M.T. Decker

222-Valkyrie’s View: A Year Among the Stars

August 9th, 2552 – Order vs Chaos
Pilot/Witness and sometimes Target Kat “S-Kat” James Reporting

In deference to my issues with the simulator – today’s educational briefs were done without the simulator. We discussed the difference between standard military escape and evade tactics vs the civilian/criminal getaway. I listened as the fighter pilots discussed how to predict enemy reactions and tactics and how and when to run and when to hide. The advent of The Well meant that there were a lot more places to go and for their portion of the training, we teamed up – one team on escape and evade and the rest trying to find them.

Then it was my turn, well me and Rhys Taylor— a fell convict pilot from the Thought. We started our lecture and then started to laugh as we both realized we were getting along well— as thick as thieves. While military pilots were trying to get in and out without being seen- most getaway pilots figure that they are coming in with the enemy in hot pursuit – let’s face it, while the pilot is waiting for the others to catch up with them – their team is busy drawing attention to them.

Usually, when you start, you are already hot and the authorities are hot on your trail – you learn fast how to avoid patrols, jam signals, duplicate your signature, and high tail it while everyone is still recovering from your distractions. Military involves a lot more stealth and timing – Civilian involves a lot of sleight of hand, misdirection, and trickery.

Their methods were more precise and predictive, ours were more chaotic and unpredictable. By the end of the session, I think both groups had a newfound respect for the other and by dinner time we were coming up with ways of combining our skills. We may not take over the world, but we might be able to save our part of it.