The two badly damaged veritechs (both missing an arm) only manage to 'tow' the Centaur Hover tanks because the ground mecha posses tow cables.

As the two head towards the SDF-1 a large rectangular shape (sitting lengthwise) rises from behind it. The shape twists and turns revealing itself to be an ARMD class space carrier. A few veritechs are directed to land then as apparent by the vectoring towards the space carrier. One of these is Knight 4.



As the two veritech pass over the SDF-1, the vessel is 'landed' on a sheet of ice. When it come time to conduct a braking maneuver and turn around for landing Reindeer 18 has no problems maintaining a hold on the ground mecha, despite a few access panels popping off the fuselage that spin off into space. Oggy 3 on the other hand loses his grip during the braking maneuver.  The Centaur Hover Tank continues it's forward momentum and with the tow cable still attached to Oggy 3 once the tow cable goes taunt it yanks the veritech towards  the hover tank. The two mecha crash into each other. Oggy 3 gets a grip back on the other mecha and manages to head towards launch bay 4.

Reindeer 18 is first to reach lauch bay 4, which is big enough for three veritechs to lined up in a row and then a second row of three. Some ground crew direct where Raindeer 18 is to 'place' the hover tank (in the back row) she is towing and then directed to land beside it, in the 'middle' of the back row.

Oggy 3 arrives to see Reindeer 18 waiting. Ground crew directs Oggy 3 to set the over tank down in front of the firs on and then to land in front of Reindeer 18.

The two wait a minute of two for two other veritechs to land within the bay, apparently the decision was made to completely load the bay before transitioning to the hanger. After the hanger/launch bay doors are closed it takes several minutes. A green light comes on and the inner doors begin to open. Once they are fully open the mecha are directed to park in the back of a massive hanger.

The two guardian mode veritechs walk to their directed to parking spots next to each other.   The Centaur Hover Tanks, no longer in zero G 'waddle' over to thier designated parking spots on the other side of the hanger massive bay.

OOC: Ok you two can 'meet' each other in person for the first time.

Aksa waits for the pressure indicator to go green once she has parked and then pops the canopy to a slight hiss as the pressure of the bay and the pressure within her cockpit equalize. Without a helmet she just unplugs the headset from her VF-1 and rolling up the cord stuffs the tail end in a breast pocket and pulls the headset down about her neck.

No longer needing her sunglasses she pulls them off and, zipping down her flight suit a few inches, slings the glasses from the V her flight suits top creates.

She gratefully accepts the help from the ground crew in disembarking as she is tired and weary from the ordeal and, truth be told, not quite in possession of her space-legs just yet.

She pats the side of her VF-1's nosecone. "Sorry I got you so banged out there girl. But, thanks for looking after me."

She looks about the hanger bay and see's the Centaur crew and as they are kith and kin makes towards them. [Language unknown: "Bebe ssel roat weratiint? Ounat lo ai..."] She says as handshakes, tears, and back-slaps (in that order) abound.

As they are likely shooed off the busy deck towards the interior of the SDF-1 she see's the pilot of Oggy-3 and waves.

Ethan see's a pleasing on the eyes 5'9" Nordic female sporting blonde hair with darker roots up in a pony-tail, her eyes a piercing grey. Her black and grey flight suit has its sleeves rolled up and she wears a pair of matching Nomex flight gloves. She has a ground crew headset around her neck and grey lens Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses hooked onto her suits neckline.

Aside the squadron patch and name plate the only item that really stands out is her rank insignia, indicating she is a Kapteeni (Captain) in the FAF (Finnish Air Force).

She holds out her hand, and shakes Ethan's hand with a firm, but not overpowering, grip.

"Kapteeni Aksa* Tikkanen, Finnish Air Force. A pleasure to meet you." She says whilst making solid eye contact. "I guess we get to live a little longer no?" She adds with a weary smile.

* Pronounced 'aaK-SHAA'
This message was last edited by the player at 16:55, Sun 19 Aug 2018.

Finally getting the Centaur hover tank into the hanger bay, and landing his veritech, Ethan breaths a sigh of relief as he contemplates the difficulty he encountered in operating his veritech in the vacuum of space.  Ethan mused to himself how confident he was in his training back on Macross Island just hours before.  Now he finds himself in the vacuum of space, in the middle of war with giant aliens.

Quickly completing his post-flight checklist, Ethan is eager to exit his cockpit and check on his VF-1J.  Excepting the help of the ground crew, not the usual crew he confides in after all his previous flights, Ethan thanks them and looks over his badly damaged veritech.  Seeing the damage, Ethan promises himself he will not let his baby get damaged like this again!

While taking the time looking over his baby, the ground crew is trying to get him out of the hanger.  Possibly, getting ready to take on more veritechs.  Ethan looks over at the hover tanks and sees the crews that he helped save from Macross city.  His eyes easily spot the blondish attractive female dressed in a flight suit waving his way.  Ethan waves back and approaches his new wingman, woman, Reindeer 18.

As she reaches out her hand, he accepts the handshake that follows with her introduction.  Ethan responds, "Aye mate, it's a fine day to meet you...I am Leftenant Ethan Ambrose of the Royal Australian Navy Air Force.  Quite the day for us I'd say, and I'm damn glad my wingman and I ran across your lot."  As Ethan begins to think about Amelia and the fate of the rest of his squadron.  "Where do we go from here ma'am?  It appears our day has changed from where we started the day."

Ethan glances around to see where to go from here.

As Aksa and Eath meet each other a LBR-08 Masamune is directed to 'park' next to the Centaur Hover Tanks. A familiar VF-1J (Vermillion 7) is parked nearby as well. A pilot wearing US Navy insignia indicating he is a pilot belonging with VF-84 Jolly Rodger's (i.e. Skull Squadron). Its quite obvious the pilot was flying a veritech from a different squadron.

[Private to Jack O'Neil: You did the same landing procedures as the other characters. I just don't want to write everything in a separate post.

Since you are assigned to the UES Macross you can show the other two pilots to Skull Squadrons ready room.]

Finally being onboard the SDF-1 Jack finally sigh in relief and let the stress leave him, at least he manage to help the Masamune unit. Shaking his head to get his act together he spot the other two Veritech that have flown with him on Earth, smiling slightly he makes a wave towards them and heads over.

"Greetings fellow pilots! Name is Jack, flown as Vermillion 7. Thanks for the help out there and good to see that you two also survived...whatever happened" Jack wave his right hand in a waving motion. "Anyway, if you follow me I can show you to the Skull's ready room. So we ain't in the way for the crew"

Ethan greets the Skull Squadron pilot, "Great meeting you Jack, bloody good to see you made it.  I'm Ethan Ambrose, Royal Australian Navy, lead the way mate."

"Kapteen...um, Captain Aksa Tikkanen, Finnish Air Force. A pleasure." She says alongside a firm handshake, adjusting her pronunciation a bit to fit the English speakers. "After you." She adds.

"I believe Knight 4 was diverted the the ARMD platform nearby." She informs, since one out of the quartet is decidedly missing.

As she walks thru the corridors of the massive ship she looks around, acclimatizing herself. So this is the ship that caused all the fuss. she muses inwardly.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:26, Sun 19 Aug 2018.

Jack leads the other two veritech pilots through the ship. After a few minutes the three get to their destination.

---

As the three pilots enter the designated ready room for VF-84 Jolly Rodgers. There are seven veritech pilots sitting down among the 20 available chairs. An eighth, Commander Roy Fokker is on a phone talking to someone.

The back wall has a large TV monitor. To the left is a female head, and the left a male head. Off to the side is a coffee pot and a platter of

OOC: For those who don't know 'head' is 'Navy speak' for the bathroom.

Aksa wordlessly looks over the other seven pilots to ascertain their nationality, branch, and ranks. Seeing the coffee on she makes her way over to it and, seeing that a few other pilots already have availed themselves to it, pours herself a cup sans additives, just black and bitter.

She takes a seat towards the back and nurses the warm drink as she tries to process the past few hours events. Finding that she will likely need a bit more time to decompile that in her head she instead looks about her environs and notes the difference between a spacecraft based ready room and a terrestrial based one. Of course, with the space the SDF-1 has to offer it isn't near as cramped as the images of Earth bound aircraft carriers she'd seen.

She removes her gloves and neatly folding them up stuffs them in the thigh pocket of her flight-suit.

Unless spoken to she remains silent with her thoughts, and her coffee.

OOC: The pilots of VF-84 are all US Navy

"But Claudia, I know Rick is out there somewhere, I can't just abandon him." After a pause of about a minute his voice increases. "Aye Aye Captain I guess friendship is a little more important to some of us then it is to others. Sorry to bother you Sir."

Commander Fokker then looks at the assembled pilots, and fills in his squadron.

"As some of you already know we are down four airframes. Chuckles, Easy, and Taco are KIA. But Lieutenant O'Neill is back with us and it looks like he brought some friends, so some introductions are in order."

[Private to Jack O'Neil:
'Taco' was the XO.
'Chuckles' was your roommate.
'Easy' was a female VT pilot]

"Commander, this is Captain Aksa Tikkanen, Finnish Air Force and this is Lieutenant Ethan Ambrose. We flew together during the battle on Earth and meet up here. If you haven't meet the Commander before this is Commander Fokker." Jack introduce Ethan and Aksa to the other pilots. "Have you heard anything of Lieutenant Meiko Levina, sir? She had a leak during the battle in space and landed on the ARMD. And where are we?"

During Ethan's entry into the ready room, he spied the coffee and needed a cup to calm his nerves.  Walking across the room to the coffee pot, he politely nods to the heads that inquisitively look his way.  After getting his coffee and hearing the tense conversation from the gentleman on the phone, the probable leader of Skull Squadron, the famous Roy Fokker.

Hearing Commander Fokker hang up the phone, Ethan turns his attention to the Commander.

Upon hearing the introductions, Ethan greets the room, "Pleasure Mates"

When Jack finishes, "Excuse me Commander, do you know the lot of the other squadrons?"

"Pleased to meet you." She says, and shakes the hands of the few pilots nearby that turn and or reach backwards over a seat to introduce themselves by name and then callsign.

Inevitably the question is posed regards Aksa's callsign. What is it; do FAF pilots use callsigns?

"Ah, yes, we do, I go by Äkäpussi." She says evenly. Nearby, after a slight pause, there are a few soft snickers, then laughter.

And this would be why my CO asked me to wear a generic name plate at the display...she realizes.

"Alright, I'll bite, what's that in English?" A nearby pilot asks.

"Vixen; after one..." She pauses, knowing where this is going to end up, and smiles with a shrug. "...of Santa's Reindeer."

OOC: So it’s pronounced ‘Aka Pussy’?

OOC:

https://www.wordhippo.com/what...-word-for-vixen.html

There is a Audio button so you can hear it pronounced correctly.

As a cultural note, one of the heights of Finnish humor is word play based on meaning and pronunciation. So, After long research, äkäpussi fit the bill. It's one word for Vixen, Santa's Reindeer, and she's a Laplander so, land of Reindeer. And, as you split it, can also be, A.K.A (Also Known As) Pussi. It's gets cruder from there, like, old bag, harridan, shrew... (come to think of it, would make a good nickname for miss Misa Hayes too...that old sourpuss)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Mon 20 Aug 2018.

"Well until everything gets sorted out and we figure out the status of your squadrons I'm adopting you two." Roy clicks a remote that shows Macross Island floating in space, along with the UES Macross. Both the UES Prometheus and UES Daedalus can be seen as well.

"When we space folded we took Macross Island and the surrounding ocean with us. Yes that's the Prometheus and Daedalus sitting in a sheet of ice. We were supposed to de-fold on the other side of the moon, but intel says we're in orbit around Pluto."

"The rest of the ships air group is clearing the island of alien mecha. Once their finished we'll begin transferring the civilians from the shelters to the SDF-1."

"Those of us with fully functional veritechs will be tasked as the heavy lifters under the direction of engineers to clear debris around the shelters so docking tubes can be connected."

"Those of you whose veritechs are deemed too damaged to take back up on so short notice will have a more grisly job. There are around hundred veritechs floating around Macross City or onboard the Prometheus whose aircrews were killed when we de-folded. We need to recover these veritechs. You'll be ferried out to a veritech in Rabbit shuttle, where some EVA specialists will assist you in removing the body and take over the veritech."

"But we all get 4 to 8 hours of mandated rest before we head out." Roy motion points to a female veritech pilot and spoke in a somber voice. "JoJo, I need you to clear Easy's bunk so Akipussy has a place sleep." He then points to Jack. "I need you to clear Chuckles' bunk for Ambrose."

Like many in the room she gasps when it's learned that they are near Pluto, and pushes a queasy feeling down as she listens to the rest of what Commander Fokker has to say.

"Commander Fokker." Says after he has finished and the room has quieted down some, raising her hand.

"I recommend standing up a mobile EOC* to coordinate with the Rabbit teams in the field. I...I hold a 'Readiness Contract' with the FRDF** and have training and experience in Emergency/Crisis Management; recovery and rescue operations, that sort of thing." She says, just a bit uncomfortable bringing it up. She pushes that aside and continues.

"Also, if there are any space based AWAC platforms operational, and the Air Group is willing to task it, one could stand in as an ECC***. That way we don't have to rely on the bridge to coordinate. I figure they have more then enough snow on the roof as it is." She offers; then, lowers her hand to let anyone else reply. She has some more ideas, but, if she can't get Step 1 approved, it does no good to waste time detailing Steps 2 thru whatever.

*   Emergency Operations Center
**  Finnish Rapid Deployment Force
*** Emergency Communications Center

38 v 48 Theater Warfare: Rescue and Recovery Operations: PASS
This message was last edited by the player at 04:25, Tue 21 Aug 2018.

Nodding solemnly at Roy's order Jack is still glad that so many of the Skull's got through the hassle, still the surprise of being at the edge of the system was something that will not leave him soon.

Trying to feel more useful he tries to go through his knowledge about Disaster Response but either due to all stress or out of his depth he comes up with nothing.

11:08, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 68 using 1d100 ((68)). fail

"Very well Captain. Once your settled in report to the CIC deck. Rescue and recovery ops are being planned there."

"Anymore questions?" Roy answers a few more questions and dismisses before he everyone lists where the briefings will take place for both operations.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:22, Thu 23 Aug 2018.

After being dismissed Jojo takes Aksa to a two person stateroom in female officer country. Jojo explains that while Aksa is off with rescue planning she clear out Easy's things and get some fresh linen on the deceased pilot's bunk.

Leaving for the CIC deck Aksa heads up to the CIC deck, having to ask for directions a few times. Once there she spends the next few hours helping to plan various aspects of the rescue of the civilians and recovery of the derelict veritechs. She then heads back down to her temporary state room where Jojo is asleep. Several boxes are arrayed in the corner, probably the deceased pilots belongings.

---

After being dismissed Jack shows Ethan where his stateroom is. With nothing for either pilot to do, they clean out Chuckles gear and box it up. Jack heads down to laundry and gets some fresh linen for the now empty bunk.

OOC: I am going to assume anyone who needed to got toiletries from the ships PX. Unless your Jack your going to have to wear the same flight suit as you have been wearing.

Aksa thanks JoJo for her efforts and understanding, but is confused as to why the genders are segregated, but she guesses that's an American thing and leaves it at that.

On the other hand, she is nigh horrified to learn that the squadron shower area is devoid of a sauna. How do these people even function?!

---

After her time in the CIC she makes her way to the ships BX and picks up a fresh flight suit and utility uniform as well as the necessities which includes a thermos for coffee, and as many coffee insta-packs as she can manage before the inevitable 'rationing' of that commodity begins.

With her goods in tow she drops the lions share off at her temporary lodgings and then with her new set of utilities heads to the ships exercise facilities to use the shower there, but more importantly, it's sauna. After a good hour soak she stops by the ships laundry to have her rank flight suit cleaned.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:09, Thu 23 Aug 2018.

"So Lieutenant Ethan, where are you from? Good see you under better environment" Jack start the conversation as he place Chuckles things in a box.

In reply to Jack O'Neil (msg # 23):

"Jack, it is amazin' how this day unfolded and joining up with you blokes was a saving grace."  Patting Jack on the back in appreciation.  "I grew up in West'n Australia, a small plot in Rockingham.  This morning I was part of the Fighting First of the Royal Australian Air Force.  How things have changed.  How about you mate?"

"Yeah, it was good luck that we joined forces" Jack reply with a grin. "Half Swed/American, lived in Florida. Joined the forces in '03 and Skull's for two years"

After her work in the CIC, her shopping trip and her soak, Aksa makes her way into 'male territory' Aksa walks down the corridor until she hears Ambrose, as his accent is easiest to pick out. She waits for a break in whatever conversation they might be having so as not to interrupt, and then knocks on the door (or door jam if the door is open).

"Gentlemen? Sorry to intrude." She says by way of greeting.

"Lieutenant O'Neil; would you be able to take Lieutenant Ambrose and myself to supply. We're going to need space-capable flight suits fitted before we head out for the Recovery operation." She says.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:56, Thu 23 Aug 2018.

"Of course ma'm" Jack reply swiftly and place the last stuff away. "Sorry if I would be somewhat rusty of the layout. This way please" he continue and leads the way towards the supply area.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Thu 23 Aug 2018.

"Thank you." She says as they leave the squadron bay.

"Once we get our suit situation settled, I recommend as much sleep as you can manage before we set out. Once we begin, the tempo will be high." She says softly, but still clear enough to be heard as she pulls up the rear behind the two male pilots.
[Language unknown:
"Mius ieee heac thi p chstr...oniner arwhi, hisundrat ekthha enha verticwit allthewhi..."] She says very softly, thinking aloud in a self to self conversation.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:12, Fri 24 Aug 2018.

Led by Lt. O'Neil, the three pilot make their way through the SDF-1 to supply. Once there they find that they are not the only pilots trying to draw equipment for exo-atmospheric operations.

The pilots in line appear to be from the squadrons that were based on Macross Island.

Aksa is greeted by a male pilot from her squadron. The man is at first surprised to see Aksa and then hugs her. After the embrace the man speaks to her in their native language.  [Language unknown: "Ers prwepa! Ssnanc annti pl t romit...u...p asttinout pr k. I estintrom theth nooundsa omsi ck."

"U rattionce......Al ashoha it le wi vermi wi eros. M ckbeisos sesom asdiie ecton p ilut almapame ho ivut ndeanyout....O ereardest ortmo asliof ouar a panius."]

[Private to Aksa Tikkanen: OOC: You can make up whatever name you want for this guy. But his wing man, Hannu was the squadron CO.]

"Aarne?" She says slowly, in an almost confused manner.

"AARNE!!" She exclaims in joy and returns the brief embrace.

[Language unknown: "N sa Chres! Niil ma eauha o ofee eause!"] She says at first, happiness and relief in her eyes and voice, then gasps and takes a step backwards as her hands come to her mouth, her eyes pained an full of anguish. [Language unknown: "T...e e."] She trembles.

As Aarne continues Aksa's eyes begin to water and her bottom lip quavers slightly.

[Language unknown: "Fo ntetraugh. Ro, Ca us ilulec ee erse averomany, Ol oureveencrut the ngad. O, M peel iv are ear ivfiin iv ek, tinun. O ioect...si M tiiefi thomanwit ionoveessvor watr...E..U her..."] She manages amidst sobs as she backs into a wall, using it as a brace as she clutches her chest with one hand, her other at her side balled into a fist.

She holds out her hand to ward off anyone trying to approach her in such a state and after several minutes she grits her teeth and thru them emits a guttural howl of pain. After a series of deep breathes thru her nose the trembling slowly stops and she begins to wipe the tears from her eyes.

Pushing herself back up she stands unassisted with her head up, her eyes wet but resolute. She sniffs and wipes her nose.

[Language unknown: "Paseri inurha, ansi heratenot, nach forai haevsa naiole weatni. Ie, Int atiineter con adulthlldi."] She says hoarsely. [Language unknown: "N, dinousame mi strruthou ta ilsa no wh Mehoiv peinis. O redsetrea for itlaio roast aveverate encsheoun."] She adds, motioning towards Lt. Ambrose.

She clasps his shoulder and holds her hand there for a few seconds. [Language unknown: "Pl oneonstra t roine hawhe caour ai."] She says. "Sisu Perkele."

"Lieutenant Ambrose, Lieutenant O'Neil..." She indicates each in turn. "First Lieutenant Aarne Kotila, part of my squadron." She says, introducing her compatriot.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:45, Sat 25 Aug 2018.

Feeling somewhat in the way Jack steps back and look between the Captain and the new pilot.

"Of course it's finish" Jack grumble to himself and cover his face with his hands. "I tell you man, whereever you go finish will always sound strange..." he continue and turns to Ethan only to stop once the sob is heard, feeling ashamed he looks anywhere except the two pilots.

Understanding what Aksa is going through, Ethan remains quiet an lets his new found squadron mate resolve her feelings.  Knowing what this pain is like with all the death in his family, and from today's losses, he knows there will be a lot of this in the coming days.

As Ethan sees Aksa move to her feet, he steps closer to assist if necessary.  Seeing Aksa's resolve, he remains quiet.  Hearing Aksa's introduction, Ethan puts his hand out and responds "Pleasure to meet you mate."

"Let's get what we need here, then Jack, if you don't mind, can you take me to the exchange so I can get some personals?  I have a feeling we will be out here for awhile."

The three pilots wait in line. When their turn is up it's pretty easy to get Sub Lieutenant Ambrose a face mask and life support pack. Captain Tikkanen on the other hand, lacking a helmet has to wait a few minutes until records can be pulled up with her helmet size. Then its a few more minutes until a spare helmet in her size is found. The helmet provided fits but is painted bright day glo orange, normally issued to a trainee.

Lieutenant J.G O'Neil then shows the three where the PX is so if either Ambrose or  Tikkanen need 'stuff' they can get it.

[Private to Aksa Tikkanen:
Yeah its gonna be weird with the pilot in charge wearing a day glow orange helmet.]

[Private to Jack O'Neil:
You realize that you don't need any exo-atmospheric flight gear since you were issued such items and they are in your locker along with your spare flight suit.]

OOC: You guys can RP some more, but I'd like to get you into your 'sleep cycle' so I can get Meiko linked up with you guys.

Having helped his new friends around and get them their new equipment Jack is really starting to feel the sleepiness come upon him.

"Ma'm, Lt. I'm sorry but I feel really tired from...everything have happened over the past day and the bed is calling on me. Do you need help to find anything else?"

Aksa takes the helmet without a fuss.

Since Aksa had already picked up stuff from the BX earlier she doesn't get much else.

As they shop Aksa makes small talk with Aarne in their native tongue. Her tone is reserved and it doesn't seem like she says all that much. She eventually switches to English.

"Lieutenant Kotila, you'll come back to where we're billeted. I'll speak with the squadron commander and see about getting you 'adopted'." She says.

"Also, get some sleep when we get back, we have a task to do in a few hours." She adds.

---

To O'Neil she shakes her head. "Thank you. No, I think we have everything. Lets head back, we will all need to rest." She says evenly.

---

Once they get back she walks with Aarne to Commander Fokker's room (or to where ever he is (unless it's the shower, in which case she'll wait) and knocks.

"Commander Fokker. I found one of my squadron. Do you have room for him?" She asks and motions to Lt. Kotila, her orange trainee helmet in her other hand. She then, in a no-nonsense no frills manner, informs the Commander that the plan for the recovery has been agreed upon, as well as when it's slated to kick-off. She provides the basic details of the plan then stands by to answer any specific questions he might have.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Sun 26 Aug 2018.

"I got a spare bunk in my quarters." Roy probably didn't have to mention that squadron CO's and XO's got their own staterooms and thus didn't mention it. "Lt. Kotila can room with me until we get everything figured out."

After hearing about the recovery plan Roy nods, he'd already been informed about some aspects of it, and alluded to this fact at the end of their conversation. "I heard they are putting you in charge of Team 2."

[Private to Aksa Tikkanen:
You already know that your in charge of team 2. Its quite clear that Roy probably knows quite few people in high places within the vessels command staff.]

"I appreciate it." She says.



"Yes sir. I will most likely peg Ambrose and O'Neil, as well as Kotila. I've worked with them before. There is another but as far as I know she is still aboard the ARMD. A Lieutenant Levina. That leaves me with two or three ferry pilot slots to fill. If you can recommend two others I'd appreciate it. I haven't had the time to learn who does, and does not, have a combat capable Valkyrie." She replies.  'And volun-telling any of your pilots, even if they had bent birds, would be the height of impropriety.' She muses to herself. "I was going to comm the ARMD to see about getting Lt Levina moved to the SDF. May I have permission to use your squadrons telephone?*"

[Private to GM: *OOC or switchboard or what have they, in any case, not polite to be a guest and then use their phone and start making long distance calls...]
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:56, Mon 27 Aug 2018.

As Jack departs, Ethan begins to feel the wear of the day fall upon him.  Looking around the exchange, he finds the stuff he needs to survive until things are figured out in the next couple days.  Ethan purchases toiletries, sleeping attire, workout clothing, two uniforms to be tailored, and a new data pad until hopefully his stuff can be found.

Now that Ethan, is able to get out of his flight suit he quickly makes his way back to his room. Once there he can shower and relax after his eventful day, and his first trip to the outer reaches of the solar system.  Showered and his gear stowed, Ethan takes a moment to himself before finally resting his head on his new bed.  Before he falls fast asleep, he ponders to himself, "What will tomorrow bring?"

After getting Lt. Kotila settled Aksa attends to her flight suit, doing what she can to make it ready for the upcoming op.* After another shower she returns to her temporary bunk, sets her alarm for 1.5 hours before briefing time, then sacks out, asleep before her head even hits the pillow.

[Private to GM: * I'll leave it at that. Not going to go into detail, that's way to far into the weeds.]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:08, Mon 27 Aug 2018.

Ethan and Jack wake up and after getting ready and go back to VF-84's ready/briefing room. Once they find they are to report to room 412.

---

Aksa get up does what she needs to do in the AM. She already knows where she's headed.....

[Private to Aksa Tikkanen: hold you post for now....]

After having a somewhat pleasant sleep and having cleaned himself for the day Jack heads towards room 412, not really looking forward to the work that will be done today.

Hitting the snooze one time, Ethan awoke ready to take on the day.  Understanding he is suppose to report to Rm 412, before he leaves the ready room Ethan fixes himself a cup of hot java.  Now he is ready to see what awaits in rm 412.

Room 412 turns out to be a large briefing room with the capacity for about 50 people. The room is over half full of pilots, and EVA Specialists.

OOC/EDIT: No is is going to recognize Meiko when she shows up, but she will recognize one person.

[Private to Aksa Tikkanen: After Meiko posts, you can start your briefing. ]

[Private to Meiko Levina: You will recognize the woman who give the briefing as the pilot of Reindeer 18 who wasn't wearing a helmet, but wearing aviator sunglasses, and an aviator headset.]

OOC: Fixed the room #.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:26, Sun 02 Sept 2018.

A diminutive Asian woman in flight gear arrives, carrying gear, helmet and a small kit bag.  Her flight suit reads US Marines, with a name tag of Levina.  On her shoulder, among the patches for her ride (Valkyrie patch!) is one for VMFA-314.

She will find her way to the coffee machine, get a cup and look for other US Marine aviators.

[Private to GM: If Aksa is free, and seen, she will approach her, reading her uniform.

"Good teamwork out there One-Eight."  She will offer her a quick salute, then a hand to shake.]




But with VF1-A Valkyrie instead

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:26, Sun 02 Sept 2018.

Meiko doesn't recognize anybody in the room. Nor are there any other USMC aviators.

[Private to Meiko Levina: You won't see Aksa until she shows up to give the briefing. She isn't even in the room yet.

You'll get a chance to talk to her after the briefing.]

Meiko tries not to look at loss, then.  If she sees any Israeli pilots she will say hi to them, Japanese, and English speakers... but she is not overtly social in general.

She might get a second.. or third cup of coffee, though!

As the last of the pilots and crew slated for the operation filter into to the briefing room Aksa waits a few minutes to allow for idle chit chat among them as she sips her coffee entering the main room from the attached A/V nook.

Checking her watch she allows for another 10 - 15 seconds of social time as nearby the door, Lt. Kotila dims the lights.

"Take a seat everyone." She directs, setting her coffee thermos to the side, beginning the briefing at exactly the appointed hour.

As the shuffle subsides she begins in a clear, confidant voice that can be heard easily even in the back of the room.

"Good morning. I am Captain Aksa* Tikkanen and OIC for Team 2." She says, ontroducing herself to the gathering.

"Our upcoming job is a vital one, but it won't be pretty." She opens. "We are tasked with the recovery of the derelict VF's strewn about the remains of South Ataria Island. This means that we will also be recovering their aircrews." She says, then moves into the meat of the brief.

"We will work in a 'pack' of five craft. Two Rabbit shuttles, and three Spiderbug work pods. Manpower for the operation above and beyond the crew for the Rabbits and 'Bugs will include a Mobile Emergency Operations Center (MEOC) staff consisting of myself and Lt. Kotila, as well as 6 Ferry Pilots and two shifts of Salvage and EVA experts. Four Ferry pilots will join us initially, the other two will be on standby to either allow for crew rest or jump in when we hit a good pace."

"Our jump off and final recovery point will be Bay 4." She says.

"Craft assignments are as follows:
- Rabbit; Tail number 023, will be the MEOC craft, call-sign 'Lion'.
- Rabbit; Tail number 778, will be the Transit craft. It's call-sign will depend on whether it's heading towards the SDF, 'Charon' or back out to us, 'Coach'.
- 'Bug; Tail number 14 Papa, will hard dock to Lion, and operate as call-sign 'Anchor'"

Aksa pushes a button and the projector displays a crude graphic of how Lion and Anchor will be connected. https://cdn.discordapp.com/att...449801768/image0.jpg

"- 'Bugs; Tail numbers 14 Juliet and 15 Delta will operate as 'Recovery 1' and '2' respectively.
- Ferry Pilots, when you are in transit with a recovered VF your call-sign will be 'Usher 1' thru '6'." 

"In a nutshell; Once the five craft reach our first 'field' Anchor and Lion will dock. The Ferry pilots will transfer to Lion and will use that as your staging area while the salvage teams set up outside. Recovery 1 and 2 will then head into the field and each bring back a VF. They will hand off their VF to Anchor, then, return to the field to return with another pair of VF. Meanwhile, the salvage teams and the first two ferry pilots will assess the space worthiness of the VF's and recover the pilot.

"Recovery teams, as you do your 'pre-flight' send to Lion the following information; Type of craft, Tail Number, Squadron, Aircrew name and rank, general state of the craft, and most important, does it have unused stores, and if so, type and amount."

"The recovered pilots will be transferred to the second Rabbit, now operating as 'Charon'. Body bags won't work so they will need to be wrapped in linen sheets." She notes.

"Once two VF's are ready to return, Ushers 1 and 2 will head back to the SDF-1. Our landing site for all recovered craft will the the Macross' number two bay; it's the bottom bay on the left hand side." She says, bringing up a image of the Macross with a red circle around the proper bay.

"Usher's, you will be directed in to final by Macross' tower."

"Once the third and fourth VF are ready to head back they will escort Charon, now with four recovered pilots aboard, back to the Macross. 'Charon' will use Bay 1 " Aksa says and an orange circle appears over Bay 1.

"Mortuary services will take custody of the recovered pilots. 'Charon' will then pick up Usher's 1 thru 4 and return them to the pack under call-sign 'Coach'."

"The process of recovery and return will continue until all mecha in a field have been accounted for. Once a field has been expended we move on to the next." She says and another image displaying a circuit around the island with around 12 to 15 'fields' is shown.

"Contingencies:

  -If mecha have been recovered that are not space-worthy, to include VF's, Destroids, or air-breathing craft, they will be staged nearby. If a recovered VF can shift to Battloid, they will return to Bay 2 with it in tow. A surge 'Bug, call-sign 'Bruck', will be on stand-by to assist if we get back-logged. However, recovery priority goes to VF's. If we can move a non-VF back to the Macross great, if not, it will wait."

  -Enemy Mecha; If we locate enemy mecha, transmit that information to Lion and we will mark that for follow up recovery by EOD.

  -Enemy Action; Even though Command 'says' that all enemy craft have been eliminated, the Macross and the ARMD will have cover fighters on patrol and a sweep made by Ghost drones will precede us to flush out any enemy that might be in hiding. Needless to say, if you think you have spotted an active enemy unit, Call. It. Out."

  -Survivors: The chances are slim, but if we run into a survivor, immediately call it out. If it is a VF, or other mecha, start moving it towards the Macross, SAR will meet you on the way and take over. If the survivor is trapped or otherwise unable to be easily moved, mark it's location and remain on hand to direct SAR in."

"A few additional points; Lion and the transit Rabbit will operate depressurized. So, if you are entering or exiting, call it out, I don't want anyone bumping into one another." She says, and then pauses.

"It's rotten work we are going to be doing. If you feel like you are going to be sick, call it out and return to Lion immediately. The closest person to a 'sick call', drop what you are doing and help them back to Lion. We will re-pressurize so you can get your helmet off before you puke in it, hopefully." She says with a wry grin, a light spot of humor to hopefully take the edge off. She then continues.

"Likewise, if we run across a unit piloted by someone you knew and you do not feel able to assist in the recovery of the pilot or the bird, call it out and someone else can take your place. It sucks, but it is easier, sometimes, to do this kind of thing when it's a 'stranger'." She adds.

"Watch out for each other, if you see a buddy looking green, or otherwise out of sorts, call it out and render aid. Ego stays at home, I do not want to to hear any 'I'll be fine' only to have you pop a minute later."

She flips to the back up slides and then takes a sip of her coffee.

"If there are comments, or you feel that something has not been covered or needs to be clarified, I will address your questions now." She finishes.

---

* Pronounced aaK-SHAA
This message was last edited by the player at 16:22, Sun 02 Sept 2018.

A USAF 1st Lieutenant wearing a grey and black flight/space suit with patches identifying him as a veritech pilot with the 28th Fighter Squadron "Scorpions" raises his hand.

Once acknowledged he asked his question. "Ma'am, if we do encounter an active enemy unit are we cleared weapons free to engage after calling out the target?" It seems like a rhetorical question (and it is) but the USAF pilot has a level of seriousness in his tone of voice that would not normally be attributed to someone of his rank.

Aksa nods as she sips from her coffee.

‘Tulta munille.’“ She says, then clarifies for the non-Finn speakers. "If you see an enemy unit, you are authorized weapons free.”

“I’d still like it called out. Even if is an expanding debris field by that time.” She adds dryly.

Lt. Kotila nods in approval. He leans in towards a nearby pilot (whoever it may be) and translates the Finnish portion.

“It means ‘Fire at their balls.’”
This message was last edited by the player at 19:14, Sun 02 Sept 2018.

Meiko chuckles, though she was still writing down notes in her pad.

"No mercy for those giants from me, one-eight."

She looks up.

"Flight assignments for veritechs posted, Ma'am?  Sorry, I just arrived from the Big E."

Aksa looks over at the new question and upon hearing '1-8', puts two and two together, and nods with a smile.

"No hard assignments. 'Usher 1 thru 6' will crew VF's when they are available to return the SDF. To keep it simple, 'Usher' pilots will be numbered in the order they first return to the SDF and keep that number for the duration of the operation." She says.

"As for VF assignment following rescue and recovery operations? I can't speak to that." She adds with a quasi-apologetic shrug.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Sun 02 Sept 2018.

Jack raise his hand soon afterwards.
"Ma'm, do we have a rough idea of how many VF and other mechas we might found out there?"

"Approximately 100 VF's. Plus an indeterminate number of other craft." She replies. "We won't really know the full scope until we get out there."

"Once we begin we will continue until the task is done; shifting out for respite's as needed."

"We'll kick off at (insert time here). So be at Bay 4 a bit ahead of time."

She keeps the floor open for a few more questions before wrapping up.

---

OOC: Unless Ethen or another NPC have a question; or Meiko or Jack have a follow up. I'm good to go to wrap up the briefing portion, opening up for some RP before 'kick off'.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Sun 02 Sept 2018.

OOC: I want the give Ethan a chance to post (it is a holiday weekend in the US) before moving forward.

Meiko grins briefly, showing a toothy if uneven smile and winks.




She nods, then frowns at her notepad.

"Ma'm, I don't understand.  What radio call sign will the Valkyries use prior to coming back inbound, and why use a variable call sign.  I would think you would want to know exactly what and who you have where?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:49, Sun 02 Sept 2018.

Ethan sips his coffee listening to Aksa's very detailed brief.  After hearing that we can engage enemy units, Ethan chuckles to himself thinking "I will report the enemy's wreckage immediately"

Upon hearing the 2nd comment, especially the way 18 was said, could this be the pilot that was with us yesterday?  Ethan looks hard to find the individual making the comment.

"Ready to go Ma'am"

"Usher 1 thru 6." She says. "If you are the first one to head back, you will be Usher 1, and will have that as your Call-sign for the duration of the recovery operation." She adds. "If we start using the individual planes call-signs it's going to get confusing in a hurry. It also sets us apart from any other call-sign out there." She explains as she sips from her coffee.

"Last thing we need if things go sideways is for control, or me, to have to try and figure out who the hell is in what plane if everyone adopts the call-sign of the bird their returning." She says evenly with a shrug.*

---

(*OOC: So, yeah, this is actually being said in a conversational non-confrontational way; Aksa just swears...a lot. I'm just putting this disclaimer here since inflection translates like shit into text.)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:26, Mon 03 Sept 2018.

Meiko squints, then laughs.

"I think I understand now.  Us Valkyrie pilots won't have a call sign until we get into and recover a valkyrie, is that it?"  She shakes her head, this is starting to shape up into the same sort of confusion that landed her a nickname.

"Correct." Aksa says.

"Thank you."

She makes one more note, then stares at it... likely thinking morbid thoughts.

With the briefing over and about an hour of time between now and assembly in the designated hanger deck the pilots begin to file out of the room.

[Private to Meiko Levina: OK now is a good time to introduce your self to Aksa, and she will probably introduce you to the other two PC's]

Meiko heads straight up to Aksa and has a hand out quickly to her.
Her smile is warm.

"One-Eight, a pleasure to be able to meet you in person.  Sorry about the questions, buy me a beer and I will regale you with how I earned the handle Lightning."  She grins fast and winks.  "Let's just say, not the first time I have had issues in a briefing."

A chuckle.

"Meiko Levina, 1st Lieutenant, US Marines."

Ethan sees the pilot who asked the questions walk toward his wingman, and he walks to Aksa's position.

Aksa returns the handshake with a brief but firm grip of her own.

"Aksa Tikkanen, Captain, Finnish Air Force." She replies, returning the formal greeting with a nod. "It is a pleasure to meet you Lieutenant Levina."

(Her name plate has her call-sign as VIXEN)

"Did you have any trouble landing on the ARMD?" She asks Meiko. "Have you gotten your flight suit space rated?" She adds, sounding much like a mother hen, just less fussy, and less old.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:10, Mon 03 Sept 2018.

The Marine returns the firm grip with pleasure.

"How did the rest of our little flight fare, Captain Tikkanen?"


(Meiko's reads with her name, call-sign LIGHTNING, and such)



The attitude, remarkably, brings out a smile in the shorter woman.
"The Big E took good care of getting me in and putting me up.
She wags the little bag over her shoulder, on it are also the mask and O2 tank for space operations.
"I haven't had my suit rechecked, only clothes I got, but I did pick up my mask and tank.  I've used this suit in space operations before, and I will pre-flight check it ASAP."

She glances to the clearing room.

"Seen any other US Marines?  I don't know if anyone else from my squadron survived yet.  Things are a bit messy over on the Big E.  I used stand down to get a few necessities and rest."

"US Marines? A few." She replies. She's seen a lot of pilots around of late, and she's pretty sure at least one or two were likely a US Marine. But she never spoke with them.

Regards the question on how their 'little flight had fared' she offers a 'well, it's like this' smile and looks over Meiko's shoulder at an approaching pilot.

[Private to Ethan Ambrose: Dats you man! ]
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:56, Mon 03 Sept 2018.

Following behind Ethan Jack walks up to Aksa and Meiko.
So ma'm, is this the lost Knight?" he speaks once close enough and an opening between conversation. "Greetings, I'm Jack O'Neil and flew as Vermellion 7 during the battle on Earth"

"Capin, is this our missing pilot from yesterday?" Ethan says as he walks up behind the pilot.

"I do believe it is." Aksa says, stepping back to allow the three to chat as she takes another drink from her thermos.

A small laugh from the short pilot and a big grin as she goes to shake Jack's hand vigorously.

"Pleased to meet you Jack, Lieutenant Meiko Levina, US Marines."  She chuckles "Battle of Earth, huh?  First I have heard it called that, I have been in holding pattern."

Another nod to Ethan.  "You our Oggy?"  And offers her hand to him too.

Ethan reaches out and accepts Meiko's hand, "Yep Oggy 3, from the Australian Navy, Ethan Ambrose at your service.  She assign to us now Capin?"

The USAF pilot had been watching the reunion, and decided to join in the conversation. "I hear the surviving squadron commanders and XO's are going to be reorganizing the air wings. So who knows what squadron we'll be assigned to in a few days."

Meiko nods to Archer.

"In the meantime, the Four Horsemen reuinite!"  She laughs.

"Any tally on how many kills we all got?  I know I racked in...   6 mecha kills.  Did all of us do Ace in a Day?"

Archer non nonchalantly listed his kills. "I got five of their Tri-Thruster Fighters for sure, maybe four of those headless ostrich things on the ground. Intel guys will be spending weeks going over everyone's Gun camera footage."
This message was last updated by the player at 21:58, Mon 03 Sept 2018.

"I'm sure we all did our duty." She replies regards the talk of kills, leaving it at that, just happy to have survived the ordeal.

"As for assignments; for the duration of the Recovery operation, yes. As for afterwards; I'm sure UN Command, in their infinite wisdom, will have a place for us when all is said and done."

There is an pause from Aksa as she is in thought. Then...

"I need to double check the meal coordination. If you have a blend you prefer, now is the time to tank up." She says, holding up her coffee thermos. The joke quote on it's side reads. 'I drink coffee for YOUR protection.'

"If you want, send any preferred food or rest items to the Bay 1 Flight Ops Dayroom. We'll be using that for crew rest as well as a break area in between Rabbit rides."

With that, the introverted and nigh shy Finn takes her leave.

"Right behind you Capin, let me fill up my java"

Ethan quickly fills his mug and catches up with the crew for the days work.

"No pork or shellfish for me, please.  I don't try to stay kosher, but some foods just aren't right."

She eyes the thermos and shrugs, and looks around.

"Can one of you show me where to stow my stuff, and maybe draw some more things?  I am pretty short on everything but enthusiasm right now.  My billet was on the Prommie..."

"Great to see another good pilot survived the battle" Jack reply as he shakes Meiko's hand with a smile.

"I believe I got total of eight kills, would been higher if missiles had been mounted" he reply to Jack with a shrug.

"Have you been assigned a room? Otherwise I can be a guide today to" Jack reply to Meiko about question about the room.

She has a firm grip, somewhat rough hands, if tiny.  She probably barely made the cut size-wise to pilot fighters.

"Thanks, Jack.  Good shooting."

A shake of her head, her hair loose.

"Showed up just in time for the briefing Jack, and outside the dog and pony show yesterday I have never been on the SDF-1 before."

She grins.

"I would be honored to have an escort, sir.  Show me where to check assignments, and all that."

"I would be happy, fair lady" Jack reply with a grin and playfully and clearly exaggerate with a gesture that he will show the way. "Are you done ma'm or do you need anything else?"

If Meiko is Jack leads the way out from the room and begins the tour.

That actually evokes a giggle.  Putting aside all the death the last 24 hours had held.

"Certainly, then sir."

She will get him to take her to check in, and get a billeting assignment.  With only an hour downtime, at best she would be able to stow her small amount of personal items, but more likely she will have to stow it in a locker in the ready room, and they probably won't get much farther than that.

PM

[Private to GM: Posted under PM header as it's still relevant but out of the other characters 'field of view':

Aksa heads to check on lunch and maybe dinner for the team, seeing about getting something well above MRE's and the like as 'reward' for the horrible task they are all about to do. She'll also try and arrange for some booze to drink for when the task is done.

After that she'll head up early to their departure area to:
- Set up the MEOC
- Ensure PPE is ready
- Help load any cargo
- Learn the rudiments of shuttle operations (including how to fly the brick, if she has to)
- Get used to operating in Zero-G/Vacuum as much as she can during the prep process (where it's safe)]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:59, Wed 05 Sept 2018.

PM
[Private to Aksa Tikkanen:
Aksa quickly finds that meals onboard a vessel are handled quite a bit different then say when on an airbase. Personnel are given a block of time they can show up for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Personnel who miss a meal due to being on duty can always get 'midrats' (aka midnight rations) which consists of a platter of cold cut meats, bread, vegetables and condiments for individuals to make sandwiches.

Trying to find booze ends up being a lost cause, for now.

Upon getting to the hanger deck Aksa finds that the MEOC Rabbit is already set up, PPE is pretty much already taken care of (in the form of everyone now possessing gear for zero G and vacuum operations) and all mission specific cargo is already loaded.

When speaking to the pilot assigned to the MEOC Rabbit he explains that he'll show Aksa how to fly 'a brick' in zero G while enroute and let her get some stick time. The most important thing he states is "...don't try to maneuver like you would in sky above Earth..."

When speaking to one of the EVA specialists the enlisted woman tells Aksa to hook up her safety line any and every time she leaves her seat when ever the hatch is open. Aksa is then assured that if one of her pilots does screw up and start floating away  the EVA specialists are trained to go get them.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:46, Wed 05 Sept 2018.

Jack gives Meiko a quick abbreviated tour of some areas of the UES MAcross that includes finding an empty bunk in female officer country.

---

After taking care of what they can in the intervening hour the pilots assemble on the flight deck. An EVA specialist gives some instruction when operating on a craft with an open hatch in space. Most of it is along the lines of "keep your tether hooked up at all times, let the EVA specialists 'handle you' during your transition from the Rabbit to the VT your going to take over". The last thing covered is if someone begins to float away un-tethered. The instruction for this is "don't flail about it won't help, curl up into a ball and we'll come get your dumb ass". The four EVA specialists assigned to the RC-4 Rabbits are wearing a variant of the CHR-1 Hostile Environment Suit used for Zero G operations (there are several vernier thrusters that use compressed gas) that includes an EVA pack. The only 'weapons' the EVA specialists have are 'grapple' guns that can be fitted with different 'heads'. The EVA specialists assigned to the EVRP-1 Spider Bugs are wearing standard gear like the VT pilots.

Once the 'safety brief' is over the EVA specs inspect everyone's flight suit, and helmet seals. The pilots and EVA specs are escorted to their designated RC-4 Rabbit or EVRP-1 Spider Bug which by this time have been moved to the airlock/flight deck.

Lion: RC-4 Rabbit; Tail number 023

• Shuttle Pilot
• 2 EVA Specialists
• Capt Tikkanen (Mission Commander)
• Lt. Kotila (Ferry pilot)
• Lt Archer (Ferry pilot)

Charon: RC-4 Rabbit; Tail number 778

• Shuttle Pilot
• 2 EVA Specialists
• 1st LT Levina (Ferry pilot)
• Sub Lt Ambrose (Ferry pilot)
• Lt j.g. O'Neill (Ferry pilot)

Anchor: EVRP-1 Spider Bug; Tail number 14 Papa

• EVA Spec

Recovery 1: EVRP-1 Spider Bug; Tail number 14 Juliet

• EVA Spec

Recovery 2: EVRP-1 Spider Bug; Tail number 15 Delta

• EVA Spec

[Private to Aksa Tikkanen:
So I suggest that Rabbit; Tail number 778 should not 'change' it's call sign  that is going to get confusing (at least for me) really quick. Please just pick one call sign (Charon or Coach). Just state IC that it's a last minute change.]

OOC: As an FYI, you guys DO NOT have radio's built into your suits (I just checked the RPG book, sorry). In order to use a radio you will have to 'plug in' to the Rabbit your in. While your are in a pressurized place you can talk loudly and still be heard.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:43, Wed 05 Sept 2018.

Meiko stores what she has and gets back to where she can get her suit checked out fast, but well.

She is attentive, and takes notes (Pencil on paper) in the brief, and very meticulous at storing things.  She looks after the junior Lieutenants in her vessel, getting them to check each other and her.

"Milk run boys, but make sure you check what weapons systems there are and get them ready, the enemy will be out there.  Be ready to pay him back with interest."

Having been trained to work in space Jack make sure everything is in place with seasoned hands, making sure to keep notes about callsigns, routes and various important things to remember and place the note inside a pocket.

"Remember to not to make to sudden or drastic movement, space means no gravity to stop your movement"

The EVA techs find Aksa a conscientious and eager study, albeit a quiet one. What questions she asks are brief and to the point.

Prior to departure she touches base with the deck officer for one final look over of the flight plan and the two have themselves a few minutes long conversation.

She makes her way over to Tail#778 boards and plugs in. "Update; just use call-sign 'Charon' for the duration. Another platform is using 'Coach' so we need to de-conflict." She informs.

While there she looks back at the others then at the lead EVA tech aboard. "All good?"

The EVA tech nods and replies in the affirmative. Once the others reply in kind she give them a thumbs up, unplugs and heads to her own ride. Once there, she passes along the update and does the same check of the passengers aboard 'Lion'.

Taking her seat, strapping and plugging in she gives a thumbs up to her pilot. "Ready when you are." She says, letting the man do his thing.

[Private to Darkside Trooper: She has her note pad as well as her smartphone with her (for the taking of pictures/documentation) each with tethers of their own to prevent them from floating away to join all the left socks in the universe.]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Wed 05 Sept 2018.

Meiko checks in with Aksa when she visits them, then sort of jokes afterward.

"Mother Hen checking on us, boys."

Ethan double and triple checks his suit as he prepares for his second space flight ever.  Let alone the space walks and possibly having to curl up into a ball to not float away.

"Let's go do this mates!"

The flight of two RC-4 Rabbit's shuttles and three EVRP-1 Spider Bug wait as the inner airlock doors are closed, and the airlock is depressurized. The outer airlock door is opened and the flight is cleared to launch.

The first area of Macross City to be cleared of salvageable mecha and equipment turns out to be directly below the UES Macross itself. The vessel is a roughly a kilometers "above" the city. The city itself is coated in a layer of ice and countless pieces of debris float in place.

There are many more craft then just the four flights designated to recovering veritechs. Several groups of Spider Bugs appear to be recovering destroids, armored vehicles and civilian vehicles. There are also several more flights of Spider Bugs maneuvering a large tube into place within the city.

As Recovery 1 and Recovery 2 move into the city to search for veritechs, 'Anchor' docks with 'Lion' and the two craft look oddly like a pair of metal bugs copulating. Once the docking sequence is complete Charon maneuvers next to Lion so that once opened the ingress/egress hatches of the two light spacecraft will be facing each other. Once the hatches are opened the veritech pilots in Charon move over to Lion, while the EVA specialists in Lion move over to Charon.

After a few minutes Recovery 1 and Recovery 2 return, each with a veritech.

Recovery 1 carrying a VF-1S from No. 1 Squadron "Fighting First" (Sub Lt Ambrose's own squadron) that is in guardian mode. The cockpit canopy is completely blown away the and in the zero gravity the pilot's arms float outstretched, eerily like a zombie.

Recovery 2 is a carrying a VF-1D from the Spanish Air Force that is in battliod mode.

The two veritechs are handed off to 'Anchor' and Recovery 1 and Recovery 2 head back to look for more derelict veritechs.

The EVA specialists get to work on first removing the aircrews from the two veritechs
before moving the ferry pilots to the veritechs. This process takes several minutes, which leaves plenty of time for Captain Tikkanen to decide who is going first.

[Private to Ethan Ambrose: The VF-1S is your squadron commanders bird. Feel free to give the dead man a name.]

[Private to Aksa Tikkanen: Please decide on who is taking these VT's]

Aksa goes thru the motions and takes the information down regards the status of the first two VF's recovered.

"Lieutenant O'Neil, please take the VF-1D back." She says. "Lieutenant Levina, please take the 1S back. O'Neil, you are Usher 1, Levina, Usher 2." She adds.

With the 1S likely the 'Fighting First's' Commanders VF, having Ambrose on the first return leg; well, it might become something, or it might become nothing; but, she'd rather not take the chance.

"Lieutenant Ambrose; Archer, the next two will be yours."

She looks over at Ambrose in silence. Her face is easy enough to read. 'I'm sorry.'
This message was last edited by the player at 06:25, Sun 09 Sept 2018.

"Aye Aye Ma'm."

She readies up to transfer, relying on the expertise of the EVA specialists to get her to the mecha in battliod mode, pushing away thoughts about the status of the previous crew.

"Don't drop me, fellas."  She says jokingly.

As they approached the VF-1S, Ethan quickly realized the markings and automatically knew that was CDR Hayden Bana, squadron commander.  His heart immediately sank for his commander, but Ethan, so use to the loss of friends and family, said a quick prayer and readied himself for the view of his old boss.

Hearing Aksa bark out orders, brings his thoughts back to the present.  Ethan meets Lt. Tikkanen's eye's with a nod.

"Please inform control I will see to CDR Bana's remains when we return.  Let's move on." Ethan says matter of factly.

"Ma'm" Jack reply with a nod and heads towards the exit. "Why do I always get the 1D.." he grumbles to himself as the specialists do their work and make himself ready for the gruesomeness ahead of them.

The EVA Specialists carry out the grisly task of removing the deceased veritech pilots before maneuvering the ferry pilots into the veritechs. The VF-1D only has a pilot in it, so

Both O'Neil, and Levina are instructed to curl up into a ball before 'unplugging' from the Rabbit's comms system.

---

O'Neil is brought to the battliod mode Spanish VF-1D. The head unit is swang forward and both seats are raised. The two EVA Specialists maneuver O'Neil into position and strap him into the lower most (the pilot's) seat. Once give a thumbs up O'Neil is cleared to lower the seat into the torso of the battliod. Quite familiar with the layout of a VF-1D, he has no problem restarting the veritech.

---

Meanwhile Levina is maneuvered into the cockpit of the guardian mode Australian VF-1S with much care to avoid getting her flight suit torn on the jagged portions of the canopy that still remain. Once situated and the two Eva Specialists move off Levina finds the control panel of the VF-1S to be a little bit different then that of a VF-1A but not enough to be a problem.

Meiko quietly does as she is directed, leaving herself in the hands of the experts.  She familiarizes herself with the VF-1S before gently bringing systems online one at a time with the proper checklist, paying attention to the likely trouble lights and warnings carefully.  She will silence warnings one at a time if they are expected, such as the known issue with the canopy.  She checks ammo stores, weapons, engines and all systems carefully.  Once done, assuming there are no issues, she will toggle the radio.

"This is Usher 2, systems stable and ready to move.  Usher 1, status?"

Feeling the VF react as it should Jack can't help to give a small smile.

"Usher 1, VF is starting up. Making checks now"

He then proceed to make all the checks on the veritech, hoping that there is no damage to it and the ammo stores is either empty/undamaged.

Once all checks are done and nothing wrong have been found he activate the comms again.
"Usher 1. VF is ready to head back to base"

Aksa plugs the information into her spreadsheet* as she receives if from both the EVA teams and 'Ushers'. She gnaws on the inside of her lip as she enters in the information of the Spanish VF. Her sister squadron, or at least it would have been, slated for the 'Juan Carlos'.

"Lion Actual copies 1 and 2. Safe flight." She says without fanfare, clearing them off, as Lt. Kotila passes the information on to the SDF-1.

---

* https://cdn.discordapp.com/att...873998848/image0.jpg
(Props are fun!)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:27, Mon 10 Sept 2018.

"Roger that Lion Actual.  Taking her slow and easy to dock.  Moving to your wing, Usher One."

Gingerly, Meiko maneuvers the damaged craft in a well spaced two craft formation with the Spanish VF.

"Transform to Guardian, if possible, Usher one, and let's take these nice and slow to the techs."

She resists waving through the broken canopy, but she can't help looking..
This message was last edited by the player at 19:15, Mon 10 Sept 2018.

Lt. Kotila brings something to Aksa's attention and she nods.

"Lion Actual, Usher 2, deploy your cockpit blast shield." She says. "There's a lot of debris in the area." She adds, then squeezes Kotila's arm by way of thanks.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Mon 10 Sept 2018.

Meiko aha's to herself and deploys her shield, then checks her instruments to ensure she is still good to fly by wire.

"Roger Lion Actual, Cockpit Blast Shield deployed."  A short pause.  A less businesslike voice, softer.  "Thank you."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:13, Tue 11 Sept 2018.

"Trying now" Jack reply as he reach and pulls the lever for the Guardian mode if he doesn't find anything wrong with it or the VF.

The blast shield easily deploys on the VF-1S. This leaves Levina to operate on instruments and external cameras alone. At the same time O'Neil transitions the VF-1D into guardian mode without any trouble.

The two recovered veritech vector off forwards the UES Macross.

---

Recovery 1 and Recovery 2 arrive with two more veritechs. Recovery 2 has a VF-1A from a the USAF's 28th Fighter Squadron. Recovery 1 has a FRS.1J from Hävittäjälentolaivue 11 of the Finnish Air Force.

Aksa's heart skips a beat seeing the FAF FRS.1. She knew this moment would come, and even so, it still hurt. And there would be many more before the day was done. Breathing out slowly thru her mouth she starts to enter the data.

"Lieutenant Ambrose, please take care of the VF-1A; you'll be Usher 3. Lieutenant Archer, please take care of the FRS.1J; you'll be Usher 4." She says.

"Oh, and Lieutenant Archer, keep a feed open with Lieutenant Kotila, just in case the cockpit computer starts talking to you. She doesn't speak English." She adds.

---

"Jarno's bird?" Aksa inquires sadly in a soft voice.

Lt. Kotila nods and replies with a melancholic sigh. "Yea."

"Ok." Aksa nods back.

The two Finn's then return to the task at hand.

---

"Lion Actual, Cheron. Once you have your next two passengers aboard link up with Usher's 3 and 4. They'll escort you back." She says.

"Lion Actual, Macross Recovery, Cheron will be inbound within a few minutes."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Thu 13 Sept 2018.

"On it"

Ethan makes his way to the exit, readying his gear for the job at hand.  Some excitement wells inside him as he thinks about the fun of being in space, but he remains solemn with the scope of the work.  Also noting that the Finnish veritech is impacting Ethan's comrades.

"Copy that, I Usher 4." At the mention of the FRS.1J speaking in a language other then English the USAF pilot responded. "It wouldn't be the first combat aircraft I've flown that didn't have instruments in English." He thinks about mentioning something else but decides not to.

After a few minutes the deceased pilots from the VF-1A and FRS.1J are removed and brought onboard 'Charon'. Then it is Ambrose's and Archer's turn to  curl up into a ball before 'unplugging' from the Rabbit's comms system.

---

The FRS.1J is in jet mode, and the VF-1A is in battliod mode. The EVA specialists get the two veritech pilots situated wh then begin to check over thier respective birds.

Ambrose finds the control panels of the U.S. built to be slightly different the Japanese built VF-1J he is accustomed to flying, but everything checks out.

---

Aska gets a radio transmission from one of the spider bugs. "Lion this is recovery 2, be advised we're returning with two more birds. Do you want Charon to wait for us?"

"Stand by Recovery 2." Aksa says.

She confers with Cheron for a few minutes and is told that yes, there is room enough for two more.

"Lion Actual to Recovery 2, bring them in. Cheron can accommodate."

"Lion Actual to Usher 3 and 4, go on and head back. Cheron will head back with us."

Moving to the hatch she attaches her safety tether, then carefully swings out, clutching the hand rail with both hands and hangs there curled up in the fetal position for a few heartbeats as she marvels at her first EVA experience; hovering so many feet above South Ataria Island and yet not falling, just floating.

Mentally she knew why, but it was still an odd sensation. Putting her back to the hull, and after making sure she is static, she crosses her ankles and 'sit's' on her haunches as she 'hovers'. For a moment more she takes in the splendor; the crystal clarity of space, the stars; pinpricks of light shining bright without the 'twinkling' caused by atmospheric turbulence. Then she brings up her tablet to plug in the information of the new arrivals.

"Kapteeni." Lt. Kotila said.

"Hmm?" Aksa replied and turned her head.

>Click!<

"Cute." She snorted with a half smile upon realizing Kotila had taken her picture.

"Kotila, you'll be Usher 5, and I'll be Usher 6." She says.

"Kyllä ​​rouva." He nods.

"Lion Actual to Recovery 1 and 2. Once we clear Anchor with Cheron, go ahead and pull four more birds in. Should take us (insert number here) minutes to get back, so, take a breather once you're finished." She says.

Kotila was on to something though; once the data was input she stows her tablet and pulls out her own 'camera' and records the EVA folks at work, and Lt. Kotila's transfer to the bird he will be ferrying back.

When it's her turn she puts her devices away and dutifully curls into a ball for her own transfer.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Sat 15 Sept 2018.

Ambrose and Archer vector off towards the UES Macross.

---

Recovery 1 and Recovery 2 arrive with a pair of SuP-52 Val’kiriya veritechs. The Russian built veritechs are essentially a larger cousin of the FRS.1J's used by the Finnish Air Force.

Both SuP-52 Val’kiriya's are in battliod mode, and it takes some time for the EVA Specialists to remove the crews. Charon is situated at such an angel that neither of the Finnish veritech pilots can see the removal of the crews and them being placed into Charon.

After a few minutes the EVA Specialists get the two Finnish Air Force pilots situated in the Russian veritechs.

---

Meanwhile Usher 1 and Usher 2 are on approach to the UES Macross and directed to land int he same landing bay they left from while in the Rabbit. The landing bay is pretty big, and meant for large shuttles/transports. Thus there is plenty of space to put down. Nevertheless the two pilots are directed to specific locations by deck crewmen in space suits, wear bright yellow vests, and upon landing are directed to wait in their craft.

---

Usher 3 and Usher 4 arrive several minutes later. They too are directed to land at a specific location and told to wait in their veritechs.

The Veritech is gently and professionally taxied and parked as directed.  She waits on crew to open her up and help her out, remembering the jagged edges of that broken canopy.  She will inform them of the situation.

"Usher two to control, please make sure the crew know I need help out of this cockpit, lots of jagged edges."

In reply to Meiko Levina (msg # 110):

"Copy that Usher Two, we'll be pressuring the landing bay before you deplane."

"Copy Control.  Standing by."

She will wait on a knock or something so she can remove the blast shield, and maybe the crew can get the remains of the canopy out of the way.  Patience.. patience.

[Language unknown: "Leerevta i a nceallion."]

"Caught us some big fish eh?" Aksa remarks as the pair of Russ Valk's are brought up.

Once in she familiarizes herself with the layout, plugs herself in, and restarts the machine. First things first, find the crank...then shift into jet mode. She muses to herself.

"Usher 5 up." Lt. Kotila remarks.

"Usher 6 up as well." Aksa replies. [Private to group Finnish: "Thing's like a KV-2 with wings."] She adds.

[Private to group Finnish: "Valkyrie; now with 25% more Communism!"] Lt. Kotila says in a Russ accent.

Aksa can't help but snicker at the dark humor.

"Usher 6 to Cheron, we're forming on you now. We'll follow you in." She says. "Lion Actual to Macross Tower, three ship flight on approach; please let mortuary service know remains are inbound."

She brings the SuP onto Charon's left side, with Kotila on the right and escorts the Rabbit back.

---

https://cdn.discordapp.com/att...884538369/image0.jpg
(More Props)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:21, Mon 17 Sept 2018.

OOC: I want to give O'Neil, and Ambrose a chance to post.

"Usher One coming in. Might need help to get out" Jack radio as he slowly guide his ship to the hangar.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:40, Sun 16 Sept 2018.

Getting situated in the USAF Veritech takes a few extra seconds, but Ethan is able to bring the veritech alive.  Once all systems are green, Ethan switches to Jet mode for the return flight to SDF-1.  Still shaky in space, Ethan slowly becomes more comfortable operating his mecha in the vacuum of space.  Getting close to UES Macross, Ethan calls control for final instructions.

"Control, Usher 3, on final approach"

Getting his instructions Ethan places his veritech in his assigned location.  Pleased with his increasing skills to control the veritech, he is quickly reminded of the loss of his CO when he sees the VF-1S of CDR Bana.  Ethan thinks to himself while he awaits the pressurization of the landing bay.  "As long as I breath boss, I'll carry on our traditions.  Next pint is for you!"

Capt Tikkanen and Lt. Kotila, along with Charon are the last three craft to land in the large landing bay.

Like the other VT's the two Russian made, but Finnish piloted veritechs land in guardian mode (the best mode for 'landing' in space).

---

It takes several minutes for the landing bay to be pressurized. For those who can actually look out of their respective cockpit canopy watch as a large pair of spot like style lights transition from red (depressurized) to green (pressurized).

Still in guardian mode the six veritech are then directed to open their cockpit canopies. Lt. Levina hears a knock and then the voice of a deck hand yelling "You can open it up!". They are then guided one by one by yellow vested deck hands to park their respective veritech in an assigned place within the adjacent hanger bay.

Before being allowed to deplane, each veritech pilot is given a tablet with a post flight checklist to fill out and electronically sign. For those who go back 'one page' to look at the pre-flight check list find that it is not filled out. After getting out of their cockpits the pilots are guided by blue vested deck hands to where Charon has been 'parked' on the other side of the massive hanger bay.

---

The six pilots arrive at the RC-4B Rabbit Rescue Shuttle designated 'Charon' to see a grisly sight. The deceased veritech pilots are being placed in body bags and it is quite apparent that limbs, and even torso's were been broken up by the EVA Specialists who removed the bodies from the derelict veritechs and placed them in Charon. The faces of the deceased pilots can be seen, along with the last facial expressions they had made.

OOC: Make save vs puking. Roll a 1d20. Get a 15 or higher (add ME bonus, if any) and you pass. If you get 14 or lower you fail and up comes your breakfast. If you roll a nat 1, you will completely lose it as the emotional toll of the past day and a half finally catches up to you.

At the site of the dead pilots, Archer utters a few words "Oh fuuuck." before the contents of his stomach come up. The vomit first comes out of his mouth like a mini-water fall the goes down his chin, down the inside of his flight suit and outside of his fight suit before going to his knees to release the remaining contents of his stomach.  Archer ends up dry heaving for about half a minute before shakenling getting back up.

20:35, Today: Jack Archer rolled 5 using 1d20 with rolls of 5.  Save vs puking 15 or higher.
FAIL Well at least he didn't roll a nat 1.....

Lt. Koita drops his helmet and in conjunction with a cough, projectile vomits some of the contents of his stomach which lands two feet away from him. The man then goes down to his knees, cough/vomits again several times with the vomit splattering in a semi circle away from him, splattering the boots (or the bodies if busy throwing up) of the other five veritech pilots.

Lt. Archer's back is sprayed by some of Lt' Koita's vomit....

OOC: If your not busy throwing up you can 'dodge' Lt, Koita's splatter vomit. Just roll a 5 or higher to pass the dodge. Fail and well you get some puke on you.

If your puking (like Archer) you get Lt. Koita's vomit on one of the following locations.

1= Head/hair
2= Face (yuck!)
3-4= Torso
5= left arm and leg
6= right arm and leg
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:16, Tue 18 Sept 2018.

Aksa fills out her tablet, and looks over the others before she turns them in to the deck officer.

Upon seeing the Mortuary Service and EVA Specialist's bagging and tagging the dead she realizes she isn't fazed in the slightest. And that, in and of itself, worries her. She isn't disgusted, or even shocked; if anything, she's angry, furious really, at what was done, despite her attempts to avoid it, and her eyes and face tell as much. Without even realizing it her hands have balled into fists.

20:56, Today: Aksa Tikkanen rolled 20 using 1d20 with rolls of 20.

And then, Lt. Archer pops.

Looking over at Lt. Archer she makes an 'eww' expression as he loses it, her anger forgotten for the moment, and then, Lt. Kotila joins him! Almost comically, Aksa makes a small hop-skip followed by a long step off to the side to avoid the resulting 'splatter'. Perkele!

Then, just to be safe, she moves a bit away from the others, in case they blow.

Once clear, she remains where she is to see if anyone else needs a hand, or a wet-nap.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:33, Tue 18 Sept 2018.

Overcome by the events of the last couple days and seeing the up close results of the enemy invasion, Lt. Ambrose is overcome with the site of his boss, Cdr. Bana.  Feeling his breakfast beginning to boil over, Ethan searches for a nearby box to partially hide his sickness, but no luck.  In the process, Ethan is sprayed by a bit of Lt. Koita's vomit on his chest.

00:30, Today: Ethan Ambrose rolled 8 using 1d20 Save vs Puke

01:18, Today: Ethan Ambrose rolled 3 using 1d6 Vomit Target

"Ain't we a bloody bunch, good thing I didn't press my suit"  Ethan muses
This message was last edited by the player at 05:26, Tue 18 Sept 2018.

The bodies, parts.. what was people, anyway.. they come out.  It makes her stomach take a turn, but she bites her lip.  But once the vomit starts to flow the smell quickly gets to her, along with the horror and she tries to move away a little and start vomiting herself, falling to her knees and trying very very hard not to cry along with it.  She does her best to hide her face, just in case.


23:51, Today: Meiko Levina rolled 7 using 1d20 with rolls of 7.  Puke at 14 or less.

00:03, Today: Meiko Levina rolled 5 using 1d6 with rolls of 5.

Somewhere in there Kotila's vomit splatters her left side.  She manages to say, somewhere.

"My only damn clothes."
[Language unknown: Remewa, ch][Language unknown: ho.]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Tue 18 Sept 2018.

Feeling somewhat relieved to be out from the veritech Jack stretch and make hinself ready to assist the crew if needed.

As the bodies is carried away Jack immedatly fall back on the training he got with the Skull's and manage to push down his breakfast.
10:32, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 18 using 1d20 ((18)).

That however doesn't mean he is ready for when the others begin puking everywhere and sadly get some on his chest.
"Vilken jävla röta!"
11:17, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 2 using 1d20 ((2)).

"Now that we've got that out of our system." She mutters.

She looks back at the grisly work being done and closing her eyes crosses herself and lifts a silent prayer to the fallen.

Looking at the work yet to be done and then her watch she points towards the exit. It'll take a bit longer to clear Charon of the dead, best they get the gunk off...

"Okay, lets get you cleaned up." She says to the others, and reaching down, picks up Kotila's helmet and hands it back to him. "Good work there Simo." She ribs, giving him a light push towards the door.

While the others get cleaned off as best they can in the bathroom, she goes about getting them some coffee or tea, or whatever, to kill the bile taste. If the Flight Ops area has a squadron snack bar or vending machine she will snag a couple of granola bars for everyone. Sure, eating might be the last thing you'd want after that, but...

---

"Sorry about that..." Lt. Kotila says apologetically as he wipes down with a wet towel (paper or otherwise) the back of Lt. Archers suit.

Meiko is straight for the head and strips off her flight suit, using the sink to try to get it cleaned off and rinsing her mouth out with water.  She does this with a very grim look on her face.

Afterwards she heads for the ready room, smelling of bathroom soap and disinfectant.  She snags some coffee and gratefully accepts a granola bar or whatever else might be available to fill the void in her stomach.

"You never see.. that.. from the sky."  she notes in a soft voice.

Feeling like a dunk, Ethan makes his way to the head to clean himself up.  After wiping his flight suit down and freshening up his face, he heads to the flight ops ready room for a quick bite to settle his stomach.  Of course, if there is hot java a cup will go a long way!

Having saved himself from most of the puke, Jack only remove what little hit his chest with a few towels or similar before heading back to the hangar waiting for the order to head out once again to continue the grim work.

Aksa nods in agreement regards Meiko comment, but doesn't say much.

She eats her own granola bar in silence, handing one to Lt. Kotila and Archer once they return from their clean up.

"Kiitos."

"Ole hyvä."

She sips her coffee within the grim silence of the Flight Ops as the minutes tick by.

"Ma'am? Charon is clear and ready for you now." A dour faced enlisted crewman says, breaking the silence.

Aksa nods and grabs up her helmet. "Well, lets head back before Lion and Recovery start throwing a kegger." She sighs, then makes her way towards the hanger deck.

[Private to Darkside Trooper: Took a little liberty, edit if needs be.
]

Hearing the words of the enlisted crewman, Ethan finishes his granola bar, takes a final swig of coffee before grabbing his gear and heading toward the hanger.  As he passes the crewman, he places his hand on the enlisted man's shoulder and says, "Thanks"

Meiko follows the others, the looking green past.. but her flight suit still damp in several locations.  She nods to the same crewman as she finishes off a granola bar.

After 'cleaning up' the pilots return to the RC-4A Rabbit designated 'Charon'. Equipment checks are carried out to ensure flight suit and helmet integrity. The quick hop back out to Lion and Anchor.

There are already four veritechs recovered by Recovery 1 & Recovery 2. Ironically they are all two seat veritechs. A VF-1D from 28th Fighter Squadron "Scorpions" (USAF), a VF-1D from Hävittäjälentolaivue 11 (FAF), and a pair of SuP-52's from the 611th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily Rossii).

---

Once the veritech pilots transfer back over to Lion, the EVA specialists do their work, and four more veritechs are ferried back to the UES Macross.

---

After seven hours the operation is over, and the six veritech pilots of Veritech Retrieval Team Two ferry a total of thirty veritech back to the UES Macross.

After a short debrief the pilots are released and told to report back at the large auditorium the next day.

---

The next day involves a lot of checking in for several of the veritech pilots.

• Capt Tikkanen
• Sub Lt Ambrose
• Lt Levina
• Lt Jennsen (new player)
• Lt Archer (NPC)
• Lt. Kolita

There are still not given permanent quarters, but are issued magnetic boots (clicking the heals together activates the magnetic function), a spare flight suit from the UES Macross' stores, an iPad tablet (linked to the ships wi-fi, and used for notification, and report writing) and then given a formal tour of the vessel (a map is uploaded into the tablet).

Lt. j.g. O'Neil ends up flying a Combat Air Patrol as he doesn't need to do all of the above as he is already a member of the UES Macross' official crew.

OOC: Roll for your spare flight suit scheme. Yes you can end up with a solid color.
Main color
1= White
2= Tan
3= Grey
4= OD Green
5= Blue
6= Red
7= Yellow
8= Purple
9= Brown
10= Black
11= Green
12= Day Glow orange

Center color
1= White
2= Tan
3= Grey
4= OD Green
5= Blue
6= Red
7= Yellow
8= Purple
9= Brown
10= Black
11= Green
12= Day Glow orange

14:11, Today: Meiko Levina rolled 5 using 2d12, unique dice with rolls of 4,1.  flight suit!

Meiko receives her spare Olive Drab with white trim flight suit and looks at it suspiciously, until she tries it on, and discovers it actually fits!

She takes the tour with interest, she had been around the ship a lot, but never had a tour of the interior.  She takes notes, using a little notebook and the newly issued tablet.

During the down time, Aksa hits the PX once more and picks up some clothing items including some workout gear and a garrison set (uniform) to wear about ship until the rest of their gear is either found, or re-issued. Then deposits her regular flight suit for cleaning and PMI.

Her outfit consists of a pair of black Corefram short combat boots, M/05 pattern BDU pants and dark OD Green 'British Commando' style pullover (sweater) with her OD Green FRDF beret rolled up and stowed over her shoulder under the correct epaulette. Her ID badge hangs from a lanyard. Her hair is up in a ponytail.

Upon receiving her spare suit, blue, with green center, Aksa reluctantly takes it, as if handed something slimy; giving the Quartermaster staff a dejected look as if to say - 'What did I ever do to you, to make you hate me so much?'

She walks off wordlessly looking down again at the horrid 'thing' she was just handed, then sighs and goes to put it on to adjust the fittings. Back in her garrison utilities she stuffs the spare deep into the kit bag along with her mag-soles. 'Dear God! Whoever signed off on that color combination should be shot for crimes against fashion!'

On the tour she updates her setting on the tablet and starts to populate the surface with app icons that she will make most use of.

She doesn't say much but pins certain Points of Interest on the map as they trundle along.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Mon 24 Sept 2018.

Feeling more at home in a newer (and lesser damaged) Veritech and among his squadron Jack still can't help but shake the growing feeling that something will go bad soon, perhaps that is why he was placed on the patrol to actually do something rather then sitting still and wait.

As he flies around he always keep a watchful eye on the radar, praying that nothing to bad will happen.

21:43, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 19 using 1d100 with rolls of 19.  Sensory Equipment. success

Lt j.g O’Neil finds himself in Skull 5 (a VF-1A) leading Skull Six (also a VF-1A) being piloted by me of the squadron’s reserve pilots. The 8 hour long CAP isn’t boring as there is a lot to see. The UES Macross moves its position once, repositioning so it can connect one of the fabricated docking tubes to another emergency shelter.  Thus far all of them had maintained their integrity, which wasn’t a surprise since they were designed to withstand a thermonuclear bombardment and not the vacuum of space.

Upon returning to the UES Macross to land, O’Neil picks up some sort of anamalous object on the ventral hull of the left engine boom....

"Now, what do we have here" Jack mumble to himself as he notice the object and begins to head towards it. "Tower, this is Skull 5. I have picked up a anamalous object on the ventral hull of the left engine, how to proceed? Proceding to get closer to the object to see what it's"

00:11, Today: Jack O'Neil rolled 63 using 1d100 with rolls of 63.  Sensory Equipment. fail

23:57, Fri 21 Sept: Ethan Ambrose rolled 8 using 2d12 with rolls of 3,5

Ethan enjoys the tour of UES Macross.  Flying around SDF-1 on Earth was always an impressive sight, but finally getting a tour of this technological marvel is amazing.  Trying to take it all in is hard, but this is home now.

Taking his spare flight suit, Ethan is impressed with his gray/blue suit.  Thinking to himself, "This may become my main suit."

"Copy that Skull 5, proceed with caution."

Whatever was showing up on O'Neil's sensors has disappeared. As Skull 5 and Skull 6 maneuver closer to the immense hull of the UES Macross the two pilots can see a white (with some red) object stuck in one of the many auxiliary airlocks located on the portside of the left engine boom. The airlock is very close to the main engine.

Approaching closer the two veritech pilots get a closer look at the 'object'. It's a civilian Fan Jet that has it's left wing is stuck in the airlock which is closed. The cockpit canopy is completely frosted over, hiding the pilot from view.

http://www.macross2.net/m3/sdf...anracer/fanracer.gif

The pilot of Skull 6 makes an announcement over the radio. "Hey it looks like the same Fan Jet that flew through the Angel Bird's formation the other day."

"Guess you are right" Jack reply to skull 6 before switching back to Tower. "Object seems to be a civilian fan jet...sadly the same during the opening fly formation on Earth. Seems to be stuck in a airlock"

Jack the proceed to transform to Guardian mode and moves closer to see if the pilot is still in the plane and if possible remove the plan without damaging it or the airlock to much.

To the tour she shows up wearing her (Now washed!) Marine flightsuit, wearing her garrison hat, which she has had with her since before the battle... tucked away neatly.

She looks forward to a more permanent assignment!
This message was last edited by the player at 17:14, Wed 26 Sept 2018.

OOC: “flight suits” are not available at the PX/BX/ships store, hence why they were issued to you.  Anything you need to do you job (ie fly veritech) is issued to you.  Anyhow you can turn in the crappy flight suit you were given once your gear is to found and brought to you.

As Jack gets a closer look at the jet he can't see inside the canopy.

1st Lt. Levina gets a chime on her tablet indicating she has received a message.

[Private to Meiko Levina:
>Report to ready/briefing for VMFA(AW)-144 “Hensagliska", room 413.<]

---

Sub Lt. Ambrose receives a message on the tablet he was issued.

[Private to Ethan Ambrose:
>Report to ready/briefing room for 110th Fighter Squadron, room 516<]

She checks her map for where this is and grabs her ready bag with spare flight suit, helmet, space gear and heads for the designated location on her tablet.  She takes note of the unit, and with a pang of regret she realizes she has not tried to look up her squadron mates yet.  She resolves to do so at her earliest convenience.

She takes a moment to straighten her uniform, sets her flight bag down, straightens her cap, the one that she has had on her since the battle.

She stops at the hatch to the designated room, and surveys it a moment for a name, decides to fall back on formality and 'knocks' without entering.

"Permission to Enter."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Wed 26 Sept 2018.

"Seems like the left wing is stuck, nothing else from what I can see. Will try and remove it now" Jack reply and tries as gently as possible to remove it from the lock.

Upon receiving the message, Ethan promptly returns to his room with some supplies from his tour.  Quickly changing into his flight suit and grabbing his helmet and gear, and throwing a couple snacks into his ready bag, Ethan heads off for the 110th Ready Room (Room 516).  Checking his new pad for directions, after a couple wrong turns, he arrives at the door and enters.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:30, Wed 26 Sept 2018.

In reply to Meiko Levina (msg # 146):

The ready/briefing room is empty. The Commanding officers office situated along the left side  is occupied. Upon knocking and announcing her self, 1st Lt. Levina hears her own squadron commander, Major Davis of VMFA-314 "Black Knights" respond.

"Permission granted." Entering the officer Meiko can see that that the former occupants' personal items have been boxed up. The Major is sitting behind the rooms desk, and he motions for Meiko to sit down, not bothering to giver her a chance to report.

After sitting down he produces a pair of short tumblers and a bottle of Jack Daniels Single Barrel Whiskey, which is half empty/full. He then fills both glasses half full. "There's no way to say it, but you me and Lt Worthington are the only ones from the black Knights who survived what's being called The Battle of Macross Island".

OOC: Lt. Worthington was the WSO on Knight 1.

In reply to Ethan Ambrose (msg # 148):

Sub Lt. Ambrose enters the ready/briefing room belonging to the Republic of Korea's 110th Fighter Squadron. He doesn't find any of the squadrons pilots present. Instead he sees nine members of his own squadron, No. 1 Squadron "Fighting First" present. The squadrons executive officer greet the latest arrival. "Sub Lieutenant Ambrose! We've been waiting for you to arrive. Please take a seat."

After taking a seat the squadrons XO begins what he has to say. "Ladies and Gentlemen our squadron lost 7 planes when the aliens attacked Macross Island. We lost 7 more pilots when the space fold occurred, including our commanding officer Commander Hayden Bana. I have been told that we will only be brought up to a strength of 12 pilots and veritechs. Additionally some of you may be assigned to other squadrons." He then explains this last bit. "Replacement pilots are being trained to man all the veritech whose pilots were killed during the space fold. The plan is to disburse these pilots across all active squadrons."

"For now wherever you may be bunked up stay there for now. At some point final squadron assignments will decided upon. Until then report here at 0900 hours every day for daily assignments."

Meiko is for a moment very happy, hearing her CO's voice, she takes a seat.  She nods soberly at the news, reaches for the tumbler and raises it towards the Major for a toast.

"Once a Knight... Is never enough."  She intones, one would assume glasses would click.  She will take a good sized quaff and set it back down, staring at the glass a moment before raising her eyes again.

"What's the SITREP, Pirate?"  She eyes the glass, then picks it up and toys with it, taking another, smaller, sip after a moment.

Ethan quickly grabs a seat, looking around at his depleted squadron, taking note of who is present and who is missing.  He listens to the XO's comments and quickly asks, "XO, rumors have us near bloody Pluto, is that tru?  Any word on what's gonna happen from here?"

Aksa continues along on the tour, noting in reserved silence as Lieutenants Levina and Ambrose split away from the group after 'something comes up'.

Turning back to her own tablet, she continues what she was doing there. Mainly confirming her action reports for both the Battle and the Recovery Operation were processed and signed off by their recipients as well as jotting some engineering ideas down for later.

[Private to Darkside Trooper: She is also working on a package to be submitted, recommending that those that had participated on the VF and Pilot Recovery operation (Ferry Pilots, SAR folks, etc.) be recognized for their efforts...(insert appropriate level/type here based on nationality etc. *Clarification: For those under her 'command', she can't really recommend herself for anything anyway.)]

As the tour makes its way past the Medical Center she pins that location on her tablets map feature...
This message was last edited by the player at 00:53, Mon 01 Oct 2018.

In reply to Meiko Levina (msg # 151):

Jason takes a sip of the whisky. "Well the Black Knights are being de-established. I've been given Hensagliska to command..." he then briefly explained why "....their CO bought it clearing the island after the space fold."

"Hensagliska is being increased in size to sixteen vee eff one dee's. I don't know if I can get a you a lot in the squadron. But  I'll try."

"The rumors are true Sub Lieutenant Ambrose, we are in orbit around Pluto."

"I don't know what the overall plan in, but I know recovering the civilians from the shelters on Macross Island is a priority. After that I guess we'll space fold back Earth orbit."

Trying to gently remove/pull the fanjets wing from the airlock and is unsuccessful.

[Private to Jack O'Neil: You can pull really hard, or simply cut the wing off with your head laser.]

In reply to Jason 'Pirate' Davis (msg # 154):

Meiko takes another sip as she ponders that news.

"Thank you sir.  It would be an honor.  If I can't be with you again, see if you can't find me slot with the three I have been since it started.  We all lived through it, together, that battle.  If I can't be with the Marines left, put me with them if you have the pull.  They are all fine pilots."

She shrugs, then takes a deeper sip, nearly finishing her glass.

"What's the skinny on where we are?  The toilet walls say pluto.. or Uranus.  That might have been there before the jump though."

"Of course it could not be that easy" Jack grumble to himself as he notice that be can't remove the plane the easy way. "Shifting to laser to cut of the wing" he then proceed to use the head laser to cut off the wing.

In reply to Darkside Trooper (msg # 155):

Thinking about his family and the memories he left in his room, Ethan asks "Any chance we can get back to our rooms to recover our belongings?"

A few minutes after submitting her recommendations for the recovery operation Aska receives a chime on her tablet.
[Private to Aksa Tikkanen:
>Report to ready/briefing room for 90th Fighter Squadron, room 621<]

"I've put in a request for this to happen. I haven't heard back yet."

In reply to Jack O'Neil (msg # 158):

It takes Jack a minute to cut the wing of the Fan Jet off with his VF-1's single head laser. He's careful not to over heat the laser and turn it to slag.

Skull 6 is standing by to ensure that the Fan Jet doesn't float away after being disconnected from it's wing. The two veritechs then land (in guardian mode) in one of portside airlocks/recovery bays.

As Lt. j.g O'Neil and the pilot of Skull Six witness several rescue personnel (actually graves registration personnel) opening the cockpit of the Fan Jet. The hope that anyone is alive inside is short lived. An Asian girl in her mid-teens is sitting in the lap of the pilot, a Caucasian male in his late teens or early 20's. Neither body shows much sign of struggling to get out of the cockpit, indicating that decompression was quick and both probably lost consciousness rather quickly.

The bodies are removed from the Fan Jet Cockpit and placed in body bags. Some breaking of bones is done to fit them in the body bags. As the bodies as being carted away Commander Roy Fokker approaches, speaks to one the graves registration personnel. After the graves registration personnel point to a particular body bag Commander Fokker checks inside. Upon doing so he completely loses it, clutching the body as if it was a family member. Recomposing himself, but still visibly distraught he accompanies the graves registration personnel to (probably) the morgue.

Upon hearing her tablet chime she reads the incoming message.

"Pardon me." She asks the Tour Leader, then asks if they can show her where on the map a certain location is.

She then makes her apologies, has Lt. Kotila take notes to cover what she will miss, then dismisses herself from the group.

She makes her way to the designated room, enters quietly, signs in, and looks around. She avails herself of any coffee should it be offered, refilling her thermos.

[Private to Darkside Trooper: If room is full or near to it, she'll just take a seat nearby the entrance in an unobtrusive manner.
If room is empty, she'll find a seat towards the front and wait.
If room has one to a few folks in it, she'll greet them with a nod, but doesn't interrupt any ongoing conversations.
Etc etc.]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:34, Tue 02 Oct 2018.

Watching his commander officer leave with the body bags Jack can't help but feel sorry for him and wonders if someone need to keep a eye on the man.

Feeling the drain from bringing back a loved one Jack is glad that his patrol shift is over and after having checked that everything is okay and left a report to head chief about the veritech, Jack leave the hangar and heads out to get something to eat.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:27, Wed 03 Oct 2018.

"Until they get the squadrons re-organized I'll have you assigned to Hensagliska. Get me the names of those other three pilots and I'll see what I can do, but no promises."



"Yeah South Ataria Island is now Pluto's second moon." He pauses a second before saying something else, but refrains from doing so. "The plan right now is to collect all the civilians from the shelters and then go back to Earth."

"Anymore questions? I have a squadron commanders meeting in fifteen."

OOC: The Fold drive being gone isn't common knowledge...yet.

She smiles, and scribbles down the names of the three she knows on a sheet of her notepad, rips it off and offers it to him.

"I might have murdered the spelling on the Finn's name a little.  I added their callsigns from the battle as well."



A snort from the female pilot.  "Situation Normal... yeah, FUBAR."



She finishes her drink, neatly sets it on the commander's desk and stands.

"Thank you for telling me in person, sir."

And... exit stage left, drop curtain, fade scene?

The next week is like a blur.....

Aksa Tikkanen seems to disappear, she's seen a few times by the others but only in passing and is apparently really busy and really can't talk about what she is doing.

Jack O'Neil continues to operate with VF-84 flying CAP's.

Ethan Ambrose also continues to fly with his squadron, flying CAP's as well. He does get a chance to retrieve his belongings from the military base on Macross Island. This requires an EVA, but he gets the hang of it.

Meiko Levina, ends up flying CAP's with VMFA(AW)-144 “Hensagliska" (USMC), she ends up flying with a different WSO every time she goes up. She is still not given a chance to retrieve her personal belonging from the UES Prometheus.

Douglas Jennsen, a reserve pilot from the 28th Fighter Squadron (USAF) is also flying CAP's.

---

An odd operation begins about 3 days after the space fold. A number of the spacious hanger decks in the left engine boom are cleared of the mecha and vehicles stored there. This makes it quite cramped within the hanger decks of right engine boom. The exceptions seems to be the two veritech launch decks in the right and left engine booms.

The vacated decks are then depressurized, and whole buildings from Macross city are brought into the ship (with veritechs doing a lot of the moving) and placed in a city like arrangement. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the higher ups intend for Macross City to be transplanted into the UES Macross. The only question is why, especially if all the ship needs to do to get back to Earth is fire up its fold drive again..

---

A large salvage effort is also occurring on the UES Prometheus, and the UES Daedalus. both vessels are being made space worthy. Apparently command intends to bring them back to Earth when the UeS Macros space folds back to Earth.

---

During downtime many personnel are asked if they want to transfer to the UN SPACY. Said transfer doesn't include any promotion or benefits. It just something that command would like to do in order to promote unity. The reason for this isn't really explained and makes no sense because all the UES Macross needs to do to get back to Earth is fire up its fold drive again.

OOC: Free free to post what you do on your downtime. Don't seek out Aksa, she's not around to be found.

If you want to transfer to UN SPACY, please PM me.

Wrapping herself in the comfort of being among fellow Marines she is a little astonished by the request to join Spacey, it doesn't make a lot of sense to her, and she has plenty of loyalty to spare for her service.

Spare time is spent sleeping and scheming on how to procure alcohol.  Consuming alcohol is entirely dependent on schedule, as busy as they are she likely has little time for other than a night cap.

Scuttlebutt flies about why they were doing what they were doing, and just why they haven't jumped back to earth.  Lots of nervous pilots, lots of stories flying around.  Meiko tries to focus on work, though now and then she can be found just staring off... remembering.

"Has... any word from Earth been received?"

Feeling a little more at home after retrieving his personal belongings, especially his memoirs of his family and of course his underwear.  Ethan enjoyed the EVA adventure to retrieve his belongings, making him more comfortable in space. All the flight ops are also paying off as he routinely spends his CAP time screwing around to improve all aspects of space flight.  Ethan would find reasons to extend his watches to take excursions on Macross Island to work on guardian and battloid modes.  He is always truing to perfect his skills to honor his family.

Trying to get into a regular routine, Ethan spends his time with squadron mates.  One unsavory task was honoring their fallen commander in giving him a proper burial, one of the many causalities of this new war.  Ethan also finds himself enjoying the time spent with his new comrades from the first day of the war, always looking forward to hearing their tales from the days work.  Ethan feels Meiko's concern for nightcap supplies, noting the squadron's supplies is dwindling quickly.  Ethan notices the absence of Aksa, his wingman, but attributes it to the chaos they all find themselves in these days.

Also Ethan has checked out the process of bringing the civilians onboard, and their struggles below decks.  He got to know a few of them during his time off on Macross Island, noticing the construction with the city buildings coming onboard he wonders if life will return to normal onboard the ship.  Amazing things going on in a short time.

Relaxing somewhat once the stability have returned to the ship Jack return to his old habits by training in various means, he can often be seen running large areas that is available when he is not spending time with the squadron or other assignment.

If possible Jack will try and find those that he flew with and try and spend time with them.

Douglas is unsure how long it has been.  He is exhausted, has had no sleep since the attack, having spent all of his time assisting with the Macross City refugees.
Befire the attack happened, he had been placed on public relations duty because of his reserve pilot status.  Basically, he was dressed in his dress white "ice cream suit" while telling tourists the history of Macross Island and the SDF-1 while guiding tours.  The attack happened during one of his tours, and he ended up leading almost a hundred civilian residents and tourists, and five Marines, to one of the emergency shelters00.  At one point, he had picked up a lost rifle, and helped the Marines fire at one of the gigantic warriors to lead it away from the shelter.
When they made it to the shelter, there were nearly three hundred people, including another twenty military.  Finding himself the ranking officer, he decided to button-up the shelter, silencing the protest of the Marines by reminding them that their assault rifles had proven useless on the enemy.
When the space fold happened, Douglas did not fully realize what had occurred, just that the sudden lack of gravity, and a look at the security screens, confirmed they were in space.  The resulting panic tested the young man's patience, and his yelling caused him to nearly float into a small child.
Showing people how to move in the lack of gravity helped calm people, and allowed children to have some fun.  He had set people to securing supplies while he took an inventory and names.  Luckily, the shelter had been built with hermetic seals, a solar-powered genetatorand batteries (with panels outside on the roof of the entrance), air scrubbers and food and water.
Once they had been rescued, he had spent a great deal of time helping to get people set up with places to sleep and supplies of food and water.  He also felt the need to explain that they were on a military vessel and, therefore, under martial law in a wartime situation.
Now, he just wants to find something to eat and somewhere to sleep for a couple of days.....
This message was last edited by the player at 05:59, Fri 19 Oct 2018.

Meiko hears nothing substantial to her questions. Instead she is pretty much kept busy.

Ethan volunteers some of his off duty time to assist the civilians. While on duty he is asked if he'd like a transfer to the UN SPACY, something his squadron CO (the former XO), and XO (the next senior pilot) have already done.

[Private to Ethan Ambrose:
Feel free to add in hooking up with a civilian if you want

PM me if you want to transfer. At this point it does not matter if you do or don't.]

Jack, along with the majority of VF-84 Jolly Rodgers follow Commander Fokker's lead and transfers tot he UN SPACY. While Jack isn't promoted Commander Fokker is promoted to Captain (OF-5).

[Private to Jack O'Neil:
Your now a 2nd Lt in the UN SPACY Fleet]

Douglas soon links back up with the survivors of his squadron, the 28th Fight Squadron 'Scorpions.' He is soon flying CAP (Combat Air Patrols). The sqadrons (among others) is soon assisting in the salvage effort to move whole building into the UES Macross. One night after a sortie, Douglas runs into one of the US Marines he had ordered to join him in the civilian shelters. The USAF veritech pilot is led to a barracks where the rest of the Marines he ordered into the shelter are. The Marines show their gratitude by getting Douglas good and drunk that night.

[Private to Douglas Jennsen:
You can mention hooking up with one of the Marines (male or female). Yeah its fraternization, but you were drunk. ]

Aksa is seen a few more times, now wearing a UN SPACY Ground Forces uniform, and Major (OF-3) insignia. Again she seems REALLY busy going to and from meeting s and so forth and doesn't have much time to chat.

[Private to Aksa Tikkanen:
You can post doing whatever. Just not interacting with the others.]

OOC: I will be getting a separate post up.

At the insistence of the alarm, Douglas sits up groggily in the bunk.  Rubbing the sleep from his face, he is surprised when he looks up blearily to see a pretty asian woman half dressed in Marine cammies.  So, that actually happened?  It wasn't a drunken hallucination?
"Which time do you think is the hallucination, sir?"  There is a mischievous smirk on her face.  "If you hadn't saved our asses out there, I might almost feel insulted."  She sits down in the desk chair to pull on her boots.
He stands up, the blanket falling away.  Corporal... um, Cunningham is it?  Do you know any good hangover cures?
"Yessir.  Corporal Teruka Cunningham," she as she looks up, eyeing him with a smile.  "I can think of a good one, but we don't have time.  I'm running late for muster."  With her boots tied STRAC, she stands and grabs her cammie blouse and cover.  "I suggest some rigorous PT, a shower, and a good breakfast, sir.  Or as close to it as you can get right now."  She moves and kisses him on the cheek, then to the door.  "Mixing your drinks and eating before drinking help, too."
He finds his own clothing and begins to get dressed.  Thanks, corporal.  I have never been drunk before.
She peeks out the door.  "Then perhaps we should do away with the drinking, next time, sir.  Or, am I going to have to get you drunk every time?"
She smiles and winks at him before disappearing into the hall.
He sits forseveral moments, rubbing some feeling into his face before he realizes what the Marine corporal had said as she left.  What have I done?  He smiles, and chuckles, then looks up.  Seeing a photo of his parents on the night stand, he reaches over to lay it down to hide them from view.  He had been lucky enough to find most of his belongings during one of the rescue sorties.  He retrieved his military duffel, his rucksack, and his gymbag.  However, he could not find his hardcase containing his competition rifle, or his fencing kit and epee.
Wearing underwear and t-shirt, he stands up, weaving a moment as his balance centers catch up with him.  He decides to go through a series of push-ups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks, hoping to metabolize more of the alcohol before he hits the head and the shower.
Thirty minutes later, he finishes putting on a cleaner flightsuit and his boots.  His eyes look a little less bleary as he rubs the short stubble on his face, deciding a second day without shaving should not get him into trouble, unxder the circumstances.  Soon, he is carrying his helmet and gloves, and wearing his web-belt and holster while on his way to find breakfast and coffee before heading for the squad room.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:01, Fri 19 Oct 2018.

Having change to the UN SPACY Jack spend much time getting used to the new routines and if needed understand the difference between the two divisions, thankfully not being promoted leaves him less to take in and can focus more on the same jobs he did before.

With everything going on Jack is kept busy most of the time but due to lesser rank have lesser paperwork to deal with, though flying more CAP remove some of that "free time". It's during this few times to find those he flew with before to catch up with.

Feeling a bit lost in the wide coeridors of the ship, Douglas is having trouble finding somewhere to get foor, or at least some coffee.  He nearly runs into another pilot, this one in a UN Spacy flightsuit.
Crap.  Sorry, he says to O'Neil.  Hey.  Can you tell me where the dining facility... er... mess hall is?  I'm still trying to get used to this ship.

The last few days had been a blur, and the next few promised more of the same. One of the few respites Aksa was able to take advantage of was her work towards completing her Space Qualification in the VF-1. She'd always enjoyed the solace of flight, but out here it was all alien, up was down, left was right, there was no orientation unless one had a fixed point in space to refer to, and that pretty much summed up her existence right now.

She buried those thoughts now, there was more at stake, and she'd have to focus on that, on her work. She'd only been at it for a little while, but was progressing well enough, the time she'd spent during the recovery operation had helped greatly, that her instructors were confidant she'd be space-rated by weeks end. Mother always said I learned well under pressure.

Beyond her furious appointment schedule and compressed training regimen, it was the amount of paperwork that was the most horrific, even with the issued tablets. Those futurists who'd made prophetic claims about 'paperless societies', had no idea how patently wrong they were.

Between all the above she had been able to make time for exercise. Truth be told, it was nice to be able hit the track, or rack of weights, and just plain switch the brain off and sweat.

---

12 FEB 2009: 1915 hrs

---

Aksa laced up her sneakers with a sigh, having returned from her uniform fitting. Her new items would be ready in a few days as the SDF-1's auto-tailors fabricated what would be her new garb for the duration.

She was half way to the door of her quarters, that at least had been ready immediately, when there was a knock. She shouldered her gym bag and opened the door to greet whoever it may be.

She froze in mute shock as an attractive women about her height that she wasn't sure she'd see again, stood in front of her wearing her reddish brown hair up in a pony tail, her green with gold fleck eyes complimented an impish smile.

"Schatzi!! Found you!"

"E...Elise?" Aksa managed.

Hauptmann Elise Krupinski nodded and laughed and then adjusting the strap of her knapsack, reached out and hugged Aksa lifting her off the ground in the process, following that off  with a playful peck on the lips. Aksa blushed and truth be told was still dumbfounded, albeit happily so, as she returned the embrace; the last time she'd seen Elise was the night before the SDF-1's launch. She'd made inquiries, but up until now, hadn't heard much of anything back.

"Oh! I didn't mean to bother ihre trainieren." She said, stepping back, her hands still on Aksa's shoulders.

Aksa looked down at her gym bag and started to reply but was preempted by her friend. "I have eine idea das ist wunderbare; I come in yes?" She said, the impish grin back in force.

"Of, of course." Aksa said as she stepped back and set her gym bag down.

"Don't worry, you're still getting that work out." Elise grinned as she closed the door behind her with her foot.

---

12 FEB 2009: 1947 hrs

---

Aksa blinked with an awkward smile on her face in a state of supine repose; her tousled hair about her head like an unruly flaxen wreath, her forehead beaded in sweat.

"That was a good idea." She said with a soft laugh.

"I've been know to have them from time to time." Elise replied, her hair equally tousled. "So, Squadron command ja?" She smiled mkaing a circular motion with her finger, indicating the room. "Congratulations?" She said, making it a question.

"I suppose." Aksa groused, her expression souring as reality came crashing back down. She looked over at Elise. "It's not the way I wanted it." She said.

Elise nodded. "Es ist was es ist schätzchen." She replied with a shrug and supportive smile. "You'll do fine."

Aksa was about to reply but instead exhaled with a loud 'Oof!' as Elise straddled her. "Tell me then, why'd you join up?" Elise asked.

With a grumble Aksa sighed. "I've always wanted to fly. I love to fly; I love to fly fast, to feel the wind. Nothing is more exhilarating." She said. "Well, almost nothing." She added with a snort, given their current state.

Elise snickered. "Und die Walküre was quite the kick in the pants compared to an F-18 no?"

Aksa laughed and nodded. "Just a little." Holding up her hand, her thumb and index finger a centimeter apart. A little was the understatement of the decade, with the VF-1 easily having more then three times the acceleration of the F-18. "But it isn't the same, not out here." She said, letting her arm flop back onto the bed in resignation with a grumpy pout.

"Ach, mein kleiner Aksa wants to feel the wind under her wings." She teased with feigned derision as she ran her hands up Aksa's side to her ribs and began tickling her.

"Perkele!!" Aksa exclaimed writhing amidst peals of laughter.

"Ja ja! Perkele." Elise purred, kicking off round two.

---

12 FEB 2009: 2032 hrs

---

Aksa dried her hair with a towel, then, draping it over her shoulders, smoothed her hair back so she wouldn't end up looking like a certain character from Seinfeld. Elise was partially dressed after their shared shower and was sitting on the small couch near a small low-set 'coffee' table in the quarters 'living' area. On the table she had placed three empty shot glasses and a 2/3 full bottle of Absinthe; a Vieux Pontarlier at that.

Aksa gave an impressed whistle at the brand as she sat next to her. Elise was holding a picture from Aksa's bookcase. It was of her, Elise, and Amelia Oxton, Flt Lt, RAAF, together at the Beach Comber East, a beach-side restaurant on South Ataria Island taken probably a week or so before Launch Day.

"I'm glad you kept it." Elise said. "She was one of the good ones."

Aksa nodded her agreement. Oxton had been one of the few non-Finn's that Aksa could, had, called a friend, Elise was another.

"I saw her die." She said after a pregnant pause.

Elise looked over her eyes showing surprise.

"We were rolling in on a knot of Tango's on the deck of the Prometheus, there was a lot of ground fire, and, and one those battloids with the shoulder mounted guns..." She paused and felt Elise's hand over hers as she held it in support. "...she was doing so well, nothing was hitting her until..." She exhaled. "It was a cockpit hit, direct. She was gone before she knew what hit her. At least, I'd like to think that. That she felt no pain."

"Mein Gott" Elise said softly and put her arm around Aksa's shoulder, pulling her into a hug, resting her chin on the back of Aksa's head. Curling up within the embrace Aksa, for the first time since the battle, allowed herself to just let go and cry. Elise rubbed her back, rocking her as she sobbed. "Oh liebling, it's okay, let it out." She whispered.

"I miss them, her, all so much." She rasped.

"Me too." She replied with a snif, holding her.

"Are you singing?" She asked a few minutes later.

"No, not since then." Came the soft reply.

"You should, you have a beautiful voice." Elise said. "I think it would be a good thing if you sang." She added.

"Remember that time at Big Echo, that karaoke bar by the beach?" Aksa said softly. "When Ami got hammered and tried to sing." She breathed out with a smile.

"Sing. Sing is a strong word." Elise said with a snicker. "Sounded more like someone strangling a cat."

"And that American soldier started booing, trying to get her off stage." Aksa continued the reminiscence. "And she just looked at him, fuming, and all she could say was..."

"OY PRICK!" They harmonized with a laugh. Chuckling softly in fond memory

After several more moments Elise patted Aksa's back and kissed the nape of her neck. Then, she rapped the coffee table with a knuckle.

Elise poured a round of shots and slid one over the Aksa. "To Absinthe friends."

"Ooo...punny." Aksa snorted. "To absent friends. Hölökynkölökyn" She said, raising her glass looking Elise in the eyes. "Prosit." Elise replied in kind.

Both women downed their shots and in unison shivered in reaction to the hard liquor.

"HOOooooooah! Perekele!" Aksa breathed as she stomped the ground a few times as she felt the burn. Next to her Elise emitted a similar sound as she pounded her knee with her hand. "Oooooooo das ist gut!!".

Capping the bottle Elise slid the bottle over. "Here, best you hang onto this. Own room and all." She smirked then finished dressing while Aksa replaced the picture on the bookshelf, and placed the three shot glass (cleaned) in front of it, two facing up, one facing down. The Absinthe, she placed in the back of a drawer, to gather dust until the next toast.

At the doorway Elise gave Aksa a hug, a kiss, and then mussed her still damp hair. "A smile looks much more attractive on you then that dour pout mein kleines Rentier. Look, you ever want to talk, or just 'unwind' you let me know, ok?" She said, winking at the word 'unwind'.

Aksa flushed red and nodded happily. "I will, and you as well, my door is always open." She smiled. "You're a good friend." She added.

"With benefits!" Elise winked and touched Aksa's cheek, then 'booped' her nose with a finger. "Until later. Mein schatz. Oh, and I promise to call ahead next time"

"And don't forget to sing!" She said over her shoulder with a wave as she walked down the hall out of the squadron area. "See you tomorrow!" She said as she turned the corner.

"Ok." Aksa nodded with a blush.

---

That nights sleep and been the best she'd had since leaving Earth and the bounce in her step and glow about her the next morning was plain for all to see, and she didn't care at all.

A day or so later she picked up her new set of uniforms. Her 'Class A' tunic was grey, with white shoulder/neck and black striping over a black jumper with white striping. The pants were black with grey accents and striping. The shoes, gloss black.

To those she knows she at the least affords acknowledging nods in passing as she continues among her many labors but any conversation is limited to things like 'Hello.' and 'Good to see you.' inevitably followed thereafter by 'Goodbye' or 'Take care.'
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Fri 19 Oct 2018.

Looking up from his papers just in time to avoid the crash Jack give tired smile to the confused pilot.
"Yeah, it's always hard in the beginning" he reply and steady himself to be a guide once again. "Name is Jack O'Neil, I can show you the way if you want?"

Douglas Jennsen, he says extending his hand.  That would be good.  Thanks.  US, too?
He walks, following along and making sure to notice corridor landmarks.  So, you transferred to UN Spacy?  Which branch?

As the week went by the grueling pace of the work given to her unit gave Meiko little time for other than that, sleep, and a little time at the O club she used to drink fairly hard and alone.  Being one of the space qualified Pilots aboard they had a lot to take care of, a lot to do.

At one point an admin with UN Spacey asked her if she wished to join, with little else to say about it.  She told him she would think about it, but since none of her unit was changing over she didn't see a reason... after all, they would be back to Earth in a few weeks.. right?  She also figured if they were serious about the invitation, they would send a higher ranking officer.. a pilot, commander, something.

She saw more than a person should have to see, all the death on top of the loss of her comrades in the battle at Macross Island wore on her, and she sought solace in a bottle too often in the O club, since sleep was becoming harder to find.  She'd done hard hours, long hours before.  It took a while to show on her.

She had been sending messages to the Prometheus regularly asking about her personal items and gear aboard there, with little to go on.  She had a few things from the BX, but it wasn't what she was used to.

On the 13th she gets a pleasant surprise, a group of Lancers from the Big E had landed on the SDF-1, and among them was her chance friend Kelsey Champlain.
She brought with her a bottle of wine, and the two of them shared it and their company for several hours, ending up sleeping together in her small bunk, finding comfort in the close presence of another person.
It turned out that Kelsey spoke decent English when not deeply in grief, but what mattered was the language the French were well known to have mastered long ago.
Her bunkmate came back from shift to find them entwined and said not a word to them, but was likely relieved that her tightly wound bunkmate had apparently found release of some sort.
That morning they parted with a promise to get together as often as possible, and they were able to do so again that evening again, but a bit more casually.

Thereafter Meiko seemed re-energized, and she put more empathy and leadership into her work.  She resolved to help refugees, and to keep in contact with her new friend.

She still goes to the O club after shift and can be found there easily, but now she is considerably more active, having fun.. shooting pool, throwing darts, talking to people.  Outgoing.  Still drinking, but not excessively.

Launch Day celebrations had found JDAM assisting in CIC of the Macross.  He was not in flight rotation at the time, and when he reported Control quickly assessed that CIC was a good place to put his skills to use.  It was, and he helped keep the confusion down as best he could.

Afterwords he was privy to information that most others were not, but did not divulge it.

When offered a position with UN Spacey he quickly agreed, this was a battle for Mankind, and it was a time to put nations behind them, right?

Just after the jump he ended up in a Cat's Eye for a few rotations, scouting and surveying before returning to his Unit, the Lucky Seven's.  He is currently in the WSO rotation for that unit.

He can be found off and on at the O club for a meal and a few drinks, but since the battle he has been very focused on work.

In reply to Douglas Jennsen (msg # 178):

"Fleet. You?" Jack ask back even as they draw nearer the mess hall. "Well, here we are" he spreads his hands out in a dramatic fashion. "Hope you find what you are looking for man, stay safe 'kay?" Jack give the man a firm handshake and decide that this might a good time to test out that O club where he might find some of his old friends.

Meiko spots Jack as he enters the O club and waves him over.

"What's your poison. O'Neil?  First one on me."

Navy, huh?  I'm Air Force.  It's been interesting to see so many people from different branches and countries in one place.  Well, what's left of us, I guess.
He looks into the dining facility, seeing the various people getting food or sitting dow to eat.  He turns back and shakes O'Niel's hand.  Thanks.  Good to meet you.  Though circumstances could be better.  Be careful out there.  He then turns and heads inside.
As he stands in line, he realizes how hungry he is.  Several days, floating around the inside of a shelter with close to three hundred other people, eating MREs, hoping the generators, the air recyclers, the heaters, and the waste reclamation system all don't crap out on you.  Trying to keep people from panicking, from fighting each other over supplies, from being completely bored out of their minds, that had been the hardest part of the job he had taken upon himself.
He finds a table, salivating as he looks at his platter of eggs, toast, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns.  Even a donut and a muffin.  After several days of MREs, he is ready for....
Suddenly, he stands up.  This is wrong, he says as he looks at his plate.  He slams his hands down on the table.  THIS IS WRONG.  HOW CAN WE SIT IN HERE AND EAT LIKE THIS WHEN THOSE POOR CIVILIANS ARE FED ONE MRE A DAY?
He looks around the room at the other officers, the enlisted.  We eat the MREs because we have to in order to stay alive.  But kids?
They won't eat those until they feel like they are starving.
He picks up his plate and walks towards the door.  He then turns around to look at the others who are eating.  I'm going to take food to the refugees.  Anyone else coming along?  He then heads out for one of the bays where the civilians are being housed.

McIntyre stands up from his nearly finished meal near the door and turns an annoyed gaze at the young Lieutenant.  His uniform is UN Spacey, but with little more than a name tag (Cpt J. McIntyre/UN Spacey w/ pilot wings).  He's older.. early to mid 30's, with a grizzled look to him.

"You have those rations to enable you to fight to protect those civilians, Lieutenant.  You eat when you can, and you don't waste a crumb, then you get out there and you save lives and you protect lives."

He sets the roll down while watching Jennsen, his gaze softens a little.

"They will have more food soon, son.  I know it sucks to have privilege but you have it for a reason."  A shrug  "MREs ain't half bad, beats T-Rats, especially the newer menus.  LURPS, those suck.  Period.  MREs even heat the entrees for you now.  It's food.. besides, what you are taking for luxury is B-Rats, powdered eggs, hashbrowns from a can, bacon from a can, same with the sausage.  The cooks have fancied up T-Rats for your butt and mine."

He sighs and gestures at the folks in the Galley.  "These people are worn out from working twelve, fourteen, eighteen hour days to save lives, and you are all pissed off about them having a hot meal?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:50, Sat 20 Oct 2018.

Douglas turns to McIntyre just before going out the door.  I'm sorry if spending several days in a shelter, floating in space, with about three hundred panicky civilians, who have no idea if we are going to be rescued or if the life support is going to give out first, counts as hard work to you.  But, since I have been aboard ship, I have been pulling those same hours in a plane salvaging supplies and buildings as everyone else in here.

JDAM moves to interpose himself between the Lieutenant and the door.

"First time to see bad conditions, Lieutenant?  First time dealing with civilian casualties of war?  Not my first.  It probably won't be either of ours last.  Eat your food, you need it."

He eyes anyone else who might have been considering following and shakes his head, gesturing for them to sit back down.

"The stress is getting to all of us. You probably need rest.  I can call medical?"

In reply to Meiko Levina (msg # 182):

"Meiko? How is my favoite Knight doing?" Jack reply and heads over to his old friend with a smile. "Nothing serious yet, takes time to adjust and feeling sorry for the civis. You?"

The younger lieutenant looks at the captain blocking his in his path with an passive gaze, neither threatening nor relenting.  Finally, he turns and moves to a table near the food line.  Setting down his tray, he moves back up to collect a cup of coffee and one of the MREs at the end of the line.
He then steps back up to McIntyre.  Am I free to start my shifts, sir?

A slow nod from the senior officer to Jennsen.

"Don't try taking food down to the refugees without clearing it through command son, that's an order.  We don't need a food riot, I have seen them in South America, and it's not pretty.  I know it hurts, it hurts me too, but it is the right thing to do.  Soon enough you will be buying food and drinks from them, trust me."

He moves back to his own tray to take it to the recycler.

"You are free to go Lieutenant."

JDAM gets a cup of coffee for himself, keeping an eye on the facility as he does.  Shortly after several SPs show up, looking around.  They walk through the Officer's Mess before leaving.

She waves to the orderly on duty.  "Two beers."

She turns back to Jack.
"Have a seat, and we all do.  I had family on the island..."  She looks a bit down for a second, her face slightly pinched, but two draft beers arrive and a sip of beer picks her back up.

"I'm with my old CO and his Wizzo at Hensagliska.. She pronounces the squadron name carefully.  ".. It's an honor, you know, to serve with Hensagliska, they were at Guadalcanal you know?  The name means Small Warrior, Brave Warrior in Sioux."  She bites her lower lip a moment, and her eyes squint, maybe like she is holding back tears.

Jack thanks for the beer and after a sip turn his attention to his friend.
"Yeah, somewhat know the feeling. My mother was on Macross island and despite we often fought over various things it's hard" he drink some more and continue to listen. "Hensagliska, huh? A fitting name for great people. I'm sure they are in a lovely place right not. A toast for Hensagliska. Jack raise his beer somberly.

She nods slightly.  "My uncle and his wife, his son and wife, and his daughter."

A soft nod and a raise of her mug in a toast, the UN Spacey logo glinting on it as she did.

"To Hensaglika, the Sioux, the US Marines, and to Earth."

She takes a long sip and sets it back down.

"Any permanent assignment yet?  I don't know how secure my current berth is, myself, I am even in a borrowed Valkyrie, mine was a mess after that battle."

Jack shrug while leans backwards.
"Not sure, whole squadron changed to Spacy not so long ago. Guess that might have to do with it. I'm not even sure where my bird is after...right, after it was borrowed on Earth" he sigh loudly and hope Roy's brother didn't suffer long.

Meiko nods and sips at her beer.

"What ever happened with all that, do you know?"

"You mean Rick? Or how the Commander is right not? I don't know much so far actually, I believe Rick took off with my bird most likely without Roy" Jack sips his beer and think. "Shame we lost him, seemed like a good pilot. Commander Fokker...most likely handle it like anyone who lose a close family member"

”I guess I was not aware of this connection. Can you fill me in?  I am only distantly aware of Commander Folker, it sounds l8ke you know more about him than I do. Who is this Rick, his brother you said?”

"Well, could be a cousin too I guess, Commander introduced him as a family friend I believe. But judging on how he reacted when the body was found, it must have been close" leaning forward he close his eyes. "Hard to believe it was not long ago, so much have happened on so little time"

She shakes her head.

"And his name was Rick?  Sorry, this is the first I have really heard about this.  You know news isn't exactly a thing here."

"Pay it no mind, the commander only spoke of Rick a limited times and I never meet him until the ceremony day and I presume the commander want it to stay low until...well, always I guess" Jack shrug and order another beer. "Seen anyone else that we flew with during Earth?"

"I catch a glimpse of Reindeer now and then, she seems very busy.  Seen the Ossy a bit too, good man.  Really, I have been wrapped up in working though, flying with my Commander and the unit he has been putting together."

"Know the feeling, wished we could all get a together sometime before they attack again or something worse happen"

That brings a smile.

"We should, for a few drinks at least.  I think our little four did a lot of good, our um.. body count, was high, and we all lived."

"So true, those poor folks. Have you changed to Spacy by the way?"

She shakes her head.

"Not yet, I am taking my cues from my CO.  He's still Marines.  What's the point of doing it?"

"Well, I mostly followed the squad but they are mostly the same as Navy as I was before and not really sure how much difference it's from the marines. Perhaps you CO has plans to form a different wing or something?"

"He said he would try to get me on with him.  I can hope it is a permanent assignment."

Douglas makes it to the morning briefing.  After the usual information is delivered, questions asked and answered, and teams assigned, he is back in space, helping to recover more of Macross City.  Unfortunately, this also include the retrieval of those who did not make it.  He is a part of the team assigned to meatwagon duty, and he realizes this is going to be an extremely long day....
This message was last edited by the player at 23:04, Fri 26 Oct 2018.

Released from the briefing Meiko picks up her small stash of belongings... no "trash" (as DST calls it), just some skivvies and hygiene stuff, a spare uniform that like the one she is wearing is new.

She heads to her former commanders office, knocking politely if he seems to be in, entering when called inside.

She drops her small bag of belongings at the door and comes in and salutes.

"A pleasure flying with you sir.  I have been reassigned."

Having packed most of his stuff from his now old room and thanked some of the Skull's for the past years Jack stop outside Roy's office, and after his knocking on the door is acknowledge he enter the room giving a salute.

"Commander, as I have been assigned to another squadron I would like to thank you for the past two years in your squadron. I pray that we all make through this trip back to Earth and once there the first beer is on me"

Major Davis is at his desk. He stands, returns the informal salute (US Marines only salute indoors if 'under arms', but considering the situation its apprperiate) and then sits back down.

"I received the notification last night. Your transfer was at the request of your new squadron commander. Your assigned bird will be transferred to your new squadron as well."

"Even though your no longer part of a U.S. Marine squadron, your still a U.S. Marine. Keep up the good work."

Roy waves Jack in and while sitting gives a short salute.

"The squadron is absorbing VF-96 to replace the four planes we lost. You didn't get transferred because you the odd man out without a plane but because your new CO requested your transfer."

"Once they get Macross City up and running there'll be a few bars. We can have that beer then."

A snort.

"The Few, the Proud, sir.  Apparently she didn't request me for my leadership skills.  How many 4 bird flights managed to not lose a single plane, let alone pilot, in that battle?"

She shrugs.

"I am not a bit happy about this, requested or not.  I will be requesting to transfer back, as often as I am allowed.  If you will have me."

"I've read your after action report 1st Lieutenant. You had a three bird flight that picked up two more birds, one of which was shot down. I am putting you in for Bronze Star for leading that flight of five, and clearing the deck of the Prometheus of alien mecha."

"You will be getting a DFC for your nine kills."


"The only reason I allowed your transfer is because I don't want to break up any of the crews just to keep you in the squadron. If an opening does come up for a pilot your going to be my first request."

She seems taken aback a moment.  "Ah, thank you sir.  Five birds, yes.  I brought back four."



"I'm a pair leader there, under the command of two, flight and squadron, that I led in that battle.  I don't like that.  I won't wish for someone's death to come back, but I will make it clear I do not wish to be there.  And as for the commander, I have tried to be nice.  You read my report, she second guessed half my orders.  I don't want to work for someone like that. "

She tightens her jaw.

"How about removing me from flight status, I can train as a reserve?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:23, Tue 30 Oct 2018.

In reply to Roy Fokker (msg # 211):

"That would be nice, sir. And it feels good to know that I don't leave the squad due to bad performance.

Sir, if I'm not able to transfer back is it okay for you if I have a symbol on my VF that would hint I was part this squad" Jack drops his salute but doesn't relax to much.

"Lieutenant you should look at the bigger picture. For the first time in the history of mankind we fought an enemy we knew literally nothing about. There were a lot of suggestions being tossed around over the radio. Some of those suggestions probably saved lives. As it is a lot of mistakes were made that cost us a lot of lives."



"There are 100 veritechs without pilots. We're going to be hard pressed to get qualified pilots to man them all.So no your request to be removed form flight status is denied."

"Don't do something stupid to get taken off flight status either."

"I don't think that'll be possible, who knows how much paint we have available. But no one is going to take away your squadron patch or your issued helmet."

[Private to Jack O'Neil:
Don't forget your helmet will ID you as having been a VF-84 pilot.]

"Right... so suck it up buttercup, life sucks and then you join the Marines, sir?"

In reply to Roy Fokker (msg # 217):

"Right, I will send a request and hope for the best then. Until then I will keep what I have left close to me" Jack give a smile and offer a handshake. "I better get going, new duties now as Safety Officer. Stay safe sir and thank you for this time

Once that is done Jack will leave Roy's office behind and with what little things he have head back towards his new quarters.

[Private to Roy Fokker: Thanks, had almost forgot about that one.]

Major Davis stands up. At six foot 1 inches tall he towers over Lt Levina who is only five foot 3 inches tall. He says two words "Lieutenant, Atten-chun!"

[Private to Meiko Levina: You should probably go to the position of attention when ordered to by a superior.]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:21, Fri 02 Nov 2018.

She very seriously snaps to attention, as trained.  Eyes focused directly forward on the far wall.

After Lt Levina attains the position of attention, Major Davis walks over to his office door and shuts it. He then walks back behind his desk and addresses Lt. Levina. His voice doesn't become screaming or yelling. It's only a little bit louder then the earlier conversation when he was sitting down.

"Lieutenant, your complaining attitude and general tone of dissent is the exact definition of doing something stupid to get taken off flight status. Keep it up and I will have you re-assigned to shoveling shit down in the ships sewage treatment plant."

"Understood?"

"Aye Aye sir.  Lima Charlie, Sir."

"Good..." The Major's tone gets softer. "I need you to start acting like the U.S. Marine aviator that you are. Show people that by accepting the assignments your given without any hint of complaint."

"Your dismissed, please leave the door open on your way out."

"It's been a pleasure flying with you sir."

She salutes, does a smart about face, and leaves with decorum and military precision.

She also leaves the door open.