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| RHO WEEKLY SQUADRON REPORT #6 |
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REPORTING OFFICER: Colonel Hav Antiel, Squadron Commander |
| SQUADRON COMMANDER'S FICTION: 'Nose Art Part 3' |
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Rho Squadron Commander Colonel Hav Antiel was standing in the Warrior’s hangar watching as a tipsy-yet-lithe man in greasy coveralls was lining up paint, brushes, and a large dropcloth in preparation beside the CMDR’s TIE Interceptor. “You’re sure this is the right time to do this?” Hav asked as Chief Hangar Master Mountebank wobbled, leaning over a paint can. “Back!” the man shouted. “Give the artiste some room.” Hav jumped and fell in line with the row of onlooking mechanics. He noticed that some had snuck their libations with them when they left the Warrior’s cantina. “It’s never too late for inspiration, Colonel,” Mountebank said as he stood back and eyed up the Interceptor. “The right time for art is when the muse strikes.” Hav cringed at Mountebank’s drawn-out pronunciation of the word “muse.” Nevertheless, there was something engrossing about Mountebank’s process. Hav had only known Mountebank as the bullish, foul-mouthed Theta crew chief who took joy in stale jokes and others’ misfortune. Witnessing his strategic arrangement of paint brushes and his lingering gaze on the TIE Interceptor made Hav wonder if he’d misjudged the man. “Do you need to see the, uh, reference image again?” Hav asked. “Shhhh!” a choir of crewman shushed him. “Just watch and let ‘im work.” Mountebank stood five feet from the TIE, his hands outstretched to form a square as he surveyed the fighter. Aside from the occasional hiccup or wobble, he was still as a statue. Hav turned to look at the assembled onlookers. It was the middle of the night, and aside from the rumbling of the midnight crew on the other side of the hangar, the space was empty. “Music!” Mountebank bellowed, and a crewman fumbled in his pouch and pulled out a recording rod. The hangar was then filled with the a low, disagreeable noise that seemed to lack both rhythm and melody. “Ah, Gamorrean opera!” Mountebank smirked, still eyeing up the TIE Interceptor. “Food for the soul!” Hav laughed. The situation was ridiculous. But none of the crewmen were laughing. They’d become almost reverent as they watched Mountebank’s process. “That’s it,” said Mountebank. He cracked his knuckles, snatched a paintbrush, and splotched a white “X” on the side of the TIE Interceptor’s cockpit. He nodded, looking quite proud. “What’s he doing?” Hav asked a crewman. “That’s…that’s not what I wanted.” “Shhh!” the crewman replied. “That means he’s found his ‘medium.’” Hav looked back at the fighter and saw Mountebank mixing colors on a loose piece of durasteel. Then, as quickly as he’d painted the “X” he had outlined a woman’s figure on the TIE. Hav was impressed. The form was loose, but it was already beginning to look like the racy image on his holograph. Then Mountebank stopped. Again, he stared at the fighter. Paint dripped from his brush. He hiccupped. The Gamorrean singers continued to wail on the recording. “How long does this usually take?” Hav asked in a whispered yawn. “About an hour, tops,” said a crewman, his eyes on Mountebank. “An hour? Hmmm. Not bad!” Mountebank grabbed a smaller brush and began adding pink details and black shading to the female form. To Hav’s shock, he appeared to be painting a nude figure. “What are you doing!? She’s not nude in the holograph!” “Relax, Colonel,” said Mountebank with a paintbrush clamped in his teeth. “I like to know what’s under the clothes in my masterpieces. I always start with a nude. It's my signature.” With a flourish, he started to render the aqua-colored flowing ribbon that covered the figure’s more exciting anatomical features. He added flushed cheeks, pink lips, and deep, almost glowing brown eyes. Each new layer added life to the artwork. Hav was astonished. Within an hour, Mountebank had crafted something that surpassed even the holograph in bringing his memory to life. Mountebank had worked through the time without pause, but now he stopped to survey the piece, still holding a brush in his mouth. “Mountebank, it’s amazing!” said Hav. “She looks like she could come to life!” Mountebank turned to face him. He was frowning, paint dripping from his hands and face. “This?” he scoffed. “Child’s play. Not my best work.” Hav chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. “Listen,” he said. “I know we didn’t discuss payment—” “Ah, yes, my fee,” Mountebank flashed his crooked smile. “A thousand credits, plus I get first crack at flying your ship.” “What?” said Hav. “No. There’s no way you’re flying it.” “Come now, Colonel, it’s a longstanding tradition here on the Warrior.” “OK, counter offer,” Hav said, an edge in his voice. “You don’t fly my ship and I don’t assign ‘fresher duty to your boys here for sneaking drinks from the cantina?” “Ah, fine,” Mountebank sighed, brushing his hands off over his supplies. “Just the thousand credits, then.” “Fine,” said Hav, his eyes narrowed to slits. Mountebank hastily rolled up his supplies in his dropcloth, tossed them over his shoulder, and marched away with his crew. Hav turned and admired the nose art. Mountebank had really captured the mix of innocence and mischief of the moment in that old holograph. Hav was truly pleased. “Wait,” he thought to himself, realization dawning on him. “Did I just agree to pay 1,000 credits for this?” |
| SQUADRON NEWS |
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| COMPETITIONS |
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A full list of active competitions is available on http://tc.emperorshammer.org/competitions.php?id=current |
| ROSTER |
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Rho Squadron - Strike Skid Rho - 'Shields won't save you.' Wing II - ISDII Warrior Flight I - TIE Interceptor Antiel's Aces - 'Show 'em who the bad guys are.' [1-1] COL Hav Antiel [1-2] LT Apos Steem [1-3] TBA [1-4] TBA Flight II - TIE Interceptor Parjai Flight - 'We are born to die. We live to be remembered.' [2-1] CPT Trideo Arkson [2-2] LCM Jarion Renalds [2-3] LT acetiepilot [2-4] TBA Flight III - TIE Interceptor Emperor's Will - 'If you survive a day, you get your pay.' [3-1] CPT Drake Starfire [3-2] LT Griggs D'Arc [3-3] TBA [3-4] TBA |
| ACTIVITY |
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Flight I [1-1] COL Hav Antiel
[1-2] LT Apos Steem
Flight II [2-1] CPT Trideo Arkson
[2-2] LCM Jarion Renalds
[2-3] LT acetiepilot
Flight III [3-1] CPT Drake Starfire
[3-2] LT Griggs D'Arc
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| CLOSING COMMENTS |
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I updated our squadron and flight nicknames and mottoes in this report and in the database. Take a look and let me know what you think, pilots. There's less than a week left in our Rho Run-On competition. We've all but destroyed the B-Wings hounding the Warrior, but we still have that Mon Calamari cap ship to deal with. What happens next? You decide! Get out there and remind 'em we're the bad guys. COL Hav Antiel |
Rho Report # 6 (2020-05-26)
This report was submitted by CA:LO/AD Hav Antiel/CA-7/SSSD Sovereign
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