Lucky 13

**Lucky 13 (🫀❌🐴)** is the thirteenth episode of the first volume of LOVE DEATH + ROBOTS.

3 Symbols:

1. Human Heart
2. Cross
3. Horseshoe

## Episode Synopsis

After the drop-ship Lucky 13 lost two crews, no pilot would fly her... but rookies don't get a choice.

## Plot

Lieutenant Colby ‘Cutter’ is introduced by Major Graham to her new ship 13 which as per Air Wing tradition has been assigned to her since no others want it due to its unlucky reputation.  On two occasions 13 was recovered with the loss of all its occupants which has never happened to any other ships and not only is its main flight number 13 but its serial number 13-02313 also add up to 13.  The ship is a Sikorski Space Division UH-80 S manufactured in 2077 with seating capacity for 12 marines and their equipment along with a crew of two.  There are two fixed engines at the rear and two rotating engines in the wings to give 13 VTOL capability, a set of cannons above and below the cockpit at the front and a flare launcher at the rear.  Colby is introduced to Chief Warrant Office Jack Lee ‘Jacko’ who is her crew chief and while she tells him she’s not superstitious in response to 13’s reputation and it’s just a ship, he corrects her that the ships all have personalities particularly 13.

Colby is deployed with 13 to haul marines down to a terraform station that has been attacked by enemy forces with 070 and another ship with 13 leading, which Colby is aware means her ship is the most likely to be attacked.  While Colby is warned that two T28 stealth fighters have been tracked in the area, the marines prepare to deploy with one marine commenting on 13 ‘it’s not a ship, it’s a coffin’ clearly aware of its grisly reputation.  The three ships successfully land and the marines exit but almost immediately the two T28s attack destroying one ship with cannon fire and 070 is also destroyed while attempting to lift off and abandoning its marines.  Colby orders all the marines to get aboard 13, rotating the ship to prepare to leave as the T28s come round for another attack, the last marine jumps onboard and Colby puts 13 into a steep dive off the cliff edge while launching flares to defend against the oncoming missile.

As the ground rapidly approaches Colby pulls 13 out of the dive and maneuvers through tight rocky columns quickly followed by one of the T28 fighters which has also descended into the same area.  The T28 fires another missile which Colby stops with another set of flares while Lee tries to hit the T28 with cannons but both ships struggle due to the dense columns obstructing their fire.  On noticing the T28 maneuvering round the collapsing rock formations due to the weapon fire, she instructs Lee to instead target the rock columns causing large sections of rock to collapse onto the T28.  It attempts to fire another missile but a large section crashes onto the fighter destroying it and the missile.  Colby exits the area and climbs back into open air leading her to face the second T28 which opens fire with its cannon, however Lee cannot return fire as its weapons are out of ammunition.  To avoid the incoming fire Colby rotates 13 to the side  then rotates 13 again to pass upside down over the T28 while carefully timing another set of flares to fire into the enemy cockpit killing the crew and crashing the plane.  While the surprised marines exit 13 Colby sits in the cockpit and speaks to 13 saying ‘They’re wrong about you’

Afterwards Colby and 13 develop an exceptional combat record flying 19 missions without a single loss despite frequently flying through heavy anti-air fire and three missions where 13 was the only flight ready ship left.  In response to her success with 13, Major Graham offers Colby one of the new top of the line Whisky Blackhawks referring to 13 as an ‘antique’ and a ‘bucket of bolts’.  Instead Colby refuses the offer, telling Graham it’s her bucket of bolts and 13 always takes care of her.  In response to 13’s successful reputation Colby paints a dragon design around the leading 13 of the ship’s serial number with the name Lucky below and has the same design tattooed on her arm now referring to the ship as ‘Lucky 13’

A group of marines are under heavy fire from enemy soldiers and have retreated to a damaged base alongside a wrecked ship which appears to be the same design as 13, again calling for evacuation.  Colby lands 13  and gives cover using the ship’s cannons while the marines get on board, Corby then takes off and appears to have successfully evacuated.  A group of enemy soldiers are tracking 13 as it climbs and fire a guided rocket which hits the ship’s portside wing engine causing the ship to go into a terminal spin as Colby struggles to get control back.  13 slams into the ground but its occupants survive, Colby instructs Lee to get the marines out and she’ll defend them with the cannons and scuttle 13 when it runs out of ammo.  When the main cannon jams Colby drops down into the main compartment and arms 13’s self-destruct system, apologising to the ship for what she has to do but not wanting to let the enemies get their hands on it.  As she exits the ship she shoots two of the soldiers then runs for cover to join the rest of the marines while counting down 13’s self-destruct timer diving into the trench just as the ship is going to detonate.

There is no explosion and while Colby looks at 13 sitting silently on the ground she thinks the ship ‘doesn’t want to go’.  As the enemy soldiers continue to advance and climb onto and surround 13 to get cover and a better firing position, the marines start firing back until Colby recognises a rising whining noise indicating the ship has resumed its self-destruct and orders the marines to get down.  13 detonates and kills all the attacking soldiers protecting its crew one last time.

As Colby walks through the destroyed remains of 13 and finds its manufacturing plate she explains that in the aftermath she received the Distinguished FLying Cross for conspicuous bravery under fire and a new Whisky Blackhawk.  However, while a fine ship she would trade it in immediately for one more flight with Lucky 13.

## Cast

* Samira Wiley at the Internet Movie Database as Lieutenant Colby
* Daisuke Tsuji at the Internet Movie Database as Chief Warrant Officer Lee
* Nestor Serrano at the Internet Movie Database as Major Graham
* Stanton Lee at the Internet Movie Database as Sergeant Howard
* Noshir Dalal at the Internet Movie Database as Sergeant Pettibone
* Jeffrey Pierce at the Internet Movie Database as Private First Class Macdonald
* David Paladino at the Internet Movie Database as Private First Class D'Esposito
* Jeff Schine at the Internet Movie Database as I-MC/Five Zero/Seven Zero/Henhouse
* Melissa Sturm at the Internet Movie Database as Bitching Betty