Convention III-Yamato's practice flights

[childofrebellion]

They're on the edge of the city after hauling the ship in transport behind them. Now they're at a little used landing pad which one of Cassian's other connections told him about.

He sets up some lights as its late afternoon but night will be coming soon. The weather's clear and the city is a rosy glow on the horizon.

Comments

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Yeah, well, none of us gambled on Pan being a complete fucking moron," Yamato says. "But as far as making the best of an unexpected situation goes, I appreciate you making sure the ship actually functions well enough for the race."

[childofrebellion]

"I knew he wasn't the smartest of my informants just one who could get me into here. And maybe a few other places."

Cassian hates added complications and Pan's brought so many of them. "Its a good ship and I enjoy working on a ship that's new."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"It is pretty nice, I admit," Yamato says, glancing towards the ship. "Especially now that you've straightened out some of its design flaws."

Like the unexpected acceleration problem, for one.

[childofrebellion]

"Yes, the main design is strong which helps. Now let's see what else you can make it do."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"All right. You still going to be on comms?" Yamato asks, walking over to the ship and climbing up towards the cockpit.

[childofrebellion]

"Yes, I'll be watching your back." He heads that way as Yamato goes to the ship.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato nods, clambering into the cockpit and shutting it.

"Running the pre-flight checks now," he says. He doubts it's really necessary, but since they have plenty of time, they may as well go through the whole safety shebang. "Fuel levels and pressure are green, comms are green, navigation is working, gust locks are disengaged. Flaps, rudder, ailerons, and elevator are all operational."

[childofrebellion]

"Over, all clear on this end."

Cassian relays as he double checks everything on his end.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Taking off now, retracting the landing gear," Yamato says.

The landing gear pulls back in again, as the ship floats upwards a few feet, before turning and soaring off in an arc upwards.

[childofrebellion]

"Over, skies are open for you."

He watches Yamato take off as he checks the info from the ship.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Man, imagine if they weren't and I crashed directly into another ship," Yamato chuckles. "If that had happened, you would definitely have to tell everyone I died bravely in battle, fending off twenty men."

Cassian's a spy, Yamato bets he could sell a lie like that.

[childofrebellion]

"I'd uphold your honor."

Cassian says with an almost laugh, he's going to keep Yamato safe out there.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Don't be afraid to cry a little, too," Yamato says sternly. "Don't overdo it, but I think a few manful tears will really sell it."

[childofrebellion]

"I'll remember that. How's the handling feeling?"

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"It's okay for the moment, but I haven't accelerated to top speed yet," Yamato says. "I'll be burning the afterburners to accelerate in a moment, we'll see how it handles then -- but you said you'd fixed the stiffness, so I'm sure it'll handle just fine."

[childofrebellion]

"Then if you're ready, let's see how the speed goes."

That and the handling will tell a lot about how everything goes.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Increasing thrust to fifty percent, giving a short burn on the afterburners," Yamato says, accelerating some. This was around the point where he first noticed the stiffness, but it's handling noticeably smoother this time around. "Handling's holding up okay for the moment."

[childofrebellion]

"Over, don't be afraid to push it."

There won't be time for that during the race, it has to be ready.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I'm not afraid to push it," Yamato chuckles in return. "Not thirty minutes ago you were cautioning me against flying directly at the ground at well over top speed, remember?"

[childofrebellion]

"Yes but now I know where you're headed and its not straight down."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Not yet."

That part of this practice run will come eventually, but Yamato does at least intend to make that sharp turn a little earlier.

"Don't worry, I'll be more careful with the descent this time. Don't want to fry those old nerves of yours before the race."

[childofrebellion]

"I don't want you crashing but thanks."

His nerves are used to difficult times.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Yeah, yeah, I know, if I crash, then Pan gets killed and you lose a contact," Yamato replies wryly. "All right, I'm preparing to make the approach to the first obstacles section of this route."

[childofrebellion]

"Over," He expects Yamato to be faster through on this run.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato curves towards the route on his nav-computer, burning the thrusters to give him a boost to top speed, and soars into the first obstacles section, an industrial area not too dissimilar to the one on the race route.

He ducks around most of the obstacles easy enough, keeping his movements light to avoid losing any speed, dodging each by the minimum amount of space possible.