Date: May 3025<br/>Location: Siege Perilous: Aboard the Cobblestone Road<br/>Tagging: Open<br/>Content: Make sure your seats are in the upright position<br/><br/>"There will indeed be a tour," Cavanaugh replied.  "It won't be particularly spectacular but there will be a few notable sites on the way.  It's a good thing we've still got some decent daylight, otherwise this would be a boring trip.  The local day is twenty seven hours and the year is three hundred and eleven days.  You can find clocks for Luthien, New Avalon, Tharkad, Atreus, Sian and Terra on the local internet, if you really want to keep up with your times.  They also have multiple clocks at the star port itself.  If you have any questions during the flight, there is a headset on the arm of each chair.  Push the red button if you want to talk to me.  Set the channel and push the green button if you want to talk to one of the other passengers.  There are seven available channels, so most of you will be able to have private conversations.  In the meantime, I'm going to get this bird in the air."<br/><br/>He swung the cabin door closed and settled into the pilot's seat.  He rapped his knuckled against the bulkhead.  "Soundproof," he said.  "We can have a private conversation without using the comms.  I'll be able to hear them and unless I've got the mike cued to the cargo bay, they won't be able to hear me."<br/><br/>He paused, flipping a few switches.  With a whine, the engines sparked to life.  "As far as why I invited you up here with me, I'm going to let you venture your opinion as to what my reasons are.  As far as the escort, it is, as you likely suspected, a show.  If anybody on this planet wanted to shoot us down, two Warriors aren't going to stop them.  They're rigged with missiles rather than the usual autocannon, sacrificing a little bit of range for a serious increase in firepower.  They out-range pretty much anything else in the air but if a Mechbuster or God forbid one of the Thush aerospace fighters does a fly-by and those choppers are in for a world of hurt."<br/><br/>He pushed another button.  "Galahad tower, this is Cobblestone Road.  The Double Trouble fight is ready for take-off."   The engines were whirring loudly, making conversation in the cockpit momentarily difficult.<br/><br/>"Roger that Cobblestone Road.  Double Trouble is clear for take-off.  Unlimited visibility and a six knot wind from the south east."<br/><br/>"Thank you, Galahad Tower.  Unlimited visibility and a six knot wind from the south east."  He pushed another button and announced their imminent take-off to the other passengers.  "If you can look out the port side, you'll get a better look at the star port than you did coming in.  This star port can handle six drop ships at once.  It employs six thousand people and has its own hospital."<br/><br/>Without even a hint of a wobble, the Kharnov lifted off and the two attack choppers rose with it.<br/><br/>