Interview with Navigator Lt. Cirini Stanson Which way?

Hello and welcome back! Today we have with us the Navigator and chief pilot of the Apollo 9, Lt. Cirini Stanson! Glad you could make it, Lt. Stanson. Do you mind if I call you Cirini?
Oh! Sure, I don't mind! Thank you, I'm sorry I'm late, I got a little lost finding the interview room.

That's ok, Cirini. You're the Navigator of the ship, why don't you tell us a bit about that?
Oh...ok. As the ship's Navigator and the head pilot, I plot the course for the ship to travel. I work with the captain to decide where we want the ship to go, then I do the programming and actual piloting of the ship. I make sure all the systems are running smoothly, and do all the lift off and landings myself. I'm also in charge of the co-pilots and give orders to the second and third shift crews.

Seth Triggs asks: I love your adventures on the A9! Tell me, do you have a lot of pressure as the pilot? Secondly, what's your worst landing? And third, what do you think of PJ?
Um, well, thank you.  Yes, it can be stressful but mostly it takes a lot of concentration.  Even with Apollo helping me, I'm the one that has to make most of the decisions and monitor the equipment constantly.  My worst landing?  Probably this one time I misjudged the distance to the ground and landed so hard I destroyed the tires and got the ship stuck in a swamp. That was so embarrassing.  And, PJ?  *long silence* I think he's a very good Captain and a pleasure to work with. 

Kabbalist asks: You seem to have a cheerful and sweet disposition. How do you manage to hold on to that through military training and life? I've heard that it can be pretty brutal.
Thank you! Yes, being in any type of armed forces can be hard. You have to be hard to be a good soldier, but a lot of times that ends up doing something to how you relate to people who aren't in the service. I don't want that to happen to me. I'm not sure what I'm doing to prevent it, but I guess it must be working! 

JiHoyle asks: Do you have a boyfriend or anyone waiting for you back on Earth?
Er, no. No I don't.

Reese Tora asks: What was it that first made you decide to become a pilot? and, if it isn't classified information, could you describe your most memorable flight/mission?
My dad was a commercial freight pilot. His enthusiasm for ships and flying kind of passed to me, and sometimes he'd take me on short trips with him when I was little.  I think those trips are really my most memorable ones.  Those and my very first missions as an adult of course, but I think this one I'm on currently with the A9 will stick out in my mind a very long time.

Nova asks: I just wanted to ask what sorta music she liked and if she would date *a* cute australia dingo? OK, so scratch the second question, can't blame a guy for askin'
Oh my...Well, I'm not very picky with my music, but I love romantic pop and classical.  And, um, well, I'm not sure why a cute dingo would WANT to date me, but no, you couldn't blame him for asking! Wait, I'm not sure that came out right...

Jorge the Wolfdog asks: Hello Miss. Stanson, I was wondering if you have any plans for your future. Will you get married? and oh by the way, you really cute.
Oh! Er, well, thank you!  That was sweet of you to say.  I'd really like to settle down and have a family someday, but I really don't date very much.  I'm kind of bad at it, so at this point, I don't know.

Gildedtongue asks: Firstly, Lt. Stanson, could you do the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs? What are your favourite webcomics? And finally, and most importantly, how do you keep that lovely fur of yours so white, clean, and fluffy?
Uh...I'm sorry, I really don't understand what you are talking about with those first two questions.  But I know all the fur keeping tips! I use a good salon quality shampoo and conditioner with a bit of volumizer...it's really the only stuff to go with. That grocery store bought stuff weighs your fur down and makes you all greasy!

nullus quiritatio iterum asks: Lt. Cirini Stanson, currently you’re the Navigator and the head pilot for Apollo. During your military training there were other fields you would have had to accomplish before moving on to the main field of study. Were their other interests and what other fields do you feel you excelled at? Being onboard a craft like Apollo must be demanding 24x7 how do you keep centered in that confining area?
My main goal was really to be a pilot, so I had to study a lot of...um...stuff.  You have to keep studying all the time because there is always new technology to get aquainted with and figure out.  I think I'd do ok in communications and maybe a little in mechanical engineering, though I'd never be as talented as Zooey.  I don't really feel confined there. The job CAN be demanding, but I love to fly, so being at the wheel always feels good to me.

Hakik the Fennec: What's your relationship like with the other crew members? Any that you spend more time with or know better than others?
I spend a lot of time with everyone really.  I suppose I know the chakats the best. They will invite me sightseeing with them when we go planetside.  Roz and I can talk endlessly about clothes and men, and PJ... um...we've had some very nice conversations.  I have a hard time figuring Zooey out, but shi's still fun to be around. Updike is the only one I don't really talk to.  He...uh...he's...very focused and usually very busy.  So I try not to bother him and don't know him that well.

Stormwarden asks: How are you adjusting to life on the Apollo 9? Learning as you go?
Um...yes.

Broo asks: First, let me say that I respect and admire you very much. I too would like to fly someday. I have three questions--1). Are there things a 'taur pilot such as yourself can do that a bipedal pilot can't, and vice versa? 2). Who flies the ship when you're off-duty? 3). Do you prefer sleeping on your back, side, or tummy? Thanks! You're awesome!
Thank you!  Not really, we use our feet to work the pedals that control the rudders and tillers, and either a biped or a taur can do that.  The only issue there could be is that some ships are designed for bipeds only, but in the military most of the ships are designed to accomodate anyone who might need to pilot them.  There are a couple of hamsters that take over for me for the shifts I'm not on duty for.  And I'm a side sleeper myself! 

Meow Tuna asks: I know piloting a large space vessel isn't like say getting behind the wheel of some completely bonkers sports car. But in saying this, have you ever been tempted to attempt to put the Apollo into this massive powersilde around a small moon?
Um...no. I can't say that I have...not on purpose, anyway.

ANTIcarrot asks: What kind of engines does the Apollo 9 have? Do you prefer flying large ships like the Apollo 9, or smaller single or dual engine aircraft?
The Apollo 9 has what is called a 2-4-2 array of engines. The outer wing engines are used in terrestrial navigation. They're scramjet engines that are refined to allow the ship to be carried near the ground.
The inner four engines at the tail of the ship are "impulse thrust drive" that help provide the propulsion for escape velocity and directional movement for re-entry and of course intergalactic propulsion. The impulse engines in the middle allow the ship to bank as well by altering their direction.  Since the Apollo is in an older class, the outer engines are a lot louder than in newer ships. Plus he's really the first very large ship I've flown, not to mention the oldest, so I have to say I prefer smaller crafts still.

Daniel asks: Just a few Questions for you Lt. 1. what do you do when you're off duty... Read, play videogames, Sleep?
2. Your fur is so clean! how do you manage it onboard a spaceship? that must take a lot of towels! ^^ and 3rd. Do you happen to have a sister who is still on Earth that might be looking for someone to hang out with? (can't blame a guy for trying can ya?)
I love to play raquette ball, dance, read, knit, and scrapbook in my off time. But when I'm planetside I love to go out and sightsee and shop!  When you have white fur, it's more difficult to keep clean, but I've got some salon stuff that takes any stains out quickly without giving me split ends.  In a pinch, a bit of a soak in vinegar will fade most anything, but it tends to make the follicles too dry and...oh...where was I? Oh yes. Um, actually, I do have a sister, but she...uh...she's really busy most of the time, so I'm afraid I can't help you there!

Gildedtongue asks: So, you won the war with P.J. This continues to show off your popularity. Considering you seem to be the most hit upon interviewee, one must wonder, how much do you spend on pepper spray?
...Honestly I'm still quite shocked I won at all, especially against PJ.  I swear I don't get as much attention as people seem to think I do! Honest!  I'm always being mistaken for somebody else, but that's it.  And I don't need pepper spray for honest mistakes and...well...besides, spraying pepper spray in an enclosed ship would just be silly.

Steven asks: I know this is gonna sound like a lame question, but I just have to ask: Can you stand or walk on your hind legs? Is there ever a time in your profession when you are required to do so?
Yes, I can stand and walk on my hind legs, but not for very long.  It's really hard to keep your balance and it starts hurting my knees and ankles after a while!  The military actually requires taurs to learn how to stand and walk on our hind legs as well to climb ladders and crawl flat during basic training.   The only time I've really needed to do that is if I needed to get something off the ceiling or if I'm putting in a new lightbulb.

Rush of the Vin asks: What do you see yourself flying in say ten standard years? And do you plan to be behind the controls or the one giving the orders of where to go?
I'd like to still be behind the controls, but I'm hoping by then to be behind a large cruiser or commanding a fleet of smaller singles.

Earl McClaw asks: What's it like being one of three 'taurs on a ship -- when the other two are chakats?
Not that different from being one anywhere else. Taurs are kind of rare, so this is really unusal having three of us on one ship. I'm not sure what you mean about the chakats. People are people, whatever their race or body shape or gender.

Ted asks: I wonder, do people make rude comments/actions about your being a taur? Like asking for a 'ride' or something like that?
Not a lot of people, but some do view taurism as a deformity and can be rude about it.  It was once thought we were seperate species and inferior to bi-peds and we were often discriminated against to the point that the only jobs we could get were as laborers.  A lot of that has passed now, but I've still had a couple of awful comments directed my way in my life.  Asking for a ride is very offensive unless you're a close friend or family member, and even then without a good reason it's not really polite.

Chakat Shadowstalker asks: Hey there! It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Cirini! I have just a small question... since you hang out with the Chakats so much, if you don't mind multiple mates, have you ever considered asking them both out for a formal date? Have you considered either one, or possibly both as mate material?
I...uh...uh...um....oh my god....They are just good friends!  I've never thought about them like that and they've never shown an interest in me like that either!  Is this interview almost over?

Gildedtongue asks: Well, Cirini, out of everyone in the crew, you seem to be the one who avoids Updike's wrath the most.  What's your secret?  Invisability?  Blackmail photos?  Or a reminder that back before civilization, your kind would find his as a very tasty snack?
Um. Well. I wouldn't say I...is he going to be reading this?  Commander Updike treats everyone equally.  Except for PJ of course.  I just try my best to follow his orders.   I would NEVER bring up predation to him...oh boy, that's one thing I'd NEVER bring up to him!

Geef asks: Lt. St. Anson, I have to say that I admire the 'taur form immensely. A few questions that I think only a 'taur would be suited to answer, if you would be so kind--are there any drawbacks to being a 'taur? Is footwear ever a consideration? Are there any parts of the 'taur body a 'taur can't reach (in the same fashion, say, that a biped such as a human can't easily reach an itch in the middle of the back)? Respectfully, Geef
Hi Geef.  There aren't a lot of drawbacks I guess, other than some people have a bit of a prejudice.  I can't use things like turnstiles or revolving doors, and it's always a shuffle with chairs at restaurants.  But I'm used to that.  We do have footwear, but most people bi-ped or taur only wear them if we need extra protection for our footpads, like heat, ice, and sharp terrain. Or if we want to wear them as accessories to a dance club.  Some taurs do have problems reaching certain spots, like the Quange, which are horse-taurs.  They are built much more solidly than I am.  I don't personally have any problems reaching anywhere except for the middle of my shoulderblades on my main torso like most people do.

ANTIcarrot asks: This may seem like another lame question - but how flexible is your waist? I imagine it must be pretty supple so you can do things like brush all your fur (and keep it as beutiful as you do!) but can it do things like turn through 180 degrees?
It's pretty flexible, but not too much more so than with bipeds.  I can lay my upper back down across my lower if necessary, though it's a touch uncomfortable.

Dimension Hopper X0071/2 asks: When I saw the April Fool's 2005 comic, i noticed that you had a very startled look (I know the feeling. My job is exploring different universes, so I never get used to the shock of entering a new one.). did that actually happen to you, and if it did, would you do it again, this time prepared (with pants?)?
Yes, it actually happened, and thankfully Zooey got us all out of there quickly!   No, I'd never want to do that again, but I ordered a pair of emergancy pants to keep under the control panel.  Just in case.

Tomobiki Yuu asks: *bows* thanks for letting me ask a question, have you ever though of telling everyone that you're not lost considering there is no true left, right, up or down? you've been doing a admirable job and alot of people always are rooting for you.
Thank you, I'm trying.  That's a great comeback, but unfortunately  it doesn't quite work that way.  I still have to find the planets we're going to!  I don't always find the RIGHT planet, but I'm getting to the point where I can find at least a planet...most of the time. I guess that's progress?

Gabriel Mobius asks: Hey Cirini! Before I got on with my question, I just wanted to say that I appreicate the work you do for the Apollo, and you are a very attractive 'taur.As for my question, what past experiences in life prepared you for or made you choose the job of navigator for a starship? Or was it a spur-of-the-moment kind of decision?
Thank you.  Oh my, I don't think I've ever gotten this many compliments in one sitting before.  Um.  Well...the past is a bit painful for me to go into.  My love of flying and navigation came from my father, but actually entering the active service and how I became part of the Apollo 9 was really...unforseen.

Malaxian Groundhog asks: Hello, Cirini. A more general question: Remembering the "incident" with the Galateans... Is it common for the crew of the Apollo to get in such, or similar, trouble with the locals of different planets? And if so, how are the conflicts usually resolved?
We always seem to be involved in something!  And not just on planets.  I guess it's just the way we are, but we have a knack for getting ourselves into trouble.  The hamsters seem the most well behaved of us, ironically.

Chakat Shadowstalker asks: I was curious, Cirini. I'm sure you and Zooey are friends, so I was wondering, what gender do you think he/shi/she is?
Yes, we're friendly with each other, even though I don't understand most of what shi's talking about.  I tend to think Zooey is a girl, but I'm usually wrong about these things, so I try to keep my mind open.

And that concludes our interview with Lt. Cirini Stanson! Thanks, Cirini!
You're welcome!  Thanks to everyone else, too!

Many thanks to Brian Foulk of the Flipside who gave me permission to use his page outline for the interviews.