Chapter 9

Vega Sector: Alcor System

 

A week later the Regal was in the Alcor system. It seemed empty, being held by the Confederation, but everything in space seems to be empty...

 

Rick was in the rec room, staring at the chalkboard, there were several new names on it:

 

Pilot:               Sorties:           Kills:

Hell's Unicorns (Scimitars)

Joker              2                      2

Pawn              2                      1

Stormy            0                      0

Bluebird          0                      0

Honshu Hornets (Hornets)

Death              15                    13

Jack                10                    8

 

 

He wondered about why the two new Hornet pilots were more experienced the Scimitar pilots. Anyways, he had to pick a new wingman for the next mission. Since Bluebird was on bottom he chose him. Best to show someone their first mission in a quiet place then on the frontline.

 

Allison came into the room; somewhat in a daze...She was listening to something on her headphones, the sounds of electric guitars filling the small room.

 

"Hi Alli...What are you listening to?" She sat next to him, taking them off.

 

"Some old rock and roll...It's almost six hundred years old. Really neat stuff, people think it's odd though, no computer-generated music or anything." He nodded, smiling at her. She looked over his uniform.

 

"Anyways...Aren't you due to be promoted soon?"

 

"I think so...Mollo mentioned it to me, said I'll make Captain pretty soon at the rate I'm going." She nodded, staring at the Bronze Star on his shirt.

 

"...I wish I had one of those...Always been a dream of mine...Well, I wanted the Pewter Planet, it's impossible to get one of those though...By the end of this my goal is to earn a Gold Star." Rick looked at her as she finished, she seemed to draw back.

 

"Something wrong?" She shook her head after thinking for a short while.

 

"No...Just need to pay the Kilrathi back to what they did to someone..." Rick nodded, noticing a tear welling up in her eye...He had heard the rumors that someone close to her had died in a Kilrathi raid and that was the reason she isolated herself, no one knew for sure though. He wanted to ask, but didn't want to upset her so he kept his mouth shut...He still noticed the tear though.

 

"Ahh, not again..." Rick felt bad; he grabbed the cuff of his uniform and wiped it away from her cheek. She felt it and looked back to him.

 

"Thanks...Nobody's ever really seen me like this before Rick..." She let out a sniffle, trying to regain her composure. Rick noticed it and put an arm around her, she held onto him to balance herself.

 

"Rick, I knew you'd understand...I don't think anyone else would. Just kill as many of them as you can, that's all that counts..." He felt a little disturbed, but she cuddled up to him, he let her, feeling good about himself.

 

"You'll make it Allison...If anything you have a reason, you'll get your medals and your awards..." She looked up to him, making herself comfortable in his arms.

 

"Thanks again...What about you then? Do you have a reason to fight?" Rick paused, frowning.

 

"Ahh...Someone back home..." She nodded in reply, knowing what that meant, Rick falling silent. Soon both were quiet.

 

A couple hours later the new pilots were on board, a Drayman shipping them over. The four Scimitar pilots found Rick in the lounge with Rokain, Allison having to leave to go on a patrol with Pilgrim. One of them had a blue streak down the center of his helmet - Must be Bluebird.

 

"Are you the wingleader?" He looked over, the new meat crowding him, oohing and ahhing about his medal. Now he felt like a war hero, even though he knew he wasn't anything near the sort.

 

"Oh yeah kids, he's your leader alright! He held up ten kitties by himself and blew the shit out of them! Then he crashed his Scimm into a Dorkir so he could get inside, then took out the crew with a machine gun and slit the captain's throat with a machete!" The crowd started laughing and calling Honeybee a liar, Rick snorting at his wingman.

 

"Yes...I'm Delta, wingleader for the Hell's Unicorns. Welcome to the Regal, hope you enjoy your tour." He rolled his eyes, the young eyes staring at an equally young mentor.

 

"Hopefully you all know the ropes about flying and you know what the Scimitar can do. It's not the fastest ship out there but it's pretty good." They all cheered in reply.

 

"Right, then...For your first missions...Pawn, you're with Pilgrim and Valentine. Joker, you're with Death and Jack. Stormy, you're with Artimis and Honeybee. Bluebird, you're with Swordblade and me. Don't worry about anything, with us guys it'll be a piece of cake." He smiled to himself, being able to sway who were his teammates. That way Maegen would always fly his wing - The best wingmate anyone could have.

 

"I guess my shift is due any minute now...Bluebird, are you ready to fly?" Rick looked over, the guy barely looked like he was twenty. He nodded silently.

 

"Right. I'll go get the mission orders, if anyone has any questions ask me or Commander Mollo." They nodded as he walked off.

 

“Oh…And if you want to know what I really did for this medal, I held off five Salthis while a Drayman jumped.” They all started cheering for him, Rick pointing to Rokain and laughing at him. As he went off Honeybee let out a grunt.

 

Soon Rick was in Mollo's office, Mollo already ready for what he was going to ask.

 

"You three are going on a patrol, search the two nav points and come back home. No really tough challenge." Rick shrugged.

 

"Always expect something, Mollo. If anything that's what I've found out on this ship." Mollo paused and looked out the window.

 

"Yes, Delta...I'll keep that in mind." He gave Rick the coordinates for the nav computers as he walked off.

 

"Oh, Rick..." He turned back.

 

"Yes sir?"

 

"Good luck out there."

 

"Thanks."

 

 

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