Avalon

Posted on Sat Jun 17, 2017 @ 1:29am by Lieutenant Marisa Cheshire

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Airspace Over Nevada
Timeline: MD13||23:40

Marisa's body was heavier than she was used to, at least in a cockpit. She'd spent the majority of her last 5 years in the microgravity of an orbit or zero gravity of deep space. It was a sorely missed experience. Space flight was always a battle against physics, using powerful thrusters and impulse engines to change your vector. In atmosphere though, with a gravitational body, you could work with gravity to speed up and slow down, and the air guided the fighter into graceful manoeuvres that would normally need skilled taps of the RCS system.

It was for this reason that Marisa didn't mind too much that she was redirected to Nellis from Perth Space Port despite the fact that it was half way around the world. Her fighter took her there so fast that she saw the sun set in the east and she managed to catch the late hours of previous date. It was almost completely pitch black outside her cockpit, her instruments providing her most of her light, pointing out beacons in the distance. The only other source of light was a faint glow from the Las Vegas strip below.

She flicked her comms over to the Air Traffic Control channel with a quick flurry of her hands. "Nevada Approach, good evening. Garm Alpha-1 with you. Requesting Vectors to Nellis."

"Garm Alpha-1, good evening. Beacon is authorised for landing at Nellis. I'll have you fly over Mc Carran's traffic at 4000. Head to beacons November Victor 0223 then 0268. They're not that busy this evening so expect direct to runway 03 Right. Switch to 134.5 for Nellis landing."

"Maintain 4000, N-V-0223 then 0268. 134.5 for Nellis. Garm Alpha-1 out." She said, before switching to the instructed frequency. "Nellis Landing, Garm Alpha-1. Requesting landing clearance."

"Garm Alpha-1, Clearance approved. Once you are on the ground you are to proceed to hangar 15."

As she got lower and lower more and more of the city became apparent. If Marisa was being objective she'd say the older casinos were rather garishly lit, with extravagant styles that clashed against each other. But there was something homely about the Las Vegas skyline at night, almost welcoming. Of course, that was intentional. Back in the 20th century when most of these were erected they were supposed to entice you in so they could take you to the cleaners. A Gomorrah back then, today the sharp edges of the city had been grinded off. A change Marisa had mixed feelings about.

She'd caught the landing team between patrols on a lazy morning. A straight taxi to the hangar without any issues. The large metal shed was already occupied however, by a couple of officers, one Star Fleet and another dressed in Klingon regalia sitting around an old and rusted flaming barrel and a cooler box. They both had bottles in their hands, which they lifted lethargically as the drives wound down and the canopy popped.

"So you're the reason I got diverted from the other side of the planet!" Marisa called down from the ladder after she had collected her brand new squadron jacket from the TSO seat. "You couldn't have just gotten me to transport could you?"

The human, a balding man in a red Starfleet uniform with 3 pips on the collar, got to his feet with a familiar smile. He wore a jacket much like Marisa's, covered in patches, though much older. He approached her with open arms and hugged her. "Nah, I missed watching you climb out of that thing."

"How are you Rick? Commander now I see." Marisa said, pulling back with an impressed cadence.

"Heh." He laughed sarcastically, placing his hands on his hips and shrugging slightly "They've got me flying a desk. I still get out occasionally though."

"I know the feeling" Marisa said sympathetically. "I don't get out nearly as much as I used to."

"I heard." The commander said sympathetically "I also heard that you had a rough time of it last mission."

Marisa just gave him a sideways glance with thinned lips. "Yeah, I lost a few out of the cockpit to hostile action. I don't think I can say more than that I'm afraid." A sigh escaped her mouth "I still have some condolence letters to write. The repair crews kicked us off the ship so I was heading home to do that."

Rick nodded sympathetically "Yeah. Don't know how to deal with that." There was a pregnant pause between them for a moment until finally Rick spoke. "Well, you're going to be wanting to stick around for a few days. I'll get you set up in an office."

"Oh? I am?" Marisa queried.

The commander nodded, "There was a reason I got you to divert. You're going to need this." He said, placing his hand on the nose of the Valkyrie. "Anyway" he beckoned with his hand "Come with me and meet my friend"

The Klingon sitting in the folded chair was a rather comical sight. He was way too big for it for a start off, and the extravagant regalia clashed with the cheap aluminium and green and white striped fabric that made up the seat. He awkwardly shifted in his seat and grabbed a bottle with a green label on it from the cooler. He crushed the lid off it with his bare hand before offering it to Marisa.

Marisa took it with a diplomatic smile, not intimidated by the act. "Thanks. I'm Lieutenant Marisa Cheshire."

"It is a pleasure to finally, Dun boQqa'pu." He said in a tone that was about as friendly as you could get from a Klingon, with teeth bared and a gruff voice. He got to his feet and gave her a respectful bow. "I am Commander Noll Vralmox."

"Commander of the garrison at Beta Eridani right?" Marisa said before taking a quick swig of the bottle. It was her brand of cider, Rick had gone out especially for her.

"Commander Vralmox was invited to take part in this Red Flag."

"Indeed" the Klingon said as he righted himself. "In the spirit of continued alliance we are to participate in joint exercises. But..."

There was another pause as the Klingon's words failed him. Finally Rick spoke up. "He's a little bit disappointed that you're not invited."

A wide smirk crossed the Klingon's face. "It was very annoying having the freighter captains always singing your praises when they would pass through. I have longed for the day which I could face you and when I heard your ship was in orbit I thought the fates had aligned."

"Well, sorry to disappoint you." Marisa said apologetically, though she also had a predatory smirk now "I'd love to give you a little payback for all those years of harassment."

The Klingon laughed "We kept you on your toes, nothing more."

"You know, I had a couple of dropouts for my team in the sortie 2 days from now." Rick chimed in "We were going to have to scrub but, since you're here I figured you'd like to stand in." He said with a sly smirk.

"I would be remised to miss that sortie too." Knoll said "I looked up Earth history on the area it was supposed to take place in. Roundtable. To fight Dun boQqa'pu there in honourable combat -"

"Alright, you can stop laying it on so thick Commander." Marisa said, raising her hand to stop him. "I'm not going to say no to a flag, even if it is just one sortie. I assume the loser will be humiliated beyond all reason?"

"When you lose," The Klingon said with an assertive, toothy smile "I won't be that cruel."

"We're going to the Roundtable." Marisa shot back, matching his expression. "Dead men's words hold no meaning."