Arknights: Starsfall I

Chapter 32

"Anthems and Armories"

Pvt. James Ramirez
December 17th, Earth Time, 2055
October 18th, Terra Time, 1097
Onboard UH-65 Defiance Heavy, Enroute to UN Base New Roanoke

Night Time

There was about 30 minutes till the helicopter landed. And in Ramirez's opinion, that was way too soon. Midnight was practically around the corner. And the pilot had turned on some softer music of her's for everybody else to relax and sleep to. Ramirez had firmly locked his rifle in between his and Exusiai's seat.

Speaking of the Sankta, she was asleep, head lulled back and her mouth slightly open, which was letting drool over the back end of the seat.

Gross, Ramirez thought. This meant that in the most playful manner possible. But he didn't think the Pilot would like the fact that her craft had drool on the seat that others have to use.

He got a handkerchief out of one of his many cargo pockets, and went to wipe her face, gently, to not wake her. Entirely preventing a reaction was not possible, Exusiai closed her mouth and made a noise. Ramirez stopped when he could no longer see any more drool. He turned and then began to clean the back of the seat. He looked out the window, the night time Terra sky greeted him. The soft hum of the Helicopter also did.

He crossed his arms,  there was way little time for sleep to really do anything, so he beagan to just think and ponder about the upcoming operation. He thought about Philadelphia, he thought about his family. He began to wonder about the future itself.

The helicopter seemed to have set the auto-pilot AI on, because her cockpit door opened, and she stepped in, stretching, walking in. "Man, flying really gets boring... Oh hello," she noticed him, mid yawn. Ramirez just gave her a nod and a wave. Satisfied that he wasn't going to say anything, she grabbed the nearest 3 open seats, as well as something akin to a blanket.

She goes to lay down, seatbelting herself in around the midsection. She then covered herself with the 'blanket' and then, in a Snap, fell into a hard sleep. Ramire blinked in amazement, looking forward to the cockpit, now empty but still flying smoothly.

Well... if she has enough trust in that thing... with that single, dangerous line of thinking, Ramirez found himself slowly heading off to dreamland. The Engine and the song being the melody and lullaby that put them to sleep.

December 18th, Earth Time, 2055
October 19th, Terra Time, 1097

The helicopter lurched, its engine getting a little softer, and the outside lights turning out in full intensity. Slowly, the craft began to slowly leaned and began to lower onto the Helipad, an incessant beeping forcing Foley and the others to wake up. It was nothing like the impressive J-Hook Maneuver, but the Military isn't comfortable trying to program it into Helicopters.

Ramirez was quick to wake up, growling because he literally only had a brief 23 minute nap. Slowly Exusiai and the others came to. "Uwaa..." Exusiai yawned, looking out the Window, seeing the somewhat familiar base lights shining, "Oh we're here..."

Ramirez got his rifle, watching the rest all the way in the back come to life. Dunn got up, outstretched his arms, hitting Carmen on the head, "Hey!" She barked at him, which made Dunn quickly sober from his drowsiness, "Oh hell." He grabbed his kit and rifle, and began to run out. Foley, Ramirez, and Jonathon, as well as the Penguin Logistics Operators and Lappland, began to laugh at the two's antics. "Don't let the Devil Dog get you Dunn!"

The other operators were either amused themselves - being reminded of their own comrades, or held a nervous look. Projekt Red childishly smiled, seeing a vast amount of similarities between moments when she played - or chased in the terms of the victims - the others.