"Raptor 4 requesting clearance?" asked Bottleneck into his headset. Cupcake pivoted in her seat and shot a dagger of a look at the ECO. If he mumbled like that on the wireless they'd never get anywhere. It reminded her of Zero and his whiny little voice in her headset, high pitched and annoying. Of course, once she thought of Zero and felt the rubbing of his tags against her belly, that snapped her a bit more into focus.

Raptor 4, you are clear for launch. Godspeed.

Taking off in a Raptor could never compare with the onslaught of adrenaline that came with a Viper flying through the launch tube fast enough to peel back the eyelids. Well, it would peel back the eyelids if there was any air, anyway.

This was a slow and steady affair, but it was nice. There was something comforting in the consistency of checklists and the company of a flight crew. She managed to get them to their rendezvous coordinates without incident and despite a little shakiness in her bones even laughed at a couple of Bottleneck's stupid jokes.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen," said Cupcake over the closed frequency she could use to communicate with her escorts and her passengers. "Out of sterile. Feel free to lavish praise upon your pilot."