In the hallway to the Hangar:
Paul Dyre sprinted down the hall, donning his flight suit and helmet as he turned a corner. "Nurse! You told me we had ten minutes until briefing!" He said to his ACE, nicknamed Nurse.
"Paul, I told you you had ten minutes until launch, and that briefing had begun." She replied through his headset.
"Whatever. Who's launching next?" He asked.
"That would be Commander Olivia Winroe and her ACE Ein, Aquila 2." The ACE replied. Paul didn't reply, only speeding up as he burst through a doorway, startling some Marines who patrolled the base. Only two more corners to go...
In the Hangar:
Paul burst through the hangar door to see Aquila 2's launch tube close. Soon, the deck shook as the ship took off. Paul nodded to the ground crew as he climbed into his
FA4-B Dictator, nicknamed the Scalpel. He was new to Aquila, but during his fighter training in flight school he used the Dictator, finding the sleeker, faster design with a lighter payload more appealing than the FA1 which he flew in the simulators as a child. After going through medical school to become a medic, his recruiter told him his flight scores were exceptional, one of the top in his platoon. He decided to go through flight school, and became a fighter pilot in space, and his team's medic on the ground should they land in hostile territory.
"Nurse, begin pre-flight checks." He ordered.
"Already testing." The ACE said, pausing as Paul strapped in. "Checks complete, all systems go. We may begin taxiing when ready."
"Thank you. And Nurse, you remember my call-sign?"
"Yes. You told me when you first got me to call you 'Doc'. Is that still your name?" She asked. Her holographic image appeared next to Paul on his right, taking on the shape of a red cross.
"Correct." Paul said. He began taxiing the fighter to the launch tube. As the ground team guided him in, he saluted them as he passed through the entrance. The blast doors behind him began to close. "Open a line to Hayes Tower."
"One moment..." The ACE replied. Her holographic cross pulsated, and soon a comm link was connected. "Link established successfully. You may began transmission."
"Thank you Nurse." Paul said, flicking some switches which primed the engines. "Aquila 5 to Hayes Tower requesting permission to launch." The pressurization light glowed red, switching to green as the launch tube vented atmosphere and depressurized. The doors ahead split apart, sucking out the last of the oxygen and exposing the black void with twinkling stars. This was much better than sitting in the back of a shuttle or in the med-bay of a ship.
"Permission granted Aquila 5. Notifying Aquila 1 of your departure." The tower controller came back.
"Copy. Thanks for the hospitality. Aquila 5 out." Paul said, pressing a button to his left, closing the channel. He pressed a larger green button, and the engines roared the life. The sleek fighter slid on the guidance tracks, gaining velocity. The Scalpel roared out of the launch tube, fire and smoke blasting out behind. His aft camera showed the doors closing, while Nurse transferred the fastest route to his squad. They were a good distance away, but slowed down to let him catch up.
In Space:
The Scalpel speared towards the rest of the fighters. "Open transmission from Aquila 1 on the Squad Link. Patching him through." Nurse said.
"Looks like we got another green horn. Assume
arrow formation. Aquila 5! Form up on Aquila 4's wing and introduce yourself to the flight!" Captain Nero said.
"Aye sir! Ensign Paul Dyre, callsign Doc or Aquila 5 reporting." Paul replied. "My ACE is Nurse. Her and I had a... complication today. It won't happen again Captain."
"It is a pleasure to meet you all. I apologize Doc and I missed briefing. He misheard me and was almost left behind. He has learned from this error." Nurse said.
"Yes, I have. Did anyone's ACE record the briefing or could someone explain what the mission is? All Nurse would tell me is that we are going to the
Oracle." Paul asked the squad.
He maneuvered the Scalpel beside Aquila 4, completing the arrow formation and matching their speed.
