"Alright listen up," Timochev intervenes. "Since most wings are pretty much decided for, we will be conducting practices like this on a daily basis, pitting wings against each other. Each morning at 11.00, and each afternoon at 15.00. it will keep us sharp. I also expect each and every one of you to keep his own bird in top condition, so work with the mechanics on what you can do. We might be in transit, but we sure won't be loitering!"

   Shadow Smiles,..I  was doin' some things  with the aircraft, before the  rest of you blokes got out of  frost freeze....Them Bloody Techs  know what they're about, so they might not like  us   all runnin' about.

  we can   help them out a bit, with our preflights, an' reportin' anythin' we  thing don't think Feels  right.... make a note...not every thin' will show up on the  bloody readouts...

"Not you Shadow. I want to speak to you in my office please," Timochev remarks as the squadron scatters. "And you HQ."

He leads both pilots to his small corner of Opps, where he has a desk, a couple of chairs and a console at his disposal. As he gestures for them to sit down his face turns stern.

"Gentlemen. Am I going to have a problem with you two?"

   Shadow's  smile only shortens a Bit,he doesn't look to HQ as he says,  For My Part, Captain...I don't see any problems. We're on the same  team an' all.  Fer The RAN..i had  some other jobs  ta do, but I don't know if that stuff  will be needed out here?

   Turning to  HQ He Grins,..An'..Everyone likes a  wee bit of Competion , eh? What Bloke  wouldn't?

"Trouble, mon commodore?" The Frenchman starts laughing aloud.
"Au contraire! I kind of like this Ozzymandias. He does not back away from a challenge, and he is good in a cockpit. Why would there be trouble?"

"Good, I just wanted to make sure there is no dirty air between any of my people." Timochev waves them towards the door. "We all know you can be a volatile person Henri. Remember Hagen? Keep that in check. Dismissed."
As the frenchman heads for the door he sends a half-ass salute in the direction of the Russian. They both grin.
"Lieutenant Shadow, stay for a bit please. Quatorze, go and get Lu for me."

When the pirate has left Yuri gestures for Kray to sit down again.
"Keep one eye open around him okay? He's good, probably the best the French had to offer, but he's a loose cannon. When we were first teamed up together, him and Lex Hagen got into a feud much like he's starting now with you. In the end we had to physically pull them off each other, and HQ wound up in the infirmary. He's a loudmouth, but he cant fight for shit, the German nearly bashed his skull in. He had it coming though, he kept pulling his chain untill Hagen snapped. I had to reprimande him too, as he started the fight." Timochev sighs. "It took me way too much energy to get them in line. I don't need that shit again. So do me a favor, don't let him provoke you."

   Shadow  Nodded  slowly,..there have been a few Blokes  like  that, as i went through the process....Shepard's get...that's what i was... we aint supposed to be better then the  Rich blokes. 

  ..no  me  an' my Blokes,  we sent alot of ratbags ta the   Hospital, when they  tried ta ....Persuade...us ta  ring out of the bloody program... all me mates?..they did..after a bit.  But the RAN.. they 'ad other plans  fer me...never  got to finish all the trainin' not by a long shot..but I know enough ta carry me through.

  ..now?.. so far, I don't see any of our  group, i don't like....yet?.. But,  they sent me here ta fly...

  ...as far as the frenchie? He'll get as  good as he gives....he want's ta be an Apha, that's up ta him, but  he'll have ta   watch how he bloody well does it....

"Da, I agree. We have a good team. I try to keep it that way."  He tapped a few commands into the console in his desk.
"Looks like we reached cruise speed. Funny how that works on big ship. You don't feel acceleration at all, yet we move near light speed now. I prefer jets, you feel the kick."

     Aye to that..... The Carrier  life was enough fer me. between the swells and the rockin'.... heck... that sorted out some of the new pilots  right  quick.

  His smile left a bit,...sorta sad... not gonna see...the sea?  Been around it alot....takin' the wool in.... goin' ta town... playin footy?..Then.. the Navy?.... we're  more like  bloody submariners  now!

"Not so negative Lieutenant. At least we are alive, and have wodka."
Timochev opens a desk drawer, revealing a bottle of clear liquid.
"Care for a glass? This company, at the time, advertised with their wodka never going bad. Hell would sooner freeze over. Nice commercail too, with a freezing devil sharing a drink with frosty snowman. Let us test if they were right?"

  He Looks at the  Bottle...and slowly nods,..maybe a wee  drink?... do not waste  a  good glassful on one such as me... I don't  mind a beer  now and again..maybe some red wine?.. the ahrd stuff... I sorta shyed  away from... keep me body from. eaten itself...but one now and then.. don't hurt too much..eh?

"In Russia wodka part of life. Comes with breakfast. It will not hurt anymore after a while. The throat get used to it." Yuri laughs. He opens the bottle, handing it to Kray first.
"You do the honor of first shot."

  There is a Bit of a chuckle  as he takes the Bottle  and  takes  a  sip..a bit more then he would, but a lot less then a chug..

  He  Gasps  and coughs  a bit as he hands the Bottle Back.....i think Russia's  World  war One flyers , used this for anti-freeze in thier  bi-planes!

 With a Look to the  door,  Kray asks,.. Do you want me here  when Lu  come in?

  before the Answer he  adds,...If its  Ok?.. I'd Like to Keep Swede and Wallace in my flight... I still need one  more. I know alot of our  job depends on following orders, Buit i rather not have someone , Bloody  Ordered ta fly with me.. we don'
t have  ta  be mates..ya know?.. Just  fly good together...

There is five left unassigned. I leave it to you who you add. Have a talk with the guys, get to know them. Then you decide."
Timochev stares at the projected window on his office wall. Outside stars slowly drift by.
"You think we might have a chance out there?"

 There is a bit of a sigh,...there was this Bushie?  He'd  come to the farm, he 'ad a dozen or so sheep... he'd trad us his wool for  some chickens and a few bills, so's he could but   stuff.... I was talkin to 'im once an' he said them Abros out there..could  talk with some blokes out in space...

 .. I used  ta laugh it off, Ya know...but in university..we hearin' how old the  universe is... and we see on  earth.. things  died out...things popped up... and new things pop up...so?  for me..i figure...there's  folks out here who have been dead, when  our planet first had things  crawl out of the water.... theres  folks out there right now..at thier peak... and there are place..where ..THEY..are just coming out of the water...don't matter  what the eat, what the  breath, what they look like.... they'er gonna be better then us....but?.. we should also find  folks who are just about like us....and who knows... we might land ona planet where things  think we are gods....and they'll write their own bloody bible  about us...

 ..so?.. we'll do Ok.... we just got to makle sure...those folks who don't like us.... get a punch in the bloody nose, so they don't want ta mess with us.

   He looked to the Door,..You need me to hang about  when Lu comes in... or ya  what be ta go?

   he  takes his glass over  to rinse out,..for folks  who   like this stuff?... it might be god... a wee bit too strong fer me though..

¨No, dismissed lieutenant. Go and mingle.¨ Timochev grabbed his dataslate and got back to work.

   There's a bit of his  smile,  see ya later  then...

   Leaving the Office, Shadow  takes a look  around  For Kelly and Seffan, he   waves them over of a  Moment....a'right MAtes, won't  take  too much of your   free time here?....but i wanna  get yer  feed back on who we should take  for the  4th pilot fer  our  Flight? Figure  you folks  would Know who ya like the fly with the most?

The big Swede shrugs as he looks at Wallace.
"I have no preference. You?"
She grins, her white teeth sparkling. She has a natural attraction about her, despite not being what would be considered a truely beautiful woman. An undeniable charm.
"Both Wild Bill and Jose are excellent pilots. Bill isn't much of a team player though. Jose is. So's Jacqui. Tracy and I went through flight school together. She's decent enough, maybe a bit too careful at times. In my opinion our safest bet would be Bill, in overal skills. If you get him to work in a team."

   He listened, keep track of the names, looking over the  room as  Kelly speaks. He  chuckles  softly,...well then... Let me 'aveago an' see if the  bloke  wants to fly with us.... If  no?... we'll go on to the others....

    ..be  right  back.... turning to  find  " Wild Bill'. If he's  alone, he'll begin to talk,  If he's   'busy' he'll ask  him for a word...

  ... G'day....Lt Col?......I'm lookin' to fill out  me  Flight  and i need one  more Bloke ta make the 4?...... now..before  ya say  yay or Nay? I gotta  say this, 'cause it wouldn't be fair not  to. If you want to fly with the Dragons, We'll need ya to Pop in line , when   it calls  fer it.... and?   Be yourself  when it  doesn't?  he grins slightly,

  ..Now?..Meself? I've had a bit o' paint blastin' leveled  my way.... But in the end... I try  ta be there fer me Mates?. So?.. if ya  want.. I'll let Yuri know yer  me 4th.... if not?... ain't  no bit of  bad feelings... I'll Just move on  Until i find  a 4th..or  one is assigned?.... so?  whatcha  say. Mate?

Wild Bill Taylor looks at Shadow quizzically. He is a broadshouldered man, with bright green eyes and a typical pointy moustache. His hairline is withdrawing, gray at the temples, and his entire aura exudes confidence.
"Why me Lieutenant? Everyone here knows I'm a loner, or at least thats what they all say I am. So yeah, why me?"

     Kray Pushed his   Aussie  flight cap up with one finger...Well?  First off.... where we are at  now?.. they  aren't no bloody loners anymore.. we  out  the Nation of  Macro 8....an'  we're most likely  to run into 2 types of bad guys out here.....the first  group of bleedin' Buggerlugs who tried ta kill us all off...The  second group, while, they'll be some  agro aliens who don't like  folks sniffin' around their paddock?

 ..now... If   ya know anyhting  about me.. there's    Blokes and Shielas  who think i'm a  right ratbag, they do....  he shrugs, and smiles,./.there's   others who think i'm True  Blue...... now?... I hadda be a loner a bit, 'cause i didn't have the Big Bickies?..and  I spent more time then most, making those who did, look real bad....   he shrugs again.

 ..Now? I'm here... all that  money...didn't mean a damn ta them....maybe a handful of them got aboard  other ships like MArco?...but there's no bloody way we'll know, if what happened ta us..happened ta them...and were there any Blokes there ta fix it?.... We got a Guy  in Med Lab..how paid  the full bloody price..

  he smiles  a thin lipped smile, his  right   hand  flips open,..so?  Ya  want a Fair Go.... I'm  offerin'.... if not?   I can understand.... but..i also understand, there aren't  many blokes on this ship that can fly Hellcats... an' every one we lose... we'll make the ship weaker? So?.....

"I get that lieutenant, but the question remains, why me? What makes you want me, and not one of the better teamplayers?" He slumps down on the comfortable sofa, swinging his feet up on the side table.

... because... I think  ya can be a Team Player, and  your  skills   would help  balence the rest.....  I looked over the rest.. got  3  of ya  i wanted ta ask..... Figured I got me chance to  be more then I was?... givin' ya, the same turn..'eh?

  ... will  you be expected  ta   follow  order... bloody  right.  Will you be expected   to be a good wingman.... more then  Bloody right..... but....  I'm a bright enough Bloke ta listen to me Mates.... ya think we  beat  the Frenchie casue of me?... Naw.... we worked  together... so? Its  Up  to ya ownself Mate....ya can be a  Dragon, or   you can be a pool pilot?

"Well, put like that, you have a point. I think you have yourself a wingman."
Taylor extends his hand to Shadow.