Ace Combat: Broken Line (IC/Open)

[Rupudska]

That was probably a better idea, "Well I didn't want to impose but that is the best idea isn't it? I accept but let me pay for petrol or something if you need it alright? To say thank you."
Once seated he would offer a handshake, "I'm Garret. I never caught your name during the briefings just the rank."

"Shinobu," Shinobu said as she took Garret's hand. The car's interior was a tad dirty but not unpleasantly so - it was 'well-used' dirty not 'you will probably see a dead raccoon in the backseat' dirty.

"Don't worry about fuel, I had it refueled as soon as I got here. Where is it you wanted to go?"

[SaintB]

That was probably a better idea, "Well I didn't want to impose but that is the best idea isn't it? I accept but let me pay for petrol or something if you need it alright? To say thank you."
Once seated he would offer a handshake, "I'm Garret. I never caught your name during the briefings just the rank."

"Shinobu," Shinobu said as she took Garret's hand. The car's interior was a tad dirty but not unpleasantly so - it was 'well-used' dirty not 'you will probably see a dead raccoon in the backseat' dirty.

"Don't worry about fuel, I had it refueled as soon as I got here. Where is it you wanted to go?"

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance Shinobu," her name was pronounced slowly to ensure he got it right.

He sat back in the passenger's seat and buckled in without paying any mind to the disorganized nature of the cars interior then answered the question, "Just some needful things. You know... muscle cream and things like that. Thought I'd get something to wish that injured kid a full and speedy recovery too." he admitted.

"And you know... Two ply." he chuckled a bit after that, "You can't underestimate the value of soft toilet tissue."

[Kassaran]

"As for why I still fly? Well, I gotta family, mate. Wife 'n' kid. Gotta keep the missus and the lad fed and clothed somehow, 'm I right? By God, do I miss 'em, though..." Frosty nodded again, his eyes staring off, briefly lost in thought. He was no doubt thinking of his family, his loved ones whom he worked to ake money for. Years ago, he'd found peace within himself in the fact that he killed for money, money that he then used to support his family. While some would be troubled by that prospect, Aiden found it simple: If you didn't get paid to kill, someone else was going to do it instead, so it might as well be you.

"Ah, nicely done. Glad to hear you're in touch then. Can't be easy, what with you out and flyin' about and all. Keep 'em close to you, I've seen way too many good men ripped from their loved one's or have their loved ones ripped from them. It's a bad way to live and a worse way to go." He let his voice, solemn and somber sit low in that octave for a moment, swirling around the meager amount of lager that had remained from the swigs he'd taken in listening to Frosty's tale. The amber liquid seemed to crawl up and along the edge of the glass as he brought the rotations in his wrist tighter and tighter around, a slight warmth seeming to already creep across his body from the pint he'd almost fully consumed. Letting the melancholy mood simmer for the moment, he lifted the glass and held it at roughly eye-level with Frosty," to the good times and to the bad, to every man without his family, and to every family without their man. That's who we fight for - no country, creed, or flag. That's the beauty of being mercenaries my friend, that's the beauty of fighting for your own cause."

[The United Remnants of America]

"Ah, nicely done. Glad to hear you're in touch then. Can't be easy, what with you out and flyin' about and all. Keep 'em close to you, I've seen way too many good men ripped from their loved one's or have their loved ones ripped from them. It's a bad way to live and a worse way to go." He let his voice, solemn and somber sit low in that octave for a moment, swirling around the meager amount of lager that had remained from the swigs he'd taken in listening to Frosty's tale. The amber liquid seemed to crawl up and along the edge of the glass as he brought the rotations in his wrist tighter and tighter around, a slight warmth seeming to already creep across his body from the pint he'd almost fully consumed. Letting the melancholy mood simmer for the moment, he lifted the glass and held it at roughly eye-level with Frosty," to the good times and to the bad, to every man without his family, and to every family without their man. That's who we fight for - no country, creed, or flag. That's the beauty of being mercenaries my friend, that's the beauty of fighting for your own cause."

Frosty looked up and lifted his own glass high, clinking the side against Praeses', the alcohol inside each glass sloshing with the light impact as Frosty nodded his agreement to the toast. "Aye, mate. Beautifully said." Frosty pulled his drink down and away and put it to his lips, draining what was left, which at that point in the conversation, wasn't much. He set the glass onto the bar with a dull, hollow thud. Frosty gave a slight shake of his head, a quick test of his sobriety. His momentum stayed with his head's movement, and he mentally marked himself as still sober enough. He'd know when he was drunk, since a quick shake of the head while intoxicated would have his head moving faster than what felt to be the contents of his head. Kelly glanced at Pearsohn, "Ya thinkin' another round? It'll be on me, anyways. Or do ya 'ave other plans tonight, since ya know what they say 'bout second drinks?" Frosty was referring to the saying about how a second drink meant third drink, and a third drink meant a fourth drink, meaning that a night of drinking started with a second drink.

[Rupudska]

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance Shinobu," her name was pronounced slowly to ensure he got it right.

He sat back in the passenger's seat and buckled in without paying any mind to the disorganized nature of the cars interior then answered the question, "Just some needful things. You know... muscle cream and things like that. Thought I'd get something to wish that injured kid a full and speedy recovery too." he admitted.

"And you know... Two ply." he chuckled a bit after that, "You can't underestimate the value of soft toilet tissue."

Shinobu snickered, starting up the car as she did so.

"Understood. There's a department store about halfway to town from here, we'll go there." She had to go there anyway. Wit the prospect of flying being very unlikely for the next few months, she would need something to keep herself occupied, and not even physical training was enough to last that long.

She wondered if the department store carried kendo equipment.

[Gvozdevsk]

"Thanks... how's the other people in the base?" Shinden asked as the two ladies pulled chairs to sit. "From what I observed, there might be guys checking you two out." She teased. Teasing, and being teased, Shinden somehow kept this slightly playful aspect of her throughout her life. She didn't mind being teased, although she does get embarrassed easily.

"That may not necessarily be a bad thing," Liora began. "A man will do anything for a pretty face, and you can never have too many people looking out for you in hostile airspace. Not that it matters here, we're done here and not going up again, but just keep that in mind wherever you go next."

[Beiarusia]

2nd Lt. Mitsuko Kimura “Angel”

"Thanks... how's the other people in the base? From what I observed, there might be guys checking you two out."

The statement caught Angel off guard, even more so considering that it was Haruna who had said it. But then again it did explain a lot of things. Some of the men on base had been very friendly to Angel ever since she had arrived. She had thought nothing of it, but now that it was said aloud it gave the woman a new perspective on a few things.

"That may not necessarily be a bad thing. A man will do anything for a pretty face, and you can never have too many people looking out for you in hostile airspace. Not that it matters here, we're done here and not going up again, but just keep that in mind wherever you go next."

Angel could only shrug it off. “Guess you’re right. Helps having people watching your back, no matter what they think I suppose.”

She hadn’t really thought much about the political situation that had grounded them, but doing so now was just a bit sad. Angel had already made several great friends, and likely after the week was up she would never see them again as she and Null would be called back home, everyone else going their separate ways.

Her voice was just a little less cheerful than usual. “Wherever you guys go make sure you have someone watching your back. I won’t be around forever to do so.”

[The United Federation of Terrans]

1st Lieutenant Jason Murphy
Koga AFB
Murphy cleaned the steam off the mirror after a quick jaunt in the shower. He had successfully cleaned off the stubble from his face along with regaining the skin on the sides of his head; however, he had been unable to keep the short haired mohawk and had taken the hair off so that the top of his head was now more or less bald. However, Murphy had no permanent attachment to his hair and so he redressed in his fatigues and went back to his room. There Murphy changed into a new flight suit, courtesy of the quartermaster, and left to get a cup of coffee from the mess hall. Murphy made to leave however, he stopped and remembered to slip his 4' inch folding into one of the suits pockets before he exited the room and made his way to the mess hall which he found more crowded then when he arrived; two hours prior.

[Relikai]

Listening to the two girls, Shinden can't help but giggle at Angel's expression as she considered the question. Panther was more serious, and she nodded in agreement. "Yes... and it is important that we watch out for each other." Shinden whispered in response.

2nd Lt. Mitsuko Kimura “Angel”
“Wherever you guys go make sure you have someone watching your back. I won’t be around forever to do so.”

Angel's sudden change in demeanor has caught Shinden off guard. The first squadron mate to greet her, the one who rescued her, looking so dour.

"Is... did something happen during the briefing?" Shinden began to ask, just when Doctor Yoshima and a female nurse entered. Shooing the other two ladies to the side, he bent Shinden over to check the wound. Taking off part of her top, the Doctor made sure that the nurse did most of the physical work, respecting the shorty who has so often played badminton with him back in her library days.

"Bleeding's stopped, skin look's fine, no sign of internal bleeding, patient is ready to be discharged." Yoshima announced. "Come back tomorrow morning for a change of dressing. I'd estimate two to three days for the wound to close if you rest enough, it's always the last stretch that the body takes a slack from closing the hole. By then, you'll be back in the sky Shinny." Patting her head, Yoshima and the nurse left as Shinden stepped off the bed, supported by Angel and Panther.

"Thanks... I guess I should not hold you two up anymore, I can make my way back to the bunks." Shinden told the two ladies with a smile.

[Ubaria]

Noel left the briefing room with a somewhat less annoyed demeanor than most of the other pilots, the politics of war were delicate and the slow cogs of diplomacy would take a while to arrange any kind of agreement, he wasn't a politician but he understood the seriousness that a flashpoint like the one that just occurred, could have on international politics. In the end they were mercenaries, maybe some were personally invested in the conflict but for the most part, they were payed to do whatever the Sieanese told them to do and there were still getting paid, despite the outcome, and for one, Noel was going to spend his money and his downtime trying to enjoy himself somewhat.

---

The Bar was set aside from the canteen, in the same room but in its own little enclave that sealed it off from the hubbub of the cafeteria, there were a few people already milling about inside including a rather large looking fellow with a equally large sidearm dangling from a hip holster, Noel eyed it warily as he slid up to the bar alongside the guy, his frame almost shadowing Noel's rather skinny and slight build. As the bartender approached he rapped on the counter and held up a finger.

"Tequila. And none of that Osean shit. Sapinese if you have any"

Noel turned to the man on his right and extended a hand in greeting.

"You must be Wolf. Saw you work that Eagle up there today. You sure know how to fly"

[Independent States of Tula]

2nd Lieutenant Vladimir Tula
Koga AFB

Vladimir was sipping his Rum and Coke as he let his mind wander, he kept an eye on all the people in the canteen, however he noted that there were no female base personnel that caught his fancy. Halfway through his first drink Vladimir saw a man enter the room, he was taller than Vladimir but also skinnier, Vladimir thought he saw the guy eye his sidearm once. As Vladimir looked away from the man he smirked at that, not only was it an armor killer but the Desert Eagle got people nervous because of its size. The man ordered Tequila, Vladimir thought that wouldn't be smart for a skinny man, shots of Tequila...but it wasn't his business to tell other pilots how to drink.

Just then the man turned to Vladimir and extended his hand as he stated "You must be Wolf. Saw you work that Eagle up there today. You sure know how to fly."

Vladimir looked at the hand before cautiously accepting it before asking "Eagle? I took down a MiG-17...last I thought it was nicknamed Fresco. ...Anyway, my name's Vladimir...you?"

[Beiarusia]

2nd Lt. Mitsuko Kimura “Angel”
Koga Airbase, Seian

Haruna was insistent on being self sufficient, so Angel had begrudgingly said her goodbyes and had gone off on her own, bored and with ample amounts of free time. Null was likely still busy and there wasn’t much else to do on base or in town. An effort could be made to contact her sister, or Angel could spend some time at the mess hall. Or more specifically the bar. A little reward for a successful sortie.

It was a simple little place set aside from the main food courts. Clean but with a well worn look to it. Not many people, but that could be attributed to the time of day. Still early for some circles. Angel took a seat at the bar near some familiar personnel.

Ordering a hard cider she drained her glass, and then ordered another for good measure. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop but it was hard not to listen in on the conversation beside her. They were talking about the recent mission if she had to hazard guess. Taking another glance they did look familiar. Possibly two of the mercs from the squadron. Angel could justify her not recognizing her allies by the mere fact that she had only met them this morning, and aside from Haruna and Panther she had yet to commit any of their faces to memory. If anything she was more inclined to know the two by their callsigns or even aircraft.

At the mention of Eagle she butted in, assuming that the man was referring to her kill earlier in the day. “I was the Eagle pilot,” she said with a grin.

[Ubaria]

"Eagle? I took down a MiG-17...last I thought it was nicknamed Fresco. ...Anyway, my name's Vladimir...you?"

"Noel. Or Aguila to whom it concerns" Noel replied and caught the shot of Tequila as it slid across the bar, instantly lifting the small glass of amber liquid to his lips and shoving the contents down his throat. He winced as the warm liquid stung the back of his throat and tongue but savored the taste all the same, it wasn't bad stuff.

Noel was about to speak again but before he could, a voice interrupted from off to one side.

“I was the Eagle pilot,” She smirked.

The woman was Angel, the wingman to Null and the actual pilot of the Eagle he had mistaken for Vladimir.

"Well. Solid work out there Angel. Glad to have you on our side" He replied and held up his index finger to the barman.

"Same again. And one for each of my compadres"

[Independent States of Tula]

2nd Lieutenant Vladimir Tula
Koga AFB

"Noel. Or Aguila to whom it concerns." The man replied before taking his shot of Tequila and dropping it down his throat, Vladimir couldn't help to smirk at the man's wince, he definitely didn't drink like Vladimir had in the past.

Just then a woman broke into the conversation "I was the Eagle pilot,”

Vladimir turned to study the woman and found himself looking at a Seianese woman, she was shorter than Vladimir by a few Centimeters with large dark eyes on her round face beneath a short bob of brown hair. Vladimir had a secret about him, he preferred women not from his home country, they had an exotic appeal to themselves in Vladimir's eyes and this woman was no exception. As Noel complimented her fighting skills in the air before ordering a round of tequila for the three of them Vladimir let his lips move up in a slight smile before introducing himself to the lady who now had his full interest for the time being.

"Angel eh? Well you certainly couldn't have picked a better nickname for yourself. I'm Wolf, but please call me Vladimir. Now...if what I pieced together out there in the skies is correct our least lucky compatriot in the infirmary owes her life to you, it's always a nice kill when you can know it saved another's life, am I right...angel?" Vladimir put a little bit of emphasis on the last word just to show he meant it in a way other than her call sign.

[Beiarusia]

2nd Lt. Mitsuko Kimura “Angel”

The man, Noel, if she had caught his name correctly, complimented the woman on her performance and then ordered a shot each for the three of them. The barman was quick to get the alcohol poured and Angel soon was downing the shot with little care. Tequila was not something she enjoyed regularly, but alcohol was alcohol, and allowing it to go to waste was unbecoming no matter the situation.

"Angel eh? Well you certainly couldn't have picked a better nickname for yourself. I'm Wolf, but please call me Vladimir. Now...if what I pieced together out there in the skies is correct our least lucky compatriot in the infirmary owes her life to you, it's always a nice kill when you can know it saved another's life, am I right...angel?"

Wolf, or Vladimir if he preferred, was a bit taller than Angel – not a terribly difficult feat – and had a familiar accent. She should know, having lived much of her life in Dorusia with her adoptive parents. It was odd that he would sign on for mercenary work instead of outright joining the air force, but Angel supposed he had his reasons. Likely they all did. As for what Vladimir said, it was a different feeling entirely, fighting to save a friend. Angel was not too keen on killing others, and in fact tried to avoid such a topic if she could help it, but there was a certain thrill to combat flying, and in a battle she wouldn’t hesitate to fight to win. If she helped another in the process it was all the more so better.

She was completely oblivious to Vladimir’s curtained remark. “Mitsuko, but Angel is fine by me. I prefer it actually. And I’m sure Haruna would have been fine without me. Everyone else was there, that pilot didn’t have a chance as it was. But… yeah, it is nice knowing that I helped someone.

“You’re Dorusian, right? I can tell. Your accent. My family lives there if you’re wondering how I know.”

[Relikai]

Second Lieutenant Shimazaki Haruna, 'Shinden'
Accomodations, Koga AFB

Shinden bade Panther goodbye, as she headed back to her bunk. There was little activity, most of the squadron were out relaxing after a mission. Spending time alone with herself is a way for Haruna to recover psychologically, so put the persona of 'Shinden' aside. Sighing as she sat on the mess that was her bed, books, notes and CD covers. Several posters were plastered along the walls of her room, some of music idols, some of planes. A certain poster stood out, a recruitment ad from the Osean Air Defence Force, with the words WIZARD emblazoned across it. A helmeted pilot sat in the cockpit of an F-18 Hornet, his face hidden behind the visor as he gave the camera a thumbs-up. The word LUCAN could be seen painted under the canopy.

Sighing, Haruna shifted the mess off her bed, using her good arm to stack them on her workdesk. Opening her mini-fridge, she could see the bottle of wine which she brought from Dorusia staring right at her. Shaking her head, Haruna opted for a bottle of chilled water as she popped the painkillers, also a sleeping pill. Swallowing it with a large gulp, Haruna carefully extracted herself from the flight suit, leaving herself in her PT attire, the most comfortable set of clothing to sleep in. Her current suit needed replacement, since the garment around her right shoulder was entirely cut off. Sighing, the Seianese genius slowly got onto her bed, lying face down on the pillow as she avoided putting pressure on her wound. Haruna's mind became fuzzy as she adjusted her alarm, making sure that she would wake up in time for dinner, and seek out Null for a personal debrief, or a dressing down, whatever comes her way.

Eyes drooping, Haruna was asleep within the next minute, her pillow slightly moist with tears.

---

Haruna opened her eyes, seeing herself in a cockpit. Looking down she recognised the terrain of the Tokage River. Gently pulling her stick back, the F-15E Strike Eagle soared through the blue skies, flying parallel to the river that marked the border of Seian and Beiarusia. It was peaceful, quiet, Shinden loved it. The feeling of being alone, solely in-charge of a machine of such power, one of the newest and best planes used worldwide. Shinden looked at her wings, solid and sturdy, as she banked to the left, preparing to turn around for another pass along the river.

Suddenly, her radar lit up. Something has just painted her plane, registering it on someone's radar screen. Be it friendly or hostile, she did not know. Activating her IFF, Shinden saw the warning beacon light up again, before it started flashing. A radar lock. Exhaling, Shinden immediately turned her plane away from the river, southwards. The lock persisted, and on her own radar, multiple blips began to appear. Looking at her heading, she could see herself going north. Throwing her plane into a high-G turn, Shinden took another look at her bearings, but the HUD remained as it is, Bearing 323, heading North.

A faint beeping began to sound in her helmet, as the MISSILE WARNING beacon lit up. Shinden looked up, small specks reflecting light heading towards her. Similar specks on her left and right, as she began to dive down onto the ground, before engaging another High-G turn to throw the missiles off her tail. The beeping persisted as Shinden fought to keep herself conscious, the air bladders pushing blood from her legs and groin into her upper torso, preventing Red-Out. However, the pressure of the G-forces continued to pummel her body, as she felt a sharp pain behind her shoulder, the sensation of being hit as the F-15E shuddered, the feeling of free-falling...

---

Haruna woke up not to the sound of the alarm, but the pain of hitting the floor on her wounded side. Cursing in a stream of Saienese, Haruna got up gingerly as she shut the alarm. Looking at the time, she was still feeling groggy to the effects of medication, before moving to the mirror to check herself. Spending several minutes adjusting her bangs, Haruna tried to tie her long hair back into place, before realising that it was almost impossible to do it one-handed. Resigning herself to fate, Haruna pulled on a pair of olive green pants, before realising that she would be walking around with her singlet on. Her right shoulder still hurts like hell, and it won't be advisable to remove her arm from the sling.

Well, guess they would be seeing Shinden, civilian version I guess? Haruna thought as she wore her sneakers. Moving to the door, Haruna took a deep breath as she reminded herself of basic discipline and military etiquette. Opening the door, Second Lieutenant Shimazaki 'Shinden' Haruna stepped out, heading towards the mess hall for dinner.

[Independent States of Tula]

2nd Lieutenant Vladimir Tula
Koga AFB

"Mitsuko, but Angel is fine by me. I prefer it actually. And I’m sure Haruna would have been fine without me. Everyone else was there, that pilot didn’t have a chance as it was. But… yeah, it is nice knowing that I helped someone.

“You’re Dorusian, right? I can tell. Your accent. My family lives there if you’re wondering how I know.” The woman replied.

Vladimir threw his shot of Tequila down his throat, he preferred Vodka himself when he drank shots but Tequila would do for now.

Vladimir did not smirk at Angel's question, instead he stated "I am from Dorusia, yes...I suppose that makes me Dorusian. ...Though ever since the Civil War I considered myself more a citizen of the world. So, Angel, how'd such a talented and beautiful girl like you come to fly for Dorusia as a combat pilot? Why not try your luck as a mercenary and make a better paycheck?"

[SaintB]

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance Shinobu," her name was pronounced slowly to ensure he got it right.

He sat back in the passenger's seat and buckled in without paying any mind to the disorganized nature of the cars interior then answered the question, "Just some needful things. You know... muscle cream and things like that. Thought I'd get something to wish that injured kid a full and speedy recovery too." he admitted.

"And you know... Two ply." he chuckled a bit after that, "You can't underestimate the value of soft toilet tissue."

Shinobu snickered, starting up the car as she did so.

"Understood. There's a department store about halfway to town from here, we'll go there." She had to go there anyway. Wit the prospect of flying being very unlikely for the next few months, she would need something to keep herself occupied, and not even physical training was enough to last that long.

She wondered if the department store carried kendo equipment.

"Department store works." any place where you can find a little bit of everything especially in a foreign country was a good thing.

Garret rode along into town with Shinobu either making stupid small talk or being quiet dependent on how the driver of the car preferred passengers to behave. His shopping list at the store was pretty eclectic, including basic toiletries like underarm deodorant, soap, etc., but also included shoes, a big package of two-ply toilet paper, some candy they caught the major's fancy, and one of those mylar balloons filled with helium to send to the pilot that got wounded as a get well soon token for Shinden (reading "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" in Sieanese Kanji).

[Beiarusia]

...

2nd Lt. Mitsuko Kimura “Angel”

“I’m just average,” Angel said, waving away the compliment with little thought. She took a sip of her drink. “Don’t know much about the war, but I always saw myself joining the military. Turns out I’m a good pilot. We moved a lot when I was little so I guess I preferred something a bit more static than mercenary work. Never really cared about the paycheck if I’m honest.”

She finished the remainder of her drink and had another sent her way.

“I’m just happy to fly.”

[Empire of Donner land]

Jeff Moreau
Joker
Koga AFB

"Well, I go by joker mostly everywhere." He said after learning Amabel's name. "Well, we met in some Air Force bar in Sapin, my home country. I was about to graduate college then, and I think Dan was in the middle of his North Point Air Force career. We were instantly good friends. Well, I graduated and went to flight school, and did pretty good, but for some reason I was rejected by the military, and Dan ended his NPAF career, so we met up again and started flying together. What brought you to the 13th squadron?" Joker replied trying to make small talk.

"I flew with the AAF for a few years, the Aurelian Air Force, helping with the fight against Cayenne over the useless islands our countries always argued about. An incident occured during this time to say the least and I left the service to become a Merc. It wasnt a decision I wanted to do but I had to. After a while I found myself here in the 13th, just another job in another country y'know? Anyways, thats how I got here, anything beyond that is just me boring you. Cant say im proud of myself for what ive done." She said playing with the water in the Glass. "So, why is your callsign Joker? Can you crack a joke or are you a real card?" She said cringeing a little at her own attempt to be sociable. You never were good at these things. Not since you left, idiot. she thought to herself.

[Independent States of Tula]

2nd Lieutenant Vladimir Tula
Koga AFB

"I'm just happy to fly." Angel finished as she answered why she was military.

Vladimir smirked at that and replied "Don't sell yourself short on the compliment Angel...trust me on that one. ...As for flying...yeah I know exactly what you mean."

Vladimir took this moment to finish his drink before ordering another rum and coke and continuing "Back in Dorusia...in the village my family used to live in...there were no roads to get there so my father made his living flying this prop cargo plane. I loved flying with him, even during the war when it seemed like everyone wanted to kill us for flying people out of warzones. It's a liberating experience, flying that is...maybe that's why I refused to join the military. Too many tight-assed CO's with never ending orders and no freedom to do what you want."

Vladimir sighed before continuing "You said you wanted a static job...well here you are halfway across the world away from your family on orders from some stuck-up asshole general who doesn't care if you live or die because you're expendable to the bastard. Though...here I am too so I suppose neither of us chose the right path...at least I'm doing what I love though. Flying, getting paid well, drinking...and talking to a pretty woman."

[Beiarusia]

Capt. Aleksei Tallow “Null”
23:12 September 18, 1992 // Kogo Airbase, Seian

Null was still awake, sitting in the crew lounge and reading a book he had brought along for his brief stay in Seian. It was a foreign work of fiction based around an old Belkan fairytale about a princess and a great demon from the far north. Not his typical read. The cover had looked interesting enough but Null was having difficulty in losing himself to the words. Still, he would finish the book regardless of what he thought.

This moment of respite was much appreciated after such a long day. Missions were always draining, even when things went smoothly, and the Major – and his inflated ego – had not been one to make things any better. Between debrief and various busywork Null had been on the move since this morning and was about to make the most of this downtime.

“You still awake?”

Null glanced up from his book. Angel, his wingman, stood in the doorway to the room wearing a white tank-top and grey sweatpants, looking very much as if she had only just awoken from some deep sleep. Likely she had. Without another word said between them she crossed over and fell onto the sofa opposite Null, her head resting on the stiff arm of the couch and turning so that the table light would not bother her. He said nothing, continuing with his book while she tried to get comfortable, squirming for a long moment before finally giving up.

“You drank too much,” Null stated matter-of-factly, already knowing where much of her day had been spent.

“Only a little,” she said.

“You should go back to bed.”

“Can’t sleep.” A slight pause. “Do you think they’ll be okay?”

Null turned the page. “The politicians will sort it out.”

“Not that. Haruna and everyone else. Do you think they’ll be okay?”

It was difficult to say. Mercenary work was hardly a glamorous affair, and more often than not dangerous as hired soldiers were quick to be deemed expendable in some circles. One of several reasons why Null had distanced himself from the squadron. After this week he would never see them again, so there was little reason to make friends. Angel, on the other hand, was a social butterfly. She would worry about her newfound friends, so Null told her the only thing he could, “I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

Angel didn’t say much after that.

Footsteps as two pilots rushed pass the room clad in their flight gear. They were in a hurry. Null lowered his book, a sense of dread coming over him. Even Angel, half-asleep, perked. Another figure passed the room only to backtrack a moment later. It wa Zeeger.

“You two still awake? Guess that’s good,” the mechanic said, stepping into the lounge.

Null cut straight to the point. “What’s going on?”

“Radar picked up some weird readings. Probably nothing but the techs are worried. Sewek’s heading up with some locals to check it out, but I’d feel better if you guys were ready to go as well. You know, just in case.”

“In case of what?”

“In case of-”

The deafening shrill of the air-raid siren cut him off.

“In case of that,” Zeeger finished with a grim look.

Null, tossing the book aside, was on his feet in an instant. “Go help them prep the planes.”

Zeeger nodded and ran out from the room to help the local personnel.

“Are we under attack?” Angel asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“Probably,” was all Null said.

Wasting no time he rushed off to the barracks to grab his flight gear, Angel, struggling to wake herself fully, slow to follow after. By now the other pilots of Morena should be out of bed, having heard the sirens, and would no doubt be cursing as they readied themselves for immediate sortie. For good measure Null shouted for all hands to be airborne in five minutes as he passed through. In truth he would expect them up in half that time. It took Null all of thirty seconds to don his flight suit. Through his window he could see the dark form of the EF-111A trailing behind two local J-7’s. Grabbing his helmet he was joined by Angel – awake now thanks to the adrenaline – as he headed out for the tarmac. Neither waited for the others of their squadron. There was no time. If this was truly an attack then planes needed to be heading up as soon as possible.

Jet engines could be heard approaching. High and coming in fast. Null rushed out onto the tarmac with Angel on his heels, base personnel shouting and running about as they prepped the local fighters for scramble. Zeeger was spotted nearby as he coordinated the ordinance as it was brought to the hangars. He spied Null and waved for him to hurry.

The sirens were drowned out in a thunderous roar as shadows streaked across the night sky above, pinpricks of light separating as the fighters broke formation. Null ran full sprint towards his hangar, hoping that the Eagles were ready. If not then he would have to improvise.

Allied planes were taxiing now for take-off. The J-7’s, armed, were leading the way with Sewek’s Raven following close behind. All three went full afterburn, speeding down the long stretch. The wheels of the lead plane had just left the ground when tracer fire tore into it. The fuel ignited and the plane was soon engulfed in a fireball, its nose pitching down and slamming back down into the runway, debris and flames spreading from the impact. The second plane fared little better, its engine clogged and flaming out. The J-7 landed hard, its pilot aborting launch as the brakes struggled to slow the plane while some runway was still left.

There was no time for the Raven to abort launch. Its nose pulled up, struggling to clear the wreckage and the second J-7. Almost but not enough. The wing clipped the burnt frame. The Raven angled and, trying to avoid the second plane, lost what little altitude it had. It hit hard, rolling as its wings were sheared from the impact.

Null grabbed onto Angel and drug her down to the tarmac, the crash happening too close for comfort. A hangar was hit before the Raven finally gave way to fire. The hangar that housed the two Eagles.

Emergency personnel were already rushing out to the runway, but the attack was beginning in earnest now. An explosion rang out as an auxiliary building was hit, the structure collapsing from the blow. The radar station was next to be hit. Another strafe tore into the stalled J-7, ripping through its wing and crippling the plane.

As soon as it began it was over. Null watched as the five aircraft, Flankers, regrouped for RTB. No, six, the final silhouette just visible far above. Within moments they were gone.

[Ubaria]

Captain Noel 'Aguila' Silva
Sometime Later

---

After the bar, Noel had sought refuge in his bunkroom as the world had begun to spin before him, maybe he had one to many tequilas (among other drinks), he couldn't remember exactly how many exactly as he had lost count around the double digit mark, he couldn't hold his drink as well as he used to that was for sure, the hayday of midday drinking had far passed for him now. Sometime after collapsing into his bed, he passed out and remained splayed out among the sheets until a shrilling beep plucked him from his jumbled dreamworld.

"stupid... alarm..." Noel mumbled to nobody in particular and fiddled with his wristwatch in an attempt to hit the snooze button, after the first couple of tries he became agitated and flicked the pillow from his head to tear the blasted device off his arm, but upon straightening up, it became apparent that the alarm was not caused by his wristwatch, and it wasn't 6am as he had first thought. An air-raid siren perched directly outside the bunk window was blasting in through the open gap and as he adjusted his eyes to the darkness outside, he could see multiple airmen and crew dashing in all different directions.

"What the fu..." Noel murmured once more and sifted his fingers through the mess of matted black hair, trying to co-erce it back into its normal slickbacked style but that would take time, time that he didn't quite have right now. Without thinking he dashed over to a wooden cabinet and pulled out his flight suit and started to hop into it whilst still stumbling out the door. All manner of staff were bustling outside and Noel almost knocked one over as he pulled his right leg into his navy blue flight suit, he babbled an apology and pulled up the shoulders to fit his arms through when he remembered something.

"Helmet..Fuck!" Noel had forgotten a key piece of equipment and quickly turned on heel back into the bunkroom. Normally he wasn't this dis-organised, but after an afternoon of downing shots of liquor without anything to soak it up had left him in a bedraggled, almost half awake state, but the adrenaline would soon see to that.

From somewhere out of the black, the familiar and formidable whine of supersonic flight rumbled through the midnight skies, everyone else had heard it too as some stopped to listen, it was hard to pinpoint and it only grew louder and louder, lurking in the dark. Noel continued to sprint down the tarmac strip towards the hangar where his Mirage was poised ready, hopefully the flight crews had begun to prep it for flight and as he ran, Noel scanned the many staff scrambling left and right to hopefully spy any familiar face from the squadron, but the world was moving to fast to be able to make sense of it all. Noel was close first hangar in the row when the deafening crackle of cannon fire reverberated the air, it came from behind and Noel could only glare hopelessly as the first plane turned into a speeding ball of fire, its pilot instantly incinerated by the blast. The second plane almost bit the dust but managed to rake it back in and as for the Raven, it tipped as it tried to climb too hard and came crashing back down, the wing ripping itself from the fuselage from the impact.

Chaos was erupting left right and center as another building in the far corner of the airbase erupted into a ball of flame but also more concerningly, the Hangar housing the two Eagles caved in, the blast so strong that it knocked many people over including Noel who slammed into the ground backwards, the back of his head connected to the concrete with a sickening crunch, a jolt of dull pain shot through the back of his neck and down to his arms and legs overtaken by a light tingling sensation. Undettered, Noel pulled himself back to his feet and stumbled forward a few paces, trying to connect his eyes to something but his vision had become disjointed and blurred, everything had lost its focus including his hearing which at this point was just a dull ring that had no direction to it. Noel felt even more uneasy as he pressed his cold hand against the rear of his head and felt a strange warm sensation flowing through his fingers and it was apparent why, his palm and fingers had been drizzled in crimson, it stuck and flowed slowly down his arm as he stared in the middle of the chaos, confusion slowly started to turn to panic.

"Medic!"

[The United Federation of Terrans]

Jason Murphy
Koga AFB

Somehow, Murphy had fallen sleep again despite the two cups of coffee he had consumed earlier in an attempt to fight the jet-lag. The pilot was in the midst of a dream when the piercing cry of an air raid siren assaulted his airs and forced the man to sit p with a groan. For a few seconds, Murphy's mind was clouded and then became clear as he recognized the siren for the danger it signaled. The mercenary hurried to his feet and thanked himself that he had fallen asleep in his flight suit as he took his vest from the spot where it hung on the back of the door and his helmet which sat by itself on the room's single desk. Murphy threw on his vest and frantically tightened the straps before securing his helmet to his head and rushing out the door of his room where he joined other base personnel trying to get clear of the building and outside.

Murphy had just cleared the doorway of the barracks when the first ready bird was shredded under a burst of cannon fire and disappeared into a massive fireball as that was soon followed by the second. The third tried to evade the crash but was caught in the pile up and found itself just as helpless as before. Then the bombs fell, and Murphy found himself diving to the ground as a hangar took a direct hit and made the three ready birds look like a sideshow in comparison to the massive explosion that erupted from the hangar. A building Murphy didn't know took the next bomb, followed by the radar station both of which lit up the night and illuminated the base personnel who ran in random directions under the fires' glare. Then came the last stream of tracer's tearing into the static ready bird and cleaving off it's wing, effectively grounding the plane. However, the craft had yet to fully ignite, and Murphy was assaulted by visions of a cockpit that had exposed wires sparking and alarms blaring in his ears as the cockpit slowly warmed up. The young mercenary pushed himself up and into a run towards the aircraft where it set broken and ruined. The pilot had lowered his visor to protect his eyes from blasts, but had not yet secured his oxygen mask and so he could smell the familiar and unmistakable scent of aviation fuel as he hurried to the front of the aircraft; unconcerned with the battle against the flames raging in the background.

Murphy arrived at the cockpit and found the pilot unresponsive and hanging limply by his straps; head nodding forward. Murphy banged on the glass a few times and the pilots head seemed to move slightly before passing out again as the pain overwhelmed him.

"Thought I left bravery behind when I turned merc." Murphy grumbled to himself over the din and engaged the window release and was pleased when the latch gave away and gave him access to the cockpit; the young mercenary moved fast as he withdrew his folding knife and used the sharpened survival blade to cut away the tough straps and free the trapped pilot. Murphy found himself getting nervous as he sawed at each strap while casting glances at the nearby wing to look for any sign of the fuel catching fire. However, unlike the pilot Murphy was now pulling free of the aircraft, the mercenary had luck on his side and he put the semi-consoius pilot in a fireman's carry and made his back to the buzzing activity that was the area around the main hangars.

[Relikai]

Second Lieutenant Shimazaki Haruna, 'Shinden'
Koga AFB

Shinden spent the rest of the evening in the library, reading a novel until she dozed off, still groggy under the effects of the sedatives. Waking up, she looked at the clock, wondering if she has slept till the next morning.

Eleven... p.m... shoots! Shinden thought as she got up, placing the book back on a random shelf before heading back to the accomodations. The base was dark, not much light was being used. After such an event, it would be logical not to illuminate the buildings or runway, in the event that enemy bombers could pinpoint their location without infra-red equipment. Some rooms were still lit tho, the dim light showing the Saienese where the buildings are, instead of relying on their silhouettes.

Turning the corner to her room, Shinden could see something attached to the handle of her door. A balloon, with a card dangling from the latch, where the floating ball is anchored from. Sighing, Shinden smiled inside as she took the card, untying the balloon as she held on to the string.

"Tanjoubi Omedeto... Birthday?" Haruna giggled as she felt her stoic persona fade a bit. Reading the writing, Haruna could see that it was written in perfect Osean. At least the person was sincere and humble in the card, reverting to native languages instead of a scrappy word-to-word translation which took Haruna twice the time to understand their messages. A number of flirts tried that method to impress her back in Osea, which only made Haruna despise them more.

Major Garret Jones... Oh. The big uncle... Haruna thought as she struggled to recall the names of the personnel. She hardly has time to interact with her squadron, but the majors and captains were the first names and faces to memorise. Well, this was certainly a good gesture on his part, Haruna truly appreciated the well wishes. Perhaps if she managed to overcome her anxiety, she could properly thank him face to face, in a professional manner, of course.

Just as Haruna placed her hand on the latch, alarms began to blare around the base. Snapping her head up, Haruna quickly entered her room, grabbing the flight jacket still lying on the floor as she pivoted around. The balloon drifted to the ceiling, bouncing several times before it's widest surface rested on the concrete. The birthday card dangled on the other end, watching Shinden burst out of her room, leaving the door open...

Within seconds of leaving her roo,, Shinden was up and running, ignoring the throbbing pain on her shoulder just in time to see base personnel heading to the barracks. In her current state, she was slapped with a NO-FLY order by Doc Yoshima for at least 48-hours, so heading there would only make herself a hindrance, or risk getting knocked over by tall foreigners. As she stood there like a dummy for a moment, she could hear the sound of jet engines revving up as a scramble order was issued. Shinden watched the J-7s, followed by an EF-111, with a sense of longing, just as she heard voices from the barracks, with personnel, her squadron, coming out ready to take flight.

Shinden headed towards them, passing by a hangar when the first J-7 took a hit, turning into a fireball which lit up the surrounding vicinity. Shielding her eyes from the sudden burst of light, Shinden could see the other plane crash on the runway, and the Raven losing it's wings as it hit hard. The crunching of metal and smell of burning aviation fuel brought a sickening feeling to Shinden, who was about to throw up when the buildings were hit.

A fireball erupted from the hanger nearby, just as Shinden screamed, throwing herself to the ground as the wave of force rolled over her, fragments and debris trailing in it's wake. Her ears ringing, Shinden looked up to see the library and sports hall get hit, the building simply collapsing as the explosion shook the ground. The radar station went next. Sounds of cannon, of rifle fire echoed as the guards tried to aim at the black silhouettes. Not like their bullets would have an effect anyway.

Getting to her feet, Shinden could see bodies lying nearby. Be it dead or alive, Shinden needed to help them. As she approached a groaning man, she heard another wounded cry out in heavily-accented Osean, a trace of Sapinish...

"Medic!!"

Reaching the man, Shinden pulled him down to his knees as she turned him to find the wound in the light. A laceration, probably caused by a small fragment from the hangar explosion. No visible foreign objects, just the small line of a cut with blood flowing from it. No doubt the adrenaline and heart rate causing the blood to flow at such a rate, Shinden took off her jacket as she pressed it against the wound at the back of his head, eliciting a cry of pain and protest from the man.

"Keep still sir! I'm trying to help!" Shinden yelled. Looking around, she could see the figure of a women coming over. Amabel, Knot. One thing tho, if Shinden was considered small, Knot was even smaller by two centimeters. Doesn't matter, another helping hand right now would be much appreciated.

"Knot, Knot! Over here!" Shinden yelled. Coming over, the Aurelian could see Shinden trying to get Noel up with one good arm. Taking Noel's other side, the two ladies finally got him up and heading away from the runway, towards a land rover with lights flashing from it's roof. A green cross splashed over a white backdrop was visible in the darkness.

"Doc- Doctor Yoshima!" Shinden cried out as the man ran over with several medics. Already, another team of personnel were reaching the groaning wounded by the destroyed hanger.

"I got him!" The doc yelled. Looking at the wound, the Doc looked at Noel and slapped his arm.

"Light cut, seems bad, really isn't. Get to the vehicle and apply a compress over the wound. You two ladies, help him out. No one's going to be taking off today, the runway's damaged within the minimum length of operation, and it seems that our visitors have already left..."