[Location]
A Border Town in Delarus
[Date]
November 25th, 2005
Chapter 1: A Brother in Arms, Glacial Skies.
"Oh, him? Haha, yeah I know him... It's going to take a while. It was years ago." He said, holding his gun close. He hunched over, looking away from the camera. "Did you know there are three aces? Those who seek strength, those who seek pride, and those who can read the tides of battle. Those are the three. And him? He was a true ace." He said and chuckled. "It was a cold and snowy day..."
April 2nd, 1995
We were going on our very first mission ever since we started out in the Ustio Mercenary Unit in the army, and now, it was my turn to claim the skies. My name is Hale Airis Raielle, or as they call me here, Cipher, and I am one of the few females in the army. We were just given our orders and lifted off from the runway, approaching our allies and enemies. "There are at least seventeen enemies, be sharp!" My wingman, Pixy, said to me through the radio. I smiled,
"Don't get yourself killed!" I said with a grin. Pixy laughed and as we quickly caught up to the others. Pixy was an amazing man, he landed his F-15 Eagle even with the wing blown off, which is where he got the name Solo Wing Pixy.
"Its base command. Galm 1, Galm 2, prepare to intercept." AWACS said. You know, I still have no idea what the hell AWACS means...
"You better have our pay waiting." Pixy said. I was known as Galm 1 in the 66th Air Division, 6th Air Unit.
"That's if we get through this alive." I said, flying close to Pixy in my J35J Draken. Although he was hard to keep up with, with this tiny jet, but he surely did not have as much experience as I do. Quite frankly, I was well known among Ustio for my skills in the sky.
"You better get us through this, flight leader." Pixy said.
"Galm Team, shoot down all enemy bombers. Don't let them get to our base." AWACS said. "Galm 2, follow orders from Galm 1. Free engagement is prohibited during this operation."
"Roger. Awaiting your orders, Cipher. You're Galm 1 now." Pixy said. I chuckled.
"Roger that." I said.
"No problems here." Part of the Ustio Squadron said. I flew passed them, anxious to get going, but also to tease them, since they were going slow. They seemed a little annoyed, glaring at me through their thick goggles. I frowned and went on my way, Pixy by my side.
"Hahaha, don't play around Cipher." Pixy laughed. I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Cipher, I've heard stories about you. That pride is going to get you killed, you know." He said. I shook my head and cocked a brow.
"Pride? Right." I said. I knew I was probably the best fighter here. I knew that even in this tiny pathetic plane, I could probably even beat Pixy. I do have pride in my planes and the people who created them, but the tides of battle will decide itself. I chuckled and shook my head again.
"Let's get this job over with and suck up a little hot wine." Another from the squadron said.
"I bet you… I can suck up more wine then any of you men here." I said and grinned.
"Sounds like a challenge." The man chuckled. "You're on."
Eventually we caught up to the enemy bombers and I clicked on my radio. "This is Galm 1 to Galm 2, do you read me? Engage in enemy combat, shoot down the enemy bombers." I said and went out.
"Roger that, lemme at 'em." Pixy said. One of the enemy fights shot a missile, and all my gauges flashed red. "Missile on your tail, break! Break!" Pixy yelled. I yawed to the side and it hit the bomber I was going after.
"That was so my kill." I said and laughed.
"One enemy bomber down, continue with the operation. Second enemy bomber down, stay sharp out there!" The Ustio control tower was a running commentary as I hit the next bomber beside it. Sheesh, it was like they were gathering up two in a row so I can hit them all with missiles, they couldn't possible be so suicide.
"Its all over for the Ustio's." An enemy aircraft said. I ignored this, knowing I could take them down with ease.
"Third enemy bomber down." The control tower called as Pixy took one out.
"I hope they're careful with the bombs when they hit the ground." Pixy said. I cocked a brow and said nothing.
"This is Otto 5; IFF is out of commission, unable to carry out duty. Retreating from combat airspace." An enemy bomber said.
"One of the bombers has left the battlefront. Guess he chickened out." One of our allies said. I laughed, I should probably go after it, but he was already wounded and I didn't want to kill him.
"Why would he leave after getting this far?" Pixy asked. "Fox two." He said, then took out the enemy bomber I was going for.
"Augh! That was mine!" I whined. Pixy laughed and went for another.
"Escort planes, back us up. We don't want any fighters on our tails." A bomber said. We twisted and swirled in the skies, taking out enemy escort planes with ease. The F-4E's that they drove were easily taken out. And the bombers were BM-335's, slow moving and easy kills.
"Watch out, the enemy is locked on to you! Missile, missile!" Pixy yelled as my gauges went red and beeped crazy again. I sighed and flew to the side again as the missile took out my enemy bomber.
"This is so no fun." I mumbled. I've only taken out a few because all the others hog them! I went for another and quickly shot two missiles at it, taking it down.
"Galm 1 shot down a bandit!" Pixy said. I smiled, happy with my kill finally when I just realized some other enemy planes were driving F-4E Dryade's. "I don't have time for that, it's every man for himself." Pixy said to the fact that I was too 'slow' at taking down others.
"Looks like Galm 2 is going to steal the show again." One of our squadron whined. I was a little annoyed with the fact that he was such a hotshot. Ugh. "They'll talk about us for years if we can take these guys out." An Ustio said. That could be arranged. I was quickly distracted by a F-5E that passed by. I ignored it, even though it was locked on to me. I shot one down, and then turned to another bomber.
"There's only one left!" Pixy said, noticing I was heading for it. I quickly shot two missiles, and then dodged a missile on me.
"Mission accomplished! Good job everyone!" The tower said. I ignored the rest until Pixy clicked in.
"I have a good feeling we're gonna get along just fine." He said. "Buddy." And with that, that was the beginning of my first nickname.
When we returned to base, they celebrated and welcomed us back. None of us were shot down, and best of all, we got our pay. Our first mission was successful.
When we returned to the base, we landed successfully and our friends greeted us. I smiled and jumped out of my cockpit, taking my helmet off and letting my bun fall out into a ponytail. When Pixy jumped out of his Eagle, he looked at me and gawked. "Cipher? You're a chick?" He said. I laughed.
"Is that hard to believe?" I said and walked over to him, holding out my hand. "You did great today. Buddy." I said and smiled. He smiled back and shook my hand.
"You did too. Now what do ya say, a good drink for new comrades?" Pixy asked and grinned. I let his hand go and grinned, happy at the sound of that.
"I still have to beat you men at drinking, of course!" I said and we walked back to the base, our friends hanging on us and congratulating us.
This would be one long night.
"It all started on that snowy day, my first impression was... He had potential."