The Matriarch's Adventures - Behind Her Back
25 Dec 2020Britarnya
A warning sound came over the radio from the robotic air traffic controller. "Alert: Landing Gear not extended."A low quick "crap!" escaped Stahlwilf's lips as she pulled back on the throttle and smashed the control pad. She watched before her as her lights, night vision, and landing gear indicators all came online, causing her to glance away from the visual overload her cockpit offered. She felt the g-force push her into the seat as she pulled back on her flight stick, her ship pitching upwards as she was caught at the last moment by the station's docking clamps, avoiding another scratch of paint on the Cheesegreater, or worse, a bill of repair to the station.
As she was lowered onto the deck, the commander pulled up the data on her contacts tab and cross-checked her sensors and radar. Sure enough, she saw the ship, the Vermillion Scourge, parked right where Commander Britarnya's last location was. Stahlwilf took a slow breath. She couldn't help but fangirl over the accomplishments of Britarnya, and counted her lucky stars that Britarnya broadcasted her location everywhere she went. This was finally her chance to try and catch a glimpse of the Commander, to see if she was every bit a woman as she presented herself. Stahlwilf took another deep breath, but couldn't help her heart beating out of her chest. She unbuckled herself from her chair and forced herself to walk her way out of her ship. She knew that the commander she sought after would only be here for a short while before departing, and so rushed down the ramp to the common area.
Stahlwilf took on a quick march, following the signs for Interstellar Factors, keeping in mind that Britarnya had a bounty on her from the Federation-controlled Albarib, Stahlwilf knew Britarnya would only be here a short while before the Python Brit flew would be departing soon. Stahlwilf continued as she avoided the slower people in front of her as she walked the crowded hallways of the starport. She considered herself lucky being able to dodge and weave in the crowd. That is, until she came face-to-face with a very regal-dressed Imperial couple, a quick yelp coming from the Commander as her vision went white and she fell back onto the hard marble of the floor. Stahlwilf craded her head as she fell, falling in the fetal position with her eyes closed. A shot of pain pulsed from Stahlwilf's forehead as she finally felt no movement. She opened her eyes quickly and looked across to see an female crouched over a male, also holding his head in pain. Stahlwilf looked on in shock as the Imperial female locked her gaze with the pilot.
"You ignorant peasant! I will see that you shall pay for this injury that your ignorance has brought upon my husband!" The female shouted, pointing her fingers towards Stahlwilf. Other people had stopped in their tracks to see the social train-wreck in motion.
Stahlwilf stood up. "N-no, you've got it wrong, lady, I didn't mean..."
The female marched her way to stand over Stahlwilf while the regally-dressed male of the couple came up to a sitting position. The female practically yelled in the Commander's face. "You pilots are all the same, thinking you can march in here and walk however you want simply because you get to fly a ship?!"
"That's enough, miss!" A voice rang out from the crowd. Stahlwilf looked around to see who had a spoke when a curly haired female pushed her way through the crowd and between Stahlwilf and the female. "This pilot didn't mean nothin' by it, and you know better than to act like this, Minerva."
The imperial-dressed female recoiled in shock at being referred to her by her first name. "How dare you. I'll see to it that you both are-"
The other pilot stood her ground and cut off what the female said. "Shut it, you. Or I can make a few calls and make sure your imporatant poll data doesn't make it to Albarib."
The husband that Stahlwilf had collided with had sat up by this point, visibly uninjured but in shock as she began pulling at his wife's hand. "Dearest, that's enough. I'm fine, let's just go." The male whispered urgently.
Minerva, as Stahlwilf had learned, turned up her nose and helped her husband to her feet, not saying another word, but staring daggers into Stahlwilf. It only took the helpful hand of her husband to push her along before she broke her stare. The crewmate held a hand out to Stahlwilf.
"I tell ya, you make friends quick walkin' like that through here."
Stahwilf hesitated but took the offered hand and came to her feet. "Thanks for that." The commander offered sheepishly as she straightened her coat.
"No thanks needed, bud. I'm Daenarys. Where abouts are you off to like that, eh? They got a sale of ale at the pub no one told me about?"
Stahlwilf chuckled nervously. "No, no. I'm... wait, are you Daenarys Santos?"
Daenarys turned her head as her gaze narrowed. "...No."
Stahlwilf held her gaze, unblinking, a twinge of doubt running through her spine as she dared look away from the female's gaze, but as she scanned the facial features and curly blonde hair of the female before her, no doubt about it, this was Daenarys Santos, registered crewmember of Commander Britarnya.
Stahlwilf cocked one eyebrow upwards as she became more sure of herself that she recognized the female who came to her rescue. "A shame. I was hoping to speak with Commander Britarnya."
Daenarys' skin had goosebumps under her suit as she had a moment of panic. She had never been confronted by someone looking for her captain. Was this about the bounty on Albarib? "No, the captain just took care of that..."
Daenarys cleared her throat as she realized the silence had held for too long talking to herself and that Stahlwilf could see right through her. "Right... I work for Commander Britarnya, but I don't know much about her..."
Stahlwilf's eyes lit up as she felt a child-like exciteness warm her heart. This was her! A crewmate of Britarnya! "But... you've worked on the Anaconda! You flew the fighters that Brit has! You...!" Stahlwilf's mouth was covered by the gloved hand of Daenarys, preventing the commander from speaking any more.
"Shut your yap, would ye? I don't go about flappin' how you still crash into the mailslot, now do I?" Daenarys whispered. A look of shock and knowing came to Stahlwilf's face as she realized that perhaps those little mistakes she made docking were coming back to haunt her, the color draining from her face.
Daenarys knew she had the upper-hand at this point and smiled. "Now, why don't you and I get a drink, and we'll discuss your business with my captain."
Stahlwilf was quiet but nodded, pulling Daenarys's hand away from her mouth. "Okay." The commander uttered as she began squee'ing internally at the idea of learning more about her idol, Commander Britarnya.