FLIGHT 1: BARS AND SKY
DRAKOU'S DOUJINSHI PRESENTS
AN INSPIRATION FROM THE SERIES "GIRLS UND PANZER" AND "WAR THUNDER"
RAIDEN SENSOU - BLITZKRIEG PROJEKT
"THE SKY IS NEVER TO OLD TO FLY"
"2009,
Okinawa, 30 miles to the West of Naha.
Between the layers of white clouds, a squadron of four A6M5 Reisens flew in the arrowhead formation. At the third fighter from the left, the pilot calls his teammates:
"Stick together and watch your six! Thach might weave his net against us!" (Note: "Thach Weave" - American famous dogfighting technique in World War II)
"Roger!" as the remaining pilots answered. One with the grey hair, one with black and a girl with a long purple hair. Following the leader, the squadron slowly goes down to 3000 feet instead of 4500 like the previous. The speed is now at 565 km/h and the wing leader advises his wingmen:
"Into the cruise speed! The Reisens' wings might be torn apart if we dive too fast!"
"Roger!" the fighters start decreasing the engines' rpm down to prevent possible breakdowns during combat. After some time scouting down, the black haired pilot saw a squadron flying against his direction. He immediately reports:
"Americans. At 1500 feet above the sea!"
The wing leader feels worried a little bit. Due to too distant altitudes, it could be a suicide if he rush his squadron down to the hostile aircraft. Having gotten a solution, he orders:
"Circle around their back. Nice and easy!"
The Japanese Zeroes carefully glides down with the minimal engine power to prevent the noises which could make the hostiles aware of their appearance. At 2400 feet, the speed meter is now at 520 km/h. Wing leader commands:
"Turn the flaps on! Prepare to dive!"
The wingmen execute the order. The squadron of nine American fighters - all are P-40-E1 Warhawks. Looking to the formation, wing leader advises his pilots:
"Right wing VIP! Ryukou, cover me! Date, give the fire support! Azuma take the spotter!"
"Roger!" three wingmen reply. Immediately, four A6M5 Reisens dive down toward the enemies, the speed meter gradually reaches 530...540...550...560...570...then 580 km/h, still in the safe IAS ("Indicated Airspeed" - Aircraft speed indicator). When the distance with the cruising American fighters is now only 900 feet, wing leader shouts:
"Ute!"
A barrage of hundreds bullets from both 7.7 mm MGs and 20 mm cannons aims into the nearest Curtiss aircraft, shooting down all of them in a second. After this surprise, the Americans starts pursuing their enemies. The Zero squadron splits into half, forcing the Eagles doing the same if they don't want someone unfriendly above or behind their asses. The Browning M3s spray mercilessly into the Japanese fighters, but their inaccuracy helped the agile Reisens to dodge easily. At the right wing, one Zero rises high. Following the habit, the American pilot aims for the rising one first. But, a rain of bullets at 5 tore the tail of the Warhawk apart from its body, soon losing the altitude. From behind, the Zero aims for another hostile, but Fortune smiled upon the American pilot, he missed. Seeing the backstabber, one Warhawk pilot leaves the pursuit back to his teammate while himself chases that Japanese pilot for the payback. The Brownings spray fiercely from behind, making the grey haired Zero pilot to call:
"I can't shake him!"
BOOM!
Then, another attack into the Warhawk, shooting it down in seconds. From behind the Japanese pilot, he saw his teammate flying above with a voice on the radio:
"Nearly dead, right brother?"
He smirks:
"Thanks for your help!"
"Check my six!"
The grey haired pilot looks into his teammates' tail. Spotting two Warhawks closely behind, he quickly turns the rod and try to cross the American at his eleven. Seeing a Zero flying toward him, that pilot has to turn right, but accidentally exposes the weakness of his fighter - the belly. Taking the chance, that Reisen fires.
RATATA! RATATA! BOOM!
After the strike, the fuel tank of the Curtiss fighter set afire, pulling the pilot inside the cockpit rolling down to the sea. Still one left, the Japanese pilot turns back after retracting the flaps to speed up. Shooting behind the teammate is dangerous, he asks for his friend:
"Dive to fire! Dive to fire!"
Knowing the idea, the black haired pilot dives his fighter down. The American pilot smiles:
"You're no match for Warhawk in diving!"
But he didn't realize a trap is waiting for him from the Japanese, not just running as he thought...
RATATA! RATATA!
A barrage of shells ripped the P-40's ailerons out of the tail, forcing its nose down into the water. Seven Americans down. Regrouping with his teammate, the grey haired pilot asks:
"Where's Chief and Chihiro?"
After a quick observation, the black haired pilot points his hand:
"Over here!"
At the nine, two Reisens are under heavy fire from the surviving American fighters. The grey haired orders his wingman:
"At eight! Into their tails!"
"Hai!" Answered by his friend. Two A6M5s quickly approaches the hostiles at their 8'. When the distance is 1200 feet left, the Japanese Zeroes fire.
RATATA! RATATA! RATATA!
They shot one Warhawk down with its tail cut loose, also scaring off the another off the chase. After then, the wing leader regroups his squadron. He comments:
"Good job, you two!"
But the danger is still lurking for the Japanese. From behind, the surviving Warhawk gains his altitude back, the tail of the grey haired pilot's Reisen under the American's aim now. The Japanese teammate quickly warns the would-be victim:
"Kuro-kun, watch out!"
That pilot turns back. He's now only hearing the gunfire...
RATATA! RATATA! RATATA!"
Naha Jail, Okinawa.
The prisoners are eating lunch at the mess hall under the strict surveillance of guards and cameras. Though the set of rules is strict, but the inmates are still allowed to talk. The recent topic is:
"Did you hear that "Gyumao" ("Minotaur" or "Ox King" in Japanese) is suffering from aerophobia?"
"Who cares?"
"I'd just heard the wardens had changed his room down to the ground! Rumors said he had begged them much!"
"So? Let's teach him a lesson at the highest floor someday!"
"Shh..." one prisoner interrupts "Here he comes!"
From the entrance, there's a teenage boy with the gray colored hair and the arrogant red eyes. Bringing his tray into the food counter, he senses the prisoners are peeking him. After getting his food, the boy finds an empty table and eats in silence. Two inmates continues after seeing that young man:
"Just like an autistic bastard! Why everyone have to evade him?"
"Don't bullshit!" the next one replies "He'd found himself in here because he had killed an exceptional Kenjutsu master accidentally during the duel! Besides, in The Brotherhood, he's only lower than his boss!"
A Yakuza underboss, eh? No one ever seen such a young man like him to be one of the highest ranking inside one of renown crime family. Also beating to death a Kenjutsu master, so that teenage boy could kill them all easily. Better not to mess with that dangerous one, those inmates have no choice but to cancel their plan bullying that young boy. But, they didn't notice that all of their words are going into that boy's ears, too. As he silently lurks his eyes into those backs then return to his lunch. After few minutes, a warden steps into the mess hall, coming to the teenage prisoner with some words to him:
"Ryukou! You have your friend visiting!"
Hearing that, the boy tries eating as fast as he could to meet his friend with a full belly.
...
In the meeting chamber, at the other side of the glass is a black haired teenager who shares the same age with the young inmate who has "Ryukou" surname. Grabbing the phone, the visitor asks first:
"You're good, Kuro-kun?"
"Just as you're seeing me now!" said the prisoner "Anyway, did my sister know that I'm staying here?"
Feeling happy since his friend is still at his best shape, that friend answers the question:
"I'd told her that you're now studying at America and will come home next year! Besides, I'd heard Sempai will send some eyes to cover her, you're just resting here until you get an amnesty!"
Maybe that's the worst worry of the prisoner. But now everything is set, he feels relieved. Transferring to his friend a package of presents after the check of the warden, the visiting friend leaves some words for the inmate:
"Be good, Kuro-kun!"
"You too, brother!" answers the prisoner.
Then the visit ends. Return to his cell which has an iron bed, a toilet, a sink and an electronic cooker at the corner and a small table. Comparing to the other cells, this has more convenience than. Opening the bag, which contains few tubes of toothpaste, instant curry rice, cold pills, sedative,.etc. Also a letter with the name "Ryukou Ruko" as the sender. Smiles, the teenage prisoner reads it:
"It's cold these days, so I had sent you some cold pills. If you're catching cold, just drink some and rest well! Hoping for your best health to finish your study!
Little sister,
Ruko-chan."
Feels a little embarrassing, but at least she didn't know her brother's recent situation right now. Taking a cup of noodle out, the inmate cooks it before eating. Not as good as his sister's cooked rice, but at least it's enough for warming him.
...
Till the noon, while the young prisoner is relaxing on his bed, a warden from the outside puts a leaflet into his cell. Feeling curious, he picks it up. It's a recruitment note:
"JAPANESE TORIDO ASSOCIATE HONORABLY WELCOMES
ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH AIRPLANES?
LET'S RISE THE WIND ON THE BACK OF THE STEEL BIRDS!
JOINING TORIDO - WAY OF BIRD, IS TRAINING YOURSELF TO BE A MODERN MAN/WOMAN.
TEMPER LIKE ENGINES, AGILE LIKE WINGS AND STRONG AS GUNS AND CANNONS.
JOINING TORIDO, YOU WILL BE THE ACCOMPLISHED AND RESPONSIBLE MAN/WOMAN, A CARING FATHER, A KIND MOTHER AND ALSO BECOME A MODEL TO THE PEOPLE
JOIN TORIDO - FOR TODAY!"
The prisoner floats his reading down to the registration form. That's strange since a prison like this also sending the leaflets to the prisoners since they're having much more potential places at the public. Analyzing the details, the young inmate guesses if this Torido has some kind of amnesty for him. Taking the chance to be free, he immediately fills in the blank on the paper with his pencil on the table:
"Full name: 龍子黒鉄 (Ryukou Kurogane)
Date of birth: May, 12th, 1994
Place of origin: Naha, Okinawa
Grade of education: Junior high school"
After finishes the registration, he puts it into his pocket. Waiting till the break down at the information room, the boy named "Kurogane" puts it into the mailbox. While reading some books, he sees the mailman coming to take the letters, including the Torido registration forms which being contained inside a bag with the winged emblem attached on it. He looks into that bag closely, since there's not so many letters inside. So, he doesn't need to worry much if Torido have a small test of selection.
...
Two days later at Naha Air - Navy Complex, Okinawa.
Kurogane remembers two days ago, he's only sent the registration into Torido. And today, he receives an invitation. Standing on the airway with the strong wind blowing through his face, the boy feels lucky for not wearing the prison outfit. Inside the rank of recruits, there's someone which makes Kurogane surprised. No doubt, it's his friend who'd just visited him before. Standing before the applicants, one pilot introduces himself:
"My name is Teshigawara Hayate, squadron leader of this Torido base! Today, you guys will have to pass a health inspection to make sure you can step on a plane or not. If you fail to be a pilot, you could be at the ground crew, however. And don't sweat it, victory depends on teamwork!"
After the introduction, the applicants undergo a health inspection, including weights, heights, blood pressure and sample testing,.etc. But, the hardest hitting one, must be the G-tolerance test. Looking to the previous applicants who are still suffering from disorientation due to high G sustained, Kurogane feels worried a little. When his name being called, the young applicant gets inside the black ball with a small monitor indicating the number of G force. When everything ready, the squadron leader turns the centrifuge on with the status of the applicant being monitored carefully by both him and the doctors. Passing 5G, that boy still good though a little nervous due to a small increase in his heartbeats. Slowly increasing into 6, 7 and 8G. The centrifuge rotates faster which makes Kurogane feels his world spinning like hell, but no strange signs appear. At the rate of 10G, the wing leader surprised with that young applicant could endure since the other ones might falling unconscious now. After a quick consult with the doctors, Hayate turns into 11G. Seeing the number jumps into 12G, Kurogane feels something ill inside his body, also his face seems swelling. Into 13 and 14G, this situation goes worse, the young applicant starts losing his conscious along with many other symptoms like nausea and losing his eye sight and his throat seems freezing. At 15G, Kurogane goes blackout totally. Seeing the subject faints inside the chamber after 5 seconds at 15G, Hayate immediately stops the centrifuge. When the acceleration goes down, Kurogane returns to his consciousness, although he's now having a bad headache and feeling dizzy, now. The door opens, he tries stepping out with the help of other applicants. Help him sitting on the chair, Kurogane's friend asks:
"Kuro-kun, can you see me?"
Though everything inside his vision turns like hell, but he's still conscious to nod though his head seems to lean into another side:
"Hai!" said the young prisoner "But a little dizzy!"
Hayate looks into the record of that recent applicant. With 15G endured in 5 seconds, it probably inhuman at this age. There's still many people ready to break the record, so the wing leader returns to his work. But, that's enough with Kurogane since a pilot needs a high G tolerance to perform aerial maneuvers during dogfight. As the standards, one man with 7G sustained in 15 seconds is a must if he want to be a fighter pilot. But this teenager...unbelievable.
The health inspection passes without any problems, so the applicants are now gather at the mess hall for lunch and also wait for the final result. Having a chance to talk now, Kurogane starts it with his friend:
"I don't know that you're joining Torido, brother!"
That friend smiles:
"The leaflet said I would have a total scholarship which convinced me to join! About you, did they promise that you will get amnesty right?"
Kurogane nods. His friend sympathizes with that. Being locked up inside that iron cage, so better to stay in the military. But Torido relates to Air force, which means he and Kurogane might rule the whole sky by their wings. But, that friend remembers something, he says to Kurogane:
"But, isn't that you're suffering from aerophobia? Then how could you be a pilot?"
Kurogane knows it well, but Torido is the only way to get him free. It forces him to face his own fear. Who could know if the squadron leader might change him into the ground crew after realizing this? Though not flying, but still in Torido, and Kurogane might get an amnesty if he finish the program.
Minutes later, Teshigawara posts the result into the bulletin board and the list of students being arranged according to their health reports. The applicants quickly gather to see their names, including both Kurogane and his friend. The black haired friend gets inside first...
"Date...Soujirou...Pilot!"
Then, he hops in joy. Next is Kurogane, but after searching for a while, his face pales along the cold sweats. This makes Soujirou asking him:
"You didn't see your name?"
Kurogane shakes his head. Instead, he points into the list: "Ryukou Kurogane - Pilot"
Just as Murphy's law, Kurogane was being chose into a position he's feared for due to his aerophobia. Sitting inside the new classroom which wing leader Hayate is the intructor, the projector starts working. On the screen, the history of Japanese air force and World War II dogfighting slowly projects. Throughout the history, the renown fighters like Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusha, Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate, Kawanishi N1K and specially Mitsubishi A6M Reisen also known as "Zero",.etc. Except Kurogane, every new pilots are hoping for the day they could step inside those fighters and become an ace. After the introduction, the young instructor digs deeper into the aim of this session and tactics, basic maneuvers for the rookie pilots about dogfighting. Stopping for a while, he sees Kurogane snoring during his class.
"Ryukou!" said the instructor.
Surprised, the new pilot stands up. Looking to that worrying manner, Hayate makes sure that Ryukou loses his concentration into the class. He asks:
"Could you please tell me about "Thach Weave"?"
Biting his lips, Kurogane turns into Soujirou, who's carefully writing what on the screen. His friend giving him a hand sign like weaving. Thinking that's the answer, he says:
"Sir, "Thach Weave" means...Thach...weaving!"
The class laughs on him. Teshigawara punishes:
"Twenty times about "Thach Weave"!"
Kurogane sitting down with a facepalm, it's his fault for not focusing. Leaning into his friend, Soujirou whispers:
"I will lend you my notebook later!"
After spending time inside the classroom, the rookie pilots go to the airfield where the planes are waiting for them. They are all surprised with what they're seeing: Fighters of World War II, as good as new. Teshigawara introduces:
"These planes were coated with bulletproof fire resistant carbon and also a safety autopilot in case of losing control or can't chuting out! Keep it online for your best sake. Falling down from thousands feet could be really hurt!"
Then, he starts distributing the aircraft for the new pilots. Kurogane feels scared into sweats, Soujirou comforts:
"Don't worry so much! Just following the Teshigawara-sensei and everything will be safe!"
He's right, but. But thinking about the height if he's looking down from the planes, Kurogane pales. In his mind, a sense of uncontrollable floating between the clouds and suddenly falling down from the altitude of 4 digits. Looking to that teenage rookie, Hayate calls:
"Ryukou Kurogane!"
The aerophobic rookie shakes his body in shock when hearing his name. With Soujirou's aid, he steps forward. Looking to that sweaty face, the instructor says:
"You go on the Nakajima B5N2!"
Kurogane gulps and reluctantly takes his position. Checking the list for a while, Hayate continues:
"Date will take the control!"
Kurogane sighs as a relief. At least he's not the main pilot.
...
Sitting inside the cockpit, Soujirou checks the system before taking off, to make sure all safety measures are online as the instructor said during the class. Kurogane takes the machine gun, this bomber must have another one acting as the crew's spotter and bomb aimer. Closing the cockpit, Soujirou turns back to his friend with some words comforting him:
"Take a deep breath for yourself! Let the flying to me, you just keep calm and fire the ones chasing our tail!"
Easy to say, but not when doing so since Kurogane keeps sweating cold due to his imagination of flying high. Going to the runway, the fighters gradually take off, Soujirou turns on the propeller. The Nakajima B5N2 slowly leaves the asphalt runway with the hangars are now going far away. Raising the flaps, Soujirou leaves the altitude rising for the autopilot to look at his friend, Kurogane. That boy shivers with his jaws grinning tight. Kurogane's scared! Terrible! As the B5N2 goes higher, so does his aerophobia. When the roofs below are as small as the squares inside the notebooks, that fear reaches its highest. Kurogane struggles to keep himself calm, being fluttered during flight is not a good idea at all. He loses control of his heartbeats, can't keep it. Taking out a pack of non-drowsing sedative, Soujirou gives it to Kurogane. Quickly, he drops two tablets into his throat and uses his saliva to swallow them. Soujirou feels worried about the possible side effects that the pills could give against his friend. After a deep breath, Kurogane gets back his confidence. After some minutes of mess, the B5N2 is now at 3000 feet. Looking to the floating white clouds through the windows, the aerophic pilot feels his gut is rising by fear. Maybe after this flight, Kurogane needs to find a psychiatrist or apply to change his position into the ground crew, maybe. During no hostiles appear in the radius of 800 meters, Soujirou says:
"It's so hard to be the one with high G, right Kuro-kun? Being chose into your worst feared position!"
A talk during this time might soothe the fear, Kurogane thanks for that. He replies:
"Maybe after this mess, I will change to the ground! Flying maybe not the one I'm good at!"
Soujirou agrees. An aerophobic pilot is useless even how high the G force he could sustain. Intending to continue the small talk, something calls the pilot to return to his position. Looking around, both Kurogane and Soujirou hear strange engines from behind. The gunner looks into the clouds, where two Mitsubishi A5M charge into the the B5N2. Soujirou immediately orders:
"Kuro-kun, grab the gun!"
Immediately, Kurogane backs to his position. The machine gun is now ready for battle, Soujirou turns into manual control and lowers the altitude for speeding up, also creating space for his gunner firing into the hostiles. Two A5Ms split with one into the left through that pilot's vision while the rest keeps tailing the torpedo bomber. Soujirou calmly tries evading the flanking fighter by turning right. But, with the speed being too slow comparing to the chasing fighters.
They're quickly catch up and fire the machine guns at the distance of 550 meters. The bullets screech through the cockpit, forcing Kurogane to retaliate. But, his fear soon returns not in the right time, making his hands shiver and can't focus his aim. One machine gun doesn't make enough sense against four firing counterparts from behind, and lesser efficiency with the hand of an aerophobic gunner.
RATATA! ZAP!
Suddenly, a barrage of bullets hit into the cockpit, which discharges an electrical shock into the pilot. Being electrified, Soujirou goes unconscious, leading the aircraft into losing control and falling down under the expect from the hostiles that it was shot down. Turning back, Kurogane sees his brother out cold and the altitude is falling at an alarming rate. In this urgent, taking the control, or the aircraft will lose its wings, or crash down to the ground. Struggles with his own fear, Kurogane takes the control rod and pull it up.
The B5N2 gains the altitude back, with now at 2000 feet at sea level, the gunner turns on the autopilot to stabilize it. But from the 5 and 7 o' clock, two fighters attack him once again, Kurogane has to turn left, then into the right to evade the bullets. With the shake like this, Soujirou gains his consciousness back. He sees his friend controlling the aircraft with full of his attention with his hands holding tight the control. "That's Kuro-kun!" thought Soujirou, he's happy that Kurogane has suppressed his fear of flying. He says:
"I'm ok, now!"
Then, the gunner leaves the control back for his pilot friend. Taking the MG hard and full of anger, Kurogane aims the tailing fighters down to his iron sight with his grinning jaws:
"Fuck you..."
He presses the trigger. The bullets from the Nakajima bomber pass the propeller and hit into the engine of the 11 o' clock A5M, smoking it. Nonstop, Kurogane keeps firing into that leak, with his concentrated aiming into that shaking head.
BOOM!
Its engine explodes and fire comes out. Can't control his plane anymore, that pilot has to chute out. Losing his teammate, the survivor tries to take down the gunner at all cost. Turning his gun into that firing A5M, Kurogane presses his trigger. After a while, Soujirou heads the bomber down. Not to escape, he puts the flaps on and turns backward. This action intentionally leaves the fighter exposing its belly.
"Kuro-kun!" shouted Soujirou.
Kurogane raises his sight swiftly and fires. With dozens of bullets, the belly of the A5M being pierced with the fuel leaking through. Can't continue fighting like this, the Mitsubishi fighter leaves the battlefield. The Nakajima bomber, with the half of its fuselage and the upper side of both wings being shot terribly. Fortunately, the tail with the ailerons are still in one piece with few scratches on its paint. Checking the ammo, Kurogane sees there're not enough to be 300 bullets, that's his fault during his aerophobia wasted lots of ammunition. The situation is ok now, he asks Soujirou:
"Go home?"
"Go home!" Soujirou nods.
Then, the B5N2 returns to the runway with the landing flaps, needs a lot of time to come home, too. Looking down, the crew sees lots of pilots sitting on the vehicles towing their wrecks for the repair. Looking to the final aircraft going home, they cheer for its return. Landing down the Nakajima bomber, Soujirou tries his best to deal with this damaged aircraft. Fortunately, it goes smoothly. When the cockpit opens, the pilots and ground crews congratulate them for the first victory on the bomber against two fighters who are specialized in aerial fighting. Teshigawara sensei admits:
"The performance of you two surprised me!"
Then, he turns to Ryukou with a question:
"Still fear of flying?"
"But...but how could you know that...?" Kurogane didn't get it how the instructor know that.
"I'd known that from the start when ordering you taking the Nakajima!" Hayate shrugs with a smile "Anyway, do you want to change your position into ground crew?"
Kurogane turns in to Soujirou. The pilot smiles, he's respects what his friend decide. But now, the aerophobia was being suppressed, the gunner feels relieved now. After a while thinking, he strongly decides:
"Just gimme a fighter for my own, Sensei!"
Hayate awaits for that answer. For real, if Kurogane choose the ground crew, he would waste his potential of the exceptional G tolerance. Nodding with satisfaction, he says:
"Just continue my class tomorrow. And focus into the lessons, will you?"
...
"That's my history!
The time when I was flying on the fighters of "Torido"! Sensei taught me how to suppress my fear. But he couldn't do that with my aerophobia! But, thanks to Teshigawara sensei, I'd passed through my own fear!
It's too late, everyone! You two have to be at school tomorrow!
But Oka-san, Oto-san is telling us his story! Please, let us hearing more!
Come on, honey! Don't you see their eyes are glittering?
Then tell the story fast! I'm getting little brother going to bed first!
Sleep well, you two! And...they're went to bed!
Please, Oto-san! Tell more about your tale!
Oh, I'd forgot it! Where did I told you two?
That's when you're flying with Soujirou-san!
Ah, Soujirou-san! That time, when I was the gunner at the Nakajima bomber..."
