As the demon sleeps, man turns on man

His own blood and madness soon cover the earth

From the depths of despair awaken the Razgriz

Its raven wings ablaze with majestic light

_______________________

~ 3rd person's p.o.v. ~

The next day, the fighting in and around Cinigrad was intensifying almost by the hour as the two armies clashed, gained ground, then were forced to retreat as the other force rallied and retook the ground it had lost. It was a back and forth duel of the worst kind and the casualties were mounting fast.

Once again, some people were in the Kestrel's mess hall, watching the news reports from half the world away.

"This almost look like World War 2..." Gab thought.

"Well, its not as worse as that war." Orby said. "But it's still painful to see some soldiers died and never able to see their families again."

"Well, that is war for you. Who suggest to let this happen? Is the one who let us do our jobs." Gab took a sip of a coffee after she yawns. She really wish to sleep early today especially that now she's tired. She lacks sleep today because pf thinking too much, worried about her comrades once they face something dangerous.

"There you are, Gab." Pixy came out from the door, Gab notice his appearance. "You look tired."

"I'm fine. Just need to drink some coffee." Blaze smile, "So what is it you need?"

"Oh, right. President Harling wants to see you at the bridge. Follow me."

Gab sighs and follows him. She looks at her uncle. "What is it about?"

"Andromeda just picked up a message,and the President has our new orders."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Who's the message from?"

"No idea, it just gave us a set of latitude and longitude, a time, and the number of votes President Harling won in his elections."

They stepped through the hatch onto the bridge.

"I've got her, sir." Larry said to the leader of Osea. Pops and her dad are here as well.

"Blaze, I have a new mission for you. We have the location of the coordinates. And get this, it ties in nicely with the Belkan problem we've been having." Harling said.

Blaze became interest. "Really?"

"Well," Pops said, taking over, "the named location is an old abandoned mine in Belka that was used by that country during the war fifteen years ago and later used by A World With No Boundaries. It's the Yering Mine and I used to hear rumors during my time with Belka that that was where all our tactical nukes were being stored."

Blaze's skin went cold hearing that certain word. She knew what it is but she want to ask again for confirmation. "So you're saying..."

Cipher nodded sadly, "Yes, they're shipping the nuclear weapons to both countries."

"If Osea and Yuktobania are both being controlled by Belkan hardliners from the shadows and they get their hands of the nuclear weapons," the President said.

Gab begins to put all the puzzles together. "So, if both countries launch nukes to one another, including to the countries who supports them, it will trigger a nuclear war, or in a worst case, World War III."

"And that's why we perform a recon mission today."

She looked at them, confused. "Recon?"

"We're carrying out a reconnaissance mission in order to obtain photographs of the enemy complex." Pops explained, "To reduce the probability of enemy detection, this mission will be carried out by a single aircraft. The plane in this mission will be completely stripped of weaponry. Instead, it will be equipped with the necessary visual reconnaissance equipment. There is a chance you may encounter the enemy, but your recon mission always takes top priority. Once you take the photos, egress from the target area and return from the enemy defenses as directed."

Blaze became tense. Not only she's only fly alone, but she has no weapons to carry out. Which means she will rely on flying skills to escape. Finally, she sighed.

"I'll go." Cipher was about to say something but she stops him, "If it means to end this war, I'll take the risk."

Her dad went close to her and held her shoulders, worries of his daughter, "Gab, as much as I want you to go, I can't."

Blaze understand how much she cared for her. Even for her, this is only her second chance to live, and she can't die early this time. "I already have blood on my hands now, Dad. And I have to clean up all the mess, no matter what challenge it is."

Cipher hesitates. When he found out Blaze got shot down during the mission in Yuktobania, he became worried. She was safe at least, but he worried that it might happen again. He can't loose his daughter he cares so much just like her brother.

"Don't worry. I'll protect your daughter for the rest of the entire life."

"Orby..." He has no choice but to let her go. Blaze smiles and rushed towards the locker room. Cipher leans on the wall and sighs. Pixy went close to him and patted his shoulders for comfort.

"She'll be alright. Just trust her." Pixy said.

Cipher sadly smiles, "Yeah. She will."

•=•=•=•=•=•

After she was completely suit up, she went back to the mess hall to see her comrades.

"Blaze?" Grimm notice her first, followed by the others.

"All of you stay here. I'm going to a mission today." Gab said.

"'I' or 'We'?"

"I'm flying solo this time." The looks he got ranged from surprise to concern. "We need recon pictures of the site and I wouldn't feel comfortable sending any of you out on your own like that. Plus... I'm going to Belka without weapons."

Chopper chokes from his drink. "You what?!"

"I know you can handle it," the Razgriz lead answered immediately, "but I wouldn't be able to handle it if one of you got shot down and killed on my orders. At least this way I know it'll be my own fault if I die."

"Awfully heroic of you," Mobius 1 grunted.

Blaze grinned, "Yeah. But you said it yourself, Chris. Remember when I forced to fly my former F-14 during our tunnel training."

Her brother grinned, "Yeah. 'You crazy son of a bitch, your gonna get yourself killed.'"

"And It worked and survive! Well," She grabs her helmet and mask. "I gotta go, see you guys in few hours."

=•=•=•=•=•

Gab was in the hangar with her F-35, looking over her plane with meticulous care. She scowled as she noted the lack of even a Sidewinder in the side bay. Well, it's already happening and there's no turning back.

The pounding of boots on cement met her ears and the ace stood, cracking her back as she turned. She'd been hunched over, checking beneath the wings and the gear and she felt kind of stiff. Gab blinked when she saw who it was.

"Edge? What's wrong?"

"Do you really have to go alone?" Her voice felt sad, and Gab's heart clenched when she hear the pain of the voice of her people she cared so much.

"Yes. But don't worry, I'll be back safe and sound." Blaze said, "And besides, I have Orby with me, remember?"

"How could I not forget?" Nagase said, smiling. "I'm still shock until today after that revelation."

Gab smiles. She hugs her tightly, Nagase did the same, and release her as she scaled the ladder into her Lightning's cockpit and began going through her procedures.

The lead of Razgriz' plane started up and headed out the door of the hangars, wheeling left and heading away, the roar of the engines becoming a low whistle.

Only a minute later, the whistle became a roar and Blaze's fighter, Razgriz insignia standing out proudly on its tail, flashed past, twin tongues of flame shining brilliantly as she leapt into the sky and was gone.

ㅤ

ㅤ
"Solitaire"
10 December, 2010 0745 hrs
Mount Schirm, Belka

ㅤ

~ Gab/Blaze's p.o.v. ~

This will be the last time I will fly on a solo mission without weapons. I felt tense at first during my flight, thanks to Orby she calms me down easily. Flying lower over the plain, foggy area felt me uneasy. If this area is entire forest and completely foggy, expect some supernaturals happen. Maybe Siren Head will show up.

However, that is not my main concern. I started to feel sleepy with this silent flying mission. Dammit, I started to regret of sending myself alone. I shook my head and stay awake as possible.

"Blaze, how you feeling?" It was Pops, back on the Kestrel.

"Not bad. Just a bit tired from this silencelonely flight."

"Solo flights can be real lonely... but that's what flying is all about, really. Take a look at your search radar. The enemy's radar range is marked out by those circles."

I checked my radar and spotted several circles, each in different sizes. "I see them."

"Make sure you don't enter any of those circles, and fly to the east. The enemy radar's coverage area is smaller at low altitude. You want to see for yourself?"

"Oh hell no! I ain't doing that!" I can hear Pops' voice chuckles.

"Anyway, the enemy's radar coverage areas will be displayed on your search radar, so keep your eyes on it. This is strictly a recon mission, so you will be unarmed. So unfortunately, you won't be able to destroy the enemy radar. Sorry."

"Aw man. I want to destroy stuffs."

"You should join the army and be part of demolition team then." Orby said.

"I wish too, Orby. But I rather fly in the air than hit my body on the ground."

"Maintain radio silence until you reach the destination. I'll then explain the target and how to photograph it. Got it?"

"Solid copy."

"Make sure you don't get caught within coverage area of the enemy radar. Good luck. We'll go into radio silence in a moment. Hang in there until the next transmission." And that's it. I began to surround with silence. Winter was coming early here in the more northern sections of the continent and it showed here tremendously. The trees were barren and the ground was brown from all the discarded and rotting leaves.

My eyes felt heavy as my speed started to decrease. I really want to sleep now-

I jolted from my seat when I felt something electrocute me. "What the hell?"

"Sorry, Gab." Orby apologize, "I have to make sure you fully wake up until we get back."

I took a deep breath and adjust my mask. Then continue to fly over the lake. "Thanks. Good thing you're here."

"You should sleep immediately when you get off the plane."

"Oh yeah, so someone can catch me, bring me to the bedroom in briday style and-"

"Gab... go get a boyfriend." Crap. I can't believe I talked about it. Orby and Chris were right, I do need to get a boyfriend. Maybe when I'm 25 years old then I should find one I love. My thoughts were cut off when my radio went alive.

"Alright, you've arrived over the target area. Cancel radio silence." spoke Pops. "I'm monitoring your progress with a low resolution, and it looks like something's being moved from the mine entrance to those transport planes."

Blaze squinted and spotted the transport craft and the line of trucks approaching them from the mountain. The mine entrance she could see too, clear as day, and she wondered what it was the Belkans were removing from Mt. Schirm.

"I have a bad feeling about this..." Gab thought. She began to fly slow and switched to the camera mode. I have 10 shots for these.

"Let's get a photo with the mine entrance and the transport planes in the frame. The camera is triggered by the missile launch button, by the way."

"Oh, that's helpful. I can imagine I'm firing on these guys." I chuckled. I align my plane to capture both the transport plane and the mine entrance together. Then I went for another two shots, separately from them. The mine, is there a zombie or creeper inside. As I fly over the airfield, I notice some familiar aircrafts.

"I see some 8492nd Squadron members, and some planes with the Yuktobanian Air Force mark on them. The Belkans are sending aggressors posing as allies over to Yuktobania as well."

"I see them as well." Gab observe from below, seeing few people came out from the hangar. They've must heard the engine noise of my plane. As I turn my plane around, air sirens began to blast out of the area. Two planes began to drive off from the hangar.

"Now, before the two planes take off, capture both of them in one shot. Got it?"

"Yep." As dumbass as I am, I decided to fly even lower so I can get a very good image of the two planes. My plane is 20 feet above the hangar, and as went close, I took camera shots 3 times just in case, after that I pull the flight stick to raise my plane upwards.

"Photo received." Pops said. "This is just the evidence we need. Nice work. They're coming up after you. Shake them off and return home." Finally! Time to go home and sleep!

"Takeoff complete. Engaging the enemy." One of the enemy pilots said. Orby told me that they are Ofnir and Grabarc pilots. Gotta go fast.

As Pops mentioned to me before, I don't have to worry about radars once I return back home. I checked my Hud and saw two planes catching up with me. Oh I really wish I have something to fight off.

"That plane...I don't see any air force roundels on it."

"Black body and red wingtips...just what is it?"

With the blast of the afterburner, I cut off their chatter by zooming away as fast as I can. Once I left the area, I turn my plane around and watch them back off away from me, also my wingmates arrived. I sighed, finally safe from them. 

"Need a lift home, ma'am?" asked Grimm merrily.

"Ah, my carriage arrived." I said. "Lets go home so I can finally sleep."

"Yeah, yeah, drama queen." Chris teased. I pouted once they all laugh. Oh brother, I'll going to make a prank on you soon.

•=•=•=•=•=•

~ 3rd person's p.o.v ~

Once all planes landed on the deck, with Blaze being last, the Razgriz leader lazily took off her gears once she gett off her plane. Cipher arrived to see his daughter.

"Blaze, are you alright?" She didn't answer. Instead, she walks towards him, almost like a zombie, and falls down. Not until her dad caught her.

"Gab?!" He immediately check her condition. Only to see her fall asleep on his arms. She was very tired, and probably lack of sleep. Cipher smile and carries her to her room. Her friends arrived and saw sleepy Blaze.

"Is Blaze okay?" Nagase asked worried.

"Don't worry, she's just very tired and fall asleep." He replied. Her wingmen release a sigh of relief. "I'll take her to her room."

At least they know she's going to be fine.

•=•=•=•=•=•

~ ???'s p.o.v. ~

Few hours later, I received some photos caught by the Razgriz leader. With this photo alone, looks like they've began to transport nukes to both countries, but where?

President Harling is still on the Kestrel, safe from the enemies. With that, I already told my men to prepare on the assault with the special operators soon enough once everything went smoothly.

I heard a knock of a door. I let someone enter my office, carrying some files and laid it on my desk.

"Sir, these are the files of the Ofnir and Grabarc squadron you ask for, including the encypted message."

"Thank you." I said. "You may now leave and take a break."

Once she left, I search for the encrypted message from the files. It was revealed a phone number. I began to send a text and wait for someone to response

<<Hello?>>

<<Code: Zodiac>>

<<Oh finally, its you.>>

<< Have you received the photos they've sent to you?>>

<<I have. They began to transport some nukes to the countries.>>

<<Those bastards... anything else?>>

<<I have the files of the two Belkan squadrons with me. I'm going to check on them later.>>

<<Huh. Something tells me you are going to do something to them.>>

<<If they're still alive until the end of war. Same goes to Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton.>>

<<... I see. Now if you may excuse me, I'm going back to sleep.>>

<<Well, goodnight sleepyhead.>>

<<Ah, shut up.>>

I chuckled, turning off my phone. Oh, same old woman. Even in this world, you still have some childness in you. Yet you change so much once you were born in this world. We will meet each other again soon...

Antares.