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the way.  Manipulating the controls, Valerie brought the view out further, the six craft becoming one icon. The icons of Furioso and all the ships and small craft surrounding it came into view.  A quick query highlighted the PLN Wishart and another calculated the estimated time of arrival, to show a short twenty minute flight.
    Relaxing back into her seat Valerie switched the view over to the forward camera mounted on the Helos nose.  The stars spired as Captain Benz manoeuvred the craft around, to take it through the traffic moving around Furioso.  After years of traveling in space, Valerie still found the blackness empty of life, to be soothing.  It gave her a sense of peace only bettered by time with her family.
    An excellent pilot, like all of those Valerie handpicked to fly Shadow Company’s support vehicles; Benz’s control was smooth and unhurried.  There was no discernible movement from inside the craft, the compensators working perfectly, as the Captain guided the Helo with its accompanying drop ships and shuttle.  Stars and the pinpoint glares, from the drives of numerous different craft of all sizes, moved on the screen as Benz re-orientated the Helo and the PLN Wishart came into view
    Six hundred metres long, its carbon steel battle armour painted the standard Legion Navy light blue.  With her running lights on, the ship gleamed in the dark of space. The slight blue haze of her shields encompassed her entire length.    Sealed gun and missile ports ran down the two sides visible to the Helo.  Her engines glowed a dull green, speaking of her readiness to depart. 
    As the Wishart grew in her screen, Valerie was able to pick out the landing bay sitting above the gun ports and she heard Hans over the ships intercom.
    “Now on approach, all craft come to landing formation Alpha four.”  The shuttle accelerated ahead of the Helos and they took up positions behind it.  Designed to deliver supplies and troops in a combat environment, the Scarab was still the most vulnerable craft within Shadow Company’s flight of six, so it was always placed in the most protected position.
    The bay had been completely cleared for Shadow Company’s use by Captain Tsoutsouvas.  Despite that, it was still a tight fit as the Scarab and Windsoars landed smoothly.  The moment they touched down, Valerie activated the override on her command panel and walked through the troop bay.  In its standard safe mode, the ramp lowered unhurriedly, rather than the fast wrenching movement it was capable of in combat.
    Stepping off the ramp when it touched the deck she walked confidently around the still whining engines of the Windsoar.  As she passed the cockpit, she saw Captain Benz shaking his head at her, so she gave him a wave and a smile.  It really was against the rules to leave a space craft before the Pilot gave the go ahead.  This was to ensure the engines would not vaporise an unsuspecting person, who strayed too close, and there was a breathable atmosphere.
    Valerie could see the same information as Benz on her panel.  She knew it was safe to leave and she knew exactly how much room to give a shutting down engine.  If there was the slightest sign of a problem, she would have stayed in her seat until Hans had done his job.  Sometimes it was good to be the boss and break the rules.
    The real reason she left the Windsoar early was entering the Wishart’s boat bay, along with a junior officer and a non-com.  The brown haired, lean shape of Captain Tsoutsouvas strode towards Valerie, her long legs covering the distance quickly.  At more of a saunter, Valerie smiled at the older woman and held her hand out as they met.
    “It has been a while, Mariya.  I got a good look at the Wishart on the way in.  She looks in lean and mean shape.”
    “For an old girl you mean.”  The Captain replied with a smile as she shook Valerie’s hand.  “You’re right, it has been too long.  What was it?  That mess in