----------------------------------------
1.8 - Fire, Ice and Rock? Part 3
----------------------------------------
Still standing beside her, Sabban shook his head lightly, "Every time" he murmured.
Una once more gave him a searching look to which, finally the young man relented an answer;
"They do this every opportunity they get, especially after we've trained as a group".
"Umm but why?" Una asked reluctantly, her own eyes now firmly fixed on the scene in front of her.
The two pilots by now going at it full throttle with Scarlet throwing her arms up in the air to match her own sarcastic assaults, while Hoki stood maintaining her calm composure, arms crossed but firing back just as many biting insults.
"Hmmm? isn't that much obvious?" Sabban said at last looking down over at Una.
Seeing the confusion still present on her face he sighed and continued on, "You had Miss.Hoki as a special instructor for a bit, ya?"
'Confirmation that he does remember me!'
"I mean every new IAFS pilot has--"
'...or maybe not....'
"-- Well if you forgot, she's from that big family back on Bhaile, a whole lineage of soldiering history? And on the side of the Union in the First War. Well Rookie or not I bet I don't need to tell you about 'The Scourge's' history ya? Rumoured Abhailien test pilot for the first Vijaiks ever made, than spent most of a decade tearing up TSU supply lines in peacetime. They even say she was involved in the Remembrance Incident as a commander a few years back. Do I need to spell it out any further?"
He finished half yawning lazily.
Una felt a little put-out by the patronising tone of the explanation, "Of course I know all that...Sir, but they're lots of X-Abhailien and Remembrance people here, they aren't all fighting like this all the time, are they?".
Sabban seemed to give that question considerable thought;
"I suppose that much is true but it's not exactly easy going. Most ships in the fleet are made up of one creed, two at most, but the Fluchtig and Tradech are different - Round here you got Commander Nate and Kolme who're both old hands from traditional TSU before they joined IAFS - Then you got the engineering team who mostly came from Remembrance - As I said Scarlet's a true Abhailien and a pirate in her spare time. Finally there is those of us who came from the moon or other off-planet independent space-settlements.
There's even a few from the TSU speic-, ahem, anyway I guess you're right that generally it's only the odd disagreement that breaks out. Those two are a speical case..."
He grinned a little at that last comment, well grin was a strong word - More like a faint curving of the lips.
"--How do you expect me to hit the enemy when you are darting around like some hyperactive vagrant?!"
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The lady Hoki decreed haughtily.
"Snipers are meant to support the front line you spoiled dolt, S-U-P-P-O-R-T. Not just sit on their ass in one place waiting for the right shot!"
Scarlet shouted back with an expressive hand gesture and vigour.
"The thing is" Sabban said, his gaze now firmly back on the rapidly escalating confrontation ahead; "It's maybe less to do with their respective creeds, than it is their personalities."
He scratched absentmindedly at the back of his head, clearly trying to think on how best to explain; "Miss.Hoki is the strict type ya know? Always gives everything her all - Even simulations, but Scarlet... well you saw how easily she knocked the two of us around. Let's just say if she actually tried, got serious in that mock battle - She would of easily won in a four against one match."
Una stared blankly at Sabban, trying to decipher if he had really meant what he'd just said;
'4 on 1? Not even trying? He can't be serious, no one's that good especially in a Vijaik are they?!'
But Sabban didn't seem intent on providing any further answers.
"You do this on purpose don't you, you want to make me look the fool by lowering my rank?"
"Your rank! Who gives a flying crap about ranks on some silly computer game. That ain't real combat princess, that's a bleedin' toy for children. You think you would survive five minutes on the battlefield with that attitude?!".
Una felt as though she were watching some abstract sport, her head swaying from one woman to the next as the two continued their argument.
"Well atleast they'll be no more matches today." Sabban mused aloud.
Una felt her feet nearly give way from under her, "M-more matches?"
"Hmmm? Well ya, of course. Not much good in doing just the one scenario but I doubt there'll be more today, not all five of us together anyway."
Una swallowed hard, the thought of getting back in the machine, of facing off against the glint of the riflemen or that lone red eye again - Hadn't even factored in her mind, to do so once more seemed inconceivably, suicidal even - 'Just A Simulation.'
"I think you are forgetting who was in charge of our team 'Warrant Officer Grimizan'" Hoki sneered.
Scarlet visibly bristled at the statement;
"I've made it clear before that isn't my damn name, and who cares about that kind of rank neither! What goods being an Ensign when you are that incompetent at reading the battlefield! Shove your 'study' title!"
She shot back vehemently.
"Ho-ho and what would the mastermind behind 'The Skirmish of the 4th', or should I say 'The Massacre on the 4th', know about leadership eh? Is that how they taught you to fight back on Abhaile?"
****