running, her headset in place, Redux glances over her output and begins to change her readings quickly, adjusting and nodding her head so no one can see. She smiles faintly and then clips into the channel to speak.

[Into the Wireless] Ceres says, "Raider Two, all green and functions go. Switching to tac2."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Copy that, Raider Two. Raider One going higher."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Deli and Dash, this is Punchie, your escort for the day. Green lights on my board and I'll be covering your six. Sounds like we're dancing against two Raiders but keep your eyes out for any surprises, just in case."

[Into the Wireless] Nico says, "Punchie, this is Dash. We have you on DRADIS. Glad to be sheep to your shepherd this afternoon."

As the simulation starts, the Raptor and Viper team will find themselves out over the ocean on an approach vector that will take them over the fishing villages near the coast, and towards Pailyn. The city in the distance burns, buildings are collapsed, and it's a real mess. But they also provide plenty of places to hide for the brave and the willing.

The two raiders show up as two red triangles at the team's three o'clock high, and are on standard partol, apparently not making contact just yet. Zachary waggles his wings for a moment, and works the controls, getting a feel for the unfamiliar craft.

Nico nods, "The worst that could happen is you get us all virtually killed." He cracks a smile, "So relax. You'll live longer. We'll go through it. I don't think they're expecting this to go well. It's really a test for the other pilots, so you've got nowhere to go but up. They expect this to be a bad time. See if you can surprise them."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Redux, Buzzkill. How do you people sit in these things. It like one of the few times I snuck into a linen closet back on Tannerman Ocean."

[Into the Wireless] Ceres says, "Buzzkill, Redux. Sorry its not as big as your office. You should come down here more often, sir."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "I happen to like my office, Redux."

As the terrain appears around him, Agrippa makes sure that all weapons are hot and ready to go as the two red blips means that action will be happening soon. What the Viper pilot does do is kick his maneuvering jets a little so that he is interposed in between the Raptor and the two Raiders but makes no move to intercept, keeping in formation.

Ceres works through a few more system checks and then looks up to her screen, catching her wingman in Raider form next to her. She grins a moment and then smiles. She keys up the tac chan once more and catches sight of their intended targets. Its odd aiming down on fellow vipers, but they are not fellows now. She rolls her shoulders and flexes her left hand, trying to keep the heavily scarred flesh warmed up.

Kelsey clears her throat and glances over her shoulder towards Nico in the back and shakes her head. "I pretty much expect the worst, sir. Anything else is going to be a surprise of good fortune I guess." The twenty year old pilot looks back as the simulation starts and pressure goes to the controls. Gauges max out then fall back to proper readouts and she recycles the throttle. This gal has had plenty of time in the sims the past week or two. But flying along the coast, she takes the stick and shoves the throttle up. "Going down, sir." The Raptor tilts forward to to dive towards the water.

[Into the Wireless] Ceres says, "I am glad, sir. I just hope I remember not to shoot you."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Rescue Raptor, Punchie. I pick up two bogeys three o'clock high. Not sure what jamming magic you can do but if they don't pick us up until we reach the city, we may stand a better chance."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Shoot me, and you can forget a wedding cake, Redux."

[Into the Wireless] Kelsey says, "Uh, Viper. Guy. We're putting in towards the waves."

As the Raptor descends in altitude towards the deck, Agrippa nudges his flightstick forward and does the same, staying in formation with the Raptor he is escorting.

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Alright, I have them. Two bogies, down below. They're going for the deck, Redux. How do you want to go about this? Might as well get you in some wing lead training as well for someday."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Rescue Raptor, Punchie. I copy, following you in."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "From this point on, Redux and I will be off of Tac1 so you can plan. Likewise, you need to be off Tac2 so we can plan. Copy?"

[Into the Wireless] Nico says, "Dash copies. I hope you're not a sore loser, sir."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Punchie copies, TAC2 is off. Ready to make some Raider scrap."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Copy that, Raider Two. Let's see if I can convince Punchie to come out and play."

[Into the Wireless] Ceres says, "Copy, Buzzkill. Make em dance."

Raider Two breaks from Raider One and suddenly is breaking in on the Raptor, heading straight at it as it turns, lining up for a good shot. The wings shift, the woman adjusting to the readouts that her sim gives her and Ceres presses the stick forward at full suddenly, jumping forward in speed as she closes the distance fast. A blare of gunfire lights up the front of her bird as she lets loose.

Breaking away from the pair of raiders, Raider One makes for the deck quickly. It's KEW warms up and fires a few shots meant get the attention of the Viper and streaks off, going slow enough to be pursued.

Kelsey's Raptor just picks up speed faster as it coverts gas to exhaust. "Thirty seconds to coasting in, sir," she calls to Nico, letting him know when they will be over land. Outside the windows, the waves are screaming past. The Raptor wobbles a little as she tries to hold it steady. Yep, definitely new. Glancing out of the cockpit, she watches one of the Raiders turn in on her and she suddenly yanks the stick back hand into her lap to try and frustrated the shot.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Rescue Raptor, Punchie here, bogeys inbound. I repeat, bogeys inbound. I suggest full evasive while I try to rid the one coming after you."
[Into the Wireless] Kelsey says, "Raptor defensive!"
[Into the Wireless] Nico says, "Punchie, this is Dash. I'm expecting them to peel you off of us. Copy that. Don't let them lure you off. We'll give the nugget a chance to see if she can keep our tail clear of fire. If it goes well, we'll switch tactics and use ourselves as bait."

The chance that the two opposing forces will just fly away from each other is shattered when Agrippa sees that the two bandits are coming in, one at a fast dive while the other dips down to engage him. The young Viper jock hates being shot at and is sorely tempted to fight back but his mission is escort and he's the lone Viper. So breaking his Viper away but only enough to break back and engage the diving Raider that is going after the rescue crew. Once in range, Agrippa lets his autocannons rip, spraying a stream of projectiles at Cere's Raider.

"Okay… let's see what you can do." Nico narrows his gaze at the screen, "Hot target, vectoring in at two two seven. I've got his signature. He's the only one we need to watch for right now. Worry about that one in particular. I know this is a Raptor and it wallows, but be as unpredictable as you can. If unpredictable means something derogatory, then do that. Just remember they know what you tend to do in flight."

<COMBAT> Zachary attacks Agrippa with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Nico tries to suppress but doesn't have enough ammo.
<COMBAT> Kelsey passes.
<COMBAT> Ceres attacks Kelsey with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Ceres with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Zachary has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

As Agrippa continues to stay on Ceres, Zachary allows himself the thinest of smiles. He didn't take the bait, good. But now, with battle joined in full, Raider One moves to go back on the wing of Raider Two, giving Agrippa two problems to deal with instead of one as the Raiders rally up.

Raider Two sweeps in and comes up short on the Raptor, shrieking past and overhead as she banks to the right and manages to wiggle her way out of the shots from the Viper. SHe comes back around, seeming to be sticking with her target. Kelsey is in for another attack run, shots screaming out again as they light up the edge of her wingtips. She shifts, allowing Zachary in as they make a pass together.

The exchange was quick, too quick and Agrippa's opening salvo goes wide of his intended target but since his own fighter was not shaking or yelling at him, it means he wasn't hit either. Breaking hard to follow the raider, the young Viper jock finds two red blips in front of him instead of one, "Frak!" He then shoots the warning immediately to the rescue crew before zeroing in on the same Raider he was engaging.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Rescue Raptor, you have both on your six, jam what you can and I'll pick up the rest!"

Kelsey's yanked maneuver has her roll over the top and spiral a bit out of control as she tries to get back to something resembling flying. At least she's being 'unpredictable'. "Working on it!" she calls back to Nico. "Arming bombs!" She reaches forward and flicks on the Master Arm. The nugget rolls the Raptor onto its back, over-correcting and yanks back onthe stick. It takes them into a bank and then she corrects back the other way and dives them back towards the water. Anyone listening on Tac1 can her her breathing heavily on an open mic. As they come back down towards the water, she does her best to level out. "Bombs gone!" she yells. The chuts on the bombs inflate and drag them out behind and drop them towards the water. She can't fight 'em. Maybe machines will drown.

[Into the Wireless] Nico says, "Punchdrunk, this is Dash… we've got them right where we want them. Don't miss. Petter Officer, you've got an open mic."
Nico nods to Kelsey while he locks onto attack signatures and attempts to distort them into garbage, "It's okay. We're good. Now we've got them both on us. Evade. They're coming in two one niner and zero zero two. You're doing great so far. This is where we make or break it."

<FS3> Opposed Roll — Kelsey=Gunnery Vs Zachary=Reaction
< Kelsey: Good Success Zachary: Failure
< Net Result: Kelsey wins - Solid Victory
<FS3> Opposed Roll — Kelsey=Gunnery Vs Ceres=Reaction
< Kelsey: Good Success Ceres: Failure
< Net Result: Kelsey wins - Solid Victory

Quick set for Holtz: There is a simulation running. Agrippa is escorting Kelsey and Nico in a Raptor, and they are being actively hunted by Ceres and Zachary in Raiders. There is room for reinforcement as the groups dogfight over the ocean near a city on Picon.

Nico nods to Kelsey while he locks onto attack signatures and attempts to distort them into garbage, "It's okay. We're good. Now we've got them both on us. Coming in two one niner and zero zero two. You're doing great so far. This is…" As the bombs blast the water every which way, the Lieutenant smiles to himself, "Okay. Allow me to let you in on our motto down in Picon, from my old squadron: FRAK those guys. That was brilliant."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "DAMN. Was not expecting that. Brilliant move, Deli."

As the water sprays up, Ceres has to adjust and pull back so she doesn't ram into anything. Her tac channel opens up and she speaks to her partner.

<COMBAT> Ceres passes.
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Ceres with KEW - Serious wound to Left Wing.
<COMBAT> Zachary has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Raider-5971g has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Ceres has been KO'd!

[Into the Wireless] Ceres says, "Pulling left, pulling left!"

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Breaking right! Punchdrunk is following you!"

Holtz enters the simulators to find them already in use. This, however, is not necessarily an obstruction for the Strikes' squadron leader. He checks the simulation computer, seeing the Picon oceanfront scenario is loaded, and shoots a speculative eye in the direction of the last available sim cockpit. Making a quick adjustment to the program, he hops into the cockpit, not announcing his presence just yet as he brings his 'systems' on line and enters the exercise.

Even as she pulls up and away to the left, Agrippa slams a few shots into her wing and the red lights go off in her cabin and warn her that her left wing has been hit. Redux tries to adjust as best she can and lets out a sound. Her Raider spins out of control and explodes as it catches against a hill and before she is out for the count. She sits there a moment and laughs in her sim.

[Into the Wireless] Ceres says, "I am out, Buzzkill. Unless you want me to spool up a new Raider."

The massive plume of water was unexpected and the two Raiders have to peel away from the Raptor and rip skywards. As he does so, Raider One flies down to track Raider Two and keep her from making this a one-sided fight. Too late however, and Zachary can only shake his head in amusement. He's about to call Ceres out, when.. "New boogie?" And he toggles the comm while returning to draw a bead on Agrippa.

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "We have a new entrant, respawn, Redux."

Agrippa was zeroing in on one of the Raiders but there is a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach as he is unable to tackle two of them at once which means on will be free to fire upon the Raptor. But when large plumes of water shoot up from the explosion of the bombs, it causes Ceres's Raider to pull up and left, right into his sights and he obliges by pressing down on the firing stub, sending a vicious burst into the Raider's wing. He switches target and immediately goes after the remaining Raider, guns still hot.

[Into the Wireless] Nico says, "Punchdrunk, this is Rescue Raptor. That's a confirmed kill. Remaining vector diverting course."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary toggles the comm on for a moment. "New Viper, Buzzkill. Identify, over."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Rescue Raptor, Punchie. Whatever the Frak you did, that was brilliant! One left, I'm sticking with him."

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Buzzkill, Storm. Here to rain on your parade."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Awwww, Shit, it's Storm."

Even as they take out one, there is a third that suddenly moves in to take the position as Ceres manges to get herself up and running once more. She grins and hears Storm. Narrowing her eyes she streaks in, going for Agrippa. Revenge in its finest. Cylons recycle themselves.

Kelsey doesn't really have time for fun things like celebration. Even though Agrippa told her, Kelsey's breathing can still be heard on the open mic. Its fast and nearly gasped. "Coasting in!" she calls back to Nico. Misjudging the coastline, she crashes the nose of the Raptor through several trees as she pulls up, junk flying everywhere. It slows her a bit. "Frak!" …Kelsey. Kelsey just.. that just left her mouth. She banks the Raptor towards the ruined city and its smokey black clouds.

With Raider Three now targetting Agrippa, Raider One returns his attentions to the Raptor and starts to chase it into the smoke billowing from the city, the Raider's malicious intent to make Kelsey wash her mouth out with KEW clear.

Holtz smirks as he's challenged over the com, and the response to his introduction. He pushes his Viper into a dive, the silvery craft dropping out of the cloud cover and screaming towards the other ships. With the Raiders' attention firmly on the Raptor and its lone escort, Holtz is free to pick a target and line up a shot.

"I don't want to hear Coasting, nugget. I want to hear you're swinging us around, and I want to hear you say 'FRAK those guys'. We've still got the CAG back there, and I want us walking out of this with you getting severe bragging rights and making him uncomfortable in your mere presence. I told you we can do this." He continues working, switching dials around, typing up into his keyboard, "And we've got another friendly out there. Take us towards him. Chasing us will be a costly mistake."

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Punch, Rescue Raptor, this is Storm. Looks like you've got your hands full."

<COMBAT> Zachary attacks Kelsey with KEW - Serious wound to Engine (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Nico suppresses Zachary with ECM. > <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Kelsey passes.
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Ceres with KEW - Moderate wound to Right Wing.
<COMBAT> Ceres attacks Agrippa with KEW - ARMOR on Tail stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Agrippa tries to attack but has no target!
<COMBAT> Zachary has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Raptor-1610x has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Kelsey has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Nico has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Kelsey spends a luck point to keep fighting!

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Good morning, Deli and Dash, it's a beatiful morning over Picon airspace. It's currently 74 degrees and partly sun with a high chance of smoke and flame."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Got target, got smoke. I'm going to tone them and see if she breaks, Raider Two."

The newly recycled Raider is certainly a surprise to Agrippa, not having picked it up on the Dradis until the last second which causes him to shift his target away from the remaining Cylon target. So instead of shooting at one of the Cyclons, he shoots at neither as the surprise attack from Ceres causes the lesser experienced Viper jock to break off, only to see that the Raptor is getting pounced. "Frak me!" He curses at himself inside the cockpit and re-engages the Cyclon chasing the Raptor, ignoring the one coming at him.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Storm, Punchie. Glad to see you, that third Raider came out of nowhere. Rescue Raptor is in trouble though."

As Raider One starts to chew into the Raptor with the KEW, Zachary smiles behind his mask. It's a malicious smile as he switches weapons and starts to PING Kelsey. HARD.

BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!

The LOCK warning should be lighting up on Kelsey and Nico's consoles.

As the new Viper slips into play, Ceres curses beneath her breath and then grins. Her eyes focus on what she is doing and tries to keep formation with her fellow raider. She tilts her head, giving a look at her DRADIS and adjusting, pulling away from Agrippa, she goes after the Raptor again. Its their target and mission at this point.

The whole Raptor shudders with the impact of incoming Raider rounds. Fire warning lights go off everywhere in the cockpit and Kelsey kicks the panel with a boot. "Shut UP!" she blurts at the warning tones. "Fire in the port engine!" she calls. the Raptor splits off and she dives through the smoke from the buildings. Nothing to lose, right? Once inside, and hidden from technical view, she yanks the stick back and shoves the throttles back up. "Defending!" she growls. "Dump the whole godsdamned box!" Of flares. Dump every single flare they have. Or may not have.

[Into the Wireless] Ceres says, "Concentrating fire on the bus, take it down."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary starts pinging Kelsey and Nico hard, the chime echoing over the com.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Got it, Punch. You take the CAG, I'll get Redux. Looks like they're past giving a frak about us."

As the faux-Raptor gives every indication of preparing to fall to pieces, Nico narrows his gaze at his console, then swings around to the panel behind him, "I see it. Deploying deterrents. Take us towards the vipers. We'll see if we can lose them in a furball. Whatever you do, don't fly in a straight frakking line. The engine fire may help with that."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Copy that, Raider Two, engaging Raptor."

[Into the Wireless] Nico says, "Storm, Dash. Glad to have you with us. Could you please escort our two unwanted guests out of the sky, please?"

Holtz' fire streaks across the wing of Ceres' Raider, but she's still in the fight and boring in on the Raptor. He momentarily considers going after Zachary as the CAG goes for a missle lock, but in the end stays with his original target. Tripping the afterburner, he closes the distance to try and get a more accurate shot.

<COMBAT> Zachary takes careful aim at Kelsey.
<COMBAT> Nico suppresses Zachary with ECM. > <successful>
<COMBAT> Kelsey passes.
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Ceres with KEW - Light wound to Right Wing.
<COMBAT> Ceres attacks Kelsey with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Zachary with KEW - Moderate wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Zachary - Moderate wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Zachary has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Raider-0500u has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Ceres has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raider-6953t has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Zachary has been KO'd!

[Into the Wireless] Nico says, "Punch, Dash. We haven't met yet, and I barely know you, but I swear if you weren't a man, I'd kiss you. I still might. I have to think about that."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Rescue flight, Punch. Two bogeys clear. And Dash, I'm sure the women think you are a good looking guy, but I rather kiss your pilot than you. No offensive."

Dumping every flare may or may not have saved their asses, but the Raptor blasts through the top of the smoke plumes with winged flares popping out from either side in a mad dump. True to her warning, the port engine is engulfed in flames and she rolls them over slowly when she hears the call for the fight being over.

[Into the Wireless] Kelsey says, "Krypter, krypter, krypter. Rescue one is on fire and putting in."

Ceres is juking and wiggling and such, but all to no avail. Holtz keeps up the fire and, after another hit, the other captain again explodes in a torrent of flame. "Too bad, 'Dux," he notes sardonically over an open com channel. Storm's not entirely a gracious winner. He loops back over the water to rejoin the damaged raptor, taking up a position behind and above Kelsey and Nico.

Raider One gets a good and solid tone. Just as the trigger is going to be pulled, the cockpit disappears into flames and it slams into the broken remains of a skyscraper. The Raider explodes violently and the building crumbles down around it, raining debris into the streets below as it is out of the fight.

"One more round, Ceres." he says over their comms. "Let's see how they work with a wounded bird and the heavier stuff. You game? I'll bake that cake I promised. You just tell me the flavour you want."

Already smoking from the first strike, she takes another from Storm and Redux grunts, trying to roll herself away and out of position a moment but ends up blowing apart. She frowns a bit and flexes her left hand. "My reactions are slow." She admits a bit and frowns again, respooling up her sim and punching in the call for a heavy raider.

With the last Raptor's cockpit pulverized and confirmed as a kill after watching it slam into a building, Agrippa sends his own Viper up into a climb over a few buildings before doing an inverted roll to bank right back down towards the Raptor that is on fire. Looking over the wounded bird, the young Viper jock can't help but wince at the damage that it took.

"Engine's losing power, fast. You are doing awesome, Kelsey. We're still in one piece. I don't think anyone expected this, so this is a win from here on out." He observes the DRADIS and scratches his head, "Yeah, they're just testing to see how long we can stay up, now."

Just as our heroes are celebrating their victory, two new blips show up on DRADIS. At first, they seem to be more Raiders, but as the IFF pings them — they switch from RDR to HRDR.

And the first heavy Raider is already starting to ping the hades out of Holtz.

"Yeah, well, flaming engines tend to explode. So the books tell me. So we should just land or eject." Kelsey turns the Raptor in a lazy arc towards the ground and aims for a long, straight, empty freeway.

Holtz remains in escort position above and behind the stricken Raptor. That is, until a new contact appears on the screen. He chuckles darkly as his missle lock warning begins to chime, and he swoops away from the Raptor and in towards the Heavy Raider. He's got a few seconds before Zachary can get a full lock, and he intends to use them.

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Keep them close together, Redux. We'll use our missiles to crush between them both for maximum effect."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Storm, Punchie, I have two new blips on my DRADIS. What the fuck are those, Heavy Raiders?"

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Punch, Storm. Two new contacts inbound, six-four-six carom zero-three. Heavies, yeah. Leader's going for a lock on me." A snort. "He'd better hope he gets the chance."

When the new hostiles appear on Dradis, Agrippa taps his sensors a couple of times when the 'H' gets tagged onto the RDR, frowning before he comms over a question through TAC1. He has studied briefly what Heavy Raiders are before but has never run into one. Then his Viper begins to yelp at him as well. "Frak… this doesn't sound good." He does put his Viper into a climb though to meet the threats head on.

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Storm, Punch. My Viper is screaming at me too, lock signatures."

[Into the Wireless] Nico says, "Dash. I've got lock signatures. Rescue Raptor is bugging out, but we're still in support range."

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Just ignore Betty. Better yet, kill 'er before she gets a tone."

<COMBAT> Zachary takes careful aim at Holtz.
<COMBAT> Nico suppresses Zachary with ECM. > <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Kelsey passes.
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Zachary with KEW - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Ceres takes careful aim at Agrippa.
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Ceres with KEW - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Damn. Tough mothers, ain't they."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "What the frak! I blew mine full of holes!"

[Into the Wireless] Holtz snorts. "Like I said."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Just hold steady, Redux, they stayed together. Let's tear them up."

The Viper is a little tougher to manuever in atmosphere than in space, but Holtz manages. As the lead heavy Raider continues to ping his Viper, Storm puts a burst of KEW fire right in the middle of the oversized Raider. The big Cylon ships are far tougher than their smaller counterpart, and Zachary shakes off the burst easily. And then, all of a sudden, the beeping of the lock indicator turns into a solid tone, and Holtz curses as he slams the stick over to evade. Even if it costs him his next shot.

"What the frak?" Ceres says and frowns some as the shots hit her. She gives her left hand a look and tries to grasp onto the stick with both hands then. Something catches her, frustration bubbling.

[Into the Wireless] Ceres says, "Copy, Buzzkill."

[Into the Wireless] Agrippa says, "Storm, Punch. Missiles inbound, going evasive!"

Heavy Raider One is riddled with holes and trails smoke, but the CAG keeps pressing down towards Holtz as Zachary sends orders towards Ceres. Both of them launch missiles, looking to explode them right between the retreating Vipers. They stayed in formation. Kelsey is not the only one to think outside the box.

[Into the Wireless] Holtz says, "Yeah, dammit, I see 'em. Breaking."

[Into the Wireless] Zachary says, "Killbox set. ENGAGE."

The burst of KEW from Agrippa is deadly accurate but apparently not enough, only riddling the Heavy Raider with holes all over the fuselage with some smoke. But then the missiles are launched and screaming in, causing the young Viper jock to fire off a desperate burst before breaking away, trying to escape the area. "Frak, frak, frak…" He mutters to himself in the sim pod, comms off.

Kelsey manages to get the Raptor down low, and slow. The Fire buzzer is still going and this time the starboard engine's fire lamp comes on. "Oh come ON!" she chides. The descent is alright otherwise and she puts the Raptor down on the pavement of the freeway. There's an obnoxious send effect of metal scraping to simulate the skids dragging over a surface. "We're doing. This is where we evacuate or something." Kelsey melts into the seat and leans her head back to stare up at the fuse panel above her head.

"This is where we put that fire out and then hustle out of here, but it's a sim." Nico offers Kelsey a high five, "See? Told you we'd do great. That was all you back there, so next time they get you into something like this, remember you kicked their sorry asses, nugget."

<COMBAT> Zachary uses a Missile AA!
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Viper-2657j - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-2657j - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-2657j - ARMOR on Left Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-2657j - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-2657j - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-2657j - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-2657j - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Holtz - Light wound to Right Leg.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Holtz - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Close To Viper-4940r - Light wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-4940r - ARMOR on Left Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-4940r - ARMOR on Left Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Nico suppresses Zachary with ECM. > <successful>
<COMBAT> Kelsey passes.
<COMBAT> Holtz attacks Zachary with KEW - Critical wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> Ceres uses a Missile AA!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Viper-4940r - Serious wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-4940r - ARMOR on Tail stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-4940r - Critical wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-4940r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-4940r - ARMOR on Engine stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-4940r - Moderate wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-4940r - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Pretty Close To Viper-2657j - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Viper-2657j - ARMOR on Tail stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Agrippa attacks Ceres with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Zachary has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Viper-4940r has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Agrippa has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Viper-2657j has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Holtz has been KO'd!

As the missiles slam into the Raptors and rip them apart, the two Raiders tear through the sky, looking for new targets. But the Raptor is successfully hidden. If Kelsey and Nico can make the repairs, then perhaps, in time.. they will save Princess Peac.. err Sister Arden. But in the meantime, despite the loses it is..

MISSION SUCCESS — Sorta.

Zachary finally ends the simulation with that, and leans back in the tight cockpit. "Yeah, totally perfer my Raptor to this mess."

The shrapnel that fills the air causes Ceres to frown and dodge about even as Agrippa's last shots miss her. She presses her lips to a thin line and doesn't say anything on com, rather her left hand is cramping and she flexes her fingers. She lifts it away from the stick and finally calls out on general com, "Sim is nearly done, my hand is giving me some trouble. Going to pull out." She says and draws away, exiting the simulation and cycling down.

Slipping out of the simulator, Zachary stretches out and chuckles as he looks over towards Ceres. "I see why it's mostly people smaller than me that fly those things." he grins, glancing at her hand to check it's condition as he waits for the others to exist the simulators.

As it happens, either Holtz doesn't evade quick enough or Cylon missles are just that good. Despite raking the opposing Raider with another deadly shot, it's able to get its shot off — and then it's game over for Holtz as the sim computer rules the barrage tore his fighter apart. He curses softly, but it could be worse; at least the Raptor made it, so it's technically a win. Technically. Kinda hard to enjoy victory when you're dead, though. Pushing the cockpit open, he hops out with a nod to the CAG. "Nice shot, sir." A look follows Ceres for a moment before he turns to his wingman in the exercise. "Well, Grip, we're dead. But hey, all those little kids are safe." A derisive snort of laughter follows. "Oughta ease our souls' passage to Elysium, yeah?"

Kelsey steps out of the sim without another word, helmet being peeled off her head with one hand while she disconnects the O2 pipe with the other. Short flight, but she's already sweaty. The pilot steps off the Raptor's winglet without a word out outward expression. She just looks solemn and sits down there on the sim, hands lift to run her fingers through her hair while she deflates.

Having no experience against Heavy Raiders or their devastating Anti-Air Missiles, Agrippa did his best to evade, weathering the initial explosion that was sent his way. However, the shrapnel that followed was just as brutal, if not more as one piece cuts right through his simulated cockpit, causing everything to go dark. Game over man, game over. With that he pushes his canopy open and slowly steps outside, the intense simulated training causing the young Viper jock to look worked. He nods his head slightly to his Squadron Leader though there is that look of 'What the frak just happened?' on the rook's face.

Nico climbs out after Kelsey, pats her on the shoulder, and then twists his head to one side so he can crack his neck, "So, as far as destructive testing goes, where is that on the range of what you wanted to see and what you expected to see, sir? That was hardly the engagement we started with."

Ceres sits at the edge of her sim and lets her feet dangle out a minute as she rubs her left hand. Slowly Redux rises, moving to join the rest as she works fingers into her palm. Wincing some, she bites her lip and works at it. "Apparently not ready to run that long of a sim. I am going to likely hit sickbay later." She says and furrows her brows. THe massive webbing and burn marks are flexed again. Her head lifts and she looks to the others, nodding.

It is to Kelsey, she lets out a breath. "Well done there, Wescott. THe bomb idea was brilliant."

As Zachary looks towards the others, their defeated looks and expressions, the CAG raises his voice. "Whoa, whoa." he says. "Yes, there were losses. Sometimes combat causes that. But, as Storm said, the mission was accomplished. Deli, you did a hell of a job with those bombs. That surprised the frak out of me, and it was exciting to have proven for a moment that the faith I have in your training is not misplaced." he says as he looks around.

"There will be times where we are faced with having to decide to protect our own ass or finish the mission. Each one of you chose to carry out the mission. And while it may have ended poorly, you accomplished it. Every day, as CAG, I know that when I send people out on a mission, I may not get them back. I wish to gods I could protect you all, but you frakking just showed me that each one of you will rise to the occassion. So, stop with the long looks and postures, and get to your feet and be proud of yourselves."

The nugget nods once to Ceres. "Thank you, sir," she replies quietly. Fingers hang from her neck as she looks up to Zach while he speaks to her and then about all of them. There's a glance to Nico and then she slowly rises to her feet, picking up her helmet. A salute is given to Nico, also. "Thank you for the assistance, sir."

"It's just a simulator, people. If nothin' else, be glad you're still alive to learn something from it." Holtz doesn't seem to feel included in the CAG's rebuke, but he also wasn't moping after the simulation ended. He tacks a bit of his own wisdom, such as it is, onto the CAG's words as he looks around the sims to the others. "In this room, death is a lesson, not a failure."

At the CAG's words, Agrippa nods his head to show understanding but it is still a hard but necessary lesson for the rook. The successful mission yesterday had him on a high, his ego ballooning up to a giant bubble and this training sim brought him right back down to reality showing him how much more he needs to learn. But the other lesson is also clear, duty. "Understood, sir." Is the two words spoken clearly by Agrippa to the CAG and also to his Squadron Leader.

"Aye, always grow off of what you see and do." Ceres is working that left hand over with her fingers, getting that muscle and scar tissue to weaken and respond. Cramping further, she winces and then stays quiet, watching the others a moment before she rolls her shoulders back and sighs. Wiping at her brow, she eyes her sim. "Lets all go get something to eat and talk it over. Only way to row off of this."

"Like a champ." notes Nico to Kelsey, who doesn't feel the least bit rebuked, either. "That was a serious question, sir. I know what that was. A scott-free success was almost impossible because it seemed we were going to keep tearing down the odds until there was a failure. Started with two raiders and one viper, ended with five raiders and two vipers. As long as that was a performance you were looking for. And the nugget's got some seriously keen instincts. You might have to bring more raiders next time… perhaps set her engines on fire, first." The smile is hidden behind a deadpan curl of the corner of his lips.

"Sandwiches. I don't really feel like cooking right now." Zachary adds, but agrees to Ceres' thoughts on the matter.

Zachary pauses for a moment, and his eyes level on Nico. "…I tell you what. Next time we're out there, Dash, you can ask the Basestar to send only one Raider at a time to deal with. You think they'll go for that? Go ahead. Ask them." his tone turns cold, and dark. "The trainee that you are defending? She's flown backseat against armored AA units and came back from it. She's already flown more missions with this wing than you have. Do you care to share any other nuggets of wisdom with us, Dash?"

Kelsey drops the salute but still seems quiet, though distinctly less shaken than she might have been to those who saw her last night. She listens to the talk of food and looks to Ceres with some concern before Zachary lets go at Dash. She turns to face the Major and sort of edges herself in front of Nico inch by inch. "I'll fly with him again, sir," she volunteers quietly to Buzz.

Tension filters through the room and Redux gives Storm a look and then glances to the rest. She clears her throat and draws closer and slightly in between the interaction. "Major is right, can't stem the tide at times. Granted we usually have more birds, but so do they. But yes, Deli did an amazing job, considering how new and shiny her wings are, I would say she did damn well under the circumstances. Pressure comes and goes. She adjusted. All did damn well, I was splashed more than several times and its making me really work for my flying." She lifts her hand. "I need it." A smile is offered. "So lets just go grab some chow and bond like a real damned wing." She states.

For the time being, Agrippa remains quiet, most likely still sorting through the ending segment of the training mission. As the others begin to agree upon heading to the Mess Hall for some chow, the young rook speaks up, "I'll join up with you all in a little bit, gonna grab a shower first and stuff." The stuff is probably to head back to his bunk and write a few notes down, which may take a little longer than 'a little bit'.

As Nico leaves from the simulators, Zachary's expression falters for a moment and he looks down. "Kid needs to get his shit straight or it'll be his coin I'll be collecting next."

Holtz watches the interplay between Zach and Nico, cracking his knuckles and watching with a thin-lipped expression as Nico leaves. "Back at Nike I'd bust a nugget's balls for bitching about a simulation like that." Not that anyone asked his opinion, but he's offering it anyway. He nods to Ceres. "Sounds good, Dux. Meet you down there?"

Kelsey watches Nico leave and she sighs. Those sighs say a million things she never will voice. The nugget takes up her helmet and smiles a little to Agrippa. "Thanks for the support, sir. Got your back." The gal goes to grab her bags and will probably go with, just to hang out.

"I'm just too nice, Storm." Zachary says with a small smirk as he nods. "I'm hungry, and apparently an Ensign wasn't enough for my appetite. I might start with Squadron Leaders next." A grin is tossed towards Holtz, but he seems to be reasonable to head to chow.

"Yeah, yeah," Holtz responds with a snort. "I'll warn you, though, Ensigns are much easier to get down." He gives off a lopsided smile of his own as he heads for the door.

"Sure thing, I will grab us a table." Redux offers them all as some go to change. She watches Nico a moment and then shakes her head. Her dark brows furrow and she finally breaks off to head out, her dark ponytail bouncing in her wake.

Zachary follows after Ceres, grabbing his notes up to work some more. Never ends, he swears.

Mess Hall - Battlestar Orion
The Crew Mess on the Orion is one of the larger rooms meant for occupation. The room is far longer than it is wide with the classic stainless steel tables that can be seen anywhere else on the ship, standard to all navy ships. Most of the chairs match, their padding on the seats worn down after several years. Towards the rear of the room is the food prep area and serving lines. During the time in between meals the Mess will serve midrats, or 'mid-shift rations', such as sandwiches and drinks. Coffee pots are left to run at all hours to keep people going as needed.
18 February 2005

Zachary secures the table first and sits down at it, his expression still frustrated at the young rookie throwing around his weight and the DCAG pokes at his sandwich, looking over the files next to him.

Holtz also has a sandwich in hand as he grabs a seat at the table. His demeanor seems more relaxed than the DCAG's, though, and his jaw pops as he takes a giant bite of his sandwich, cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk's as he chews. "Smartmouth rook ain't worth the frustration," he offers around a mouthful of food.

"It's not just that, Kurt." Zachary says, using first names, as is his habit sometimes. "Last night was the first good run we've had since this all went south, and I'm having to shift our priorities to Picon. I get the need there is strong, but damned if we didn't finally make a dent in something just to have to circle the wagons and double back. It's like trying to put out one hundred fires and all you have is a coffee cup of water. I'm hoping that Picon gives us a better lead on our battleships than 'they're out there'."

Kelsey plops down with her tray, which has one hotdog (minus a bun) and a small cup of juice. She listens to what's being said and begins cutting up her hotdog into small bite-size pieces. "I talked to the Colonel about the mission, sir," she volunteers quietly. Its always tough to gauge where one stands in situations like this. Kelsey is a person without a future in stone or a long-term home until she completes basic flight. If she does.

Having taken the time to work at her hand, she's last through the line and carefully moves over to join them all. Slim pickings for her ands he glances over towards Kelsey's tray and studies what is there. Her nose wrinkles and she works over her noodle salad, taking her first bite as Redux listens. Her elbows rest on the table a moment before she sits up straight, leaning over her tray as she grabs for her drink.

"Mm." Holtz nods, his eyes flicking to the files Zachary had with him and then back to the DCAG. "What I can tell, Picon needs us more. 'Sides, ain't a soul on Aerilon can tell us where those big bastards got off to." Referring to the Baker Bay and her battlegroup. "Never did like leavin' a job half done, though. Kinda seems like whack-a-mole writ large, yeah?" He utters a throaty snort of laughter. "Runnin' from one colony to another like this, I mean."

"There's a lot of colonies that need us, Kurt. It's just my job to let command tell me which one needs us most. Also. You need to get your kids together to start reconning those asteroid fields. I'm not going to say tonight, but soon. If there's a ship sitting there, they don't have infinite supplies." Zachary reminds gently, before he glances towards Kelsey. "What did Marcus have to say?" he asks with a lift of his brow and a glance at Ceres. "If you were hoping I was going to cook, I get tired too, you know." a smirk at her.

"Sure they do. But some need us — and we need some — more'n others." Holtz shakes his head. "Hate to reduce it to a numbers game, but it is what it is." A shrug follows a few seconds behind his words. "Shit's above my pay grade, though, yeah. I just go where I'm told and shoot what I'm told." He takes another bite of his sandwich as he more or less echoes Zachary's sentiments with his last, a thin not-quite-smile ghosting across his lips. It fades, though, as he eyes Kelsey. "What, Wescott, you goin' on a field trip?" Wehs-kett. That Tauron accent of his still doesn't quite get the pronunciation of her name quite right.

"Not at all, didn't expect you to cook. I can deal with my noodle salad." She says and lifts another bite to her lips. SHe even puts on a smile. Ceres glances over to Kelsey though when she starts talking about a mission. She can not help watch the young woman. She continues to eat though, making no comment. Moving the salad about, mixing the mayo with everything else in idle thought, she glances over at Holtz. "Its a matter of finding a foothold, but the basestars are the real problem." She shrugs and continues to pour into her meal.

Kelsey sips at her drink and nods to Holtz. "I messed up, sir. I let someone down and didn't follow through. So I'm going to Picon and I'll be out of the sims for a few days. Colonel Petra is negotiating with some important guy and I'm supposed to be his Yeoman. Sounds like some pretty heavy stuff, though, so I'm just going to be quiet, be helpful, and keep my hands inside the ride at all times." She sips her drink again. "I think the plan is for three days, though. I talked to Garis, too, and she said she might let me fly a little tomorrow. Once we get down into atmo? She said as long as its clear skies, I'll get to do some straight line flying. Best I can hope for, right?" She doesn't have to say it: She's excited about that prospect.

Zachary nods his head slowly. "Gotcha." he says to Kelsey in agreement. "And sounds like it isn't as much punishment as I had hoped for. Maybe I should try for more severe next time." he comments. He smiles, BUT IS HE REALLY TEASING?

"Frakking basestars," Holtz sighs. More sandwich goes down the hatch. "Kinda hard to get a foothold when there's at least a pair of 'em hangin' out next to every colony what ain't been glassed, innit?" Now a bit of Holtz' own frustration is starting to show, though it's not directed expressly at Ceres or Zachary. "If we nuke 'em, they bring in more. If we don't, they get a free shot at everything we try to send." It isn't complaining so much as a simplistic analysis of the situation. He nods slowly in Kelsey's direction. "Damn, Major. Where do I sign up for one of these all-expense-paid Colonial vacations?" That's said to Zachary as he lets out a snort.

"Well we need to nuke em, the more we take down the better. They house centurions and raiders. WE take them out the rest fall too instead of picking off the gnats for got the hive." Ceres points out, making a motion with her fork before she settles back and glances to Kelsey. "You be careful out there, Wescott. But I am sure you will be just fine. You got a good head on your shoulders. But you know this." She says with a faint smile before taking another bite of noodle salad.

Is he teasing? Kelsey is currently a honeybadger that does not give a frak. She's gonna laugh and grin anyway. The PO3 waggles her fork at him. "I love that you assume I'm gonna screw up again, sir. I know you could totally find something imperfect, but sometimes I think you're just buying into the stereotype of the Pican." She lifts her chin primly. "Which, I'll inform you, is not always a stereotype, sir. But I shall endeavor to make you itch for a reason and find nothing." A final nod is given and she scoops up more of her hotdog. A smile to Ceres and she smirks. "Thanks, sir. But its just a few days and probably in some old mineshaft or somethin. I'm expecting about as much excitement as visiting an old folks home."

"Hey hey! Careful when you talk about an Old Folks Home around some of us here." Ceres says quickly.

Zachary offers a thin smile. "Am I so petty, Wescott?" he asks, the question so obviously baited as he studies the Petty Officer's eyes and takes a bite off of his sandwich. "But yes, nuking a Basestar would be great - if we could get in close enough to actually do that. Right now, it's be more of a suicide run."

"Ahem." Holtz clears his throat, shooting a dirty look in Kelsey's direction after her crack about an old folks' home. "Don't get me wrong, Redux… a basestar gets nuked, I'll be the first one you hear cheerin' his damnfool head off," Holtz remarks. "But — yeah." He nods along with Zachary. "Right between a rock and a hard place." A look back to Kelsey. "Bring me back a t-shirt," he deadpans.

"I dunno, sir. I've met some real dunderheads with rank. So far, though, I think you'll be okay. My Dunderhead Meter is pretty sensitive and so far its not been twitching." Kelsey flashes him a big smile. She looks down at her plate to eat more and realizes the hotdog is gone, though. "Is it normal to be so hungry after missions?" Her eyes look to them each in turn. "I ate before we left yesterday. Then when I got back? Redux and I came back up here and I pigged-out on egg salad. I'm still kinda hungry." And this is abnormal few her. To Holtz, "Oh c'mon, sir. You all do sexy things like fly planes. You have more excitement in your nosehairs than like my entire hometown combined." All the nosehairs. That's a lot. "And I will find you a shirt somewhere."

"I see." Zachary says, letting out a breath. Something has him distracted. "If you come across any possible hospitals while you are there, Kelsey, can you mark them for possible supply raids?" he asks her.

Holtz shrugs at Kelsey. "Everybody's got their quirks after they touch down from a hop," he says. "Some go pig out. Some frak their brains out. Some get so hopped up on adrenaline they get back and want to hit something. Me?" He grins. "Hell, at one point or another I've done all three." And that, it seems, is as good a note as any on which to depart. His sandwich finished, he rises to his feet, shoving his chair back under the table. "I'll get to work planning out those recons, Major," is said to Zachary with a nod.

Kelsey shrugs. "I'll look, sir. but I don't have my hopes up. I kinda doubt these people left many hospitals lying around untouched. I'll ask, though." Notes taken, and requests. Kelsey has a mission. It might be a punishment, but damnit, she's gonna do it. To Holtz, she lofts her brow. "I guess that makes sense. I got back last night and wanted to eat and drink. But drinking isn't in the cards for me, sadly. I'll be out of basic flight before I can even legally drink or go to Charlies. Talk about crappy, sir." Especially if she flies like that for real. She sighs and looks up to Holtz as he goes. "Bye, sir."

"Good job, Kurt." Zachary says as he gives a nod. "I look forward to seeing what you get put together. Don't forget to pull from the other Captains as well." he offers as the Major turns his attention back to Kelsey. "Of course, but I can hope."

Storm nods. "Got it, sir. Try to have something on your desk in the next few days." He shrugs at Kelsey as he takes a few slow steps backwards from the table. "We gotta play the hand we're dealt. Even if it sucks, yeah?" With that, he's headed for the hatch, throwing a jaunty, two fingered salute back in the direction of the table.

Cassie comes barreling in, pausing only to look to see if the DCAG is here. Once Zach's noticed she rushes to his side, leans in and whispers something to him, forgetting to say hello to him and everyone else he's sitting with. Once done she's leaning back and then actually moves, obviously trying to remove herself from the Major's arm length just in case he tries to grab her.
Cassie whispers: Just so you know, Maia's been injured. Didn't get a good look at her but didn't sound good, sir.

Cassie's whisper causes the DCAG's eyebrow to raise and he shoots a look directly towards Ceres. "Would you do me the wonderful favor of telling your soon to be husband to stop breaking my pilots when they already get enough breakings from the Cylons. Unless you'd rather me address him?" Zachary asks her. He shoots a nod to Cassie. "Thank you for the information, Shoes."

As Zachary speaks to her, Ceres lifts her head from her diminishing noodle salad and lifts a brow. "Frak.." She mutters and sighs, "Yeah, let me talk to him. He forgets he's two people put together sometimes. Who did he break?" She asks, setting her fork down and gathering up her tray.

Holtz is almost out the door when Cassie rushes past him towards Zachary. He pauses in place, looking back in the direction of the table with a raised brow. "Who'd the big ox frak up this time?" Not a Viper pilot, he hopes. But if that'd been the case, Cassie would have come to him first, so he's probably safe.

"Centerfold, was it?" Zachary asks, and frowns. "Why did she go after him for a brawl anyway? Even I know not to try to throw a punch at that." he says with a long-suffering sigh as he drinks on his water.

Cassie nods. "Yeah, it was her. As for why? I would say it was a case of her getting a bit too big for her britches but I don't know her well enough to make that kind of assumption." As she says that she steps back again, this time looking like she might be preparing to leave. "Sorry for being the harbringer of bad tidings."

When Cassie describes the incident, Holtz simply shakes his head with a snort of derision before turning away to finally exit the mess hall.

And with Ceres leaving to take care of Augustus presuambly, Zachary lets out a breath. "Apparently I should get in a few moments of rest as well. If you will excuse me?" he offers as he moves to his feet to go put his tray away.

Cassie nods slowly. "Of course, Zach." She dips her head politely, letting him get up and out first before she moves.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License