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One of the problems with SB118 is it's high quality of writing. I'm constantly shamed by the beautiful writings of others, and wish I could infuse humour or realism the way others do. @Judiciar Westus Grevious uses his experience to give us insight into what it's like to be in the military, even one that's space faring. It's a pleasure and honour to write with him and every single other person in this community. ((Valkyrie 4, Grey mode, Orbiting New Bajor)) Josh Henderson had wanted to be a pilot ever since he saw his first air show when he was seven. Alas, it wasn’t in the cards for him, and despite his best efforts, Josh had failed out of flight school, but not so badly that he wasn’t able to stick with Marine aviation. Managing phasers, sensors, and torpedoes from the back seat of a fighter was the next best thing to being in the front seat anyway. It did make for a much more interesting job on missions like the one he was on now. While Ishani was stuck in the front seat with nothing to do, Josh could at least monitor and manipulate the sensor readouts and the craft’s on board sensors. Still, It was much more fun to simply annoy his pilot. As loudly as he could, Josh Henderson cracked all ten of his knuckles in such rapid succession that it could have been mistaken for far off gunfire. Singh: Henderson, would you cut that out? You're not going to have any tendons left in your hands at this rate, and you've got a lot of buttons to push back there. Henderson: Oh please. You front seaters always say we’re just self-loading baggage back here. Maybe it’d do you good to see what happens when I can’t press my buttons. It’s not like anything’s gonna go down anyway. Why are we even out here? Singh: You know why we're here. Because those were our orders, Marine. As for why you're here - I can only assume Lieutenant Greaves is still upset I cleaned him out at poker last month. Josh laughed and reached forward to slap the side of the woman’s helmet in jest. Henderson: I KNEW it. It IS you I have to thank for sitting in a cold tin can with nothing to do! He watched the planet below slowly spin in place, almost imperceptibly slowly. Through the clouds he could see swaths of greens, blues, and tans. Henderson: But really though, what’re we out here for? The Thor up and skedaddled. I mean, I know we’ve got people on the ground, but aren’t we just dropping off supplies? Singh: Well, specifically, our orders were to conduct a training operation. Fleet Captain Kells didn't want to inflame the situation by bringing a big security force down to the planet, because it's his job to be a good representative for the Federation and Starfleet Command. Commander Teller didn't want the CO to be totally exposed, because it's his job to look out for the welfare of the crew, Fleet Captains included. So, he ordered 1st Lt. Greaves to put a low-profile support detachment together, because it's his job to make sure a crayon eater like you has something to do with their days. ::Ishani paused, enjoying the brief moment of silence:: You following all this so far or you like a picture? Henderson: Yeah, I’d love a picture. (fakes searching the [...]pit) Wait, did you eat my box of crayons again? Come-on Snowball, you know I was saving those for after lunch. Just give it to me straight. Singh: So, right now we're training. Our hypothetical training scenario is that the CO and several officers have beamed into potential hostile territory and the Thor has been called away. We are to on high guard. Out the window to our starboard, you'll see Valkyrie 5 doing the same thing. A bit below us and aft is a type 9 shuttle, the Freyr. Should we hypothetically observe something atypical...::Ishani tapped a knuckle on the biomonitors locked onto the away team to accentuate her point::...the shuttle is here to extract our people and we're to provide support. Do you even listen during the briefings? Josh reached below his chair and triggered a mechanical lever. His seat reclined an extra 20 degrees and the WSO leaned back in comfort. Henderson: Me? I took detailed notes, I’ve got this down pat. I just like hearing you rattle off from your high horse. (grinning) Singh: Fine, but next time I expect you to... Josh folded his hands behind his head and stretched his back in the cramped [...]pit just as a red light illuminated the small space. In a split second the crew of the fighter had dropped their back and forth, voices replaced with efficient and professional calls. Josh double checked the validity of the biosigns, and cursed under his breath. Hands flying over the controls, both of them spun up the engines and restored system power. The small fighter came to life with a faded hum, and Josh worked the sensors at full power, isolating the location of the team. Before she could even bring it up, he already was working the comms. Henderson: =/\= Two, this is lead, Loki. I say again, Loki. Follow us down. Spread left. =/\= Valkyrie 4-2 WSO: =/\= Two copies Loki. On it. =/\= Singh: Advise the strat ops officer on the rescue shuttle we are inbound to secure an LZ for them. They're to wait till we're passing through the mesosphere and then follow us down. What's our ETA to the ground? He had a solid fix on the away team on sensors, and Josh sent the coordinates to the front seat nav computer. A small blue triangle populated in their heads up displays, marking the location of the team and populating a computer generated ETA countdown. Henderson: On it. Two is already poshing spread left. The away team’s coordinates should be on your scope as well. I’m not picking up any threats as of yet. He reached for the comm push to talk and keyed the button as the ship rotated to align with the coordinates. Henderson: =/\= Freyr, this is Valkyrie 4-1. Loki. I say again, Loki. We’re inbound to the site and we’ll set you up for a straight in to the LZ. Push once we enter the mesosphere. How copy? =/\= Rouiancet: =/\= Response=/\= Henderson: Unknown at this time. We’re working on it. Recommend you go direct comms with the away team while we push ahead. Valkryie 4-1 out. Josh continued to work the sensor controls, manually fine tuning the scan resolution while powering up the shields and weapons. He checked the adjacent structures, underground, in the air. He checked for unusual particles and looked for energy signatures. Nothing came up out of the ordinary. Henderson: Snowball, looks like we can be down in 120 seconds. Should be hit atmo right away once we push. I’ve got nothing on the scope as far as threats. No idea what happened to the skipper. We might be best off doing some low passes as a show of force over the LZ. Singh: Response Singh: =/\= Freyr, this is Valkyrie 4. We are ten seconds from burndown. Sensors show our people in trouble. Can you confirm? =/\= Rouiancet: =/\= Response =/\= Singh's hands tightened around the controls as the computer counted off the final seconds. Singh: =/\= Copy all. Valkyrie 4, committing. =/\= That was it. Despite the two of them sharing the same rank, Snowball had been given the role of mission commander, and it was her choice on how to address anything that popped up while the Thor was away. She had spoken the magic words, commit, and now the mission was on. Josh felt a subtle shift in gravity as the ship rocketed forward and the inertial dampeners compensated. It was go time. Rouiancet: =/\= Response =/\= Henderson: Roger, we’re committed. The nose of the fighter aligned with the planet and the engines surged to life. Out the [...]pit window, New Bajor grew until it filled Ishani's view entirely, and then the plasma flames of reentry began creeping around the canopy. The roar in the [...]pit quickly grew deafening. As the ship shot into the atmosphere of the planet it began to rock violently. Under normal circumstances the dampeners would compensate admirably, but Snowball had them in a steep dive under significant acceleration. A very non-standard entry. Alarms began ringing throughout the [...]pit and Josh pulled up diagnostic readouts. Henderson: (Shouting over the roar) Take it easy Snowball. We’re coming in too hot. Hull temperature is sky rocketing. Singh: Response Henderson: We can’t help them if we become a bright red smear across the sky! I’m trying to compensate with vents. Almost as soon as he keyed the controls to begin venting some of the heat, the sound of stressed metal filled the [...]pit and the craft suddenly jerked left as a tearing thunk signaled the destruction of something on the hull. Warnings flashed across his display. Singh: Response Henderson: Whoops! Don’t mind that, might have just torn off a shuttered vent intake. No vents it is. I need you to slow us down 12 percent. That’ll keep us at red line, but it’ll keep us alive. Trust me on this. Singh: Response The next several moments were filled with tense rocking and buffeting as the ship decelerated in the increasingly thick air. Finally after what seemed like a lifetime of staring at hull temperature readouts, they were safely through the reentry and closing on the away team’s location. Henderson: They’re inside a structure, but it looks like there’s a good spot for the shuttle to set down right next to the entrace. I’m pushing the coordinates to the Freyr now. He rapidly tapped a few keys and pushed more data to the pilot’s computer and heads up display. Henderson: You should see a flight path on your display now. Follow it precisely, and I mean perfectly. It’ll take us over the heads of whoever is down there, clearing buildings by a few feet. Probably will shatter a couple windows too. Anyone thinking of pushing their luck will think twice. Singh: Response TBC ========================= 2ndLt Josh Henderson Marine Weapons Systems Operator E239702WG0 =========================

That @Iron Captain Geffrond Tell is a great writer is a fact, like the water is wet and the sun will rise again tomorrow (unless you are very close to one of the poles ) For that alone, this SIM already deserves to be read. If we add to that the presence of fighter pilots (which I think polarizes the fans quite a bit) with a slightly different perspective quite interesting to read, the magnificent way of knitting tags for others without directing the answers too much and that this SIM is a scene that connects two other scenes (so that the whole act gains a more cinematographic momentum) makes this SIM a great example of good work to involve the crew and keep the tension and interest high. Brian, you are so good at what you do that you are just loathsome, Keep it up, setting the bar very high so that we can strive to live up to you

Whole heartily agreed! Responding to this was a blast. Outstanding set-up, and elegantly written.

I love going on missions with my fellow writers. Exploring situations and seeing how our characters respond is definitely a wonderful experience. However, one of my favourite parts is seeing what people do with their personal arcs, and that allows me as a reader to follow along in their journey. Sheila's journey has been on going, but I love how Aly is giving us insight to a new sort of beginning along that journey. I love how she makes it easy to connect with her character, and allows us a glimpse of what it might be like to be Sheila. ((Sheila Bailey’s Quarters - Habitat Areas - Starbase 118)) Sheila had done it. Yes she had done it. She had taken the next step needed. Now however she wasn’t sure. Not in the way that she shouldn’t have done it but more so ‘I never thought I’d get this far’. She had been wearing her uniform as she walked back from her appointment at the breeders. Dogs that’s what it was. ‘Special dogs for special folks’. That was supposedly the woman’s motto. Basically a breeder trainer and with that she would have to come back in 6 weeks; training. The woman working with her had been extremely excited for it too. She had talked at length about how most only came in for a new pet which required basic training; sit, stay that sort of thing. But she did set aside a few select dogs for more complicated training. In such the basics including service dog tasks were out of the way before the new owners, handler showed up. That was Bailey. Her and her new dog would be a team. They might even be a team right now and on the first day. Now she had a list of supplies in her saddle bag, her hands wrapped around the handles of her forearm crutches and strung through one of said handles was the loop of a teal rope dog leash. If one followed the leash they would spot at the end a dog grey in color, thin yet strong, ears flopped over, soon to point up as the pup grew. The creature was a classic style of male Elaysian dog similar to the Earth Great Dane. The Elaysian dog was built almost as if it was a miniature version of a horse, built to run. Currently it reached Sheila’s knees but at full grown, at the year mark in about 6 more months, would reach between her hips and waist. Soon enough the pair stood at the door to Sheila’s quarters. Once inside the dog's leash was uncliped. Not a moment too soon did the young pup go racing through the living room then around the kitchen table. They nearly knocked over her stone fruit bowl. On the second lap they practically slammed into the counter sending one of her round fruit tumbling to the floor. Bailey: Hey! Slow down. Come here… come here…. The dog stopped, sat and looked at Sheila, their head held sideways. Bailey: I’m sorry I don’t have a name for you yet. The thin dog practically disappeared running around from the kitchen into the bedroom. Sheila was about to follow when out of nowhere they appeared again. Dragging behind them was one of her knitted blankets. Bailey: I guess you're trying to help. That’s your job huh? Carefully Sheila bent down to sit on the floor. Her dog, yeah her dog took that as a cue to put his head in her lap. Gosh was he cute at six months. Cute and soft. Perfect for petting. Bailey: I should give you a name shouldn’t I? Dragon? Okay not that one. What about Jupiter? Pluto? ::The dog lifted his head looking totally uninterested in each option:: Okay. I get it. They are a bit silly. ::Sheila continued to stroke the top of the dog’s head:: You need a name that is strong. What about Hamlet or Loki? ::The dog only put their head back in the woman’s lap. Either they were growing tired as puppies do or uniquely uninterested in each option:: No, no. You’re right I can’t name you after some character. Alistair. Alistair. ::The name was said in Elaysian sounding quite different from the other suggestions:: It means warrior or helper. With the final suggestion Alistair sat up completely on alert. That must have been it. The correct name or at least the name that meant the most. Of course it was. With a name that meant warrior, helper or even defender of the people. Alistair was the perfect reminder of why he was here. He was strong so she herself could be strong. Just from him dragging about her blanket, for her, it was obvious he was born to be of service; a bit more training and they would be set. There was no doubt that Sheila and Alistair would make a fine pair. Alistair was going to be the best service dog in training, the best companion. He might even be considered a respectable medical officer. Lieutenant Sheila Bailey Assistant Chief Medical Officer Starbase 118 Ops M239512BG0 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "StarBase 118 Ops a Star Trek PBEM RPG" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to sb118-ops+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sb118-ops/CAOop-PH5kNSxmNcnCRdtZE_awTGg0jmjk66z3-MvWRVbm8uiNw%40mail.gmail.com. Dog leash.jpeg 6 Month Elaysian puppy.jpg

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." GONE WITH THE WIND

"I was thinking about that dame upstairs, and the way she had looked at me, and I wanted to see her again, close, without that silly staircase between us."

Hey, thank you everyone. The training staff were amazing and I really wouldn't have been so confident without their support. I look forward to simming with some of you. Congratulations Tagia Jutto, it has been a pleasure training with you.

Thanks for the welcome everyone, and especially thanks to the training staff! They were great.

I...ain't...asking...

"I am no angel. These are the wings of justice." -Furious Angel Benvus Garcias

“So that's the way you scientific detectives work. My god! For a fat, middle-aged, hard-boiled, pig-headed guy, you've got the vaguest way of doing things I ever heard of.” ― Dashiell Hammett, Red Harvest

“I don’t like gambling very much. I don’t like being at the mercy of those little white squares that roll around and decide whether you win or lose. I like to have the say-so myself.” Lawrence Tierney in Born to Kill (1947).

"I knew the dame was trouble the minute she walked through my door. She had a voice like an angel and a body like the devil, and I know which one I was paying more attention to. She was the kind of woman who’d hum you a lullaby after stabbing you in the back and I knew if I let my guard down, she’d be singing at my funeral."