Ch 1
Space elevator, Erusea
Trigger gazed at the massive tower, remembering when he flew up inside the elevator itself. After the war, he was assigned to help occupy the country of Erusea. He and Queen Cossette got along fine, though he wanted to ask her out for a date. Problem was, he couldn't find the time to do so.
"This is bullshit. I can take on the arsenal bird and its drones, take on mister x, fly thru the space elevator, but I can't ask the queen for a date?" Trigger exclaimed aloud.
"Trigger, you need to be spontaneous. Just go out there and surprise her. What's the worst that can happen?" Avril asks.
"Problem is, I'm busy with CAP duties. And if I break off to talk to her, Long Caster will chew me out." Trigger said.
"I know how to help you win her." Avril said.
"How?" the ace asked.
"Meet me tonight in my room." Avril said.
That night, Trigger entered the 'scrap queen's' room and was tossed a notebook. Opening the book, he saw several poems and drawings. He noticed that many of the drawings were about the three strikes that adorned his fighter.
"Who's is this?" Trigger asked.
"Cossette's. She obviously has it in for you. I can't tell you how many times I'd catch her looking out her window, just to see you. She enjoys your acrobatics display. Turn to page 7." Avril said.
Trigger turned to the page and saw a large heart with three arrows pierced thru it. Underneath it, was written Three Strikes and the princess. Trigger didn't know whether to be flattered or not.
"Speak of the devil. You said you knew of a way to help me…" Trigger said, when an idea came to his head.
"I'll be flying a CAP tomorrow around the tower. I need to know the location of her office. And I need you to make sure she is looking out that window at 1030 hours." Trigger said.
"She's always looking out her window at that time. Here's the coordinates of her office. What do you have in mind?" Avril asked.
"Get everyone in the hanger. I'll need four red smoke canisters. I'll also need three air-to-air missiles armed for manual detonation that trail red smoke." Trigger said, as he ran to the hangers.
"How can you plot and run at the same time?" Avril asked.
In the hanger, Trigger and the rest of the squadron were busy getting his trademark Su-37 ready for the next mission. Trigger himself dubbed the mission 'operation grab the queen's heart'.
"You know, considering how capable we are in the cockpit, we pilots are terrible when it comes to making up names for missions." Count said.
In the tower, Rosa was looking out the window and saw the city that lay opposite of her. Every morning she heard the roar of jet fighters coming from the airport. To her, it was a reprieve from her job as the leader of Erusea.
"I hope you'll perform some of your stunts tomorrow." She muttered to herself, hoping that Trigger would hear her.
As the sun set, Trigger looked at the tower. The sight was remarkable. For a brief moment, he wished the princess was standing next to him. He clearly remembered Long Caster's advice.
"Take her to one of those Italian restaurants. They have good food. She'll love it." He said.
Trigger could only laugh. He was sure Long Caster knew first-hand about their food. They were all a bunch of hardened killers, and they were giving him advice to win the queen's heart.
"Sleep well, ma'am. Hope to see you tomorrow." He said.
Trigger woke up early. He headed to the hanger and checked his fighter with the deckhands.
"Well dumbass, here's hoping your mission is a success." Avril said, lifting a flask in salute and drank from it.
"I hope so." Trigger said, putting his helmet on. His nerves calmed down as he felt the engines wind up. He rolled down the tarmac and headed towards the tower.
Rosa saw Trigger fly next to the tower, the three strikes being shown. She watched as he performed several acrobatic stunts. She was always amazed at how he could force his plane into such stunts that seemed to defy the laws of physics.
With her eyes on Trigger, she watched as he activated smoke canisters and flew in the shape of a large heart. With the smoke turned off, he then fired three missiles into the 'heart'. The warheads detonated after passing thru the other side, showing three arrows piercing the heart.
She could only smile at the gesture. But she wondered how he knew. That was very similar to the drawing she put in her notebook.
"How did he know…" Rosa started, when she realized something. Avril stole the notebook right from under her nose.
"That little bitch." Rosa muttered. But she couldn't deny that Trigger made one hell of show for her. The phone rang, and she answered.
"Queen D'Elise." She said.
"It's Trigger. You want to go on a date? I've heard there's some good Italian restaurants in the city across from you." He said.
"Sure thing, Trigger. But I'm in the mood of a French restaurant. I'll send you the coordinates. How about tonight? 9PM." She replied.
"2100 hours. Got it. I might be arriving in my jet. I'll be flying another sortie later in the afternoon. I'll be sure to pack some dress clothes." Trigger said.
"I'll be the woman in the red dress." Rosa said.
"Look forward to it. Out." Trigger said, shutting the comms off.
Rosa put the phone away and watched as Trigger pulled the nose upward and shot up like a rocket.
"YEAH!" He shouted in excitement.
"Control yourself, Trigger. You don't want to wreck before your date." Long Caster advised.