Snippet #1425947

Marielle watched the pilots work as they guided the shuttle in to the landing area. The computer assisted in calculating a glide slope and tending to the myriad smaller tasks of landing such as applying speed brakes, adjusting the flaps on the wings, and throttling down the engines. The pilots just guided it in.

"Landing gear down and locked," reported the co-pilot. "Five hundred. Two-fifty. One hundred."

"Try for a vertical landing instead," Marielle suggested. She'd observed the alien fighter making one as it touched down.

"Hold on, and let me reset the computer," the pilot said. A few seconds later, he pulled out of the descent and flew in low over the runway(?) and over the crowd of aliens gathering to watch the shuttle land. Its engines revved up, no doubt startling the aliens below with their roar. Marielle felt the shuttle climb slightly, then bank around in a sweeping turn. Both she and the co-pilot cast the pilot a funny look, and cocked their ears in reproach. "Oops. Missed approach."

The shuttle came in again, then slowed to a stop as it swiveled thrust vents perpendicular to the ground. It gently settled to the ground.

"Touch down."

"Well done," Marielle smiled, and patted the two crewmen on the backs. She returned to the passenger compartment to find the marines were getting themselves situated by removing their rifles from the storage racks. The sergeant in charge of this particular squad, however, was fumbling with the toggle switch for her energy crystal pack.

Liffannia, what are you doing with your rifle?

Making sure it's locked and charged, the sergeant thought in reply. In case these worms want to play games. You never know with animals. Even the most harmless ones can still bite your fingers off.

Just make sure you keep the safety on, and don't point it at an alien, Marielle warned. They won't bite, if we don't provoke them, got it?

Yes ma'am.

With that straightened out, Marielle hit the button on the wall of the passenger compartment to open the door and deploy the air stair. Then she inspected each marine as he or she filed out and formed an honor guard outside. Each marine stood up straight and proud, with their long, pointed ears pricked up in alertness. Then Marielle herself disembarked, pausing only to adjust her sword to make herself appear more regal. She blinked in the bright sunlight outside, but her eyes quickly adjusted. As she descended the air stair, her eyes scanned the crowd of aliens, picking out Tasha, and separating the females from the males, and the elders from the youths from the juveniles.