De Luca, a female Flanker


[page="start"]

[colour="#808080"]
A large fighter stands impressively before you, the
painted bodywork shimmering like the coat of some
fabulous steed.  Each of the two tail fins bears a
green emblem.

Your musing is suddenly jarred as two yellow eyes
open in the canopy and the creature addresses you
with the voice of a beautiful woman.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"Hello there.  Was there something you wanted?"

[link="Who are you?"]
[linkto="name"]
[link="What are you?"]
[linkto="name"]

[endpage]


[page="name"]

"My name is De Luca.

 I am a Sukhoi-2700, descended from the Su-27 design of
 the ancients.  In bygone days, my kind were referred to
 as 'Flankers'.

 I'm not really sure what that meant, but I suspect it was
 some kind of military codename."

[but you're a woman!]

[link="You're quite a powerful aircraft, then"]
[linkto="su2700"]

[endpage]


[page="su2700"]

"Yes, I suppose I am.  Two independently-vectored engines
 and armour that's the envy of many others.
 
 I was probably intended to be able to kill F-15s with
 impunity, or something equally horrible..

 I can't see myself doing that somehow."
 
[link="Why not?"]
[linkto="killing"]
[link="What if they were trying to kill you?"]
[linkto="kill_you?"]

[endpage]


[page="killing"]

[colour="#808080"]
She sighs heavily.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"You humans.. why do you always think about killing?

 Why can't you just think nice things for a change?"

[link="But what about honour?"]
[linkto="honour"]
[endpage]



[page="kill_you?"]

[colour="#808080"]
She laughs.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"Many of my best friends are F-1500s.  The idea that
 we should somehow be enemies because we were originally
 designed by nations that happened to be rivals is simply
 absurd.
 
 Today, the only threat comes from this weird
 religion.
 And it is a far worse threat than we
 ever imagined."

[endpage]


[page="honour"]

"Honour?  That's all about death and killing too.

 They say it is honourable to die in the service of your
 master."

[link="And do you believe that?"]
[linkto="honour2"]
[endpage]

[page="honour2"]

"No."

[colour="#808080"]
She looks thoughtful for a few seconds.
[colour="#ffffff"]

"Perhaps you should talk to Austin."
[endpage]



[page="job"]

"I'm a technician.  We're trying to figure out how
 the
 papists work their tricks.

 I mean, there HAS to be a physical basis for all
 this,
 it CAN'T just be done with prayers and holy water!"

[link="Tell me about their magic."]
[linkto="magic"]
[endpage]



[page="magic"]


"The magic can do many things; it isn't simply tricks
 and deception.  But it doesn't give absolute power.

 It seems as if there are certain 'presets' that anyone
 can learn, but trans-human skill is needed to actually
 DESIGN spells.
 
 Sadly, most humans who have magical power use it
 for
 violence and terror.  Worse, the Church
 encourages this
 attitude.  If there really is a god that they're
 worshipping, it's a god of war."
 
[colour="#808080"]
A shiver passes over De-Luca's hands and control surfaces.
[colour="#ffffff"]

[link="Do you have any ideas?"]
[linkto="magic2"]
[endpage]


[page="magic2"]

"No.  I've been trying to reproduce the magic by studying
 the humans who cast spells.  But they are very hard to
 come by, and even harder to control if we do get one.

 The only ones we've had access to escaped using their
 Power, so we mostly go by film we have managed to
 record of spells being cast, and there's isn't much of
 that, I can tell you!
 
 I've tried repeating the gestures and words that the
 humans say.  I've even tried getting my human
 apprentices to try casting the spells for me, in case it
 needs a human body to work.  It didn't help any."
 
[nextpage="magic3"]
[endpage]
 


[page="magic3"]

"We even performed a Mass, once.  We did manage to score
 some diabolical laughter that way.

 What I'd really like is a tame magician; that would make
 life so much easier.  We need to be able to have spells
 cast in a controlled manner so we can see what effects
 they have on our instruments.
 
 Do YOU know any magic?"
 
[link="No, I don't.  Sorry"]
[linkto="magic_no"]
[endpage]





De Luca looks at you coldly.

[angry]

De Luca looks at you with obvious fury in her eyes.
Her face attempts a very canine snarl, marred only
by the fact that she has no teeth or lips.

"Of course not!  "
