19th Transmission: A Poor Imitation [Voice/Action] (May 20-23rd)

[thefinaljedi]

[Taking up the maintenance work had been just the thing Luke had needed. Reeling from the loss of Obi-Wan, he'd just wanted to be away from everyone and everything, friends and girlfriend included. A note for Ami was all he'd really left, promising to be back when he felt up to facing the future after the ridiculousness that was...well...that last shift. And he had to admit that even though it was only low orbit it had been nice to see space again. Being so long cooped up on a single planet was strange to someone who was just used to flying, and it'd done wonders to relieve pressure.

And given him an itch.

For the first day after he returns or so, Luke can be found at the farm, taking care of maintenance after the planting had been finished, while in the afternoon he's busy programming something rather complex on the Battle Dome computer. And of course, he'll be resuming his evening shifts at the Clinic and spending some quiet time at House 46.

However by the 22nd he's finished his project and on 23rd he sends out a generalized broadcast.]

Voice

Hello Luceti.

This is Luke Skywalker. It occurs to me that I've not done one of these in some time, so allow me to extend a greeting to the New Feathers from this cycle. I manage the farmland and could always use some volunteers to help maintain it. It's meant to supplement the food supplies granted to us by the Malnosso in the event of an emergency, so it's a rather hefty project that could always use more hands.

Also, I've been working on a little side project at the Battle Dome. If anyone is interested, I've managed to program some training and historical dogfight simulations from my homeworld. Flight simulations, for both X-Wings and Y-Wings, the two kinds of snubfighters I've had the most experience with. I'd appreciate any help testing them for bugs, and if anyone would like to add to them they're more than welcome to do so. If you've ever wanted to fly, it might be a good chance, and it's a skill might be useful if another draft occurs in space.

On an unrelated note, I've apparently missed my own birthday. I'm 31 now, and this is my second in Luceti. It's a little strange, having been on a single planet for so long. For those of you who do remain stationary, how do you manage it? I admit it's got me rather restless.

Thank you for listening, and may the Force be with you.

[Luke will be at the Battle Dome for anyone who wants to try his simulations, and he's got quite a few to choose from...]

Comments

[thefinaljedi]

She's three centimeters taller than me.

[universal_charm]

Ugh, so growing pains, which just sounds worse. Still three centimeters to many.

[thefinaljedi]

It's not that big of a thing. Leia's tall, and I'm short.

[universal_charm]

Still... glad it was you and not me.

But I came for X and Y-wings, not gender changes! Hook me up and give me the crash course on these.

[thefinaljedi]

Alright.

[He turns back over to the console and starts the sim, heading into the big chamber]

Which would you prefer?

[universal_charm]

Hmm... how about an X-wing? It's probably six one way, half dozen the other when it comes to the mechanics, right?

[thefinaljedi]

It's really not so complex. Not if you've ever flown any sort of small craft before. I assume you have, right?

[universal_charm]

Yeah, to a degree. I can, at least. But who knows - controls in my world and yours could be totally different, right?

[thefinaljedi]

Well, hop in and give it a try?

[He gestures towards one of the ships in the sim-hangar.]

[universal_charm]

My type of learning.

_{[ He grinned brightly and hopped into the seat, considering the display before him, understanding some, but not all. ]}

Well, how hard can it really be?

[thefinaljedi]

Well, Kirk. It's...decidedly more difficult than driving a car. I don't know what ships are like in your world though.

[universal_charm]

Hmm, similar to this, but not the same. Things are different places, for sure, I think. I'm guessing this is the throttle?

_{[ He pointed to one of the numerous buttons and toggles and levers, which looked kind of like the thing Sulu punched it with. ]}

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke nods]

Yes, it is. And this...[He points to a button] is the ignition.

[universal_charm]

Well, that was my second guess on that.

_{[ He punched it and grinned to himself. ]}

Okay, so I have a throttle, I'm fairly sure that's the steering, so let's give it a whirl, eh?

[thefinaljedi]

By all means...

[Luke hops down and heads towards one of his own.]

[universal_charm]

_{[ So many he was a little excited for this. He had the basics, and he was a trial and error sort of guy. Sure he read manuals, and he liked a dissertation or two, but the thrill was in the actual doing, not the reading. A man of action, that's what he was. ]}

It's okay I'm almost ridiculously excited for this, right?

[thefinaljedi]

It's perfectly fine.

[Luke grins and climbs into the cockpit]

It's not quite the real thing, but it's better than nothing.

[universal_charm]

I hear yeah. As much as I hate to say, I almost enjoyed that crazy draft business because I got to be on a ship again. I know it was an air ship, but it was the closest I've been to the stars in months and... I don't think I'm meant to be earth bound.

_{[ he shook his head, punching the start button, grinning as the screen and interior came live. ]}

[thefinaljedi]

I feel bad that I missed it, but there's nothing wrong with being earthbound. We don't exactly have a choice, unless we volunteer to work on Malnosso spacecraft.

[He does the same!]

[universal_charm]

Don't feel to bad. It was... unpleasant aside from that small bright point.

_{[ He grimaced on his head, eyes flicking over the display and nodding as he got bits and pieces and guessed on others. ]}

Okay, so, do I get a manual with this thing - like, the cliff notes version before I take off? It would be sad if I crashed in the first five seconds.

[thefinaljedi]

Actually, it'll guide you. There's a holo that'll play as you start it up.

[He flicks on his own, to show Kirk.]

[universal_charm]

Well, you just think of everything, don't you?

_{[ He grinned and did so, following along with the instructions as they played through. ]}

Oh, okay, this doesn't sound to hard. Go easy on me this first round, okay?

[thefinaljedi]

I just programmed it to act like the training sims from home. All the first run will do is have you deal with some drones. Nothing special. Just basic flight maneuvers.

[universal_charm]

Huh-uh. Basic. Well, no time like the present.

Let's start this!

_{[ He gave a whoop as the sim started up, Kirk taking a moment to get used to the sensitivity of the controls or lack there of, pursing his lips. ]}

Okay, the controls aren't bad. It's definitely different, having it respond so fast. Big ships take a lot longer, whales that they are.

[thefinaljedi]

Well, that's the beauty of a snubfighter.

[Luke starts up and takes off on his own, flying through simulated space with a grin.]