From Erin.Kenny@sofkin.ca Wed Jun 24 14:31:21 1998 Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 11:48:35 -0600 From: Erin Kenny To: INDIGO FLEET List Serve Subject: [DANTEXF]SB ALIGHIERI(NASW716): Deep in the trenches ---OFFICIAL INDIGO FLEET TRANSMISSION--- Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 13:48:22 +0000 From: Erin Kenny Subject: [DANTEXF]SB ALIGHIERI(NASW716): Deep in the trenches FMD: 5.1540 Scene: Dante's Belt The fighters wove in and out in a deadly dance. Lacing beams and exploding missiles harmonized with the brilliant colours of the stellar sinds in the asteroid belt. Galia forced herself into a detached sort of alertness. All that mattered were the targets. Exhaustion and emotional attachment were the enemies now. She grunted a tiny sigh as an F-4 from NF-38 collided with one of the launched missiles. The resulting explosion meant one fewer pilot to do the job. That was the only reaction she had the luxury of indulging in at the moment. At a later time -- that was when she could suitably mourn the man who's existence had so abruptly ended. >"Ghost Rider's reform, bearing 175. Shamrock, you have the lead.", >Chip said, bringing his nose up and performing a roll to bring himself >to the desired heading. Things looked rather grim for the occupants of >DANTE. They had placed a hurt on the intruders, but nothing near what >had been placed on them so far. The young ensign's craft responded like a lover under her firm, gentle touch. She joined the others of NC-17, forming at the tail end of the 17's commander. She prepared herself to follow wherever he might lead them, confident of his ability. >[Alright GODDAMMIT! This stops here. I'll be damned if I let you >bastards just waltz right in here and decide to take charge! You sons >of bitches come no further! NO FURTHER! Do you hear me?! It'll take >more than a few friggin' starships to lay to waste what we've built. >YOU WANT A FIGHT? GOOD, 'CAUSE HERE IT COMES!] Startled, Galia sneezed. Embarrassed she snorted, and managed a quiet "Yes, sir!" to herself in agreement. The shuttles began the attack run, gliding in and out of formation as Miller barked commands to them. Their accuracy was admirable, their flying, flawless. Galia felt a surge of pride and confidence as she wove her craft through the dance they had chosen. A sudden explosion ahead of her, and she heard the familiar voice of her Squadron CO screaming. The voices on the comm link jumbled together in her mind as she tried to stay on target. The voices resolved themselves, and she understood -- Pappy's fighter had exploded. He was still alive, but the morale of the squadron had been shattered. Numbly, Galia did as she was told. Ellery herded them into the asteroid belt. The fight raged on, but the pride and confidence were gone. Galia felt small and alone inside her tiny F-4. The vastness of the universe seemed ready to swallow them up in their insignificance. [Right! Now, let's move, NC-17! Do this fer Pappy!] Cort's bark over the comm link brought her out of her reverie not a moment too soon. She spun the F-4, narrowly avoiding a large asteroid. No, she was not alone. The rest of her squadron were with her and needed her to complete their task. She would help them make Pappy proud. FMD: 5.1800 Scene: NASW716 Hanger Bay "Ensign, you're on my list for rotating out for some down time." A man she didn't recognize was shouting up at her while she sat in her cockpit. She snorted rudely at him. "We're short enough on fighters as it is. Now just load me up and let me go!" she shouted above the roar of activity in the hanger. "Now, Ensign, you can only do so much. You're loaded up, so you can go as soon as you get a little shut eye." At that, she closed her helmet and started her launch sequence. He had given her all she needed, now she would give her mates what they needed from her. The man hurried away, as he saw her engage her thrusters. Scene: Back in the asteroid belt [It's 'bout time!] barked Shamrock. He sounded tired. They were all tired, but determined to go on. She silently and obediently followed the maneuvers he called out to her. Their numbers were dwindling. She was afraid to ask whether more of her comrades had fallen -- perhaps they were just being rotated out for some rest. She was beginning to catch her second wind, and the enormous enemy ships looked much less intimidating to her punch-drunk senses. Still, O'Wood and Ellery co-ordinated things tightly, and she had more than enough to keep her busy. Time had no meaning out here among the stars. She felt as if the fight would continue forever, small explosions joining large explosions, as lives winked out of existence. She sighed, and the fight raged on. Respectfully submitted, Ensign Galia Kollet Erin Kenny ------------------------------------------------------- Ensign Saja Ricks COU USS Leviathan Ensign Galia Kollett SB ALIGHIER: NC-17 Ensign Allison Baker CEO USS Bearcat "One NT box from the dark lord on his throne in the land of Redmond where the shadows lie" ------------------------------------------------------- ***This message sent by an official member of Indigo Fleet*** Are you also posting your message to the newsgroup?!!! ---END TRANSMISSION---