Do you have what it takes? [OPEN]

[fieldpromoted]

PT finished at 0700, and the pilots and new recruits got a half hour to cool off before they got into the cockpits of their assorted craft. In the two hours since 0500 they ran several miles, did push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups, and then a hundred jumping jacks to get the blood pumping. "You don't even want to think about how much force you put on your body when you're piloting," Trudy said at the start of the exercises. "Pilots need to be in peak condition to handle it."

Those who were used to doing the training five days out of the week would be out of breath but not exhausted. Anyone new, however, might have a little trouble getting their wind back.

"All right everyone, gather around. We have a few new recruits today, so we're not going to be running the Zokez scenario. I know you're all heartbroken." She kept a straight face, but that was a definite joke. She was sick of running the Zokez scenario. "We'll be doing some standard training exercises - maneuverability and gunning practice."

The track and exercise equipment melted away, and in its place the hangar of the Macross Quarter materialized with all its fighters and mobile suits. "Outside is a standard sim course. I'm going to have the recruits run it first to see how they handle and then the squadrons will go out as a unit. Recruits, let's put you in birds."

((OOC: This log is for anyone who signed up to fly a mobile suit, a VF or an X-wing and is not already in Starfighter Command. The flight sim is like something you'd see out of the training missions on Star Fox - fly through the rings, shoot the enemies, avoid the obstacles it throws at you like sheets of scrap and asteroids. EDIT: Subthreads for the squadrons are now up!))

Comments

[fieldpromoted]

"Think you can handle it?" Trudy asked. She was trying to get a feel for him - he seemed like he was similar to Zouichi; kind of stone faced but probably a good pilot. "The controls are fairly intuitive. The main difference between these babies and a standard snubfighter is this right here." She pointed out the control sequence for shifting between modes. It wasn't hard, mostly converting energy output from the engines to the transformation.

[death_adept]

The gaze of his bionic eyes lingered over the controls a moment longer before nodding as he looked back to Trudy, "It should not prove too difficult," he commented as he took the moment to slide into the cockpit, noting the control sequence, a sidelong glance given up to Trudy with but the hint of a smirk in the quirk of his lips "One way to find out, shall we?" Strapping himself in as he familiarizes himself with the controls before hitting button to close the canopy as he powered up the engines.

[fieldpromoted]

That was the sign of a good pilot - willing to jump feet first into an unknown craft and determined to learn it. They'd lucked out during this podpop and Trudy's spirits were lifting.

The training exercise was the same progression of difficulty that the others ran, scaling up from maneuverability exercises with no enemy craft to an overwhelming amount of Shrikes that would blast anyone out of the sky - eventually.

[death_adept]

Not long from the start Jalith had a reasonable feel for the crafts mobility, easily guiding the craft through each and every ring. Switching between modes on occasion to get a feel for both primary modes of the craft. His enhanced and honed reflexes giving him the ability to easily dodge all of the obstacles thrown his way.

Even as shrike after shrike was thrown at him the Vindicare weaved and dodged with the aid of his training along with his greatly enhanced reactions, weaving through veritable webs of shrike lance fire as he was forced to the defensive. In the end though of course, the lack of full familiarity of the craft and sheer number of attacks won out.

[fieldpromoted]

"Nice flying," Trudy said when he was teleported back to the hangar. "You have good reflexes - I'm glad to have you aboard. Welcome to Command, Ensign. You'll report to Captain Blanc in Skull Squadron from now on."

Skull was filling out, and Trudy was glad for it. More pilots in the VFs meant they could take better advantage of their unique capabilities.