LT Kasey "Switchback" Myers Reporting for duty!
15 Aug 2020Supaflygrrl
Flight Instructor LT Kasey "Switchback" Myers sails aboard the Roger Young on it's journey for a new habitable world out by Barnard's Loop. This is her entry."Switchback! Front and center!" Yes sir, I salute as the XO shouts my name. "The Commander requests training progress of the rooks." Sir, 20 pilots passed and are combat ready. However, 5 are in need or further training. "Why do they require more? They've had the allotted time needed to be flight ready!" Landing is the concern I have right now. As FI, I refuse to pass anyone until ALL my requirements are met. "The commander has always had a sweet spot for you. He will likely understand this, but I will NOT. I expect those rooks combat ready by day's end. If not, we drop them at the nearest star port. Do you understand me?" Yes sir! I whisper asshole as the asshole walks away. Sweet spot huh? Maybe if he wasn't such a dickhead, he'd have more friends.
Polaris, Ryback, Toll Road, Blaze, and Sparkles....front and center. "SIR YES SIR they proclaim. As you may have just heard, I got an earful from our XO on your poor ass landing skills. As of this moment, I want you in your birds and landing those ships! The next jump doesn't commence till 0800 hours. The commander wants all you rooks passed and combat ready. We can't afford to be caught with our pants down and thumbs up our asses should we be attacked by pirates or bugs. DISMISSED!!
Chief Logan approaches me. "A little hard on them, Switch he says." I don't think I was hard enough. They managed to get pilots licenses from the PFD, so landing should not be an issue. "Condors are more agile then your standard civilian vessel. Don't worry though...they'll get it down." I hope so. We can't afford to lose them. I see potential in that group of five. Even the CAG sees this potential. They just need to focus on safely landing and they'll pass. It might get that hardass off my back. "He may be a hardass, but he's one of the Navy's best. I'm just surprised he hasn't been given his own ship yet." Might be because of that attitude. Face it, Chief. He's had it out for me ever since Achenar. He won't let that go, God damnit! "Achenar wasn't your fault, Switch." He seems to think so. I need to go check on my rooks. Talk to ya soon, Chief. "LT!"
I sit alongside flight controller Mays and watch as my rooks practice their landings over and over. I look down at my watch and realize it's been over 2 hours. They radio in one by one as they begin their landing procedure. One by one they pull off pinpoint accuracy landings. "Well look at that LT. I think they did it." They damn sure did, ensign. They fucking did it! I proceed down to the hangar deck to cheers from fellow pilots as they congratulate them. "Officer on deck!" I knew you grunts had it in you. Con-fucking-gradulations, rooks. YOU PASSED! I hear a slow clap slowly approaching my backside. I turn to see the commander. Commander on deck..SALUTE, I yell! "At ease ladies and gentlemen. I wanted to personally congratulate you on a job well done. You were trained by the best damn pilot in the Galaxy. I knew she'd make combat pilots out you in no time. May we speak, LT? The rest of you, as you were." The commander and I walk away from the group of ecstatic pilots.
"Kasey, I'm proud of what you've been able to accomplish here in such a short time. I would have but a simple request to ask of you." Thank you sir and yes? I need you and the XO to bury this nonsense you have with each other. Achenar was not your fault. I know it. He knows and the Admiral knows it." Sir, I just feel like he's making this personal. Danny was a good pilot, but reckless. "I noted all of that in the records. Danny was his son. He needs time to heal. I spoke with him after he spoke with you earlier. He admitted to being a little too harsh with you, but you know how stubborn he can be. Talk with him. You two can put this behind you and focus 100% on the mission at hand." Yes sir, I will have a conversation with him as soon as possible. "Thank you. Dismissed."
The Story of the Roger Young will continue through multiple points of view from several pilots. Stay Tuned for the next installment.