<html theme="default-light" iconset="color"><head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body
text="#000000">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New
Roman,Times,serif;">Mission: Pre</span></span><span style="font-size:
14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">lude</span></span><span
style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New
Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">Day: 2</span></span><span
style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New
Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">Stardate: 2446</span></span><span
style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New
Roman,Times,serif;">.03.24</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">(Mars Base - Pilot
Training </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">Grounds - Pilot Ensign
Vic 'Raid' Montero - 1100)</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">Vic decided to take
time on Mars. He needed to make his pilgrimage since he was in the
neighborhood. He had an appointment with Dr. Kroger later, and that was
going to be another lecture or two. Still, it was part of his
penance. H</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">is penance for
living. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">After drawing a bunk
in the BOQ, he changed into his flight dress</span></span><span
style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New
Roman,Times,serif;"> and headed over to the dome. </span></span><span
style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New
Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">Standing outside the </span></span><span
style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New
Roman,Times,serif;">entrance, he looked at the engraving there 'Sempre
Supra." </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">Pushing through the
entrance, he looked over t</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">he eager young faces
doing their daily drills. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">First stop was the
memorial. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">Three figures, all in
pilot’s gear, looking to the stars.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On
the pedestal, the words “Ad Astra
Per Aspera”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></span><span
style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New
Roman,Times,serif;"> He stood in front of it, looking at the names
behind it. It took a special act of heroism to be engraved on the wall.
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family:
Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">"There are no old
pilots," he recalled from a conversation from years ago. A different
place, a different </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">time. "Especially if
you fly like that." </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">It has been a tight
simulation, but Vic had pulled it out. He'd learned a lot since then.
Lost more. Walking up to the wall, his hand reached out to a series of
names. Each had been promoted to Ensign posthumously. Cadets one and
all, answering the call as seasoned pilots, fighting for the freedom of
Earth, against the traitors who tried to tear the Federation apart.
Only a few years a</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">go, a life time and
some. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;">Behind him, he heard a
group of cadets running to some rowdy jody. As they reached the
memorial, they came to a stop. He didn't appreciate this </span></span><span
style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New
Roman,Times,serif;">when he was a cadet, but now, he understood the
importance. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"></span><span
style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Times New
Roman,Times,serif;">He waited till the cadets had left before turning
around and walking over to the offices. He had an 1130 with Commander
Metcalf. Perhaps he could pick up some leadership lessons from Viper.
Not that they had sunk in yet. <br>
<br>
(reply none)<br>
(posted by Tim) <br>
<br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span
style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><br>
</span></span>
</body>
</html>