http://emo-padawan.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] emo-padawan.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2006-06-16 10:40 am
Entry tags:

Flight and Flying [Friday morning]

Anakin was leaning against the reconfigured flight simulator when the flight students arrived.

"Today we're going to do something a little different," 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. "We're going to complete an entire military mission. This planet is being slowly starved to death by the blockade set up by these donut-looking control ships and their army of droids."

Anakin gestured to the projection. "Working in pairs, your job will be to 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, unfortunately, is to blow it from the inside--its shields are too powerful for the starfighter's torpedos 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 against a droid army that doesn't get tired. Taking out the control ship also powers down those droids. Take too long to blow it up and you won't have a reason to go back to the planet--the enemy will have won through battle what they had 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, but not quite as twitchy as the Jedi starfighter. And remember that once you break atmosphere, you won't be fighting gravity any longer so you don't have to yank on the controls quite as hard. The droid starfighters are faster than you are--and there are a lot of them--but they're also pretty stupid. Watch each other's backs and you'll do fine."

He grinned. "And in case you're wondering, yeah, this was a real battle. And the exercise can be accomplished." He tossed two deeply silly-looking helmets into the flight simulator. "Those will allow you to talk to each other. Plus, they're terribly stylish."

He put his hands together in front of him. "When you successfully complete the exercise, you get a donut to make up for the ugly one you've just removed from the sky." He gave them all an excited look. "Oh, I hope to see you all on Sunday for the field trip to the Air and Space Museum, but more importantly, I've heard from home. I'd asked for permission to have an actual Jedi starfighter brought here so you could get some non-simulated flight experience."

He smiled. "They've done me one better--inviting you all to come with me to Coruscant for a few days and see how the simulated stuff measures up the real thing." He turned serious. "Of course, I'm not going to bring you all to a new planet and have you blow up because you weren't paying attention, so this week--and next, which will be an actual flying experience--I'm going to be watching your technique to see if you're ready to fly an actual starfighter."

He waved them towards the simulator. "So impress me, all right?"

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-16 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, sure, make me look bad by actually understanding the assignment," Sam laughed. "You take lead, and I'll take wing, then. I want to see what you can do, flyboy."

And if he was as good as she suspected he was, well, a recommendation letter to the Academy from Lt. Col. Samantha Carter on his behalf couldn't hurt.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-16 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wouldn't dream of it, ma'am," Cameron grinned. "I'm sure you were just testing me."

He snapped off a salute before climbing into the simulator.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-16 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Smart ass," she said, still grinning. She climbed into the simulator and adjusted the seat and controls so she was comfortable. "Ready when you are, Mitchell."

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-16 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"Mitchell? Don't I get a cool call sign?" Cameron asked as he started up the simulation. He took a moment to locate their target and then lay in a direct route towards it, keeping an eye out for enemy fighters. "I don't suppose they've got bright neon signs above the entrance?"

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-16 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"What call sign do you want?" Sam asked, keeping an eye out for fighters, but also keeping an eye on Cam. "Next thing you'll tell me you want exit signs, too. This isn't the movies."

She squinted. "Looks like something's headed this way. Eight o'clock."

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
Cameron checked the radar and nodded. "I see it. Going in," he said because while this wasn't the movies, his speak totally was.

"I want a cool one," he answered her question as he rolled the fighter around to face the incoming bogey. "What's yours?"

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Easy," Sam cautioned, following behind, but far enough that she could break off if he needed a distraction or someone to draw fire. "And I'm sorry, that's classified," she snickered.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Really now? I guess I'll have to come up with one myself," he said but went quiet as he had to dodge the incoming fire.

He made a roll to the side, away from Sam and just barely missed getting hit before he finally straightened up and managed to find a clear shot, taking out the droid fighter.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
"Nice shot!" Sam caught a flash of motion out of her right side peripheral vision and twisted in her seat, then twisted back. "Incoming! Five o'clock."

She dipped down at a forty-five degree angle and banked right, hoping the fighter would follow her, and not stick with Cam.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
"And he brought some friends," Cameron said as more droid fighters left the main ship. He brought his own ship around and went in pursuit of the fighter that went after Sam.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
Sam was a little thrown by suddenly being in the lead, which was definitely not where she wanted to be. "Look out, Cam. I'm gonna do a 180 and head right towards you."

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Copy that, Mary Poppins," Cameron replied as he tried to make the droid fighter more worried about him than taking a shot at Sam. He didn't want to risk firing however and accidently hitting her so he held off for now.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Survey says? Wrong answer," Sam laughed as she did a quick 180 and buzzed by Cam, now chasing the fighter.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
"I think it suits you," Cameron grinned until he suddenly came under fire. He cursed and yanked on the controls, making a hard turn right. The droid fighter followed right after him. Evasive maneuvers it was.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
"You all right?" Sam asked, trying to spot him, but unable to since she was trying to concentrate on aiming her shots on the fighter. Two shots had already gone wide. She pushed her fighter to go faster.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, just got something annoying on my tail," Cameron grumbled as he couldn't shake off the fighter. He tried pulling the 180 again, but the droid easily followed him. "Damn."

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
"I've got an idea," Sam said, heading directly towards Cameron, the fighter once again on her tail, "but I need you to trust me, okay?"

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
The next shot that came in was pretty close and Cameron nodded. "I'm all one with the trusting."

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm going to head right for you, and exactly when I say, I want you to break right and aim down, towards five o'clock, okay?" Sam said.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
"Break right and aim down," Cameron confirmed. "Got it."

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
Sam shot forward, and about thirty seconds before she hit Cam, she shouted, "Now," and broke right and aimed up.

The fighter behind her was surprised by the move and didn't recover in time, still heading forward on its old path.

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
Cameron right away broke off right as well, aiming down and going right underneath Sam.

Behind him, the droid fighter was caught as unaware as Sam's and found himself flying right into the other fighter.

Cameron grinned as he watched the explosion. "Wooohooo! We rock."

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
Sam cheered, high on adrenaline. "We totally rock! Ready to go blow something up?"

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] cameronmitchell.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
"Sounds good to me," Cameron said as he brought his fighter back into formation. "And judging from the activity, I'd say our way in is at ten o'clock."

Re: Save Naboo!

[identity profile] carter-i-am.livejournal.com 2006-06-17 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
"You take the lead, then," Sam offered, "and I'll cover your six."