Pilot Problems - Part I
Posted on Wed Jun 3, 2026 @ 7:59am by Lieutenant JG Juanita Sanchez "Puma" & Lieutenant Commander Curtis Thibideaux & Lieutenant Sarah Mackenzie & Lieutenant Raiden Kosugi
Edited on on Wed Jun 3, 2026 @ 8:06am
1,465 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission: Jubilee
The Peregrin fighter banked slightly as Curtis vectored the fighter toward the latest bogie that Deep Space Five’s overworked operations team had sent them after. Curtis and his wingman had been orbiting Pangaea for the past three hours, shooing inquisitive sightseers away and their latest target was likely no different. This particular craft had a Hydran transponder and was of a weight class that made it a light freighter.
The ship had ignored repeated hails from the Operations crew to alter course away from the protected planet and after three times, the Peregrines, call sign Trumpet had been vectored in.
“Talley ho,” his wingman, Lieutenant Tran, in Trumpet Two called out. “Bogie insight.”
Curtis acknowledged, though it was fairly obvious as the squarish shape was coming up quick and they were riding a direct vector from Operations. “Float high and paint him with your targeting computer. Time to send a message and see if word doesn’t spread.”
At answering clicks from Tran, he switched his set over to hailing frequencies. Before starting, he shifted and stretched slightly deciding he might be getting too old to spend six hours in a fighter cockpit anymore. Cracking his neck as much as he could with it encased in a flight helmet, he cycled his comm and called, “Hydran registered transport 2638183 off my port beam, this is Trumpet One. We’re a flight of two Federation fighters currently painting you with our tactical systems. You are in a prohibited zone and will alter your course immediately please.”
His voice hail hung there as Trumpet flight closed to within a kilometer and the two fighters shifted into an escort formation. The answer came back via text, the message stating they were a legal flight of seven tourists with a permit for a visit to the planet. The permit was also broadcast and Curtis sighed.
This was the fifth exclusive permit he’d dealt with on this rotation. Activating his comm again, he said. “Hydran freighter…” He had to look twice then pronounced the name, “Cranithwa”, I’m sorry but your permit is not valid. No permits of any kind to visit Pangaea have been issued and they won’t. Veer off now.”
A minute went by and no response came and Curtis decided enough was enough. He lit up his own targeting computer and said, “Trumpet Two, this is One. I’ll engage this time and see if we can change their mind.
The yard-birds had upgraded the older Peregrin’s weapons package, leaving the pilot the ability to fine-tune things. Curtis touched a control and a weapons pod dropped from the nose of the craft, below his feet with a dull thump and he nudged the power ahead for his run.
The chin mounted combined mount started with a phaser stream. Curtis had ratcheted down the power so this blast only scorched plating, burning off some paint on the Hydran vessel. The dull thump thump thump from the micro-torpedo gatling mount was more satisfying as six of the projectiles were spit out between six, two second phaser hits.
Twenty seconds of weapons fire drummed over the Hydron freighter and the comm system lit up with protests and placations as the vessel veered course away from Pangea. Closing down his weapons system with a sigh, Curtis activated the comm again and said. “I don’t care, Hydron vessel. Trumpet Two will escort you to the station where you can state your protests with management. Do not deviate from the supplied course from station Operations or Trumpet Two will take out your engines. Your ship will be impounded and double fines issued. Feel free to lodge your protests with security when they let you off your ship. Have a nice day.
Orders issued, Curtis vectored toward another target painted Operations had picked out and he sighed. Switching to flight comms, he said, “Trumpet One to Two. Escort then take a break. Then we’ll swap and add four or five hours to this shift. I doubt the tourists are going to give a break. Trumpet One, out.”
Leaving the hanger of DS5, Sarah was taking the first new multi-role fighter out for the patrol flight. Switching to Flight comms, she reported In, “Trumpet one, Trumpet two, CAG Is on station. I’ll rendezvous with Trumpet one at the new target”
Pulling her fighter around, Sarah kicked it into full impulse to give the engines a proper run as she zipped away from the station.
Guiding his craft back into the prescribed station keeping, Curtis grinned and worked his comm, "Roger Trumpet Two." Telemetry was already being fed into their targeting computer and he let the Ops feed set his auto-pilot while he brought up target information. Ops had picked up on Sarah's designator change. His canopy's HUD was giving him a visual on the course change as the fighter banked and increased speed. Using a controlled, micro-warp jump, the fighter blipped and he and Sara's fighter soon linked up as the two ships bled through space.
"Trumpet Flight," ops said as the fighters closed on Waypoint One. "Your target is a Caitian registered tourist transport called the Spitwhistle, Captain Haak Shelat in command. They are currently entering the no-fly zone around Pangea, sector thirty seven. Sensor readings indicate a likelyhood of attempting to land. Intercept and escort to the station for interview with Customs and Security."
"Well, that's it. You want lead, Trumpet Two?" Curtis asked as his fighter shifted and he resumed direct control. He rolled the ship to starboard to look up and back to see the CAG's fighter fall into formation. Ahead of them at just over a thousand kilometers, the planet was growing larger rapidly.
“Nah, all yours Trumpet one” Sarah responded, flicking through the contact list to find the Spitwhistle.
Raiden was having his own problems. What the heck, several hotshots decided they would buzz him then take off towards the comet. They even buzzed past the viewports of the stations, operations deck.
"Son of a- that isn't going to work, we've got some people who think they are really skilled. And-" Raiden headed out after the the crazy pilots who had to bank sharply to avoid crashing into a transport heading towards the station. "They need to be stopped,"
Operations latched on to one of the ships with a tractor beam and held it in place. "This is Deep Space 5. You will cut your engines and allow us to pull you to the nearest docking bay or you can sit where you are until you comply."
For several seconds, the pilot continued to strain against the beam. Then it cut power and allowed the station to pull it back.
Over the comms came a female voice. "Oye bobos, this is Puma. You play stupid games, I gonna make sure you remember to think next time." It was followed by a string of Spanish insults as her fighter came racing in at an angle to help cut off the joyriders.
She had no intention of destroying the ships because the pilots were stupid, but if they had to ground the pilots for a while while their ships were repaired, so be it. Maybe Billy Jo could teach 'em some sense.
As she chased after them, she noticed a shuttle in distress. "This is space, not a drive in. We gonna show no movies here." She'd actually been to a drive in once when the town she lived in had a retro week with drive ins, outdoor movies, and a pig roast. She tried to hail the shuttle, but got nothing in reply. She even flashed her lights. Nothing.
"Deep Space 5, this is Puma. Got a me a shuttle out here that's not going anywhere. Doesn't answer comms or lights. Send a team to assist. Or just haul 'em in to the dock for repairs."
"Roger Puma. We copy your location."
"Good. Now I'm off to chase down some hot shots. Puma out."
The conversation with the CAG was broken up by the Ops team handling fighter control.
"Trumpet flight, this is Ops," the haggard operator called out. "We have a flight of what looks like five craft just tore past and are heading towards Pangea. No radio contact with us, though they appear to be communicating with each other. Might be a race or a bunch of joy-riders. Regardless, back up Raiden at point or about point Gecko. Go to buster, clear for micro-jump along provided bearing where traffic is clear for fifteen seconds."
(To be continued...)
Lieutenant Commander Curtis Thibideaux
Strategic Operations Officer
Trumpet 1
DS5
Lieutenant Raiden Kosugi
Pilot
DS5
Lieutenant Sarah Mackenzie
CAG
Deep Space 5
Lieutenant JG Juanita Sanchez
Fighter Pilot
Deep Space 5
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