15 years ago, there was a war.

Well...war's broken out here plenty of times before. They've tried to invade the southlands through the northern valley time and again.

Luck was never on their side, though, and their victories didn't last long. They didn't realize that times had changed.

Facing one defeat after another, losing territory and watching their nation dwindle, they built up their industrial strength to unprecedented heights and used it to wage one final battle against the world.

That was 15 years ago...

They fought ferociously, but were utterly defeated.

The Belkans then committed the unthinkable. They used nuclear weapons on their own soil.

Seeing this tragedy unfold before their own eyes, the victorious countries vowed to throw down their weapons.

The world was once again at peace. And thanks to them, it seemed it would last forever.

On a distant island, far away from civilization, the protectors of the peace take to the skies.

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Amidst the eternal waves of time

From a ripple of change shall the storm rise

Out of the Abyss peer the eyes of a demon

Behold the Razgriz, it's wings of black sheath
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23 September, 2010 1109 hrs
Cape Landers

"Red alert!"

Albert Genette, a journalist, was in the sky, trying to get the training team in his viewfinder from the rear seat of the lead plane. His pilot in the front seat was howling at the earth below. A small light started to blink and some beeps were heard in the cockpit, the radio starting to crackle.

"Gimme a break! I'm babysittin' nuggets up here!" said the pilot, Jack Bartlett, into the radio with some annoyance in his voice.

"Command Room to Wardog Squadron. We have leakers, aircraft type unknown. Crossing the border at Cape Landers bearing 278 to 302. Captain Bartlett, your flight is the only group close enough to make the intercept." responded an older, more authoritative voice.

On the radar, unknown planes enter their airspace. Flying towards the island. The captain let out a frustrated sigh.

"Baker, Svenson, go trail and stay close. The three of us will go high and engage the bandits. All other aircraft stay low and out of the fight." Bartlett ordered, two F-5Es swinging around to fly beside his F-4G Phantom II.

He performed a barrel roll as they flew up higher than the rest of the planes in the training squadron to get a better angle of interception for the approaching aircraft...

The world turned upside down and his stomach turned inside out.

The planes engage them from head-on. Thus the battle began.

=•=•=•=•=•=

"Sorry 'bout this."

The Captain's apology seemed misplaced to him. One instructor had survived the fight but crashed on landing, while the other one was killed in action high up in the clouds. It wasn't his fault that the unidentified aircraft fired on them without warning, nor was it his fault that the low altitude area where he sent his trainees was directly in front of the enemy.

Eight people died because the Command Room misplaced some zeroes.

"That pilot in the Number Seven was amazing. Did you see her fight back?" Albert asked while walking with him.

"I couldn't bear to watch." Bartlett stops and turns back around, pointing his helmet. "Nagase! You keep flying like that and you'll die real soon!"

The one he shouted at was a young woman with very short black hair who was standing beside her plane(F-5E), looking away.

"I won't die, sir." The only surviving trainee's voice was almost a whisper.

"Are you sure? You look like you couldn't hurt a fly," muttered Bartlett before resuming his walk to the hangers while Genette kept looking at the trainee Kei Nagase. He raises his camera to his face and focuses the lens on Nagase's face. She noticed him and turned towards him slightly. Her face was pale, but she still managed to smile for the camera. Taking a photo shot of her.

After that, Nagase was about to leave when she saw a pilot from a far distance standing and looking at them since they landed. She turned around and immediately leave the area.

=•=•=•=•=•=

Crew Ready Room
1600 hrs

The reason why Genette had come to cover this remote island was that he heard of a very unique squadron leader stationed there. He didn't realize he was this unique though. This badmouthed, good-natured old firebrand could take the greenest of rookies and forge him into a fearsome fighter pilot.

Of course...that possibility vanished with today's encounter.

The only crew he had left now were Second Lieutenant Nagase, Second Lieutenant Williams, and the few pilots that happened to be on the ground that day. Bartlett was looking aimlessly up at the ceiling in the room, the voices of the other trainees talking filling his ears. Mostly one of the pilots who talk a lot. He leaned up and rested his elbows on his knees, looking at the trainees as he waited for them to quiet down. The room's silence breaks when someone enters the room. Nagase turn her head and saw the same pilot she saw a while ago. She has shoulder-length brown hair, a good slim body, fair skin, and her eyes are blue, like a sky that cut out. She bows at Bartlett as an apology for being late a bit, but he waves his hand and she sits behind them. Nagase knows her callsign, Blaze. She just arrive yesterday from the mainland.

"I know you don't like this but we're short on people. Starting tomorrow, all you nuggets are gonna be sittin' alert. If we launch, stay glued to me up there." Bartlett then looks at the female pilot. "Nagase!"

"Sir." She replied.

"You're flying number two on my wing. Gotta keep an eye on you or who knows what you'll get yourself into."

Nagase went pale a little, but Jack continues. "Davenport!"

"Sir?" He said.

"You'll be flying with me as number 3."

"Oh come on- I mean, Yes sir."

Then he looks back at Gab again. "Blaze! You'll be flying on our tail. I want someone to watch our backs, especially Edge."

Nagase looked behind, she just crossed her arms, and Blaze just simply nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good. Dismissed."

As they all stand up, Nagase notices Gab already left the room. Probably going to eat at the dining hall or go to sleep again. She knew that the nugget just arrived here yesterday, and it was no surprise that she will have her plane. After she saw her, Blaze talk to their captain and mechanic first, then to high-ranking officers. But she never gets to meet and greet the trainees. One said that she slept early. Even so, it looks like she wants to be alone. For now. Nagase arrived at the cafeteria, with only very few pilots left. She can't help but feel guilty about what happened a few hours ago. If only she was as skilled as Bartlett, she would be able to save those nuggets. But that didn't happen.

As she grabs some food, she was about to sit alone in the corner when Blaze was there, sitting alone on the edge. Eating while writing something on her booklet. No one knows why but don't ask, don't tell. Nagase sits at an empty table and eats. During that, she watches Blaze grab a camera. Not just any camera, but a blue polaroid. Then she began taking pictures around her in just two shots. Then keep the pictures inside of her small custom case. Then continues to eat. Nagase was curious why she have to take pictures of them, but she'll ask that soon.

=•=•=•=•=•=

"At ease, people!"

Orson Perrault. The 'emperor' of the Sand Island Base. He is a base commander and Colonel. Blaze somehow feels disgusted by his appearance. From the looks of him, if he keeps eating a lot of fast foods, he will be going to have a heart attack. She even wonder if that commander can fit on a fighter jet, or why the chair still didn't break immediately. For her, Captain Hamilton is more decent to be a base commander than him.

"But don't get too comfortable. It's a grave situation for all of us right now. Let's get this briefing started."

Then the lights turned off inside the briefing room. Images appear from the screen. And the briefing officer started to speak. "Another aircraft of unknown origin has entered Osean Federation airspace. We have confirmed the target type as a strategic recon plane flying at a very high altitude. Despite our repeated warnings, it continued to penetrate our ADEZ and was fired upon by Osean Coastal Defense Force SAMs. We believe one of our SAMs damaged the unknown plane, but did not destroy it. Radar shows that the aircraft is currently losing altitude, and is attempting to egress feet wet towards the ocean. Intercept this target and force it to land for identification. Do not fire upon this aircraft until further orders are transmitted."

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"Shorebirds"
24 September, 2010 1101hrs
Cape Landers, Osea

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"This is Heartbreak One of Wardog Squadron, we are approaching the target." radioed in Bartlett from the front of the formation in his F-4G. With Davenport, callsign 'Chopper', Nagase, and Blaze being on their tail. Before they were airborne, Gab insisted to use the F-15 which she owned, and not the F-5. It took a few minutes before Bartlett was finally convinced to do so.

Then a voice of a man was heard from their radio. "This is AWACS, callsign Thunderhead. Roger, bring the target to the ground. Do not fire at the target, repeat, do not fire at the target."

'I miss Sky Eye...' Blaze thought. Gab has introduced to Mobius 1's AWACS a few years ago after the Continental War. They quickly became friends, and both fly together in the sky. The siblings even visit him at his house on vacation and every birthday.

"You got that nuggets?" Bartlett asked.

"Wardog 2, roger," said Nagase.

"Wardog 3, roger." Chopper responded.

After a few short of silence, Nagase was confused why Blaze didn't respond. Bartlett calls her.

"Wardog 4? Hellooo! Can you hear me, kid? You better be markin' our tail, girl!"

Blaze was snapped from her thoughts after she heard the captain calling her. "This is Wardog 4, roger."

"Looks like you're confident, at least. Don't get separated from me." Bartlett said.

"Copy that, captain."

Blaze is looking around the area and on the radar for unknown planes. But she's a little bit pissed off about the briefing. Why do they call it an 'unknown plane' when it was obviously a spy plane, specifically the SR-71 Blackbird.

Chopper chuckles and looks at Blaze's plane. "Man, I'm glad you drew the short straw instead of me."

"Second Lieutenant Alvin H. Davenport, zip it! You need a nickname too?" Bartlett shots him.

"I respectfully ask to be called 'Chopper' sir. I'm afraid I won't be able to respond to any other moniker." he said happily.

"So that's why he prefers to be called by his callsign because of his first name." Blaze chuckles and shook her head.

"Hmm..." Then Bartlett grins under his mask. "That does fit you well. I've got a better name for you, but I'll keep it to myself, okay?"

"Aw.. cut me some slacks, man!"

They fly for a good few minutes until a single red dot appears on their hud. Blaze noted that it was a spy plane they were looking for. "Tally ho, we've got company. Let's go."

Bartlett turns sideways towards the plane. Followed by his nuggets, Blaze rolls to the left and approaches the recon plane on its six o'clock. Something that comes to her head, why the hell is a recon plane doing here all alone?

"You're forbidden to fire until I give permission, understand?" Bartlett ordered.

Nagase and Chopper replied, "Roger."

"Hmm... Okay." Muttered Blaze. Nagase wondered why she became downgraded. Bartlett sighs a bit and calls. "Alright, where's Motormouth Chopper?"

Chopper got bamboozled. "Wha... That's your name for me?" Blaze smirked and Nagase holds her laughter.

"You've got a knack for comic dialogue. Do you mind sending the surrender request for me?" the captain kindly requested with a gruff.

"Oh no, please, age before beauty."

"I'm really shy around strangers you know..."

"Sheesh..." Chopper muttered. But he still going to do it anyway. "Testing, testing...Attention unidentified aircraft, set your course to our beacon immediately."

"Good."

"Uh...We will direct you to the nearest airfield. Lower your gear if you understand." Chopper added.

Somehow, the recon plane didn't lower its gear. Instead, it banked left. Blaze decided to follow the Blackbird but was interrupted by Thunderhead's call. "Warning! We have four high-speed bogeys inbound. Approaching unknown aircraft bearing 280, altitude 6,000. Hold your fire until further orders."

Blaze looks on her radar. Four planes approached, flying straight towards their position.

"Crossing the pond to fly cover for their spy plane, huh?" thought Wardog captain aloud. "Now there's a fighter pilot worth his wings."

"Enemy inbound, bearing 280! Head on."

Blaze adjust her sitting position and hold the control stick. She knows what is going to happen next. Then Bartlett ordered his nuggets. "You're not to fire until I say it's okay, got me?"

"I don't trust myself to this. They're hostiles." Blaze said.

"Kid. You better listen-"

Blaze's instinct shouted 'dodge' as one of the fighter planes was about to launch missiles. "Missile! Break!"

Thanks to her sudden loud call, all allied pilots, including her, make a sharp turn. And was able to dodge the incoming missiles, falling to the ocean.

"Head's up! They're firing on us!" Chopper shouted.

"Wardog Squadron, weapons safe!" ordered Thunderhead. "Hold your fire until further orders."

"Oh, come on! These aren't blanks they're firing out here!" whined Chopper before evading the rain of bullets.

This made Bartlett growl. "Shut your mouth and fire back!"

Gab smirked as she immediately pursue the hostile plane. She didn't care about the AWACS' rule, the safety of the pilots is the top priority. With a bit of a showoff.

"This is Thunderhead. Captain Bartlett, you are violating direct orders!" AWACS barked.

"Shove it! I'm not going to watch any more of my pilots die!" He yelled which gives Blaze even more confidence. "Time to use what I learned from my family!"

The plane she chased got shot down by Blaze's missile and guns. Then she chased the next enemy plane. Too bad that pilot just flies straight, Blaze immediately launches two missiles on the plane's tail and explodes into a fireball.

"Blaze! Bandit on your six!" Shouted Nagase.

'Nah. They're just MIG-21s.' Blaze thought as she made a sharp turn to the right. Doing a 360 turn and aim then shoot the guns at the wings. Shattering it with her guns as it crooked and falls to the ocean. More bandits have arrived.

"Enemy recon plane down," Thunderhead reported, Bartlett laughed about that while letting his missiles go after the hostile.

"Aw, got too tired to party?" Asked Bartlett.

"Damn..dogfighting sucks man..." said Chopper, who was still having trouble shaking the bandit on his six. "It's like he won't leave me alone!"

"Don't worry. I got ya'" said Bartlett as he trail behind Chopper and take down the bandit on his six.

"Bogeys, heading from 280." Blaze check her radar. Four of them again, and she was the nearest to them.

"I got this." She said as she make a turn and fly straight from head-on. She prepares her XMAA and waited for her hud to get locked on.

"Oi Kid! I don't think you can handle th-!"

"Blaze, fox 3! Fox 3!"

Four missiles launched from her plane once she get very near to them. Four planes tried to evade. But since they use a trash plane and cannot evade early, four of them ended up exploding.

"Four bandits destroyed!" Thunderhead reported. The three pilots were stunned by her kills. But that's not the end yet. One of the exploding planes was very near to her, so she fly through the explosion by rolling through and got out of it safely. No damage or scratch to her plane somehow.

"What the hell?! Kid, you're insane!" Chopper watches Blaze flying through the explosion. Which is the craziest thing to do in your entire life. Not all pilots can do that.

"Since when did this kid learn to fly through the explosion like that?! She's crazy!" Bartlett thought, speechless about her flying skills. Still reckless and suicidal from her actions, but at least she's still alive.

'Amazing. She became an Ace already.' Nagase though as she watches Blaze do a barrel roll.

Blaze simply laughs. "We still have three bandits left so I suggest taking them down fast." She said as she make an Immelmann turn and do a barrel roll.

Nagase was amazed by her flying skills. She just arrived two days ago and was just able to bag some bandits that easily. She must learn it from someone as skilled as her. The three remaining bandits scattered from different directions.  Blaze was near the enemy plane, but Chopper is the nearest.

"You mind if I grab this kill?" asked Chopper.

"Well sure. I'll go assist the others." She answered, she left him to take the kill. Chopper glued behind the enemy's plane and throw a pair of missiles with guns firing. Thus the plane was destroyed.

"Does anyone need help?" Blaze asked them.

"I'm okay here. Fox 2!" Nagase replied while destroying the enemy plane.

"I can handle this, Kid. You already bagged 7 kills already! Leave some rest for us!" Bartlett said. Finishing the last remaining hostile.

"All enemy aircraft shot down. No bogeys in insight," Thunderhead said.

"Thanks for the announcement." Blaze said as she muttered, "Thunder-block-head."

"Hey! Don't call me that!" He yelled.

"Still Thunderblockhead." She retorted.

She can hear the AWACS' exasperated sigh and Chopper's laugh. "I like you, Kid!"

The nuggets fly in formation behind Bartlett. "This is your captain speaking. Can you all hear me?"

"Yes sir." Nagase answer.

"Crystal clear," Chopper added.

"Nice work, nuggets. Wardog 4, you still following us?"

"As always, Captain." She said.

"Well to commemorate the fact that we all made it out alive, I'm going to let you keep your nickname. From now on, I'm gonna call you 'Kid' no matter what. Got it? Good." Bartlett said. That makes Gab smile. She knew the fact that she will be called by that name. But still makes her feel good.

"Man. I swear..." Chopper muttered as they continue to fly, hopefully, something like this will never happen again. On their silent flight back to the base, Blaze began to speak.

"I'll make Flavored Shaved Ice for us for our relaxation. I'm heading to base immediately."

Everyone looks at her plane. She sped up a little and went ahead of her flight so she can return to the base as fast as she can to make desserts for everyone.

"Uhhh... What just happen?" Chopper asked, confused.

"Not sure, Chopper." Nagase replied.

Emergency transmission from Central.

To all Sand Island Base personnel:
1: All information regarding today's encounter is to be classified.

2: Captain Jack Bartlett is ordered to report to base headquarters immediately.

9/24/2010
Order E0111207
Osean Air Defense Force Central Command

=•=•=•=•=•=

While Bartlett is being chewed by Perrault, Blaze immediately went to the kitchen and grabs a lot of ice and some flavored syrups and cups. Nagase and Chopper came after and watch her doing her thing.

"I was surprised by how skilled you are, Kid." Chopper said standing around the room, with Nagase sitting on a chair. "Man, you just wiped seven planes and become an Ace! You even got your own plane, bagged those enemies as you made it easy, and fly through an explosion! If only that stupid base commander didn't classify our mission."

Gab chuckles and shook her head while shredding the ice. "My dad gave it to me as a gift after my graduation. He used that plane before during the war.."

"Your father must be really nice and a model pilot," Nagase said.

"Oh yeah, he is. He always takes care of us a lot. He is also the one who taught us how to fly since teens." She said with a smile.

"Woah. For real? Was he an Air Force?" Blaze nodded, even though it was a lie. She just didn't want anyone to know about her family's history as pilots.

"Anyways. We haven't got your name."

Blaze looks at them and sighs. "Gabriel Williams. 20 years old."

"20?! You're just 20 and already become an ace?!" He shockingly said. Even Nagase was surprised by how young she is. "Are you a terminator or something?"

She laughs a bit. "No, not really. I just able to adapt the flying skills that fast." Although it was a lie. A bit. The Demon Lord and Mobius 1 taught her to fly as crazy as can be. Not only that, she already becomes an Ace back to her previous world which remains in her body. "Also ended up as Second Lieutenant immediately before I headed here."

"That fast? How?"

"I beat up two instructors on a dogfight in less than two minutes." She answered.

"No shit! Really?!" Chopper surprised. There's no way you lasted that long against flight instructors, not to mention there are two of them against a nugget.

"Where are you from anyway?"

"Ustio."

"Ustio? Then why did you join the Osean Air Force?" Nagase asked.

"I was born from Ustio. But we moved to Usea 10 years ago." Gab explained. "Then I decided to join the Air Force in Osea cause I heard this place has a great amount of best pilots around."

"That is something."

"Sure do, buddy."

=•=•=•=•=•=

The whole affair with the unidentified aircraft was covered up. There was even a rumor going around that it was actually a UFO.

Officially, the world was still at peace.

Having Genette witnessed the battle himself, he wasn't allowed to leave the island.

Sand Island Base (Hangar 3)
1529 hrs

The sun is almost coming down. With skies reflect the color orange, yellow, and red. A black Labrador 'Kirk' was, and the owner Chopper, caught a frisbee and ran back to said owner, the sunset casting their shadows across the tarmac.

Albert is sitting on a wooden bench with Bartlett standing beside it. Watching the man and the dog play. While Pops, who is behind the two, is working on the C-1 Trader's wing.

"Why do they even bother reprimanding me anymore? I know I'm gonna be stuck a Captain forever." Bartlett said sadly.

There are a few seconds of silence before Genette talks. "Who do you think's covering up the battle?"

"Listen...The only thing across that ocean is Murska Airbase. That's Yuktobanian territory."

"But haven't we been allies with the Yukes since the war 15 years ago?" He asked.

"Yeah..." Bartlett answered, scratching the back of his head for a bit. Then he scowls. "That's why we've got people working their asses off trying to confirm what the hell's going on over there. I bet they've got hotlines ringing off the hook somewhere upstairs. The government doesn't want to get the public riled up with all this, you know? But it doesn't matter, soldiers like us are too stupid to think for ourselves, so we just keep our mouths shut when they tell us to."

He looked at the journalist and smiled, "I feel kinda bad for you actually."

Genette chuckles. "It's alright, I get to be with you guys."

"Captain's probably hating this more than anybody." said Pops as he walked up to the bench, Genette pivoting himself around the bench to look at him.

"He used to have a lady friend over in Yuktobania." he said with a sly smile.

Bartlett closed his eyes and smiles while lowering his head slightly. "Ah, that's just an old war wound now."

A few seconds later, Gab arrived quickly. Pull a container of shaved ice, cups, and syrups, then take it to the hangar. "Delivery at your service."

"Oh, Blaze. You arrived." Pops said with a smile. Blaze opens the container and grab four cups and filled them with shaved ice. Then puts different kinds of syrups depending on their likes. Then gave it to them. While they're eating, Pops notice a roller blades on her shoes. It was strapped on the combat boots with a thick metal underneath, and wheels attached to it. "Where did you get that?"

"Oh, these?" She raised one of her feet showing the roller blades. "I made it myself before I came here."

"Why?"

"Well, I heard that I'll be sent to this 'isolated' island. So I brought as many anti-boredom kinds of stuff as possible."

"You're a weird woman, Kid." Jack said.

"Eh. My habits are irresistible." She said sheepishly. Then she immediately skates from a distance where Chopper and Kirk are. They watch her doing stunts with her roller blades, as if she was on ice skating.

Bartlett just chuckles. "That Kid always has something on her sleeves, eh?"

Genette looked at Bartlett, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Remember the mission a while ago?" Albert nodded. "She bagged seven kills, and become an Ace on her very first mission. Not only that, she flies through the exploding plane. It's impressive but suicidal."

"She did?" The journalist said with a surprised face. No one can fly through the explosion like she did. You have to be a lunatic to do that suicidal stunt.

"I can't believe in my very own eyes." He added. "Seeing her flying on her F-15 reminds me of an Ace 15 years ago."

"You mean the Demon Lord, right?" Pops asked. "I'm sure he was her inspiration to become a pilot. Unless she learned those advance maneuvers from him."

Bartlett sighs and watches her playing with Kirk, smiling. "Yeah."