[center][h1][color=violet]Katherine Kane[/color][/h1][/center] [quote=@Smike] [/quote] Kat smiled and nodded. [color=violet]"Well then; Jefe it is. And nice to meet you, too. Forgive me while I stuff my face, hospital food isn't exactly great stuff, and I can see we've got a mission coming up. Want to get myself fed while there's time"[/color]. She listened attentively and politely as Ximena spoke, nodding along to show she was listening and keeping up with what was being said, before she replied. [color=violet]"Mm, maybe you have a point about the double duty - although, if that's the case, maybe we ought to see if we can negotiate for twice as much pay, for doing twice as much work? Somehow, I think that won't go down so well though,"[/color] she said with a wry smile of amusement. [color=violet]"Still, I might have missed that but I'll be there for what's shaping up to be a big swing back against the Libyans - or whoever's put them up to this, anyway. I'm looking forward to getting back into the air in an A-10 and flying for myself, too. I didn't mind being Heartbreak's back-seater, but I definitely prefer being in control for myself when I'm in the thick of things".[/color] Her hushed, raspy, and rough tones robbed much of the volume from her words, but forced attention on them for her to be heard, certainly in a one-on-one conversation like this. She grinned and laughed softly as Ximena made a playful tease about her height, and swiped at the air, her laugh raspy and somewhat croaky, but her smile as genuine as anything. [color=violet]"Rarr, Kat smash!"[/color] she said playfully with a grin and a twinkle in her one remaining eye. She would have continued, before Freyja joined them, and she looked up in surprise, that turned to a smile as the Swede gently squeezed her shoulder. She patted the other woman's hand as it rested on her shoulder and nodded in reply to her questions. [color=violet]"I'd be happy for you to join us, as long as you don't mind, Ximena? And I'm doing well enough, thank you. A little sore still, but the doctors said that'll persist for a while. Gave me some anti-inflammatories and some pain medication."[/color] A little impish smile curved her lips as she sipped her own cup of tea. [color=violet]"Nothing strong enough for me to be flying without my plane, sadly"[/color] ---------------------------------------------------- [center][h1][color=#4682B4]Scott Valentine[/color][/h1][/center] [quote=@Finetales] [/quote] [color=#4682B4]"Well, I'm glad you and I are on the same page about that, at least. I'm sure it'll settle down eventually. People are probably just testing the limits, seeing how much they can get away with, or finding out what kind of ship I run. And I mean; everyone's followed orders when we're in the thick of it. That's the main thing at least. If that didn't happen, well; I'd be a [i]lot[/i] less understanding."[/color] He listened with interest and a nod as she mentioned Kazhakstan and laughed softly, sipping his own beer. as he did. [color=#4682B4]"I think it's part of the way of being a fighter pilot - hell, a combat pilot at all - to have some wild moments under your belt. I'm sure we'll get plenty of chances to swap stories too. Lord knows I'm looking to being able to hit a bar and decompress for a bit once we get a breather - and it's only been a couple of days...!"[/color] As Yuna mentioned being comfortable with engaging in more close-up-and-personal action, he gave an amicable shrug, leaning forward with his elbows on the 'desk' as he answered. [color=#4682B4]"Ahh, well; I'll keep it in mind. You obviously know your stuff, and it seems a few others do as well. Peacenik sure knows what she's doing. And Jefe... well, I'm not sure if she [i]knows[/i] how to fight on the ground, or is just compensating for that by using the biggest gun she can carry. Either way, as long as it's pointed at the hostiles".[/color] He grinned and took another swig from his bottle, leaning back into a more comfortable position once more and fiddling with the label on the brown glass bottle. [color=#4682B4]"Heh, maybe next place we find ourselves, if we've got the space and the time we can set up a little training area and get some paintball or airsoft guns so we can all indulge in improving our ground tactics without getting seriously hurt. And set up a range as well, so we can practice with our actual guns. Maybe it'd be more popular than you think. And yeah - while I'm... well, not 'comfortable', but I'd say 'competent' with fighting on the ground, there's definitely a reason I chose to be a fighter pilot...!"[/color] [@smike], [@Damo021], [@Finetales]