To Russia with Haste

To Russia with Haste!
==Bar Fight!==
(From "Janna Rautio" comments)
11 March 2020 fight, PP's rough glimpse of what happens is thus:
A bar patron not connected to the 'Dome or the PPDC says something ill-advised to Janna. 
Janna, always up for action and a bit disinhibited by drink, takes offense. 
Words are exchanged. 
The final straw is added to the camel's back and a four-on-one (Janna being the 'one') brawl erupts. 
Mimmi stops flirting with a different patron and wades in to help, but not before a well-aimed chair or stool fractures Janna's arm. 
The Rangers come out on top and beat a tactical retreat to the 'Dome where the extent of Janna's injury is uncovered and the decision made to call in Pietr. 
==See Also==
"ASAP", "Corps Air", and "Dearling". 
==Bollywood==
2020 March (SK)
In Vladivostok, they end up watching a Bollywood flick dubbed in Ukrainian with British subtitles. Tall Kaidanovsky wrangles Chuck's hair in a braid so tight she's not sure she'll be able to close her eyes. 
 
I love the film selection. No one really has a clue what's going on, but everyone agrees the musical numbers are AWESOME. 
==The Call-up==
::They changed their minds.::
::About what?::
::I’m a pilot again. The Marshal in Russia doesn’t want to be short-handed, so he got Command to send me to him as a pilot. Working with that laughing Finnish woman I told you about.::
::Oh. Will you be safe?::
::Should be. We’re just there in case something happens to the Russian giants. I’ll probably only have to walk around in the snow a bit.::
::Be careful.::
::I will. How’s our little treasure?::
==Mimmi==
"Welcome back, Vos!” Ranger Mimmi Seppänen calls. “It's good to see you again!"
Pietr returns the big Finn's enthusiastic hug.
"Janna's /pissed I get you to myself. She's green with jealousy."
Pietr snorts. He holds out his left hand, wiggles his ring finger.
"A wife? Since when?"
He grins and and pantomimes 'long ago.'
"Janna will be /very unhappy when she hears. This ruins a number a very elaborate fantasies."
Pietr flushes bright red.
She claps him on the back. "That's Janna's way. She's only interested in men who can beat her in combat."
Pietr raises an eyebrow, then brandishes a double fistful of imaginary rings.
"She wouldn't dare even /dream of that! Your wife can’t be as frightening as his!"
Pietr shrugs 'maybe.'
Mimmi guffaws. "Well, you know Kozlov. He wants us tested together immediately. He’s skipping the Kwoon and the sim and tossing us straight into /Eden.”
Pietr rolls his eyes and telegraphs ‘typical.’
"Let's stow your gear and suit up."
He tosses his duffel on the bed and fishes his notepad and pencil from a trouser pocket.
-Borrow a Drivesuit?-
“You don't have your own?”
-In Anchorage- He offers a crooked smile. -Coming-
Mimmi nods. “Well, I doubt mine will fit you.”
-Tight in the chest-
Mimmi laughs again. "The techs’ll find something in the closet for you. Let’s walk. Have you read /Eden's specs?"
Pietr nods.
"You're used to all that fancy Mark V hardware, so I hope you don't feel like you're slumming it too badly with our poor li’l Mark II."
Pietr rolls his eyes.
"They /just fitted us for the backbone connectors and they are /so much better than the old pauldron ones."
"He can't hear you, Yugov. Ranger Vos is deaf."
"How's he suppose--oof! /Leggo-a-me-ya-nutcase!"
Pietr grins nastily from a few inches in front of the tech’s face. He releases his hold and straightens the man’s coveralls. ::Think I’ll be fine.::
He relaxes through the pushes, shoves, twists, and rattles of the Drivesuit tightening routine. Conductive gel is added.
“Lock and load, lady and gent.”
Pietr steps into his familiar left-side position. He takes in a deep breath and releases it slowly. He rolls his shoulders and secures himself in the harness. He takes a moment to orient himself to the arrangement of /Eden’s HUD. Familiar enough, but without his gear, he’s no way outside the Drift with Seppänen to compensate for audio cues--and older Jaegers use a lot of audio cues.
===DRIFT===
/First form.
/Second form.
/Third form.
/Finish out the pattern. No fuss.
===REAL PILOT===
“You did pretty well for never having walked a Jaeger before.” “How does it feel to be a real pilot?”
"Your Squire is a very pretty young lady. Is she spoken for?"
Pietr shrugs.
==First Drop==
(aka "Trainwreck")
Their first drop's probably going to be a trainwreck. 
Yep! He's jumpy, she's freaking out because holyshithemightdiethelastpilotswhotriedthisdidandtheyhadexperiencepleasedontdieidontknowwhatiddo, and the other techs are /trying to help and Chuck's smacking them away because she'll be damned if she's gonna trust anyone else with Pietr's life.
"You know that's not a real drill, yes? Brandishing it, not all that threatening? Okay, good, just wanted to make sure." Are either of them cognizant enough to practice first?
I think they get a patrol in beforehand, but I dunno about practice. D'you think Chuck would insist on it? She strikes me as more of a perfectionist than Pietr. Then again, he's got a year's worth of Drifting with Chuck's perfectionism behind him, so maybe that shows in his behavior.
Hmmm... While she's unpacking the Drivesuit, she's looking at all the pieces (the tech's changed a bit since she studied it) and thinking 'I have no idea what have these pieces are' spends every waking moment from that point on learning the theory... which works great when your Ranger's an invisible guy on the ground. Once the Conn-pod's locked, still clutching the drill, she calls Lightcap on autopilot and whispers "I fucked up."
That's ... beautiful. And she spends the fight indulging in her nervous habit of choice (chewing nails, twisting hair, bouncing knee, etc.)
And it goes without saying she totally tacklehugs him when he gets back in once piece.
==Suit Up==
"Everyone’s out of position!" Kozlov rants. "You’re the only ones we can get there before the Kaiju. So you’re going. Suit up."
"Yes, sir."
::Yes, sir.::
.
stil_veldwagter : u hear?
not_a_monkey : yes
stil_veldwagter : c u
.
::One minute.::
Chuck nods and dives to stage equipment.
Pietr ducks into the Green Room and hurriedly types in the user code.
/Puuuu-rrrinnnggg puuuu-rrrri--
"Pietr?"
::I’m being deployed.::
::No! /No! You can’t go!::
::It’s a small one and my Jaeger’s better armored than the Alaskan was. I’ll be alright.::
::/Please be careful.::
::I will. I need to get back to you and Anniek.::
::We need you to come back.::
::I will, sweetie, I will. I promise. I love you.::
::I love you. Be safe.::
He smiles and thumbs closed the connection. He takes a deep breath and runs his hands through his hair.
.
"Darling!"
Chuck jumps.
"Dear Ranger is here."
.
Pietr works on his boots.
"Pietr, what're you--"
::Take it.::
"I'm not--"
::I want it separate.::
"'M on thin ice with Griet alrea--"
::In case ... ::
"I carved a spot for it next to the tags, see ... ?"
::In case something like /Triton happens.::
Chuck sets her jaw.
::If I don't come back, make sure it gets home, alright?::
Chuck swallows. Nods.
::But I'll come back.:: He kisses her gently on the forehead.
While she's unpacking the Drivesuit, she's looking at all the pieces (the tech's changed a bit since she studied it) and thinking 'I have no idea what have these pieces are' spends every waking moment from that point on learning the theory... which works great when your Ranger's an invisible guy on the ground. Once the Conn-pod's locked, still clutching the drill, she calls Lightcap on autopilot and whispers "I fucked up."
Damn thing weighs an anvil.
"I fucked up."
"Chuck? Is that you?"
"Mmhmm."
"What's happening? What's fucked up?"
"Pietr. Deployed."
==Guardian Angel==
-31 March 2020-
The air in the Limbo mess hall pulses amber.
Yancy blinks in surprise. "What the--?"
Edan groans. "Kaiju alert. It's 'bout ta get busy 'round here."
"Kaiju?! Already? It's barely been a month!"
"Think th' Kaiju care?"
Yancy snorts. "Guess not." He pushes to his feet, lunch forgotten. "Wha'do we do now?"
"Pop in on ev'ryone, soothe any frayed nerves, then come back here 'n get ready fer any new charges."
"That's it?" Yancy's voice nearly cracks. "What about the Jaeger pilots?"
"The Cap usually keeps 'n eye on th' fighters." Edan cocks his head. "Pretty sure he won't mind your help."
Yancy visibly relaxes.
"I'll check Hermann. You grab your brother, then find Cap."
"On it!" Yancy pops out in a whiff of ozone.
Edan vanishes a split-second later.
"Ho-lee shit. It's Bunny."
"Does she know you call her that?"
"Not her. /Him. Vos. Pietr. Bunny." Yancy waves jazz hands. "He was Lightcap's test critter when I met him, like, a coupla months ago."
"Huh." Casey cocks his head. "Haven't seen 'im before. New graduate?"
"He's that Universally Compatible guy I was t-31 March 2020--
.
The air in the Limbo mess hall pulses amber.
Yancy blinks in surprise. "What the--?"
Edan groans. "Kaiju alert. It's 'bout ta get busy 'round here."
"Kaiju?! Already? It's barely been a month!"
"Think th' Kaiju care?"
Yancy snorts. "Guess not." He pushes to his feet, lunch forgotten. "Wha'do we do now?"
"Pop in on ev'ryone, soothe any frayed nerves, then come back here 'n get ready fer any new charges."
"That's it?" Yancy's voice nearly cracks. "What about the Jaeger pilots?"
"The Cap usually keeps 'n eye on th' fighters." Edan cocks his head. "Pretty sure he won't mind your help."
Yancy visibly relaxes.
"I'll check Hermann. You grab your brother, then find Cap."
"On it!" Yancy pops out in a whiff of ozone.
Edan vanishes a split-second later.
"Ho-lee shit. It's Bunny."
"Does she know you call her that?"
"Not her. /Him. Vos. Pietr. Bunny." Yancy waves jazz hands. "He was Lightcap's test critter when I met him, like, a coupla months ago."
"Huh." Casey cocks his head. "Haven't seen 'im before. New graduate?"
"He's that Universally Compatible guy I was telling you about."
==Hammerjaw==
Gangneung, South Korea, battle finishes about 3:30 local; 3hr flight time back to Vladivostok via Blackhawk
Mimmi waves broadly.
Pietr turns to her.
"Her cannons are underpowered, so we use melee attacks to soften 'em up first."
Pietr nods again.
"I'll make the call on when to use them, so follow my lead."
Pietr's jaw tightens a fraction, but he nods.
“Locked and loaded, Rangers. Fight and win.”
.
Pietr steps into his familiar left-side position. He takes in a deep breath and releases it slowly. He rolls his shoulders and secures himself in the harness. He takes a moment to check the overlay of his helmet’s HUD with /Eden’s main display.
He grinds his teeth as he sees the LOCCENT captioning on his visor covers part of the tracking information on the main display. Countdown.
Mimmi’s memories hit with less force this time.
The Jumphawks connect with resonant thuds and the foot pads press harder against his boots as they lift into the air.
Pietr studies the the data on the Kaiju as it streams in. Category Two, codename ‘Hammerjaw.’ Big for Cat Two, but nothing on ‘Knifehead.’
=DISENGAGING TRANSPORT=
The Kaiju hunches on its four legs, head snaking back and forth, Kaiju Blue dripping from its heavy jaws. With the spines along its back like hackles, it resembles a rabid dog.
Hammerjaw opens its mouth and the force of its roar rattles /Eden’s armor.
=HAKKAA PÄÄLLE=
Pietr blinks, then grins.
/Eden closes the gap at its fastest shuffling run.
Mimmi draws back her arm--Pietr puts his strength behind the punch--and drives /Eden’s spiked knuckles into the Kaiju’s largest right eye.
Hammerjaw staggers away, Blue leaking from its ruined eye, another roar shaking the pilots in their harnesses.
Mimmi reaches for the scruff of Hammerjaw’s neck.
Pietr follows even as he winces.
Hammerjaw whips its head around, snapping its teeth within a meter of the hand Pietr jerks out of the way.
Mimmi’s hand slips uselessly off the Kaiju’s hide.
It rises on its hind legs and slams its heavy head into /Eden’s chest.
Damage indicators flash.
/Eden sits down hard.
More damage indicators flash.
=HULL COMPROMISED=
Hammerjaw leaps for /Eden’s Conn-pod.
Pietr grabs its throat and squeezes with all his strength.
The Jaeger’s frame shudders and pops as the Jaeger’s fingers ratchet tight around Hammerjaw’s trachea.
It tries to drive its fangs through the visor.
/Eden struggles to her feet, digging in her heels.
Pietr holds it at bay, grinding his bared teeth, while Mimmi preps the ballistic cannon.
=HOLD IT PETER HOLD IT=
The first shot tears an enormous hole in the Kaiju’s neck.
Recoil nearly tears Pietr’s grip free.
Hammerjaw rakes at /Eden’s damaged chest armor with both forelegs and swings its head back and forth, splashing Blue through the rents in the steel.
Pietr feels cables snapping below him as the acid burns through them.
His hold loosens as his fingers tingle from the effects of the Blue.
The second shot generates a shock wave which staggers /Eden as the projectile smashes into the Kaiju’s reinforced skull.
The beast falls over, twitching, as Pietr’s hand fails.
Mimmi puts two more shots into its head.
=KAIJUS DEAD EDEN HOWERR YOU
AND VOSS=
=IM FINE JUST HURT PRIDE PETER=
Pietr gives a thumbs up.
=HEES FINE TWO=
=TRANSPORTS FIVE MINUTES OUT
SIT TIGHT=
=WHEEL STAND BUT COPY LOCCENT=
Pietr breathes deeply through his nose and shakes his left hand.
(about 8pm Gangneung; 9pm Sydney; 10pm Vladivostok; 3am Anchorage; 1pm South Africa)
JASMYNTEE : pls be ok
stil_veldwagter : im ok
stil_veldwagter : b sore tomrrw tho
JASMYNTEE : thk god
JASMYNTEE : we watched n the office
JASMYNTEE : so scared
stil_veldwagter : sry
stil_veldwagter : tryd 2 get it ovr fast
JASMYNTEE : thx i think
stil_veldwagter : ^_^
JASMYNTEE : oops gotta go
JASMYNTEE : call u?
stil_veldwagter : YES PLS
JASMYNTEE : when?
stil_veldwagter : WHNEVR
JASMYNTEE : k
JASMYNTEE : luv u
stil_veldwagter : luv u 2
ranger_hansen : cngrts old man
ranger_hansen : bout time u got 1
Pietr shakes his head.
stil_veldwagter : 1st drop same as u kid
ranger_hansen : bet i get anthr b4 u
Pietr snorts.
stil_veldwagter : not a cntst
ranger_hansen : ttlly is
stil_veldwagter : go 2 bed kid
ranger_hansen : no
stil_veldwagter : ya
ranger_hansen : no
stil_veldwagter : im goin
ranger_hansen : weak
stil_veldwagter : old
stil_veldwagter : jst u w8
ranger_hansen : nvr be as old as u
Pietr rolls his eyes.
stil_veldwagter : nite chuck
ranger_hansen : nite pietr
stil_veldwagter : helmet nos finnish?
Not_A_Monkey : latest upgrade
stil_veldwagter : y?
Not_A_Monkey : nu u were gonna need it
stil_veldwagter : stl cnt spell my name rite
Not_A_Monkey : can u spell yr name right?
stil_veldwagter : txt isnt riting
Not_A_Monkey : uh huh
stil_veldwagter : nuh uh
Not_A_Monkey : u gonna party?
stil_veldwagter : ya
stil_veldwagter : hot shwr
stil_veldwagter : erly bedtiem
Not_A_Monkey : xciting life u have
stil_veldwagter : yr jellus
Not_A_Monkey : yeah
stil_veldwagter : sry
Not_A_Monkey : go 2 bed petey
stil_veldwagter : i dsrved tht
Not_A_Monkey : go 2 bed petey
stil_veldwagter : nite chuck
==Mimmi 'n Kirra==
Speaking of tacklehugs, what's her likely reaction to Mimmi-the-Finnish-pilot hitting on her?
'Holy shite an actual human being is actually hitting on me. ... What the hell do I do?' Theres a chance she says that out loud; at the very least a rather lame "uh..."
==After Party==
Flight home:
"That Squire of yours is quite the pretty girl."
Nods.
"She is not your wife, yes?"
Shakes his head.
"Your mistress?"
Shakes his head violently.
"Other Chuck's?"
Doubles over laughing.
Recovers.
Wipes eyes.
"Spoken for?"
Shrugs 'don't think so.'
Mimmi's expression turns calculating.
Chuck hits Pietr at cometary velocity.
Mimmi arches an eyebrow. "You are lucky you are still armored."
Pietr returns Chuck's hug from his prone position.
... lips stained pink by electrolyte replenishers.
::Why does my helmet speak her--:: he jerks a thumb toward Mimmi ::--language?::
::Knew you'd need it.::
::It doesn't even spell my name right and it speaks Finnish.:: >loooo< 
::Some things are more important than others.:: >LOL< 
Pietr snorts.
::Ye gonna go party?::
He shakes his head. ::Call wife, cold shower, then bed.::
::/Cold shower?::
::Ghosting.::
::What does--::
::Ghosting with Mimmi.::
:: ... Who's hitting on everything breathing upstairs ... ::
Pietr nods.
Chuck shakes her head. ::Yeah. Cold shower sounds good.::
::Exciting.::
Pietr shrugs. ::Tired.::
::Ye sound like an old man.::
::Am an old man.::
::Yer younger than me!::
::By a week!::
::Still younger.::
::You're impossible.::
::I prefer highly improbable.::
Pietr rolls his eyes. ::The scientists rubbed off on you.::
::I spent five hours in a crazy woman's brain, got headbutted by a Kaiju, burned my hand, and /you tackled me as soon as I got back on dry land.::
::Sure, blame me.::
Chuck contemplates a cold shower for herself.
Pietr's Ghosting with Mimmi.
Which means Mimmi's Ghosting with Pietr.
Probably.
Chuck chews her lip.
Mimmi was hitting on me.
Mimmi's Ghosting with Pietr.
Mimmi has after-battle one-night-stands.
With women.
Mimmi was hitting on me.
Mimmi's Ghosting with Pietr.
...
Cold shower.
/Definitely cold shower.
==Harrowing Ghost Drift==
Please see "Harrowing Ghost Drift".
Category:To Russia with Haste
Category:Ficlet
Category:Scraps