ABS FIESTA - LOCKED EDITION

[Operator¹]

The Hornet is refitted with completely new electronics as a part of the repairs, I hop in the roosterpit and initialize the systems as I put on the new helmet that came with the upgrade package. The helmet's HUD and the plane's electronics display everything in a hexagonal grid as green letters pop up in the middle of the HUD, everything about the interface is completely different from the Hornet's original avionics.

[ SYSTEM INITIALIZED ]
Building pilot profile..
Age: 22
love: F-

*CLICK*

I turn off the displays and let out a frustrated groan as the system cycles through and completes building the profile before turning it back on to familiarize myself with the new system. I turn it off after about half of an hour figuring out how it works and what new functions the system has. I take off the helmet and climb out of the Hornet, going back to replace and install new panels on the Hornet.

[Ad Bot]

[Swat 3]

It says "Hey handicap your plane's hot as forget"

ok
I lock onto an interesting plane that is flying in circles. "I kinda feel bad for these girls. Aren't they conscripted?" I say before firing a heatseeker at it.

[Qwepir]

I lock onto an interesting plane that is flying in circles. "I kinda feel bad for these girls. Aren't they conscripted?" I say before firing a heatseeker at it.

The target plane flails around a bit before exploding.

1-1: "Iunno."

1-2: "Not to my knowledge, no. Not that you should have much of a problem with that, having apparently gunned down so many indentured pilots in your service with Aesthia."

Major Coaxoch lazily finishes off two more enemy planes.

1-5: "They're running away! Are we gonna chase them down?"

1-1: "Nah, let them go. Maybe they'll tell some tall tales of what they saw here, demoralize their teammates. Hhh, that was a turkey shoot, though, wasn't even exciting."

1-2: "You sound disappointed for someone who did as well as you just did."

1-1: "Three flights- an entire squadron! Every one of them stuff. Oh well, Oculus says we're done here, let's go home. I hope Steele made it to an airbase safely."

1-2: "I hope he didn't take that opportunity to run back to his former allies."

1-1: "...stuff, he had better not have. Dax, he wouldn't do that, would he?"

[Swat 3]

"Of course, we chose being indentured pilots over being mauled by a bloody lion, but I doubt he would go back running to our former allies primarily because he would be rigorously court martialed and put in jail indefinitely due to being a traitor and killing many of our friends here."

I pause for a moment to collect my thoughts.

"So no, he probably wouldn't. I think he, as I have, grew a bond with you guys." I plan to remain silent for the rest of the flight back home unless they decide to bring it back up or something.

[Qwepir]

1-1: "Oh. Good!"

1-2: "I should hope so, if he turned tail, it is likely that Daxton is going to be the one to be punished."

You arrive back at base shortly thereafter. Steele hasn't shown up at your shared room yet. I guess now's your chance to mill about and talk to people while you've got some downtime.

[Swat 3]

I approach Luthor as he walks down the hall to his room after I check my room for Steele, who is not there. "What do you mean when you said I would get punished if Steele went ahead and abandoned us?" The statement Luthor made in flight is bothering me somewhat.

[Qwepir]

"I meant you would be seen as an accomplice in the authorities' eyes. Not to worry, though, we heard he's being held at an allied base in Gervesia. As soon as the Major signs the right papers, he'll be on his way back."

[Swat 3]

"I meant you would be seen as an accomplice in the authorities' eyes. Not to worry, though, we heard he's being held at an allied base in Gervesia. As soon as the Major signs the right papers, he'll be on his way back."

"Oh... good." I say, my stomach feeling upside down. "Soooooo... what's on the menu in the mess?"

[blockguy™]

"Oh... good." I say, my stomach feeling upside down. "Soooooo... what's on the menu in the mess?" I shift my hair, noticing 1) how scruffy it looks due to being in my helmet and 2) its nearly touching my eyebrows. Oh my god ew. "Where is the barber, by the way?"

your supposed to have a buzzcut right out of training bruh

[Swat 3]

your supposed to have a buzzcut right out of training bruh

this is

the airforce

besides wtf are you talking about i've been a pilot for... for a while.

[Badger]

no you have to have it buzzed

or at least not exceeding 1 1/4 inches

[Swat 3]

no you have to have it buzzed

or at least not exceeding 1 1/4 inches

well then

TAKE THAT OUT THEN HURRRR DURRR

[Badger]

like that's us standards though

these air forces might have different ones but I doubt it

[Qwepir]

"Oh... good." I say, my stomach feeling upside down. "Soooooo... what's on the menu in the mess?"

He shrugs and continues on his way to the rec room.

[blockguy™]

like that's us standards though

these air forces might have different ones but I doubt it

"yeah, we like our pilots to have long hair so it gets in the way!"