Three days later Rick was
back in the seat of his Scimm. Allison was leading a patrol with Honeybee and
Pilgrim, in her place Rick was stuck with Ballentine. A British chap, he was
okay. No Artimis behind the guns, though; he was a bit careless behind the
stick.
Rick went over the mission
briefing in his head again as he set his computer to the target nav. A simple
escort mission, Mollo said. Find the Drayman jumping in and take it back to the
Regal. Two Exeters had already jumped in, several more were supposed to replace
the Regal and the Broadsword so they could be sent to another system. Perhaps
Brimstone; Gimle maybe. Anyways, Rick was concerned with the Drayman.
"Valentine, Swordblade,
take up my rear. I'm leading." Meg looked up, watching the exhaust of his
Scimitar get smaller as his Scimm sped up ahead.
"Affirmative Delta,
stay safe Rick." She looked down at her scanner, displaying the status of
her leader.
"Don't worry, I will.
Just keep your attention on the Drayman when it jumps in." She considered
the transport; it was a living hell for the crews. Everything in space was out
to get you...Hell, even the Kilrathi Dorkirs had their guns - Draymans had
nothing, she knew it firsthand.
"No problem, it's safe
with me. Since I'm looking to come back alive." She grinned, Rick rolling
his eyes at her.
"Yea...Tell your cousin
it was a honor flying with him, sorry I didn't get the chance to earlier."
She nodded over the vid-comm., and checked over her scanners, nothing in the
area.
"I will...He said you
are non un si grand pilote que je lui disais." He looked at her green
image, smiling.
"I'll take that as a
compliment..." She started laughing.
"Non, non! That means
that you aren't such a great pilot as I was telling him about." She
giggled as Rick's face suddenly went to a frown.
"Well then..." She
smiled, the three Scimitars in the area for the target.
"...Delta, can you see
the Drayman yet?" Meg looked down at the radar, then her navigation computer;
seeing that the transport was several minutes late.
"Nothing Swordblade,
keep scanning. Valentine, still with us?"
"Yes Delta, still
here."
"Alright, stay with
Meg, I'm going to circle around. Stay alert for enemy fighters, this could get
ugly..." He got a grunt in reply as he started slowly orbiting the jump
point, waiting for the Drayman.
"Think it could of got
held up?" Rick sighed at Ballentine.
"No Valentine, they
come from Confed airspace, no way a Kilrathi fighter could get to them unless
they got overrun." Valentine paused to think about it.
Suddenly a blue light
appeared, four points protruding outward as it opened up. The Drayman came
shooting outwards as it jumped out, the lightshow ending as soon as it had
begun.
"Delta Flight, we're
glad to have you with us." Rick smiled at them; they always liked a
helping hand.
"Yes sir, let's get you
back to the Exeters now." The Drayman sped up, the Scimms flying as close
as they could. Space was empty except for them, nothing to excite them."
"Swordblade, can you
see anything?" Valentine was anxious for a kill.
"No Valentine, nothing
worth your while."
"Damn it...Why are you
so lucky?" Meg looked at the vid-comm.
"Not lucky, just
unlucky to find them, don't rush in to get killed now...Non chanceux du
tout..." Maegen had more them her share of piloting transports, now she
was a little bit safer in her Scimitar...Barely.
"Whatever works for
you." He said it in a sarcastic tone, Maegen rolling her eyes. He wasn't too
smart; she wouldn't worry about it if he bought it. Rick, on the other hand...
Soon the Regal was in view
in front of them, Artimis and Honeybee on guard duty. The Broadsword was off in
the distance, waiting for supplies.
"Welcome back
Delta."
"Thanks Artimis."
He waved to her over the vid-comm., watching as the Drayman moved into position
into the gathering fleet, two more transports nearby, all waiting to be
unloaded.
"Hurray! This means
more cigarettes!" Meg laughed at Rick as he celebrated the small victory;
the smoking rations were a little low as of late. The only thing worse them
being stuck in space with lots of gigantic cats flying around was being stuck
in space with lots of gigantic cats flying around and not having something to
smoke afterwards.
"This is the Drayman
crew, we are now in fleet position, thanks for your escort." Rick smiled.
"You're welcome, thanks
for the supplies." The Drayman joined the others, two Raptors from a new
Exeter guarding them. Meanwhile Valentine and Swordblade had made their
landings, going on without him.
"Delta to Regal,
requesting landing."
"Permission granted,
you are clear to land." He looked straight ahead, the hanger bay doors
opening, a guide beam lighting up for him to follow. Soon he was back in the
launch tube, being moved off to the hanger deck.
"Delta, you made it
without a scratch?" Johnson looked up to Rick as he stepped out, amazed at
his skills at the stick.
"Nothing to get
scratched by. No need to fix her except for a refuel." Johnson nodded, he
was great at mechanics, Rick's Scimitar was always ready for combat no matter
what the situation.
"Well then...Got any
smokes Rick?" Rick smiled again.
Forward To Chapter 5
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