'Kathryn, you have to try it. Tom programmed it to give the Nova Squadron a taste of winging it' and we knock back another beer - well, beer for 'Lanna and wine spritzer, synthehol only for me. Damn the no alcohol, just when I could drink to oblivion with no red alert on the horizon, no one hundred and forty souls give or take a few to be responsible to, and no out in the hellforsaken wasteland of the delta quadrant without backup.

Rewind that, Janeway, you loved being in the delta quadrant, mostly. You loved the family made out of crew, and you love that you have all done it and survived. Get over yourself. Perhaps this is what you need, a bit of adrenaline, a bit of a rush.

'hmm, tempting! but 'Lanna can we, ummm, practice it a little first?' and I grin back at her!

'Go, Reckless!' she says back 'Kahless, but I'd love to see their faces if we outfly them!' and roars with laughter. I'm not so sure, much as we teased, Tom truly is the best flyer I have ever seen and Chakotay is no slouch, despite all those shuttle crashes.

'Hmm, then we had better have a look at this course' and 'Lanna changes the holoprogramme. I am stunned by the two sleek planes that sit on the platform ready to take off. I've not seen them before, and they are clearly a Tom and 'Lanna new design.

'something you've been playing with?' as I admire the lines

'Merlin class, top secret, hot off our design PADD' she confirms 'ultimate maneuvering, built for speed, will be shielded, high impact weaponry, can be single or dual piloted. It will replace the captain's yacht on larger ships, each will have perhaps 2 to 4 built in that will drop out for ship defence, but also for quick rescue and retrieve missions. the constitution class replacements as they roll through will have the option perhaps of up to 24 if the option is taken up.' I listen admiringly as she runs through the spec, that they are aerodynamically built for planetary use in a variety of conditions, and also can be quickly adapted for underwater use. I have no idea when she has had time to create another new design. I can see how perhaps the skeleton of this is a modification of the delta flyer. it has stripped out the crew quarters, medical area and analysis area and is minimalistic and paired down internally. Truly suitable for flight and fight. Perhaps there is something of Alice in it.

'Damnit 'Lanna!' i gripe at her, you were supposed to be resting! A month of R and R with the family. I peer eagerly at the ships before me, They are beautiful. The clean lines no doubt Tom's work, as he really does like the understated elegance even if he pretends he is a boy racer. No doubt B'elannas modifications pack a punch.

'Kathryn! as if you and the big guy were actually resting! that long weekend we all spent at Risa? you barely made it from the chalet and you sure weren't 'resting' all that time!' she gives me a very suggestive look, and I can't decide whether to smirk or frown, so my faces tries to do both, whilst my body defies me and blushes. I am looking at the Merlin yacht and thinking of my incredibly sexy new husband, and the myriad of ways we enjoyed Risa. actually, I am not sure why we bothered to go all that distance for the little we saw of the planet. 'Lanna is right!

'Hmm, well, at least we weren't working! and anyway, it was our damn honeymoon! I doubt you and Tom rested much on your honeymoon! Harry wouldn't go in the delta flyer until it had been sonically cleaned!' and we both laugh, poor Harry! he certainly got a lot of laughs out of his innocent appearance. Jenny swears he is more inventive than she had imagined, however. All those aliens.

'c'mon 'Lanna, lets take one out for a spin, you can run me through the controls' and she eyes me and chuckles that Tom's flying patter seems to have rubbed off onto everyone. I roll my eyes as I get in the closest. The sleek pared down interior belies the technological marvels. B'Elanna gives a salesman's spiel on the pull down cott from the ceiling, the transporter area, the pull out head, with privacy screen on command. The cabin contains four areas, all that can have forcefields individually applied. There is a med area, and the pull down cott also doubles as biobed if activated, and the replicator is a wonder. The whole is thermal saving, so that despite heat or cold, it should maintain temperature, and only very slowly will there be an equilibrium. 'Lanna thinks it would take up to a year to reach absolute zero.

And then the controls! she hasn't let Tom be creative, these are touch controls we are all used to. She talks about the ability to then retrofit with ancilliary neural interface. I nod, we both know the doctor will be able to invent one, and I presume 'Lanna has asked him to hurry this process along. I can't help a sigh of joy.

'Lanna slips into the copilot for our pre flight checks and I am off and away. A fairly steady lap first to know the course and then I push it the second time.

'Qapla! Better than Harry!' And I make a disdainful sniff in response. It's not as if harry is much competition, so I really push it on the third lap. I can't quite believe how competitive I feel, and a snort escapes me at my self delusion.

'more like it!' 'Lanna affirms. 'Why did you so rairly get to fly?'

'something about being the captain' I say wryly, 'but remember I saved your asses with the norvallens when they abducted seven and Tuvok' and I get a nod. I suggest we have another drink before my fourth round. I might not have made nova squadron like Tom, but I was no slouch at flying, and I put the hours in on voyager in the simulator and delta flyer.

'damnit 'Lanna but I love this flyer!' I am exhilarated! I have whirled is top speed round the course, tight turns, rolls and seat of your pants flying! It is just so responsive! I think I might be a little in love!

i look round at the silent engineer. ' 'Lanna?' And she huffs a laugh.

'Why in kahless name did you ever let Chakotay fly the shuttles! Damn but you can fly! And I can't help the grin.

'I am a bit ... reckless... with a shuttle! Anyway, you all saw me fly! When I saved your asses from that norvalen tsunkatse ship! D'you think I could take on tom? ' and suddenly we grin at each other.

'leys go again Kathryn, this time with an alien on your tail! Shake or take ' and she grins as tom-speech falls so easily from her lips.

damnit but this time is harder! I fly like the devil is on my tail whilst 'Lanna shoots some crazy imaginary laser knife thing at the following varduuar looking crafts. It slices bits of the damn ships! Unfortunately it is entirely imaginary.

we whoop and holler with every one shot down, scream and laugh at all my asteroid and debris defying spirals and by the end we are breathless with laughter and pumped with adrenaline.

'hot damn 'Lanna!' I gasp out 'this is one hell of a craft and also one hell of a training programme!' She grins back as we high five.

'A few more practice runs and we will send the boys to grethor!' And we laugh as we celebrate our friendship, our competitive spirits, our delight at being alive and finally safe, damnit! We are finally safe to enjoy family and friendship and enjoy the moment.

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posted from Australia with a temporary bit of WiFi! Hope you enjoy! Comments are always very welcome.