ABS FIESTA REDUX

[Gojira]

It's night time, as you can clearly tell by looking up at the sky. In all seriousness...
I follow Cassius to the barracks to get my stuff.

[Ad Bot]

[Qwepir]

The thrusters are cut, bringing the volume levels down to less intolerable levels. You notice your planes are being towed out to the carrier. As you turn to leave, a jeep approaches your group, and one of its occupants shouts at you asking for directions.
"Excuse me, I need to find Captain Steele, Tech Sergeant Takamichi, and Lieutenant Rahem. They and their teams are needed to report to the Lutefisk immediately."

[Gojira]

I turn around before even taking a step.
"Captain Steele present, sir. Mjolnir flight, gather your stuff ASAP. We're to report to the carrier immediately."

[Mr. Hurricane]

I clean out my room. Everything is put into my duffle. It takes me a while to jog all the way over to the carrier, but at least the cool night air is blowing to prevent me from sweating too bad. The carrier is massive.  I wait on the ramp for any from my squadron.

I watch a tractor pull my Typhoon onto a elevator. The elevator then pulls both up into the ship, alongside another aircraft. A Tornado.

I wait in the floodlights for my squadron to show up.

[Gojira]

I head to my room and pack all my stuff as fast as I can, then follow Kißinger to the carrier, watching the two F-15 ACTIVEs get towed aboard.

[Qwepir]

One of the techs notices you standing there with all your stuff packed.
: Uh... why are you guys bringing bags? You know this is only a temporary assignment, right? You're gonna be back here in like, a week.

[Mr. Hurricane]

"Well I'm gonna need my stuff for a week,"

[Qwepir]

She just stares at your bag.
: I mean, basic toiletries and such are already gonna be provided there, what else could you possibly need to bring with you that you can't live without for a week?

One of the other technicians, trying to hold back laughter, leans in and whispers something in her ear.
: Oh. Oh. Okay then. Forget I asked anything. Have fun with whatever it is.

[Gojira]

"...clothing."

[Qwepir]

She looks at her own, much smaller bag, and then back to yours.
: No offense intended, but do you fold them?

[Gojira]

"Not when I'm in a hurry."

[NoZoner]

"... Got it!" I stand up on the F-23's ladder and hold the reference materials above my head in a gesture of triumph. The tractor driver is thoroughly unimpressed and tells me to get the hell down from the Widow so he can tow it out onto the carrier.

Running a little late, I make a beeline for my dorm, hastily throw a bunch of my belongings into a duffel bag, pocket a pack of cigarettes and a matchbook, holster my gun, and run back out to the carrier where the rest of my squadron is waiting.

I take a moment to catch my breath on the tarmac just outside of the ramp. Back at full rest, I pluck a cigarette from the pack with my lips and light it up.

[Mr. Hurricane]

I observe the hanger. It's cramped. Dozens of aircraft wing-to-wing. This hanger is always busy, unlike the others where there is quiet from time to time. The air is a little smokey. I look back on the conversation between Steele and the technician.

[NoZoner]

... I forgot how fast these things burned. I rub out the ashes on the carrier hull before sticking the filter in my back pocket and shouldering my baggage.

A few moments later I catch up with Steele and Kißinger, standing under the floodlamps with someone who appears to be Kinth infantry. The Widow is promptly towed onboard and gets tucked away alongside dozens of other aircraft. Holy stuff, and I thought it looked big from the outside! How the forget does anything with this much space actually fly?

[Mr. Hurricane]

"Awe inspiring, isn't it?" I say to an astonished Sabre.