"Son", began the recruitment officer, addressing young Karlson. "The Psychological Evaluators will tell you that rage has no place in the cockpit."
He leaned forward.
"But I'll tell ya somethin. They are bloody dead wrong. Rage brings a lot of people through that door. The ones who are committed."
He pointed at his legs. Or rather, the stumps thereof.
He continued, as he finished the forms and handed them back, "So when they ask you about your anger, lie. Tell 'em you're all love and puppy kisses, or they'll put you in a bloody repair ship."
A young man walks quietly into the recruiting station. "I understand you are looking for more pilots"
Attempting to hide her surprise the assistant hands him a tablet "Fill these out please"
Personal Profile:
Name: Jason Cullinane
Home: Sheffield Station
Age: 21
Eye color: Green
Hair Color: Black
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 180lb
Personal story
Son of a bounty hunter stationed at Sheffield Station now out to prove his own worth. Growing up surrounded by hunters has lead to a practical is spotty education. Navigation, piloting and ship repair have replaced literature and advanced mathematics. After a few years working as a crewman on various bounty hunter ships he has now purchased a challenger bomber to join the fight against the Kusari invaders.
A tall man with a neatly trimmed goatee, medium length blonde hair enters the room carrying a brief case and aproaches the reception a strong air of authority flowing from him he turns his green eyes and piercing gaze on the receptionest who is lazing with her nose in a magazine.
"Madam is this the BAF recruiting office" He questions in a crisp posh accent.
"Yes it is sir how may I help you today" she replies quickly straightening up in her chair and hiding the magazine.
"My name is Sebastian Tarrant I've come to enlist in the BAF may I have an application form please" authority yet no unkindness in his voice
"Certainly sir here you go Mr Tarrant will that be all" hands him the form
"Yes that will be all for now Madam thank you"
" Oh one last thing Sir judging by your accent you won't be needing to fill out these points" Pointing with a finger at the various sections.
Mr Tarrant nodded then walked over to a chair sat down placed the form on the little side table then opened his briefcase and pulled out a pen an commenced filling out the form in neat careful lettering.
--------------------------------------- Form --------------------------------------
Name: Sebastian Tarrant
planet of Birth: New London
Age: 45
Education:
Master Degree: Diplomacy, Military Tactics, Crew management and Economics
Minor Degree: Physics and Astrology
Titles: Marquis of Arundel, Lord, Sir
Current occupation: Lord of Araluen settlement on planet Cambridge
Unoffical occupation: Assissting a small group of freelancers in the Tau 29 system defending convoys from Kusari military, as well as hiding the freelancers.
Assets: City house on New London, Araluen Estate Cambridge, minor vessel used mainly for personal transport
Qualities: Loyalty, Honesty, Good Listner, Intelligent, Honourable
Reasons for joining and opinion: It is time for me to start my active tour of duty, there is no greater honour than to serve her majesty and the people of Bretonia.
It is my belief that there must be a stronger hand used with the Kusari the innocent people that have come underfire from them must be put to an end and the restoration of Bretonia's. We must Oust the Kusari from the Tau systems.
Preferred area of assignment: Where I may serve my queen and people most.
Family and There occupation:
Father: Previous Lord of Araluen, Officer in the BAF
Mother: Previous Lady of Araluen, Bretonian Diplomat to Rheinland
Wife: Murdered at the hands of Kusari military while enroute from New London to New Tokyo.
Son: Gerald Tarrant 1st in line to inherit Araluen Estate, Care taker in my absence.
Hobbies: Astrology, Entertaining at Araluen Estate, collecting rare books and data on history.
Interests: Politics, History, Books, The universe.
Contact:
City House Com frequency: 1/000/2508/1990/Omega
-------------------------------- End of Form -------------------------------------
Looking over the form one last time satisfied that it was filled out he signed it at the bottom of the page and got up handed the form to the receptionist with a ringed hand.
The receptionist noticing the ornate ring on his hand for the first time was filled with awe as she comprehended who she was dealing with realising she was staring she quickly took the paper and spoke,"Your Lordship we will be in contact with you as soon as possible."
Nodding he smiled and replied, " Sooner the better Madam till then I bid you good day." Shaking her hand he turned around swept out of the room leaving the silent room.
The receptionist having a sudden last thought bowed slightly in her chair but he had already gone.
Captain Nelson marched purposefully along the corridor of the BAF recruitment centre as secretaries hurried to and fro clutching armfuls of papers. As he pushed open the door of the head recruitment officer's office he sighed at the sight of the pile of paperwork covering the desk. The BAF were being swamped with new applicants, no doubt as a result of the new advertising initiative my the Ministry of Defence, and the usual recruitment officer's stress level had been stretched to breaking point, with the result that he had been ordered to take a few days holiday for health reasons.
As he sat down behind the oversized desk and started sorting through the mountain of papers, Nelson began to regret telling the BAF that he had experience in administrative work...
...after several hours of painstaking work, and the rejection of over a dozen applicants including one that was blind, and one that was so clearly mentally unstable that he had scribbled the word "marmalade!" all over his form, Nelson finally picked out 2 highly promising looking forms. Jason Cullinane, an experienced looking pilot, exactly what the BAF needed more of, and *Nelson cringed slightly at this point* Lord Sir Sebastian Tarrant. Well, nobody could doubt his loyalty or ability, and much as he pivately disagreed with the unfairness of the entrenched system of class privilage, Nelson knew that applications from members of the nobility were always to be quickly approved.
Still, he gave a quick smile as he assigned them to the fleet of Admiral Kaiden and the wing of Commodore McKenna, two ex-regulars who had worked their way up without any upper-class connections. Privilage wasn't eveything these days.
As he was handing the two papers to the duty clerk, however, the young Captain paused in a brief moment of regret. The office brought back memories of his own recruitment years ago, when Captain Isaac Brock had sat behind the very desk he was at now. Nelson had to hold back a tear at thought of his fallen compatriot, as looking down at his own Captain's insignia made him realise how many of his fellow officers he had outlived to get where he was. With the country at war, the Forces were a dangerous place to be. He only hoped he wasn't just sending two more brave men out to die...
Sir Stanley Nelson <span style="color:#000066">Charles Canning </span><span style="color:#000066"> Foreign Secretary</span>
~Finding won claimed assistant for the BAF recruiting a slender figure hands her a piece of crumpled paper.~
"I hear you are the one I need to give this to for recruitment."
~the lady opens the crumpled paper and first notices the stained blood on the edges. Glaring at Vlanice, before she can speak Vlanice speaks to her~
"I doubt you wanted that spie in your organization. Do I pass?"
Personal Profile:
Name: Vlanice Shade
Home: Can't Remember
Age: mid to late 20's
Eye color: Grey
Hair Color: Raven
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 115lb
Personal story:
After awakening in Britonian medical facility was diagnosed with amnesia. No id upon which to verify who she was the only count was a name on the uniform she was dragged in on: Vlanice. Not knowing where from or where was headed taking to combat was the only thing felt familiar. Seeking direction and listening in the back of the pubs along with a few odd jobs here and there. Word was mentioned that BAF was taking new recruits. Very active and the opportunity to work with some very good pilots and a chance to hone her skills.
Lieutenant Catharine Brock visited Vlanice Shade in the hospital.
"Your help in Dundee was appreciated. Not everyone can jump into a furball like that without thinking twice. Glad you got tracked in after you got shot down."
"Command is considering your application, despite your 'unique' past."
She gave him a quick smile then turned to leave.
"Get well soon. And by the way, in the future, please report suspected spies to MI5. Don't just, you know, 'off' them."
Seated in the chair is a space-weathered Bretonian in his thirties, talking with an accent that pins him without a doubt as a Waterloo Station native. While his appearance and clothing pins him as a well-to-do racer, his eyes are those of a man with blood on his hands and tired of it all.
Interview exerpts:
"The name's Fletcher Farthing. Chums call me Fox, I suggest you do too. If you've ever seen me out on the Dublin track you'd know where I got the name."
"...I used to fly as part of the security wing out of Graves. Bretonia Mining paid well enough, especially with hazard benefits and all. I know my way around a fighter because. I'd still be there except the ill-fated treaty with the Mollys allowed some security cutbacks and I ended up on the outside looking in."
"...I'm over my anger now. Honest. Almost joined up with the Mol's, except for their own sudden twist toward the radical recently. There's something to be said for Hell and the roads paved to it. Can't condone what they're doing now, especially with the fighting in the Taus bein' what it is recently."
"...Bretonia needs her best sons to step forward. Wish I could be so blindly moved by those words, but there is indeed a war on and lots of my mates have enlisted. You need me out there so some of 'em make it back."
The recruitment officer sat back in his chair, furrowed his brow, and leaned forward and began to speak.
"You ALMOST joined the Mollies? But you got over it?"
He rubbed his eyes and continued.
"Interestingly enough, the fact that you admit that, indicates you really ain't a security risk. A real Molly spy would have come in here with the bloody Union Jack emblazoned on his jacket, going on about Queen and Country, and trying to hide his brogue."
"Furthermore, I will never understand why you new recruits feel you have to demonstrate to us that you are devoid of anger. God, if I hear that one more time... We ARE at war, you know. Friends and loved ones ARE dying. Every Bretonian SHOULD be living every hour of every day pissed off as all hell. Anyway, you say you are over your anger. Fine. Me, they blew my legs off, so I'm not. Whatever.."
The recruiter leaned back in his chair, produced a clipboard from a drawer, and handed it to the recruit.
"Once that is filled in and processed, you will officially be Ensign Fletcher Farthing. Welcome aboard!"
"Now get outta here. I was supposed to be on break 10 minutes ago."
Knock, knock on doors. Confused face show.
Recruitment officer-Ya, what you want chap?
Confused face-Um, Is this recruitment center for Bretonia armed force?
Recruitment officer -Do not know, mate, what does the sign on doors says?
Confused face -I am sorry, sir. Then I am at right place then, eh.
Recruitment officer -Oh, my dear Lord, what you are looking here. This is last place where you want to be.
Confused face -Um, sorry sir, I do not understand.
Recruitment officer -Thats damn right. How did you chap even finished school?
Confused face -Erm.
Recruitment officer -Oh my. Take this and type fill in. Here, take this Officer gives pencil.
Confused face -Thank you, sir.
Recruitment officer -Go there, and when you finish, come back. Officer point at corner.
Confused face look at paper.
*In order to join fill in next rows:
First name:
Last name:
Birth place:
Nationality:
Nationality of parents:*
-Uh may, this is harder than math test.
Recruitment officer -Can you give me a minute alone with my pipe?
Confused face looks again at paper. Ok, lets try.
Name, name... Oh... Writtes James Hobart.
-Where... Writtes Leeds.
Yes, uh... Bretonian, and both parents are Bretonians citizens.
Look once more at paper, in case that he write something wrong.
James Hobart-Here, sir. Gives paper back to Recruitment officer.
Recruitment officer Hobart, very good chap. -Hobart eh. I once know Hobart, very good chap.
James Hobart -Yes..Erm...What,sir..where to go now?
Recruitment officer -Wait, until I enter your application to computer. Officer take a look on paper. Erm, lad. You forgat to fill in the ather side of paper. Shows at background.
James Hobart -Oh my. Sorry. Takes paper and go to corner.
*Age:
Finished high school/University/Academy:
Physical Information:
Previous experience:*
Urm. Erm. 18 years...less or more.
James Cook highschool, Leeds planet.
Having sight problem. Rest is healthy. Erm..Healthy.. Yes.
I erm, when I bought ticket for transport ship to London planet, that was my first time in space. .... But..Writtes.. Oh Experience. I was flying a Mineing ship since I was 9 year old. I know evrything!
James Hobart -Is it done now,sir?
Recruitment officer -Yes, now, just write your number- Points at little paper corner- Here, so we can inform you how did end your application.
James Hobart -Here?
Recruitment officer -Yes. - Takes pipe- Ok, you are done. NEXT!
James Hobart -Sir, I am only that was waiting to fill in application.
Recruitment officer -Ok, good. Close door behinde will you chap.
James Hobart -Farewell.
Officer take his pipe, smiles, and enjoy at his hard work.