rdm<p>"Get a load of the freak and the losers!" Hitomi flinched and her wings twitched as the voice echoed across the bar. Estelle looked furious, and started to get up.<br>"Don't 'Stell. I know you could break his arm, but he's not worth getting busted over," said Tannis, putting an arm on her shoulder. "Besides, I want you all on your game for tomorrow's trials."<br>Ava spoke up "We need to do something."<br>"I put up with it all my life, Ava. It won't change anything" Hitomi unconsciously brought her wings in closer as she spoke. <br>"I know what will," Tannis grinned, and started to draw on a coaster.<br>The other three gathered closer to look. After a few moments, Hitomi spread her wings out and around their table, giving them privacy.</p><p>The next morning, after the briefing, the teams walked out to the waiting aerospace craft.</p><p>"Hey, Jarrad?" Tannis called out, "Want to make some easy cash?"<br>"What, you're giving up now, are you?" he shouted back, his team snickering.<br>"Nope - but I tell you what, you win this bout, I'll give you this month's pay."<br>"Sure, no problem. What's in it for you?"<br>"You'll transfer to logistics."<br>"Why the hell would I do that? I'm easily the better pilot!"<br>"Then you've got nothing to be afraid of, do you?"<br>"Ok, Ok, you're on!"</p><p>The scenario was simple enough. Get the fighters past a set of defences, and tag a target point. The team that completed the scenario with the least losses won. </p><p>Jarrad's flight was epic, following the nape of the earth to minimise the time the ground defences had to fire. As it was, he lost one plane (simulated), and had two damaged (also simulated). But there was no sign of Tannis and her team. He'd seen them take off, but lost track of them while concentrating on his own mission.</p><p>He landed, and saw the other four fighters sitting right where they had started, they must have given up and circled back. </p><p>He and his team were grinning as they entered the briefing room.</p><p>Tannis, the freak, and the other two losers, were sitting with their heads down, but everyone stood to attention as the commander came in.</p><p>"Sit, at ease, all of you. We've analysed the footage and the effects. Jarrad - nape of the earth was what we were expecting for this scenario."<br>Jarrad grinned.<br>"Which is why we had the defences set up to intercept low fast targets." <br>He started to look confused.<br>"We were not expecting someone to jump in over the target, and then depart out the back. Tannis, you had one plane get a glancing hit to a wingtip. You win the exercise."<br>"Thank-you Sir! Hitomi ran the calculations last night. We would not have been able to do it without her. And we'd like to name the team, Sir."<br>The commander raised an eyebrow.<br>"Chimera Flight."<br>"Very well. Also, Jarrad, I expect to see your application by tonight. You will honour the bet, understand?"<br>"Yes, Sir." came the reply as Jarrad's head dropped into his hands.</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/CerianAndVaranWar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CerianAndVaranWar</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/SF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/IAmWriting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IAmWriting</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/SFF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SFF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/MilSF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MilSF</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a></p><p>Part of <a href="https://rdmasters.lympago.com/p/cerian-and-varan-war-story-in.html" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">rdmasters.lympago.com/p/cerian</span><span class="invisible">-and-varan-war-story-in.html</span></a></p>