The Flin Wars Ch 07

Once again, I bring you another instalment of the Flin War series. This is as always, a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person living or dear is purely coincidental. Any mistakes are my own and I don't mind hearing about them, it's how I get better at what I'm doing. I am fleshing these out more to help lengthen them, yes, I do listen to my fan base. It's you the reader who drive me to always do my best. I'm sorry that Chapter 5 took so long.

Date: 230409.11

Time: 1116.45

Location: Star Base Pentel 616, Regulus Sector

Secure mooring area, Red 16

USS Arc Royal CVS 26 Hanger Bay 1

I finished checking Karen in the back seat of Sam and then settled into my seat, as one of the squadron PCs finished hooking me up and then shook my hand. 'Take it easy Skipper, remember no crazy shit out there.' She said and then checked Karen over and closed the rear cockpit canopy, I felt Sam lock it. 'Systems check, rear cockpit please Sam.' I said as I finished checking out my office. 'All systems green, rear cockpit secure John.' Sam told me as I continued my prestart check list and finally leaned over the rail. 'Hey, did anyone remember to wind up the rubber band on this thing today?' I called out.

Several pilots and ground crew quickly 'pow wowed,' talking amongst themselves and pointing at each other. Finally, one of my junior pilots looked back up at me. 'Hey skipper, it looks like someone wound it up but, ya know.' He said and shrugged his shoulders. I looked back at them frowning. 'So, what you're saying is that nobody really knows right, that's what you're telling me.' I deadpanned back as they all shrugged their shoulders. 'Terrific, great, just perfect. I'm probably going to end up getting out and pushing when were halfway there.' I grumped yet again and finished my checks.

'Don't worry John, I believe Knuckles wound up my rubber band early this morning.' Sam piped up getting into the act. 'Oh great, now I know were screwed.' I grumped yet again and finished my checks. 'Okay Sam let's fire this thing up and see what falls off.' I said and switched comms channels. 'Ground, Viper 1 ready for chocks, chains and push back.' I said closing my canopy and locked it. 'Roger Viper 1, hooking you up now.' came the reply and I could see the handlers hooking me up on the external cams. 'Positive pressure in the cockpit John.' Sam informed me. 'Thank you.'

I looked at my upper right-hand MFD screen and could see Karen looking around as we were pulled towards the open maw that led to the elevator. 'Doing okay back their baby?' I asked. 'Yes Master.' She quickly answered. the ride up was short and once on the flight deck level several handlers drug power and fuel cables over to Sam and hooked her up. 'Clear to fire APUs and Mains 1.' I felt and saw Sam switch over to ships power. 'Viper 1, PC 6, you're clear.' The young female voice told me over the ground freq. 'Roger 6, APUs and mains.' I replied hitting several buttons and felt Sam shutter as her APUs powered up. 30 seconds later she shivered again as her mains came online and my gauges came to life. Looking out I could see several squadron maintenance personnel standing around in their suits. 'Ground, go ahead and disconnect we're topped off.' I said. 'Roger 1... you're clear.' She said 16 seconds later.

I knew it would take 3 minutes for my systems to fully warm up and be truly ready for flight, during that time I listened to the Comms cross traffic and picked out the transport ship that would take us to our next assignment. I rested my head against the back of the seat knowing this would be my last launch as Viper 1. Once airborne I would become Killjoy 25. I would be traveling aboard Stone 83, the USNS R.E. Olds ASA 32, a Ford class fast supply ship. The trip in would take 15 days with 5 stops to either pick up or drop off personal, supplies or equipment. For me I would have time to rest, eat, study the files I'd been sent, teach Karen and play with Flower.

I didn't know it at this time but in 8 months' time I would become the new CO of that squirrel cage. 'Viper 1 status.' The call pulled me back and I quickly scanned the instrument panel. 'Viper 1 is green board, ready for launch.' I replied. 'Roger 1, PC6 out. Get some skipper.' She said. I looked out and a yellow shirt got my attention and began to guide me out and over towards Cat from which I would launch. I was passed through several directors and along the island and the waist cats then on to Cat 3. Looking over the area I could see that there was more than the usual number of safety, maintenance, and handler personnel standing around the cat area. My squadron had come to see me off and I received hooked horns, thumbs up, waves, hang loose hand waves, or fist bumps as I went past and made my final turns to line up on the launch rail and my last launch off the Arc Royal.

'Ding, ding. Ding, ding. Commander John Striker Bishop the 6th, CO VFA 126. Departing.' I heard over my system. 'Request permission to leave the ship.' I replied. 'Permission granted Stalker, fair wind and following seas shipmate.' Adm Taylor said. 'Thank you, Sir, and the same to fellow shipmates.' I replied.

The director moved me a bit further forward, then signaled me to put my hands up. Doing so I saw 2 weapons POs come out from under Sam holding 4 red streamers and pins each to my weapons and external fuel pods with their thumbs in the air. I had 2 Rippers 4 short range Sidewinders and 2 fuel pods. The AIM 52K Sidewinders were the primary antiair missile and had a range of 250 Klicks powered flight and maneuverable as all hell. They were capable of pulling 14,000 Gs' and had a 25kilo warhead and it weighted only 100 kilos and more than capable of making another fighter into scrap if you hit it in the right areas.

30 seconds later I was in position. hooked up and under tension, as I went to FMP on the throttles after the JBD came up. I cycled my controls one last time and centered them. 'Ready baby?' I asked. 'I guess so Master.' Karen answered taking several deep breaths. I looked at the Shooter and saluted, then sat back and waited for the 1.6 second, 2.5 G rush. I didn't have long to wait.

A scream of joy mixed with a bit of terror came from the back seat, Karen was experiencing her very first cat launch. I had to laugh as I remembered my first launch, I had been a brand-new JG and had just finished basic flight school, and now my first month of advanced school. My class had been shuttled up to the USS Graf Zeplin CVS-T 18 in the back seats of the T-26C Goshawk trainer, she was capable of exoatmospheric flight. This was the start of the next 3-4 months of learning how to launch and land on our flying spaceport. I had read and seen vids of how it had been done when ship of the Earth Navies had sailed the open seas. I had even seen pictures of Great Grandfather Bishops ship the USS Enterprise CVN-65, she had a distinctive square Island and was the only one of her kind.

'Viper 1 is airborne and switching call signs, Viper 1 is now Killjoy 25.' I called out and received an acknowledgement back. I banked to the intercept course for the Olds and relaxed. 'How'd you like that for a thrill ride baby.' I asked looking at her in the MFD screen. 'You do this all the time Master?' She asked, I could see her eyes were wide and she was looking all over the place trying to take everything in. I passed 2 freighters inbound for the station, passing right between them, if they had been warships, they would have had to stop firing at me to keep from hitting each other. 'Yep, this is what I do every time I shoot off the ship, I told her.

Thinking back, I wondered how many of us were still alive out of my class of 25. we had lost 1 during a long-range training exercise. He had radioed in saying that he had engine problems, then nothing. 5 of us were in the same area and had responded immediately, all we had found was the destroyed Goshawk and nothing else. CSAR had spent several days searching the area also and had found exactly the same things we had. It had only seemed to deepen the mystery of what had really happened.

From time to time a trainee pilot would claim to have seen a flash or have heard a garbled, staticky call, but no one could find anything. It was a mystery, and I was headed back to the same place.

'Master, where are all the stars?' Karen asked looking around. 'I mean space is dark, shouldn't I be able to see more stars.' I chuckled. 'Look to your left baby, there's a star.' I told her. 'That's a sun master.' She told me, I had to laugh yet again. 'Yes, it's a sun, but it's also a star baby. When you look out and see the pin pricks of light, you're seeing other suns or whole universes depending on where you're looking.' I told her. 'wooooohwwww.' She said and continued to look around some more.

'Killjoy 25, Stone 83. Bay 2 is ready to receive you. tractor is on standby.' They called out as I powered back to get into position along their port side. 'Roger 83.' I replied. 2 minutes later I saw the open door and slid into position. 83, 25 in position and ready for tractors.' I said and felt Sam shutter as the tractor beams took hold and drew us in. 'Gear going down Sam, please fold the wings.' I said and flipped the gear lever down and checked around us to make sure we wouldn't hit anything. A minute later we were down, and the sensors told me that there was pressure building in the Bay. 2 men in pressure suits put pins in the weapons and drop tanks and began to chain Sam down. 2 minutes later there was enough pressure in the bay to allow me to pop open the canopies. Billy put a ladder against Sam's side and climbed up to us.

'Hey Boss, everything go okay.' He asks as he unstraps me and then went back to unstrap Karen. 'Hey Miss Karen, this wild man didn't do any loops or rolls with you back here did he? I could tell you stories about some of the things he's done when I was riding back here.' Listening to this I had to laugh. 'Okay now tell her how you couldn't seem to get enough every time we went out.' I retort back as Karen giggles at our back and forth. Billy was always a goof off and knew when to crack a joke, the bad part was that his joke where always funny as hell no matter what was going on.

I clime out and hit the deck then open an access panel to safe out the weapon. 'Put your hands here, here, here and here. Step here, here, here and here.' Billy told her and pointed at where to go and helped her out. I helped 2 men pull over the data and power cables and hook them up.

'Boss catch.' Billy called out as I stepped out from under Sam. Looking up, I lifted Karen off the ladder and placed her on the deck. 'Thank you, Daddy.' She said. I was startled, she had called me daddy. 'You're welcome baby.' I told her then turned to catch her ships bag and mine. They contained several changes of clothes, underwear, socks, toiletries and sleepwear. Karens also held her meds and several electronic pads and games to teach and entertain her on the trip. I knew we would spend 3 days at start base Grant and that they had a huge arcade area. She would go crazy looking at all the stuff there. Her bag also held 3 other items, an Arc Royal ships ball cap given to her by Wolfman and Loki. A teddy bear that the crew had elected to give her, and a card with over 192,000 Credits on it. The crew members of the Battle Group had taken up a collection for her. She didn't know it but I was what could be considered 'Well off,' so she really didn't need to worry about that.

'Hold onto the bags baby and I'll be right back, okay.' I told her. 'Let me and Billy finish securing Sam.' She nodded and I helped triple chain Sam down here in the Bay. Looking around I saw another Warhammer, 2 F/A-36M Sky Raiders. They were short range defense fighters usually assigned to a Battleship, Dreadnaught, Heavy Cruiser or Space Station. They were fast, very maneuverable and carried either Slapper or Tomahawk Missiles. The AIM-93T Tomahawks and AIM-45T Slappers where a medium weight missile, they wouldn't do much to the big boys, but would definitely hurt Frigates, Destroyers, Fast Attack Craft and Light Cruisers.

There was also an A-15 Mako Attack Bomber that could really haul the mail in the ordinance department. Where Sam could carry 10 rippers with the right racks, the Mako could carry 3 times that amount without really trying. It was fast and fairly maneuverable also. It took us about 15 minutes to secure and close up Sam, I could feel the deck plates vibrate as the Olds increased power before making the jump. Looking over at Karen I saw a face from my past, he wasn't much of a talker back then, he was always a doer.

'Yo, Heman which of these birds did you fly aboard?' I called out and walked over to him and gave him a quick hug and we slapped each other on the back. 'How are you ya silly shit?' He asked me as we looked each other over. 'I'm a Mako driver, not like you thrill seekers in those Warhammers.' He laughed; I knew they took higher losses than other units out there.

I lead him over to Karen who fidgeted around as if she was looking for a place to hide. 'Baby, this is an old friend of mine.' I said to her. 'LCDR Devin 'Heman' Hermann.' Karen tried to hide behind the bags, she was still very shy about new people. 'H-hello S-sir.' She squeaked out as Billy walked up and nodded to Devin. 'Sir.' He said and quickly looked over at me. 'Boss, you want me to take Karen to the cabin?' He asked. I looked at her and smiled. 'Sure, Billy if you would and help her out of her suit to please.' I said and looked at Devin and gave him the 'I'll explain' look. 'Come on Karen let's go get you out of your suit and settled in.' Billy said and led her out the hatch.

'John, what in the fuck is going on, what was all that about?' He quietly asked as I popped my gloves and helmet off and looked at him. 'Dev, what I'm about to tell you, you have to keep your mouth shut about. You can tell no one without my express permission or it might get a whole lot of our people fucked up.' He looked at my face and he knew I wasn't joking around. 'Alright, my word, no one unless you green light it Stalker.' He said after a minute.

'I spent the next 5 or so minutes going over the mission that had caused Karen to become my ward. I left out a ton of shit simply because he didn't have a 'need to know' at this time. At the end of my story, he stood there with his mouth hanging open staring at me. 'You're not joking around or just making up a tall tale are you, Stalker?' He asked then exhaled loudly when I shook my head 'no'. He quickly looked around then back at me. 'Level with me John, is this one of those JN25 deals? all the things you're not telling me.' I held his gaze and finally nodded once. He exhaled loudly yet again then let out a long, slow, low 'fuck'.

I looked him in the eye yet again. 'I'm serious as hell Dev, keep this one under your hat and to yourself.' I told him yet again. He shook his head as we started to walk towards the open hatch. 'Who'd believe me Stalker.' He said. 'This is beyond far out.'

Karen burst through the hatch at that point clearly upset. 'Master, Master, Master,... Billy,... a man in the room,... Flower,... Hurry.' She managed to gasp out as Dev, and I raced towards my cabin.

'Right at the passageway then left John.' He yelled out as I pulled my rail pistol out halfway down the passage. I could hear 2 men fighting and Flower screaming for her Ke'Ta, Me. Bursting in I could see Billy underneath another crewman taking shots to his face. I grabbed the guy by his collar and jabbed the muzzle of my pistol against the back of his skull. 'Unless you want to lose your head at the neck, do nothing unless I tell you to do it. Understand me asshole.' I growled out. 'On your knees, hands where I can see them and no sudden moves you son of a bitch.'

Looking down at Billy I saw that he was bloody and most likely had a broken nose at the very least. 'Billy you okay? Dev call security' I said and pushed this asshole headfirst against the steel bulkhead.

'Securities coming John.' Dev told me and helped Billy sit up and started checking him over. I could hear Karen out in the passageway crying as Billy groaned and flexed his jaw a few times.

'I'm good Boss.' He said and slowly moved his head around. 'Hell, I've had more lively liberties than this.' I could tell he was lying to keep from scaring Karen more than she already was. He slowly stood up just as security came through the door.

'Med team to cabin 02-213-2-L.' One of the MAAs said as the other pulled the crewman hands behind his back and cuffed them.

'Remember what the captain told you last time Jenkins, I'll make sure your gear gets back to your next of kin.' He told the crewman and pulled him to his feet as I safed my weapon out and put it back in its holster. 'Fuck you Stahl, that blue bitch has to be spaced.' He yelled out and my left hand snaked out and busted him in the jaw. 'Listen fuck stick, touch what belongs to me, and they won't find enough of you to space.' I snarled at him as Billy walked up and busted him in the nose with his armored fist, breaking it. 'I owed you that for busting mine cock sucker.' He told him then hit him again just because. Security marched him out just as the Med team arrived and began to check Billy out. I released Flower and gathered Karen and comforted the both of them.

One of the Medics came over as Billy was arguing with the other. 'Sir we're going to take him to medical, he's got a broken nose and bruises in spots that we'd like to scan just to be sure.' He told me as Billy continued to argue with the other medic. 'Billy, go to medical and get checked out.' I told him. 'Thats one of those funny things called an order too.' He shot me the evil eye then exhaled. 'Yes Sir.' He answered and the walked him out and down the passage.

I finally got both of my girls quitted down about 45 minutes later, right before we jumped 10 minutes later. Karen still thought it was a great adventure, but for me it wasn't my favorite way to travel. I knew that to get between stars required this to happen. It still didn't mean that I had to like it.

3 days at warp, we popped out at our first of 5 stops. There was a 5-hour coast in from the Gamma point to the station, 6 hours of offloading and reloading of transfer casks. Them 5.5 hours of powered flight to the Alpha jump point and back into warp and off to our next stop. I wouldn't be able to do this kind of spacing, I mean if boredom is your thing, then more power to you.

Stop 4 was Star Base Grant, it was a major hub with over 300 ships coming in and out every 24-hour cycle. I was up on the bridge chatting with the ships CO Lori Grimm as we docked. She was what you would call unremarkable, nothing about her stood out. She was a cookie cutter woman, average height, weight, size, hair color and so on and so on. With the exception of her short hair, that marked her as a spacer, nothing made her stand out. Although I suspected she could brawl with the best of them. You don't get to be the CO of a USNS supply ship on good looks and smiles alone.

'Here Commander, take Karen to these stores.' She said and handed me a data pad. 'I pick stuff up for my sisters and brothers' kids when I pass through here and then their system.' I looked at the lists and scratched my head, my mother would send me to some place like these, expensive. 'I purposely bought off the rack to avoid standing out. ' Thanks, I'll check them out.' I said. 'If you can delay for 4 hours, I could get free and help Karen pick out some nice clothes plus some other thing that...' She looked over at me. 'Well let's just say commander, you're a guy and there are certain things that only a woman can help another woman do or with.'

'I can meet you someplace in a few hours, I'd like to get Karen out and accustomed to the noise before it gets too crazy after shift change.' I knew that the bar area would be the craziest after shift end, plus most places stay open 24/7 due to the constant arrivals. 'Very well, I'll contact you through the data pad, it has my comm number on it also.' She replied and turned back to the docking of her ship as I slipped off the bridge and back to my cabin.