Title: Ship of The Line: Between the Steel and the Stars
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: Nothing Specific.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy, Starship Troopers, Space: Above and Beyond or Babylon 5... I would buy them all but I am broke.
Summary: When Eathan's Halloween spell hit a powerful and unexpected entity, the result changes the entire world and Humanity's path to the stars. (Buffy/Starship Troopers/SAAB/Babylon 5) Ship of the Line response.
A/N: I have changed the control consol for the SA-43 from the S:AAB show. In the show they had what looked like a pair of handles attached to the standard steering column of a car (as in turning left or right but no real pitch or yaw controls, just banking). It also had like two buttons for a complex fighter with at least three weapons systems and a multitude of sensory and communications systems. I imagine a main flight stick control like in most modern fighters and the throttle controls don't just go forward and back but anywhere along a two-dimensional plane to deal with all the side thrusters.
Buffy stood in front of the dozen new US Marine Aviators who were the first new intake into the Space Cavalry. One was an experienced First Lieutenant and the other five were Second Lieutenants newly graduated from flight school. The new intake had been in town for a week and they were settling in, even though they had complained at the revelation that Space Cavalry were expected to operate as ground troops as well as Pilots. Most of the training so far had been theory and physical conditioning, as they were waiting for the detachments from the various other nations to fill out the Squadrons on the Penrith to arrive before the training on the SA-43 and ISSMCV began.
"One feature of the SA-43 Hammerhead most people notice quickly is its rear mounted dorsal cannons." Buffy explained changing the projection to the specifications of the paired cannons, located in the middle of the fuselage between the wings. "This cannon covers the traditional blind spot of an aircraft, above and behind. Now, can anyone see any potential issues with this weapon?"
One of the Second Lieutenants raised his hand and Buffy nodded for him to speak.
"You mentioned the wing mounted missiles used more or less the traditional lock on system based on the LIDAR system and the gimbal mounted chin machinegun use helmet inertial tracking like the Apache does. If the turret is rear mounted, then how does it track and fire? Above and behind is a blind spot because we literally can't see there."
"There are two solutions to that. The dorsal turret does have a tracking system tied into the rear LIDAR array and can be set to auto-fire based on a IFF protocol." Buffy said, noticing them all wince as no pilot liked the idea of a weapon deciding to fire on its own. "Yes, not a good solution, as the IFF protocol is only sixty percent accurate. Your other option will probably be one of the hardest skills to master while you are here. You will be able to bring up an overlay of the turret's visual feed on your helmet's HUD and use the hat on your primary flight stick to fine tune the LIDAR based tracking of the cannons and depress the hat to fire the cannons. Doing that in and of itself is not too difficult to master. The problem comes when doing it while also flying an evasive course, avoiding getting in the way of your Squadron and potentially also engaging other targets in front of you with you with the chin machinegun. Now assuming you are alone in clear open space and you get jumped from above and behind, without using the IFF auto firing protocol, what do you think is the best option based on what you have learnt this last week?"
The other Pilots thought for a few moments before the experienced First Lieutenant spoke up.
"Go full throttle, use the Dorsel turret while evading to make them evade as well, while you build up momentum, cut thrust completely, do a slingshot, take them out with the chin machineguns and then full power to pull away." The First Lieutenant replied.
"Not bad." Buffy replied with a nod. "Though once you do the slingshot, then your momentum will be backwards, so it would be better to slingshot again once the target is destroyed, so you don't have to overcome the inertia of travelling backwards. Also don't forget you can sideslip with your thrusters instead of banking to keep…."
The class was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Come." Buffy called, and the door opened to reveal Tara. "What can I do for you Lieutenant?"
"Captain, the Admiral has requested your presence." Tara advised.
"Understood." Buffy said before turning back to the other Marines. "It was almost time for an evolution change anyway. Report to the firing range. You all need to brush up on your marksmanship."
The Marines filed out of the room, grumbling, and Buffy followed Tara. Once they were alone, Buffy could see some of the shy and nervous girl emerge from behind the Medical Officer, and she knew that meant the other blonde wanted to ask something but was worried about it.
"Just ask, Tara." Buffy said.
"Ok." Tara said. "I was wondering if I could take one of the 43's up this afternoon, unarmed of course. Things have been hectic lately and I find it relaxing."
"I don't have any flights scheduled for until after we induct the international intakes, so go for it." Buffy said with a smile.
In the third set of memories, the Medical Lieutenant had a civilian pilot's licence prior to joining the Navy and had approached the Marine Captain about learning to fly the SA-43's to have not only another pilot who could test the plane but also so she could record first hand medical observations of the effects of the plane's operation on the pilot. The Captain had taught the Medical Lieutenant personally, and the Lieutenant had become a competent pilot, though not a combat rated one, on the plane.
"Thanks, Buffy." Tara said from behind her hair.
Then they heard footsteps and they both snapped back into military mode. A pair of the new Navy Crewmembers for the Penrith walked past, saluting Buffy and Tara, who returned the salutes. They quickly reached Giles' office and Buffy was shown in by the secretary while Tara returned to her work. Once the door was closed, Buffy and Giles released their formal military postures and Buffy dropped into one of the chairs in front of Giles' desk.
"So… what's the crisis Giles?" Buffy asked. "Is it Penrith related or does Xander need assistance clearing out the remaining Vampires and Demons?"
As the first candidates for the MI are still at least a week away from arriving, Xander and his Mobile Infantry were going out at night in their Powered Armour to clear out the Vampire and Demon Nests and cleaning out the extensive underground tunnels and caverns that dotted Sunnydale. Only one of the strongest Demons had managed to do any damage to one of the Private's Power Armour, only to have Faith proceed to rip the Demon's head clean off. The demonic population was dropping rapidly from the kills and evacuation of Vampires and Demons from Sunnydale.
"More Joint Chiefs." Giles said, removing his glasses and cleaning them with a cloth from his pocket. "There is a Marine Second Lieutenant waiting to meet you."
"We already have our quote of US Space Cavalry Marines and the International partners would have warned us if they were sending their teams early." Buffy said.
"This Lieutenant is not a Pilot, and he is not alone." Giles said frustrated. "The Lieutenant had an entire platoon of Marine Riflemen with him. His orders are to report to your command. The Joint Chiefs wanted a permanent security and offensive force that does not take away from the Flight Group."
"Don't they realise that to fully deploy the platoon, it would take an entire squadron if we fully crew the ISSMCV?" Buffy said rolling her eyes. "I mean even if we only provide pilot and co-pilot, leave the cargo section behind and let them man the guns it would still take one full flight and leave a second short."
"We could use the four remaining pilots of the second flight a close fighter cover." Giles said. "You are not the only one who is pissed at this. Jenny had some very pointed things to say about the Joint Chiefs about posting 'useless bloody Marines on my ship' without her permission."
Buffy was not offended. Captain Jenny Calendar got on well with Buffy and her pilots but she thought any Marine that was not a pilot were dead weight on her Carrier.
Giles and Buffy went back into Military mode as Giles reached for the intercom.
"Kelly, please show the Lieutenant in." Giles said.
A clean cut and dark haired man in a US Marine Uniform walked in and stood to attention.
"Lieutenant Graham Miller reporting as ordered, Admiral." The Marine said.
"Your arrival was… unexpected, Lieutenant." Giles said. "You and your Marines may need to prove your usefulness to the Naval Crew in order to be accepted."
"I'm Captain Buffy Summers." Buffy said, introducing herself. "Let's go find you and your men situated. Admiral."
"Until later, Captain." Giles replied.
Buffy walked out of Giles' office and Lieutenant Miller followed after her as her mind whirled. Adding non-pilot Marines to the mix will be interesting. After a moment something occurred to her.
"Lieutenant, a word of advice." Buffy began. "Captain Calendar is the commander of the Penrith and she hates having anyone on board her ship that does not contribute to the mission. I suggest you find a way to make yourself useful."
"I think I might have an idea." Miller said after a few moments. "Most of the time my Marines will not be involved in any ship to ship combat. What if we train up to do emergency damage control. Fire fighting and such, freeing up the crew to keep fighting."
"After we get your men settled, I will introduce you to Captain Calendar and you can propose that to her yourself."
TBC…
A/N2: I know in the show Graham Miller was an Army Private, but as mentioned in the first chapter a lot of people's histories were changed when Kosh over-powered the spell and that resulted in Miller signing up to the Marines as an Officer Candidate rather than the Army as a Private. I thought someone from the Initiative was better for leading the Marine Riflemen rather than some OC. Graham Miller was a good choice. Riley would have had the perception that he would get with Buffy and Forrest is a bit of a prick.