I pulled in to the carrier dock, letting my craft get snatched and parked within. Moments later my cockpit lowered down and I got out to see Commander Lukas Viola standing with another, waiting for me. I stood up and saluted him.
“Greetings commander. You needed me before the debriefing?”
“Yes wing commander, I did. This is Amy Lorelai, your new wingmate. I expect you’ll treat her exactly as you would anyone else in your team.” Lukas stated firmly.
“Well of course. Welcome to the team, Amy. Alpha wing is glad to have another pilot.” I gave her a smile. “If you’ll excuse me I’ll see both of you in the briefing room in a minute.”
“Sure thing… commander.” Amy said with a smile as I turned and headed to the showers.
I got cleaned up, changed into my uniform instead of my flight suit and entered the briefing room, walking to the front to go through the flight recording and annotate notes to the recording at every moment of incidence. I was editing some footage with suggestions and comments when someone breathed in my ear.
“Hello commander”
I straight jumped. My heart raced. Who, what, oh… it’s just Amy.
“Hello Amy. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I’ve been waiting in here since you left.”
“Oh, well I guess I didn’t see you. I usually let my pilots have about an hour to relax after a mission while I go through engagement footage and point out what went well and where improvements could be made.”
“That is so smart! No wonder you’re the wing commander.” She smiled and winked at me.
“Ah, yes, well… I’m going to get back to my work. You can come back in a bit and we can go over the mission together.” I slowly turned back to my work.
I got back into my groove, pointing out where Alpha three took a less than ideal course to avoid the flak, putting him at risk from two more projectiles as he wove towards the enemy. It was easy after the fact to see where he had gone wrong, but I could understand not seeing the volume of enemy fire and properly reading the appropriate path in the moment. My pilots were good. My pilots. It felt good to say that after working so hard to gain this position.
I kept at it for the next half hour, when Gwayne, Daren, and the commander joined us, and then turned to get down to business.
“First, I want to congratulate you two on an excellent mission. Well done. Next, Amy Lorelai will be our new wingmate from today on.” I gestured at Amy who stood and waved at the other two.
“Finally, let’s get down to dissecting the mission.”
We spent the next few hours dissecting every moment of the engagement, covering everything from when we broke stealth some two hundred thousand kilometers away until we turned around and headed back to the carrier. The approach and launch of the missiles were the most important parts of the mission and the lion’s share of the time were spent on them, but everything was covered. Nobody was free from criticism as we all needed to be the best we could.
When we finally closed the briefing, I left to go get food. It had been nearly sixteen hours since I had last eaten anything approaching real food, and the System did not let my body forget it. I got a plate of what appeared to be salisbury steak and mashed potatoes and sat down at a table to eat. I took a few bites, then considering the new team member, pulled out my pad and began to create a training plan for my team to practice together. Just to be thorough, I also pencilled in some time in the gym and meeting room for group training and team building throughout the next few days. I looked up to see Carlos and Xerxes sitting across from me.
“Congratulations on the promotion man!” Carlos, leader of Bravo wing, smacks me on the arm firmly.
“Yeah, well deserved. We’ve seen you flying and you’re one of the best among us,” the leader of Charlie wing agreed.
“Thanks guys. I’m just happy to have it be official. It feels… good to not just be lead pilot but actually the wing commander finally.” I smiled at both of them before pocketing my pad.
“Well it’s been a long time coming. Ever since Lukas moved up you’ve been holding that wing together with an iron hand. It’s been really impressive watching you fill those shoes.” I tried to laugh it off but the complements were embarrassing me a bit.
“You two are too much. I was barely making it work and only managed to keep it together by keeping my team too busy to consider anything else.”
“Well whatever you did, it impressed the commander. You deserve mad kudos. The ceremony is scheduled for 1900, so make sure you’re all cleaned up, wing commander Dwayne.” Xerxes patted me on the back and they left me to my meal.
I finished up my meal, jotting down a few more notes about training as I went back to my room. I walked straight inside, looking in my closet as I tossed my pad on the bed. I pulled out a uniform I had set side for special occasions and ceremonies and started stripping out of my daily wear. I went to the small sink and ensured I was perfectly groomed before getting into the uniform.
I checked over the entire piece, melting and clipping Irish Pennants, ensuring the belt was just the right length, ensuring the rank insignia are properly placed, everything. I looked myself over one last time, smiled and turned. I was ready for this ceremony; had been looking forward to it for months. I was ready to assume command and all the responsibilities that entails.
I left my room, heading to the flight deck, which also served as our parade ground for ceremonies. They weren’t a common occurrence, since pilots washed out more often than got promoted, but that made them special. I was a half hour early, so I walked over to my fighter, naked and stripped down. After every mission the entire craft needed to be checked over and validated. Microfractures and mechanical strains could turn a course correction to avoid an attack into a desperate struggle to remain in a single piece. The forces and energies our lancers went through during a mission were mind boggling and frequently hit what I liked to call stupid numbers, figures with numbers of zeros I couldn’t make tangible if I wanted to. I rubbed one of the spars and smiled, my lancer had served me well time and again and I respected her for it.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Hey, commander, got something on your shoe.” Daren said, pointing at my feet, and I glanced down to see a piece of paper stuck to my shoe.
I bent down and picked it up, scowling at it. It was a pink post it and written on it was “< 3, AL”. I shrugged and tossed it down a garbage chute before turning to Daren. “Ready to hit to gym after the ceremony?”
“Whatever you say commander. You’ve gotten us through the missions up to this point. I’ll trust your judgement on what we need to do for the next one.”
“Thanks. I’ll try to not go too hard on all of you.” I smiled and turned as the other wings were pouring in and slowly arranging themselves into formation.
I went to greet Commander Lukas, saluting him as I approached. “Thank you, sir.” I said, bowing my head just a tad.
“You earned it, lancer. I’m just administering the honors you gained through your exemplary service.” He said, patting me on the arm. “Now get back there and march out. The Captain is coming down to pin you personally.”
“...He is? I’ll do my best. No slip ups.” I stuttered, moving to get ready. I walked four paces behind the formation and counted my paces so that I’d know exactly how many steps to take to make my movements as clean as possible. I stopped in the middle of the formation and turned to face front, standing at ease.
The captain entered the deck and Lukas called us to attention before about facing. “Squadron Alcide all present or accounted for”
“Thank you Commander.” The captain returned the commander’s salute. “Bring forth the pilot to be promoted.”
My heart pounded. I right faced, then proceeded to march making sharp clean turns before coming to a stop before Captain Richards. I right faced before him and saluted, dropping it as he returned it.
“To all who shall see these presents, greeting: know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity and abilities of Dwayne Starflight, I do appoint this pilot a Wing commander in the Space Naval Forces, to rank as such from this day forward. This appointee with therefore carefully and diligently discharge the duties of the role to which appointed by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto pertaining. And I do strictly charge and require all personnel of lesser grade to render obedience to appropriate orders. And this appointee is to observe and follow such order and directs as may be given from time to time by superiors acting according to the rules and articles governing the discipline of the Space Naval Forces. Given under my hand at Fleet vessel Ozymandius, this day.” Lukas delivered the warrant in clear crisp words, while the captain stood there, passively measuring me. I swallowed, my hands gripped firmly at my sides while I stood at attention, feeling the weight of responsibility laid upon my shoulders.
Upon finishing reading, Lukas snapped the warrant closed and handed it to the captain. “Congratulations son.” He said softly handing it over and shaking my hand. I nodded and swallowed, as they took the old rank insignia of a pilot off my shoulders and replaced them with the insignia for Wing commander. I held my warrant tightly at my side and waited as Lukas shook my hand. The captain walked around front with Lukas at his side and saluted, which I returned. I then turned and marched off to the side, stopping some ten paces beyond the formation.
“Commander. Take these pilots of carry out to duties of the day.” The captain spoke firmly, before turning and strutting off.
Lukas turned to face the formation and spoke firmly. “Formation, fall out and congratulate the new wing commander.”
Everyone broke free from the formation and lined up to congratulate me. It was an endless string of good jobs and attaboys. I smiled and shook their hands as they passed me by. When it was finally done, I took a deep sigh and turned to head back to my quarters.
In the hall outside the flight deck, my wing stood in a small circle. “Congratulations commander.” Gwayne said, shaking my hand again.
“Thanks. So, I’m going to change and then we’ll hit the gym.” The three nodded and we dispersed back to our rooms.
I entered into my room and stripped out of my uniform, fingering the new rank insignias carefully. It was good to have finally earned that. I changed into my track suit and grabbed a drink of water.
Turning to leave, I saw Amy standing at my door. “Looking good commander.” She smiled, looking me up and down.
“Yeah, thanks. Let’s get to the gym, yeah?”
“Whatever you say commander.”
We went to the gym and waited a couple of minutes for Gwayne and Daren to join us. I started us off with a light jog, before moving to weights and core training. It was truly important to work out because strong hearts and lungs were necessary to withstand the forces you experienced in a Lancer. Not many wanted to put in the effort required to be a successful Lancer, but there was nothing like it. I wouldn’t trade the g forces and acrobatic maneuvers for sitting in the bridge calling out targets for anything. I loved what I did and never wanted to lose it.
When we finished we hit the showers and I instructed them to catch a meal and some sleep. We’d be hitting the classroom and the simulators the next morning and I wanted them fresh and ready. I went to my room and looked over my character sheet as I laid on my bed. Notifications filled my sheet, covering my view.
Notification: Congratulations on your promotion to Wing Commander. You have now been granted the responsibilities and privileges of a new Role. Rewards: 275 XP, 1 rank of Command, New Talent for Command ‘Coordinate’, Custom skin for your Lancer ‘Divine Shite’
Please note that loss of this Role will not result in loss of your rewards, but will affect your standing in the Space Naval Forces.
Name: Dwayne Starflight
Current Role: Wing Commander
Rank: 2
Agility 7
Coordination 11
Small Ship Gunnery 2
Talents: Firing Stability, Targeting Reticle, Exploit Weakness
Pilot 4
Talents: Flight Stability, Precognition
Reasoning 9
Science 4
Talents: Maneuvers (Strafing Runs, Vectored Thrusting, Multiple Axis of Throttle)
Tactics 2
Talents: Weak point identification, Intel analysis (4.2 minutes)
Emotional Intelligence 7
Command 2
Talents: Coordinate
Strength 8
XP: 600
I smiled to myself as I dismissed the notification and looked over the sheet. Where to put my new XP? It was a good question, one that I hadn’t thought about much because I wasn’t expecting to break into this much XP so soon. I suppose now that I have the official Wing Commander Role, I should probably put some points into tactics, so that I could coordinate my wingmates and better keep them alive during a mission. I pressed the buttons to spend XP and levelled Tactics from 2 to 3, which also improved the talent ‘Intel Analysis’ from 4.2 minutes to 3.8 minutes.
Intel Analysis didn’t come into play during a lot of missions because most ships were more or less variations on a theme and the weapons we used were usually the same mission to mission, but with my new ‘Exploit Weakness’ talent, I imagined that I might be able to better target my strikes in coming missions with the combination of the two talents working in tandem.
I chuckled softly as I laid back, setting my character sheet down and looking up at the roof of my bed cubby. “It’s going to get interesting in the coming days, isn’t it?”
I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of battles and tactics to come.