"The best view comes after the hardest climb."
~Unknown

____________________________________

October 2, 2010...

Blaze

"Blaze?" Grimm knocked gently on my door.

"Come in!" I called out. He entered looking rather sheepish, his hands shoved in his pockets. I smiled cheerfully at him, setting down my computer. "Hey, what's up?"

"I wanted to see how you were doing. You've been quiet since the last mission," he said, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah, I'm fine. A little shaken, that's all."

"Because of the last mission?"

"Most of it," I replied, giving him a partial truth. The last mission was bothering me; I couldn't get the images of the bodies in the water or my missile alert warning blaring nonstop or narrowly crossing the five-thousand-foot threshold and escaping death from the ballistic missile out of my nightmares. I guess the silver lining to all this was that I typically didn't think about it when I was awake. Then I focused on a whole different problem...

Grimm took a seat on the couch on the other end. "What's the other part?"

I waved my hand dismissively. "Nothing."

"It's not because of how Chopper was treating you, is it? Because I will fight him for you. I'll probably end up in the infirmary, but I'll do it."

I laughed. "No, you don't need to do that. Besides, he apologized to me. It's all good."

"Oh, thank god. I didn't want to be in the infirmary today."

"Might not be so bad. You'd have Cassie by your side as often as she could be," I teased, bumping his leg playfully with my foot. "How are things going with you two by the way?"

Grimm's eyes widened. "I don't- what are- I mean-"

"So still head over heels for her, then?"

"Yeah," he said dejectedly. "That obvious, huh?"

"You should ask her out!" I encouraged, setting my laptop to the side and sitting up straight, excited by the idea of my best friend getting with my wingman. They were a match made in heaven, I just knew it. I only needed Grimm to get the courage to ask Cassie out because I knew my best friend would never be the one to make that move.

"Please, and risk having her turn me down?" Grim scoffed. "No, thanks. I have to see her every day. If I asked her out and she said no, then I'm trapped on an island with her. I can't avoid her."

I stared pointedly at him. "Grimm, she's my best friend. She tells me practically everything. So do you really think I would tell you to ask her out if I wasn't a hundred percent certain she would say yes?"

"No, but what if she's changed her mind?"

"I talked to her this morning. Trust me. She hasn't." I smiled sympathetically at him. "What's holding you back?"

"Just the crippling fear of rejection and being laughed at," Grimm joked, although I could tell by the half-laugh that the fear was real.

"I understand that feeling all too well, especially when it comes to relationships. I promise you though, I wouldn't be telling you to ask Cassie out if I thought there was any chance she'd say no."

Grimm bit his lip, contemplating my words for a few moments. Then, he stood up abruptly. "I'm going to go ask her before I chicken out. Will you be okay?"

"I promise I'll be fine! Now go!" I insisted, giving him a shooing motion. My wingman bounded out of my room, nearly knocking Chopper over in the process, who received an overly enthusiastic 'hi' from Grimm. Chopper looked to me for an answer.

"He's going to ask out Cassie," I said, my suddenly chipper mood rapidly fading. What was this conversation with Chopper going to bring?

"Ah. That explains it."

"What's up?"

"I was on the hunt for you and Genette. I'm about to video chat with Melissa, and she wanted to say hi to you two. I texted both of you, but neither of you responded, so I figured y'all were either sleeping or ignoring me." The corner of Chopper's lip tugged upward. "I wasn't going to let you do either."

I chuckled, relief flooding through me as I hopped up off the couch. "Not sleeping or ignoring you, I just didn't hear my phone go off while I was chatting with Grimm. Any who, I'd love to say hi to Melissa, and I'm sure Genette would too! I bet he's with Nagase. She's been helping him with all his photos."

The two of us shuffled out of my room, the usual, awkward silence falling over us whenever it was just the two of us. Ever since the kiss. I wanted to finish the conversation we'd been having before Genette interrupted us. I hadn't found the guts to confront Chopper about it after though. Maybe if we didn't talk about it, it'd blow over sooner or later, and we'd pretend the kiss never happened at all. That could happen, right?

We arrived at Nagase's room, and I knocked on the door. She called for us to come in. Entering the room, I found my brother and best friend sitting side by side on the couch, scrolling through something on Genette's photos. Nagase smiled at us, but I saw the question in my brother's eyes when his gaze flicked over to Chopper and back to me: what were Chopper and I doing together?

"What do y'all want?" Genette asked.

"Melissa is about to video chat with Chopper, and she wants to say hi to us," I said in a rush, the tension between me, Chopper, and my brother all too palpable. "He found me before you, and I told him you'd be here with Nagase, and you are, so..."

"Oh, can I come too?" Nagase requested, breaking the awkwardness. "I don't think I've ever met your sister!"

"Yeah, of course," Chopper said. "The more the merrier."

"Cool! Genette, finish the photos later?"

My brother nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

Chopper led the way out of Nagase's room, Genette on his heels. I lagged behind, waiting for Nagase. As she and I left her room, she muttered under her breath, "You two good?"

"Nope."

"That's what I thought."

The four of us headed to Chopper's room. Chopper and Genette acted fine around each other, if not a little subdued, but I thought came more from Genette's side than my wingman's. What was going on inside his head?

"Chopper, Nagase, you two go call Melissa," I said when we arrived at Chopper's room. "I need to talk to my brother."

My wingmen nodded and obeyed. The moment the door shut behind them, Genette asked, "What's up?"

God. I'd rather be facing the entirety of the Yuktobanian Air Force right now than doing this. Still, it had to be said. "I'm sorry."

My brother frowned. "For what?"

"For what happened between me and Chopper because now things are awkward between us, and I'm sure things are uncomfortable for you and Chopper. This is what I was afraid of if-"

"I'm not mad, Elizabeth," he said, interrupting my rambling. He even used my first name, so I knew he was serious. "Don't get me wrong, I was shocked by it, and yeah, I was kind of pissed Chopper kissed you-"

"I kissed him," I interrupted, shaking my head.

"No, you didn't. He told me the truth after you left. I actually wasn't as pissed as I could've been because he owned up to it. Speaking of which, why did you lie for him?"

"Because I didn't want to jeopardize your friendship with him more than it already would be when you discovered what happened. I figured if you thought I'd kissed him, the anger would be directed at me and not him, and you two would be fine. It's stupid, I know-"

"Yeah, that is, but he and I talked it out. We're fine."

"Are you and I?"

"Yeah, of course. Question now is: how are you and Chopper doing?" Genette prodded, leaning against the doorframe.

I sighed. "I'd rather not discuss that."

"Still awkward then, I'm assuming. Have you talked to him?"

"We were talking it through when you interrupted us at Heierlark, and we haven't really seen each other since until just now."

"After we all chat with Melissa, talk to him and clear things up. And-" Genette stood up straight, smiling softly at me- "if you two want to try things, then it's fine by me."

Before I could even process what he said and open my mouth to respond, Genette declared, "All right, let's go talk to Melissa and embarrass Chopper."

Genette threw the door open and strutted into the room. I followed quickly behind. Chopper sat at his desk while Nagase stood beside him. I watched as Genette pushed his friend's chair out of the way. Melissa chirped my brother's name while I instinctively dived to grab Chopper's hand and stop him from rolling too far away. Chopper grabbed onto me, quickly releasing it once I pulled him back to the desk. I inexplicably felt mortified, and my cheeks were aflame because of it. I'd just been helping him. Was any kind of physical contact with me that bad for him now?

"And Elizabeth! You're there too!" Melissa exclaimed, cutting through my thoughts. I welcomed the distraction. "Or do you go by your callsign now?"

"I go by Blaze, but you can still call me Elizabeth," I told her. "How are you?"

"I'm good! Yourself? I heard you're captain now. Having any issues keeping my brother in line?"

"I'm good, and no, actually." I ruffled Chopper's hair affectionately, hoping it would come across as if nothing was going on between us. If anyone could pick up on our weirdness, it'd be Melissa. She was a psychologist after all. "He's been wonderful. I've only had to put him in his place a couple of times."

Chopper looked up at me and gave me a small but appreciative smile. "And I absolutely deserved it every time you did."

"I'm surprised you haven't caused more trouble," Melissa said, raising an eyebrow. "You were always telling me about Bartlett reprimanding you."

"Yeah, Chopper gets away with murder with me," I confessed, shrugging. "But he does have this innate talent to piss off the top brass and high command."

"Listen, I need to get going because I have a deadline coming up, and my editor will kill me if I don't make it," Genette said. "Nagase is helping me, so I'm taking her too. Good seeing you, Melissa!"

"You too, Genette!" With that said, my brother and friend nearly ran out of the room, leaving me practically all alone with Chopper. Melissa grinned and said, "I see Genette hasn't changed."

"Nope. Always working down to the last minute for those articles," Chopper confirmed.

Not wanting to intrude any further on the Davenport sibling call, I said, "Melissa, it's good to see you, but I'm going to leave you and Chopper be. I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do!"

"No, stay! Please, I need your help. See, what's going on is- oh shit!" The last thing I saw before the video abruptly ended was Melissa diving out of frame. A few seconds later, Chopper received a text.

"Melissa says her computer died, and her phone is nearly dead as well, so she'll call back soon," he said.

I hesitated, wondering if I should just leave, or if I should strike up a conversation to try and regain some normalcy between us again. I went with the latter. "That explains why it looks like she teleported out of the screen. It's good to see her. I haven't seen Melissa since, what? Your graduation?"

"Yeah, that sounds about right. She always asks about you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I think she wishes she had you as a sister instead of me as a brother," Chopper joked.

"Nah, she just tells you that to rile you up. Lord knows Genette and I have told the same thing to the other when we're fighting."

"Has he said it to you recently?"

"No. I think last time was in college. I forget why. It's usually over stupid stuff." We fell silent, and I crossed my arms, wondering why my brain chose now to short-circuit on what to say. Chopper and I never had issues keeping up a flow of conversation, and even when we did, the silence was never awkward. So why was it now? Could we really not move past that kiss? Maybe it was time to listen to my uncle's advice. Well, here went nothing. "Speaking of Genette, we never did finish our conversation before he interrupted us."

"No, we didn't. It's been hard to find them, uh, the right time, if there is such a thing."

I shuffled on my feet. "I doubt there is."

"Listen, why did you lie to Genette that night? Why did you say you kissed me?"

"Because you're his best friend; you're like a brother to him. I didn't want to cause a rift between you two, and I thought by saying I initiated it, that would take some of the anger, if not all of it, away from you. Genette's stuck with me, so he can be mad at me for as long as he wants. It won't change anything. But if he were mad at you-"

"That wasn't your burden to bear, Blaze. You shouldn't take the fall for something I caused. I told him the truth about what happened. "

"I know. He told me when we were talking earlier." My uncle's words echoed in my head, telling me that if I talked to Chopper, he'd be receptive to me. But how the hell did I start that line of conversation again? Should I just pick up where we left off? I guess there was no better or worse place to start. "Hey, when you said you misread the signs that night-"

"I blame it on the alcohol," Chopper interrupted, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was causing me to see signals that weren't there."

"Did you want there to be?"

Chopper opened his mouth to answer but then shut it just as quickly. "No, I-I didn't."

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes. Just like I'd suspected, he didn't reciprocate my feelings. I predicted it, but it still hurt like hell. Holding back the knot in my throat and trying to maintain the little dignity I had left, I said, "Okay, then. Now that we got that cleared up, we can both agree it was a-a drunken mistake and pretend it never happened!"

"Blaze-"

"I need to get back to my room and clean it before the inspection happens," I said, cutting him off and beelining for the door. I wanted out of here as soon as possible, so I could hide my total and complete disappointment over his words and the truth that I already knew. It was so stupid of me to think Chopper would ever be romantically interested in me! He could have any girl on base he wanted; hell, he dated a supermodel ever so briefly. What chance did I have?

I was halfway through opening the door when out of my peripheral, I saw Chopper's hand press up against the wood and slam the door shut. I whirled around, practically nose to nose with my wingman. He said, "You and I both know your room is spotless."

"And that warrants you barricading me in your room?" I countered hotly.

Chopper dropped his hand to his side. "No, but we're not done with this conversation. You asked me a question, now I get to ask you one."

Shit. Well, I could always lie. "What is it?"

"You never got to finish what you were saying at Heierlark before Genette interrupted us, and unless I'm mistaken, you were about to tell me that I didn't misread anything. Am I wrong?"

Chopper's green eyes pierced mine, and I knew that no matter what I said, it had to be the truth. He deserved it, and lying would only make things worse. Still, I didn't want to be in close quarters with him when I confessed everything. I slipped past him and entered back into his room, crossing my arms tightly over my chest. I took a deep, calming breath, and let the truth come out. "You're not wrong."

"I'm not?" Chopper's brow furrowed, and he stood in front of the small hallway to his door, blocking off my only escape route.

"No, you're not. I absolutely wanted you to kiss me that night. I have had the biggest, stupidest crush on you ever since I saw you! I thought I had a chance at first, but then you became best friend with Genette, and I couldn't bring myself to risk y'all's friendship for my own happiness. I didn't want to come between the two of you like I did recently. I know y'all worked it out, but that's because it was just one kiss. Imagine if we actually dated, and it ended badly? You're the best thing that ever happened to Genette. You pushed him to do the things he was scared to do, like trying out for the football team because he didn't think he was any good! Or convincing him to go for journalism even though he didn't fit the stereotype for it!" I smiled sadly at Chopper, hoping he was understanding where I was going with this despite how much I jumped around in my thoughts. My mouth could barely keep up with my brain. "You've done such great things for my brother, and I would never want to come between you, no matter my feelings for you. Besides, what could you ever see me as other than your best friend's little sister?"

Chopper took a step towards me. "Blaze-"

"Look, I know this is probably super awkward for you now to know this, but you're my best friend, and you deserved the truth about why I was acting so weird about it. If you don't want to be in my squadron anymore, I understand. I can talk to Perrault and either have you reassigned or have myself reassigned. Just let me know what I need to do, so we can go back to the way we were."

Chopper stood in front of me now, towering over me and making me wonder why he insisted on being so close to me when it was so obvious that I wanted space. I watched Chopper warily as he brushed a piece of hair out of my face. "I don't think we can."

Someone could've stabbed me in my stomach, and it would've hurt less than hearing those words. I couldn't help the tears of humiliation forming in my eyes. "Understood. If there's anything I can do to help things go back to the way they were, let me know. For now, I think we both need space from each other."

"Space is the last thing I want from you," he whispered before crashing his lips onto mine. I could taste the coffee he'd been drinking earlier, along with the salt from my tears. His reaction caught me off-guard and effectively stunned me into silence. Seizing the opportunity, he said, "I didn't want there to be signals because I didn't want you to like me."

I shook my head a little, still dazed. "Th-that makes zero sense."

"You're off-limits to me, Blaze. It was easier for me to like you and believe you weren't interested in me. Now that I know you like me back, it's going to make it a thousand times harder not to act on how I feel for you. Does that make sense?"

"I think so." I blinked up at him, not quite able to process his words. "So, you like me?"

Chopper grinned. "I really have to spell it out for you, don't I?"

"Look-" I said jokingly-  "I can read the tide of battle like nobody's business. When it comes to a guy being interested in me, let alone the one I've had a crush on since middle school, then yeah, I'm really going to live up to the dumb blonde stereotype, and you're going to have to spell it out for me."

"For your information, and so it gets through that thick head and hair of yours, I do like you. It took a long time for me to realize, but one day, it just kind of clicked with me while at the Academy. You weren't even around when it happened." Chopper braced his forehead against mine. "This is gonna be difficult."

"How come?"

"You're still off-limits to me. If Genette knew-"

"No, I'm not," I interrupted, my brother's words from earlier suddenly popping into my head. "He told me it was okay."

Chopper stared at me, searching my eyes for a lie that wasn't there. "What's gotten into him? Why would he say that?"

"Probably because he thought I'd be too chicken to actually go for you. If you hadn't cornered me, I honestly wouldn't have said anything."

"I didn't corner you." Chopper put his hands on my waist and pushed me back into the empty corner of his room. He planted another kiss on my lips. "This is cornering you."

"Then, by all means, do it as often as you want," I told him breathlessly. "Listen, Genette might be okay about us, but I don't think everyone else on base is going to be as cool with it. People act weird when coworkers are dating. Let's keep it a secret between us and our squadron for now, Genette included, obviously."

"Deal."

"And, God forbid, if this doesn't work between us, we don't let it come between us like it did before."

"I promise. Anything else?"

I pursed my smiling lips. "Just kiss me again or lose me forever."

Chopper laughed. "You got it, Charlie."

_____________________________

Genette

"You think they've finally gotten together?" Nagase asked, looking over at me. She sat closely to me on the couch. Too close. But it didn't make me uncomfortable. Far from it. I'd been enraptured by Nagase ever since I arrived on base. I hadn't gotten to know her during Blaze's college years because I was either at college myself or working. Now that I was at Sand Island, I was getting to know Nagase on a whole new level, and I couldn't stop thinking about her when we weren't together, nor could I wait for the next time we would hang out. I found myself understanding my sister's recent position more and more. I wanted to ask Nagsae out, but did I really want to risk ruining her friendship with my sister if things didn't work out between us? No.

"Well, I haven't heard Blaze or Chopper shouting from the rooftops about it, so no," I replied, giving her a smile.

"Aren't you worried about what will happen if it doesn't work out? Your friendship with Chopper, I mean."

"No, not really. Once he and I talked it out, I realized that Blaze wasn't just a passing interest for him. If things end between them, it will be a mutual decision. I don't think it'll end in bad blood. Besides, I know I told Blaze she could try things with him, but I'm pretty sure my sister would rather face down the entire Yuktobanian military by herself than confront Chopper about her feelings for him."

Nagase snorted. "You've got me there."

"I guess I can understand her hesitation."

"About what?"

"Wanting to date my best friend," I admitted, sinking back further into the couch cushions. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared up at the ceiling, unsure if I wanted Nagase to catch the gist of where I was going with this. "I like one of her friends. A close one."

"Lucky girl," Nagase said softly. "Do I know who it is?"

"Yeah."

"Is it Cassie?"

At this, I actually laughed out loud. "Oh, no. I love Cass, but no, it's not her. Besides, her attention is solely on Grimm."

"Is she here on base?" Nagase prodded.

I bristled. There weren't many girls on base other than Nagase, my sister, and Cassie. It wouldn't be difficult for her to figure out my crush if she kept asking questions. Still, I couldn't lie to her. "Uh, yeah. She's on base."

"Bailey's not a friend but-"

"Oh, fuck no," I said immediately. "Bailey Cohen can nope on out of here for all I care. She damn near ruined Blaze's military career. I can't forgive her for that."

"Hmm, there's Yasmine, but she and Blaze aren't close. There's Nala, but again, not friends with Blaze. Honestly, the only girls Blaze considers her friends are me and Cassie, and if it's not Cassie then-"

Yep. Here we go. Someone needed to save me from this conversation, even though I knew full well it was my own damn fault we were having it. Hell, I'd even be willing to have Bailey Cohen interrupt us.

God, or some other higher being, must've heard my pleas because my savior, or saviors, came in the form of Grimm and Cassie. The latter practically vibrated from excitement, her blue eyes sparkling. She cheerfully exclaimed, "Hey! What are you two up to?"

"We were going over my photos and articles, and then somehow ended up chatting about my nonexistent love life," I replied, sitting up and forcing myself to pretend like Nagase hadn't been about to discover that I fancied her. "What's going on with you two?"

"Grimm asked me out," Cassie said, briefly looking up at him with what I could only describe as literal heart eyes. "I said yes, obviously. How could I say anything but with those puppy dog eyes of his?"

"They are hard to resist," Nagase said, smiling sweetly at the happy couple. "I'm so excited for you!"

"Thanks!" Cassie and Grimm shuffled over and sat on the floor across from us. "So, any news on whatever the hell is going on between Blaze and Chopper?"

"Last time I saw them, they were talking to Melissa," I said, grabbing my coffee cup off the table. 

"I doubt Blaze stayed long if you left her alone with him. They can barely be around each other when we're in groups."

"I guess we'll find out."

"Find out what?" Blaze asked, effectively making us all jump. Chopper stood behind her, his eyes flicking between me and Nagase and the minimal distance between us. He raised a brow at me and bit back a smirk but said nothing.

"How the hell did you enter without any of us realizing and with me facing the damn door?" Genette demanded.

"Probably because you're too engrossed in talking," Blaze countered. "What's going on with y'all? Grimm, did you ask-"

"He did!" Cassie interrupted before Blaze could finish her sentence. My sister raised her hand and leaned over to Grimm, high-fiving him and congratulating him. "Wait, you have something to do with this?"

Blaze shrugged. "I understand his fear of confessing feelings all too well, so I simply gave him the encouragement he needed to hear."

Chopper bumped his shoulder into my sister's, unable to stop his lips from quirking upward. She smiled back at him as they silently communicated. I wanted to know what they were thinking but was also too dumbfounded by the sudden 180 in their relationship. What had they talked about? Did Blaze actually tell Chopper she liked him? There was no way.

"It's about damn time, Grimm," Chopper said, reaching over and clapping his wingman on the back. "Tired of watching you trail her like a puppy."

"Well, I learned from the best," Grimm countered cockily. "All I had to do was watch you around Blaze."

While Chopper's mouth fell open in astonishment, I took the opportunity to wag my finger at him and Blaze and say, "Speaking of which, did you two work things out?"

"Yeah, I guess that's one way to put it," Chopper answered, lacing his fingers with Blaze. 

Nagase laughing remarked, "Now that really does deserve an 'about time' declaration."

"With an expletive or two thrown in there," Cassie added.

Blaze beamed but sobered up quickly. "Y'all are the only ones that know, and we want to keep it that way. If the higher-ups found out I was dating my wingman-"

"Our lips are sealed," Cassie promised, pretending to zip her lips and throw away the key. 

"My lips are sealed tighter than the pants Chopper wore to the Halloween party," I said.

"Obviously not since we swore never to bring that up!" Chopper pointed an accusatory finger at me. Everyone else shared amused looks, mutually deciding to pester us both for the remainder of the evening for the story and pictures.
____________________________________

Briefing Room, October 3, 2010...

My friends sat in the second row while waiting for the briefing to begin. Before they could see me, I snapped a quick shot of them. My heart swelled at the sight of it: Blaze, Nagase, and Cassie were listening to Chopper with sparkling eyes and wide grins. Grimm was laughing, and Chopper was animatedly storytelling about the time he and some school buddies accidentally got on the wrong bus and ended up in Ustio. It was such a natural scene, and I couldn't help but wonder if we'd always be like this: happy, talking, and together. The last thought especially got to me. We were at war now. Any one of them could go up and not return. The possibility sent an unsettling shiver down my spine. I couldn't imagine my life without any of the people in front of me.

Blaze noticed me lingering and said, "Hey, Genette. Get a good photo?"

"Yeah, want to see?"

"Always. Give me." She held out her hand expectantly, motioning with her fingers for me to hurry up and give it to her. I handed it to Nagase instead, giving an impish smile to shocked sister.

"Are you using all these for your articles?" Grimm asked when the camera reached him.

"No. I'm compiling a bunch of photos because I think I've come up with a book idea."

"Oh?"

"If it's okay with you, I've considered writing about the four of you and your time during the war. I don't know. It just kind of came to me a few days ago, but with all the pictures I've been taking, I feel it'd be an interesting story about four people during the war. I mean, you're already making history by being the youngest squadron ever in Osea, so why not?"

"I think that's a cool idea. Although maybe change my name in it?" Blaze suggested. "I don't want people knowing it's about me."

"I was planning on doing that for y'all's privacy anyway, so that's no problem. Plus, I'm going to be in it, and I don't want people knowing about me either," I chuckled.

"Let's talk about it more later. The briefing is starting," Blaze said, nodding her head towards the front. We all quieted down.

The briefer cleared his throat, which I swear he did every time. Didn't his throat hurt from doing that? I didn't have time to ponder the question because he swiftly began. "An SSTO craft launch facility lies to the east of our current location, McNealy Air Force Base. The facility was a collaborative project between Osea and Yuktobania. It was built to be a bridge to outer space, with a mass driver 7.5 miles in length. Our radar has detected several planes from a Yuktobanian squadron approaching the facility from several directions. The facility is currently conducting pre-launch operations for an SSTO craft. The Base Commander will provide you with further orders."

Operation: Silver Bridge

Location: Basset Space Center

Date: 03/10/2010

Time: 0930 HRS.

"This is the Commander of McNealy Air Force Base. All units, including those refueling at this base, are now under my command. Engage the incoming enemy. All untrained pilots are barred from taking off. Those guys are still kids!" the Commander ordered.

"Thank god one of these commanders has sense," Nagase muttered as we got up and walked to the hangar. "All the rest would've sent them up."

"They're not much younger than you," Chopper said.

"No, but we have experience. They don't."

"We didn't get that experience by doing nothing, though."

"But we were trained by Bartlett. No one trains better than him," Nagase argued.

Chopper turned to my sister. "Blaze, what do you think?"

"I think Nagase is right. At least somewhat," Blaze admitted, fiddling with her dogtags. "We're not in dire need of pilots right now, so sending the nuggets up would be a bad idea. They need more experience. But I also agree with Chopper in that they won't get experience unless they're thrown into something."

"You'd make a great politician, you know that?"

She snorted. "I hate politics and politicians. I swear if I ever end up working for them, something in my life has gone seriously wrong."

"Genette, you coming with us today?" Nagase inquired, turning to me.

"No, I'm on the ground with Cassie. Besides, I'm not allowed to photograph the Arkbird. Although-" I leaned in conspiratorially. "- I have some contacts on base who promised me they'd try and sneak some photos for me."

Nagase stared at me with a mixture of awe and confusion. "How do you already have contacts on other bases?"

"I know people who know people who know more people."

She nodded, looking me up and down. "All right then, hotshot. I'll see you when I get back."

Smiling playfully at me, Nagase joined her squadron. I watched as Blaze instructed them on their planes. My sister chose the F-14s again, which had now become her favorite plane. Meanwhile, I was left to wait for them to survive yet another battle and wonder what the hell I was doing falling for Nagase.

_____________________________________________________

Nagase

"Ten minutes to launch. Commencing countdown," an operator said. McNealy Air Force Base had just come into view. With the rolling green hills on one side and the sapphire waters of the Ceres Ocean on the other, you'd think the place was more fit for a spa retreat than an air force base, especially one being used to send weapons to a bird in space via a railway built specially to launch them. 

"This place is not what I expected," Grimm mused.

"Nagase and I came here right after the mass driver was built," Blaze remarked. "I don't remember the space center part of it, though. Do you, Nagase?"

I nodded, then reminded myself I was in a plane and they couldn't see me. "I remember this space center well. The mass driver was built by Osea and Yuktobania as part of their collaborative efforts to construct an international space station. Our anti-war President used the surplus funds that came from cutting the defense budget to build it."

"You're like a walking encyclopedia," Chopper said. "And I mean that as a compliment. Seriously. I didn't know a majority of that."

"Because you were busy collecting your rock'n'roll records."

"Hey, that's important too. I'm preserving history with those."

"But not our eardrums," Blaze quipped.

"Really? You too?"

"Is that the Arkbird?" Grimm interrupted our bickering. Whether he did so intentionally or not, I wasn't sure, but it worked nonetheless. Glancing up at the sky, I saw it. The white bird was only a tiny dot in the blue sky. It was difficult and heartbreaking to think that this creation of peace was now being used for war.

"The one and only," I confirmed.

"That is the most intimidating bird I've ever seen."

"You've never met a hungry seagull, have you?" Chopper asked.

"I never set foot on a beach until I moved to Sand Island, so yeah, I haven't."

"Part of you missed out something amazing, the other avoided a menace to society."

"Hey, since Genette is creating that book, what do you say we help him out and come up with narrations for it?" Blaze suggested, lowering her plane just above the mass driver. Chopper followed behind her. They flew so closely to the ramp that it looked like they were taking off of it themselves. To be honest, I was surprised they weren't getting in trouble from the space center.

"I'm gonna hand this one off to Nagase," Chopper said. "She knows a hell of a lot more about this place than I do."

"I'm going to agree with Chopper," Grimm chimed in.

"Nagase, what would you say about the Arkbird if Genette were here?" Blaze inquired.

"The Arkbird..." I trailed off, mulling over it. "A white bird built as the first step towards the realization of the space station project. Now it's left its orbit and is just low enough to graze the atmosphere. It's coming down to pick up the laser cannon they're about to launch."

"I like it," Blaze said. "What about the bridge?"

I turned my head to take in the sight of the seven-and-a-half-mile-long piece of construction. "They were building a 'bridge of peace,' that would span into outer space. Not anymore. The machinery meant for this peaceful mission was about to be used for our counterattack."

Chopper whistled high to low. "Damn, Nagase. I'm on Osea's side, and I've got shivers going down my spine."

"Yeah, it was an ominous outlook. True, but still ominous," Grimm said.

"Hey-" I protested- "you wanted me to do commentary, and I call it as I see it."

At that, we fell silent, waiting while they prepared to launch.

_____________________________________________________

Blaze

The silence didn't last long as my boyfriend piped up, "Hey, listen."

"Yes?" Grimm said.

"Isn't that thing s'posed to work like a satellite? Why'd it climb down all this way?"

"It's a maneuverable orbiting spacecraft."

"I know that," Chopper replied, annoyed. "I'm just saying if the system uses atmospheric friction to change its orbit, then wouldn't that make it pretty hard to defend itself?"

"Hmm..." Grimm, along with myself and presumably Nagase, mulled over Chopper's words. "I guess it'd be in trouble if someone started firing right now."

"Yeah. So shouldn't it be higher up, then?"

"I'm shocked," I said.

"Right? I can't believe they're so stupid as to-"

"No, not about them. That doesn't surprise me. I'm shocked you said something so smart."

Chopper barked out a laugh. "That's rich coming from you blondie. Didn't you say a helicopter ejection seat was a good idea?"

"Okay, first of all-" I began indignantly- "you, Nagase, and I all know I was drunk when I suggested that, and second of all, I was imagining the ejection seats shooting out sideways rather than upward. Better to have whiplash than to be decapitated."

Grimm snorted. "I'm simultaneously in agreement with Blaze's explanation and also Chopper's accusation."

"I'm simultaneously flattered and insulted. Still, in all seriousness, I'm not sure why it's so low."

Nagase had the explanation. "It would be harder to get the supplies to them if it was too high. It's why we're here; in case the enemy does decide to attack."

"That would be our luck..." Chopper muttered.

"Don't jinx it," I warned.

We were interrupted by a soldier from the base. "Continue countdown. Three minutes to launch."

Scanning the horizon, I searched for any potential enemies. My radar showed nothing. I didn't mind just flying around while they launched the supplies. It was strangely peaceful at McNealy Air Force Base with the pleasant scenery. Maybe once my time was up at Sand Island, whenever that may be, I could ask for a transfer here. Then again, I always wanted to be on the front lines, and until we had a threat from the east, the front lines would always remain on Osea's western side. 

"Halt the countdown! Enemy incoming! This is the Base Air Defense Command! The enemy has a large formation of transport planes escorted by a squadron of fighters. They're conducting an air assault to capture this base."

"What?!" Nagase exclaimed, voicing what we were all thinking. "They're actually planning to invade Osea?"

"I can't believe it! Are they actually stupid enough to do that with... five small planes?" Grimm inquired in shock.

I grimaced. "They have to have something up their sleeve."

"Uh oh, Blaze is having one of those psychic intuitions. Everyone better listen to her," Chopper said.

"You don't feel it?" I asked.

"Feel what?"

"That something is off."

"Not really."

"I just... they can't capture a base with so few planes. It doesn't make sense."

I could see the enemy transports arriving. They were coming in diagonally from my view, meaning if I fired a missile, it'd most likely miss. So, to better my chances, I maneuvered my plane behind one of them. In the blink of an eye, a boxy object parachuted out of it. The more I stared at it, the more I realized it was an airborne tank! God, I hate those things... But I'd been right. The enemy did have a trick up their sleeve.

"If we shoot the parachutes before the tanks detach, we'll smash them into the ground," Chopper observed grimly. "You with me?"

I nodded, despite the fact he couldn't see me. "Loud and clear."

"I guess we don't have any other choice... I can't believe that's our strategy."

"Nagase, Grimm, destroy the transport planes. If we can get rid of them, then we don't have to worry about as many tanks," I ordered. Nagase and Grimm each chased after other enemy planes. Chopper and I took it upon ourselves to take out all enemy takes. We separated, taking different ends of the base to defend.

"Airborne tanks are dropping from the transport plane!" Grimm shouted.

"We know!" Nagase and I said simultaneously.

"Can you count all those parachutes?" Chopper exclaimed. "I gave up already!"

"Don't give yourself a headache by counting them," I told him, half-joking and half-serious. "Give yourself a headache by trying to shoot them down!"

"Destroy all airborne ACVs. Engage them in the air and ground," Air Defense Command barked. "The ACVs are moving this way. Don't let them get near the mass driver."

I watched as the enemy transports disappeared off my radar. There had only been four, but those had been enough to drop more airborne tanks than I cared to see. Chopper flew side-by-side with Grimm after a fighter, which had been trying to shoot me and Nagase down. Realizing we could be more effective splitting up, I instructed Nagase to target the ACVs with me, and Chopper and Grimm to ensure we didn't get shot down in the meantime by hunting down the enemy planes. I had another epiphany a few moments later: since the tanks were in the transport planes, and if we shot said transports down, we would be taking out two birds with one stone, both the tanks and the planes. Deciding I'd handle the speedy ground targets, I let Nagase break off and engage the slow transport planes.

For a brief moment, it seemed like we had a hold on the situation. Grimm announced he shot down one of the fighters, I'd taken out at least three tanks, and Chopper and Nagase added on they'd also destroyed some enemy planes.

But then I flew to the other side of the mass driver, where two ACVs were rapidly moving towards a pillbox. I hadn't even realized they were there at first, and glancing at my radar, I saw a lot more of them racing towards their target. Too many.

"There's too many of them." Nagase's words echoed my own thoughts eerily well. "We can't take them all out in the air."

"Then that means we'll have to take some out when they hit the ground," I said. "You help me with the ground targets. Chopper, Grimm, you've got the air targets."

"Some of the tanks appear to have taken damage when they hit the ground."

"That makes our job slightly easier."

"Multiple enemy aircraft overhead! They're coming this way!" An ally informed.

Another guy added angrily, "Chief, this is unacceptable! Please, restart the countdown!"

"I'm on orders from our air defense commander. We have to comply," the chief replied. Unless I was mistaken, he sounded as frustrated as his comrade.

"It's all over if the tanks break through. Blaze, do you think our forces are sufficient?" Nagase asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Not wanting to convey the fact I shared her feelings, I said, "Yes, they are."

"I'd like to think so, too, but they even had to call us out, you know?" Nagase had a point, unfortunately. A base of such importance should have top-of-the-line security. Calling in pilots from another base meant they didn't trust their own defenses, or they didn't have enough. Either way, it concerned me.

Focusing my attention back on the mission, I turned around to see where everyone was. I saw Chopper fire a missile and hit a target. Grimm trailed an enemy plane, and Nagase was after a fighter as well. Meanwhile, an enemy made the mistake of flying into my line of sight while I headed for the next ACV. Not wasting the opportunity to take a bad guy out, I got a lock on the aircraft and fired, nailing them in the engine.

In the process of searching for a new target, I found myself flying alongside the mass driver. I risked ogling at it and noticed the metal underneath the rails was big enough to fit a plane. A daring, insanely stupid idea popped into my head: I wonder if I could fly through it...

"This is the Northeast Sector Defense Force. The enemy has broken through Pillbox one."

"Grimm, check your six," Nagase warned frantically.

"WHOA! Where'd he come from?!" Grimm exclaimed.

"Watch out! He's firing!"

"Someone get him off me!" he requested in exasperation. He was weaving from side to side to get the bandit off his tail. It refused to leave him, though. Chopper and I almost ran into each other trying to cover Grimm. I let my boyfriend have him. I went off to help Nagase, who had also gotten an enemy on her tail. Leveling myself behind them, I took aim. After much swerving and some choice words in multiple languages, I shot the fighter down.

"Bandit's off your tail Grimm," Chopper announced. I said likewise to Nagase. The two of them gave their thanks, sounding more than a little relieved. 

Barely a moment passed before Grimm informed, "Target hit."

"You already shot one down? Impressive," I complimented. "We're not getting back-up on this mission, so it's nice to know we can hold our own."

Chopper chuckled humorlessly. "Isn't that always the case?"

"Seems like it. Hell, I've only been on, what? Two full missions with you guys? And even I've noticed you rarely have people to back you up," Grimm said.

I sighed. "I swear one of these days, not having back-up is going to be the death of us."

It was a dreadfully gloomy thing to say, but it was the truth. Osea had plenty of fighter pilots. Why couldn't they spare at least a couple planes to back us up? We were only four planes with minimal battle experience. Sure, we had a decent track record, but we could only do so much. How much of a difference could four planes make? 

"I'll try one more time to convince the higher-ups to launch," A soldier said. "We're getting requests from every team to restart the launch!"

"Throw the Molotov cocktails!" Another one shouted.

"I could use a cocktail right about now," Chopper remarked casually. I grinned because imagining him with such a drink, while not impossible, was implausible. He went for the beer and the shots. Last time he and I had gone out drinking together had been after he graduated. I still only have brief memories of that night. What I do remember is that I loved tequila, and the tequila loved me.

"Damn, I can't believe they're doing an airdrop," An Osean grumbled. "We have to defend this base by ourselves?"

"Do the ground forces have any anti-tank units? Are they gonna be okay?" Grimm questioned anxiously.

"I dunno, but either way, we can't let those things reach the ground," Chopper told him.

"It's a little late on that part since some have," Grimm pointed out.

"All right, smartass. We can't let those little shits reach the buildings."

I flew underneath the mass driver and fired missiles at an ACV streaking towards a pillbox. Confirming its demise via radar, I turned around, briefly flying over the lush green hills rolling behind McNealy Air Force Base. The trees momentarily brought back memories of Genette and me running in the woods, a favorite childhood pastime. When we would go to our grandparent's house, we'd climb trees in the forest behind their house, usually after we'd watch Tarzan. More than once, Genette overestimated his climbing abilities and fell out of the tree, breaking a bone or two. As his sister, I'd laugh first, then help him back to the house once I realized he was genuinely hurt.

"They're firing! The center is under attack!" A soldier yelled.

"Number 12's parachute was shot away! It's in free fall!" A Yuke cried. "We need some help here! How much longer are you gonna let 'em play target practice with us?! This isn't funny! These tanks are gonna turn into our coffins soon."

Chopper's plane streaked past me as he yelled, "Yahoo!"

"Having fun?" I asked in amusement.

"Oh, loads!"

"I'm going to get you a dictionary so you can read the definition of 'fun,'" Nagase said.

"I'm going to re-gift you said dictionary so you can find the definition of sarcasm."

"Now descending. All systems go," A Yuke said.

"The tanks are mobilizing away from their landing points," Grimm said. "They're all scattering in droves the moment they touch the ground."

"They know it makes it harder on us to take them all out," I remarked, staring in distaste at the remaining targets on my radar. "At least we have special weapons for ground targets."

"Be careful. Avoid firing on your allies," An Osean admonished.

No shit, Sherlock. I thought. They call us out here to support them, yet have no faith in us. I know we're greener than most but damn. They needed to give us some credit here. Someone high in the chain of command thought we were the best auxiliary squadron to send, so that had to mean something right?

"Get distracted, and I'll slam right into one of 'em. Man, this is bad for my health," Chopper grumbled.

"I don't know whose health this would be good for," Grimm said. "It's so chaotic right now!"

"A demon?" My boyfriend suggested.

"Maybe, but we're not demons."

"You obviously haven't met Blaze in the morning," Nagase joked.

"She's not wrong," I confessed, thinking back to my younger days when I whacked Genette with my curling iron (it was at least not on) when he tried to talk to me right when I woke up. I'd also punched a few people by accident... 

"Dammit, we're caught in a crossfire. They're firing at us below, too," A Yuke said. "We do have parachutes for our tank crews, right?"

I heard Grimm grunt over the radio, but I couldn't see what he was doing that would've caused such a sound. "We can't shoot them all down. We can only thin out their numbers," Grimm claimed.

"Some of the tanks seem to have taken damage when they hit the ground," Nagase observed.

"So aim for them first." A revelation dawned on me a moment later. "Hey, didn't you already say that?"

"Come to think of it, yeah, I did."

Unwilling to miss the opportunity of teasing my best friend, I said, "Is the war getting to you, Nagase?"

She sighed. "No, I'm just being blonde. Very blonde."

"You are the complete opposite of blonde," Grimm pointed out.

"She's blonde at heart. I'm partially blonde," Chopper joked. "I have just enough blonde undertones to give me that."

"I'm the only full blonde here" I chirped. I paused, then said, "This is a weird discussion to be having in the middle of a battle."

"We would go crazy just having serious discussions in the air. Sometimes the time arises to have a conversation that has absolutely nothing to do with the current situation at all," Chopper stated.

"I realize we do fly better when we're having nonsense conversations like this one," Grimm said.

"I hate to be the one to ruin this lovely conversation, but I have an enemy on my tail, and I need one of you to get him off of me," Nagase requested.

Grimm took the call. "Roger, I'm on my way."

Meanwhile, I did a 180-degree turn and headed for yet another ACV. I could see Grimm trailing the plane after Nagase. It was a fast little devil, and it took my wingman a while to shoot the aircraft down. How many more did we have left? Surely, we had to be nearing the end of this mission. After all, how many tanks could they put in those transport planes? It couldn't be that many!

"We can handle this. Rest of you, get out of here now!" an ally snapped.

"That missile's coming this way!" A Yuke shouted. "Damn, this pilot won't let up on me. Someone get him off me."

"It's a she, FYI," I retorted. When the pilot was silent, I added, "Why does everyone think I'm a boy at first? I mean, seriously, why?"

"Because guys don't believe girls can fly better than them?" Chopper suggested. "I don't know. That's the only thing I can think of."

"Big ego's, huh? Kind of like yours?"

"Ha-ha."

"Whoa! Where'd these guys come from?!" I said in shock. Two Yuke fighters came out of nowhere and got behind me. Abandoning my target, I started heading for the mass driver. For some inexplicable reason, I began humming to myself. Maybe to distract myself from the enemies on my tail. Perhaps I was starting to lose it. The jury was out on that last one.

"Blaze, are you singing 'Danger Zone?'" Chopper questioned, sounding both amused and confused.

"Possibly." As I reached the part of the mass driver where it began to ascend into the sky, I noticed a tunnel-like entrance underneath it. I had no intention of flying through it until l realized if I swerved to the left or to the right, the Yukes would be able to shoot me down. On a very stupid whim, I jerked my plane underneath the mass driver, lining up with the tunnel entrance. My actions were noticed by my wingmen.

"Blaaaaaze," Chopper started- "What are you doing?"

I bit my lip. "Flying underneath the mass driver."

"I- I can see that. But you're going to move from underneath it before you crash, aren't you?"

"There's a tunnel underneath it. I'm going to fly through it."

"You're going to what?"

"I'm going to fly through it. It'll distract the enemy and give you the opportunity to take them out."

"I get distracting them, but do you have to fly through the tunnel to do that?!" he demanded.

"Yes. Now, ready, set, go!" I flew through the first opening, unable to help myself as I shouted, "Oh, shit!"

"Blaze!"

"I'm good, I'm o- shit, shit, shit." My body trembled out of fear of the situation and anger at my sheer stupidity. What the fuck had I been thinking doing this?!

"Holy shit," Nagase remarked. "Well, you've got their attention all right. Boys, let's take the enemies out."

I didn't dare look anywhere but straight ahead, trusting my wingmen to do their job. Thankfully, the metal structures prevented the enemy fighters from getting a lock on me. It also meant no missiles would hit the mass driver. Now, if I could just pull this off without crashing and dying a fiery death...

"Enemy plane one down. One more to go," Nagase said.

"How you doing, Blaze?" Chopper asked anxiously.

"I'm good," I lied, not wanting to worry him any more than he already was. It was a good thing he couldn't hear my internal monologue of me screaming and swearing... "I'm just fi- shit!"

"What?!"

"Came a little too close to the rail above me. I'm good."

"God... damn it, Blaze. You're going to give me a hernia!"

"I'm genuinely surprised I haven't given you one already, actually."

"You have. I just never said anything about it."

I wanted to ask when those times were, but the sight ahead had me buzzing with excitement. "I see the end of the tunnel!"

Chopper chuckled "So what you're saying is-"

"Don't."

"You can see the light at the end of the tunnel." I groaned, imagining the cheeky ass grin he was most certainly wearing. "Entering the light in three... two... one... I'm free!"

I shot out from underneath the mass driver into the open sky. Shuddering, I declared, "I'm never flying through another tunnel again."

"Why would we need to fly through a tunnel?" Grimm asked.

"I don't know, but I'm not doing it."

"Not gonna lie, the only thing playing in my head is that song from that Rapunzel movie," Chopper admitted. "Don't ask why I know that song."

"Why-"

"Don't."

"-do you know that song?"

"I guess this is payback for my shitty joke. I mean, it's better than the time I had the conga song stuck in my head. At least I know the lyrics to this one."

"The conga song?" Nagase asked.

"Yeah, by Gloria Estefan." When she didn't respond, he added, "You know, it goes, 'Come on, everybody, do the conga.' Is it ringing a bell?"

"Negative."

"I'd sing you the rest, but that's the only line I know. I'll have to make you listen to that song when we get back to base."

"Too bad we don't get radio on here," I said.

"Or a phone."

"Or a snack or two."

"Or a drink holder," Grimm piped up.

"Or a pillow," Nagase added.

"Or a TV!" Chopper exclaimed as if he'd just proposed the best idea of everyone.

"Or a book!" I said excitedly.

"A book? Of everything we could have in a plane, you choose a book?" Chopper asked.

"What? I like to read. It'd be handy when we're in autopilot flying somewhere."

"So would a TV."

"Where would we fit a TV in a plane that requires all the space on the dashboard for technology to make it fly?"

"I- okay, you got me there. For now."

"C'mon baby, don't hit us. Just let us land safely," A Yuke prayed, interrupting our debate. I put my attention on the last ACV below us. Somehow, we'd missed it. Grimm, being closest, took it on. He flew low to the ground, practically skimming it. He used his guns to blow up the ACV just as it touched the ground.

"I hate having to shoot at you after you've finally touched ground and all, but... sorry," Chopper apologized sheepishly.

"You didn't even shoot them!" Grimm protested.

"I'm apologizing in general."

"Sure."

MISSION UPDATE

"All Yuktobanian ACVs destroyed. Our thanks to all allied aircraft," An ally said sincerely.

I smiled at the praise. "You're welcome. We weren't going to let them take over this base."

"That should be most of 'em," Chopper noted.

"It looks like they've abandoned the ground invasion and decided to just destroy the base," Air Defense Command announced grimly. "Wipe out the remaining enemy forces. Make an effort to minimize any damage to the mass driver. Large numbers of cruise missiles tracked on the outer edge of our radar coverage. All fighters, engage and destroy these cruise missiles."

"Captain, can you detect the cruise missiles from there?" Grimm questioned.

"Yeah, they're showing up on my radar. They shouldn't take much to destroy."

"I've picked them up as well. They're heading for the facility! Look at all those missiles." I grimaced at the sight on my radar. Missiles from all directions were coming straight for the mass driver. I prayed we took them out before they hit their target.

I couldn't believe the enemy was going to destroy the base using cruise missiles. They could do a lot of damage, and while the mass driver was well built (it had to be seeing how big it was), if it was hit with enough missiles, it would be destroyed, and this mission would fail. We couldn't let that happen. We couldn't let this mission be our first failure.

"Hey Blaze, there's an enemy bomber plane flying away. You want me to destroy it?" Chopper asked.

"Yeah, go ahead, probably where those cruise missiles are coming from, so there must be more than one."

Chopper, who had been following me, broke away and headed in the direction of the bomber. I started looking at the direction the cruise missiles were coming from... four directions... four planes. We could each go in a different direction and shoot down the bomber.

"Confirmed kill on bomber. Those must be the aircraft behind the cruise missiles," Thunderhead mused.

"That's what I said!" I huffed in annoyance. "Listen, there's three left. Grimm, Nagase, go take the two in the hills while I get the last one over the ocean. Chopper, see if you can shoot down some of those planes."

"Roger. Be careful," Chopper cautioned.

"I will. Nagase, Grimm, y'all be careful too."

"Roger," Nagase said.

"Wilco," Grimm added.

Chopper scoffed. "Wilco?"

"What?"

"Your terminology is weird."

"You're weird."

"The SSTO's gonna get hit if this keeps up," Nagase claimed, firing furiously at the cruise missiles. I was halfway across the ocean, ready to intercept the cruise missiles when I saw the bomber. It was a sleek black plane that I could already tell was going to be a pain in the ass to shoot down. I used missiles to hit the cruise missiles, then used another one on the bomber. However, it released a sparkler, making my weapon lose its target. Gritting my teeth, I got in closer and switched to gunfire. It seemed like hours before the thing blew up, but I managed it. Thankfully it didn't release any other cruise missile during my fight with it.

Once it was destroyed, I flipped my plane around to head back towards the SSTO. I checked in with my wingmen. Nagase had destroyed her cruise missiles and was en route to take down the bomber. Chopper was teaming up with Grimm to help him out.

"This is Flight Director Adam Gittelman. Continue SSTO launch. Recommence launch sequence."

"Attention all personnel: We only have one chance to launch. Let's all do our jobs and see this through to the very end. That is all!" Another guy encouraged.

"Do they always talk this much?" I queried.

"I had a friend here who could confirm that yes, they are very chatty," Grimm said.

Chopper gave a small laugh. "And I thought Thunderhead was chatty. These guys could give him a run for his money!" 

"I heard that!" Thunderhead growled, only causing Chopper to laugh harder.

"Weather team, roger."

"Flight control team, roger."

"Guidance team, roger."

"I can't shoot them all down!" Grimm said worriedly.

"You'll do fine," Nagase placated. "Stay calm, and you won't miss."

"Missile trajectories detected. Moving to intercept. We're being pushed back, little by little."

"Stay calm, Grimm," I said gently.

"The catapult camera just shut off. Was the SSTO hit?" A soldier demanded.

"The camera just malfunctioned!" Another guy replied.

"Four minutes to launch. Hold them off until then!" An Osean urged.

"Four minutes?! We won't last that long!" Someone shouted. The mood was getting tenser by the moment. If we didn't get these supplies up soon, the Arkbird would be in dire straits. Not to mention, we wouldn't be able to rely on it for our next attack.

"Blaze, do you know why the Arkbird was built?" Nagase questioned.

"Yes, it was a peace project between Yuktobania and Osea after the Cold War. Now it's going to be used for our counterattack."

"Ironic, isn't it?"

"Completely."

"Take the wounded to Warehouse four!" A soldier barked. "Flight control, your job is done. Evacuate the area immediately."

"We can't have any mistakes here! We're staying!"

"My plane can't keep up with them!" Grimm exclaimed.

"Keep up with what? The missiles? The planes?" Chopper asked.

"Both!"

"Grimm, calm down," I told him gently. "You fought through worse things than this."

"Yeah, I have..." He took a deep breath. "I've got this."

"Fire in H Block!" A space center member informed frantically.

"Kid, is the launch facility safe?" Chopper asked. "I can't tell from here." 

"I think it is. I can't tell."

"Ah, good... I think. I'll continue the operation."

"The number of incoming cruise missiles is decreasing," Air Defense Command announced.

"Three minutes! Three minutes to go!" A soldier yelled ecstatically.

Thanks to Nagase and Chopper destroying the last two enemy bombers, the number of incoming cruise missiles was decreasing.

"Communications, I want you to ensure all comm lines stay open," The same guy said.

"We've got it covered, sir. Three modes of communication: wired, wireless, and runners!"

"I wonder-" I began.

"Just a little more... just two more minutes!" A guy interrupted me.

I tried to begin again. "So, before-"

"We'll be safe here! Calm down!"

Seriously?! Now I was getting aggravated. "As I was-"

"Final preflight check. All stations go over everything one last time."

"Can I-"

"Guidance, navigation, flight control, telemetry, communications, flight dynamics... Do we have a go or no go?"

This was getting ridiculous. "Hey! I want to-"

"All systems go from all team leaders. Proceeding with launch."

Now this was just ludicrous. "Can you peo-"

"Guidance team reporting! Our launch window will close in a few minutes!"

"What the-" I began.

"Have faith in our fighter pilots. Don't rush your final checks!"

Did they ever stop talking?! Every time I tried to say something, they'd cut me off! Seven times. I tried seven times to speak, and every single freaking time, they cut me off.

"All enemy bombers destroyed Kid," Chopper announced, and I smiled. No one else called me 'Kid' but him now. He was the only one I would allow to anyway. Although, I did wonder why he called me that instead of my callsign sometimes. I'd have to ask him about it one day.

"Good, now maybe those cruise missiles will stop coming." I paused, then added, "I'm amazed they let me talk without interrupting me."

"They were pretty rude about that," Nagase agreed. "What did you want to say?"

"I forget now. I remember in a day or so when it's not relevant anymore."

"One minute left. Have a safe trip!" A guy cheered. At least he waited for me to finish my sentence.

"Damn it! Is this it for us?!" Another guy demanded.

"The Air Force'll get us through this! I know they will! So don't give up!" I liked the guy's enthusiasm, not to mention his faith in us. Glad to know someone down there did because the rest of them acted like they didn't.

"C'mon, have they launched yet?!" Chopper groaned.

"No, not yet, at least I don't think so. It shouldn't be long now. Of course, we'll know when they do because-" I started.

"They talk so much?" Grimm finished.

"Exactly."

"If the tide of battle doesn't change soon, we're in deep trouble," A Yuke stated.

"Countdown... Twenty, nineteen, eighteen, seventeen, sixteen..".

"Enemy planes approaching! Take cover!" A soldier yelled before adding, "We're gonna launch this thing if it kills us!"

"Right, just hurry up!" Grimm urged.

A few seconds went by. I was wondering whether this mission would succeed or not. If they took any longer, the task would fail. No pressure, right?

"Five, four, three, two, one, zero! Lift-off!" The soldier cried. The SSTO took off with a bang and zipped down the runway at an unbelievable speed.

"SSTO increasing speed!"

The SSTO passed a blue marker.

"SSTO passing Check Point One!"

The SSTO passed a second blue marker.

"Passing Check Point Two!"

The SSTO passed a third blue marker.

"Passing Check Point Three!"

Flying above the mass driver, I could see the SSTO moving like lightning. It would soon be in the air going towards the Arkbird. The white bird was in place, ready to receive the laser cannon. Then our mission would be over, and we could head on home to Sand Island. It sounded like heaven compared to right now.

The SSTO rocketed up the mass driver and into the clear blue sky up above us. It was an incredible sight.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

"SSTO status report!" The soldier requested.

"Everything's clear. All systems are go."

"Yeah, I'm seeing it now. It's a beautiful sight. This is great!"

"Observation room reporting. The SSTO is climbing smoothly. Congratulations."

"I wish we could take a picture of this for Genette," I said.

"What would the comment be on that one?" Chopper asked.

I spoke up voluntarily. "The white bird rose up once again, laser cannon in its wings. It was a moving sight. In my heart, though, I wished it didn't have to be used in war."

"Me neither..."

_____________________________________________________

Genette

"What the hell were you thinking?" I demanded when my sister's feet hit the ground. 

She looked up at me, knowing full well what I was referring to. Still, Blaze sounded genuinely confused when she said, "I have no idea."

Before I could berate her any further, Grimm strode over to us, questions rapidly falling off his tongue. "I wonder why they attacked the base in the first place. I mean, why not Sand Island again? Or a different base? Why that one? And you know, how did they know to attack today of all days when we're giving the Arkbird supplies?"

"It is weird. Makes it seem like there's a spy on the base," Blaze remarked.

"Should we say something?" Nagase asked, sidling up beside me. I gave her what I hoped was a friendly smile, not an 'I-hope-you-don't-remember-the-conversation-from-yesterday' smile. Nagase returned it.

"We don't have any proof," Blaze said dejectedly. 

"Hey, Genette, since we don't know why they attacked the base, how are you going to write this part of your book?" Chopper inquired, coming to stand behind Blaze. She leaned against his chest for a moment but quickly straightened when Pops came around the corner to check their planes.

"You're more obsessed with my book than I am," I said.

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I don't know... how about this." I cleared my throat. "None of them found out why the enemy targeted the base until much later. Of course, by that time, it was too late..."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "You and Nagase both have a knack for gloomy and ominous commentary. You two should consider dating."

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."

"We can talk about their love lives later," Blaze said, smirking at me and Nagase. "Let's get to the briefing. We can continue this conversation later."

None of us argued, and we hurried to the briefing room. The moment we sat down, the briefer began. "We prevented the Yuktobanian army from capturing the launch facility. The SSTO launch was successful. The SSTO docked with the Arkbird, which has descended into the upper atmosphere and successfully transferred a laser weapon module over to the craft. All the aircraft with the 108th Tactical Fighter Squadron and Sand Island detachment return to base as soon as rearming and refueling operations are complete."

When he finished, my friends dragged their feet to their rooms, exhausted by the day. None of them had been sleeping well, and with everything going on, I understood why. Not wanting to bother any of them, I went to my room to upload the pictures my friend at McNealy had promised me. I clicked through them, impressed at his photography abilities. I wondered if anyone caught him doing it. If they did, he didn't get reprimanded for it. If he had, I wouldn't have these pictures.

Someone knocked on the door, and I called out for them to come in. Nagase took a seat beside me, dressed in her pajamas. She scooted next to me and stared at the screen.

"These the photos your friend took?" She asked.

"Yeah. I'm creating a file for them right now. I'm organizing my photos by the date they were taken so I can keep an accurate, chronological timeline. Honestly, this file is the most organized thing in my life right now." I took a peek over my shoulder at my disheveled room. It wasn't horrible, but definitely not military standard clean. Being a journalist, I got away with breaking some of the rules.

Nagase grinned. "I won't hold it against you. Now come on, tell me about these photos."

"All right, but this might take a while."

She bumped me affectionately. "I know. I knew that before I came here and asked."

"Then, we should at least have some sustenance." I opened my drawer and pulled out some soda and snacks. Seeing her shock, I said, "I know a guy."

"Why do you know so many people willing to break the rules for you?"

"It's just a knack I have. Blaze does too. She doesn't use it as often for smuggling things, though."

"I don't even want to know."

"Promise it's nothing illegal. Unless soda and chips are on base," I said, sliding one over to her.

She happily took one. "Not illegal, but not cheap to have sent here. Your secret is safe with me. Now, the photos. Talk."