Sortie after Sortie, the tale of the long range fighter...

OOC- Vear with it, its a nice insight into how my character thinks
and feels
Who: John Frederick Keats
When: Before and moments preceding the attack
Where: everywhere between the briefing room and the cockpit
<clip>
Alotta was still giving out orders, and quite enjoying it. "And
anyone who hasn't been trained how to fly, make sure you learn while
the Alternate BD is running the first mission because we'll need
every Starbug and Blue Midget when we both go in for the attack."
"Okay, lets get to it!"
<end clip>
Keats was among the first to stand up, and the only one that he
noticed who pulled off the regulation salute. On the outside he
gleamed with enthusiasm, but on the inside... something was
missing... he couldnt work out what, but somehow, there was a hole in
the middle of his heart where some kind of feeling should be. It
wasnt a feeling of soberity, more of a longing.... but he shook it
off and left the room, sighing deeply as he walked out of the room.
He arrived back at his own quarters, and collapsed on the bed. He
rolled over onto his front, and dangled his arms over the sides of
the bed. He began to sleep...
In his dream, his past came at him. His days in Neo Stroud as a young
boy came back to him. All the time hed squanderd away on the T.I.R
simulators... for most of his youth he jacked into an electrical
appliance, feeding off neuron alterations of excitement and fun, but
as he looked back, did he actually enjoy them...? His friends, the
little gang, well, you had to be to survive really, you learnt to
fight dirty, He could still remember all of them, There was him,
Alex, Frank, he was a little odd, Jace was there to, innocently
looking up as he swiped your wallet, Ray, now there was someone who
couldnt be more average, and finally there was... someone else... he
couldnt remember who it was now.. funny...
His dream slipped again, now he relived a coversation they had in his
room. 'Hey guys' Ray said, casually 'You know, next month my folks
are sending me out to join the Colonial Marine core.. so.. well, its
gonna be od without you around..' The others nodded, the one in the
corned just sat there, silent. John was the next to speak 'I was
thinking about dragging myslef out of here, im almost old enough now
to become a fully fledged pilot, its what ive always dreamed of...'
Jace stepped in here 'Well, you know, its very hard to get accepted
into the acadamey now to be a pilot, they want the best, good grades,
rich background, theres no chance of someone like you being accepted'
Keats rolled to his side and looked the other kid in the face... his
features seemed familiar, but not recognisable...
There was a knock at the door. Keats awoke with a jump. Jack appeared
in the door. 'Hey, your wanted on the flight deck now for final
checks before you move... you ok buddy?' Keats stood up and went to
his cuboard. I nthere was an item of clothing that had only been worn
once before. Keats carefully took it out and layed it out on the bed,
Jack stepped forwards 'Hey, buddy, if theres anything wrong, you will
tell me... wont you?' Keats turned round, and speaking without the
slightest hint of emotion replied 'Of course, theres nothing wrong,
now please leave, i must change' Jack looked at Keats, he was in his
normal clothes, loose fitting jeans, beer stained white t-shirt,
brown leather jacket and his shades in his pocket, shook his head and
walked out as Keats began to change.
Keats tunrend up at the flight deck with a small bag conataining
vital things before he went over. He got a couple of odd looks for
his attire, but he ignored them. He walked towards Alotta a pulled
off a text book salute 'Pilot Jonathon Frederick Keats, reporting
sir!' Alotta looked at him 'Why the change in clothes John?' John was
wearing the official pilots uniform. A Blue and Black Thick
materialed job with more pockets than a fly fisher. He was even in a
pair of polished black shoes used when not piloting, no one could
remmeber the last time someone actually FLEW in the uniform, mainly
it was used on either official occasions within the flight deck, or
planet leave. 'Well sir, i thought, usually im in casual clothing.
And seeming were oing out against this thing, and theres a high
chance of us not returning, so, i thought id do this right sir!' He
saluted again. Alotta smiled carefully at him, its not nessesary to
wear that Keats, nor do you have to keep calling me sir, just
acknowledge i rank above you, and lets have no more formalities, it
worries the crew...but thanks' Several of the other people,
especially the less trained pilots, looked incredably worried.
The next few days, Keats spent in solitude. He breezed through the
training in the alternate fighters, much to the other pilots suprise,
and quite soon, noone paid any attetion to him, instructors didnt
need to instruct him, and he didnt want to speak to the other pilots.
Jack was not allowed to visit due to the three day intesive training,
so Keats spent alot of time resting up, and dreaming...
Ray had long gone, hed gone to fight in the Colonial Marine Core, and
would be shipped out to various sorties all over the galaxies, it
would be icredably unlikely hed been seen again by the gang. Alex and
Jace headed out next, they had the privalige of a goverment college
grant, wothout it, it would of been unlikely that they would of left
the town ever. So, only he, Frank and the other boy were left now,
and once again,they were sitting in his room. 'You know, i applied
for the Academy training last week' Keats started Frank
nodded 'But... no luck, they say that "i dont have what it takes to
be a serious pilot", but, i could fly the arse off ANY of them! youve
seen me on T.I.R, havent you Frank!' It was true, Johns T.I.R flying
simulator abilities were among the best known to anyone within 100
miles. Frank had almost burst into tears with a few manouvers that
Keats had oulled off... 'Well.... there is one way i could get you
in...' Keats bolted up, the other boy looked forward from the
corner. 'Well, ot would be a bit underhand..' Keats nodded
enthusiastically 'I could forge you a pass in advanced manouvers...
as i said before, theres so many pilots now, noone gonna notice
another pass, if it were a distinction, then maybe, but a pass? youd
just be another pilot to them...' Keats thought about this, before
agreeing.
The day of the attack...
A general calling for the pilots was issued by the ships 9th gen. AI.
Keats solemny changed into his pilots uniform, zipped to the top, and
strode out. A few others had had the same idea now, but most wore
casual, as they strapped themselves into the seats of there fighters.
The roll call started... Keats hut his eyes, and focused, but he
couldnt, something just wouldnt let him...
....Pilot John Keats....
John opened his eyes.... 'Yes Sir, all systems functioning' He
glanced to the side, he saw Jack bounding towards his craft, and jump
in 'Didnt think you could leave witout saying bye hey buddy!' Keats
smiled for the first time in days. 'Im fine Jack, but ive gotta go,
goodbye...' Jack stepped out of the vessel 'Why do you always say
goodbye before you take off?' Keats thought this through 'Becasue
once... i never got to..' Jack was usherd away, as Keats left the
Blue Dwarf with the other Pilots.
OOC- There you go guys, a nice insight into the deeper darker side of
keats! hope this improves his character!