Flight Training (D3, EE, Simulators)

[James Hall]

Mata shakes her head. "Not in real life. The pirates did not really have any aerospace fighters. I have seen landing on holovids when we were in Rasahaulague while daddy was searching for a job, but I do not think those count."

[Alexei Herald]

"Well, then you'll see how it's done."

Pitching the nose down into a shallow dive, he bled off altitude until they were nearing the landing pad, and then pulled the stick back, swooping the craft up until pointed directly vertical. Now, the craft seemed set to stall, but the engines were so strong that it didn't, the throttle slowly lowering until the plan dipped down low enough to the ground for a docking arm to extend and grab the plane with a jolt.

Moments later, it was leveling out the craft, and gently pulling it in to the hangar.

A dropship landing.

"Want to try?"

He was confident she wouldn't succeed the first time, but if she even made it through the launch and part of the turn, he'd call the day a success for her.

[James Hall]

Mata nods and take the controls. She does manage to start the fighter with no problem. She had done it a few times.

The take off didn't go too bad at first. Not great, but not too bad. But she began pushing the the stick a little too hard and a little too early before the ship was quite early. Then, reflex caused her to over-correct, sending the ship to ground.

After the crash, she turned to Alexi. "I crashed. It is because I overcorrected, right?"

[Alexei Herald]

"That is correct. Try again. I want you to do it right five times - once you are in the sky, you can press the gold button on the left panel to reset to the start of the simulation."

Popping the hatch, he stepped out, closing the door behind him.

Glancing to James, he said, "You said you were an Aerotech. Do you feel your skills in that field are still sharp?"

[James Hall]

Mata nods. "Will do." She salutes him and prepares for herself for the takeoff. If Yuri watches, he does see she eventually gets to 5 successes. Not in a row, but she does make it.

James looked like he was putting together a toy. A bear? When Yuri steps out, he puts it to the side. "Hmmm.... I'd like to day I am still competent. Though not as good as I am with mechs now days. Do you need me to look at something?" After a brief moment of thought, "I am willing to take any test you desire to see my skills."

[Alexei Herald]

"I believe in your own self assessment, Mr. Hall. You have no false ambition which would spur you to lie."

Alexi stroked his mustache, thoughtfully, as if considering something, and then finally said, "I have a project for you in the morning. The Shilone barely flies - and my other fighter doesn't fly at all. I need you to fix that."

[James Hall]

"Aerospace fighters would be a boon. I will do everything I can to bring them back online."

[Alexei Herald]

"I appreciate it. I'm not much of a technician, unfortunately. I somehow keep forgetting to spend time learning the skill."

Alexei sighed, glancing at the monitor as Mata got her third successful takeoff. "The girl has a natural hand at it - I wouldn't let her actually fly one in reality for a few more years - the G-Forces are impossible for the simulator to match, and she wouldn't want to risk blacking out. If we had a trainer, maybe... but unfortunately not."

With a small shrug, he added, "Beside that - this is the simplest task for a pilot - the trick is learning to do nothing, rather than something. It's amusingly quite hard for new cadets to grasp."

[James Hall]

"Everyone has there place. Mine is to work on the machines so you can fly."

James smiles at Mata's training. "It's her mother. Her mother was extremely skilled. Mata didn't know her. So, I think this is... nice? I dunno the proper word for it. I just feel like this is connection Mata can have to a woman long dead." James was happy for that even his own feelings towards Alice were a bit more complicated. "She never complains about it, but I think it is natural for a child to want some connection to their mother."

And what about sibkos? James shakes his head. Disturbed that he even thought of such a thought.

"But I understand. And I made sure Mata understands that it will be some time before she can pilot an actual fighter. It's not like a mech where the consequences are less severe for messing up." Well outside of combat. In combat, they could be just as deadly.

[Alexei Herald]

Maybe once you get the aerospace done, I can take you two up for a ride - give her something to look forward to."

Watching the progress on the monitor, he added, "I'm not sure what kind of firepower these Black Dragons are bringing, but I'll be surprised if we get off so easy this time."