#Lieutenant Piper

[chernobog13]

Lieutenant Piper (Julie Parrish), assistant to Commodore José Mendez of Starbase 11, in The Menagerie Part One.

[starriinightii]

You know how everyone of the 11 (seven + Nico, Will, Reyna and Thalia) has names that means something really deep except for three.

Sources : Google

The name Perseus is of Greek origin and means "destroyer". It may come from the Ancient Greek word pertho, which means "to destroy".

The name Annabeth is a combination of the names Anna and Elizabeth, and has multiple meanings: Favor, Full of grace, and My God is an oath.

From the Greek word iaomai, which means "to heal" or "cure", Jason means "healer".

The name Leonidas has its origins in ancient Greece, where it is derived from the Greek words leon, meaning lion, and idas, meaning like.

The Italian male name Niccolò means "victor of people" or "people's champion". It comes from the Greek name Nikolaos.

The name William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior".

The name Thalia is of Greek origin and means "to blossom," "blooming," "flourishing," and "festivity". It may also be derived from the Greek word thallein, which means "to flourish".

Reyna is a Spanish girl's name that means "queen" and has roots in Latin, German, and Yiddish.

And then, there's Piper, Frank and Hazel -

Piper is an English name that means someone who plays the musical pipe, flute, or bagpipes.

The name Frank has multiple meanings, including "free", "Frenchman", and "a diminutive of Francis and Franklin".

The name Hazel is a feminine name that means "hazel" and is derived from the Old English word hæsel. It can refer to the hazel tree or the color hazel, which is a greenish-brown.

[dykedvonte]

Preston x Danse is the only companion ship I think would actually work because Preston’s inner turmoil is sort of a loss of faith in himself due to the traumatic experiences he’s faced while Danse is looking for something to have faith in and would find the fact that despite the desire to give up Preston held out so long not just for the honor of the Minutemen but because he had some hope.

It would 100% start off as a lotta unhealthy on Danse’s side as I believe he completely lacks the emotional intelligence (due to a combination of factors) to recognize the he’s feelings as anything but a sort of respect for a superior along with leaning too much into Preston as a substitute for the BoS. Preston may not really have a title but he’s like THE Lieutenant of the Minutemen. Realistically he’s the only companion Danse would probably be comfortable taking instructions from especially for how trusted Preston is by the Sole Survivor and his adherence to military standards despite how unstructured the Minutemen are. It would be him waiting for orders, approval, anything from Preston and he thinks it’s just the desire to have the regiment of the BoS again but he also like when Preston compliments him on being useful or resourceful. He likes the stories of Minuteman glory days and he trades the stories of the BoS that don’t hurt to talk about. He likes the familiarity Preston would provide and he’d be oblivious that it’s not just new found loyalty to the Minutemen.

Yet Preston explains it himself that he’s not a natural leader. He’s not an instructor. He helps manage what the General has put in place and he content on doing that. He relays what needs to be done and does major upkeep but I don’t think he’d know what to do with this guy this literally marches up to him and practically begs for a mission that doesn’t exist. Like the formality and respect is nice but he can tell it’s covering something even if Danse doesn’t.

Danse could go to Sturges for the many repair and upkeep assignments he gives him and has the freedom to go straight to the Castle if he really wants a big mission, but he chooses to come to him everytime. He’s aware enough that Danse only trusts him out of all of the Generals confidantes but it would take a bit for him to understand why. If anything Danse should be strategizing with him as equals seeing as he almost got the Minuteme wiped out and Danse was a Paladin for the Brotherhood with many successes under his belt before Preston even led his first scouting mission. It’s like he sees him as some figure of hope, some one who can come in and add stability. Someone with a fresh outlook who can provide a new perspective for him.

It’s like he sees him like he saw/sees the Sole Survivor but that would be crazy because that would also mean… and then oh, it clicks.

The revelation is both flattering and he doesn’t know what to do with it cause how do you address “I know you respect me but is that the only feeling you have for me?” To the guy who like refuses to rest unless you tell him at ease? He has to reevaluate his whole manner of interaction with Danse cause this is a very slippery slope that he’s sliding down and it’s even more perilous due to Danse’s repressed emotions regarding… everything. There’s an equal chance Danse will try to open up as completely shut down and he’s not just concerned about it cause Sole Survivor cares for him but because he has grown to care for the guy too. It’s not like he doesn’t also enjoy Danse’s company and value as a Minuteman member. He’s not a love at first sight guy but he’s played with the idea, anyone would when you’ve spent nights trading stories, historical facts and beers by the fire in a little home you’ve carved for yourself through literal blood, sweat and tears.

I think it’s one of those cases where it’s agonizingly slow to the actual relationship but neither part are anguished about that. If anything happened to soon Danse would be too dependent and Preston not equipped to handle it. It’s a case where I genuinely think they’d bring out the best in each other cause theyd want to figure out what is best for the other and not just apply what they think is the best. It’s the care that Preston would ask Danse what he wants to do and encourage it and at the same time Danse would be incredulous everytime Preston second guesses himself.

Long story short it’s a good ship to me because it’s just two guys with broken confidences and faith in their roles being each other’s hype man and kissin a little about it.

[bantarleton]

To commemorate the anniversary of D-Day, a short thread of photos colourised by DBColour (Colourising History on Facebook). Descriptions run from top-to-bottom.

Piper Bill Millin, seen here landing on Sword Beach with his bagpipes with Lord Lovat’s Commandos of 1st Special Service Brigade. IWM B 5103.

Commandos of 1st Special Service Brigade after landing on Queen Red beach, Sword area, 6 June 1944. British Airborne troops smile from the door of their Horsa glider as they prepare to fly out as part of the second drop on Normandy on the night of 6th June 1944. LCI(L) 135 of the 2nd Canadian (262nd RN) Flotilla carrying personnel of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and the Highland Light Infantry of Canada en route to France on D-Day, 6 June 1944. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN Nº. 3205043) Film still from the D-Day landings showing commandos aboard a landing craft on their approach to Sword Beach, 6 June 1944.

LCA (Landing Craft Assault) containing soldiers from the Winnipeg Rifles head for the Normandy Juno beach - June 6, 1944.

Commandos approach Sword Beach in a Landing Craft Infantry (LCI). Ahead, the beach is crowded with tanks and vehicles of 27th Armoured Brigade and 79th Armoured Division.

Troops of 3rd Infantry Division on Queen Red beach, Sword area, circa 0845 hrs, 6 June 1944. In the foreground are sappers of 84 Field Company Royal Engineers. Behind them, medical orderlies of 8 Field Ambulance, RAMC, can be seen assisting wounded men.

A Horsa glider near the Caen Canal bridge at Benouville, 8 June 1944. No. 91 (PF800), carried Major John Howard and Lieutenant Den Brotheridge of No.1 Platoon, 'D' Co., 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in the early hours of D-Day. © IWM B 5232

[uss-edsall]

On 9 November, 1942, flying off the coast of Casablanca, French Morrocco in support of the Operation TORCH landings, the Piper Cub (under the name L-4 Grasshopper) made her official combat debut in the Second World War. This once-civilian plane had been bought by the U.S. Army to function as "air observation posts," flown by pilots in the U.S. Army Field Artillery, attached directly to battalions. Her concept, proven in training maneuvers, was as aerial reconnaissance; aerial photography; single-person transport; air ambulance; and in particular, reconnaissance and artillery observation. She would prove to be perfect for all of these roles. She would go on to have an incredible record during the Second World War, one of the best planes built for her particular role, with over six thousand of them bought by the U.S. Army. She was small, she could handle landing tiny fields, she was stealthy, she was dead simple to repair and reliable in the air.

But on that day? For that mission? There were only three Grasshoppers, and it was an absolute disaster.

The three planes were attached to the 3rd Infantry Division. Their pilots were hurriedly brought to USS Ranger (CV-4), aboard which were three L-4 Grasshoppers in bad condition. All their efforts were getting the planes ready for flight. What the pilots did not know was that their commanders, from colonels to generals alike, did not prepare properly for their debut.

On 8 November American troops stormed ashore at Safi, Casablanca and Point Lyautey. The next day, Ranger turned into the wind, the pilots got aboard the planes. In the 35-knot wind the instant the ship's crew let go of their tails, the planes hopped off the deck and were in the air, sixty miles from shore.

Three miles from the beach, the allied invasion force appeared. Transports, destroyers, the light cruiser USS Brooklyn. Aboard the Brooklyn alert officers and anti-air gun crews spotted the L-4 Grasshoppers.

There was nothing in the allied aviation recognition books that resembled the L-4 Grasshopper. None of the artillery pilots' superiors had properly distributed warnings that the Army had procured the civilian planes, and were using them for the first time.

The Brooklyn's anti-air weaponry opened up. 5" shells, 40mm bofors, 20mm Oerlikons reached out to lick at the Grasshoppers. In the first flak burst the quartet of little planes scattered, diving for the deck. Captain Ford Allcorn leveled off at twenty feet and started juking like mad, gamely going for the beach leading his flight. Every other ship, seeing the Brooklyn open up on the unfamiliar planes, joined in.

The artillery pilots had not the fuel to return to the ship, even if they'd been trained in carrier landings, which they weren't. Land was their only option for salvation. Shellfire blew out Allcorn's windshield, shot off one of the doors. As the Grasshoppers juked and weaved, bullets splashed into the water all around them. A hundred feet from shore, they levelled off and gunned their throttles to the maximum - 80 mph - for the safety of the shoreline.

At which point the pintle mount machineguns on tanks ashore opened fire on them. For nobody had told the Army troops of the 2nd Armored Division either about the Piper Cubs, and seeing the Navy so enthusiastically shooting at them, they joined in. .50-calibre bullets ripped into the Grasshoppers, betrayed by their own.

Captain Allcorn's engine cut out after several tanks' machineguns stitched bullets across the frame, and five bullets tore into his leg.

The wounded planes got to the shoreline. They flew over the armor, guns straining to shoot at them, desperately trying to get to the safety of the Fedala Racetrack, where they were supposed to go. Allcorn spotted a relatively flat area and pancaked in, crawling out of the mortally wounded flaming bird before the fuel exploded.

And then the Vichy French opened up.

Lieutenants Butler, Shell, and Captain Devol (one L-4 having carried two of them) were taken prisoner after crash landing behind Vichy French lines, but were released when the French in Casablanca surrendered two days later on 11 November.

Amazingly, despite all this, nobody had been killed.

Captain Allcorn was the first Army aviator in the ETO to fly off a carrier, the first in combat, and the dubious distinction of the first to be shot down and the first to be wounded. Captain Allcorn, from his hospital bed back in the States, wrote a report about it all that even reached the Chief of Staff General Marshall's desk. He argued that this disastrous beginning was not the death knell of the Grasshopper. He concluded, perhaps rather dryly, that there was seemingly a failure to communicate between the Army and the Navy. His report helped the Piper Cub / L-4 Grasshopper survive the event, to go on to become one of the most produced aircraft of the war, and most widely used.

Even today, almost four thousand of the nearly twenty thousand Piper Cubs built are still in the FAA registry.

[thatsrightice]

are there any excerpts from Crosby’s memoir about Gale you could post, if that’s alright? I’m really curious about him!

Thank you for the ask, I am more than happy to oblige! Just as a little note, I think both Egan and Cleven were nicknamed Bucky, but the show made one Buck and one Bucky so that people wouldn’t get them confused. Also, Crosby never really mentions Cleven without mentioning Egan which is kind of a testament to their relationship. There’s a lot of them btw so most of them will be under the cut! :)

*

"You fly tomorrow," Bucky Elton told us. He was Squadron Operations Officer. Both leaders had the same nickname. In the Group we had Bucky Egan, Bucky Elton, and Bucky Cleven. Cleven and Egan were best friends, top flyers, devil-may-care. All the 100th pilots wanted to be like them.

*

"What I can't really handle is that when Cleven and Egan were still around, the men were happier. With them gone, the heart of the 100th has stopped beating." - Harry Crosby

*

Then come the four squadron commanders, with Bucky Egan and Bucky Cleven together. They, more than any other of our leaders, had the real Air Corps raunch, their hats cocked on the backs of their heads. Egan's white fleece-lined jacket is his trademark. They both are wearing white scarves.

Egan and Cleven trade quips with their men as they walk forward. I don't normally use the word "debonair," but that's what they are. Bucky Cleven and Bucky Egan are like what their men saw in the movie I Wanted Wings. The men wanted leaders like that. Cleven's real first name is Gale, and Egan's is John, but I never heard either name used.

The two Buckys talk like Hollywood. The first time I ever saw Cleven was at the Officers' Club. For some reason he wanted to talk with me, and he said, "Taxi over here, Lootenant."

*

The Group Navigator [Omar Gonzalez] is a first lieutenant from San Antonio, Texas. Because of his skin color and his quiet diffidence, he doesn't belong up there with the boisterous, swaggering Egan and Cleven. Egan calls him "Pancho." Cleven calls him "Omar the Tent Maker."

*

When we all assembled on the airfield for parade, our lines were straggly and our men out of step. When the squadrons stood by for inspection, Colonel LeMay didn't see Cleven. When he asked where the squadron commander was, the first sergeant responded, "He took to the woods." This did not surprise LeMay who had heard from our previous commanding officers, Turner and Huglin, that Cleven and Egan were at the root of the 100th's raunchy discipline.

On the next day, Bucky even gathered up the enlisted men who worked at 350th Squadron Headquarters and told them he was going to make up for the indignity they had suffered the day before. He took them out to the flight line and loaded them up in an old stripped-down B-17E, which our group brass used for joyrides and taxi service. Since it had no guns or armaments, it was light and Cleven could fly it like a P-39 fighter plane.

Apparently Cleven had phoned some of his pilot training classmates who were now assigned to P-47's and arranged a surprise. The E was hardly off the runway when it was "attacked" by three American fighters.

For the next twenty minutes, Cleven-whose superb skill as a pilot no one questioned-wrung that old plane out as though it was a Piper Cub. He twisted and turned and plunged, all in a simulated dog fight with his three fighter pilot chums. The three Thunderbolts buzzed the 17 and came within inches of it.

The ground-duty enlisted men in the plane probably never forgot that flight, but it hardly was what the 100th needed at that time. When the fight was reported by the British Home Guard observation team, the report did the 100th no good.

*

The "Two Buckys," John Egan, commander of the 418th Squadron, and Gale Cleven, of the 350th, were the heart of the original 100th-dashing, undisciplined, superb pilots, exactly what Hollywood expected them to be. When they were shot down, even over Bremen (October 8, 1943), and Egan over Münster (October 10), the 100th was devastated-and a new era began.

*

We knew that Bucky Cleven's plane had been hit badly just before Regensburg, and we had heard that he and the pilot, Norman Scott, had differed about what to do. When we got on the ground in Africa, there seemed to be no tension between the two of them, and Scott was laughing and joking just like the rest of us.

According to the Lay report, after the hits, the pilot had pleaded with Cleven to abandon ship. When Cleven refused to ring the bell, Scott had gotten up and started to leave alone. At this point, "although the odds were heavily against him, Major Cleven's reply was as follows: 'You son of a bitch, you sit there and take it."

Lay's report continued, "These strong words were heard over interphone and had a magical effect on the rest of the crew, and they stuck to their guns."

For this, Colonel Lay recommended Bucky Cleven for the Congressional Medal of Honor. The citation was scaled down a bit, and he did get the Distinguished Service Cross.

This story electrified the base, a triumph for the group's most admired twosome. Already Cleven and Egan were the 100th Group heroes. New crews almost immediately began to talk like the two squadron commanders. In the Officers' Club or at Group Ops, young flyers circled around them, and watched the two fly missions with their hands. Enlisted men adored them. Pilots wanted to fly the way the two Buckys did. Back in the days before anyone knew what a role model was, Bucky Cleven and Bucky Egan were the role models of the 100th.

When the story appeared in The Saturday Evening Post it made Bucky Cleven a national hero.

*

From the tail: "High squadron lead gone. There it goes."

It can't be. Bucky Cleven is in that plane. He is indestructible.

No German alive could get him.

*

The British lorry drives off with our profuse thanks. Just as we climb into one of the base personnel carriers, Colonel Harding drives up in his sedan, with Bucky Egan behind him in another car.

A volley of words.

"We thought you had it!"

"We got reports that four chutes got out.”

"Did you see Bucky Cleven get it?"

We take the enlisted men to their quarters. Since we have not eaten since morning, we need food. We look at our watches: 1930 hours. The Flying Mess will be closed. We head for the Officers' Club.

As we enter, officers, ground and air alike, look up. Stunned.

"It's Blakely's crew!"

Pandemonium. Every man in the club, even the enlisted waiters, rush up and pound us on the back. At least half of them offer us their drinks.

"We thought you bought it!"

"They reported four chutes."

"Did you see Major Cleven blow up?"

*

Bucky Cleven, the impervious, the invincible, was gone. If he couldn't make it, who could? His good friend, Bucky Egan, didn't talk much that night.

*

The loss of Bucky Cleven over Bremen and Bucky Egan over Münster seemed to have cut the heart right out of the the 100th. Without them the 100th was a shadow.

*

Bucky Cleven and Bucky Egan, the two squadron leaders who went down over Bremen and Münster, were the very soul of Romanticism. They hated discipline. I told Landra that discipline was called "chicken shit." Like the two Buckys, our pilots all wanted to be dashing individualists.

*

Jack Kidd, John Bennett, and Tom Jeffrey showed us how to win a war. Bucky Cleven and Bucky Egan gave the 100th its personality. Bob Rosenthal helped us want to win the war.

[starlightshadowsworld]

THL but Percy doesn't go anywhere.

He and Annabeth are patrolling the Camp boundaries and hear something.

They go to inspect it, hear a roar and that silence.

Jason stumbles towards them, terrified.

He looks like he's been running for days, his clothes are wrecked, he's littered with injuries.

And he's missing his shoes.

He reaches out to them in panic and says something neither understand.

Before blacking out.

Waking up in the infirmary with no memory of how he got here.

Nor any memory of who he is.

He struggles to speak and manages to clumsily write "Jason" on a notebook but that's all.

Piper and Leo came to camp around 2 months ago are getting to know this crazy world and their new lives.

Piper, not content with how the Aphrodite cabin is being looked down on.

And no one wanting to teach her how to fight.

And it being Clarisse of all people who ends up mentoring her.

Some say its out of respect for her old friend, some say its because Piper reminds her of her.

Leo, getting to know his new siblings but he tries and fails to keep them at arms length.

He refuses to use his fire.

And has not told anyone about it's existence. For the fear it will ruin everything like it always does.

But it's getting harder to keep it a secret.

And maybe part of him... Wants to believe it's a blessing and not a curse.

Their paths cross when Jason starts to have dreams about a woman calling for his aid.

Because he's not the only one having them.

Cue Percy cursing in the corner.

Jason while he can speak he sometimes struggling with his words.

And sometimes makes barking noises.

Grover thinks he could be of the wild but has no idea what or how.

Because while Jason doesn't have a strong scent, it's definitely of a demigod.

Perhaps he was blessed? Not that Grover can see it.

But it's not the biggest thing to worry about.

Though he has sent like... 3 people to the infirmary from biting them.

They startled him.

... So there's that.

Piper and Leo are trying to figure out their dreams together with Jason.

But he's having other other ones they aren't getting.

A wolf calling out to him.

Saying that the God's have stolen her pup and she will have him returned.

Jason doesn't know who she is but she feels familiar.

They manage to piece togrther that the woman is Hera.

Annabeth calmly gets up and punches a hole in the wall.

Because... Of course it's Hera.

When the, annoyance somewhat fades away Percy wonders why no one from Olympus has said anything.

They ask Mr D but he has no idea what they are talking about.

Jason can't help but feel the wolf in his dreams seems familiar.

And he feels the same way when the hunters of Artemis show up and the eyes of their lieutenant fall on him.

Thalia knows it's him.

She tells Annabeth as much.

"It's him, it's Jason."

"Thalia..."

"I know it's crazy, I know it's insane but it's him... Its him..."

"Okay, if you say it's him."

She doesn't get to confront him on it until during Capture the flag.

"Jason! Jason please, it's me?"

"I'm sorry I don't..."

Thalia wants to scream but she doesn't, she needs to be calm.

It's him.

She knows it's him.

Their attacked by campers and from being distracted she's knocked down.

A rage fills Jason that he hasn't felt before.

... He knows her...

Lighting bursts from his body in all directions, shocking the now scared campers away from Thalia.

"GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER!"

He rushes past, helping her up.

"Thalia?"

"You.. You remember me?"

"A little... I'm sorry... I'm sorry I forgot."

She makes a sound that's a mix of a sob and a laugh and pulls him into a hug.

He hides his face in Thalia's shoulder not liking the attention. When he realises everyone is looking at him.

Or rather above him.

At the lighting bolt above him.

"All hail, Jason Grace. Son of Zeus, King of Olympus, Lord of the Sky. God of Thunder, Lightning, Kingship, Honor and Justice. All hail Jason Grace, son of the Lighting God."

Everyone's talking about what?! Zeus had another child?!

The chatter dies down when Rachel, who upon seeing Jason, glows bright green and da da da daaaa the oracle has entered the building.

Child of lighting

Beware the earth.

The earth giants revenge the seven shall birth.

The dove and the forge will break the cage.

And death unleash through Hera's rage.

Quest plays out and Jason gets his memories back.

Remembers that he's the son of Jupiter

Returns to camp.

And a lighting bolt appears overhead, this time with a numeral beside it.

For 1.

Chiron smiles sadly, taking it as acceptance to share the truth.

Tells the story of the Roman and Greek demigods.

"And our Jason, is not the son of Zeus but his Roman counterpart Jupiter."

Everyone reels taking in this information.

And while many are suspicious of the Romans, Jason has become a good friend and ally to them.

"Lupa said... That I must return... Maybe that's the next step?" Says Jason, standing tall. "Woah, hey we're not gonna let you alone." Says Percy, "agreed" Says Annabeth, Piper and Leo nods.

"I'm not losing you again." Says Thalia.

Not happy by Hera's explanation of having to keep them seperated.

Jason smiles warmly "than we shall go. To Camp Jupiter, together."

"Togrther!"

[mamirhodessxox]

Ultra violence (Introduction)

Dexter Morgan! x Fem!Oc (Piper Cora James)

(Nothing important from the show such as previous cases mentioned in the series won’t be used or mentioned within the FF so nobody feels like they’re missing out on anything but for those interested in the show it is called ‘Dexter’ & can be used on Netflix, be warned there are mentions of heavy topics like Murder & can even include gore-ish scenes so watch at your own risk.)

Desc: In the shadows of Miami's Bay Harbor, Dexter and Piper, two enigmatic souls, found solace in each other's darkness once but Divorced. Their connection, a dance of masks and secrets, unfolded in blood-soaked whispers, drawing themselves into a world where love is still thrived amidst the shadows of their shared secrets when the two become closer & rekindle their past and shared traditions.

Contents: Murder, Alcohol consumption, in depth detail on certain aspects of violence that is mentioned, Smut in later chapters, Knife Play, Bondage, toxic relationship, (original characters from the TV show will be mentions such as Vince Masuka, James Doakes, Debra Morgan, Angel Batista & María LaGuerta.)

🏷️ list: @alyyaanna @ginswife @coolpastelartshoe @greatkoalawizard @cokolin044 @kotoriarlert @alicerosejensen @bunnybot55 @mini-rollins @southerngirl41 @harmshake @femdisa @kabloswrld @claymoresofinfamy23 @bones-rhodes @cococodysleevlesshoodie @edtomh @ihatecodyrhodes @ihatecodyrhodes @ayeeitsali @lisatommo28

FF inspired Playlist as usual! (I would recommend to listening to the playlist while reading but too each their own <3):

{~I'm very serious with you guys interacting with my writing!!!! it would make me so happy & excited, the more comments & reposts the more inspiration i have to write :) likes and comments are strongly appreciated so please COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT COMMEENNTTT the more comments the more content <3!!!~}

———————————————————————

Piper Cora James - 27 years old (Forensic Investigator)

Christina James -41 Years old (Pipers Mother)

Pedro Ramirez -32 Years Old (Detective for Miami Metro Police)

Alexa García -29 Years Old (Bartender)

Dexter Morgan -36 Years Old (forensic blood spatter analyst)

Michael Patrovski -38 (Chief of Police)

Valeria Ortiz -45 Years Old (Lieutenant of Miami Metro Police)

———————————————————————

This series will be found in the “Dexter Morgan” Category within my Masterlist so be on the lookout or ask to be apart of the tag list so you can keep up for future posts / updates :)

PS. I have a discord server dedicated to many fanbases & FF writers so please feel free to join <3

[paigemathews]

(According to wiki at least,) Prue's death was today, May 17th. So, in honor of the oldest Halliwell sister's death: have you thought about how the cover up must have gone? Because, let's be real, that is not an easy death to cover up.

First of all, there is another dead body there, even if he was quickly forgotten about. He was thrown through their back window and was last seen hanging over it, so there's always the possibility that someone saw something. Plus, the house is wrecked.

As for Prue herself, she was thrown through a wall. She clearly would have suffered some kind of blunt force trauma, and we see a pool of blood underneath her head, so there was definitely some kind of damage to her body that they wouldn't be able to hide.

Honestly, I have no idea how they would've spun this. That's not really what I'm interested in talking about rn admittedly, because:

Imagine Phoebe, finding both of her sisters seemingly dead (and knowing that if she'd had been there, they'd both be alive). Imagine Leo, finding his wife and her sister seemingly dead and only able to save his wife (the guilt that must've caused). Imagine Piper waking up to find out that they didn't just fail to save an innocent (and Piper, who always took it the hardest as seen with the doctor's death, never mentions this again because), her invincible older sister is dead from the same attack that Piper herself survived (the survivor's guilt there alone.)

And not only are they confronted with the loss of their sister, but now they have to hide how it happened. Her body isn't even cold, but they have to figure out how to spin it so that they don't expose magic again. Realistically, that's when they'd probably have to call in Darryl, who is confronted with one of his close friend's death and the cover up of her murder in the span of one breath. (Which is worse? The idea that he finds out over the phone, sitting in the station and having to suddenly sit down as - who? Piper, tears in her voice? Phoebe, shaky and horrified? Leo, guilty and crying? Cole, on the rockiest of terms with Prue? - someone tells him Prue is dead - murdered - and they need his help covering it up or that he gets to the Manor, vexed and exasperated, only to see a battlefield with Prue lying dead, her sisters inconsolable, and realizing that he has to help cover all of this up while choking down his own grief about another lost friend?)

Victor had always thought that Penny calling him about Patty's death would be the worst phone call of his entire life, but this, a nightmare and worst fear come true, tops it as he finds the fastest way back to San Francisco.

Do you think about the fact that they'd have to coach each other on the cover story? Phoebe having to work to say the lies about her sister's death over and over again, always the worst at keeping secrets? Discussing potential plot holes and gaps in their story, trying to figure out how to fit it all together.

The fact that there was an investigation - of course there was an investigation, Prue's death was clearly a mystery - and at some point, someone may have pointed fingers at the sisters? (A rookie pointing out Phoebe and Prue's tense history and the former's return to take the house after their grandmother's death and the morally ambiguous boyfriend and what better way to get everything than get the oldest sister out of the way? Piper considered either as prospective victim or accomplice? I mean, Prue was noted to be the bossiest of the group and family is always the first place you look- and Darryl shutting it down, utilizing more influence than he maybe really had (and explaining his need to be promoted to Lieutenant a year later) to put a stop to it in its tracks.)

And they somehow manage to spin it as the murder it was, but imagine trying to explain how a human murdered her by throwing her through a wall. The sympathetic voices asking for statements and events and lies lies lies that the sisters and Leo and Cole and Darryl have to spin. All while Prue's body is barely cold, all while they each slowly realize that she isn't coming back this time, all while they realize that Prue Halliwell really and truly is dead for the final time, beyond their reach.

[supercap2319]

"Y/N, what does this guy want from you?" Jason called. They had been searching for Diocletian’s scepter. Favonius said that his boss, Cupid was guarding it, and even though they thought they were prepared for anything, both demigods could never have fathomed that Cupid would be so cruel and dangerous.

"Tell him, Y/N." Cupid said. "Tell him you are a coward, afraid of yourself and your feelings. Tell him the real reason why you weren't sad about Percy and Annnabeth Chase falling into Tartarus. Tell Jason Grace why you insisted on coming to find the scepter instead of Nico Di Angelo."

Jason looks confused. "Y/N? What's he talking about?" Why wouldn't Y/N be more upset about losing Percy and Annabeth? Then again, after it happened, the son of Hecate seemed more than fine with the sudden decrease in their group.

"It's nothing." Y/N insisted.

Cupid's laughter was all around them as Jason was knocked to the side and hit a column. It cracked upon impact as the son of Jupiter's eyes rolled in the back of his head.

"Jason!" Y/N cried, running towards him as an arrow zipped through the air and sunk into his arm. He grunted in pain, even if it wasn't visible pain. He sank to his knees and cradled Jason's face in his hands as he began to cry. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Sorry for what, Y/N? Sorry for being a coward, and afraid of your own feelings? Or sorry Jason got hurt because of you?" Cupid's warm and deep voice asked in the wind.

"Both. Please, Cupid! Stop this now."

"Just tell the truth, Y/N, and this all ends." The lieutenant of love promised.

Y/N sniffed. It was now or never. "I wasn't sad about Percy getting trapped in Tartarus because... Because I had a crush on him and told him how I felt about him, and he rejected me." All around him and Jason a ring of fire sprang to life. Not only to protect them from Cupid, but it was a manifestation of his powers and emotions.

"And I came here with Jason in Nico's place because I have a crush on Jason. And even though I know it's stupid to hope he'll notice me when he has Piper, I had to try." Y/N admitted.

"Love can hurt, yes, but it can also set you free." Cupid said as he materialized. "You've earned your reward." He waved his hand and an ivory staff three feet long, topped with a dark globe of polished marble about the size of a baseball, nestled on the backs of three gold Roman eagles. The scepter of Diocletian. "I'm rooting for you, Y/N." Then Cupid was gone.

[crazyk-imagine]

Blast to the Past

Pairing: Leonard "Wolfman" Wolfe x Wife!reader

Characters: Wife!reader. Jake "Hangman" Seresin, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, Robert "Bob" Floyd

Briefly mentioned: Carol Bradshaw, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, Ron “Slider” Kerner, Rick “Hollywood” Neven, Marcus “Sundown” Williams, Sam “Merlin” Wells, Charles “Chipper” Piper

Warnings: Fluff, mentions of the 86' squad, reader is still involved with Top Gun, mav and reader are besties, everyone still talks to one another, wolfman is a simp for his wife, wolfman and reader are lowkey hella cute, bradley remembering reader hanging out when he was a kid, reader teasing mav, reader thinking of hangman as mini mav, Bob being the reader's fav, Wolfman loves gossiping with his wife, this is lowkey gives off kicking your feet vibes

Word Count: 1,070

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The text from Beau was not the one you were expecting.

Admiral Jackass

"You've been called back." Sent Read 1:02pm

Admiral Jackass typing…

-

You're one stop away from making dreams happen again, you shiver with anticipation and take a deep breath, thinking back to your favorite group of students when they were younger.

At that point, it was within the early years of your teaching career.

After the class of 86' you didn't teach as often but when there was an important mission or the admiral's needed someone they knew could get the lieutenants properly trained, they called you.

You take a deep breath, walking down the hallway, realizing you've missed the feeling you (still) get walking down the halls towards your next group of lieutenants.

-

You walk down the pathway in between the desks much like you did when you taught his class.

Another reason for the text, he's late and Beau wants them to learn now.

You turn and eye each of the lieutenants, seeing who's confident and who's not. Something else you were known for, identifying the weak and making them stronger if they're up for it.

It was how you got him back when he lost his family.

They don't call you "Sly Fox" the Modifier for nothing (you wish your husband didn't get that started, it's stuck and you can't get rid of it).

The corner of your lips twitch, remembering more of your infamous class of 86' only because of the overly confident blond sitting in one of the first few seats.

You lean against the podium, clasping your hands together. "Who thinks they have what it takes for this mission?"

They start turning, glancing at one another.

"Do you?" You turn your attention onto the infamous Hangman.

He smirks, messing with his toothpick. "I don't think, I know I do."

"Cockiness gets you and your crew into some seedy situations."

"It get me out of them."

The door opens and your favorite captain enters.

You straighten your posture and turn back to him. "These people are you crew, you need to have their backs, or no one will have yours and you'll be alone."

He walks down the path you and uses the confidence you told him to.

The one you've claimed as "Mini Mav" turns, flipping his toothpick before sinking into his seat, followed by two others.

"It seems it's my time to leave." You throw a wink in Pete's direction before walking towards the opening.

You didn't see the way Bradley's eyes widened at the way you interact with him.

He has a vague memory of you hanging out with his family once or twice and calling his mom after losing his dad.

"Don't have too much fun, Mav." You pat his shoulder, "you've got a live one."

He furrows his brows.

You glance back at the class once more before deciding to take your leave. "Good to see you again, Bob."

He smiles and waves back at you.

-

Natasha turns to him with furrowed brows. "How do you know her?"

He shrugs, "she taught my first class a while back."

"She remembers your name?"

"And," he shrugs.

"You were so her favorite."

-

You make your way to the opening of the hanger and sigh, "I told you guys to- no, no."

You pinch the bridge of your nose and groan.

One of the technicians runs back into the hanger tripping over his feet.

-

You pull up beside him on one of the carts. "I told you not to run. I wasn't upset."

"I beg to differ ma'am."

You grab them by their collar. "I'm going to show you a thing or two. I was trying to help you."

You drive back out without looking back, already knowing that Beau is shaking his head while Pete and the class are trying not to laugh.

-

"Do you get it now?"

He nods. "That wasn't as complicated as I thought."

"Good, now do it again to this row." You can see the excitement fall from his face and can't help but chuckle.

"No, kid. She's just messing with you." You husband wraps an arm around your waist, pecking your cheek as he places his hat on your head. "Hey, sweetheart."

You smile and lean in for a kiss, having missed him with the grandkids out at school and spending more time with their friends since they're starting to get more freedom from their parents now that they've proven themselves responsible.

"Feels like I haven't seen you in forever."

He smiles, "feels like it's been forever."

"It has. What brought you out here?"

"A little birdie told me you might be maiming one of the techs."

You scoff, "as if."

You both turn to the technician and finding him staring at the two of you in awe. "Holy- Wolfman and Sly Fox are married?"

"Where have you been?" Leonard asks.

"Under a rock apparently."

You snort, covering your mouth. "Alright, we'll talk more later. Get to work before Cyclone comes for you."

"Yes, ma'am."

You two start walking away and head towards the hanger.

-

You glance at him through your lashes, grateful he put his hat on your head. "You're not gonna believe who's teaching and in his class."

He groans. "Don't tell me, Mav's here."

You nod. "Along with baby Goose."

"Nick's kid is here?"

You nod, pulling him behind you.

-

You both turn the corner, searching over the hanger for the one person you want him to see.

Pete turns to you and pauses, raising a brow.

You sheepishly smile and pull your husband away from the hanger.

-

"He looks just like him, don't you think?"

"Mustache and all. Damn."

"What?" You stare at him, watching him get dressed.

"Goose would have loved this."

The corner of your lips tugs upwards. "I know." A wishful sigh slips past your lips. "You'll never guess what I discovered in their class."

"What?" He asks with amusement.

"Don't be a smartass."

"Hey, you married me in spite of it."

"Yes, yes. Whatever. Mav has a mini Maverick."

"Mav produced?"

You scoff, "no but there's a kid just like him."

"That's less fun than him teaching his own kid."

"He's got baby Goose for that."

"True." He closes the locker, "you ready?"

You all but run into his arms, letting his arm rest over your shoulders. "Take me home, honey."

"As long as you'll have me."

-

Tag list:

@kmc1989 @callmemana @blueoorchid

[chernobog13]

It would get a little uncomfortable on the bridge when Spock would start singing along with the songs on the radio.

[starriinightii]

Percy Jackson is 17. Gaea has been defeated.

Zues asks the eleven about immortality.

They all accept.

Perseus Jackson is 17 years old when he becomes the lieutenant of Poseidon and the god of lakes and liquid control. He is just happy that he gets to spend time with Annabeth, as her god consort. Others were confused about 'liquid control' but she knows.

Annabeth Chase is 17 years old when she becomes the goddess of architechture. Her mother is still not happy about her relationship with Percy, but she doesn't care, he jumped into Tartarus for her. She plans to remains with Percy as his goddess consort for eternity.

Jason Grace is 16 years old when he becomes the god of flying. Thalia cries seeing him accept, knowing she will now have her brother forever. He hugs her tightly, and Artemis smiles. Perhaps the son of Jupiter is now a man she tolerates.

Piper Mclean is 15 years old when she is declared the goddess of charmspeaking and wealthy people. Aphrodite finally admits that Piper is a daughter of Aphrodite Areia. Piper learns what means from Annabeth, the maid-of-honor at her wedding 10 years later.

Leonidas Valdez is 15 years old when Hephaestus gives the title of god of fire and blacksmithing to his son. He promises to always use his powers for good. He, like Apollo and Hermes, decides to be a single god.

Frank Zhang is 16 years old when he becomes the god of shapeshifting, as well as a minor god of archery and war. He marries Hazel at 25. He regularly visits his mother in Elysium. Zues gets rid of his curse. Finally, he thinks, watching the stick burn.

Hazel Levesque is 14 years old when he becomes the goddess of precious stones and minerals. She marries Frank at 23. Her brother takes her with him to visit their sister, whom she bonds with fairly quickly. Her wedding ring is made from the first non-cursed diamond she pulls out of the earth.

Niccoló di Angelo is 14 years old when he becomes the lieutenant of his father, Hades. He officially assumes the title of 'The Ghost King', and marries William at 25. He regularly visits his sister, taking his other sister with him on multiple ocassions.

William Andrew Solace is 14 years old when he becomes the god of healing and doctors. The medic now works in the infirmary of Olympus, and married Niccoló at 25. Artemis tolerates him, as her lieutenant is the sister of his boyfriend.

Thalia Grace is 22 years old, seemingly 16, when she becomes the immortal lieutenant of Lady Artemis. Her vows now bind her forever, though a few men are exeptional, those who her lady tolerates, such as her brothers Jason, Perseus and Niccoló.

Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano is 16 years old when she becomes the goddess of leaders. She now has a shrine at Camp Jupiter, and new praetors take vows in her name. She gets over her dislike of Piper and Annabeth, and quickly the three rival the friendship of Persephone, Artemis and Athena.

[bianca-d1-angelo]

✧˚ · ˚ + ˚ · . ➳➳ INTRO ➳➳. · ˚ + ˚ · ˚✧

DISCLAIMER: this rp has closed, none of us still rp here, it's just up because of memories

➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳

Hello! I am Bianca Di Angelo! I am the daughter of Maria Di Angelo and the Greek deity Hades. I am also known as the deceased sister of the Ghost King, @the-ghostking-di-angelo! I am currently 12 years old and will forever remain 12 as I am dead. I was a Hunter of Artemis before I died, and would have been a current resident of Cabin 13 at Camp Half Blood. The Fates did not consider social media when writing the rules centuries ago, so this is a technical loophole I have decided to exploit since Elysium is a bit boring. OOC: Please send asks or tag me!! OC's are always allowed to interact <33

➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳

@gh0st-king-nico - my younger brother! he's honestly just a sweet little kid. If I find anyone being mean or even remotely rude to him, I can easily show you the horrors the Underworld will have have in store for you :)) @hazel-the-jewel - my sister! she's so sweet and responsible and talented. im so proud of her! she's the praetor of New Rome and everything! Once again, if I hear a single comment about her, I will find you and make you wish you never opened your mouth :))

@will-shoelaces - Nico's boyfriend! Very nice kid and a gentleman. Nico really cares about him so I fully support him! He's also a healer and can glow! if you dare break his heart, I know where you live :) @challenging-lord-frank Hazel's boyfriend! Very responsible and extremely kind. Hazel loves him a lot <3 But once again, if you dare break her heart, I know where you live :)

@lightning-boi-is-here - he's my brother's best friend! he's a good person and really friendly. Honestly reminds me of a golden retriever @forbiddensonoftheseagod - Son of Poseidon and a greek hero. He's really nice and extremely loyal. 10/10 quest mate!

Grover! - Satyr and Lord of the Wild! Apparently he's a protector so he might follow you and your brother around for a while in a totally not creepy or terrifying way.

@pinecone-face-thalia - Daughter of Zeus and Lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis! Very cool and a bit intimidating. Nice to talk to though!

@annabeth-w1se-g1rl - Daughter of Athena! Dating Percy and friends with my sister! She's very cool and I admire her leadership.

@p1per-mclean - Daughter of Aphrodite! Hazel's friend and Nico's friend. She's really nice though she seems like a troublemaker.

Shel! - Mortal! She's Piper's girlfriend. She's really sweet and easy to talk to.

@fireboy-supreme - Son of Hephaestus! Nico warned me not to trust him. He does look like he gets into a lot of trouble.

Reyna - my honorary sister! She's one of Nico's closest friends and joined the hunt! She has an aura that demands respect and is a very sophisticated and cool person

@rangaartist - Also a Mortal! She is also the Oracle! (I'm so sorry Rachel for that repeating prophecy my dad sent, I told him twice would be enough)

➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳

OOC: (Kinda Important So Please Read! )

Hi!!! Before I begin, this is a Percy Jackson RP account for my Bianca cuz Hera knows shes too underrated! We still have some slots open so if you want to join, DM me or @hazel-the-jewel or @pinecone-face-thalia or @annabeth-w1se-g1rl

pictures from banner are not mine! (i did make it tho) pfp is by _kaminarty_ (yes, it is wednesday, but they dont have bianca and its supposed to match with the others in the rp group lol) GO LOOK AT THEIR ART!!! ITS AMAZING

I MISS TONS OF SOCIAL CUESS!!! I'm trying to work on it but if i ever overstep my boundaries or make you uncomfy, pleasee let me know <33 im just a bit oblivious sometimes

IM SEX REPULSED! totally cool, do your thing but please DNI if you're an NSFW blog!!

I am a minor! pls keep that in mind!

➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳➳

[lukemessedup]

Hey, it's me.

Luke Castellan. Yeah, I know what you guys are thinking. And being very honest here, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt and I lost sight of what I was trying to do in the first place. I let my wrath get the better of me.

I use he/it pronouns and I'm not looking for any sort of relationship.

(Admin is NOT ALLOWING SHIPS!!)

(ooc im red and a minor and he/it/they pronouns, admin blog is @octavians-redemption )

I'll use the tag # castellan can talk

People that I know (will most likely have to be updated):

CAMPERS (and some others)

Percy Jackson - @percy-jackson-is-a-seaweed-brain

Annabeth Chase (I love you like a little sister) - @annabeth-is-a-wise-girl

Grover Underwood (sorry about the shoes thing) - @grover-eats-cans

Thalia Grace - @best-dam-huntress

Calypso - @calypso-daughter-of-atlas

Clarisse La Rue (she knows to keep herself in check) - @everyone-is-a-punk

Piper McLean - @the-argo-ii-resident-matchmaker

Will Solace - @sunny-boy-solace

Moth - @moththecabin7kid

Fin - @fin-the-child-of-hermes

GODS AND GODDESSES

Artemis - @artemisandhunters

Apollo - (why couldn't he have been mortal when I was trying to take over Olympus...) @why-did-i-get-acne

Aphrodite - @im-aphrodite-dearies

Dionysus / Mr. D - @dionysus-god-of-all-things-wine

EX-TITAN ARMY (sorry for lying to... well, all of you)

Silena - (sorry about the bracelet) @silena-styles

Kat - (sorry about alabaster, he got banished from chb) @cabinseventheaterchick

Ethan - (sorry about.. uh, well, throwing you off olympus) @lieutenant-of-kronos

Vi - (sorry about literally everything) @the-song-of-the-moon

Alabaster - (sorry about being the kind of reason you got banished from chb) @alabaster-c-t

Rowan - (sorry for leading you down the wrong path) @existence-is-pain-ahhhhhhhh

[electronickingdomfox]

"Dreadnought!" review

Novel from 1986, by Diane Carey. There have been other books before this one, that focus on original characters instead of the usual crew. But those characters tended to be either a "lady of the week" or a scientist, on the same level as Kirk and the others. For the first time, this story presents the viewpoint of the underdogs: a group of junior officers that look up in awe (and sometimes amused) at their superior officers from the Enterprise. And it's a refreshing change of perspective.

The protagonist, and first-person narrator, is Lieutenant Piper, just transferred to the Enterprise from the Academy. She gets accidentally involved in a plot to steal a new Starfleet super-ship, and avoid a coup d'état, and needs to hone her commanding skills against the clock. Her friends include Sarda, a Vulcan who's initially hostile to her due to a past grievance, Merete (a medical student) and Scanner (a technician, with a southern accent I think). Together, they form some kind of lesser-scale triumvirate, with Piper being clearly a younger, inexperienced version of Kirk; Sarda being an emotionally immature Spock; and Merete and Scanner forming together the McCoy (including Scanner bothering Sarda with his constant touching and emotionalism). They aren't carbon copies of the originals, though, and have their own dynamics and conflicts. Piper is a fun, relatable protagonist, and some of her remarks are pretty hilarious. I don't understand why so many reviews label her as a "Mary Sue". She isn't anything like that, and very often shows insecurity, or is a bit clumsy. It's just that she has good potential as a leader, the ability to improvise and follow her intuition in seemingly desperate situations, and a bit of luck on her part. That's just literally Kirk! Including her tendency to body slam on security guards.

Leaving aside the characters, the novel expands on some types of ships (the dreadnought and destroyers), that up to this point had only appeared in technical manuals, or as very brief mentions in the movies. It also presents a less-than-flattering view of Starfleet, at least in substantial sections of the top brass. And it's neat that the book includes an organigram of Starfleet and some drawings of scout ships. Another thing that was elaborated on are the Eugenic Wars from the 90's, here blamed on the ascent of communist dictatorships all over the world (after all, this novel was published before the fall of the Berlin Wall).

Overall, it's a fairly good book with likable characters, and the portrait of Kirk and co., as seen from outsiders' eyes, is actually more spot-on than that of many other novels. Besides, it includes one of the most exciting ship battles to ever grace the pages of these TOS books.

Some spoilers under the cut:

Lieutenant Piper impresses Kirk at the Academy, by almost beating the Kobayashi Maru test through some unorthodox tactics, and he request her to join the Enterprise crew. There she meets her new roomates: Merete, Scanner and Sarda. The latter is a Vulcan who's currently struggling to reach Kolinahr, and at first doesn't want to even talk with Piper. It seems that she made a serious blunder at the Academy, recommending Sarda for his proficiency at weapons. Even though she was well-intentioned, this fact ostracized Sarda from his Vulcan colleagues, that didn't approve of his interest in weapons due to their pacifistic philosophy.

The Enterprise is soon assigned a new mission: the new dreadnought Star Empire has been stolen by terrorists, and they have requested a rendezvous with Kirk's ship (the fact that Starfleet has been developing such weapon-heavy, offensive ships like a dreadnought, and that it's called "Star Empire", should already be a red flag). However, the specifics for the rendezvous have been encoded in such a way, that only Piper's biocode can decrypt them. Due to this reason, Piper is called to the bridge, in time to see Star Empire being surrounded by Klingon ships. Kirk orders her to take the helm, but Piper is terrified and can't respond accordingly, which makes her doubt her abilities for command. Star Empire takes a bad beating from the Klingons, and is seemingly crippled. But just then, the real dreadnought emerges from its hiding place behind some asteroids, and destroys the enemy ships. As it turns out, one of the new capabilities of the dreadnought is projecting fake copies of the ship to lure enemies. Now surrounded by copies of Star Empire, the Enterprise decodes the message using Piper's bio data. Her boyfriend Brian appears on the viewscreen, speaking on behalf of the rogue commander, Paul Burch. He assures Kirk that their mission is one of peace, and that they're not terrorists, and requests a party to come aboard Star Empire, including Piper and at least one Vulcan. Suspecting Piper to be on league with the hijackers, Kirk arrests her on her quarters... without much in the way of security (which makes Piper wonder if Kirk actually expected her to escape).

Using an easy trick that she learned from Brian, Piper escapes her confinement, and steals a fighter ship from the hangar. Sarda unexpectedly joins her, since he also wants to know what's going on in Star Empire. The Vulcan had designed the dreadnought's projector, but Admiral Rittenhouse, the mastermind behind the whole project, took all the credit. From this point onwards, Sarda will warm up to Piper little by little, as they come to understand each other. They escape the Enterprise in the fighter, but never reach Star Empire. Rittenhouse has arrived in the destroyer Pompeii, and captures their fighter in a tractor beam. Aboard Pompeii, the Admiral tries to convince the cadets that Burch has gone insane, and explains his plans for the future of the Federation. A future without wars, or Klingons, or Romulans, or any kind of dissension... And Piper starts realizing that Rittenhouse's plan is a road to hell paved in good intentions, and how the new dreadnought fits into all this. Left alone for a moment, Piper and Sarda investigate the computers, and find out a disturbing pattern, where all the key positions in Starfleet have been filled with Rittenhouse's minions during the past years. They try to warn Kirk about the conspiracy, but Rittenhouse discovers them and puts them in the brig.

Nonetheless, a brief power malfunction opens the brig's force field a while later. Piper and Sarda escape, in time to see Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scotty entering the briefing room of Pompeii, to discuss the situation with the Admiral. They hide in a secluded part of the ship, and use their communicators to signal their friends, still in the Enterprise. Merete and Scanner materialize next to them, and they get a link to the briefing room, to spy on the conversations. They see Kirk objecting to Rittenhouse's plan of killing the hijackers without even meeting with them first. And the Admiral arrests Kirk and his men, putting one of his pawn-captains in charge of the operation. Piper and her friends rush to the rescue, and use some wacky tactics to distract the guards (the bunny hop!?)... Just to find out that Kirk had already freed himself without their heroic assistance (of course, that's the value of experience). Kirk and his senior officers leave for the Enterprise on the transporter. But just when the juniors were about to follow them, the Pompeii transporters are deactivated. Then, the cadets have to make a last-ditch escape in a couple of fighters from the hangar.

Evading the Pompeii's weapons by staying close to the hull, Piper and the others reach at last Star Empire. There, they meet with Burch and Brian, who stole the dreadnought to stop Rittenhouse's totalitarian schemes, and are trying to man the starship with a skeleton crew. The last part comprises a pretty intense battle, with Star Empire and the Enterprise facing Rittenhouse's destroyer and his loyal ships. While the inexperienced crew aboard the dreadnought try to learn how to maneuver the mammoth ship, under such extreme conditions.

Spirk Meter: 3/10*. The relationship between Kirk and Spock doesn't escape Piper's observations. She notices that both of them share some kind of silent understanding, where a look to each other is enough to communicate their intentions. There's also a humorous bit, when Piper is surprised to learn that Spock is literally half-human. All this time, whenever she heard about Spock's "human half", she thought they were referring to Kirk himself!

*A 10 in this scale is the most obvious spirk moments in TOS. Think of the back massage, "You make me believe in miracles", or "Amok Time" for example.