Doing Our Bit

Posted on Tue Aug 12th, 2025 @ 6:20pm by Lieutenant Fubuki Kuchikukan 'Snowflake' & Lieutenant JG Silica Tetsuhiko 'Twin-Tails' & Ensign Rin Kagamine 'Twin 2' & Ensign Len Kagamine 'Twin 1' & Lieutenant JG Nozomi Kusuda 'Gemini' & Lieutenant JG Aika Thompson & Lieutenant JG Vyse Ingelbard & Ensign Lynette Bishop 'Highlander' & Ensign Sora Kobayashi 'Blank' & Ensign Hanna-Justina Marseille 'Desert Eagle'

1,096 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Preserving The Past
Location: Pilots Briefing Room

Fubuki stood at the podium in the pilot's briefing room. The large lecture theatre type room was already filling with chatter amongst the pilots that had taken their seats. She skimmed through the PADD with their orders on before turning to start the brief. She was still acting as the CAG, a job she never thought she'd get this soon into her career.

"OK, settle down people." She called out. "Let's get this started shall we?"

Aika and Vyse had been talking to each other, speculating about the next flight, when the order came to get started. They listened and quieted.

In truth, Vyse had trouble quieting his mind as he waited to listen to the acting CAG. The two, after all, seemed undefined in a way that the pilot seemed to struggle with. On more than one occasion since their escape from the nebula had they found each other. But was there something more there? Could there be?

But that had to be considered later. If they weren't professionals at the appropriate times then he had no business being on the ship at all.

"You should all have read the brief." Fubuki said. "We're to run patrols once we reach Amerind. Our main priority is to scout the systems 'blind spots' for any Herald ships and to protect both the Tokyo and Kanna."

She pushed a button on her podium and the screen behind her activated. "We'll be doing this on a two squadron rotation." She said. On the screen was a picture of everyone's faces. "We'll launch two squadrons which will split into groups of five instead of full squads of ten. Then we can cover more space." The image changed to show each pilot assigned to a group of five.

"Once launched, We'll refer to the groups as Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. Each will have an assigned patrol route allowing us to cover the entire star system." Fubuki explained to them.

Nozomi's hand shot up.

"Yes Gemini?"

"We've seen firsthand what an Iconian strike force is capable of," Nozomi remarked. "If one of our groups gets caught out in the open, is five Valkyries going to be enough to hold them off until backup can arrive?"

"Most likely no." Fubuki said. "But anymore than five risks being seen more easily. If we detect a Herald Ship, we pull back and regroup at the Tokyo."

Hanna's hand went up next.

"Yes?" Fubuki said turning her attention to Hanna.

"What about a situation where they manage to get the jump on us?" Hanna inquired. "Should we still make the effort to regroup, or hold the line and buy the other units some time?"

"You get the hell out of there." Fubuki said. "You're all capable pilots. We have the advantage of being more maneuverable than they are." She told her. "This is a simple scouting and lookout mission. If you see the enemy, you are not to engage unless you have to."

"Do we know their speed capabilities?" Vyse asked. Unspoken: if they did have to run, could they get away?

"Sort of. We know they have a similar speed to us. After all our Valkyrie's can nearly reach upto light speed if we really push them. Bit that's way beyond the red line." Fubuki stated. "I'm confident we can get away quick enough if we need to."

Fubuki pressed another button on the podium chamging the screen to a map of the Amerind system. It was a fairly standard Star System. Six planets with only one being Class M. Several moon's and an asteroid belt. All in all it was a similar, but smaller version of the Sol System. "Welcome to the Amerind System." Fubuki announced. "Get familiar with it, you'll be flying around this... a lot."

"Do we know of any areas within the system where we might be able to utilize the environment to our advantage?" Sora asked without raising his hand. "Gravity wells, spatial phenomena that can interfere with sensor readings, asteroids we can hide in, that sorta stuff?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary like that." Fubuki said. "Its a very 'standard' star system, as far as Star Systems get. But that doesn't mean that its planets, moons, asteroids etc have their own hazards and blind spots."

Nozomi raised her hand again- at least she had manners, it seemed.

"Yes."

"So does this basically mean we're out in the open, at least from a strategic standpoint?" Nozomi asked.

"Of course not." Fubuki said. "You of all people should know. There are plenty of places in a star system to hide and dodge. Look at that Asteroid Belt and those rings around the last planet." She told her pointing to the places in the system. "Just because there's nothing special about it, doesn't mean that its boring and plain. You should know better Gemini."

Nozomi frowned. "My apologies, Lieutenant; your earlier statement appeared to imply a lack of cover compared to some of our previous assignments."

Fubuki sighed. "Look. I know you're all a little on edge about this. The Herald could pop up literally anywhere." She told them all. "So, take the next few hours until we arrive at the deployment co-ordinates to familiarise yourself with the system. Talk to your group members, decide who's flight leader and then get them back to me." She looked around at her people's faces. "Remember, that we're in Valkyries. I've seen what you can do out there, so if they do show up, we'll show them just how many damn fine pilots we have in here!"

“Hoo-rah!” Aika called out from her seat.

"Hoo-rah!" the other pilots- sans Sora, of course, because he was too cool for that- chanted in unison.

"Alright... alright..." Fubuki said. "I'm loving the team spirit and everything, but we don't have long to get our birds ready." Fubuki said. "Each of you look over the flight plans and assignments, then report to the flight deck upon arrival at Amerind. Once Tokyo is in position and Captain Aisaka gives us the order, we're to launch and start patrols. So, go get some rest in. Company Dismissed!".

Posting by:

Lieutenant Fubuki Kuchikukan 'Snowflake'
Acting CAG

Lieutenant JG Silica Tetsuhiko 'Twin-Tails'
Fighter Pilot

Ensign Rin Kagamine 'Twin 2'
Fighter Pilot

Ensign Len Kagamine 'Twin 1'
Fughter Pilot

Lieutenant JG Nozomi Kusuda 'Gemini'
Squadron Leader

Lieutenant JG Aika Thompson
Fighter Pilot

Lieutenant JG Vyse Ingelbard
Fighter Pilot

Ensign Lynette Bishop 'Highlander'
Fighter Pilot

Ensign Sora Kobayashi 'Blank'
Fighter Pilot

Ensign Hanna-Justina Marseille 'Desert Eagle'
Fighter Pilot

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