Subject: [FFML] Re: [Robotech] FOX Squadron - Episode 11, The First Mission Part 1
From: "DB Sommer" <sommer@3rdm.net>
Date: 11/26/2003, 9:52 PM
To: "G.L. Sandborn" <sandborn@kc.rr.com>, "FFML" <ffml@anifics.com>



G.L. Sandborn



      After much wrestling with MS Word, I think I finally
found a way to convert to text.  (Gawd, I hate MS products.)
    Anyway, I'm trying something different.  I think some of
my problems with finding the energy to write has been that
I've tried to write sections that were too big.  I tended to lose
interest in the stories when each grew beyond 100 printed pages.

That can be a problem. I became dissuaded a touch when I kept envisioning
trying to finish large chapters when I first sat down (An impossible task
given the size) and lost some enthuseasm. Now I just try to focus on a
finishing a scene, and the task doesn't seem quite to big. Every time I want
to finish 'Things' I keep thinking of the overall story instead of single
chapters. I seem to be getting better about it, though.



     Jeff kissed his wife at the door, enduring one last
inspection, before heading to his office on the first floor.  He
planned on checking to make sure everyone was at their posts
before stopping down at the Mess Hall to see what sort of cooks
they had acquired.

At least one Swedish chef, I hope. Galley ain't right without at least one
Swede. :)

     "You make this?" he asked.
     "Yes, sir," Maggie replied with wide innocent eyes.  "Is it
okay?"
     "Very good.  Nice job."  He added a smile.

Maggie: I only spit in it a couple of times for flavor.

     Maggie giggled like a little girl, bouncing lightly on her
heels.  In that posture, she actually looked like a little girl.

'little girl 'twice seems redundent. Might want to ax the first or
something.

     Jeff leaned over to look into the Admin Office.  He could
see Cindy watching her prize pupil carefully.  He wasn't all that
keen on taking children for office staff in the first place but

place, but (I think)

having a fourteen year-old running his office left him feeling
particularly uncomfortable.  She belonged in a junior high school
somewhere doing homework and worrying about what boys liked her,

Maggie: Nah. I'm into girls, not guys.

not running the office of an RDF squadron commander.  Trying to
hide his apprehension, he turned again to his young secretary.
She looked like she needed some encouragement.
     "Well, I'm sure you'll do a good job.  Just listen to
Lieutenant Wallace and everything will work out."  He resisted
the impulse to pat the girl on her head.  "I'll be down in
Communications, then Operations, Maintenance, Intel, and finally
the Mess Hall if you need me."
     He could see the girl trying to remember it all, her cute
little face screwing itself into a worried series of contortions.
"That was... uh,...

don't think you need that comma

 speaking."
     Jeff smiled when she looked his way as if to check his
approval.  Megan wiggled happily in her chair and listened to the
caller.

'Maggie' I think you mean.

     Settling into his chair, he was only partially surprised to
see Cindy standing across from his desk.  Not only could she
apparently read minds, she was sneaky-quiet as well.

Mad ninja skilz, as well as mad typing skilz.

     "There's a transport on its way in, Sir.  VIP all the way.
We also received a Top Secret communiqu,

need an 'e' on the end, I think

     With a sigh, he pressed the clear button and watched the
little disk dissolve before closing the decoder.  All this
obviously had to do with the currently inbound transport and its
passenger but

passenger, but (I think)

     Jeff swiveled his chair around to look out towards the
tarmac.  Letting out a deep sigh, he stared at the Veritechs
lined up outside.  The orders he received this morning in the
top-secret message was

'were' (since it's refering to orders)

      "Last night's incident might just be a coincidence.  After
all, he doesn't control the GMP."
     "Yes, but does the GMP control him."

him?" (sounds like a question)

seen more than his share of alley fights, his nose slightly
flattened and bent.  Two dark eyes peeked out from under what
looked like a single bushy eyebrow.  When the man smiled,
numerous teeth were missing.  The ones that remained had an odd
green tint.

My, he is quite a... character.

      Katherine finally regarded Bobbi Jo with an ill expression.
"Money does not alter the level of disgust I feel when looking at
him."

Obviously not enough money is involved.

     Jeff cleared his throat in a manner that suggested he
thought the discussion had gone on long enough.

RIght, like two women would stop a pissing contest because a man grunted at
them to stop. :)

     "What ever

Whatever

     "There used to be only one.  Now there are two."
     Jeff heard Katherine gasp.  "Where did they get the second?"
     "From us," the Ambassador replied as if it were common
knowledge.
     "Forgive me for saying so but

so, but

have you people lost your
minds?  Do you have any idea how the Barony of York, not to
mention the United Confederate States will react when they find
out?"

Which is why they gave it to them, I'm certain. Throwing some gas on the
ground to cause a big fire when someone lights the match.

day."
     "Okay, so they have a little backlog down at the shrink-wrap
department?  Considering what little they have to do in the
Protectorate, I can't see how that is a problem,"

Actually, if they have little, that is the problem. They'll need more, and
simply taking it is the easiest recourse.

     For a moment, it appeared as if the Ambassador was willing
to relent.  Opening the folder she still held, she pulled out a
sheet of paper that Jeff could see bore an RDF letterhead.
     "I have already picked the pilots that will accompany me."
She dropped the sheet on Jeff's desk and picked up her valise.
"I expect these two pilots will be properly attired and ready to
leave within the hour," she snapped.

Heh. She was prepared.

     "There is no way I am leaving this squadron leaderless," he
growled.  "It is against all regulations for both the commanding
officer and his exec to fly the same mission."
     The Ambassador paused in the doorway and looked over her
shoulder.  "That has already been cleared, Colonel.  You and
Captain Fox will be on the flight line and ready to fly in one
hour."
     "Why us?" he demanded.

They're the best

squadron will be left leaderless."
     "Your concerns are noted.  However, I must point out that
you have no choice in the matter.  The orders come from higher
up."
     "How much higher?"
     "The top."
     "I smell Leonard."

I guess he hadn't bathed in a week either. :)

     Emerson chuckled.  "Probably.  That doesn't change your
orders."
     "Why us?  Can't you find two peacocks strutting about that
playpen you call a headquarters?"
     "Jeffrey, there's more going on here than just a peace
conference and

conference, and

     "A coup?  By whom?"  Jeff glanced at Bobbi Jo and saw her
eyebrows rise at his statement.
     "The religious leader of York took control with the help of
the York Army.  Brother John, or whatever he calls himself, has
declared he was ordained by some god to assume control of the
country.

I see. A fanatic. It's always a good idea to send them to their gods, since
they're so fond of sending others to their definition of hell.

     "All of which is interesting but it doesn't answer my
question.  Why us?"
     "The United Confederate States are sending a delegation as
interested neutrals.

Actually, the UCS would probably be uneasy about the coup as well. No one
likes bordering fanatics. They have  bad tendency to want to covert their
heathen neighbors, and kill those that don't convert.

     "We believe the former Captain Lee is now the commander of
their Veritech squadron.  I want to know if he's as good as he
used to be."

Emmerson: Kill him. If you're successful, we'll assume he wasn't up to
snuff.

     "That's not going to be easy, General.  At least, not
without fighting him."  Jeff remembered all the mock air combats
they flew against each other, testing their own limits as they
challenged the other.  They usually ended in a draw.

That would be odd. Mutual destruction is hard to manage. Might be better to
say they tended to split things one to one since they were so evenly
matched.

Watching her order about her two assistants only confirmed the
General's opinion of her and her abilities.  He shook his head
and turned away from the scene.
     Fanatical Yorkies, devious Grays, and militant Zentraedi.
This had all the makings of a disaster.

best to manipulate things so they eliminate each other, then.

Why do you ask?"
     "There appears to have been an incident last night in Osage
City and

City, and

     "By the way, I heard there was a bounty on Ona Parino?"
     "Really, Colonel, we don't put bounties on Zentraedi.

We just whack them.

 You
must be confusing us with the Yorkies."
     "Of course.  Sorry to have mentioned it," Jeff replied with
a wry smile.
     "No problem.  Good day, Colonel."
     Jeff hung up the phone and crossed his arms.  "Lying
bastard," he mumbled.  The fact Colonel Rossi knew of Ona Parino
AND that she was a Zentraedi confirmed everything he suspected
about the incident.

Maybe not. Mirya was a well known Zentraedi and her last name was Parino and
put two and two together. The captian could have assumed the information. On
the other hand, he might have been extraordinarily sloppy.

     Jeff frowned.  He knew what was causing her apprehension.
"You're a very capable flight leader who is going to do a fine
job commanding this squadron."
     Ona shook her head.  "No, sir.  I'm a Zentraedi.  Humans
won't follow a Zentraedi, sir."
     "Mine will.  They're trained to follow orders, Captain.  I
have every confidence they will obey your orders - Zentraedi or
not."
     When their eyes locked, he could see hints of genuine fear.
Why would she be so hesitant to take a command position?  She=s

stray equal

     With a sigh of relief, Jeff turned again towards the windows
that framed he

his

     "What a lousy way to start a tour of duty," he grumbled.
Shaking his head, he started for the locker room to pick up his
flight suit.

But it makes for fun reading.

Nice set up chapter. The meeting of the forces should be interesting. You've
whetted my appetite and I look forward to more.

DB Sommer





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