#Refueling Mission

[viraltiger]

A picture from the boom operator of me refueling on my 100th mission over Afghanistan - See more viral images on ViralTiger.org

[rah-hahner]

Refuelling after a tough mission

[foone]

you know what'd be a fun idea for a trek fanshow? Star Trek: Mission Logs. You just put a couple people in starfleet uniforms, and have them read off summaries of episodes in an increasingly incredulous tone. Like Drunk History: Star Trek Edition.

"so the captain says that while on the way to the inauguration ceremony, they diverted course to Vulcan as their first officer needed SO MUCH to fuck that he was a week from death, but then when they got there, he got stood up, and then fought the captain TO DEATH but he was ok?"

"so it turns out when they disappeared during the battle with the borg, they went back in time and found out that the first use of warp drive had been undone, so they had to personally help Cochrane rebuild his ship, and they were there for first contact!?"

I say "drunk history" because I imagine the people at the starfleet HQ have to drink heavily to handle the kind of reports they keep getting in from starfleet captains.

"So after a miserable first contact, the commander, doctor, first officer, and science officer disappeared, and their security officer found that the boardgame the barkeep was playing had pieces that represented them? and they were somehow mystically imprisoned inside the game!"

"so the captain says that they detected a ship trapped inside a black hole (!?) and when they tried to rescue the ship, they got damaged and then discovered they were that ship, trapped inside without realizing. Fortunately they found the crack in the event horizon and escaped." (the lieutenant then passes out after finishing the entire bottle of Bolian vodka)

"So while they were on a vital mission to locate the aliens who had blown up florida and were planning to destroy the entire planet, they found a... Cowboy Planet!?" Everyone yells "COWBOY PLANET!" and takes a shot.

"So while testing a weapons upgrade, a crewmember's case of flu was accidentally turned into an infectious de-evolutionary mutagen, causing the crewmember to turn into a spider, and the rest of the crew to undergo similar changes." "stop, stop, STOP! you made that one up, admit it!" "no, really! Their counselor turned into a frog." "ok, now I'm just not going to believe anything you say."

"so a former captain of the ship was visiting when they tried to rescue a ship flying directly into a supernova, but got 'pulled in'!? and ended up in a REVERSE TIME UNIVERSE? naturally, everyone quickly de-aged to children, and the elderly former captain had to take command" "Spelk, you're not even trying this time, that's not even remotely plausible"

"So it turns out that the terrorist who took over the paradise planet was the first officer's (half-)brother, and he uses his magic hypnosis to cause the crew to mutiny and join his mission to travel to the middle of the galaxy... and find god!?" "Did... did they find god?" "oh yeah! turns out he was evil. Don't worry, the first officer blew him up using a klingon warbird." "he blew up god?" "yeah!"

"So this is a little different, it's not a mission log... it's a repair log." "That doesn't sound like it'd be very weird..." "Oh, just you wait. So, they had to get refueled because all their dilithium had been stolen." "Stolen?" "Yes. By a man from AN ANTIMATTER DIMENSION" "So a man in an antimatter dimension discovered there were two dimensions, and his matter counterpart went insane and obsessed with killing the anti-matter version of him, but meeting outside the dimensional corridor would destroy both universes" "both... universes? So if the captain didn't stop these guys, everyone in our entire universe and some other one would be gone?" "YEP!" "did he stop them? well, I guess he did, since we're still here" "oh yeah. trapped 'em in the dimensional corridor forever." "so they're just out there in some weird in-between-the-universes place, just fighting, for all time? and that's the only reason we haven't blown up?" "YEP!" "and this all came out in the logs... because they put in for repairs?" "yeah. to replace the stolen dilithium" "are you sure the captain wasn't really into dabo or kotra and wagered the dilithium crystals on a "sure thing" that didn't pan out?"

"So this one is a report of some people (with pictures!) who don't exist." "They don't exist?" "Nope! never did. They weren't born." "So, we have pictures of them, because?" "Well, the ship crashed, and the stranded crew had kids... then they uncrashed." "uncrashed?" "yeah! so it turns out when they approached the planet, they got thrown a couple centuries back in time, and met their descendants. then when they tried to leave, the ship would crash, restarting the loop. but it didn't." "it didn't?" "yeah, one of the crew was secretly in love with another officer, but she wasn't going to survive the crash, so despite the crew attempting to recreate the crash to continue the existence of their past-future-descendants, he sabotaged the ship into not crashing" "wait, into not crashing? he did sabotage to make everything... work perfectly?" "yeah! they were trying to crash, remember? So they inadvertently didn't crash, undoing the existence of all of their descendants, so they never existed. But here's their pictures!"

"ooh, I found a really weird one! It's not a mission report, medical file, or even another repair log" "So what is it? Another weird artifact?" "no no no, I sent those off to the SCP division. This is a SPY REPORT! About a dead Romulan!" "So this report is on a spy saying that the Romulans had gotten access to some secret information about the then-upcoming Intrepid-class starships. Very minimal info, but this was found in a Romulan database when the ship was just undergoing initial design stages" "Here's the weird part: The database file with the information on the Intrepid was timestamped 2351, but Starfleet didn't even start initial design work on the Intrepid until 2364!" "So they used time travel? to get... basic information on one single starship class?" "Kinda? See, there's a P.S. on the spy file, added later when it was declassified. The leaked info in the Romulan database was discovered in 2371, but the file was updated in 2378, with an explanation." "and?" "Remember when the U.S.S. Voyager was lost?" "oh yeah, they turned out to have just been stuck on the other side of the galaxy, right?" "Yeah! And while they were there, they found a microscopic wormhole, and successfully used it to communicate back with the Romulans... but discovered it was a TIME WORMHOLE" "oh, so they were talking to the Romulans back in 2351?" "Yep! They figured that out and then decided not to transport through the wormhole, as they would have gotten home 20 years before they left, but they sent some messages back to be delivered later. They didn't come through" "why not?" "well... turns out the romulan guy (Telek R'Mor) died before Voyager ever launched, so he never got a chance to deliver the messages. but he DID inform the Tal Shiar about some design elements of the Intrepid class, years before it was launched" "that must have confused them" "yes... the report is basically just two spy agencies completely confused about what to do about the intelligence they had, and confused about why they had it"

"ok ok ok, enough artifacts, mission logs, spy reports, medical reports, repair logs, how about a really weird one: A SENSOR REPORT!" "why is that one weird?" "well, look at the timestamp. Both of them." "so one timestamp is 2372, and the other is... negative 16 billion?" "yep! This one is a scan of the big bang. And slightly before it." "... before?" "Yeah! They did a scan, and then THE BIG BANG HAPPENED, and then fortunately they got out of there before the universe fully existed, as that would exceed the ship's safety tolerances" "so... why were they at the big bang?" "well... you know the farpoint encounter, and that godly being the USS Enterprise ran into?" "oh god (uh, no pun intended)... but yeah, vaguely" "WELL it turns out there was another one of those godly beings who was suicidal and imprisoned in a comet, and-" "wait wait wait. there was a god trapped in a comet?" "yes. apparently they're infinitely powerful but weak to comets. ANYWAY. he was suicidal and trying to hide" "hide? WHAT DOES A GOD HAVE TO HIDE FROM?" "well he was hiding from the other god! the one at farpoint! that one was the one who imprisoned him. because he was suicidal." "so the god was in the comet, and the other god put him there, and someone let him out? and then he hid?" "yes! and where does a god hide?" "at the big bang?" "slightly before, but yes! and he took the ship along with him, so that's how they were able to scan the big bang. because of getting involved in a weird game of hide-and-seek between a suicidal god and a jailer-god" "so what happened? how did they get out of the whole god-war thing?" "well... usual stuff. they put the god on trial to see if he could be allowed to die, but compromised on making him human and a crew member" "so they had a former god on their crew?" "briefly. then he died." "he died? after settling for human?" "yeah, it turned out the jailer-god changed his mind and decided to rebel against god-society and started by giving the former-god some deadly poison to let him finally die, like he wanted" "well, at least that seems to have ended... well?"

"oh no, there's a follow up! see, it seems the dead god thing lead to a god-civil-war and it seems that caused a bunch of supernovae in 2373." "wait... supernovae? plural? like, outshined-the-entire-galaxy SUPERNOVAE? that must have killed billions, or trillions!" "yep! it was a massive disaster and caused a real crisis in astronomy because we had no idea why it was happening, but it suddenly stopped, thankfully. But yes, it was started because the crew accidentally freed a suicidal god from a comet." "oh god..." "literally!"

"don't worry, though... that's not the weird bit" "HOW IS THAT NOT THE WEIRD BIT?" "OK I PROMISE I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP... but after the first supernovae of the 2373 Calamity, it turns out the captain (of the ship that killed the god) discovered another god... in her bed" "her... bed?" "Yeah! it turns out the other god wanted to have a child. with her." "... that's weird but what does this have to do with the supernovae?" "he wanted to end the war, and figured the best way to do it was to get her pregnant with a god-baby"

"NOPE! That's it! I'm out. that's not real. you're making it up. We don't live in a universe where one captain caused death across the universe by sparking a god-war and then only ending it by having a baby with a god. I'm out. I have a Warp Dynamics test to study for anyway."

"wait! wait! I didn't even tell you about the time she turned into a lizard and had babies with her pilot" "NO! I DON'T CARE HOW MANY WEIRD THINGS YOU MAKE UP, THERE ARE NO LIZARD BABIES"

"no, I swear, it really happened! Look, they went infinitely fast and occupied every point in the universe!" "THAT'S NOT HOW SPEED WORKS" "it is! and it turns out going everywhere at once infinitely fast turns you into a lizard!" "*sigh* Are there any reports on unhearing that?"

I imagine they sometimes decide to go HARD MODE on the report readings, where they have to put aside all the ones with "Voyager" on them. They're just too easy.

"So I've got two reports here, and I want you to pick between them. One is the second weirdest transporter visitor log, and the other is a report on why a science officer is 30 years old... except his head, which is 495 years old!" "I'm going to cut you off there, because I know your tricks: those are both the same incident." "Yep! You got me. Am I really that predictable?" "You are. Also, second weirdest transporter visitor log? You phrased that very specifically..." "I wanted to rule out all the transporter accidents and strange misuses of the transporter, and focus solely on WHO was transported. This was the second weirdest person." "I'm not going to take the obvious bait and ask who it was... but I will ask: who is the weirdest?" "Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln. President of the United States, a predecessor to the unified Earth government... he died in 1865." "WHY WAS HE TRANSPORTED? Who was time traveling back to the 1860s? and if they were in the 1860s, why were they beaming up Presidents?" "HARDMODE: No time travel! He was transported out of open space in 2269, because he had been recreated by the local mineral beings on their lava-planet" "why... why did the lava aliens recreate a 19th century Earth president?" "To study GOOD AND EVIL!" "Like you do, I guess?" "Yeah... anyway, the recreated Lincoln got killed by a spear, thrown by either Genghis Khan or Kahless the Unforgettable" "THE FOUNDER OF THE KLINGON EMPIRE?" "Yeah! he got recreated too. And teamed up with Genghis." "No. no no no no no you made this up" "It's real! Check it out, there's a message here to the diplomatic department, asking for the proper protocol to accept a 19th century US president abort a quasi-military vessel. And there's a video clip! Hit play on that..."

"Man, video quality was terrible back in 2269" "Yeah, they were using analog tapes back then. Don't ask why. Retrotechnology studies are so complicated even without timetravel messing everything up. So yeah, apparently the answer is 'dress uniforms, security guys, whistle'" "oh yeah. You can't welcome a 19th century Earth president on board without a whistle. Where's your sense of ceremony!?"

"So I really have to go, my Intermediate Klingoneese class starts in like 5 minutes, but just tell me one thing: Who was the 2nd weirdest transporter visitor on the logs?" "Oh! Samuel Clemens." "Who?" "Mark Twain! Earth author, wrote Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn?" "What? How?" "Yeah, a crew found a time portal that went back to 1893, while trying to figure out why the head of one of their crewmembers was in a cave on earth, and accidentally sent him forward to 2368, and beamed him aboard." "Did they wipe his memory afterwards or something?" "NOPE!" "So the 19th century Earth author Mark Twain, who I'm now remembering wrote a novel about time travel, didn't he?" "yep!" "So he wrote about time travel and HAD PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH IT?" "Yeah! thanks to snake aliens, eating humans in the past"

"Yeah I'm gonna go ask my teacher how they say 'You deserve to die for your lies' on Qo'noS" "I think it's... Hegh nep qotlh SoH? maybe 'urmang instead of nep?" "I'M OUT, petaQ!"

(a transcript of a twitter thread I made from back in July 2020)

[uselessmicrowave]

Hello,can you do a tfp optimus prime x fem(adult) reader that knows how optimus is starving himself due to the shortage on the energon supply in order for the rest of the team to refuel properly and whenever he is in holoform she always stuffs him with food (mostly home cooked meals and desserts ).She is studying physics and works a lot like optimus so in order to spend more time together she invites him over her house to do work together(she studies while sitting on her bed and in the winter she turns on her electric blanket to make her work space warm and cozy).Just the two of them sitting under a warm blanket and doing work together,but once they are over discussing a bit or sitting at her balcony.The reader provides a safe space for optimus to express his worries and gives comforting hugs,treats and a massage if a mission was too rough on him.

A quiet ‘klink’ sound breaks Optimus’ thoughts. He opens his optics- no, eyes, to look. Bright blue irises scan the plate in front of him, admiring the treat you’d set on the table.

“Oh, no Y/n, I can’t-”

“I won’t eat it, and I’m not puttin’ it in the fridge.” You gently smile, pushing a fork towards Optimus. He’s afraid if he eats at all, it won’t stay in him for long. The prime takes the fork from the table with a shaky hand, silently hoping that the tremors would magically stop.

“Tell me if you want anything else, love.” You get up to clean the workspace you had used, wiping away whatever mess you had made along with your treat.

With you not watching him anymore, Optimus finds that it’s easier to lift a bite up to his face.

It’s very sweet, nothing like they would have at the base. The taste reminds him of something from home, Cybertron, but he can’t quite remember what.

He comes back to reality, you’re prattling enthusiastically about the recipe and the steps to make the food. Before you can turn around and ask him how it is, Optimus hesitantly asks for another slice. You smile while taking his now empty plate.

Optimus would have to leave Ratchet in charge more often, especially if every visit to you is this relaxing.

[in1-nutshell]

AND ANOTHER THING ABOUT ELITA'S TWIN! I need the reunion with Sentinal and Elita.

The long awaited reunion has finally been written!

The last writing for Buddy was nice and sweet... get ready, no one is spared for what's about to come...

Hope you enjoy!

Elita One's twin sister with the personality of SG! Blackarachnia reuniting with Sentinel and Elita

SFW, Angst, Platonic, Familial, Cybertronian (techno organic) reader

TFA

Buddy had been looking at the main screens for any docks with extra steel beams, the injury rates had been going up with the recent arrival of the Elite Guard.

They had been on edge since she heard about the Guard landing on Earth’s soil. Even refusing to leave the base, constantly working on menial tasks to keep her occupied.

Buddy hunched over her work area trying to fix some chips that had gotten fried.

Blitzwing walks in.

“You are still here? How are you even functional? Its been how long since you’ve gotten out of here?”--Blitzwing

“Hmm.”--Buddy

“You should go outside before you start rusting here.”--Blitzwing

“Hmm.”--Buddy

“Why you—”--Blitzwing

“The sparklers aren’t working correctly.”--Buddy

“What?”--Blitzwing

“The transfuser need to be tweaked.”--Buddy

“Are you even listening—”--Blitzwing

“Tweak to the left… tweak to the right…”--Buddy

Blitzwing leaves the med bay and returns with Lugnut.

“Your turn.”--Blitzwing

Lugnut comes closer to Buddy and taps her shoulder.

“Buddy.”--Lugnut

“If I can just get the cells to work correctly…”--Buddy

“Blitzwing hit his helm against my servo.”--Lugnut

“Then I can finally get the thing…”--Buddy

“I threw an Autobot off the roof.”--Lugnut

Buddy using a mini blow torch on the chips.

Lugnut turning back to Blitzwing shrugging.

Starscream comes into the med bay after hearing the entire thing from behind the door.

“Step aside, watch how a master works this.”--Starscream

Starscream moves to Buddy.

Starscream grabs on of Buddy’s servos.

“As your Second in Command, I am ordering you to—”--Starscream

“I think I melded this one the other way.”--Buddy

“What—”--Starscream

Buddy slipping her servo out of Starscreams hold and continues moving and working.

“DID YOU NOT HEAR—”--Starscream

“If I put the cells here… maybe it’ll work and function with the transfusers…”--Buddy

Starscream looking back at Blitzwing and Lugnut.

“Did she just completely ignore me?!”--Starscream

“I know an impossible feat.”--Blitzwing

“… I’ll let that one sly.”--Starscream

“I have an idea!”--Lugnut

“Oh, please Lugnut. That slow moving processor couldn’t even—now he’s gone…”--Starscream

Lugnut going out of the room, soon returning with Megatron.

“Why am I here Lugnut?”--Megatron

“Buddy hasn’t left the med bay.”--Lugnut

“And?”--Megatron

“It’s been approximately 1 earth week. I haven’t seen her refuel too much.”--Blitzwing

“She’s too busy working on those chips to even acknowledge us.”--Starscream

Megatron walking over to Buddy’s work area before picking up Buddy with one servo and tossing her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Megatron! Put me down! I must continue working!”—Buddy

“Those chips are not going to disappear if you leave for a couple of minutes.”—Megatron

“But—“—Buddy

Megatron ignoring Buddy as he makes his way to the fueling station.

“…Why didn’t we think about doing that?”--Blitzwing

“…I don’t know…”--Starscream

The Prime did try and reach Buddy, but she was very short with her responses, mainly afraid that the Elite Guard would pick up on the signal.

She did make one point clear.

Not to tell any of the Guard that she was alive.

The last thing Buddy needed was to be on the Guards number one bot of interest.

Finally, after a bit of searching she found a dock with extra steel beams laying around.

Most of the Cons were out on missions, even Megatron was out for the moment, she opted instead to leave a note saying that she was out on another steel run.

Now at the docks, she found the neat pile of steel beams.

As she reached for them, she paused.

“These look too perfect… either Ernie from docking works is working more on presentation… or…”--Buddy

Buddy takes a couple steps back from the beams.

“…It’s a trap…”--Buddy

“AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! HELP! HELP PLEASE!”

Buddy jumping at the screams but immediately goes towards the noise.

“Hello? Hello, is there anyone there?”--Buddy

“HELP!”

“I’m coming! Can you—”--Buddy

CRASH!

When Buddy turned the corner, she was caught in an electrical pulse net. She tried to get rid of the net, but it started electrifying her.

She screamed in pain, falling to the ground.

In her hazy vision, she saw a pair of pedes walking over to her and placed stasis cuffs on her, immobilizing her.

Another pair of smaller pedes came and placed something on her faceplate.

Then she blacked out.

When Buddy woke up the first thing, she saw was bright white walls.

Her neck was too stiff and upright.

And it was too bright…

Snapping her optics open she saw that she was in stasis cuffs, frozen in place, with a mouthpiece preventing her from talking.

She looked around, it looked like she was in a cell and there was thick glass separating her from the outside. The cells design looked extremely familiar… as if she had seen it before…

The sound of opening doors alerted her and looked at two shadows coming towards her.

She swore her spark stopped for a second when the figures came into full view.

In front of Buddy was Sentinel and Elita.

Buddy wanted to cry so badly seeing her twin and one of her friends.

Sentinel looked like her hadn’t changed much considering a brighter paintjob than the one in the Academy, maybe a new brand he was trying out. His infamous shield strapped to his back.

Elita looked exhausted but a bit chipper than Sentinel. Her frame had slightly more kibble than the last time she had seen her. Elita looked like she had opted to take up a staff as her weapon.

They were so close… yet so far…

She couldn’t hear anything what they were saying, must have been soundproof glass. But whatever they were talking about, Buddy had a bad thing they were talking about her.

She saw the doors open again.

In walked in Optimus Prime.

Optimus spotted Buddy and immediately went over to the glass placing his servo on it.

Buddy saw the fear in his optics seeing her in there.

Why would he be so scared of that… the Autbots wouldn’t subjugate torture as an interrogation tactic if that was what he was worried about.

But… what if the protocols had changed?

Surely, Ultra Magnus wouldn’t…

Right?

Optimus turned to Sentinel and Elita with a furious look on his face.

Buddy hadn’t seen that look before.

Sure, the Prime got angry, she had seen it before, but this time it was different.

He and Sentinel began arguing, or what looked like arguing.

Sentinel’s face went from confused to shock to furious.

Elita’s just went fully in shock slowly moving her helm to Buddy.

Optimus couldn’t be talking about…

No, he wouldn’t after…

A few more Autobots came into the room, but right now Buddy couldn’t care less about that.

Buddy wanted to get out of here.

She needed to get out of here.

Then it hit her.

She could still move some of her digits and extra appendages.

Granted it was a little bit, but it was still something.

Maybe it was because she wasn’t entirely Cybertronain anymore.

Abruptly all the bots started going outside of the room.

Elita giving her one slight glance before turning off the lights.

Silence filled the room.

It was time to put her plan into action.

Carefully wiggling her sharp digits into the cracks, Buddy twisted around until she heard a satisfying crack.

The cuffs slid off her aching wrist as she took off the face mask.

Thankfully the cell systems of the ship were still like the ones she used to work with back in her days at the Academy.

Slowly crawling through the vents, she managed to find a loose plating of the ship heading outside.

With a swift kick she was met with the starry night.

“It’s night?!”--Buddy

Buddy carefully scaled down the ship and softly landing on the ground.

“I’m so going to be put on base arrest for the next solar cycle if I keep this up… and I didn’t even get the beams! No, no, focus on the priorities!”--Buddy

Buddy wrapping up her webs in her servos.

“First get out of the base. Check. Second clean up any evidence and tracking devices. Check. Third thing escape. Almost check—”--Buddy

“Freeze Con!”--Elita

Buddy felt someone fall on her back, tackling her to the floor.

She quickly got up to see Elita armed with a staff.

Oh no…

Buddy wanted to talk but was met with Sentinel and Optimus racing towards them.

The group had finally been reunited, whether they knew it or not.

Buddy realized that she didn’t have any weapons on her.

She didn’t want to resort to using her powers, especially knowing how they reacted to other Cybertronains.

She swore that she would use them as a last resort.

Everyone was at a standstill.

Then Elita charged.

Buddy did her best to dodge and avoid every blow.

Granted Elita did land some but otherwise Buddy was able to dodge the rest.

Buddy managed to get a hold of Elita’s staff.

Elita leaped forward with her servos wide open.

Buddy used the staff to block any contact Elita tried to get on her. Elita was trying to use her power on her. There was no telling what would happen to her.

Suddenly something slammed into her helm causing her to drop the staff and fall to the ground.

Elita grabbed the staff and stood on top of Buddy with the tip inches away from her pipes.

Buddy saw from her side that Optimus was trying to get to her, but Sentinel was somehow managing to keep him at bay shouting something.

Elita One raising her staff over Buddy’s helm.

“ELITA WAIT!”--Optimus

“LITA!”--Buddy

The staff stopping inches from Buddy’s helm.

Elita looking down on her with wide optics.

Sentinel and Optimus have stopped fighting to see the scene.

Buddy quickly rolls from underneath Elita giving them both enough space.

“How—how do you know that?”--Elita

“…I’d be a pretty crummy twin if I didn’t want to annoy you from time to time, huh?”--Buddy

“What?”--Elita

“And Sentinel! Next time give a bot a warning before you throw the giant frisbee to someone’s helm.”--Buddy

Optimus walks forward but gets held back by Sentinel.

“I’m not going to ask again. How did you know that name.”--Elita

“…You know I didn’t think that me being gone for so long would make you less smart Lita—”--Buddy

“Don’t call me that! Who are you!”--ELita

“It’s me! Buddy!”--Buddy

“No you aren’t!”--Elita

“Elita listen to her! That is Buddy—”--Optimus

“Shut it Optimus! You honestly think that this disgusting looking Con is Buddy? This is just some Con trick!”--Sentinel

“Sentinel—”--Optimus

“I’m not hearing it!”--Sentinel

“Please! Elita, you know it’s me! Yeah I look a little bit different but I’m still the same Buddy you grew up with”--Buddy

Buddy moves slowly to take Elita’s servo.

Elita immediately retracts her servo as soon as they touch backing up.

“You’re not my twin sister.”--Elita

“Elita, please—”--Buddy

“She was gone on Archna 7.”--Elita

“Elita—”--Buddy

“She was an honorable Autobot who was too selfless for her own good!”--Elita

“Lita—”--Buddy

“STOP CALLING ME THAT YOU DECEPTICON FREAK!”--Elita

“…what…”--Buddy

It dawned on Buddy like a cold shower.

Elita feared her.

Sentinel feared her.

They both saw her as a monster.

A freak.

The enemy.

Optimus pushing pass Sentinel and Elita and standing in front of Buddy’s slightly trembling form.

“Optimus—”--Sentinel

“I think you two have done enough.”--Optimus

“Optimus you of all bots can’t believe this. We knew Buddy better than anyone!”--Elita

Optimus placing a servo on Buddy’s shoulder.

Buddy looking down with unshed tears building up.

“Bud—”--Optimus

“Optimus!”--Elita

“…I—I need to get out of here Prime…”--Buddy

“What? No, Buddy we can work this out—”--Optimus

“Prime. Not now… please just let me go.”--Buddy

Buddy sees a dark shadow coming from behind Optimus.

“Optimus look out!”--Buddy

Buddy pushes Optimus out of the way and instinctively uses her powers on the figure, bringing them down.

Sentinel with the stasis cuffs in his servos fell to the ground.

“Sentinel! Optimus!”--Elita

Elita rushed to Sentinel and Optimus’s side standing protectively over the two of them.

“GET AWAY FROM THEM! GO BACK TO THE PITS WHERE YOU BELONG MONSTER!”--Elita

Buddy staggers back looking at the scene before her.

Optimus and Sentinel slowly waking up from the harsh toss to the ground and power drainage.

“I…I…”--Buddy

Buddy sprints away from the scene.

She ran and ran for once not caring to watch her steps.

Buddy needed to go somewhere, anywhere but there.

The thoughts of going back to the Decepticon base where immediately shot down. She didn’t want to explain this whole story to her team.

She couldn’t tell Megatron about what happened.

Eventually Buddy would return to base, but right now, she needed a place to calm down, let out some steam, and cry without judgement.

Lucky for Buddy, there was one place she could think of.

Carefully, she crawled into one of the empty cargo bins on a ship that was setting sail.

When the time came, Buddy came out of the cargo bin without disturbing the other bins and went to the edge.

A minute later the shoreline of the island came into view.

Good thing that the boat always came close to the shoreline, it was perfect for jumping distance.

Wadding in the water, Buddy made her way to the shore.

She continued through the greenery following the familiar pathway she had walked multiple times before.

The rush from the events was slowly draining away as her steps became more and more sluggish; her vision becoming more and more watery, tears sliding down her faceplate, she could feel her servos and frame start to shake.

Buddy came to a clearing and fell to her knees venting hard trying to stifle everything.

In a split second, she didn’t care who or what heard her.

She screamed.

Buddy didn’t remember for how long she screamed, but her voice box was starting to glitch from the excessive use.

Buddy trembling on the ground finally done with the screaming match.

“W-why…w-why?”--Buddy

Heavy steps are heard coming closer to Buddy, but she is too exhausted to even look up.

“Buddy-bot?”

Buddy looking up a bit.

“Hey Grimlock. Long time no see.”--Buddy

[nocternalrandomness]

HC-130P refueling an HH-53B during a search and rescue mission over North Vietnam - July 1969

[padawansuggest]

Obi-Wan: *looks around in curiosity for a moment, nods happily and starts joining a small crew running maintenance on a drop ship*

Cody: *fast walking into the hanger bay with a frown* General, what are you doing?

Obi-Wan: Nothing, nothing, I’m just helping out with maintenance.

Cody: Oh my god, you are not! Next thing you know you’ll be refueling!

Obi-Wan: Yeah, I already did that part. All fueled up for the next mission.

Cody: *putting an arm behind his back and ushering him out of the room* Absolutely not, not on my watch, not while I’m alive.

Obi-Wan: *giggling cause he knows exactly what he’s doing* What? I’m just helping? I can’t be a passenger princess /all/ the time.

Cody: You can and you are!

Obi-Wan: *laughing louder when Cody suddenly starts physically moving him out of the room* Cody, why are you picking me up? I’m just trying to help?

Cody: You can help lower my blood pressure by being a good Jedi and resting up!

Obi-Wan: But good Jedi help out!

Cody: Not while I’m around. You’re grounded. I’ll never yell at you again because you’re too good and won’t make this mistake again. *kisses him on the forehead*

[kivaember]

Replaying AC6 for the 10th billion time but I finally realised why the PCA mechs in Historic Data Retrieval mission are all armed with flamethrowers when NO OTHER PCA unit anywhere else ever uses them... and it's because it's in the Egrebert tunnel, where a Coral surge had happened.

They're not there expecting a fight, they're off doing their own thing, and patches of the map are burning. So, it's likely the PCA were actually burning the Coral off after a surge happened to prevent it from forming a new dense colony or something.

It's a pretty neat detail, and on a replay it's a nice little foreshadowing nod as to what the Fires of Ibis were and what Walter may have planned.

Additionally, in the Attack The Refuelling Base mission, a few of the PCA MTs were armed with stun guns - which makes sense because you're attacking them literally right after they've claimed the refuelling base from Balam. They weren't killing every single Corp mech there, they wanted to capture and interrogate a few too! Hence: some of the MTs were armed with stun guns - and they were located near the grounded helicopters too!

Ahh, it's so cool when you notice things...

[alex99achapterthree]

Phantom Friday... passes gas.

Mid-air refueling is critical for Naval aviation. It allows aircraft to take off with a full weapons load and top off fuel on the way to the target, and also allows for much longer missions.

Navy aircraft use the "hose and drogue" system. The tanker unreels a hose on the end of which is a basket that looks like a giant badminton birdie. The customer aircraft flies up to the basket and inserts a probe mounted on the aircraft...

...to get his fuel.

There were dedicated tanker aircraft like the KA-3 and KA-6...

... and also the "buddy store" pod (a pod with some fuel and a hose reel) that would allow any aircraft to be a tanker, like the little A-4...

... and even a Phantom.

It's a hard skill to learn. The basket on the hose might be dancing around in turbulence and even be pushed around by the slipstream of the receiving aircraft. Doing it at night makes it even harder. A whipping hose and basket can pose a danger to the potential customer, and sometimes bad things happen.

Lt Kueland was quick to remind the rest of the squadron in the ready room that Navy aircraft didn't have flight controls in the rear cockpit, so this wasn't his fault.

(If you suspect that I made this entire post just to use that last image and tell that feeble joke, I suspect you may be right.)

[i-ate-a-crayon-lol]

I rarely draw my OCs. So here's one. Inspired by this vid.

Bio: Early models of streetcleaners had color vision. Unlike the next models, which are only capable of distinguishing grayscale. (Eyes on chest lol)

One day, during a clearing mission, HL-0009 ran out of ammunition. Nearby there was a warehouse with household goods and chemicals. There was nothing suitable for flamethrower fuel. Nothing but alcohol. While refueling, it accidentally spills triethyl borate into the tank. There was no time to refill. Believing that nothing terrible will happen, the streetcleaner returns to battle. The alcohol flame didn't do much damage. But it was green! Alluring and beautiful. The new generation of robots would not have been able to see how enchanting this flame was. But HL-0009 saw this. It was fascinated by it. It fell in love with the colors. It wanted more.

(HL-0009 does very little fire damage. So it fights with the butt of a flamethrower/its bare hands or forces team members to come to rescue it. Saving its ass often gets the team into trouble)

[mikhailwrites]

Soaring Ever Higher 2 - Ghoap/Ace Combat 7 crossover

Previous chapter | This Chapter on AO3 | Next chapter

Ghost met John "Trigger" MacTavish and after the pilot saved his life - at cost of disobeying a direct order - asked him out for a drink. However, Trigger stood him up...

John is on his way to change from his flight suit to something considerably nicer. Well, maybe not all that much nicer since he wasn’t exactly planning on going out during this deployment, let alone going out with someone. Still, a tan tee and black cargo trousers could be considered an improvement.

Just as he’s nearing the door to his room, someone is standing in front of them, hand raised to knock. Trigger makes another two steps before he pauses. He’d recognise the unruly mop of dirty-blonde hair anywhere. “Count?” he calls out his wingman, who turns around quickly.

“Ah, there you are! Come on, the boss needs you,” Count gestures. Trigger stops. No way. Do they really have to do this right now?

“Can’t he wait at least till tomorrow? He can chew me out then,” John shrugs, resuming his walk towards his room.

However, Count shakes his head. “It’s not about your stunt today, I think. There’s another mission, an urgent one,” he explains. “So, come on. It’s not like you have somewhere better to be.”

He does, actually, but doesn’t say it out loud. If Count knew about his plans, Trigger wouldn’t hear the end of it. “Aye, okay, lead the way.”

True to Count’s words, Long Caster is already in the briefing room, going over maps and documents. The moment Trigger and his wingman come through the door, their commanding officer looks up, eyes locking on John.

“Good thing you haven’t changed yet. You’re about to go out again. The station personnel is refuelling your aircraft as we speak.”

“What’s so damn urgent then?” Trigger barely hides his displeasure as he walks around to the table and looks at the mission intel.

Long Caster also turns to the table and pulls out a topographic map of the nearby mountain range. “We need you to do a recon sweep.”

John gives him a long, hard look as if to ascertain if he’s serious or not. “Excuse me? A recon sweep? Don’t we have drones for that?”

“We do. That, and insubordinate, obstinate SoBs that treat commands as if they were mere suggestions. Get ready. You leave in ten,” Long Caster nods at the fellow pilot. When Trigger doesn’t move an inch, he adds: “Dismissed, Lieutenant.”

“Yes, sir,” Trigger grunts and leaves.

Count looks at the back of his friend and wingman before he turns to Long Caster. “With all due respect, sir, was that really necessary?”

“I don’t need you questioning my orders, Count. However, if you insist, I’m sure we can arrange some rewarding mission for you as well,” his superior cocks an eyebrow in obvious challenge.

“I think I’ll pass. Permission to leave?”

“As far as I’m concerned, you were never here,” Long Caster nods to the still-open door and Count excuses himself.

The flight path is long and utterly boring. Trigger has to fly low and slow for the radar and lidar to catch everything he needs. He’s bored. His jet is bored, too. It’s just a sea of green, stretching in all directions, and, even worse, the sky is still overcast, so it’s just the green below and dull grey above.

He returns after the nightfall. Taking off the helmet, the sweat-drenched mohawk sticks to his head. Trigger only exchanges a few pleasantries with the staff and engineers before retreating to his quarters to shower.

Only then, under the spray of lukewarm water to cool himself down, does he remember he was supposed to meet with Ghost and practically stood the man up. Great way to fuck up a promising start they had. John shortly debates if he should go to Ghost’s quarters and explain to him what happened.

No. It sounds like bullshit, and he’s way too beat to go anywhere, anyway. Even more so since the Strider squadron’s mission has been completed, and they will be returning to their home base tomorrow. Another long, boring flight. At least he will have his mates to chat with.

#

Ghost finds Laswell first thing in the morning. He’s not angry, and he’s willing to give Trigger the benefit of the doubt. Ghost knows better than most how quickly downtime can turn into active duty, especially for top operatives such as himself or Trigger.

Laswell is fully immersed in the display of her laptop. Ghost knocks on the open door and is given a lifted index finger – a universal symbol to wait, and that’s what he does. Full five minutes, actually. Only then does Laswell click a few times and finally nods at Ghost to come in. “What can I do for you, Lieutenant?”

“Do you know where Trigger is?” Ghost’s voice is steady, as is the rest of him. To anyone else, it wouldn’t sound any different than asking what’s for lunch, but not to Laswell since it’s her job to notice even the most subtle changes and details. She’s also damn good at her job.

“Yesterday, Flight Lieutenant was needed elsewhere, in a rather urgent manner, I’m afraid,” she confirms Ghost’s unvoiced theory, “as of this morning, Strider squadron’s mission has concluded, and they returned to their home base”. By mentioning Trigger’s rank, she also lets Ghost know that MacTavish actually outranks him. Interesting, if not exactly surprising. It’s good that John didn’t intend to leave him hanging. However, Trigger is now, quite literally, in the wind. Who knows how long before they run into each other again? Ghost tries to convince himself that he mostly minds the debt; he’s promised John a drink. “I could get you his phone number if you want.”

“No need,” Ghost declines her offer and pointedly ignores the knowing look on her face. Laswell doesn’t need to know everything, let alone the degree of interest Ghost has in MacTavish.

Ghost walks out, stopping on the tarmac and looking up. There’s the vast expanse of clear blue sky. If he’s honest, he never paid too much attention to it. His fight is and has always been on the ground. Now, he can’t help but wonder: how does being up there feel? There is no ground to support you, no cover to help you, no nothing, just you, the mission, and almost endless space. There’s something freeing in the thought but, at the same time, anxiety-inducing. No, Ghost is very much ground-animal, thank you very much.

If he gets to talk to MacTavish again, he will ask him what he sees in the blue. What does he feel when the jet leaves the ground? What is he thinking about, up there, among birds and clouds? And what’s with those three strikes on the tail? With a newfound resolve, he changes the initial if to when. When he gets to talk to MacTavish again.

[roosterforme]

Is It Working For You? Part 15 | Rooster x Reader

Just in case you need to start at the beginning or visit an earlier chapter, check out my Masterlist!

Summary: As the mission you've been training for is about to begin, you let Bradley know how you feel.

Warnings: 18+ only, smut, angst, fluff, some swears, adult banter

Length: 2800 words

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader

Your seat in the Comanche transport was somehow even more uncomfortable than you had anticipated. You were smashed in between Cam and Admiral Simpson, both of whom had managed to fall asleep within minutes of takeoff. You'd only been in the air for an hour, and you were already pleading with your bladder not to let you down.

You knew Bradley, Phoenix and the others had taken off in their Super Hornets just after you had. This mission was so short and specialized, they needed to have you all hop aboard the carrier and then leave again, assuming everything went to plan. You promised your parents you would text them when you landed in Hawaii, just to check in quickly before turning your phone off completely. 

And now you were thinking about Bradley's Hawaiian shirts. And his face and his smile. And how great his face, smile and Hawaiian shirts would look on a beach in Hawaii. You briefly wondered if he'd ever been there for fun. Maybe you and he could take a vacation there someday. You were drifting off into a daze, thinking about all of the things he'd told you last night. Being together, missing each other... it had actually all sounded pretty ideal to you too. 

Maria, who was sitting across from you, was waving her hand to get your attention. She wiggled her eyebrows, winked and then shrugged. You took that to mean, How was last night?

You sighed and grinned, and then tilted your head and shrugged. She looked a little alarmed and mouthed to you, What happened?

Holding a full conversation without actually talking was a bit challenging, but if anyone could do it, it was the two of you. 

You formed your hands into the shape of a heart and held them up.

"You told him?!" she squealed.

"Shhh!" You tried to hush her, not wanting anyone else to hear. Then you shook your head. 

Maria's eyes lit up. He told you? she mouthed, miming a swoon. You shook your head again, but you were smiling. 

You hazarded a glance at everyone else, none of whom were both awake and paying attention to you. "No, but I know he does."

-------------------------------------

Bradley landed on the Naval airstrip in Hawaii just as the sun was coming up. His jet was very low on fuel, and this would just be a quick stop to refuel before continuing to the carrier. As he flew he only thought about two things; his desire to fly this mission, and the future he desperately wanted. He was trying his best to keep his mind clear, and every time he thought about you, he felt like he could do anything.

He climbed down from his Super Hornet, hoping to catch a glimpse of you on the airstrip. He even took out his phone and thought about texting you, but he needed to get himself used to not being around you for the next little bit. Which kind of sucked. Because the Hawaiian sunrise was beautiful, and he would have loved to watch it with you.

"Rooster!" Phoenix called as she walked toward him from the tower. "Want a coffee?" She handed him a disposable cup before he even answered her. He took a sip. It tasted terrible compared to that fancy French press shit you constantly made at your apartment. God, he already loved your cooking and your fancy coffees. 

"Thanks," he managed to tell Phoenix, taking another sip. 

"So what's going on? I haven't seen you since Friday night when you left the Hard Deck in a snit. I'm assuming you didn't blow things completely with your dream girl, because she looked pretty mellow when we left this morning, all things considered."

Bradley downed the rest of his coffee in one go. "Last night I told her in no uncertain terms that I want a future with her." He crumbled his coffee cup in his hand. 

"Whoa!" Phoenix exclaimed, sloshing coffee onto her boots. "Bradshaw, I never thought I would live to see this day! Holy shit!"

Bradley just smirked at her and put his aviators on as the sun rose higher. "Yeah, well, I guess we'll see what happens. I told her she didn't have to say anything yet; told her I didn't need an answer right now. This all moved really fast. I want her to be sure about me, you know?"

Phoenix just looked at him in awe. "You're like turning into a real adult, Rooster. One with emotional stability and shit."

"Yeah, I guess I am, Nat."

He couldn't help but think that his mom would have been very proud of him.

------------------------------------------

The USS Theodore Roosevelt was like a bustling city. It was your first time on this aircraft carrier, and you got to work as soon as you arrived. It would take about a day to set everything up and make sure all of the interfaces were working correctly for the Daggers mission. Different officers and crew members made their way in and out of the communications room, and you were lost in a sea of names as introductions were made. Thank goodness for name tags, because you really just wanted to focus on your work. 

All you could hear for the first few hours that you were setting up your computers was the clipped voice of Cyclone and the soothing tones of Warlock as they strategized with Maverick. It was impossible to keep track of time in a place that was always pretty dark and let in no natural light, but it must have been pretty late.  

"You've decided on your teams then?"  Cyclone asked Maverick. You were sitting on the floor near them testing your wiring. You looked up and met eyes with Maverick. You didn't know if you were supposed to like him or hate him, but since you were on Team Rooster, you gave him a guarded nod as you returned to your task. 

"Yes, I'm all set," Maverick responded after he gave you a brief smile. 

Cyclone nodded. "Let's make the announcement tomorrow morning. Then the following day we'll launch the mission. Let's get this over with and get out, the sooner the better."

You wondered if Bradley's name was in Maverick's mind. You wondered what Bradley was doing right now. You hadn't seen him once since you landed on the carrier, but you had seen the fighter jet with his name emblazoned on the side, so he had to be here somewhere. Bottom line, it had been less than twenty-four hours since you'd seen him, and you missed him terribly. You were itching to text him, but you knew he wouldn't have his phone turned on either.

Instead you worked tirelessly for hours, testing your computers and operating systems. Cam and Maria along with some of the engineering staff permanently deployed to this carrier helped get everything in order. Everything needed to be immaculate, and you made sure it was. You answered questions and helped some of the junior officer engineers troubleshoot issues. 

You barely made it to your bunk before you were falling asleep, but you were only afforded five hours before your alarms went off. You showered and got yourself dressed in a fresh uniform as quickly as you could, because soon you would at least get to see Bradley, if not actually talk to him. 

You tore through the labyrinth of hallways until you found the correct meeting room. You were the only one there besides Maverick and Fanboy, and you were embarrassingly out of breath as you tried to casually strut into the room like it was a completely normal day. "Good morning," you managed to say. Maverick nodded to you with a smile.

"Hey, Lieutenant Y/L/N," Fanboy said with his signature smile before lowering his voice a bit. "If you're looking for Rooster, I'm bunking with him. He was still showering when I left, but he should be here soon." 

"Thanks, Fanboy," you replied, looking down at your boots as you felt yourself blush. "And yes, for the record, I was looking for him."

"I could tell. And don't worry, he gets a really stupid look on his face too whenever anyone mentions you around him." Fanboy laughed as you gave him a patronizing look. "I think you two are cute together."

You just shook your head and walked away, watching the door for new arrivals. Maria and Cam arrived, eating protein bars and handing you one. Your hands were starting to shake, from hunger or nerves, you weren't exactly sure. With one minute to spare, Rooster walked in, his gait as confident and graceful as always. And when his smile hit you, all you could think about was kissing him and pulling him down on top of you, feeling his body weight pressing into you. God, you needed to know you'd be able to feel that again.

So when the announcements began, and the teams were about to be named, you felt increasingly torn inside. You hoped you would hear Bradley's name called; you knew how badly he wanted this. You knew it would help him get that promotion, the house, some stability. You knew what that meant for the pair of you. But a tiny part of you was begging and pleading with Maverick to call any other names. Not your Bradley. 

You tried to stand as still as possible, listen as much as you could. All you really heard was Payback and Fanboy and Phoenix and Bob as the selections for the Foxtrot teams. You saw the elation on Phoenix's face from across the room. She turned to Bradley and he winked at her, and now he was the one with the hopeful look on his face. 

Maverick took his time naming his selection for his wingman, but as soon as you heard him say Rooster, your heart soared at the same time your chin dropped toward your chest. You cautioned a look at Bradley, but his expression had remained neutral. After Cyclone made a few more announcements and doled out orders, everyone started to disperse, and the aviators congratulated each other. 

"Looks like your boy really is the best," Cam whispered to you. 

"I already knew that." You watched Bradley shake hands with everyone, and you figured it was okay for you to head into the mix and congratulate them as well.

Bradley caught your eye as you walked over with your right hand out. He shook it and held on way longer than was really appropriate as you said, "Congratulations, Rooster. Come back safely."

----------------------------------------

Bradley hadn't been sleeping well on the carrier. First of all, Fanboy snored, loudly. But mostly it was because he was already so used to the way your body felt pressed against him all night. You were like a beautiful heated blanket, and now he felt cold and uncomfortable. And he had to be up and ready to fly in the morning. 

He could not believe Maverick had chosen him as wingman over Hangman. He couldn't believe you had chosen him over Hangman either. Maybe he should start being a little nicer to Jake. Poor guy.

Jesus, now Fanboy was talking in his sleep. Bradley hopped out of his bunk and dug around in his bag for some earplugs. Everything he touched in the bag reminded him of you: his flight suit, black tee shirts, his dog tags. He thought about how good you looked when unzipping his flight suit and dropped to your knees in front of him. He pictured you wearing his black tees to bed. He thought about how he really wanted you to wear his dog tags around your bedroom. Just the dog tags, nothing else. 

Great, now he had to climb back into bed with a semi. At least the ear plugs were doing the trick. After a while, Bradley finally fell asleep and dreamed of you. 

When he woke the next morning, ate breakfast and started on his safety checks, he was feeling a lot better, a lot calmer. When the tower and communications room ran through their tests, he could occasionally hear your voice over the speakers out on the deck. When he checked the audio connection in his helmet, he heard you there too. He smiled every time. 

There was a lot of commotion as crew members ran about, setting up the catapults and arresting cables that would be used multiple times today as a part of this mission. It struck Bradley as crazy how many people were part of this operation, and he counted himself lucky that he had met you in the middle of it all.

When he saw Maverick starting on his own checks, Bradley made his way over toward him. He swallowed down the lump in his throat, knowing there was a lot he should say, a lot he actually found that he wanted to say, to Captain Mitchell. Maybe he secretly hoped there was a chance at some sort of friendship, or at least a ceasefire between them. At the very least, it would be nice to be able to have a decent conversation with the man who had loved both of his parents so much when they were alive. 

He hoped so. As he approached Maverick, the loud speakers alerted the aviators to the final procedures that needed to be started, and he barely got to say anything. But he and Maverick agreed that there would be time to talk afterwards, something that Bradley was more than okay with. Then Maverick looked him in the eye and told him, You've got this. And honestly, Bradley believed him.

-----------------------------------

Your eyes were glued to one of the monitors in the communications room. You were able to watch the aviators on deck, climbing into their aircrafts. Bradley's graceful movements as he climbed into his Super Hornet made you smile a bit, even though your nerves were already completely frayed. You'd never, ever felt this shaky on any other Top Gun missions you had been part of. You watched as crew members helped the pilots and weapons systems officers get settled into their cockpits. 

Suddenly your stomach lurched as you watched Maverick's jet being loaded into a catapult. You checked a different monitor and saw that Bradley's canopy was closing as he signaled to Hondo on deck. This was really happening. It was time. 

"Final communications check," Cyclone called over the soft conversations around you, and everyone immediately went silent.

That was your cue, but you honestly felt sick as you opened your mouth and barely managed to say, "Yes, sir."

You started with the Tower, pressing the controls in front of you and making sure they could hear everyone else who was linked up. "Communications to Tower, do you copy?"

"Loud and clear, Communications. We are a Go."

Then you checked in with Dagger Spare, Dagger One, Dagger Three and Dagger Four. After hearing back with perfect clarity from Hangman, Maverick, Phoenix and Payback, you pressed the controls one last time to check in with Bradley. You had saved him for last, because apparently you felt like torturing yourself as much as possible today.

Your voice was not quite steady as you said, "Dagger Two, this is Communications. Do you copy?"

Bradley replied immediately, that slightly raspy voice making your heart pound faster. "Copy that. I hear you loud and clear, Lieutenant Y/L/N." His voice sounded like he was smiling, and a small laugh startled out of you. You turned to check the monitor that gave you a view of him in his cockpit as they moved him to the second catapult. He was in fact smiling. 

His smile made your heart ache. His words echoed in your mind nonstop now. You're it for me, Baby Girl. 

You were so scared, but it was even scarier to not tell him how you felt. You knew everyone was listening. Literally a hundred people were included in this broadcast. And you knew all of these conversations were being recorded for safety and security. But you didn't really care. 

"Hey, Dagger Two?"

"Yes, Lieutenant Y/L/N?"

"I... I just wanted to say that, you know all that stuff that you said? Everything you told me? Before?"

Bradley paused, and you checked the monitor to see him nodding to himself before he said, "Yes. What about it, Lieutenant?"

From where they stood Warlock was giving you a weird look, and Cyclone was giving you the hand gesture for let's move things along.

You took a deep breath, your voice steadier now. "I know that you said you didn't need a guarantee, but I want to give you one. I want you to know that everything you said sounds exactly perfect to me. I want everything you want."

There was only a brief pause. "Copy that, Lieutenant. I heard you loud and clear," Bradley replied, and you saw on the screen that he had a huge smile on his face before he secured his mask over his mouth.

You barely had a moment to absorb Bradley's response before Cyclone was calling out the final commands and giving the signal to send the Daggers into the air, officially beginning their mission.

-----------------------

You finally said, something. Damn! Also, obviously there are some massive TGM spoilers here. And I hope I'm doing justice to the existing TGM plot for these chapters.

If you've been reading along this far, THANK YOU! I really appreciate you! Leave me some love, and I'll be wrapping this series up soon.... BUT, that's not all we're going to see from these two....

Check out Part 16

@hotch-meeeeeuppppp

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@miles-rooster

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[geekywritings]

The Dark Side

Every Jedi faces the Dark Side. And it’s so easy to fall... But you won’t ever let Cal lose the fight against the darkness. Not as long as you’re around. 

Fluff. Pure Cal x reader fluff with a very supportive and loving reader :D

____________________

Every Jedi faces the Dark Side. It was a lesson instilled in Cal and you since childhood. The challenge was not to give in. To always have control of your emotions. Even better, not to feel certain things at all.

Looking back, those rules were impossible to follow. Holding in love, hate, jealousy, fear, and affection was more destructive than the Dark Side could ever be. However, accepting this fact didn’t protect you from the temptations still facing you.

War made it only harder, requiring you to make difficult decisions on a daily basis.

Jedi didn’t seek aggression, but you had learned that it was either kill or be killed these days. And both you and Cal had taken your fair share of lives already, each one bringing you closer to the edge of an endless abyss.

You were both staring into it, fighting its pull and hoping you could retain the best possible version of yourselves.

But it was getting harder every day. You saw the fatigue in Cal’s eyes, felt the way he clutched you tighter at night, as if your presence alone could save him from the darkness. The constant fighting was taking its toll on him. Badly.

At times, he was close to losing control on the battlefield, allowing his rage rather than his instinct to lead his blade. He cut down his foes with more ferocity, showing mercy only when it was absolutely deserved. It started to worry you, so you decided to approach him about it.

You had landed on a tiny moon in the Outer-Rim to refuel your ship, picking the inconspicuous location to stay hidden. The people here cared little about the galactic conflicts all around them and would not sell you out. As long as you paid good credits, you could relax.

Theoretically. Not really.

Cal’s shoulders were tense as he stood outside the Mantis, staring at the distant setting sun at the horizon. Nothing but vast empty plains stretched before your eyes, making you wonder what was captivating him so.

“Cal? You ok?”, you asked and he nodded, eyes still on the sunset. You joined him, hand automatically slipping into his, with him instantly returning the gesture by intertwining his fingers with yours.

“And now the truth. Are you ok?”, you asked again, sending a small smile his way. Now his gaze did move toward you and his lip twitched upward.

“Why did I have to fall for a woman who can read my mind?”, he asked, tone jokingly exasperated. But seriousness quickly returned to his features, as he sighed. “I am just exhausted. No need to worry.”

“I will always worry about you.”, you were quick to retort and silently invited him to sit with you for a more comfortable conversation. “It’s about our last mission, isn’t it?”

The two of you had infiltrated an imperial base to retrieve some vital information regarding new weapons. You thought they were merely in their planning stage, but once inside, you shockingly came to discover they were already in mass production. Improved blasters with additional fire power, long range detonators and other tech that would make life for the rebellion even harder.

Discoveries like this always made you wonder if you even stood any chance to defeat the Empire. If all you did was merely scratching the surface and giving the Inquisitors something to do. It must have been the same for Cal.

“We killed civilians back there…”, he whispered and you shuddered at the memory. It hadn’t been intentional. You had wanted to sabotage the factory, but had come face to face with several imperial guards. The fight had spiralled out of control, resulting in an explosion. One thing had led to another and you had barely managed to escape the building before it collapsed. A lot of Stormtroopers and Imperial officers had died back there… but so had many factory workers. Honest people, who were just trying to get by under Imperial rule. It wasn’t their fault weapon factories were the only work available.

“It was an accident…”, you started slowly, as if your nightmares and conscience weren’t plagued by the event.

“I know… but still… I feel so much guilt… so much hate.”, Cal spoke through gritted teeth. The Empire was forcing your hands more and more, but stopping wasn’t an option either.

“Cal…”, his name fell from your lips in a soft whisper. “I know it’s hard. I really do… but you can’t let this turn you into a monster. Into them.”, you began, louder this time, underlining your words by resting a hand on his shoulder. It didn’t seem like enough, however. So you moved to sit in front of him, placing both of your hands on his cheeks and making him look at you.

“I am giving you an order, Cal.”, you spoke firmly. “Every time you feel the hatred consume you, you come to me. Every time you feel guilt swallow you, you come to me. I will always be there to keep you from falling. The Dark Side won’t get you as long as I am here.”

Relief washed through him and you could clearly see it in his eyes. Moments later his arms were around your waist, pulling you toward him. The "thank you" he mumbled into your neck almost didn’t reach your ears, but the gesture showed clearly enough what he felt. Your own arms wrapped around him, holding him as close as possible.

“We will get through this together.”, you kept whispering sweet assurances, while you stroked his back. “We might not always make the right decisions, but we will never become like them…” You forced as much confidence as possible into those words because you needed to hear them as much as he did. “We just have to stick together. I’ll be your light and you’ll be mine.”

Cal’s face emerged from your neck and his lips sought yours in a sweet, yet desperate kiss. You were alone, just allowing passion to drown whatever fears and worries you had. Just for a while, you could forget everything: The war, the loss, the very existence of the Dark Side. And for now, these moments had to be enough.

[pamperthemplump2reborn]

This mission comes from our subsidiary, General Motors

Toyotathon on Rubicon is being held during Chevy Truck Month. This is unacceptable. Toyota has deployed Tacoma's around the strip mall next to the McDonalds, just beyond the PCA refueling base, but before the Taco Bell. You will be accompanied by our best Silverado. Good luck.