Flight and Flying [Thursday, August 2, 3rd period]

[sith_happened]

Anakin was leaning against the reconfigured flight simulator when the flight students arrived, absolutely no trace of an smile--or any emotion at all, really--on his face.

"In every major event, there's always a beginning," he said, walking over to the television from his room and pushing a few buttons. A three-dimension projection of a world rotated in front of them. "The first battle in a conflict that eventually tore my galaxy apart took place on a world called Naboo." He glanced over at Qui-Gon assuming he was there and his voice got even harder. The Jedi should've seen this coming, dammit. "Millions of beings put at risk because of politics," he spat. "They were being used as pawns in a larger game we didn't know we were playing for more than a decade. Today we'll complete an entire military mission: the one that saved the planet from death by starvation by a blockade of petty criminals and their droids."

Anakin gestured to the projection. "Working in pairs, you'll take off from the planet's surface, fight past the enemy's droid fighters and destroy the control ship." On the projection, the target glowed red. "The only way to destroy the ship is to blow it from the inside: its shields are too powerful for the starfighter's torpedoes to take out from space." He put his hands behind his back and paced. "You're up against a deadline as well. On the surface there's a battle taking place: your people--including the fourteen-year-old queen of the planet--against a droid army that doesn't get tired." His expression turned haunted as a holograph of the leader in question came up on the projector. "Taking out the control ship also powers down those droids. Take too long to blow it up and there's no point going back to the planet: the enemy will have won through battle what they'd been trying to achieve through blockade."

He pointed at the simulator. "You'll be flying the Naboo N-1 Starfighter," he said. "They're a little more sensitive than the F-16 from last week and more elegant than the X-Wing, but without the engine power. And remember: once you break atmosphere, you won't be fighting gravity any longer so don't yank on the controls. Spinning out and crashing back into the planet is a really stupid way to die. The droid starfighters are faster than you are--and there are a lot of them--but they're als stupid. Watch for them and the laser cannons on the control ship--and watch for each other--and you'll do fine.

"This battle was real. This exercise can be accomplished. I don't accept failure--or excuses--from any of you on this." He tossed two deeply silly-looking helmets into the flight simulator. "These helmets are equipped with comm units that will allow you to talk to each other."

He waved them towards the simulator, ignoring any looks they or the TA might be giving him. "Begin."

Comments

Practice Run

[sith_happened]

Learn the equipment. Ask for help. Crash and Anakin'll yell.

He's a little invested in this scenario.

Re: Practice Run

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

It didn't matter that River couldn't read Anakin's mind. She could clearly see that he was upset about something. After a quick concerned glance she decided to put all her effort into learning the necessary skills for todays' mission.

Re: Practice Run

[sith_happened]

Anakin stood over her as he learned the controls, eyes looking out sharply for any errors she might be making.

Re: Practice Run

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

His silent presence unnerved her, and her reactions were slower than usual, is still precise. "Here and not here," she said quietly.

Re: Practice Run

[orewahikari.livejournal.com]

He's not stupid (contrary to some appearances) - he can see that something's on Anakin's mind. So he's going to try extra hard not to die today. Or to crash.

Much.

Because that would be bad.

He approaches Anakin, uncharacteristically quiet, and asks, "Hey. You've flown this, right? You did the mission you were talking about?"

He clears his throat.

"You got any tips on how to fight and not die? Because I think I'm flying fine, but when I try to add that onto the fighting, you might have noticed I have a bad tendency to crash and burn."

Re: Practice Run

[sith_happened]

Anakin crossed his arms over his chest. "I flew it," he said, voice tight. "I was nine. Don't second-guess yourself. If you take a moment to wonder if you should've slipped port instead of starboard, that's when you die. The droids aren't built with consciences. They just want you off of their screen."

His eyes were flat. "Don't screw this up."

Re: Practice Run

[orewahikari.livejournal.com]

He nods. Part of him, at the look on Anakin's face - or lack of any emotion, really - wants to reach out, pat him on the arm or something, but he's not sure that, if he was in the same position, if he'd want anything like pity or touch.

He settles on a small smile, one that reaches his eyes, one that looks so much like Somebody else's that Naminé, if she saw, might have been a little excited.

"I won't screw it up."

He waits his turn for the sim, and when it comes... well, the practice run isn't perfect, by anybody's standards, but he doesn't die. He doesn't crash.

It's probably the best he's done in the class so far, matter of fact.

Re: Practice Run

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan listened to Anakin's lecture thoughtfully, it was something to think about if it ever happened to her. But first she had to fly this thing. "Um," she began, hesitant, "What's the control for weapons and navigation?"

Re: Practice Run

[sith_happened]

Anakin pointed them out. "And this is comm," he said, jabbing his finger towards it, "fuel, and shielding. If they edge into the red, you're flee-floating ions a moment later. Watch them."

Re: Practice Run

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan nodded in understanding, it was so different from the ones back home. She kept a keen eye on the ones he warned her about but this was technology and that meant computers. In between her culturally bred anathema for thinking machines and the class assignment Irulan was a nervous ball of tension.

Re: Practice Run

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

Anemone was too absorbed in running her fingers over the controls and murmuring to the beautiful starfighter to pay much attention to Anakin's crankiness. As far as she was concerned, he was just acting like a normal military flight instructor. Aircraft was always for flying and not dying, and there was no excuse to be lazy just because this was a sim. Failure was not an option here, and she was determined not to repeat her mistakes from the Death Star run.

She spent the practice run pouring over the controls, and mentally muttering nasty things about being forced to have a co-pilot to worry about.

Re: Practice Run

[sith_happened]

Anakin watched her with laser-like intensity, waiting for her to make an error. It didn't particularly matter to him how small the misstep might be. The run needed to be perfect for everyone.

Re: Practice Run

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

Anemone was well-aware of Master Skywalker's hovering scrutiny, and didn't bother to look up from her absorption of the cockpit. "Are there any problems with the droid fighters scrambling comm frequencies? What back-up systems are in place to enable continued combat if my co-pilot becomes incapacitated?" Her long fingers continued their route of switches and dials. "And what entry point do you recommend?"

Re: Practice Run

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon was frowning as he settled into the cockpit. Anakin's lecture had been disturbing not so much for what he said as the heavy feeling that there was a lot more to the story. The fact that he kept glaring at Qui-Gon like he had been personally responsible for the blockade in question wasn't exactly helping either.

He resolved to do his utmost best with the assignment, but he was going to corner Anakin when it was over and ask him what the deal was.

Re: Practice Run

[sith_happened]

Anakin, not surprisingly, was frowning hard as Qui-Gon got into the cockpit. "Be better at this," he demanded.

Re: Practice Run

[morpherboy.livejournal.com]

Marco nervously got into the sim. He wasn't that worried about Anakin's wrath, due to over confidence, but he did want to do well just to show that video games were good for something.

Re: Practice Run

[sith_happened]

"Don't screw up," Anakin said.

Hell of a pep talk, that.

Re: Practice Run

[morpherboy.livejournal.com]

"Gee, thanks for the advice." Marco said quietly and did his best to not do anything stupid during the run. Like go too fast.

Re: Practice Run

[likethegun]

Sam was still in a fantastic mood at the start of class, from helping Dean with the Firearms workshop. Luckily, it didn't take long for him to figure out that Anakin was not in a similar mood, not with the way he sounded like his dad. It wasn't like he ever set out to fail, but he was especially determined to not crash or blow up today, and spent a little more time than usual getting used to the controls.

Re: Practice Run

[sith_happened]

"We don't have all day, Mister Winchester," Anakin snarked, rolling his eyes.

Re: Practice Run

[likethegun]

Sam didn't roll his eyes in return, although he really wanted to. "Just trying to make sure I don't crash and burn, sir."

Re: Practice Run

[im-afrog.livejournal.com]

Adam listened intently to what Anakin had to say and worked extra hard to familiarize himself with the controls. He didn't want to let Anakin down.

Re: Practice Run

[sith_happened]

Anakin tapped his foot on the ground. "Any time now, Mister Park."

Re: Practice Run

[untouchableskin.livejournal.com]

Remembering her conversation with Anakin the other day, Rogue took a deep breath and, after studying the controls, she did her practice runs.

Re: Practice Run

[sith_happened]

Anakin gave her a look. "So glad you could join in with the rest of the class," he said, sarcasm palpable.