Aleena and Josh headed to the pilot's lounge, where they found a few other pilots relaxing. As Aleena reached out with her natural friendliness to the others, the entire group came together and held a rather engaging and open conversation that lasted several hours. They shared jokes, discussed serious matters, and even some of their hopes and dreams. Although Josh didn't speak up much in the crowd, he felt that he came to know some of his fellow pilots better:
Aleena Rion, a very friendly human female from Toprawa who didn't rate her own piloting skills highly, but was proud of her history with the Antarian Rangers, but also sad at their demise. Tomibar, a Mon Calamari male who had joined the Alliance with many of his race when they rose up against the Empire. Fen Lo, a rather brash male human from Trantor who had once been a glitterstim smuggler, but had a drastic change of heart as his younger brother became addicted. There were also two pilots from Silhouette Squadron, Sullustan siblings. The brother, Bilr Temb, was not only a natural at piloting, but also at astronavigation, and loved to play practical jokes, while the sister, Mirl Temb, was more quiet, and enjoyed painting exquisite landscapes when she had time.
They continued to talk until the call for dinner appeared on their datapads, when they went their separate ways, perhaps to freshen up or take a break alone in the half hour that remained before the meal.
The lady whose ass Tavel pinched gave a little shriek and looked around, but couldn't identify her assailant, and after a brief pause, shrugged and went on her way.
Tavel did his best to look inconspicuous as he eavesdropped on the general and the other lady. "...the briefing room from 800 hours to 900 hours, and the starfighter simulators from 0900 hours to 1000 hours," the general was saying.
The lady replied casually, "Right, I've got this room from 9 to 10, and the sims from 10 to 11.
"Then it is agreed," came the reply. His voice was always serious.
"Oh by the way, Bethu, have you looked over your pilot sheets?"
"I have looked over the dossiers on my pilots, yes. Was there something of interest about them?"
Her voice became sassy, "Well I've been looking over my group and I think my guys are going to kick all of your asses!"
"Tammy, I'm glad you have confidence in your squadron's pilots even before even seeing them fly, but is this necessary?"
"Rut-roh! The General Chicken doesn't seem to have any confidence in his..."
By then, almost everyone else had left the room, so Tavel felt he could listen no longer without attracting suspicion from the conversing pair. He left and began to wander through the corridors of the ship, searching for something. After quite some time, he found what he was looking for while in one of the hallways leading to the port hangar bay: an unoccupied terminal, with no one else around. But as he approached the terminal, his datapad buzzed with the arrival of two new messages. The first was just a notice that dinner would be at the pilot's mess in half an hour. The other was was interesting, though:
"Lieutenant Darjin,
I noticed that your dossier includes considerable slicing experience. Although you are a member of Penumbra Squadron and not my computing crew, I would like to speak with you sometime, if it is convenient. I'll be in the Computer Labs for most of the evening, if you are free.
- Chief Comp Supervisor Jordan Gmesh"
Ios relaxed as the effects of the mild spice coursed through her body. Surprisingly, no one ever came in, despite the fact that most rooms in the pilots' quarters were designed for four pilots each. At some point in time she did hear footsteps nearby - but whoever it was entered the next room down. After a long time, she heard a beep on her datapad - dinner at the pilots' mess was in half an hour.
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Topic: Penumbra PBF - In Character (Read 5882 times)