Bird Squadron pt. 1

Lieutenant Lilly Kerrigan strode down the spotless steel hallway leading towards the hanger bay of the frigate Nelson and flanking her was her ferocious band of space pilots known as Bird Squadron. Crewmen aboard the Nelson stepped out of the way and saluted to the Lieutenant and her Bird Squad as they passed; out of respect and admiration but mainly fear. All throughout the UN's fleet, word had spread about Bird Squad's daring and fearlessness in the face of death; Kerrigan herself was known to have killed twice as many men out of the cockpit than inside it.

Admiral Clark stood just inside the hanger with a squad of UN marines around him. Kerrigan and her squad stopped just in front of the Admiral before saluting.

"Officer on deck!" Kerrigan called her squad to a halt.

"At ease Lieutenant," Admiral Clark said after returning her salute.

Kerrigan pulled her arm back and put her hands behind her back looking at the Admiral.

"What news of the rebel fleet Admiral?" She asked him.

"Airon and his fleet are coming around the dark side of the planet and the fleet is moving to engage. Airon's rebels took major casualties trying to take the east coast but we also lost a substantial amount of souls during our raid on their orbital space station last week. This looks the be the deciding battle and I know I don't have to stress to you Lieutenant how important pilots like your Bird Squadron is to the fleet; you give them hell out there." Admiral Clark said before a voice came over the speakers.

"Admiral Clark to the bridge and all hands to battle stations; enemy fleet in sight. I repeat all hands to battle stations."

Admiral Clark nodded to Bird Squad and headed to the bridge followed by his group of UN marines.

"You heard the man! Bird Squad to your ships!" Kerrigan ordered as she ran over to her RT-3 fighter where a crewman held her helmet out to her.

Kerrigan took the helmet from him before sliding it on her head and switching on her zero-atmo suit; she climbed into the cockpit of her RT-3 as a few of the younger pilots in Bird Squad started their usual banter.

"Hey Smokestack watch your radar this time will you?" Mickey Rogers, Champion, said to his wingman Draven Teller, "I don't want to have to save your ass every time we go out on a run."

"Champion why don't you watch your radar so Zero and I don't have to save your ass every time," Rico Porter, Viceroy, replied.

"I second that," Dhilan Lord, Zero, said.

"What do you think Janic?" Viceroy asked Timothy Baker.

"Champion's mouth is bigger than his skill, you couldn't hit the broad side of a barn Champion. Remember that transport a few days ago that was dodging all your shots?" Janic laughed with the rest of the squad except Kerrigan, who never engaged in pre-battle squad banter.

"I remember that one pilot who was out maneuvering you and shoot off your tail." Champion replied back angrily.

"That was partly my fault," Michael Bolton, Wolf, shot back, "I was too busy saving your ass Champion that I couldn't watch my wingmans."

The entire squad laughed as the hanger doors opened.

"Heart stick close to the Lieutenant, she'll keep you straight," Viceroy said to the newest member of Bird Squadron, Renee Miller.

"Everyone stick to their wingman and stay in formation until I say break; that means you Champion and Smokestack," Kerrigan said as the crewmen rushed away from the squadron of RT-3s. "Everyone ready. You heard the Admiral, this is the decisive victory that could break the rebellion."

"Bird Squadron, this is control; you're clear for take off, you'll be deployed shortly and are to join up with Excalibur and Royal squadrons," Ensign Powell in CIC said, "You'll be on distraction and escort for Argo's bomber squadron."

"Copy control, Bird Squad is prepped and ready."

"Give them hell Bird Squad."