This is totally true. I was a Shadow 200 "drone" operator in Operation Iraqi Freedom II circa 2003-2004. Our mission commander would sit in the TOC (Tactical Operations Center) with good old MIRC and chat with air force combat controllers. We used it to ensure our UAV wasn't in the kills one when we were lazing targets for AC130 Spectre Gunships (aka puff the magic dragon) or for A10 warthogs. As a geek, I got a real kick out of using IRC for serious business as kicking.