[h2][color=lightblue]ENS Kira Lawrence[/color][/h2]

[Hider=Establishing COMS 33448][color=lightblue]Kira tapped on the display screen of her Coms-pad, an item she received from her father as a sort of congratulatory gift when he received news of her transfer to the 144th Direwolves. It had been a rough go for the past year, to say the least, and for the first little while she refused to stay in touch with family back on Eden Prime. But time is the greatest healer, and now more than ever Kira used every opportunity she could to talk to her folks back home -- mother, father and sister alike. She was sitting on her bunk, knees pulled up to her chest and cozied up in a sweater and sweatpants.

"Elise? Are you there?"

"Kira!" the pad burst to life, the face of her sister exploding onto the screen in HD. It caught Kira off guard. She turned the volume down a few clicks.

Elise was dolled up, the full spectrum of make-up and cosmetics accentuating her already natural prettiness. Both girls took from their mother, also known as Madame Estelle.. . also known as the [i]Vindicator[/i] to anybody in the fashion world. Kira knew it was around this time her mother would be throwing one of her galaxy-famous fashion galas in Paris. Eden Prime had three cultural defining exports: pilots from the 207th, fine wines, and forefront ideas for fashion and design. It was a busy time of the year, Kira distinctly remembering all the hustle and bustle from when she was a young child.

Kira smiled, "Are you too busy to talk now? I can call later,"

"No! Of course not. Goodness Kira in the next week I won't be able to talk to you at all, we may as well catch up now! Oh--" she cut herself off abruptly, reaching off screen and putting on what Kira could only describe as.. . a hat? It looked like a silver sombrero, trimmed gold with the most defining feature being ten different kinds of stuffed exotic birds striking different poses across the rim. Kira tilted her head with a curious frown and before she could ask Elise interrupted her.

"Well? What do you think? Mom has me working the runway this year and this'll be the defining piece. It's the headpiece of a set we're calling "Foreign Wings", it's supposed to be a clash between increasing urbanization and nature,"

"Elise, it looks like you have a zoo on your head,"

There was a moment of silence before the two girls burst out laughing. It went on for five minutes before Elise slipped off the hat, lighting a cigarette and adjusting the screen so she could get a better view of her pilot sister.

"So darling, how are you feeling? Big day today isn't it?"

"I guess you can say that," Kira smirked, "I'm fucking nervous as hell. I haven't flown combat in a long time,"

Elise shrugged, raising an eyebrow, "Not that I know myself, but I'm sure it's like riding a bike. Plus you're good Kira. Like really good. Talent like that doesn't just vanish into thin air, y'know?"

Elise turned, talking to somebody off screen. Moments later her father and mother appeared into view as well. A Lawrence family reunion.

Her mother spoke first in a high pitched tone that Kira could never get used to, "Kira! Oh, my beautiful darling. You look wonderful!" she squinted, then widened her eyes in horror, "But my God... your ends! Kira they're splitting! Does the Navy give you proper hair treatments?! Oils and ointments Kira, I'm going to send you some right away, where -- ,"

"Mom stop," she rolled her eyes, watching Elise holding in a stifled grin while father just shook his head.

"She has a point Kira. Now that I think about it your hair's sort of looking dull..." Elise added, Kira could hear her mom let out a squeaky gasp through mortified expression.

"Alright, enough, enough," the Colonel stepped in, "Let me talk to my daughter. Be gone you harlots," he shooed them away, Elise stuck out her tongue before disappearing.

Kira straightened herself as she saw her father's face planted on the screen. Words couldn't express the admiration or gratitude she had for having such a strong figure in her life, kindly guiding her throughout her career but never stepping on her toes. His hair was graying, slicked back and full with a trimmed beard worthy of a wise, senior officer. Colonel Lawrence had started his career in the Marines before pursuing the necessary education to become a pilot. It was Kira's guess that that was where his fair but stern leadership qualities had blossomed.

"Sir,"

"Kira," a smile stole his face -- pride, "How are you feeling?"

"Fine,"

The Colonel looked at her suspiciously, "And you've been sleeping well? Are you still on the medications Dr. Steinn prescribed you?"

"Yes sir, 150mg of Venlafaxine, 25mg of Amitriptyline, 5mg of Ondansetron and 15mg of Omeprazole.. ."

It seems every time the two would talk the Colonel would make her recite her medications. Quite frankly, she hated it. There was nothing worse than a constant reminder of being reliant on synthetically altered neuro-receptors to get through the day. But she needed it, and while Colonel Lawrence was against it at first he was finally convinced after a series of long conversations with some of the best doctors available. Kira knew he meant well, as he always does, but this was one thing he wouldn't understand. Colonel Lawrence never [i]fucked up[/i] as badly as Lieutenant Lawrence did. She was rust on what otherwise would have been a pristine family name. These anti-depressants did just their name-sake, and they did it [i]well[/i].

"And I sleep well. Usually. Alcohol helps. And drugs. Heroin mostly," she gave her father a sly grin, which was not reciprocated in the slightest.

"Not funny Kira,"

"It was a joke, papa,"

Colonel Lawrence groaned, scratching his head and returning his attention back to the screen.

"Kira just know that I am so proud of you. Despite everything you've been through you're still a fine young lady with a bright future ahead. And remember you have us, Elise and Estelle? We'll always be here to talk if you need to, I promise. I know you'll do due diligence with the 144th, I know you'll make the 207th proud. But remember, you have nothing to prove. When your contract is over you're more than welcome to come back to Eden. We miss you, always,"

Kira choked back a lump in her throat, doing her best not to get emotional. The truth is she really did miss home. She didn't realize how much she missed it until she left for the 17th. She was about to speak but the Colonel got to it first.

"I love you Starchild,"

The blonde girl sighed, burying her face in her knees before looking back up to him, "I wish you'd stop calling me that,"

The colonel laughed, throwing up his hands in innocence, "Not a chance. I don't care how far away you are, you're still my child and you'll always be stars in my eyes,"

"Papa -- I..,"

Words escaped her. The tears did not.

"Oh Kira, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to --,"

"No it's okay," she waved him off, "I just miss you guys,"

[i]All hands, The Galatia will be exiting hyperspace in 30 minutes. Elevating readiness to Alert 1, report to your commanding officers and await further orders[/i] buzzed over the intercom. Kira straightened herself once more, wiping away tears.

"I've got to go,"

The colonel nodded, "Show those direpups a taste of Eden, and give commander Knight my regards," he saluted then looked over his shoulder yelling, "Elise! Bring your mom in and say goodbye to our littlest,"

The two women burst into the room with sunny smiles waving, wishing her the best.

"I'll send you some hair products within a week! But Kira for goodness sake take better care of yourself! Or you'll start looking like some ragged off the research station!"
"Shit kick some Varaxian ass little sis!"
"Hey! Watch your mouth!"

Kira smiled, overwhelmed with gratitude. She kissed her hand and placed it on the camera.

"Thanks guys, I love you. I'll see you soon,"[/color]

[/hider]

Kira turned off the com-pad, taking a moment to compose herself in the eery silence of her small cubicle of a room. It felt isolating, not that the feeling was something she was unfamiliar with. Her time with the 17th was short, but it opened her eyes to a whole new perspective of the Navy. A world where the lowliest enlisted could talk so casually to the highest ranking officer on the ship. All her life she had been exposed to a class system, and to see such interactions was truly enlightening. She could only hope the lessons she learned there would serve her well during her stay with the Direwolves.

The first hour of being herded around like cattle was exhausting. Officers ordering to and fro, bright eyed pilots who had never flown a craft in action mouths agape while the battle hardened vets leaned up against the walls with judgmental eyes. Kira was unsure what to identify herself as. She hadn't been on the cockpit of a T-88 in a long time, but she had flew enough missions to have earned some semblance of respect. The dichotomy gave her an uneasy feeling as she remembered watching crew personnel from all walks of life go about their day.

Then there was the will, which didn't take long at all. Truth be told she had it written up a long time ago by her lawyers back in Eden. When you were offspring of a family with such a highly regarded title it was best to leave the legal mumbo jumbo to people who took an interest in that. Kira's was fairly straight forward: in the event of death all assets would be sent to her family. Not that she had much to begin with. She had never owned property, though she did own a numerous amount of outrageously expensive bracelets her mother would send to her. Kira smirked, [i]bless her soul[/i].

She got off the bed, moving to the mirror with her duffel and rummaging through it to grab her cosmetics bag. There was this officer culture back in the 207th, one that demanded all officers personnel (unless they were on field exercise) wore their dress uniform while on duty. Whether it was to eat or brief or spending an entire day doing paperwork it mattered not. It's origins probably had something to do with Eden Prime being the self-proclaimed fashion and branding utopia, and to be honest Kira didn't mind in the slightest. She thought it made everybody look more professional. [i]Look good, feel good, play good[/i] as the old motto said. Kira pulled up her stockings, adjusting her side cap. She gave one last glance at herself in the mirror before slipping on some slingback heels and proceeded into the hall.

The Galatia was an engineering marvel in itself, and though she had been on vessels not unlike this one many times before the fact that this one had seen its fair share of action made it all the more special. The Galatia was also the home of the 144th Direwolves. The name daunted her. They were a group that made a name for themselves in the during the Vega Crisis, and Kira could distinctly remember her father go on ends about [i]they did what they could with what they had[/i]. Their motto truly held strong, something Kira was unfamiliar to with the 207th who nurtured a [i]strike hard, fast and quick[/i] mentality. But she was determined to adapt, and even more so make right her reputation. A numbing pain shot through the back of her head and Kira winced from it. Sudden offsets like that came and went, depending on how much she thought about the issue.

At -0025 Kira arrived to the briefing room, 5 minutes punctual as was her norm. She pressed the opening button and floated in, grabbing the rail on the side. The room was sparse save for a few pilots scattered here and there and a few up front. Of peculiar note was the Harridan nestled in amongst the sea of chairs. [i]Interesting[/i] she thought. She had heard the stories of the Direwolves having the first foreign species pilot, but she didn't actually believe them to be true. After a moment of waiting Kira decided on a spot near the back. She gracefully floated over, ignoring the side glances shot her way as she strapped herself in. 

[i]Well Kira, don't you dare fuck this one up.[/i]

She sat up straight, waiting for the commanders arrival.