Tanks as Snowplows

Posted on Thu Mar 5th, 2020 @ 1:40am by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Saki Yamaguchi-Cullen

Mission: Mission 54: Where Snow Meets Sky
Location: Redfish Township - Niven
Timeline: 1000Hrs, Local Time - December 21st, 2391

Teval looked outside at the street, which was inundated with snow. The past couple of days saw rather heavy snowfall, and now the streets where covered in snow, which naturally, made civilian traffic come to a screeching halt, save for the few available hover vehicles. Teval looked at Tarim. "I take it you guys don't have any snowplows or any other equipment to deal with this."

Tarim shook his head. "We have a distinct lack of funding for that."

Teval looked over to Lasky. "Well, got any idea's."

Lasky paused. "We don't carry anything that can handle this job... Maybe we could ask our allies... see if they got anything that can help.." he paused. "I think its time we started serious research into our own armored lineup."

"Oh I've already started looking into it. Researched a few tanks on the ship, actually," Zara spoke proudly.

Teval sighed, then went over to a comm terminal and contacted the Akurian cruiser Guardian of Kio. " Hey do you have any equipment that can be used as an ad hoc snow plow."

Aina Maya thought about the matter for a moment then replied," Yeah we have roughly a dozen tanks on board that we can fit with bulldozer blades, that might do the trick."

Teval nodded. "Thanks, yeah we need them."

Arina acknowledged, replying, "Alright they will be down in about an hour."

Teval thanked her again then closed the channel, finally mentioning to Zara, "Yes I am well aware of where you got those tanks from, seeing as you can't help yourself when it comes to that kind of thing."

"I should be offended by your reprimand, but I'm not," Zara laughed. "All the same, I think I'll go help the engineers out."

Teval nodded, "Sure, just be sure not to get frostbite."

Meanwhile, Ra'Vak was working with multiple Akurian and federation engineers establishing a weather control station and power generator, as well as setting up a forward operating base for equipment for both teams. Ra'Vak couldn't help himself but occasionally stare at the Akurian vehicles being brought in by shuttles, including numerous tanks and APC's.

"Where ya need me?" Zara asked to Ra'Vak as she approached. Tool belt firmly tied around her hips.

Ra'Vak looked over at Zara with a very confused look, " Um, O.K. wasn't really expecting this, but I do have something. This town just had its power substation break down, you could go with some of my engineers to go fix it. They are over there by one of the Akurian APC's." He pointed over to the group which consisted of Hakaya, Uldyssian, Elivar, and Azivu, all of whom where busy loading up some gear onto an APC which was fitted with a plow."

"Yes Sir," Zara mock-saluted and sauntered over. She looked about for that short little devil. Her partner in crime. For Saki was always doing things she shouldn't. And she was sure that kid was about, she'd be able to have some fun with the APCs.

Meanwhile Saki was busy packing a snowball with her hands, clearly used to the extreme cold as she smiled before she took aim and let fly, nailing her target right between the eyes. "Got em.." she smiled to herself before she scooped up some more snow before she felt someone approaching her.

Saki spun as she found herself facing Zara before she let fly her snowball at Zara, it however missed this time because she didn't take the time to aim properly.

"Throwing balls are different than throwing knives," Zara explained as she sat down with Saki. "Weight distribution. Mass is all in one centralized spot. Aim comes from the speed and point at which you release the ball. Both also create a force that determine how hard it hit on impact."

Saki regarded Zara as she frowned at the taller woman. "You of all people should know better... then to sneak up on-" was as far as she got before someone nailed her in the back of the head.

Saki turned as she growled, she waved her hand as a large chunk of snow congealed together into a compacted ice ball before she let fly with as much force as she could muster. The loud shout indicated she had hit her mark.

"What's going on Dear?" Zara asked as she pat her lap. Motherhood was starting to look great on her, having that motherly instinct to know something was up.

"I don't like it when people hit me in the back when I'm busy.." Saki responded evenly before she waved her hand, another large amount of snow congealed into a large sized snowball which the small child then picked up. "I feel..... angry.... all the time."

"Your mom and dad a bit busy these days?" Zara asked in concern.

"Dad is always present... Same with Sarah and Daniel..." she sighed. "Mom is.. driving me insane.. She's always training but she hates it.. She doesn't like her job yet she does it..."

"Some times adults do things they hate just so they can provide for their family," Zara explained from a viewpoint not unlike Rachael's.

Saki regarded the other woman. "But .... I dunno.. Mom's always angry when she goes off to fly... She doesn't enjoy it no more.."

"So what you want to do to make yourself feel better?" Zara asked with a wink.

Saki paused. "I dunno..." the child sighed. "Why are you here?" the child added.

"Thought I might play." She points to the tank. "Up for an adventure?"

Saki peered at the tank as she shrugged her shoulders. "Sure." before she followed Zara.

Two young Akurians, a Sehkeen Leokuri female named Kelysia and a Wex Jorkuri male named Okarvo where both tending to their vehicle, neither of them paying any attention to Zara or Saki. Okarvo, not used to the cold weather, shivered a little in the drivers seat, the vehicle's heater having not yet warmed up the vehicle. "Yikes its a cold one out here."

Elivar rubbed his hands together. "Yeah your not kidding."

Kelysia looked down at her smaller companion. "Oh its not that bad out here."

Okarvo hugged his tail. "Easy for you to say, your a lot fluffier than I am."

Kelysia stepped down from the turret and hugged Okarvo, wrapping her long fluffy snow leopard like tail around him," There, does that make you a little warmer."

Okarvo didn't really expect it, but he didn't resist while the APC's heater got up to full power. Hakaya simply watched those two with mild amusement while she did her final check of her gear, when she noticed Zara and Saki. "What are you two doing here?"

Saki answered first. "Mm... Oh I just wanted to admire the tank.." the nine year old responded with a smile. "I've never seen one before.." she paused. "How big is the gun?"

Hakaya didn't know that answer at all, so she looked at Kelisya, whom answered. "Um, 10 cm caliber."

Saki paused. "Sounds... big." she responded with a smile.

"They don't load it for missions like this though," Zara explained to to child.

Kelysia didn't even mention that there was no ammunition in the vehicle at all, as it wasn't necessary.

Saki pouted. "So... no firing the gun... aww." she sighed. "that's... a shame."

"What's the mileage for conditions like this?" Zara asked conversationally, and winked to Saki.

Kelysia looked at Zara curiously, then mentioned," Well the batteries are at full charge, we can run for several thousand kilometers before needing to recharge."

"Well if your people need anything, let me know." She gave Saki a nudge to try and get her focused on the tank.

Saki blinked. "Mmm.. oh." the child responded. "Right." clearly she hadn't been paying attention.

Hakaya gave Zara a dubious look," So what are you here for anyway."

"Just lending a hand," Zara spoke with a small smile. "Gets boring all day, signing papers and twiddling your thumbs while waiting on more papers. I'm an engineer too, as most tend to forget."

Saki regarded the other woman in silence before she commented. "Why do the job if you hate it?"

"Because I've no fucking clue what I'd do outside the fleet," Zara answered very soberly. "My life before junior military school, was as a street kid. A criminal... I don't know that going back to my home would be a good life."

Saki shook her head. "No... I mean why are you a.. Commodore...." she paused. "if you hate the job..."

"Starfleet's idea. Not mine." Zara prodded the kid again, this time nudging her head in the direction of the tanks.

Saki turned her head. "Mmm." she regarded the tanks before her. "So...." the child inquired. "Why are you a Commodore if you hate it?"

"Cause folks think I'm a hero an' promotions are sorta forced on hero," Zara answered with a frown.

Hakaya gave Zara a Dubious look, "Even when you were a captain 90% of your job was paperwork, so how is this job really any different."

"The butt in the center chair," Zara spoke with a small shrug.

Hakaya completely didn't get it at all, so she just replied, "Well if you two are coming, take a seat and put your seatbelts on, we are going to leave in a minute."

Saki smiled. "Ookay!" she responded as she climbed into the tank, same as everyone else and she took a seat. "Can I drive?!"

"When you're a little older, yes." Zara winked at Saki. "But you can sit in the gunner chair. Not loaded so you can mess with the scopes."

Hakaya closed the back door, and once she did, Okarvo backed the vehicle out of its parking spot. Kelysia kept her head out of the hatch so she could watch for any obstacles and hazards. Elivar then asked, "So how long is this trip."

"Should take us about 20 minutes," Kelysia responded, "Ordinarily it would be a faster trip, but the snow limits our speed."

"How much mass can the plows move per second?" Zara asked like a child who just got their most wanted Christmas present.

Kelysia and Okarvo just exchanged confused looks, the Kelysia asked, "Uh, its a plow, it moves stuff."

"Did you install a hover function, in case of hard-to-remove debris?" Zara asked as she eyed the controls.

Hakaya rolled her eyes while Okarvo mentioned, "Install? what are you talking about the hover function is built in, it just consumes a lot of energy so we don't use it very much."

Saki listened and watched in silence as she looked around the room, she had some ideas of what Akurian text look like thanks to what she had been taught from Teval and the others while growing up.

"What's the drain percentage per hour, on hover function?" Zara asked innocently... or what was her version of it.

Saki regarded Zara. "Anyone ever tell you that you worry too much... Its just snow right... I mean how hard can it be?"

"Just getting facts, Saki." Zara smiled as she continued with the harmless questions.

Now Okarvo grew suspicious. "And why exactly do you want to know that."

It was Saki who answered. "Ever meet a kid who didn't love tanks?" she inquired. "I've never seen one and now I'm sitting in one... Whats not to love?"