Doomsday at Terra

The first four Scorpion class fighters was ready.

They were actually reconditioned Protean units.

"They're not factory fresh." The chief said. "But they are in good condition."

'They should have ten thousand hours in them."

Commander Adama had ruled that the first few sections would be rebuilds.

"They'll be training warriors unfamiliar with this level of performance." he said. "And that will mean accidents."

'And they'll be losing used fighters.: Lighter had said

"Exactly"Adama had replied.

"The Double Alliance will be using factory fresh fighters when the time comes." he said. "Besides, these retreads get them into Colonial pits weeks earlier than waiting for enough new ships."

You could tell who was who from the space suits.

The pair of Eastern Alliance pilots were in olive drab pneumatic suits. their black helmets featured insectile glare shields that retracted into a hemet top bulge.

The Western Alliance pilots wore silver toned skin tights with bubble helmets.

Four of them, two Eastern and two Western alliance pilots stood by their fighters.

Their squadron commander, chafing in his class "A" space uniform.

"Attention!" he shouted.

They all snapped too. That seemed to be the same everywhere in the universe.

"I am your Squadron Commander. I am also your instructor."

"You will be squadron commanders and Instructors."

"So we better fracking get it right!"

'At ease." he called.

That was enough. Starbuck could use old school discipline, but liked to keep to a minimum.

The new fighter pilots visibly relaxed.

"I am Colonial Lieutennant Starbuck." he said.

"And you are my gold nuggets."

"Nuggets?" asked one of Western pilots.

"A disparaging term for trainee pilots." he said.

"I say gold nuggets." he continued, 'because you are the best pilots your alliances have to offer."

"And it is your skill that will be conveyed to the rest of Terra's fighter pilots."

"Now let's get to it." he said. Gather round blue seven here."

"Some of you will have encountered these fighters before." he said.

The Eastern Alliance pilots had.

"So you know how capable they are."

"Let's start at the business end." he said. "These are two of our standard colonial turbo lasers. They are called turbo lasers because the gaseous exhaust from the flash rection spins a turbine that powers a pump that pushes more reactant into the laser."

"And these" he added, "are the latest models."

'"Here in the nose" he continued,"are most of your non propulsive sub systems."

"Behind this panel is the Landing Gear Motivator..."

It was going to be a long day.