Overheating

I've finally learnt Thermodynamics.

It just seemed like the sort of thing more-active combat pilots did, not me, and there was always something else to train. But I've been hearing them talk, and thinking that even for me it could have uses.

And then I forgot it, just when it could have saved a ship.

I've barely used that ship in, what, a year? It was the first battleship I fitted all on my own. The fit, now that I look at it, makes me realise that my skills and knowledge have changed rather a lot since then. It's not nearly as tough as my usual ship.

I've looked at other ships I fitted then. I need to review them all. I have ships it'd be dangerous to fly and embarrassing to lose.

This weekend we said our goodbyes to Debes. Gottii and Elsebeth spoke well. I rue that I didn't join more of his fleets. I always thought there'd be time.

We are not immortal. We just have ways to dodge some of our deaths.

Through it all -- the reason I'm not dwelling on the losses -- has been another kind of heat.

I'm very much alive.