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Kassima Gets Taken Into Thunderbolt Wing


Date: April 11, 1996
Place:  Benden Weyr's Living Cavern
Game:  PernMUSH.
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  It was just another quiet evening in the Living Caverns.
Meli, green Juliath's weyrling, had made a suggestion on Wing mechanics;
most of the people in the room were discussing this, as a method to make
moving dragons around during Threadfall less complicated was needed.
Kassima, green Lysseth's weyrling (that's me :), was being rather quiet,
perhaps because she was brooding about a serious error she had made
a couple of days before while leading the Moonrise Weyrling Wing in 
Fall.

Since she was so deep in thought, she was rather surprised when the 
Weyrleader suddenly called her up to his table....

The log begins rather abruptly in the middle of all this, since I didn't
start logging until I realized that Something Was Up.  It took me awhile
to  figure this out--I've never been the world's most observant person,
what can I say? :)  Sigh.  And here R'val had bet me a week's worth of
fresh bagels that someone was going to graduate that night... that'll
teach me to wager any more breakfast foods!  All spam save relative
knotchat has been clipped out to make things easier for you reader-types.

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


The Log:

T'fian nods. "And the original topic was how to bring the wing about
smoothly in such conditions, I thought?"

F'hlan glances down at his daughter, gives another slight smile, and nods
to T'fian.

P'tran turns from Kassima for just a moment to say to T'lar, "Anything
that would make it less complicated to move the dragons around is in
order." He nods at T'fian's words. "Exactly." He looks back to Kassima.
"You've been rather quiet during this discussion."

P'tran adds, "I hope you're not still brooding over that Fall."

T'fian smiles. "Lot's of ideas, but they're not exactly practical for
either large dragons or 'fall situations." (err, Lots... not lot's)

Kassima says, "Well, sir, I've been thinking about it. I do have a couple
of ideas, but since it's Meli's notion, I thought I'd let her chip in her
1/32nd mark first." She pauses, and glances down at the ground, then back
up. "It's on my mind, sir, but what's past is just that--past. Brooding
too much over that incident wouldn't get me anywhere."

T'fian pauses to look between P'tran and Kassima.

Sayla mutters to M'kla, "Momma,... play... OK?"

F'hlan glances at Kassima, and nods, very gently. His gaze lingers on her
for a moment, perhaps in understanding of her sentiment.

F'nar nods at T'fian. "The thing is, we need fast adaptability when we're
covering sky. Everything's going to be a trade-off somewhere."

M'kla nods to Sayla, "have fun, lass."

P'tran nods to Kassima. "You better not brood over it. Consider what we
were talking about before. If we needed a fast green like yours, you can't
be hesitating when you have to decide whether to cover another part of the
sky for a wingmate or stay in position."

Sayla kisses her mother again and wanders out after snagging two
sweetrolls.

T'lar hands Meli her juice and puts the now free arm around her waist.

Sayla walks towards the inner cavern.

Meli gives T'lar a nod, taking the juice, but still standing somewhat at
attention before the leaders.

T'fian watches the weyrleader's discussion with Kassima intently. "Sir,"
he comments. "I believe Kassima has learned her lesson from the 'fall
well."

Kassima nods. "'Tis truth, sir. There'd be no time for hesitation--and
that time, I made the wrong snap decision. I wouldn't do that again--I
should've known better than to leave the wing for any reason, when I was
leading. I hope that next time I have to make a quick judgment call,
it'll be a better one."

P'tran glances at his klah and figures its gone cold by now and hands the
mug to a passing drudge with a nod of thanks. He gives T'fian a very
slight nod of his head and a knowing glance. To Kassima he says, "You
sharding well will make the right judgement call next time. I'd expect
nothing less of a fellow Thunderbolt rider." He lets a very small smile
come to his lips

T'lar glances from P'tran to Kassima. "Thunderbolt? Great, Kassi.
Congrats."

F'hlan's eyes abruptly twinkle, as he slides a look at the Weyrleader.

Meli ahs!, grinning at Kassi.

Kassima blinks, and her eyes just about pop out of her head, making her
look something like a poleaxed wherry. "A... a Thunderbolt rider, sir?"
she says in a near whisper.

P'tran nods to Kassima and raises an eyebrow. "Unless of course, you
don't want to be in the wing ..."

T'fian sighs and shakes his head. "Shards," he mutters. "I was hoping
T'nnar would snag her."

F'nar smiles at Kassi.

Kassima shakes her head frantically. "No, no, sir! I want to be in the
Wing!" Her face practically splits, she's grinning so hard. "I'm honored,
sir, truly honored."

F'hlan studies P'tran a bit, and smiles, very slightly, to himself.

Benden Weyr> F'hlan resists the temptation to tell Kassima that she
better not screw up on 'his' Wing. ;)

P'tran nods to Kassima and his smile broadens a bit. "Well, that's good
to hear, Kassima. In that case, welcome to Thunderbolt Wing." He starts
to fish around the pockets of his jacket for something.

Benden Weyr> P'tran grins at F'hlan :)

T'fian smiles, softly. "Congrat, Kassi. That's one down."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Congrats, Kassi."

In F'hlan's lap, Mehlani peers. Kassima's going to have a patch like
Daddy's now?

Benden Weyr> Jaeleka says, "What did Kassi do?"

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Gestena dhon, Alyssa. :)"

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Got assigned to Thunderbolt wing."

Benden Weyr> Jaeleka noddles.."Way to be."

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Now we just have to get her proddy ;)"

P'tran hmms and is still searching and then ahs as he finds it. He takes
a slightly wrinkled but clearly identifiable Thunderbolt patch and full
rider's knot. The knot he pins to Kassima and the patch he hands to her.
"There you go. In another day or so, we'll have a weyr ready for you."

Benden Weyr> T'lar grins.

F'hlan speaks up, clearly, "Welcome, rider." He nods serenely to Kassima.

F'nar salutes Kassima. "Welcome to Thunderbolt."

P'tran smiles and gives Kassima a salute, one of the few times he
actually does so.

Kassima takes the patch with a slightly shaking hand and nods. "Thank you,
sir--sirs," she says, saluting P'tran, F'hlan, and F'nar quickly. She
can't seem to stop grinning.

T'fian chuckles, watching this with a smile.

F'hlan snaps Kassima a salute of his own. As does Mehlani.

T'lar raises his mug in toast.

Benden Weyr> Kassima belatedly pthbts at Meli. :)

Meli grins, and gives her own salute. "Rider." with a nod.

T'lar switches mug hands and salutes.

Aphrael smiles and salutes Kassi from her place at the weyrling table.
"Congrats, rider."

T'fian smiles. "Welcome to the ranks, Greenrider." He pauses and looks at
the other weyrlings. "Now to get rid of the rest of you, so I can go on
vacation."

Meli chuckles at T'fian, still beaming at Kassi. "Eh, we'll miss ya in
th'barracks."

Benden Weyr> F'hlan collects fire lizards, seduces a lower caverns girl
or two, and spawns five more kid -- um, maybe not. :)

T'lar laughs. "You can go now if you wish. We'll not follow."

P'tran blinks at T'fian and laughs. "Like fighting Fall full time is a
vacation? Well, I guess, compared to Weyrling training."

P'tran grins

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "You have a long way to go on the flit
collecting to catch up to Kassi, F'hlan."

T'fian grins in response to P'tran. "You got it, sir."

Benden Weyr> F'hlan lets Kassima take over the time-honored Thunderbolt
tradition of trying to build a second green dragon with fire lizards,
then.

Benden Weyr> F'nar hees at F'hlan.

Kassima returns her friends' salutes and chuckles at T'fian's comment.
"Thanks, all," she repeats, this time to Aph, Meli, and the rest.

Benden Weyr> F'nar doesn't follow that one... :)

Benden Weyr> P'tran laughs

Benden Weyr> F'hlan smuggles his flits into Kassima's weyr!

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "I think she's trying for blue."

Benden Weyr> Kassima grins, I've only got four greens. I'm closer to
building a blue--got eleven of those. :) Still trying to beat D'nar, he
of the 29 blue FLs....

[Editor's Note:  And over a half a year later, I've managed that, too!
Woo-hoo!  Now back to your regularly scheduled RP. :) ]

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "It'd have to be blue, being Kassi..."

Benden Weyr> Jaeleka says, "You could always try for a striped dragon."

Benden Weyr> F'hlan is blueless.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "That could be remedied, F'hlan."

Benden Weyr> Jaeleka is everythingless, including socks and shoes..if you
find those, please give 'em back!

P'tran grins at Meli's comment. "You'll have her for a few more days," he
says. "Little lagged in getting the weyrs ready, but we'll have them
ready soon."

Benden Weyr> Kassima reminds her greens to hatch lots of pretty blues
next time for F'hlan. :)

P'tran * read: I'm putting off the code-foo part til tomorrow :)

Meli nods at the weyrleader, tugging at an earlobe. "Yah, soon is soon
enough."

T'lar smiles. "Gonna feel weird having my own weyr with must Nicoth. I'm
rather used to 29 other riders and dragons.

P'tran chuckles as he stands. "Actually, despite how its getting a
little cramped, I think you might wind up missing being all together like
that."

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "You read my mind."

P'tran nods to T'lar and grins. "Exactly."

T'fian nods. "I know I did when my bunch graduated."

T'lar mutters to Meli, "We... a..."

Meli actually blushes, amazingly, and gives T'lar a long look.

P'tran stretches a bit and says to his wingseconds, "I think we covered a
lot of ground in that discussion. I think we should meet in a day and
consolidate all this." He looks over to the weyrlings and grins. "And
thank you as well for your comments. It shows you're thinking."

P'tran peers at T'lar a moment and wonders what he said *this* time and
just sighs with a soft, amused chuckle.

T'lar nods to P'tran. "Thank you, sir."

F'hlan says dryly, "Somewhere where I can walk to, if you please,
P'tran..."

P'tran nods to F'hlan and grins. "The records room most likely."

F'nar nods to P'tran. "I'll see what I can come up with, but I doubt it
will be anything good.

F'hlan nods once, wisely.

P'tran shakes his head at F'nar. "You had good suggestions as it is. I
just want to better assess everything I've heard."

Meli nods again, stepping back to return to the table, but still holding
T'lar's hand.

T'fian stands and stretches. "Well, if you all will excuse me," he says
and then makes his way towards the bowl.

T'fian walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

T'lar walks over to the table with Meli and sits down next to her.

P'tran nods to T'fian and gives a slight yawn. "I think I better be going
as well." He turns to KAssima. "First thing in the morning, north bowl,
drills. I want to get you familiar with Thunderbolt Wing as quickly as
possible."

Kassima nods. "Aye, sir--first thing. The sooner I can learn, the
better."

P'tran nods to Kassima. "Very good. Now if you'll all excuse me. Good
night all."

F'hlan nudges his little girl, murmuring something to her. Mehlani
blinkblinks, yawns suddenly, and nods, sliding off her father's lap.

T'lar says "Night, sir."

You say "Good night, sir. Fare well."

F'hlan stiffly gets to his feet, nods politely to everyone, and hobbles
out, nudging his offspring off towards the nurseries.

Meli echoes the sentiments.

F'hlan walks towards the inner cavern.

Aphrael offers a "Goodnight sir." As she drains her mug of klah.

P'tran heads out

P'tran walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

T'lar looks over at Kassima. "Want to sit with us weyrling types,
greenrider?"

Kassima laughs and says, "'Course, T'lar." She stops by the citron
pitcher to refresh her glass, which by now is warm and thus undrinkable.

T'lar says "Wonder what wings we'll end up in?" He squeezes Meli's hand
under the table. "Could be interesting to see if any of us end up in the
same one."

Meli smiles. "Yah, that'd be nice, but prolly not realistic."

T'lar says "True. They'd want to have experienced and non-experiences
mixed together."

Kassima slips into her seat. "Could be," she agrees. "There's thirty
weyrlings to spread out, so surely some of us'll end up in the same
wings."

Aphrael supresses a yawn as she reaches to fill her klah mug. "Hrm, it'd
be nice to be together with you guys. I think we work well together."

T'lar nods. "We do."

F'nar yawns. And decides to head up to his weyr.

F'nar walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

R'val walks in from the bowl.

R'val walks in, waving, "Evening!"

T'lar salutes R'val from his seat. "Evening."

Meli salutes R'val.

R'val returns the salute as he sits down and looks the weyrlings over,
grinning at Kassima's knot, "Congratulations, rider."

Aphrael salutes R'val.

R'val winks at Kassima, "not in my wing, thank goodness.' He eteases.

Kassima grins at R'val. "Thanks!" She fingers her new knot. "I don't know
that I'll get used to not needing to salute everyone," she says with a
chuckle.

R'val returns Aphrael's salute with a smile, "Won't be long before your
time comes Aph, T'lar."

R'val smirks at Kassi wryly, "You get used to it /real/ fast."

T'lar yawns and belatedly covers it with his hand. "Excuse me. I'm more
tired than I thought. I went to BAyhead Hold to visit my folks today and
I'm more tired than I thought."

Meli smiles somewhat tenderly at T'lar. "Off to sleep w'you then. More
drills for us weyrling types t'morrow."

T'lar smiles and nods. "Yes. Us weyrlings have to keep training and
working and slaving for the riders."

T'lar stands and salutes Kassima and R'val. "Night."

R'val nods to T'lar with a smile, "Night, T'lar."

Aphrael smiles and waves to everyone, "Night T'lar. I gotta visit a
friend. See you later.."

Aphrael walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

T'lar walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.