PHD #063: Vipers, Raptors and Sell-By Dates
Vipers, Raptor and Sell-By Dates
Summary: Ensign Ethan Weber makes an impression on his CAG.
Date: 1 May 2041 AE
Related Logs: None
Players:
Cidra Ethan 
Hangar Deck - Port - Midship - Battlestar Cerberus
The single largest rooms on the Cerberus are the hangar decks. Each flight pod consists of two stacked landing bays with adjoined decks and hangars, which along with computer-assisted landings results in a faster Viper recovery rate. Mirror images of each other, these two huge areas are located on the flight pods. The inboard sides of the deck, closest to the ship's main hull, are lined with parking and maintenance bays for Vipers and Raptors based aboard the battlestar. The outboard side of the deck contains the launch tubes used by the Vipers for standard deployment. Huge blast doors seal the deck into four sections, each one containing an elevator that leads up to the flight deck directly overhead. The fore-most section contains an elevator system that leads towards Aerospace Fabrication.
Post-Holocaust Day: #63

It's your average day on the Cerberus' hangar deck. There's a CAP in the air right now, in the middle of its stretch, so the work going on is mostly standard maintenance, repairs, and preparing for the next flight out. Cidra is standing by her usual Raptor. In duty greens rather than her flight gear, so it's probable she isn't up for awhile in a piloting sense. She's talking with a PO about the last maintenance report on her plane. Or at least the plane she's regularly flying now. With all the birds down for repairs, or flat-out destroyed, there are more pilots than planes to go around. Though the situation isn't quite as stretched for the Raptor drivers as it is for the Viper jocks.

Cidra's Desc
Cidra Hahn is a woman on the upper end of her thirties in age. She's approaching forty with a modicum of grace, though the tiny lines around the corners of her eyes and mouth have deepened with this hard year. Her build is tall, just a couple inches short of six feet, lean and slim with lanky long arms and legs. Despite her angular form, there's an easy flowing quality about her movements that keeps her from seeming gawky. She has naturally fair skin, an oval-shaped face with fine-boned features and blue-gray eyes. There's an even, composed quality about her gaze most of the time that gives her manner a certain steadiness, though little of what she might be thinking or feeling at a given moment touches the surface of those cloudy eyes. Her hair is a ruddy shade of brown, still (mostly) free of gray strands. When down it hangs in straight strands to her shoulders, though she usually wears it pinned back in a bun when on duty. Her rich alto voice retains traces of an accent common to Gemenon.

Cidra is dressed in Colonial Fleet fatigues. The olive green shirt is tucked into matching trousers, with a subdued black web belt around the waist. The trousers are in turn bloused into black combat boots. A softer, lighter green fabric decorates the shoulders of the shirt, and the buttons up the center are hidden by a flap. Black quick clips, rather than buttons, secure two large pockets on the front of the shirt. On her left sleeve is the black, gold and white Battlestar Cerberus patch. The pins on her collar show a rank of Major.

And soon, yet another Raptor pilot appears. Ethan is wearing his duty outfit, but it seems that he is not scheduled to flight anything now. He stands close by to a raptor and starts to slide his hand over the cold body. He takes a deep breath and paths the ship, then looks around, and notices you. Ethan makes his way to where you are, stands up straight and salutes , "Major Hahn, Ensign Weber, I don't believe we had the chance to talk much"

Ethan's Desc
Ethan stands at a height of 5 feet and 11 inches. He has medium brown hair, short and almost all the time, nicely kept. For some reason one of his more notorious features is his forehead…which, doesn't look abnormal by any means, it's just that, there's a lot of it there. Brown bushy eyebrows rest over his light blue eyes. His eyes have a bright tone to them, as if always studying something with great interest. The bridge of his nose is thin, not very long, and it gets wider towards the tip. He always keep a constant shadow beard, in color, it's only a little lighter than his hair. His lips are medium size, most of the time curved into a gentle smile.

While he has an athletic build, he is not overly muscular, just a good healthy balance. He is usually seen wearing his regular uniform.

Cidra does not see Ethan's approach, chatting with the deckie as she is. "All sounds well enough for it to fly, Petty Officer. My thanks," she says, sending the nameless deckhand on his way with that. They do exchange salutes but they're quick and perfunctory. Ethan's is returns in the same manner as she turns to regard him. "Ensign Weber. Lately of the Green Gulls." A beat of silence and small bow of her head. The loss of near an entire squadron still gives her pause. "How does this day find you?"

Ethan nods in silence and looks at his former Raptor. His attention comes back to Cidra and he presses his lips before saying "This day, and all the days I left behind since I got the green light to start duty again." He clears his throat "All these days, have found me wanting to receive training to fly a Viper. " He looks at his Raptor again and pats the body "Which doesn't mean I don't want to fly my girl anymoreit is really wonderful, how they've fixed her." With a serious yet friendly look, he spokes to the CAG "I request permission to start Viper training, as long as you see it fitting and it doesn't hurt my duties with the Harriers"

Up quirks Cidra's brow. Ethan is given an up and down look, though it's difficult to tell what she thinks of this idea by her expression alone. "You say you do wish to continue flying Raptors, Ensign. But is this request a prelude to a wish to transfer to Viper flight?"

Ethan doesn't change his expression at all when Cidra gives her that look, he just shakes his head and offers "Not at all Major, I just want to have the training, toif some daya bit of help is needed, I can go out and shoot at some toasters" It seems that what happened to his squadron, injected in him, some thirst for revenge. He looks at his raptor once again, and while looking at it "I'm too attached to the Raptors, I don't want to leave them" Ethan looks at the CAG once again and offers "I'm an Aerospace Engineer, Majorwhile I have my favorite here, I'm bound to feel attraction for every piece of spacecraft available"

"Double-qualification is an intensive process, Ensign Weber. And one that, under normal circumstances, I would not feel comfortable putting anyone with less than three years in the service through. How long have you been out of flight training?" Cidra still seems skeptical of this idea, but none of that is an outright rejection of it. "Have you ever flown a Viper before?"

"Major, these are not normal circumstances; I am not going to say 'Lucky for me' because I would have to punch myself. I lost my entire squadron out thereand I ended up alive" he shakes his head and adds "Not that I'm not thankful for that of course, I'm considering this as a second chance to become the Raptor pilot I know I can be, and to get the training I need to dedicate all my firepower to my Green Gulls" He looks at Cidra now, straight into her eyes and states "They were my family, I considered them to be brothers and sisters. Not only I lost them to the Cylons, I also lost my parents to the Cylons. I know a lot of us did, yes, but I can't speak for everyone"

Cidra fixes Ethan with a very steady blue gaze. No particular clue to her thoughts in it. The woman's inscrutable when she wants to be. And she usually does. But her gaze is very, very steady. "And you do not think flying a Raptor, in some cases missile-armed, always an instrument of electronic warfare, is fitting defense of your ship and crew and remembrance of your family, Ensign?" The question is asked very mildly. "You did not answer my question about your experience with Viper flight."

"Of course I know that." says the man with an even tone of voice, he doesn't express emotions on this one "I hope you are not implying I don't know or don't care about the potential that a Raptor has" He nods firmly after that and says "Only some basics, just before the moment in which students are assigned to their future tasks. Can I fly one properly now? No, I can't" He still keeps his attention focused on Cidra's at the moment, he's not really trying to read her, the looks are means to express something one would say, perhaps this is the case. "I am fully aware of what a Raptor can do"

"I do hope so, Ensign. A Wing must work together, all parts, if is it to serve at its fullest capacity," Cidra says. There's a weighing quality to her gaze as she regards him. Again, hard to make what she's getting out of it. "You are not long out of flight training, yes? And only just mastering the buses. At this point, Weber, you are useless to me as a Viper pilot. And indulging a wish to dogfight Raiders would only deprive the Wing of what you are trained for. However." Her tone carries some coolness, but she's not yet done. "If you wish to get a better handle on Viper tactics, in a way that shall not take away from your work with the Harriers, I would not object. You may utilize some of your time in the Simulators on Viper flight. Some. You are not such a wonder as a Raptor stick you can afford to use all your training on other matters. Speak with Captain Sikta of the Petrels. He is the most qualified flight instructor we have on board, and a beautiful hand with a Viper craft. He shall have suggestions on what exercises would be best, I am sure, and would perhaps be able to guide you some better than I. I have spent most of my career flying Raptors, after all." Faintest of smirks. "If you can get a better idea of what a Viper entails and show some hand at it, and do not take up too much of the Captain or your own time, we shall perhaps speak on this more again at some point." Perhaps.

Ethan listens to what the CAG has to say, there are some things that pick his interest and he puts together a doubt, that he is going to ask about of course "Major, does the fact that you are a Raptor pilotmake you think that I don't deserve to be one just because I wish to learn about Vipers? Am I going to see a type of rejection of some kind from now on? Don't get me wrong, but if that's the case, I would like to be notified. So, when I get better at being what I ama Raptor pilot, I'll know that, the rejection has absolutely no fundaments." He nods to this and keeps looking deep into the CAG's eyes. Is he challenging her? Not really, but he's a man that likes things clearthat's all.

"I have not rejected your request, Ensign," Cidra says mildly. Which may or may not have gotten lost in her mini-lecture. "As I said, you have my permission to put some of your duty time training on Viper tactics. And I do not think you unworthy." A soft sigh. "I think you very young."

Ethan nods as he studies Cidra "Yes, I amat least next to many that reside this ship" He shakes his head at this and says "I'm not planning on letting my Raptor goI got my girl back, I'm not letting her go again. I don't care if I have to share it now, to her, she'll be always my girl." He pats the ship again and says "I got her when I finished my training, back when every pilot had one ship" Now he moves into a more relaxed stance and looks at Cidra "So when are you going out to do Raptor radical maneuvers with me? I'm interested in seeing my CAG fly a Raptor, I've heard good things about you, and you knowyou." He closes his mouth and offers "Permission to speak freely, Major"

"I am due on CAP in…six hours, by my count," Cidra replies. "You are free to watch if you like. I am sure we shall fly together soon enough. I hope I shall not disappoint." Tone a little dry. "And permission granted, Ensign." Brows up ever so slightly. She waits with anticipation, if nothing else.

Ethan nods now that he has permission and offers "You don't look bad at all Major, some people of" he considers for a moment and asks "Thirtyyy-five? Anyway, some people your age look pretty bad, you in the other hand, look quite nice" He clears his throat and shakes his head "Aren't I supposed to be the one trying not to disappoint?"

Cidra's blue eyes sharpen at that. Blink. That was not what she expected. No outward reaction in her expression from the 'compliment.' Other than a trace of surprise. And that sharpening. "Ensign Weber." Said flatly. "Presumptuous one, yes? I will forgive your momentary lapse into masculine stupidity this one time. This one time. In the future, keep such thoughts to yourself." A pause. "And I am not quite thirty-five. Where I come from, Ensign, I am very nearly old enough to be your mother." That's all the clue he'll get to pinpoint her age.

Ethan nods once, nods twice "Sure, ok, I'll.pretend to go out of a lapse of masculine stupidity. Although, allow me to clarify, I am not flirting with you Major, I am stating the facts. The fact you are, or not, old enough to be my mother doesn't come into play since I'm not implying 'flirting'. My point is, that I believe it takes a very good professional to hold a high rank and still hold, freshness."

"Your clarification is…lengthy," Cidra says simply. "Do not call me 'fresh' again, Ensign, or I shall not let it roll off so easily. Decorum and respect. At all times." She was not on the flight deck to fly even before they began talking, so she steps a little away from her Raptor. "I should be getting back to the offices. And grab some rack time, before I am due on CAP. Is there anything else of a professional capacity that you require?"

Ethan sighs and lightly chuckles while rubbing two fingers over his forehead "Right" he looks at Cidra and salutes her "Of course Major, I shall prevent that from happening again." With that, he adds a quick nod and then he shakes his head "No Major, nothing else of professional capacity I require. I shall sit there to watch when you go out, after all, Academy taught us to always watch the PROs, flying their ships." With that said, he salutes again.

The salute is acknowledged fluidly. "Dismissed, Ensign. To whatever it is you have to do with yourself." With that, Cidra is off to wherever the CAG lurks in her spare time.

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