'Endurance' Mess Hall // Hyperspace // Imperial Territory
In one hand, Rae held a datapad. Still pouring over the data on the TIE defender. It was a logical next step in the TIE Program, faster than a standard TIE. More heavily armoured, shielded, and weaponised. It was a flying tank. It far exceeded anything that the Separatists could throw at them. In her other hand was some form of sandwich, the droid that dispensed the food had informed here it was some form of nerf dish. She could almost swear it was bantha though. She didn't look up as she heard a clatter of two trays as FO.Jahrand Linsken and FO.Marfin Jersco sat themselves down.
Eleven and
Twelve.
"You still studying Fussy?" Rae looked up and scowled at Linsken. The Empire didn't use
traditional callsigns that came from nicknames given by other pilots. That didn't stop the pilots from coming up with nicknames for each other, and this one had followed her since her time at the academy. She still wasn't
entirely sure how it had got onto the
Endurance, but had learned that to fight it was to already lose.
"Just making sure I'm ready for next time.""You sure you're ready for round three?" The voice came from over her head, as they were soon joined by Anders, more affectionately known to Two-Ten flight as 'Control'. He was their tactical officers. While the Republic in its heyday had relied on astrmomechs aboard ship, the Empire instead preferred the human element.
"I've got the highest kill count so far, don't I?" She flashed a sneer at the Lieutenant, though it didn't travel to her eyes, which instead stayed warm.
"Careful Anders, she's still in attack mode."Putting down her holopad as Anders sat down to join them.
"I wouldn't harm our Tactical Officer-"He opened his mouth as if to speak, though before he could Rae interrupted him.
"-it is way to time consuming to break another one in."Linksken slapped him on the back as he laughed.
"See. Doesn't she just make you feel appreciated?""Completely.""He's also a valuable source of intel.""Talking about that..."Anders shrugged.
"I have no more idea where we're going than any of you do." Rae waved her hand.
"I don't believe that for a second. Surely you took a peek at the hyperspace co-ordinates being relayed to the Defenders."He reached over and tapped the top of Raes datapad.
"You need to work on your reading. The Defenders have fully fledged Nav-Computers. They don't need co-ordinates relayed to them.""Boo."Rae mulled it over.
"Well. Something is going on."Jersco nodded.
"Running silent for training missions, then called away during an exercise?"Linksken chimed in.
"Not to mention that our new-toys are flying point. We're either going somewhere to make a statement, or an Imperial site.""I'd guess a blacksite."Rae turned to Anders and arched an eyebrow, he merely shrugged his shoulders.
"If I was a betting man."Rae mulled it over for a second before nodding.
"True enough, if we were flying to combat you'd be in non-stop briefings-" Picking up on her train of thought, Anders chimed in.
"-and if we were going anywhere in public the Defenders wouldn't be flying point. Since right now they're clearly in development.""Oh look at you two-" Jersco hadn't even finished before the daggers stared at him by
two superior officers quickly shut him down.
Linksken, to his comrades rescue picked up his cup.
"A toast then, to secret operations!