Rocket Fox: Part Eleven
After the short brunch, the three Vulpine fighter pilots went back to the ship to let Senia familiarize herself with the cockpit’s controls. She’d be flying the main ship, when it was joined as one. She took note of the extra stations within the cockpit and smiled. The three would be working together within the same space. Once a quick run down of the controls and ship systems took place, it was time to suit up.
With the new ship, came new armour and gear. Each pilot would wear tri weave light polymer under armour, a body hugging suit that was able to withstand a good bolt from a phaser rifle. Primarily red, it had white highlights and a white strip that went down the middle of the suit, over the chest. The leggings covered down to the knees, where they joined with knee pads. Next came the breast plating. Light, and durable. Easy to snap into place as well. It felt as though the wearer was just covered in light gear, not something as cumbersome as armour fit to protect the wearer from heavy phaser and plasma fire. Two utility belts adorned the pilots at their waists. One held small compartments for medical supplies, rations and a few other sundries. The second belt held ammunition and battery packs for the phaser pistol, a standard issue weapon for each Vulpine pilot. They also had a small knife and a length of nylon rope. You never knew what situation you’d be thrust into, and while rope may have been seen as unneeded by some, Vulpine pilots would swear it was essential equipment.
Each pilot had a communication device strapped to one write with an easy to key pad so they could contact one another, headquarters or hail nearby ships or personnel. The last piece of standard equipment was a standard issue Vulpine RV-221 Pulse Rifle. The rifle was a recent addition to the armed forces, and a particularly favoured weapon by bounty hunters. Able to fire one single shot, a full burst of shots, one continuous beam or a charged shot. Both weapons they would carry had settings to stun and kill. By default, all weapons were set to stun.
From there, it was more personal items that suited the pilot. In Hardy’s case, she carried a small pack that contained tools, data pad schematics and sensor pads to detect power surges, fluctuations and other problems they might encounter with the ship or some other device they might run into. Clarfax had a multi use sensor scanner, able to detect life signs, scan wounds to check on severity, scan for harmful particles and even energy signatures. Senia carried a small med kit, extra weapon charges, and a few flash bangs. Once on board, the extra gear, such as the tool kit, scanners, flash bangs and rifles, would be stored in carefully labelled lockers.
Once they were suited up, they were ready to hit the tarmac. As the three proceeded to the ship yards, they noticed a small crowd had started to gather. Word had spread on the station that the Nighthawk’s maiden voyage was about to take place. They’d seen her parked, but now they’ll get a chance to see them fly. And Senia would be the one to make history for the ship. She took a deep breath and told herself to be calm, everything would be alright.
The three mounted the ramp that lead into the belly of the ship, feeling the eyes of everyone on the tarmac watching them. As they disappeared inside, the crowd moved to get a good view of the ship as it would prepare to launch into space. Inside the cockpit, the three pilots began to settle in. They stored the extra gear in a series of lockers located at the back of the main cockpit, then moved to their stations.
Three seats sat at the different stations, set up in a U-shaped pattern. The chair at the front of the U was obviously the main pilot’s chair. A series of panels had different displays that monitored fuel consumption, nearby aircraft, ship’s systems including engine, stabilizers and hull intergrity. And in the middle, right in front of the chair was the main controls for flying the Nighthawk. Standard two prong stick, clasp locked triggers to operate the weapons, along with a small series of switches right in front of the unit to engage the auto pilot.
The other two chairs were for Hardy and Clarfax. One monitored the ship’s engine core, speed, and weapons systems. The other monitored life support, strange sensor readings and would keep a sensor sweep to monitor incoming transmissions.
In front of all that, there were five windows that looked out in front of the three pilots. They would have a clear view as they set about on their journey. Each secondary cockpit was built in similar fashion to the main cockpit, right down to the system stations and pilot’s seat.
“Begin main engine power up,” Senia called out as she sat in her seat and began buckling in.
“Main power sequence engaged,” Hardy reported. “All engine systems are reporting clear.”
“Channels open for communication,” Clarfax reported as he flipped a few switches. “We can hear anything coming our way. I have a standard response ready to go for automated hails.”
“Hatch thealth?” Senia called out as she did a last check of her navigational system.
“Sealed completely,” Clarfax announced. “We’re breathing on the ship’s internal atmosphere.”
“Hull is one hundred percent,” Hardy called out. “Engines are hot.”
“Prepare to retract landing gear on my mark,” Senia called out as she began to move the controls to allow the craft to lift off, hovering slightly above the tarmac. She watched the controls carefully, calling out when she saw it was safe to bring in the landing gear. “Mark! Bring it in.”
“Bringing in landing gear,” Hardy called out.
“Thetting ethcape course at thlow velothity,” Senia said as she eased her hands on the stick. “One eighth impulthe, full ahead.”
“Doors are open and we’ve been given clearance for departure,” Clarfax called out.
Senia managed to quell the urge to look out the windows in awe and wonder as they began to exit the main hangar of the Port Omega Shipyards. She could see a crest of Vulpinia as the ship moved through the doors, but kept her eyes on the stabilizers, watching to see if there was any deviation that might send the ship bumping into the door frame of the hangar. Nothing came up. It was a clean exit. “Thetting a courthe for Pau Theta II colony,” Senia said as she began flipping a few switches on her console. “Corporal Billingth. If you could open a channel to Port Omega. Athk to thpeak with General Gerring.”
“Right away, Left-tenant,” Clarfax said with a smile. “This is Corporal Billings of the Nighthawk calling Port Omega. Do you read, Port Omega.”
“This is General Gerring of Port Omega, Nighthawk,” the General’s voice called out as it came over crystal clear on the comm system. “We read you loud and clear.”
“We are clear of the shipyards and plotting a course for Pau Theta II colony,” Clarfax announced.
“She’s a fine ship,” the General said. “And it looks as though you’ve gotten the hang of her controls already. Left-tenant Felix,” she said as her voice softened a bit. “Treat her well, and she’ll always bring you home.”
“Yeth, General,” Senia replied, smiling broadly. “She ith indeed a fine ship.”
“This is an historic occasion,” the General said one last time. “Left-tenant. Corporals. Good luck, and may the Great Mother watch over you. General Gerring out.”
As the communication ended, Senia began to increase power to the thrusters. “Monitor the engineth, Corporal Maynard. I’m taking her to full impluthe.”
“Yes, Left-tenant,” Hardy said with a smile as she opened a screen that monitored the engine’s core. “She looks like she’s ready.”
“Well then,” Senia replied as she gripped the stick lightly. “Time to let the Nighthawk thpread her wingth.”
