ABS FIESTA REDUX

[Badger]

: Pfft! You're gonna make me spill this, man.
: Okay, Pansar is the one to talk to about this, but if I'm remembering right he theorized that the plan was to destroy the Goths' strategic missile command headquarters located near their capitol. We do that, and any nuclear response will be chaotic and disorganized enough for the Mercanan orbital defense network to handle. Then, I guess we just... vaporize strategic and civilian targets until the Goths surrender? I wasn't paying attention at that point.

"Huh. I'll hold my questions for him then or when the mission briefing happens, I don't catch much about upcoming missions. It's almost like I sleep through most of the briefings."

Walter huffs out as if he's about to laugh with a joking grin before he pats twice where his rank is posted on his fatigues

"Or I'm just low priority on the information chain."

[Ad Bot]

[Mr. Hurricane]

"They got the heatsinks on the tower! And it sounds like they're making progress against the mirror too!"

Jaakkos face lights up with the news.

[Qwepir]

Cualli walks into the temple, looking around for the priest. She puts her hands in her pockets to hide their trembling.

The priest is currently cleaning up a mess at the front of the temple. He glances up when you walk in.
: Hello there. Sorry about the mess, that last turn was rather steep.

"Huh. I'll hold my questions for him then or when the mission briefing happens, I don't catch much about upcoming missions. It's almost like I sleep through most of the briefings."
Walter huffs out as if he's about to laugh with a joking grin before he pats twice where his rank is posted on his fatigues
"Or I'm just low priority on the information chain."

Virvel hands you a glass of vodka after pouring one for herself, then starts on a third for Fang.
: What's the deal with that anyway?
: You know, I wouldn't be surprised if somebody lost your papers, or if the filing cabinet they were in got blown up. As far as the military is concerned you might just not officially exist.

"They got the heatsinks on the tower! And it sounds like they're making progress against the mirror too!"

Jaakkos face lights up with the news.

: Nice. Looks like you guys are gonna get to go on your bombing run after all.
: [Just our luck! Here comes another one!]
: [Damn those Helians! Nothing but a bunch of war profiteers!]
: [All surface teams, your job is done. Disengage ASAP.]

[Badger]

: What's the deal with that anyway?
: You know, I wouldn't be surprised if somebody lost your papers, or if the filing cabinet they were in got blown up. As far as the military is concerned you might just not officially exist.

Walter takes the shot glass and holds it for the time being while he talks

"It's probably someone doing it for kicks. Or like you said someone forgetting to do or losing paperwork for missions, I've really only seen one other promotion in Mjolnir for the time I've served."

[carolcat]

The priest is currently cleaning up a mess at the front of the temple. He glances up when you walk in.
: Hello there. Sorry about the mess, that last turn was rather steep.

"Oh," Cualli says, pausing in the aisle briefly before continuing her approach. She glances between the priest and the mess. "We can help you clean up, if you'd like," she offers.

[Mr. Hurricane]

Jaakko nods to the engineer.

"As it should be. I see you around enough, what's your name?" he asks.

The radio begins chattering again. He doesn't wait for an answer, and the conversation on the radio wipes the bright look of his face and replaces it with concern.

"Those two guys seem to be talking about the Helians. The AWACS told them to pull out. I think that they've done it, but I can't say with total certainty,"

[Qwepir]

Walter takes the shot glass and holds it for the time being while he talks

"It's probably someone doing it for kicks. Or like you said someone forgetting to do or losing paperwork for missions, I've really only seen one other promotion in Mjolnir for the time I've served."

: Well if you ask me, it's long overdue.

Virvel knocks back her glass and downs the first shot.

"Oh," Cualli says, pausing in the aisle briefly before continuing her approach. She glances between the priest and the mess. "We can help you clean up, if you'd like," she offers.

: Help would be welcome, thank you.

Jaakko nods to the engineer.

"As it should be. I see you around enough, what's your name?" he asks.

The radio begins chattering again. He doesn't wait for an answer, and the conversation on the radio wipes the bright look of his face and replaces it with concern.

"Those two guys seem to be talking about the Helians. The AWACS told them to pull out. I think that they've done it, but I can't say with total certainty,"

: Well, good for them.

The other engineer seems to be ignoring your inquiry, and the radio transmissions are now nothing but panic. Deciphering individual words in the chaos is near impossible.

[Badger]

"Thanks, I like to think I'll get one after this next mission." Walter follows suite with the drink and places his glass back down for later. Walter shows a brief moment of worry in his face before it quickly dissipates as he appears to change his thoughts quickly towards something lighter

"I'll probably just become an instructor after all this, Not sure what else I should do other than keep on flying for the time being."

[carolcat]

Cualli crouches and starts helping the priest tidy up. "C'mon, Elu," she says, gesturing for him to join her.

"I've... been looking for someone I can talk to about something," she behind hesitantly after several long moments. "And I didn't really know who I could trust about it until one of my co-workers suggested that I come here."

[Qwepir]

"Thanks, I like to think I'll get one after this next mission." Walter follows suite with the drink and places his glass back down for later. Walter shows a brief moment of worry in his face before it quickly dissipates as he appears to change his thoughts quickly towards something lighter

"I'll probably just become an instructor after all this, Not sure what else I should do other than keep on flying for the time being."

: Pfft, it's not like you have a choice what you should keep doing for the time being.

Cualli crouches and starts helping the priest tidy up. "C'mon, Elu," she says, gesturing for him to join her.

"I've... been looking for someone I can talk to about something," she behind hesitantly after several long moments. "And I didn't really know who I could trust about it until one of my co-workers suggested that I come here."

: What's on your mind?

[carolcat]

: What's on your mind?

Cualli pauses. "Do you remember that pilot that deserted?" she begins. "Ark-- er, Captain Orlov?"

"I've... I was pretty close to him. Probably too close-- well, definitely too close." Her voice is quick and shaky, betraying her nervousness. "And... I'm afraid that my... well, my intimate relationship with him is going to put me in... trouble. Or get me thrown into the brig. Or executed."

She chews her lower lip for a moment. Her mouth feels dry. "I'm afraid that because I was so close to him, people are going to think that I helped him desert or that I knew it was coming. And that if someone accuses me of that-- which I can think of two people who very well might-- then they'll end up uncovering my... less professional involvement with him, and--"

Cualli stops, sighs, and rubs her face. "I don't know. I've been a huge wreck ever since he left. Not really eating, not taking care of myself, all of that. I... don't really know what I should do. Or why I'm really here. Like, here talking about this, I mean."

[Mr. Hurricane]

Jaakko waits a few moments, then backs away from the radio.

"Can't pick anything out now, and it sounds like they've done it. I'm gonna go get cleaned up,"

He walks off, rids himself of his flight gear, cleans up, and finds Tippy in the mess hall. He falls into the seat across from hers.

"Hey! How are you...?"

His intonation changes as he sees Tippy's distorted frown.

[Badger]

"What do you mean? You think they'll still want me around after the war?"

[Qwepir]

Cualli pauses. "Do you remember that pilot that deserted?" she begins. "Ark-- er, Captain Orlov?"

"I've... I was pretty close to him. Probably too close-- well, definitely too close." Her voice is quick and shaky, betraying her nervousness. "And... I'm afraid that my... well, my intimate relationship with him is going to put me in... trouble. Or get me thrown into the brig. Or executed."

She chews her lower lip for a moment. Her mouth feels dry. "I'm afraid that because I was so close to him, people are going to think that I helped him desert or that I knew it was coming. And that if someone accuses me of that-- which I can think of two people who very well might-- then they'll end up uncovering my... less professional involvement with him, and--"

Cualli stops, sighs, and rubs her face. "I don't know. I've been a huge wreck ever since he left. Not really eating, not taking care of myself, all of that. I... don't really know what I should do. Or why I'm really here. Like, here talking about this, I mean."

The priest stops picking things up and goes silent for an uncomfortable amount of time.
: ...I know you have just placed a lot of trust in me by admitting what you just did, but the situation surrounding the traitor is a matter of utmost security. I'm sorry, but-

He hesitates, then pulls out a leather-backed holy book from the podium.
: Actually... Internal Affairs would have a more rigorous screening process, but as long as you swear on this book that you are telling the truth when you say you knew nothing of his plans to defect I promise you I will not tell another soul a word of what you tell me here.

"What do you mean? You think they'll still want me around after the war?"

Virvel shrugs
: Iunno. But you said you weren't sure what else to do for the time being. Like, there's a war on, my dude, they're not going to let you retire right now.
: I think he meant he's not sure now what he's going to do after the war.
: Pfft, what? Shut up and drink something you bitch, you're not making sense.
: No thanks, I'm good.

[carolcat]

The priest stops picking things up and goes silent for an uncomfortable amount of time.
: ...I know you have just placed a lot of trust in me by admitting what you just did, but the situation surrounding the traitor is a matter of utmost security. I'm sorry, but-

He hesitates, then pulls out a leather-backed holy book from the podium.
: Actually... Internal Affairs would have a more rigorous screening process, but as long as you swear on this book that you are telling the truth when you say you knew nothing of his plans to defect I promise you I will not tell another soul a word of what you tell me here.

"I swear," she says, resting her right hand on the book. Her eyes fall to stare at its cover and her voice goes quiet, with her pain clear in it. "Sometimes part of me wishes I knew. Maybe then it would've hurt less when it happened."