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Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#1
Muck found himself blowing out a breath of relief as the simulator cockpit opened over him. He forced himself to wait until he could vault out to the deck and eye Gamlin.  He was certain how he’d done, but he also knew that the final verdict was Gamlin’s.



“So, how did I do in your eyes, LT?”



Speaking of said third party, though, it looked like Muck had managed to *TOTALLY* break Lieutenant Gamlin Kizakai, his alleged impartial third party, based on Gamlin’s thoroughly ‘gob-smacked’ look at the moment.  Gamlin looked at Muck, then back at the simulator control console, then back to Muck again.



Muck facepalmed for a moment, the tried again.  “Muck to Gamlin… come in Gamlin!”



Gamlin finally showed some sign of recovery as he held up a palm to Muck.  “D-1 copies your traffic.  Wait one.”  Gamlin otherwise ignored him and leaned forward conversing with the rating running the simulator; looking intently at the data thrown on the screen in response to his request.  As much as Muck wanted Gamlin to confirm what he was sure of, Muck was also sure that rattling Gamlin’s chain at this point would work against Muck instead of in his favor; and so forced himself to wait patiently, even though all his time as what any comic title would call a ‘superhero’ had primed him for instant decisions and reactions.  All of those reactions would be wrong at the moment, though.  Gamlin had the final say, to disturb him at the moment just might cause him to rule against him out of pure spite.



Muck could have know just how long he’d waited, but decided against it when Gamlin finally straightened up and shook himself much like a dog would before looking over at Muck.



“When I was a flight cadet back on Mars, my initial instructor was Milia Jenius. She told me I needed to become one with my mecha, to know everything it was telling me.  This data says you’ve surpassed me in the ship I have the most flight hours in, even though this should be the first time you’ve been in its cockpit?”



“Hell, LT.  Haven’t you figured out I cheat yet?”



“So, your NOT qualified to pilot a VF-17?”



“Oh, I’d say I am.  But the particulars here are not for enlisted ears, LT,” Muck pointed out with a nod at the rating staring at both of them.  “Perhaps someplace where there aren’t little pitchers with big ears?”



Gamlin nodded, grabbing Muck by the arm and pointing the two of them to the hatch.  “I know a place,” he assured, before looking behind the pair.  “Dismissed, sergeant.  I get word you said anything to anyone other than Cap’n Jenius…”



“Sir, understood sir!”



* * * * * * *



Muck sighed after finishing a long draft of the beer in his hand, setting it down on the table between he and Gamlin Kizakai, gazing out the armored glass into deep space.



“So.  Your wondering how the heck I am so proficient as a pilot, Kizakai.  Both of the mark 17 you tested me on as well as my own claim I am, or was, fully qualified in the VF-01, right?”



“Well, that and your claim you cheated, Thunders.”



“Well, Gamlin, that depends on how one defines cheating.  How old do I look to you?”



Gamlin blew out a long breath and contemplated the level of beer in his mug; sadly there was too much left in it to try and use the excuse of ordering a new one as a delaying tactic.



“Somewhere in your late twenties, early thirties, like myself,” Gamlin admitted, to be rewarded by a fairly impressive snort of liquids out of Thunders nose, followed by Muck cursing about how having done so really HURT!



“Add a hundred years of living, and four other fica to that estimate, Kizakai.”



“WHAT?”



“Patience, my Padawan.  You are about to hear all about it as long as you keep seated and listen; well… assuming you can get that cute barmaid to bring us another round.”



* * * * * * *



“You realize if a pilot or enlisted told me a story like that I’d send him to the brig for over embellishing his sea story?” Gamlin sighed after hearing Muck’s tale. (1)



Muck nodded.  “And yet, no shit, there I was;” he confirmed, hoisting his drink in the traditional gesture for a toast.



“How the explitives deleted are you still alive?”



“DamnifIknow, Kizakai.”



“But you LIVED it.  How can you NOT know???”



“Kind of my point Kizakai.  I LIVED it.  Things happened way to fast to really get how it was I made it through at times.  Sure, the little things I could probably remember, but breaking down just how I managed to dodge each and every attack during the crazy moments?  I’d argue YOU were the crazy one, Mate.  All I really remember is being expletives deleted glad I was still alive when the dust settled.”




(1)  Okay, there should be two footnotes here.  First, see the first three chapters of Tales of the Wanderer atSad https://www.fanfiction.net/u/5726/Star-Ranger) for the full details not included here; second… here is how to tell the difference between a fairy tale and a naval ‘sea story’.  A Fairy tale starts “once upon a time”; while a sea story starts “No Sh!t, there I was.”  The implication here is that Muck is telling Gamlin everything he remembers, from going to the USAF Academy, to being an A-10 ‘Warthog’ pilot, to the incident that made him the Star Ranger through the events of TotW 1 through 3; with a tertiary implication that he and Gamlin have drunk quite a bit along the way given the length of this tale.
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to rock the sky?
Thats' every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry!
NO QUARTER!

No Quarter by Echo's Children
Reply
RE: Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#2
(Okay.  MAJOR revisions going on here, and a lot of new content....  Download the .docx version attached if in doubt?)

Muck found himself blowing out a breath of relief as the simulator cockpit opened over him. He forced himself to wait until he could vault out to the deck and eye Gamlin.  He was certain how he’d done, but he also knew that the final verdict was Gamlin’s.

“So, how did I do in your eyes, LT?”

Speaking of said third party, though, it looked like Muck had managed to *TOTALLY* break Lieutenant Gamlin Kizakai, his alleged impartial third party, based on Gamlin’s thoroughly ‘gob-smacked’ look at the moment.  Gamlin looked at Muck, then back at the simulator control console, then back to Muck again.

Muck facepalmed for a moment, the tried again.  “Muck to Gamlin… come in Gamlin!”

Gamlin finally showed some sign of recovery as he held up a palm to Muck.  “D-1 copies your traffic.  Wait one.”  Gamlin otherwise ignored him and leaned forward conversing with the rating running the simulator; looking intently at the data thrown on the screen in response to his request.  As much as Muck wanted Gamlin to confirm what he was sure of, Muck was also sure that rattling Gamlin’s chain at this point would work against Muck instead of in his favor; and so forced himself to wait patiently, even though all his time as what any comic title would call a ‘superhero’ had primed him for instant decisions and reactions.  All of those reactions would be wrong at the moment, though.  Gamlin had the final say, to disturb him at the moment just might cause him to rule against him out of pure spite.

Muck could have know just how long he’d waited, but decided against it when Gamlin finally straightened up and shook himself much like a dog would before looking over at Muck.

“When I was a flight cadet back on Mars, my initial instructor was Milia Jenius. She told me I needed to become one with my mecha, to know everything it was telling me.  This data says you’ve surpassed me in the ship I have the most flight hours in, even though this should be the first time you’ve been in its cockpit?”

“Hell, LT.  Haven’t you figured out I cheat yet?”

“So, your NOT qualified to pilot a VF-17?”

“Oh, I’d say I am.  But the particulars here are not for enlisted ears, LT,” Muck pointed out with a nod at the rating staring at both of them.  “Perhaps someplace where there aren’t little pitchers with big ears?”

Gamlin nodded, grabbing Muck by the arm and pointing the two of them to the hatch.  “I know a place,” he assured, before looking behind the pair.  “Dismissed, sergeant.  I get word you said anything to anyone other than Cap’n Jenius…”

“Sir, understood sir!”

* * * * * * *

Muck sighed after finishing a long draft of the beer in his hand, setting it down on the table between he and Gamlin Kizakai, gazing out the armored glass into deep space.

“So.  Your wondering how the heck I am so proficient as a pilot, Kizakai.  Both of the mark 17 you tested me on as well as my own claim I am, or was, fully qualified in the VF-01, right?”

“Well, that and your claim you cheated, Thunders.”

“Well, Gamlin, that depends on how one defines cheating.  How old do I look to you?”

Gamlin blew out a long breath and contemplated the level of beer in his mug; sadly there was too much left in it to try and use the excuse of ordering a new one as a delaying tactic.

“Somewhere in your late twenties, early thirties, like myself,” Gamlin admitted, to be rewarded by a fairly impressive snort of liquids out of Thunders nose, followed by Muck cursing about how having done so really HURT!

“Add a hundred years of living, and a dozen or more other fica to that estimate, Kizakai.”

“WHAT?”

“Patience, my Padawan.  You are about to hear all about it as long as you keep seated and listen; well… assuming you can get that cute barmaid to bring us another round.”

* * * * * * *

“You realize if a pilot or enlisted told me a story like that I’d send him to the brig for over embellishing his sea story?” Gamlin sighed after hearing Muck’s tale. (1)

Muck nodded.  “And yet, no shit, there I was;” he confirmed, hoisting his drink in the traditional gesture for a toast.

“How the expletives deleted are you still alive?”

“DamnifIknow, Kizakai.”

“But you LIVED it.  How can you NOT know???”

“Kind of my point Kizakai.  I LIVED it.  Things happened way to fast to really get how it was I made it through at times.  Sure, the little things I could probably remember, but breaking down just how I managed to dodge each and every attack during the crazy moments?  I’d argue YOU were the crazy one, Mate.  All I really remember is being expletives deleted glad I was still alive when the dust settled.”

“Hmm.  Speaking of settling dust.  I have a couple of notifications here; one from Cap’n Max saying he’s confirming my assessment that you are qualified to fly a vf-17; as well as the specific tail number[2]  of your new Valk.  This is followed by a reminder from him that the two of us are to report… um… like 5 minutes ago to Madam Mayor Milia for the briefing about what is next for the two of us.”

“Aww Bugger, Lt.  Your saying we’re already late?”  From Micheals inflection he was not happy with hearing that information.  The fact that he was standing and draining the last of his drink confirmed that Muck was now aware that the two of them needed to get going; so Gamlin matched him in getting to his feet and finishing his own drink.

“Yes.”

“Then less talk, more walk, l t!”

“ERTS access is the other way, Muck.”

“Oh.”

* * * * * * * *

“There you two are.”  Milia Fallyna Jenius observed when the pair finally were ushered into her office.  “Where have you been?”

“Well, with all due respect, Ma’am,” Muck countered even as he nudged Gamlin with his elbow to keep his ersatz commanding officer quiet, “I do believe that while the L.T. and I work for you now, the assignment wasn’t official until Cap’n Max officially approved all of this.  Which, in the L.T.’s defense, we just got the word about, and reported to you as quickly as we could.”

Oh (Bleep).  That was a definite twitching eyebrow; Nothing good ever happened to Muck anytime he was on the receiving end of a look like that.  Best he was going to be able to do was probably direct the about to be expressed displeasure onto himself and away from Gamlin Kizakai.

“I… see.  And what else were you told?”

“Innermost line of defense for Island 7.  Combat escort for Sound Force sorties.  Additional duties to be assigned by you.”

Milia sat back in her chair and contemplated the pair.  “Sound Force.  My youngest daughter is a member of that unit.”

“Um, yes Ma’am, Madam mayor, Ma’am.”  Gamlin looked ready to try and step in and catch the displeasure still lingering in Milia’s voice; Muck resorted to stepping on his (Kizakai’s) toes to keep his partner safe.  “I think the Cap’n made the same point, with the same don’t we dare let anything happen to her glare you’re using right now.”

“I see.  While the commodore and myself are often at odds due to our conflicting areas of interest, I think you would be safe to assume we are in accord on that topic, Lieutenant Thunders.”

“Lieutenant?”

“Yes, and Gamlin there is now officially promoted to Lieutenant Commander.  Can’t have him relying on time in rank and service alone.[3]  Right now, I need you two to go talk to Chiba about what Sound Force is and is not, and just how my daughter fits into it.  Then report back here.”

“Ma’am, yes Ma’am!”

* * * * * * * *

Muck winced as he followed Gamlin into Chiba’s quarters.  The walls were lined with, perhaps not life sized, but very large, very high-quality posters of Lynn Minmei.  Even before he laid eyes on the good doctor himself, he knew this was the sign of a serious otaku.  Perhaps even explained Chiba’s self-described foray into understanding ‘sound energy’.

“L T…”

“Shhh.  I know.”

This screamed to Muck this was not the first time Gamlin had been here.  Given the level of Otaku’ism’ Muck saw here, as well as Chiba’s professed prowess at ‘sound energy’…  It was not pleasant, for Gamlin anyway.  No way to tell without asking Gamlin about it directly, something Muck was unwilling to do in front of the ‘Good Doctor’.

“Ah, Thunders.  Gamlin.  Welcome to the center of my research into sound energy.”

OH man.  That just dialed the creepy up to 11, in Muck’s opinion.

“Doc Chiba, SAR!  Lt. Thunders, Lt Cmdr[4]  Gamlin, reporting as directed by Madam Mayor Jenius, SAH!”  Muck shouted in his best parade ground voice.

“At ease, you two,” Chiba sighed in exasperation.  “So, according to the delivery I just got, Thunders here needs these?”  Chiba spread his fingers and manifested several critical pieces of plastic one used to prove identity, military service status, and all other related benefits.




(1)  Okay, this really should be two footnotes instead of just one.  First, see the first three chapters of Tales of the Wanderer atSad https://www.fanfiction.net/u/5726/Star-Ranger) for the full details not included here; second… here is how to tell the difference between a fairy tale and a navy ‘sea story’.  A Fairy tale starts “Once upon a time”; while a sea story starts “No Sh!t, there I was.”  The implication here is that Muck is telling Gamlin everything he remembers, even if not spelled out here, from going to the USAF Academy right out of high school, to being an A-10 ‘Warthog’ pilot, to the incident that made him the Star Ranger; through the events of TotW 1 through 3;(see link above) with the tertiary implication that he and Gamlin have more than one beer given the length of this tale.

  [2] Right.  Tail numbers.  Kind of what it says on the tin?  Shortest form, for those who are not aware, is that when any aircraft (also known as an airframe inside the military) is manufactured for the military (using the USA military here, because that is what I am most familiar with) they paint a unique number on its vertical stabilizer (what us civilians call the tail!) that will identify it for the rest of its service life.  In fact, if my memory is correct, even civilian airlines keep track of said production ‘tail number’ as the way to keep track of both what happened to a specific airframe as well as any and all repairs to it, because you keep track of things like that about any airplane regardless of for whom or where it flys.  Helps figure out what might have happened even in cases where a HMMWV comes out of an interdimensional portal and crashes into an airframe.  They’d still note it happened (even if they don’t understand WHAT happened) in case it becomes relevant as to why that specific airframe isn’t flying now.

  [3] This is a real thing.  In military it is important to settle who is in charge here.  (this is known as seniority)  This is determined by official rank, but between two officers of the same official rank it is settled by how long an officer has held that rank (IE: Time in Rank,) as well as how long he has served in general. (IE: Time in Service)

  [4] this is military shorthand for Lieutenant Commander, aka O-4.  It is, I suppose, a weird rank name, but one no less weird than Lieutenant Colonel, which is an O-5 in non-navy named ranks.  In actual use they are addressed as simply Commander, (when rank titles are used at all) which is *also* an 0-5 rank.  Oh, and for the record, the USN rank of Captain is 0-6, equivalent to the Army, Air Farce (because they split from the Army) and Marine rank of Colonel.  In those branches a Captain is an 0-3 (same as the naval rank of [O-3]Lieutenant!)  Which leads me to the next point of this End-Note.  Commodore is a TITLE, not an official rank.  Its given to a Captain (O-6) who is also in charge of more than one vessel or unit (who’s commanding officer may ALSO be an O-6) to delineate who is in charge here.  Usually this is reserved for escort or squadron commanders.  In Max’s case, it represents that as the commander of the escort fleet, as well as ‘Battle 7’ the man bloody well deserves a promotion for following in Hikaru Ichigo’s footsteps.


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Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to rock the sky?
Thats' every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry!
NO QUARTER!

No Quarter by Echo's Children
Reply
RE: Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#3
“Ayup, Doc, I do,” Muck confirmed.  “So, what are you willing to tell me about the Commodore and Mayor’s ‘Sound Force’, other than their daughter is involved in it?”

“Well…”

“Micheal works just fine when I look like this.  ‘Muck’, even better, Doc.”

“All right, Muck.  To be honest, even though I am officially the project lead, the basic idea didn’t come from me.  It comes from Ray Lovelock, an ex-pilot turned keyboardist,” as Chiba explained, he turned to his computer terminal and started bringing images up on the screen.  “He’s the manager of Fire Bomber; Consider him sort of the brains of both the band and the force.  I don’t know that he is as big a fan of Lynn Minmei as I am, but he’s even more the visionary who thinks song might just be a stronger weapon than a Macross cannon.  The cool hand that keeps things from flying apart, if you will.  He’s the one who scouted and recruited the rest of Fire Bomber, convinced me to support his vision to the Commodore, and caused me to take theoretical studies forward into working hardware.”  Chiba brought up a new image, that of a powerfully built woman.  “Veffidas Feaze.  Fire Bomber’s drummer.  Not much known from her aside that from her build and rumors she seems to be the daughter of a micloned Meltran and Zentran couple.  The tall, strong and silent type.  Rumor, again, has it she might have made it to the top of the underground fight scene, only to step away and join Ray even before Basara Nekki did.  These two will be flying together in a modified two seater VF-17D.”

Chiba hit something that brought up new pictures and data on the screen.  “Basara Nekki.  Lead singer of Fire Bomber.  Pilot of a custom VF-NINETEEN, our next generation fighter producible from on board resources.  While Basara’s Valkyrie has the same offensive missile capability of the proposed production versions, he chooses not to use said missiles.  Well, on he used them ONCE, but it appears in the after action review he was not aware that they were live warheads, or what they might do to their targets.  While the seemingly most pacifist of the 4, he has already been taking flight against the opposing forces.  When he is bored, or thinks people are not paying attention to him?”  Chiba paused and drew breath before continuing.  “Basara Nekki is kind of like the worst of…  Keith Richards, Angus McReady and…

“I’d say some-ONE akin to Kurt Kobain, Doc” Muck replied, attempting to finish the sentence posed to him.  “Also known as a self-centered, self-absorbed, self destructive summabiatch, Doc?”

“Can’t say you’re wrong, Thunders-san.”

“Keep that in mind Doc.  I expect I WILL be wrong sooner rather than later.  Because… um… Kismet?”

“I…  see.  Why do you think the fates hate you that badly?”

“Not ‘hate’, Doc.  More like ‘put up with’ so I can set right what once went wrong,” Muck countered.

“So you are saying?”

“I am saying not an (expletives deleted) thing Doc.  The people I believe I am working for would probably ‘punch my ticket’[5] if I did, so, I think you are just going to have to trust me on this[6].  I recognize his Valk, though.

“Given you stood in final defense of him during the last attack, I would say you should, Muck.”

“Good to hear, Doc.  So, Basara is the second most important member of Sound Force?”

Chiba bowed his head, and Muck imagined the sigh cloud he’d seen in anime past in the doctor’s sigh of expiration.  “An assumption, Thunders.  Believed, but not yet proven.”

“And said assumption is, Doc?”

“That Mylene, the daughter of our mayor and my commanding officer, might be capable of putting Basara to shame in terms of Sound Energy.”

“Gotta admit that sounds kinda sexist that you think it is the young woman, and not her older more experience male compainion, Doc.  Maybe even more than a bit eechi and creepy?”

“Oh, it gets worse.  This is her Vf-19”

“Doc.  That vf-19 has BOOBS.”

“Unavoidable, Thunders.  Only place to put the sound booster gear.  Basara’s is a separate add on that has to be launched and mated to his 19 in flight.”

“Still say it is eechi, Doc.”

“An accusation I will live with if this works.”

Muck found himself facepalming.  “Just doesn’t reflect well on ya, Doc.”

“I’ll take the villainization if it gives us victory, Thunders.”

“The fight is that close run?”

“Yes,” Chiba confirmed.  “Now, you need to go report back to the Mayor.”

* * * * * * * *

Muck waited until the two of them were in the relative isolated safety of the transport system before saying more.  “That…  was SERIOUSLY Surreal, Boss.”

Gamlin scoffed.  “It was nothing compared to my first encounter.”

“Sounds like the sort of sea story that only gets shared after 18 hours past drunk o clock, Kisaki.”

“More like day 2 or 3 of that sort of bender, if EVER, Muck.”

“Still doesn’t answer a lot of other questions about this that are bothering me.”

“Like?”

“Like both you and the Mayor made it clear these vampire valks are an issue.  Somehow I get the impression that there have been problems that are not as obvious as enemy mecha piercing the defensive lines and gaining access to the civilian areas.”

“So, Infiltrators.  Logic screams they were inserted during the chaos of past raids like the one we just responded.”

“Yes, which means they could have been re-enforced by additional personnel during the last raid.”

“Carp.  I’m going to need backup.  When I portaled in, I was driving a vehicle.  Going to need access for it for a large number of reasons.  Least of which is its where I keep all my stuff.  Who can grant me access?”

“Given you crashed into the Mayors Personal VF-1, I’d expect she’d the one to ask.”

“I bent Milia’s Bird?  Oh expletives deleted.  Sideways.  Without Lubrication.”

“Yeah… but as the chief executive of the civilian population, she maybe has enough other distractions?”

“That seems about as likely as trying to draw to an Inside straight.”

“Still happens once in 52 times, Muck.”

“yeah.  But the other 51?”

“Still comes down to asking our new boss.  On the plus side, you can do that really soon,” Gamlin observed as their transport slid into the station, stopped, and opened its doors.


[6] to be blunt, this is military speak for doing their darn-dest to kill my avatar.  Thank goodness he can evoke the ‘plot armor’ perk?

  [5]. Right.  Anyone who want to really know if the fates love him, hate him, or whatever else are kindly invited to keep reading and commenting.  Cause… um…  I really like comments.  Lets me know what I am doing correctly, and what I have wrong?
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to rock the sky?
Thats' every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry!
NO QUARTER!

No Quarter by Echo's Children
Reply
RE: Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#4
So far so good. Minor spelling quibble -- it's "ecchi", not "eechi".
-- Bob

I have been Roland, Beowulf, Achilles, Gilgamesh, Clark Kent, Mary Sue, DJ Croft, Skysaber.  I have been 
called a hundred names and will be called a thousand more before the sun grows dim and cold....
Reply
RE: Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#5
right. sounds like a global search and replace is in order then!
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to rock the sky?
Thats' every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry!
NO QUARTER!

No Quarter by Echo's Children
Reply
RE: Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#6
(eh. for good or ill, apparently coping with my perceptions about today has been good for writing. *I* think this is hilarious in places too. Hope you all do)

* * * * * * * *

“Ma’am.  Diamond Force, returning for additional instruction as ordered, Ma’am.”

“Acknowledged, Commander.  And just what did you learn from the good doctor?”

Muck decided he needed to step in again.  “That if the commander and I are going to be patrolling the fleet to combat the attacks on the citizens of the 7th fleet, we are going to need additional assistance.  Both the commander and the Doctor have mentioned that the assistance I think will be needed will have to come from you since I think I kind of bent your personal bird with my arrival, madam mayor Milia.”

“Yet you still ask.”

“Yes, Ma’am.  Kind of no choice, if only because I need a clean change of underwear.  Still, I expect FRED to be more useful in a lot of ways other than what you might realize, Ma’am.”

“And just who or what is FRED?”

“Big ol mil spec vehicle I was driving when I crashed into your Valk, Ma’am.  Has a bunch of specialized gear I’ve acquired and would like to keep.  Hoping they can help with the whole finding the source of the non valk vampire attacks.”

“Hmm.  Of more immediate concern, though.  Commander Gamlin, Diamond Force reports to you.  You report to me.  I report to the Commodore.  Is your immediate chain of command clear, Commander?”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Good.  To facilitate your assignments, all members of Diamond Force will be quartered here in on Island 7 proper.  The three of you will share an apartment in the same building as my Daughter, in fact, just a few floors down.  Your BOQ allotments have been updated to reflect this, as well as the fact you will probably choose not to attempt to cook.”

“Point of order, Ma’am.  I do know enough not to put cooking oil in the coffee pot, Ma’am.”  Gamlin winced at seeing Milia’s twitchy response to Muck’s quip, and dug an elbow into Muck’s side in an attempt to keep the irreverent wanderer from making things worse.

“Which brings up the last point,” Milia continued in an ice-cold voice.  “Diamond three.”  Milia looked over to her hulking bodyguard cum assistant.  “Show the Ensign in, please”

“Ensign Richard Davis, reporting as ordered!” the young redhead announced, then went quiet, the rest of what he hoped would be a great introduction lost as the red head already in the room struggled not to howl out loud with laugher.

“Boss.  Our FNG[7] …  is a red headed DICK.”

“Breath D-2.  We’re all officers here, we have a certain amount of decorum to maintain.  Especially in the presence of our immediate superior,” Gamlin chided, though clearly struggling to maintain said decorum as well.  “Fortunately for you Ensign, as a member of Diamond Force you only have to answer to D 3 or even Diamond 3 on radio.  In fact, I insist on it.  What you choose to answer to off duty is up to you.  I suggest you be strong and only respond to nicknames you are comfortable with,” Gamlin finished, glaring at ‘D-2’.

“SIR!”

“D. d. D-2 copies all.”

“This posting involves a permanent change of quarters, D-3.  Pack up your gear, check with the barracks officer and get mine packed up as well.  Report to our new quarters with it and await further orders.  I’ll be helping D-2 get a problem with his gear straightened out.”

“Aye aye, Sir!”

“Dismissed, D-3.”

Milia waited until the door closed behind the new pilot before continuing.  “In response to Lt Thunders request for the monstrosity that bent my bird.  I am referring you back to Chiba.  He’s the person best able to tell if your gear could do what you claim.  Convince him, and I’ll release FRED to you.  If not, you’ll have to make like a Marine.”

“Improvise, adapt, and overcome.  Nothing new there, but I’m surprised the fleet even knows what marines are.”

“The location and implementations might differ, but the basic mission of kick the door in and hold a position remains.  Now, get out of my sight you two.  I have work to do.”



[7] FNG:  Shorthand for Fuckin New Guy.  And, yes, Military types can be just that juvenile.  Summarily enforcing Dick as a nickname or call sign is something they would do.
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to rock the sky?
Thats' every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry!
NO QUARTER!

No Quarter by Echo's Children
Reply
RE: Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#7
(last scene of this chapter...  so, last chance for any feedback you might have?)

* * * * * * * *

It had taken a bit of back and forth, and more than a couple of moments of miscommunication, but eventually Muck found himself, along with Gamlin and Chiba, waiting as Michael, Milia’s bodyguard cum assistant punched in an access code to a hatch just off the central hanger of Island 7.  When the hatch slid open, Michael nodded as Muck held up a warning hand while the his other waved Gamlin and Chiba inside.  After the hatch hissed closed behind the trio, Muck held up a finger to his lips, clearly asking for silence as Muck walked forward and placed his hand on the large, battered vehicle in the center of the room.

“Recognize Primary user Thunders.  Authorization Thunders Omega Six Six.  Recognize Admin user Thunders, Override authorization  Klatu  Vertu  Est.”

“Primary user recognized.  Super User Recognized.  Admin status Recognized.  F R E D awaiting instructions.”

“System Status, FRED.”

“Primary personality and Cognisance processing on line.  Mission Critical scanning systems on line.  Severe Exterior damage present.  Critical Failures present in primary motive systems.  We’re not driving out of here anytime soon, Muck.”

“We’ll get you fixed up, mate.  Short term, recognize two new users.”

“First new user.  Please provide your palm for biometric scan, then state your name and provide a passcode.”

Muck waved Gamlin forward.  Gamlin was tentative, but placed his hand on the hood near Muck’s hand and did his best to project confidence.  “Gamilin Kisaki.  Lieutenant Commander, UN Spacy.  Passcode…  Diamond lead actual.”

“Access Level?”

“Standard Secondary, upgradable if needed.”

“Access filed.  Hello, Commander Gamlin.  Please wait.  Second new user?”

Chiba confidently stepped up and placed his hand near the other two.  “Chiba Masahiro.  Lieutenant, Un Spacy.  Medical Corps, Unique Energy Specialist.  Passcode…  Lynn Minmei Lives.”

“Pass code accepted.  Admin.  User access?”

“Special access granted.  Everything related to ‘sideways voyager’ sensors and portals.  Authorization Thunder ninety nine.  As far as where we’ve been and what we’ve done?  Sorry Doc, but I’m going to authorize that on a case by case basis.”

“Access level defined.  Passcode accepted.  Welcome, Doctor Chiba.  What next, Muck?”

“Doc Chiba here is the one you need to convince if I’m going to spring you and get you fixed up FRED.  Data Point: we seem to be downstream of our time aboard the SDF-1, and at least one fica to the side.  Jenius, instead of Sterling.”

“Acknowledged.  Is there anything else?”

“Yes.  Unlock rear cargo door.  Unlatch remote access unit.  Unlatch containers Papa Echo 1 through 4”

In response to this both the hatch at the rear of the vehicle opened as well as the passenger side door.

“Rear door open.  Requested cargo units unlatched.  Doctor Chiba.  It sounds like we will be having an extended discussion.  I invite you to sit and be comfortable?”

(edit to add the proposed final docx to this here)

.docx   totw.xx.04.05.docx (Size: 38.09 KB / Downloads: 0)
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to rock the sky?
Thats' every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry!
NO QUARTER!

No Quarter by Echo's Children
Reply
RE: Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#8
Weird thought would be that containers PE 1-4, is the Grill, the meat, the cold foods, and the Beer.
That's probably not what they are, but there the thought is for a nice WTF moment while Chiba has his discussion.
Reply
RE: Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#9
Heh. Nope, those would be the TS Series.
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to rock the sky?
Thats' every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry!
NO QUARTER!

No Quarter by Echo's Children
Reply
RE: Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#10
So, the next scene is going to be the FNG called out to the maintenance bay where FRED, Muck, and company are. Thoughts on if this should be the start of a new chapter (what I was thinking at first) or the last scene of this chapter? (apparently, its chapter 4, not 3, based on my internal numbering schema)
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to rock the sky?
Thats' every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry!
NO QUARTER!

No Quarter by Echo's Children
Reply
RE: Totw (step as yet un numbered) Sing-a-long ch 3
#11
(the scene in question)

* * * * * * * *

Ensign ‘Dick’ Davis stepped through the hatch into the maintenance bay and had chaos erupt around him.  This was not what he expected when his new flight lead had contacted him at the unit’s new quarters (a fairly luxurious three-bedroom apartment in a building near the center of Island 7) and instructed him to grab ‘rations for four’ and bring it to this location.

“Thunders!  Fred just stopped talking to me!” a voice Davis wasn’t familiar with protested from the open door of what Davis assumed was a HMMWV[8] ; a military vehicle used by the then USA that was phased out by the start of the First Space War.

“Yeah, Doc, and I can see why.  Wait one.  Drop the bags Dick, and come over here.”  Muck lead ‘Dick’ over to the relic.  “Put your hand on his hood and state your name, FNG.”

“Richard Robert Davis.  Ensign, New United Earth Spacy.”

“Access Level.”

‘Muck’ jumped back in.  “Basic.  Talk to him or not as you see fit Fred.  Just don’t clam up while he’s around.  Authorization Thunders six six.”

“Access Granted.  Returning to what I was saying, Doctor Chiba….”

Muck grabbed Dick’s elbow and drug him back to where the food he’d been asked to set down was.  “You don’t have a need to know about that conversation kid.  Trust me on that.  Let’s see what is for dinner instead.”

So, Dick grabbed the bag of food he’d been given and followed Muck over to the work-bench with cabinets that lined one wall of the bay, where the pair laid it out.  Muck looked at the collected foodstuffs for a long moment before asking “Kid, where did you get this?”

“There is a junior officer mess in town for guys on R&R.  I went there and asked the NCO in charge.  I thought I was going to get stuff that had already been cooked.”

“Oh well, it probably woulda been cold by the time you got here if he had.  Eh.  I can work with most of this.  Those are a problem, though,” Muck replied, pointing at the Brussel sprouts.  “You gotta be an Iron Chef to make those good eats.  I might be able to do something with them though.  Gonna need you to make an additional run though.  Gonna need a pint of milk, a cube of butter, a 12 pack of beer and some ice.  I’d also suggest getting them at the nearest market and not that JO mess.”

“Raja.  Um, who is paying for this?”

“You are, I’ll pay you back after we’re done here.”

“And I can trust you?”

“You know where I live, Ensign.  Even better than I do because you’ve been there today and I haven’t yet.  Now GIT!”
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to rock the sky?
Thats' every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry!
NO QUARTER!

No Quarter by Echo's Children
Reply


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