Once the Black Flag landed in its usual landing dock, Amara walked down the the drop deck with Harek and Altur.
"We have now landed aboard our home ship" Amara told the Russians "When you step off the drop ramp, you will be officially aboard our ship and considered members – recruits only at this point. Each of you will undergo crew placement training to see what position you are best suited to – you do not have to stay restricted to just the one, you may apply for training in other positions should you choose to. We encourage all of our other crew to do this".
"Will we meet the other humans here?" Ivan asked.
"Those who are doing military training will do so first" Amara explained "since most of the other humans are doing that training. There are other humans who are not doing military training, so if you are not doing military training you may meet them – but you will need to speak the human language known as English to them. They cannot speak your Russian language. For now, to assist in understanding, I must inject you with translator microbes – these mean you can read and understand, but not speak or write, other languages".
Andrei was a little scared of that, but when Viktor nodded and Fyodor said "I have had mine already, my son – it is not bad for you", then Andrei nodded permission.
~See?~ Amara told him ~It does not hurt. I was with your father and his friends when they were working, Andrei, and talked to him this way in their heads many times. Your father was the first to realise he could send me or others video and audio memories of things he had seen~
Andrei tried to do that, but his eyes rolled back in his head and he would have fallen to the deck if Amara hadn't caught him.
"You can learn about that another time, my son" Fyodor said with a grin. "There will be school for him to attend, yes?" Fyodor's wife asked "My son needs to be well-educated if he is to follow his father and the rest of us into your version of the Spetsnaz".
"There is study for every child to do, yes" Amara confirmed, nodding "For the academic subjects you probably expect, physical training, plus things unique to shipboard life. For learning shipboard protocol, you may have opportunities to meet people of every species aboard this ship – once you progress in those areas, you may meet the other humans who are also studying those things. You will be assigned living quarters first, close to the other human recruits with families or mates – after which those of you taking part in military training will be taken to recruit quarters".
"We got more humans coming in?" Aden asked Molsey in surprise, hissing in pain as he fell over on a bench after training "Wonder if there's any I know? Can we go see?"
"We will see before long in any case, mister" Molsey told him, smiling a little as she rubbed soothing cream on him "I expect they will be doing recruit training much as you and the others are. I don't know if any of them will require additional training as you do – personally I hope they don't, the less time spent getting everyone settled in the better".
"Yeah, fair enough" Aden replied "But if I can stand up and move right now, we can get an idea what this new bunch are like".
Molsey nodded and helped him to his feet, then watched while he walked around.
"It'll do" she decided "You're improving, mister, if not as quickly as we might like. Personally I think that won't matter as much as it would with some of the others, I think you'll end up an officer on this ship rather than someone conducting off-ship missions – but I will not be deciding your final position and responsibilities, even less so now we are publicly associated as a couple, at least among leadership and a small number of my people".
"I'm sorry if that's blown back on you..." Aden apologised, reaching out to hug her – Molsey grumbled a bit for show before letting him do that, resting her head on his shoulder and smiling as she felt his arms wrap around her.
Aden grinned back as she held him as well, before adding "We'd better get going, or we'll be here all day..."
Amara held the small gathering back until Aden and Molsey had arrived.
Seeing a human and nonhuman as an obvious couple surprised all the Russians a lot, but Ivan just nodded and said "Maybe there's hope for me yet, then..." before laughing.
"I'm Specialist Trooper Third Class Molsey..." Molsey announced "Most of you humans on recruit training address me as 'Training Sergeant' - and since that is my job with you lot right now, then you may all do this as well. A small number of similarly-experienced soldiers of my people are leading all the human recruits through basic training...I don't know yet if any of you have been exempted from any of that due to previous skills, but I will ask after we see you settled into quarters".
Fyodor looked at Molsey and Aden as everyone headed to their new quarters.
Can't say that I'm too surprised he decided even though it looks odd right now. If Ivan and Vladimir and Viktor aren't terrified of the whole idea of being with a nonhuman woman, maybe they'll find someone who wants them here – assuming training's not so easy they die of boredom, or so hard they die of something else. At least my son will have a lot of years before he needs to be concerned about that.
A human female heard noise and stepped outside her quarters to investigate.
"Greetings, Frances Higgins" Amara called, bowing briefly "These humans with me are new recruits, and we are seeing them settled into new quarters close by".
"Greetings, Amara" Mrs Higgins replied with a smile "My children are studying and my husband is training, so there is no one here apart from me for the new ones to see".
It took no more than a few microts before Mrs Higgins said "Russians?" with curiosity, and "Spetsnaz?!" with more concern, now resting her hand on a pistol.
"I'm surprised you could tell so fast" Fyodor's wife replied in wobbly English.
"My husband was special-ops in America before we came here" Mrs Higgins replied "He told me some of the more interesting things about what he had learned – I can speak Russian a little bit, but barely at a basic conversational level".
"We will be learning English" Viktor insisted "We will learn the other languages spoken and we will learn English. We are not in Russia now".
Less than four momens later, Aden looked down the corridor before whistling briefly. Another whistle came back, after which Kristina Westmore arrived, saw the Russians, and promptly lifted up the AK she still had with her before calling "Identify yourselves!" in credible Russian.
Viktor grinned and said "A better command of my language than I'd have expected of an American, miss. We happen to have joined this unit, just as you have. Lower that AK" politely but firmly.
When Amara and Aden nodded, the AK came down to low-ready (but did not, to Viktor's mild concern but also interest, get slung on its owner's back again) before Kristina asked "New guys?"
"Yeah, looks like we picked up a few extras" Aden replied "Only just seen 'em myself, so if you want all the news you'd best ask Amara".
"Come with us" Amara decided "Since you have that automatic rifle with you, I assume you have passed at least basic weapons competency levels… but please, to settle the minds of these new members, sling your rifle over your back again".
"Copy that, Amara" Kristina replied a little suspiciously.
A few momens later, Amara called a halt and said "Fyodor… bring your family forward to this door, please", where she set their handprints and faces in the door security. Amara showed them all the facilities in the family quarters, which all of them were glad to see – though they were surprised to see DRDs come out of service hatches and start cleaning the room once the ship's computer was told the quarters were inhabited.
"Like those silly American domestic Roomba robots we saw on television" Ivan laughed "Except these ones seem to work".
Kristina laughed and said "Yeah – DRDs don't just do house cleaning, they do other stuff too. Prob'ly means main comp here can talk to them wherever they are. They don't do surveillance without the War Commander or one of the generals telling them to, though".
A little later, general crew brought Fyodor's family's bags.
"We'll bring everyone else's stuff when you get quarters assigned to you" a Charrid explained when Viktor asked "Temporary security data was on the Kraken for all of you. Once that matches with permanent access data on quarters' doors, we'll be called and we'll get your belongings over to your quarters".
"We might be officially exempted from basic training due to being recently active special-ops..." Viktor told the Russians when he tested the communications function on his quarters' wall screen "but we're going to go and take part anyway. From what Amara told us, we have only basic protocol training to be concerned with until this ship returns to its usual basing location – learning what these odd coloured lines on the floor and ceiling are for, what our work and training shifts are and how to get to important places around the ship".
"Amara talked to me in my head, uncle Viktor" Andrei said "I nearly fell over when she did, uncle Viktor. She told me we will each get those small computers people wear on their wrists, and we will be taught how to use the basic functions on it we need to find our way around the ship first".
"That is useful and interesting information, mister" Viktor replied, nodding "None of the rest of us knew that. You are good at finding out new information, mister – perhaps you might be trained in doing that for your work when you are older?"
"Don't know, uncle Viktor" Andrei replied "I'd like that, though. Then I can work with you and father".
Despite them not needing another meal, all the human recruits met at the galley nearest their family quarters next scheduled mealtime.
"There are more humans here than I thought there would be" Fyodor said "Families as well, which I did not expect".
"Yeah" Higgins said with a smile "Been run off our feet doing basic ship orientation since we got here, just so we know where stuff is and don't need to grab someone from their duties to tell us. Dunno if we're supposed to help you with that an' get you started, but if you're gonna be staying then we'd better do that first – it'd be nice if you can find your way to the nearest galley for dinner or stores for gear without calling for help, yeah?"
"Basic orientation takes that long?" Ivan asked in surprise "How big is this ship, then?"
Everyone was staggered at the enormous size of the Cry Havoc, especially Andrei – though it was Vladimir who asked about the coloured lines on the floor and ceiling.
"That's sorta like a basic map" Mooney told them, before listing the basic colours for finding transit stations, galleys, and stores offices.
"When kids get assigned to study groups, that's what they call school around here..." Higgins explained "then either a teacher or a senior student – once they're older and have clearance to do so – will come and get them for study. Parents can do that, sure – once they do the basic orientation. Might as well get started now" before he called "Frances, get our kids, they can help us do first run on finding stuff with the new guys!"
Moya was pleased when Harrigan let her out of her assigned cargo dock to fly in atmosphere and said so.
"Just get her to stay beside the Havoc in close formation, Pilot" Harrigan said when Pilot commed in and told him "We're gonna be heading over to a place called Nellis air force base, dunno if Crichton knows where that is or not – there's people there running a military expercise, we're going to join in for a bit".
"Moya will keep formation with you, Commander" Pilot confirmed "She says the air is good and clean here, and she has even spotted flying animals or birds. She says that is a good sign indicating a planet's general health".
"We been to a few really foul places, too" Harrigan replied "Nowhere I'd go by choice, but there's money to be made – so we went".
Pilot told Harrigan about a few worlds they had been to for work as both ships flew at a very fast atmospheric pace for Moya but barely noticeable for the Havoc.
Once Jack Crichton had been translocated back to Washington DC, Harrigan spliced the comm back into the US phone system and called General Franklin.
"I was wondering if you'd call while RED FLAG was still on, mister" General Franklin said once he heard Harrigan's voice "How far off are you?"
"Not long now, General" Harrigan replied "We got Crichton and his usual ride along with us, but they can keep pace if we have to go a little faster to get there in time".
"There's a few of the old one-SO here" Franklin explained "though they're not listed as such now. A few of the older members had kids who joined up, too – and they're here as well".
"Real good!" Harrigan replied enthusiastically "Gonna have to see about meeting all of them while we're here!".
"Not sure if the computer on that enormous ship of yours can get Facebook or not, mister" General Franklin replied "but if it can, make an account and let me know – I'll get you in on their Messenger group for video call hook-up and other stuff".
A few minutes later, Harrigan called back – and General Franklin called back to say "You're in, mister".
"How're we doing?" a B-2 pilot called across the central console.
"Doing well" his copilot replied "Should have as good a chance as any of us at getting the trophy this year" before he turned quickly back to his radar display.
"We got two on us" he called "Very faint… either F-35s or F-22s. There's two more… I think… but they're hugging the ground and trying to hide".
"Reckon we can make the last two and bug out before they get us?" the pilot asked, hoping for a good answer – though the copilot said "Fifty-fifty. The two following us are coming on fast… and I'm starting to think those two down low are there for after, to ambush us if they chase us back".
"Probably that bastard Weasel" the pilot replied.
"Search radar, looking for us!" the copilot called "We got trouble! Just give me a stable and straight run for a while before the next one unless they bring friends..."
The pilot tapped a couple of buttons on his phone before calling "Sons, sons… we got bandits on us. Looks like Weasel and a couple of his buddies – can anyone get in the air an' watch our six?"
"Couple more of Weasel's guys are in the ready room" came a reply shortly afterward "We might be able to give them the slip in a bit, can't do it now".
"Try and get us some breathing space for our last target, then" the pilot asked "We do good on that one, one of the Sons might get Bomb Comp this year".
Harrigan heard all of that as well.
"Gonna have to pick up the pace a bit, helm" he called "Best atmo speed that won't leave Moya eating our dust, mister Hellbolt"
"Just picked up a run going on, General" Harrigan called, to General Franklin's phone "Anyone we know?"
"Should be Blazer and Priest" General Franklin replied "A Beak, 8th Air Force, out of Whiteman AFB. Both of them are Sons, that's second generation One-SO".
"Yeah, saw the name of the group once membership went through, very cool" Harrigan replied "We're not too far off now, but we won't be in a position to help for a few more minutes".
"They're about the best the 8th has" General Franklin replied "Blazer's a bit headstrong, but he's a great pilot if a barely competent bombardier – but that's why he got paired with Priest. People keep saying he deliberately practices bombing with the radar off, just to make sure he keeps his edge".
"Sons, this is Blazer" came the call ten minutes later "Controls are a little futzed, might be losing a network… I should be able to keep it steady for long enough for Priest to work his magic, though".
"Blazer, this is Richie" an unknown voice called "You got four in case three fail, mister – unless an entire side of the aircraft falls off, you should be good".
"Hearin' ya, Richie" Blazer replied, checking his displays "Looks like we're good for now. Anyone else, they'd be screaming for help – but I'm the Blazer, I can handle it".
"That's the way, mister…" Harrigan said happily.
"We're here to take part in a training exercise, people" Lazarus explained over ship's comm "We got an old ally in their air on a practice run right now, but he may have people on his tail – so I want people on standby. Shorter range weapons – that's gats, Reapers' blastguns and plas, Stryker's pulse cannon – count as guns, you need to maintain lock for three microts to score a kill. Bigger guns – that's railcannon and any missiles – those count as missiles, you need to maintain lock for five microts to score a kill. Stay within ten kilometras when you make an attack or it's considered beyond visual range and an invalid attack for scoring".
"I hear you, mister..." General Franklin said, trying not to grin too much "I'll have to tell the admin staff in here, but we should be able to keep it off general channels unless someone leaks it".
"Copy that, General" Lazarus replied "Harrigan's got me up on duty here, we're getting battle management stuff going as we speak".
Lazarus barely had time to speak before Blazer's voice came over Messenger again, calling "Sons, sons… managed to hold it together till now, but thanks to that bastard Weasel on our tail the drop was good but not great".
"Sons, this is Priest" another voice called "Bomb comp is down. Going to backup".
Harrigan turned slightly and pointed right at Lazarus.
"Blazer, Priest… this is Baron" Lazarus called into their Messenger group audio, activating video as he did so "Hold it together, you two – you're not done yet. We got people comin' to get you, just don't get shot down".
"It's the Baron!" a number of more recognisable voices called "Never thought we'd hear your voice again, Captain!"
"That's General to you bunch of thickwits!" Lazarus replied loudly if not too harshly "Look… we were told earlier that someone you guys really don't like has a couple of his guys in your ready room. Keep 'em occupied for a bit".
"That bastard Weasel still has most of his unit out in the hangars, Baron" another pilot called "despite the fact no one's supposed to be on standby alert like that unless they got orders for it".
"We got people to take care of that..." Lazarus said.
"Crichton, you shouldn't end up too far behind us..." Harrigan called to Moya "but there's things I gotta do. I'll still be well within Moya's sense horizon, but we're heading to Nellis AFB" before sending the course to Pilot.
"Moya has your course, Commander" Pilot replied.
"One thing none of us planned on" Weasel told his own unit "Looks like that Beak was too close to a maintenance overhaul and bits are falling off it. I want two of you with me and four more watching the routes back to Nellis in case those two get around me".
"Yeah, on it" came voices, before another added "Got a few in the ready room, they won't be able to get out without letting them old one-SO, worship-the-Baron types know something's up – but we got enough. Just don't fuck this up".
"Movement on the ground!" the Kalish on the navigation desk announced "It appears aircraft are being made ready for launch in numbers, CAG!"
"Blazer, Priest..." Lazarus called again "We're seeing multiple aircraft getting ready for takeoff, which probably means you got friends wanting to say hello".
"Can you get anyone up to tell 'em not to, Baron?" Blazer asked "This Beak's being very uncooperative right now – oh, it won't crash, but it'll take all I got to give Priest enough time to get a good drop on the last target!"
Lazarus immediately got on comm to his senior small craft pilots.
"I want four hundred aircraft ready for takeoff ASAP" he told their officers "Once you got everyone together, I'll hook you into their comms as well as exercise comms, then we can have a little fun of our own. I want another six hundred on close air defence for the Havoc in case anyone decides to be a bit too clever".
"Troll, stop recreating – you got a job to do!" Lazarus bellowed into Troll's personal comms "You're one of our best at air-to-air and you know humans better than any of our other pilots, so grab your Reaper and get going!"
"Already aboard, big man!" Troll laughed "Just prepping the entertainment… if some of our old friends are on a run with unwelcome attention, I gotta make sure there's good music – they could use a rendition of the warp-factor-ten version of 'Hail to the King' without instruments, I think...".
"I'm seeing Raptors on our two..." Priest called, staring out of the front windows.
"Yeah, me too, saw nose art when the blew past us" Blazer replied, wrestling the B-2 back on course "One of Weasel's boys. Hope Baron gets his own boys out here soon, we're going to need them".
"ALL OK!" the duty deck officer called to Baron.
"Flight deck, this is the CAG" Lazarus called "This is an exercise deployment, so remember what I told everyone earlier on comm and we'll be good. Duty deck officer says you're all good to go – wing commanders, sound off when all your guys are good to go".
It didn't take too long before the last officer called in, so Lazarus called "SCRAMBLE!" as he opened the hammond flight deck doors.
"Looks like everyone's at close-defence positions, big man" Troll called back to Lazarus "Just waiting on you to tell me where the good guys are".
"Yeah!" Blazer shouted as he maintained a tight grip and tighter concentration on his flight controls and instruments "We're good to go, Baron – only way we're going to get a good drop on our last target and even have a chance of stopping that bastard Weasel an' his boys from getting Bomb Comp this year is getting a shack on this last one!"
"Don't you worry, mister Blazer" came a voice from another aircraft "The big ol' Troll man's on the case. We got you covered".
"Troll..." the Scarran in charge of the air wing given offensive duty called "Plot out offense ground targets for me, mister – once you've done that, contact any friend we might have here in a leadership position and update them on our exercise additions – about five momens after we start, I think".
"OK, fuel dumps...hangars… control towers and runways..." Troll muttered as he assigned targets on a map "Base car park… officer's club… should be all of them", after which he sent it over squadron datalink and added "Gonna get the entertainment going as soon as I make my first attack… so stay off the exercise frequencies unless you really like my music".
"Ground attack target points should be in your systems, pilots" the wing commander called "Anyone going for a ground target… I want three on attack duty and the other nine watching for unwelcome attention!"
"Troll, you're leading the way and handling communication with our ally until your entertainment presentation is due to happen" the wing commander's copilot told him "Once that starts, I'll tell Baron and any ground attacks of opportunity can commence".
"Sounds good to me, let's get going" Troll decided, before calling Blazer for a course.
"On it" Troll replied once it came through "Can't tell for sure, looks like something's starting to come loose aft on your hamm- sorry, right wing".
"Four!" Priest called.
Two from the B-2's two o'clock position and two more from six o'clock low – all of who scattered when Granger's threat receiver lit up for several seconds and Troll called "Gun lock on Raptor, dead ahead, eight miles – he's out!" over exercise frequencies.
"Greetings, RED FLAG!" Troll added "If you're not already aware, the big ol' Troll man's here and I brought former one-SO and other friends. First blood drawn was Granger, and I hear he's partners in crime with someone known to friends of one-SO as 'that bastard Weasel'. We'll see Weasel gets tarred an' feathered good an' proper before we go… right now I got music to make life a bit more fun and get the blood pumping. First up, something I wrote myself...".
The Strykers and Reapers split up into small formations, three on each of the eight Raptors they could now see on instruments.
"Stealth is useless!" one of Granger's wingmen called "These guys get inside visual range, they can lock us up, low-observable or not!"
"Use what you do have" Weasel's own unit commander replied "Stay manoevreable, don't use steady predictable attack patterns, and don't leave yourselves vulnerable and relying on missiles!"
Blazer grinned when he saw four Strykers more into formation either side of his B-2.
"We are under Baron's command, you are correct" a Kalish told Blazer when he asked "Four of our craft are either side of you and four more are behind you and slightly above you. Others will make sure you remain free from air attacks".
"Just leaves me to keep this thing steady so Priest can do what he's gotta do, then" Blazer replied, a little happier.
All the senior officers in the exercise's command building were very surprised when other aircraft started appearing on their radar scopes, if faintly so – except General Franklin, although he didn't grin this time.
"I talked to a few people..." he evaded "...and they talked to the White House… and all of us talked to each other… and here they are. They're supposed to simulate a large scale air attack on our territory, what are you going to do about it?"
"Some of my pilots report some of their aircraft in protective formation around a B-2 belonging to 8th Air Force, involved in Bomb Comp" one of the Generals replied, irritated "Why might that be happening, General Franklin?"
"You thought that the simulated air attack was all they were here for?" General Franklin replied, trying to appear surprised and not laugh even a little bit "A number of their pilots are former members of Air Force First Special Ops, otherwise known as One-SO – they are here to assist their former unit members".
"Them..." that General replied, spitting in the nearest bin "I thought that unit was finally consigned to the ash heap of history…" before getting on comm of his own and ordering more pilots into the air.
"We'll see how they do now" he told General Franklin "Every aircraft on base has been ordered to attack them" before he made the mistake of switching to exercise general channels and clapping his hands over his ears.
"Someone let Troll near a microphone again, I see" General Franklin said, trying to ignore the music and Troll's very loud and out of tune voice "One-SO's very own weapon of mass distraction is back".
"Arm close-defence system" Harrigan ordered "Guns, anyone not ours gets close, call it in on exercise command frequencies - you should be able to read their transponders and unit comms if you need to, so if you get callsigns off that then call that in as well. Comms, try and crack their scrambled unit comms – not everything goes out on GUARD".
Priest called out constant directions to Blazer, making sure he was on target – his hand flashed out to tap one button on a particular display.
"Bomb away..." Priest called over command frequencies.
"They have to get back yet" Weasel's commanding officer reminded him "I know most of the wing is out, and the other aircraft sent to help aren't always lasting too long either – but it looks like we're getting some of those odd looking things coming against us. It also looks like whoever's in charge up there has numbers on their side and just sends replacements".
"Targeting… runway two hangars" a voice called over exercise command comms "Locked up. Thirty seconds remain", starting an alarm.
"Looks like coming for those one-SO idiots was either a distraction" Weasel's commanding officer added once the alarm stopped "or their exercise objectives were to attack the base while the exercise is going on. Whoever they are, they've got a phenomenal number of aircraft under their command – we've had to get a couple of AWACS airborne to help deal with it".
"Attack successful!" one of the other Generals called "We didn't stop it in time! Runway two hangars are down!"
"We have large numbers of your aircraft coming in our direction" one of the Kalish pilots told Blazer "All aircraft not administratively killed in this exercise have been sent against us, perhaps?"
"Might have been, dunno" Blazer replied "Gonna make it hard getting back, even for a Beak – and especially one with mechanical issues like mine, too!"
"Looks like it's over to Plan B, then" Troll said, taking a brief break from the music "Call Baron, he'll get a welcoming committee waiting on hammond flight deck – we can sort out repairs then, assuming we got something we can use that'll fit" before he got on Irregulars comms and called "Looks like there's a break over runway two again, guys… anyone free to do runs up an' down, call it in as an attack and lock the entire runway out of the exercise? It won't stay open for long...".
"Blazer, Priest..." Lazarus called once more "This is Baron. We have a ...safe landing zone… for you to use, if you'd rather not try a contested landing at Nellis. You'll find it strange, you'll definitely find the welcoming committee a bit weird… just don't ask stupid questions and you'll be fine. We'll have techs standing by to inspect the Beak for you".
"We could use dinner, to be honest" Blazer replied "Dunno about you, Baron, but hard flying like this makes me hungry".
"Mealtime just passed" Lazarus told him "So you'd be stuck with rations. It's hot field rations though, not MREs – and we can get tea. No coffee up here".
"Sons, sons..." a call came in, via Messenger "Looks like there's at least a few people attacking our guys as well as these new guys – anyone know why?"
"Looks like Weasel's commander's in here" General Franklin said once someone reached him "I'm guessing he ordered everyone airborne just a few minutes ago – what I didn't know is he'd classified all former members of one-SO as the enemy for this part of the exercise".
"We're on it, General Franklin" Lazarus replied once he was spliced in "I'll order a few more craft in the air, Troll can stop singing long enough to lead them in getting former members and you second-gens up here with Blazer and Priest".
"We'll tell you all once we're down safely, guys!" Blazer called "Get your asses over to my Beak an' we'll see about getting in together!"
"OK, then..." Troll called "Looks like the lame band gets the stage for a while. I'm gonna bring a few of the best and most crazy people with me, we'll clear the way for you – Blazer, leave your IFF on so our guys can find you".
One wing formed up both sides of Troll, with its wing commander coming to fingertip formation with him on his treblin side.
"Stand by, stand by… big ol' Troll man's out of his cave and coming to eat all the villagers again!" Troll called over exercise comms before going back to Irregulars comm and Messenger.
"We got huge muthas comin right up, 'bout zero nine eight or so" a man with a broad Detroit accent called "They friendly?"
"Baron sent them, guys!" Blazer called over Messenger "You form up an' go with 'em, you'll join up with us. Dunno if we'll see Baron an' his new friends, but they said we'd get food and repairs".
"Looks like you the good guys, then" the Detroit accent's owner replied "We comin' with you just as soon as we're told where to go".
"We're keeping it nice and simple, you just gotta follow your new friends" Troll told them when he got on Messenger again "You got serious muscle helping you, you'll all get in to where we hang unless your wings fall off".
As soon as the Irregulars banked and changed course, the human pilots pulled into tight formation and followed.
"Good, good" the Kalish wing commander said to Troll "These pilots are good, they are maintaining close formation and following our own course exactly. We will-"
"Enemy closing in!" Troll called "I'm on it! Could use one or two if you can spare 'em, but that's all!" before Troll rolled his Reaper over and dived.
"Oh, so you're here..." Weasel called "Well, then… we'll see if you're all your rep says you are, then...".
"Big ol' Troll man's gonna eat you and your Raptor, Weasel" Troll replied, trying to find Weasel's Raptor with the Sons' help "I'll eat anything, I will. I might be older now, but I got even more awesome than I was during my one-SO days".
"Search sensors, bearing two-zero-nine mark one-six-five" Troll's copilot called.
"On screen, mister" Troll called "Pilot's name's usually on the side under that canopy, if you get a pic put it up for me" as he did his best to evade any attempt at lock-on.
Weasel, despite his attitude, managed to hold course if not hold lock-on for most of it – but Troll hadn't caught a break for long enough to turn around and counterattack.
Half an hour later he decided he'd had enough.
"Back in the Cold War here..." he told his Kalish copilot "Russian underwater ships called submarines had this trick we called 'Crazy Ivan' - they made a tight turn to check no one was hiding up close in the dead zone right behind them. Right now, we're going to the next inevitable phase, we're gonna do a 'Crazy Troll Man'..." before describing the manoevre in detail.
"It is a good thing you have a Kalish assisting you at this time, Mr Troll" his copilot said, nodding "I can shift to my chair, I am not vulnerable to extended and excessive G-forces as many other species are. Should you require it, I can manage the attack sensors for you and gain a lock-on while you manage manoevreing this Reaper in the manner you described".
"Sounds good to me, let's do it" before hitting full reverse thrust and banking to treblin, after which Troll hit full forward throttle again.
Weasel wondered what was happening, but banked his Raptor to pursue anyway.
I don't know what Troll has in mind… Weasel thought Is he just drawing me off so those other one-SO nuts can go wherever they're going? Or does he have some plan up his sleeve to take me out of this exercise? I'll just have to move hard, strike fast, and get him before he gets me.
Troll's changed reflexes proved to be just enough to get him the chance to make his move in time.
"Yeeeaaahhh!" Troll called happily as he cut thrust and flipped his Reaper end-over-end, so the nose pointed right at Weasel's Raptor.
"Locked up!" his Kalish copilot called in English over exercise command comms, just managing to hold on long enough to call, three microts later, "Gun lock on Raptor, dead ahead, identified as belonging to the pilot identifed as 'Weasel' "
"You're out, mister" General Franklin called "Back to base, runway one – number two and the hangars on it are down, these new people pulled off successful exercise attack runs on them".
"So these one-SO guys were using us as training tools just as much as we're doing with them, then" Weasel said, choosing his words carefully since he knew Franklin was a General and had close contacts with the former one-SO members himself.
"That's the whole idea of RED FLAG exercises, mister" General Franklin reminded him "and while I think your attitude is frequently full of shit, you keep yourself trained up enough to remain useful. Whether I, or anyone else, like you or not doesn't much matter – you have skills your country needs, so for now we keep you around. Step out of line too far, mister Weasel, and that can change in seconds".
"I still got work to do, General" Weasel replied, keeping his distaste for General Franklin under firm control "One-SO ain't reached wherever they're going yet – I might be out myself, but my guys are mostly still in. At least I think so".
"Half the attacking force sent against them were splashed" General Franklin told him "before they got called back. I don't know if any of your unit are still available – check yourself if you want to guide them in".
"They got you too?" his wingmates asked when Weasel came in.
"Yeah… Weasel replied, dropping into a chair "That damn former one-SO headcase called Troll got me, still don't know how he managed it – one second he was flying away from me real fast, next his plane was pointing a bunch of guns right at me and my threat receiver was screeching in my ear".
"We still got a job to do" he told his wingmates after a few seconds to collect his thoughts "Not sure if we got the time or the manpower, but we got the green light to try an' get any of those one-SO guys before they reach their safe zone if we got pilots still active for the exercise – scrounge up anyone still on who's dependable, I get the feeling we're gonna need everyone we can get".
"OK, we're on it" one replied "I'll go get our techs to give our Raptors a quick once-over and get us fuelled again. Everyone else best make sure you won't take a dump down your flight suits while we're up".
"Clock hates us!' Weasel called "Let's get on it!"
Once the situation with Sholah's unexpected arrival in sick bay had been resolved, Harrigan said "Give her the basic overview, mister – but no how-to guide".
"That is interesting..." Sholah decided after Nrakal stopped talking "I doubt, now that I am like my Kurth and the others with him, that such things could safely be applied to me even if I wanted them – which I do not. I have all the skills and capabilities that I need already".
Kasan Rybak was the only one of the Five still present in the sick bay, apart from Sholah, and he added "I doubt this odd program can be applied to stonewalkers either, Sholah – even though I doubt my body could take it now I am how I am as well".
"Not entirely true..." Nrakal eventually said "A few changes in procedure are required, yes – but I will not tell you what those are".
Kasan Rybak talked with both Amara and Nrakal as well as Sholah about that.
"Well, all of this is extremely interesting" he said "I don't know of any way that any of the Five could use our skills to reward mister Olak or other local leadership for their efforts and sacrifices in keeping the memory of our people alive here – it might be possible for you to give him those odd things we were told about just now, assuming you'll be here long enough to do that".
"We will not be" Nrakal added "I do not know if he would agree to partial … Kamielisation, as most of the humans call it… but we would need an appropriate donor sample if we could find one...".
"What is that 'Kamielisation' ?" Kasan Rybak asked, confused
"It's the code for our newest kind of upgrade package" Harrigan said "and that's all I can tell you about that".
"Your Chief Surgeon here said the local Scarran named Olak might be suitable for a partial version of that project as a reward for making sure our people are remembered here" Kasan Rybak countered "I might give cautious agreement to providing the sample required… if I was told at least the basic of what's actually going on".
Harrigan grumbled, but added "We gotta test it on someone… and if Olak will agree to it, and if Kasan Rybak agrees to provide the donor sample required...".
"I will do that for him only" Kasan Rybak insisted "You keep knowledge of your programs secret, and for good reason – and for the same reasons I will not let my genetic material be applied to others unless I know they are above reproach! Right now I can trust Mr Olak… and only him, at least for this matter".
"Good, that's sorted then" Harrigan said "Got at least one more surprise to pull out of the hat for this exercise – better check in with Jack to see if that inquiry for the Beasley boys has got off the ground, might need to send a couple of our guys to testify at it before we bug out back home again".
"Multiple human-made aircraft on sensors..." one of the Scarran pilots called.
"They've got guts, I'll give them that" the wing commander called "You humans… follow my first officer, he will lead you to landing zone prepared for you. The rest of us will try to nullify the aircraft following us and make sure they are out of action for exercise purposes".
"Big ol' Troll man's back" Troll called, once he returned to loose formation beside the wing commander "You want me heading in with our guys here or staying with you?"
"Go with the human pilots, mister Troll" the wing commander decided "Someone will have to answer all their questions – and since you are human, that will be you".
"Means I get food" Troll replied happily "even if it isn't the best fresh we got. That'll do – Blazer, I'll be on your six just in case anyone gets past our other guys".
"Copy that" Blazer replied "Followin' your lot to safe spot".
"Caseya..." Harrigan called "Bring us in closer. They've got anyone an' everyone coming after them… we'll lock up as many as we can with the close-defence systems once we get in range, the Strykers won't have to hold 'em for long"
Caseya smiled and turned the Havoc around as quickly as she could – which was more quickly than anyone thought, even though its enormous bulk made sure it still took some time – before calling "We are proceeding at 0.8 atmospheric speed, War Commander – should I issue a warning for our deck crews to be ready in case of landing accidents?"
"Do it" Harrigan ordered "They should be ready anyway – but make sure the crash nets are ready as well".
"Deck crews, hammond side flight deck..." Caseya called over the deck PA "Please make final preparations for the arrival of human aircraft landing under pressure. There should be more than enough landing space available for them, but make sure the crash fields are ready".
"We're ready!" Mooney called, clearly exhausted "Training Sergeant got us all bundled into one of those little trains right quick – and finished with making us run half a mile down the ship from a tech level hatch!"
"We're good to go" Higgins added more calmly "I have my son with me, he found the run up here real hard but I'm sure he's ready to help with something...".
Feltano was performing exercises for the Kalish art with a number of Kalish students when Juroch entered his training room.
"Master in the room!" one of the others called out, which got all the students and their training Master turning toward Juroch and bowing.
"Might I or my students help you with something, Master Juroch?" the training Master asked, surprised.
"Only Feltano, Master" Juroch replied "He is needed to perform a task suited to his skills for the training exercise in progress at our home ship's current location" before Juroch turned to face Feltano before calling "Feltano...come with me".
"Yes, Master" Feltano replied.
"You have time to change into body armour and casual civilian clothing" Juroch told him "You will then be given an exercise task which some might consider too difficult for you – but I say you will not know how good you are unless you undergo the most difficult testing available".
"I will not know if I am acceptable for Force membership unless this happens" Feltano replied, nodding his agreement "Might Sherenka be permitted to come as well? I know she is not a skulker like you, Master, but she has many skills and improves fast".
"Not this time, Feltano" Juroch decided, shaking his head "You will be deployed alongside me".
"Master!" Feltano replied in pleased surprise "I am very surprised, as you suspect – but I am also pleased you wish to assess my skills personally. I hope what you see proves that I am of acceptable standard to serve alongside you here and also in the Force".
Juroch smiled and rumbled softly before he said "We will pick up stasis pistols and concussion grenades from the treblin side flight deck – after which your sister will deploy us with her special skills to the target location"
Once the human pilots made contact with the Irregulars in the air, most of the formation broke up and tried to attack the human pilots to take them out of the exercise.
"Now..." Weasel's wing commander, present in his own Raptor, ordered "I'll take you three with me – we've got one chance to get even some of them, priority goes to former First Special Ops pilots. Don't go too fast and let your heat signature give us away – yes, I know we're baffled, but at high speed and considering we know nothing about how good their radar or IR is, we'd better not take chances".
The wing commander broke off from the combat with the other three Raptors and climbed.
"Got faint heat traces..." one of the others called "Just above thirty thousand… fairly clear, too...".
"Not the Beaks and Raptors, then" the wing commander decided "Probably whatever aircraft these odd newcomers brought with them. Keep it simple – go high, come out of the sun, pick off what we can. Hit and run, don't get sucked into extended air combat manoevreing with aircraft we've never seen before".
"Human aircraft have separated from combat and found us" a Stryker pilot told Troll.
"Prob'ly got a Stryker's heat signature on IR" he replied "Stryker's aren't stealthed and baffled like Reapers".
"We're coming in a bit closer, mister" Lazarus said when Troll called in "If you can't already see us on sensors you will in a momen or two".
"Got you on sensors" Troll replied "Just can't see you yet".
"We're a bit below you, under the clouds" Lazarus explained "If you got people on your six, we'll climb a little and retrieve you all now – just pick up the pace a bit".
"Bring us up above cloud cover, helm" Lazarus called "Guns, there's a few human pilots who aren't with us and our guys coming in – I'm linking our guys' comms in to the bridge system now".
"Irregulars and known allies..." Keyah called over Messenger "We are ready to receive you. The humans known as Blazer and Priest should be the first of you to land, although Troll will lead you in and you will follow him. I know you will have questions about what you see – but for everyone's sake keep them to yourselves until after you land".
"I've got some huge mutha on radar" the Detroit accent from earlier called "Dunno what it is. Is it with us?"
"Certainly is" Troll confirmed "You should be able to see it comin' up through the clouds before too long – but like the nice lady said earlier, keep the questions for after we got you landed safe".
Troll started counting as soon as he saw the Havoc ascend through the clouds, and barely made it to four before people started asking questions.
"Keep it QUIET" Lazarus ordered them "Blazer, Priest… follow Troll in; the rest of you, you'll be paired with one of ours and follow them in. We got deck crew on duty to get you all put safely away and repaired and we got some food. No coffee, but we do have tea".
"Human pilots attempting to lock on!" one Scarran called, interrupting Lazarus "I've got two attempting administrative nullification on me now!"
"Get your asses back on board, then" Lazarus decided "Troll, get Blazer and Priest sorted out at the aft end of the flight deck, we should have enough room for a Beak to make a landing without needing crash fields or arrestor cables".
"That's nice to know..." Blazer called, wrestling his controls "Getting a little wobble here… might have damaged control surfaces and not computer failure this time".
"I'll keep it slow, you two" Troll called back "You just follow me in and drop your landing gear as soon as you can see the deck under you. Deck crew know you're coming in damaged – hopefully you're not on fire, but they're ready if you are".
"We're in enough trouble without that as well" Blazer called, before another pilot called "Shit, we got four Raptors out of the sun!"
One former one-SO member and one Son reported lock-ons from Raptors – until another voice called "Cry Havoc, gun lock from close-defence system on approaching Raptors, twenty five mile range, at-" before giving locations, over exercise comm channels, just as Blazer managed to see the flight deck doors being raised.
"Yeah, real nice!" he called, grinning, over comm "Nice big flight deck here, guys – get your asses aboard, we got loads of room!"
"Gear down" he called across the console to Priest.
"Gear is good" Priest replied "All gear is down".
Blazer's B-2 made a rough but safe landing, so Blazer hit reverse thrust and brakes as soon as he felt it safe to do so.
"Shit, shit… yeah, we're all good, we're safely down!" Blazer called over Messenger after taking a few deep breaths "Looks like we got crash wagons or something moving the Beak off to one side near a buncha guys with tools!"
"We cleared to come in now?" a female pilot called.
"Yeah, Belle, get yourselves in here" Blazer replied "Nice big flight deck even for this Beak, so no danger of any of your Raptors crashing into anything unless you do something really stupid".
"There's room for my Beak as well?" a different voice called.
"There's likely room for all of 8th Air Force in here, Barf" Blazer called back "Just get your ass in here – can't see food from inside my Beak, but we were told there'd be some".
Many Kalish deck crew turned to watch as the Raptors and the few B-2s made their landings, and any who could do so made sure they were part of the rescue and repair personnel assigned to securing each aircraft.
"Come on out" Troll called to everyone "Don't go too far, Baron's going to be on his way as soon as Weasel's guys RTB".
"Our task, Feltano" Juroch said when they arrived on the treblin flight deck "will be to enter the exercise's command centre by unconventional means, where we will make administrative nullifications of all personnel present, with priority being given to officers of the highest ranks. The only officer exempted from such targeting is General Franklin".
"Big sister has told me about him" Feltano said, nodding "I know what he looks like and sounds like. Alphak has told me about him as well".
"Good" Juroch decided, before passing out a number of small packages.
"Striptape dispensers, Feltano" Juroch said "We must secure all personnel until either General Franklin or our War Commander tell us to release them".
Juroch watched while Feltano put those in his jacket pockets, then he called "All OK, Amara – we are ready to deploy. Should the War Commander require you to give General Franklin advance warning of our presence, you should do so by mentalism now".
General Franklin didn't get much advance warning – Amara had barely finished mindtalking to him when he heard a very faint pop close behind him.
Here we go he thought, dropping to the floor as soon as the first shots were fired – just in time to avoid the blast from a concussion grenade thrown by Juroch.
Juroch and Feltano communicated by hand signals only as they proceeded to target everyone in the room with stasis pistols. Feltano was pleased to be deployed alongisde Juroch, showing off just a little as he jumped over desks to find other human officers or enlisted personnel.
"All down, Master" Feltano called to Juroch in Kalish "We should restrain them with striptape now?"
"If you have not already done so, Feltano" Juroch replied, "Then you should go to stand beside General Franklin – I am standing beside his desk right now, you can see him".
The two of them move calmly but quickly, cuffing every officer they could reach and as many of the others as they could before they ran out of striptape.
"RED FLAG command has been targeted" General Franklin called over exercise comms "Command will remain offline for … fifteen minutes".
"That going to be enough for you two?" General Franklin asked "Don't think I saw either of you when I was on your ship".
"You saw me, General" Feltano corrected "You spent more time with big sister since she helped guide in the two soldiers who rescued you – and healed your injuries for you".
"It has been interesting to see where you work, General" Juroch added "but it is time for us to leave. We will do this by the same means by which we arrived here" - and both him and Feltano disappeared just as MPs forced their way in.
"They're out, not dead" General Franklin told the MPs and medics "They might not feel too good when they come round, just make sure they're upright and uncuffed and they'll get over it".
"We are qualified to repair low-observable aircraft like yours" the most senior Kalish tech assured Blazer "We have many of our own, did you know that? The aircraft flown by the human named Troll is one of these".
Blazer was relieved the deck crew spoke English, but despite him being curious about nonhuman people he just said "Tech orders should be in the cockpit, mister – if you can't find 'em, call me and I'll come get 'em for you".
"There you are, Blazer!" one of the other humans called.
"Yeah, Barf" Blazer replied "Just trying to catch a breath or two by the front gear… speaking of which, your Beak's in good order, yeah?"
"Tyres could do with replacement" Barf replied "In a month or two, anyway. Doubt they got the right size here".
"My flight suit stinks" Belle called, almost ripping the zip off and scrambling out of it "Glad we're done now, to be honest" before finding Blazer and Barf and dropping to the deck beside them.
"Hey, Belle" Blazer called, grinning a bit before asking "Your Raptor's good? Nothing fell off while all that shit went down?"
"Nah, she's good" Belle replied, stretching out on the deck "Got three before they got me this time. Didn't do too well in Bomb Comp for my class, though" before calling "Did Savage get up here with us?"
"I'm here..." another female pilot laughed "Been getting a few of these green people stopping by just to look at me – have you been getting a few sneaking a peek over there?"
"Dunno, I'm too tired to look and see" Belle called "I'm tired and I smell and I need a damn hot shower or I'll smell of fuel for a week".
"Hey, people…" Troll called as he walked over to Blazer's B-2 "Still got people grabbing food for you out of stores, it'll be here in a sec… no one needs a doc?"
"Nahh…" Belle called from her place on the deck, before she lifted herself up enough to see Troll and ask "Are you one of the old guard in one-SO?"
"Nicer than asking if I'm human, though I'm sure you're curious about that as well" Troll replied "Yeah, I'm human – American by birth as well, come to that. Not gonna say from where, might still be outstanding warrants on me for all I know".
"Do I know you?" another pilot asked, his thick Detroit accent obvious to Troll "You soundin' familiar".
"I'm the big ol' Troll man, mister" Troll replied "I was wondering if I knew you, to be honest – could swear I knew someone a bit like you years ago...".
"Robber" the man said "Daddy told me a bit about someone I'm thinkin' is you, said he ran with you way back when you was in the gang".
"You're Hitch's boy?!" Troll asked in pleased surprise "Nice to meet you, man! Your Dad still around or did the cops catch up with him?".
"Daddy's still good" Robber replied "He been in for a short stretch, but he's out right now. Lost his flight certification due to injury, but he still flies choppers now an' again anyway".
"Used to run with this guy's old man years ago" Troll told the others happily "With the callsign he got, I'd bet he ran a few jobs before he joined the Air Force, though".
"Done a few, yeah" Robber replied "Can't go back to Detroit now, got two warrants out on me there".
"Got at least five on me" Troll replied "Even these days I'd bet there's at least a dozen cops there who could point out my face on a wanted poster".
"Daddy said you was his wheelman" Robber said "He says you was all that kept him outta the big house for so long".
"Hey, when I'm good I'm really good" Troll replied with another grin – before he heard a shout from further down the flight deck.
"Over here, Little U!" Troll shouted back.
"I smell humans" Urana called "These are people from your old unit?"
"One or two, love" Troll replied "The others are a few sons and daughters of those who were".
"She's your woman, Troll?" Robber asked "She's real freakin' huge, mister – even Savage ain't that big".
"She's my wife, mister" Troll replied, smiling more happily before calling "Boys? Girls? Any of you back there?"
"I am here, father" Martha announced "I smell humans too, father. These are humans you knew before you came here?"
"Some are, Martha" Troll told his daughter "Only one or two are originals, the rest are second-gen like you an' your friends".
"You got kids, Troll?" Belle asked in surprise, lifting herself up to sitting position and looking at Martha.
"Five" Troll replied proudly "Three girls, two boys – for now".
Urana rumbled a bit before slapping his face lightly with her treblin hand – Troll just laughed and hugged her tightly.
"This is our father and our mother" Sherenka said, stepping forward "Our brothers are not here, they are doing more study. Should you be staying here permanently, you will see them later. Our sister Tabitha is standing slightly behind me, you should be able to see her as well".
The girls passed out hot ration tins to each of the human pilots, the first of which were happily devoured by everyone.
Martha tested everyone's health and scanned them with a small medical scanner, even though everyone protested that they were well.
"This ship is a … how do you humans say it… 'closed system' " she explained "All who stay for longer periods of time must be tested medically for their own good and for ours".
"That's right, Martha" Sherenka told her sister with encouragement "For their own good and for ours".
"If you are going to stay here" Tabitha added "Others aboard will test you for military skills and train you in matters everyone here must know".
"Not sure if they're gonna stay, Tab" Troll told his daughter "If you got the hotplate an' tea stuff, set it up – I'm sure everyone's thirsty".
Tabitha did that, with everyone pleased to be drinking something hot.
"I must sound like a stuck record by now..." Belle asked "but can someone please tell me how to find the showers around here?! I smell and I'm tired and I want to clean myself up so I don't look like shit".
"Sherenka, get that sorted" Urana told her daughter "Any other female personnel needing these facilities should go with my daughter now".
"Sure, why not" a much larger woman said as she got to her feet "I could wait till we got back groundside, but since we got facilities here I'll use 'em".
"Don't mean to be rude, miss..." Troll said "but how the fekk do you even fit inside the cockpit?"
"Best out of three" she replied with a snort, and Troll could tell she'd answered that question many times before "More seriously… I'm bigger than most of the men an' stronger than some of them as well. Had to get a custom flight suit made, and even then it's a real tight fit in my F-35".
Once everyone had been cleaned up, things went a good deal more smoothly.
"You guys are the newest batch, then?" Lazarus said once he managed to get away from the bridge "I recognise Seagull and Barf… can't say I know the rest of you...".
Everyone gave their names and callsigns, after which Lazarus decided "Looks like all the serious long-termers are either serving here or sitting in front of me, then. The job got too much for a couple more – fair enough, they got families an' such, an' everyone else either got put in some classified hole somewhere or was KIA".
"I gotta go, people to see" Harrigan called "Caseya, you got the conn until one of the usual suspects gets here".
Once Caseya had thanked Harrigan at length for being placed as watch officer, Harrigan headed to the hammond flight deck.
"Think your husband's already there, yep" Harrigan told Koronna when he met her "You might as well come along – bring the little one along, I'm sure she'll like to see more humans".
Charlotte Maloka looked up, sniffed – and when she decided she could see someone but not smell them she clapped and laughed.
"Yep, big uncle Harrigan's here!" Harrigan told her with a grin and a laugh of his own "Want to come on over? Let your big uncle carry you for a bit an' give your momma a rest?" before holding his hands out to the little girl.
Since she laughed and clapped again before reaching back, Koronna smiled indulgently at her daughter before reminding her "I am here..." and passing her to Harrigan. As soon as the transit car started moving, she started poking and testing Harrigan's skin and carapace until the car came to a halt and Koronna took her back again.
"Over here, big man!" Troll called "Everyone just got themselves cleaned up a bit, they don't smell like the inside of a Stryker's power plant now".
The humans were even more surprised to see Lazarus was married with a family than they were with Troll, though they all laughed when Charlotte Maloka decided she could smell more humans and started squirming and calling out.
"Yeah, she's mine" Lazarus explained proudly "Just the one daughter and one son, I don't breed like a Catholic rabbit like Troll does".
Belle walked over to look at her, reaching out to test her hair – and pulled back in surprise when Charlotte laughed excitedly and stonechanged.
"Didn't mean to upset you, little girl..." Belle said, trying to reassure her "Not seen anyone who can do that before is all...".
Charlotte looked up at Belle a little suspiciously to start with, though she smiled and rumbled a little when Belle tried to stroke her ridges while she was in stone form.
"Yeah, it's not common" Lazarus revealed "She's not a mutant or anything like that, this kinda thing just happens with some Scarrans – it's always considered a good sign when it does".
Charlotte laughed happily when everyone else came to look at her as well.
"OK, intros are over" Harrigan said, clapping his hands "If any of you like this place so much you don't want to leave, say so – I'm prepared to open up spots in the unit for each of you that want them. We do have a few other former members apart form the ones you've seen so far, but you'll meet them once you're in training and not before".
A tech walked over and bowed briefly to Harrigan before saying "Your aircraft have been inspected. Only the larger one identifed as being assigned to the human named 'Blazer' required anything more than basic repairs – temporary repairs have been made to your sensors and control surfaces, you will be able to return to a nearby repair facility for humans and see more extensive repairs conducted safely".
"Blazer wanna stay" Blazer replied "Blazer likes all this new shit and wants some of his own".
"OK, then" Harrigan replied "Anyone else?"
"Yeah, looks good" Robber decided "I'm in".
"Seagull, I'm good if there's a spot" that man added.
"Barf is in" that man said, laughing before he added "I'll try not to puke on anyone without orders, too".
"Belle's good to go" Belle called "Despite Savage getting more attention than me up till now" - which got everyone laughing for several momens.
Once everyone stopped, Harrigan said "A better reponse that I'd thought, to be honest – even accounting for you all having connections to one-SO. Cap'n L, get Aden an' Molsey to come get these guys sorted out with quarters since those two seem to have volunteered themselves for that so far".
"We got even more newbies, sir?" Aden asked with surprise.
"Americans this time, mister" Harrigan told him "Some of my old guys and a few like them. You an' Specialist Molsey are on orientation duty till this latest batch get sorted out enough to go solo".
Belle looked over at Aden speculatively – until Molsey saw her and put an arm around his shoulder possessively.
Belle raised her hands briefly, saying "No problem, miss – I can tell when a man's taken..." before retreating to the rest of the group.
"You can find a mate later" Molsey told the group as they walked away "The job of the arn is to see you settled into quarters and started on basic ship orientation training".
"I think we gotta get our planes stashed back dirtside before someone starts lookin for them, miss" Seagull said.
"That's Specialist, Specialist Trooper..." Molsey corrected "or Training Sergeant to you lot – until you pass basic orientation and crew placement training. Since I have not been advised as to whether you have been assessed to a level permitting you to bypass basic military assessment, and since we have other recruits, you will all be assessed together for the group assessments and individually for the other assessments. Only families are permitted to go straight to their assigned quarters – everyone else will be in recruit quarters until they pass basic military testing".
Harrigan heard loud arguing from the corridor by the recruits' assigned quarters, so he strode over and asked "What's up, you two?"
Mooney's girlfriend, a very strongly-opinionated woman even by Harrigan's standards, got started into a long talk on what was upsetting her, until Harrigan held up a hand and asked Mooney "How the fekk did you even find out about that, mister – and don't bother trying to lie. That stuff's classified".
Shit, Harrigan's got nasty in his old age Mooney thought to himself before giving his best attempt at an explanation.
"While you shouldn't even have heard about that yet..." Harrigan grumbled "it looks like you were just in the wrong place at the right time and started talking someone's ear off until they spilled their guts. Get yourself through training without me having to put you on more punishment detail again after this and I might just let you get some of what you want".
While Mooney seemed partly relieved and partly afraid of the punishment training, his girlfriend was not pleased at all and started shouting and stating her opposition to "compulsory body-enhancement procedures" and "male ego extensions" and any number of less polite and more crude subjects.
"This is your first, last, and only warning" Harrigan snapped "before I heave you off the ship! Right now I'm giving the few partners that came up with the soldiers a free pass on some things – but you're pushing that way too far. Keep your trap shut and we'll say no more about it… but the only people who decide about the things Mooney wants are Mooney himself, the Chief Surgeon, and me. I'm the captain here, miss – my word is law".
"I told you Harrigan has a thin skin about undermining authority" Mooney told his girlfriend without much sympathy "but you didn't listen".
"Why you're paying more attention to him and not me I don't know, mister!" she snapped back.
"Simple" he replied "I've been with the air force and one-SO for years and only known you for eight months. We've been doing good, we've been having fun – but start badmouthing my guys and we'll start having a talk".
"Have you already decided you prefer someone else up here?!" she snapped again.
"Not had the time to look around, even if I felt like it" he replied "Been doing training around the clock – more concerned with the training sergeants not screaming at us and doing my best to stay alive and out of the sick bay".
"Put me back on the ground" she decided "I thought I may find living here acceptable if unusual – but clearly I was wrong".
"Say where you live an' we'll get you there" Harrigan replied "Pack your bags right away, you've officially overstayed your welcome".
"Sorry about that, sir" Mooney apologised "I thought I'd be able to bring her around, but when her mind gets stuck in a rut it's near-impossible to get it out any time quick".
"I'm more worried about you, mister" Harrigan replied "You gonna be OK without your girl up here?"
"I'll do what I did before when I was between girlfriends" Mooney decided "Run, fly, do training stuff. Maybe get a drink or two when I get liberty".
"This ship's dry, mister" Harrigan told him "Mostly, anyway – that means the occasional public holiday and any birthday party that's booked in advance with leadership. What you do if you get planet leave is dependent mostly on local planetary law and partly on a few basic rules I got up here – that gives you a lot of leeway, though".
"We're done here" Mooney decided once he and Troll had left the bank in his old home town "She can have my cash, not like I'm gonna need it where I'm going in any case".
"Yeah, no one out there has even seen US dollars except our guys" Troll replied, after which he told Amara "All OK, Ama-" - and not even getting to finish speaking her name before Amara translocated him and Mooney to join Nrakal and her in Norway.
"Just a sec, can't focus quite right yet..." Mooney said after he felt snow under his boots "Shit, it's cold...".
"This sector of Erp is classified as arctic-world by the War Commander" Nrakal replied "I had time to get insulated clothing… and it appears you did not, Mr…?"
Mooney told Nrakal his name, then added "Still not really sure where everything is, to be honest – or I'd have got some before coming".
"Over here, everyone!" Troll called "Big man Karl's standing outside!"
Since Mooney hadn't seen Karl before, he stared up in surprise for a few microts until Troll said "Let's get out of the cold – to be honest, I hope this place will take gold in payment, no one's got any Norwegian money and I could use a drink or five".
Everyone had to duck to get under the door – Karl had to duck and twist, and still damaged the door frame. Everyone still in the bar was surprised, but one man with some traces of Scarran ancestry bellowed "STRONG ONES ON DECK!"
"So you're still here..." Olak said when he came back out to the bar "We're getting close to closing time, but I can still get you food unless you want a four-course banquet...".
Troll sorted that out for everyone, though he was surprised when Olak wouldn't take his gold.
"It's only happening this once, mister..." Olak laughed "Apart from the food and drink… is there something I can help you with?"
"We got something for you, mister" Troll replied "Talked to big chief Harrigan and he said you can have it 'cause you've been a good boy and made sure people here didn't forget about Scarrans".
"That's not entirely down to me" Olak replied "but thank you anyway… even though I didn't do that for a reward".
"That's why you're actually getting one" Nrakal said "An ally of ours, the same man who helped you earlier during the battle, is helping in his own way as well… where is he, by the way?"
"I am here" Kasan Rybak announced before rumbling softly and fading into view beside Nrakal "I hope someone saw to providing some of this local food for me as well...".
Once Kasan Rybak made his way through his food, he rumbled happily before adding "We should not discuss this matter here, mister Troll".
"Yeah, not a good idea" Troll agreed "Can we go back to your place, mister Olak? After closing time, anyway".
"I live here, mister" Olak replied, before telling his bar staff to get the group anything they wanted – Nrakal decided he liked all the different types of whiskey on offer, though he didn't drink much of any particular one.
"Last orders!" Olak shouted eventually, in Scarran – while even Troll could tell no one outside their group could understand the Scarran language, they knew what it meant and many of them left while the few others had a drink or two more before they did the same.
"OK, so what have I been awarded for doing what I would have done for free?" Olak asked.
Kasan Rybak took over, explaining what Nrakal had in mind – with Nrakal himself giving medical explanations when required.
"If this will not interfere with my… mentalism?" Olak asked, continuing when Nrakal nodded "and if it will not affect my health negatively or kill me… then I thank you. How long will it all take?"
"Overnight should do it" Troll replied "That's what the doc here seems to think, anyway. We'll give you the stuff, put you out for the night, and come back in the morning to run you through a few basic details on how to use your new stuff. Anything else will be for you to sort out with Kasan Rybak".
Olak led them up to his apartment over the bar.
"On the fold-out lounge" he decided "In case of ...accidents" before unfolding the lounge into a bed and lying down on it.
"I will be here with you" Kasan Rybak assured Olak "Perhaps some of my comrades may arrive later. Be assured you will be safe during your ...upgrade".
"Either I or one of my senior medical staff will return tomorrow to see to it that you are healthy and the procedure proceeded as required" Nrakal added, before anaesthetising Olak and injecting the special solution into Olak's body via his treblin eye.
"If she is not already listening..." Nrakal told Kasan Rybak "instruct your medical specialist to come here".
"I am here, Chief Surgeon" Sholah announced, fading into view beside them "I am needed?"
Sholah listened intently as Nrakal described what was happening.
"I did not even know such a thing was possible" she admitted to Nrakal "You and those with you have learned many new medical things, it seems".
"Mister Olak will be the first Scarran to receive this treatment" Nrakal replied, putting monitor patches all over Olak's body as he slept "He will be monitored and we will see if his transformation proceeds as we expect it to. I have not found out anything up to this point that suggests it will not do so".
"Nellis, we're bringing down a few aircraft" Harrigan called to Nellis' CO "American stuff my guys won't need – and which you're prob'ly about to scream at someone about if I'm any judge of things. Gonna need some of the Eighth on hand to get most of it back to Whiteman – not sure where the rest of it came from, might be anywhere from Vandenberg to Barksdale for all I know".
"So you're bringing back the Beaks, Lightnings, and Raptors those guys who came to you flew" a man on the other end replied "Good. People were wondering where those had got to. We're wondering where their pilots got to as well… but something tells me I'm not going to be told anything about that".
"That's right, General" Harrigan replied "You won't. We'll drop their stuff back dirtside, then bug out back here. Blazer's Beak needs a patch job before it goes back to Whiteman, so make sure Eighth Air Force tech staff get to it ASAP – I think Blazer's gonna leave a note in his seat after we leave".
Blazer started going through the checklists as soon as Harrigan stopped talking, powering up his B-2 from memory as he had done before.
"We're all good" Blazer called over Irregulars' comm "I got a couple of yellow lights, but not on anything too important. Your guys got the radar talking to me again, dunno how you managed that – but as long as it does what I tell it to until we land, it don't really matter. Come on guys – let's get this done so we can get back to quarters and get some sleep, yeah?"
There were quite a few people from various units up and about when the aircraft landed – but the new Irregulars hurriedly shut down their old aircraft before climbing aboard the assault lander that came down with them.
Once the last of them boarded, one young Scarran called "All OK!" at the top of their voice – and the other young Scarran in the pilot's chair made a slightly wobbly takeoff and headed back to the Havoc.
"He has been broadcasting faint feelings of disorientation and hunger for almost half an arn, lord" Sholah told Kurth, beside Olak's bed "From what the Chief Medical Officer among Crichton's friends says, this means the procedure has gone according to plan".
Kurth nodded, smiled, and rumbled before scanning Olak's mind and body faintly, if not at the most faint level he could manage – Olak woke up and instinctively stonechanged, which broke the side of his fold-out lounge.
~Be calm ((assurance of safety))~ Kurth told Olak ~Your medical procedure has proceeded according to plan. You will now be tested by Kasan Rybak, and you will be fed… there is a box left beside your bed by one of Crichton's allies, it is a military box containing self-heating field rations~
Kasan Rybak first made sure Olak could safely if slowly change from stone form to flesh form and back again whenever he wanted to.
"I will train you further about that" he assured Olak "You might know the basics, but I will continue to train you until you can change from one form to the other and back instinctively. It's possible if not probable that becoming a stonewalker has given you additional skills in mentalism – but we'll find out later. Not now".
Olak calmed his mind, then changed back to flesh form before saying "Slight headache. My body aches a bit right after doing that as well. Let's hope it won't do that all the time".
"It usually doesn't" Kasan Rybak replied "Some people adapt faster than others to being a stonewalker, mister Olak, and while you are not among the quickest of them you are doing well".
Olak ate all the hot rations put aside for him, then tested his hypersense by scanning his bar and the surrounding street.
~Good ((relief))~ Olak told the Five, all of whom were now present ~My mentalism is still effective… and, to be honest, my mind feels more stable as I use it. I do not feel as strained as I do when I test myself to the fullest~
~You have not tested your weather manipulation mentalism yet ((amused interest))~ Kasan Rybak replied, rumbling slightly ~Once you have rested, we will conduct a basic test for that – to test control more than anything else~ before describing what he had in mind.
~I could not have managed that before ((caution))~ Olak replied ~I will try hard… but I cannot promise I will do as well as you would like right away~.
~As that odd human says..."Practice makes perfect"~ Kurth told him ~As he promised, Kasan Rybak will stay with you for a while and help you train. Once your mind and body have settled, we will leave you to make your living and expand your skills in your own time and at your own pace… but we can check on you if we are not busy. If you want us to~
~I would like that~ Olak decided, before rumbling and grinning ~Especially if Thoa decides she wants to stay for a while ((interest, laughter))~