"Ribbon"
Chapter 2: Reprieve
The four squadrons that were deployed for this morning's mission were all a part of the Osean Air Defense Force's 10th Air Division. The different squadrons under this division were all unique in the manner that everyone was restricted to calling each other only by their call signs, even on the ground. Along with this restriction, there was also an unwritten policy that states that these pilots need not know the backgrounds of their fellow comrades. For obvious reasons, it can be assumed that the members of the 10th Air Division were comprised of pilots hailing mostly from Osea, with the exception of a few members.
The 5th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Fang" is comprised of four pilots who defected from the Belkan Air Force at the onset of the war and were put into the service of the OADF; the only squadron, as well as the only group of pilots comprised of Belkans. Many truly doubted where their allegiances lay at first, as these four pilots were rumored to have small criminal records prior to joining the military and the fact that they were former members of the Belkan Air Force. With their co-operative flying styles and their drive to find their place among their new allies, they've received the praise and trust among other pilots that they truly deserved.
The 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Gull" is simply made up of only two members, and despite what many say about how they are able to work with each other, both pilots are in no way related through blood (though they've been known to joke about the matter sometimes). These two pilots met each other as roommates and graduated with top honors at their academy. They work so closely together to the point where the newer pilots still believe that they have developed a form of telepathy with each other.
The 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Swan" consists of two pilots that have been dating for an unspecified amount of time. This pair usually goes up for quick air-to-ground missions where their modified F-16Cs strike targets in only one pass that covers a large area. The team's leader was known more for his air-to-ground aggressiveness, while his wingman was known for her ability to provide very close air support as well as a high level of proficiency in aerial engagements. Their style of teamwork has led many to nickname them as the "Swan Couple" instead of the Swan Team.
Finally, the 1st Tactical Fighter Squadron "Hound" has been in service since the formation of the OADF's 10th Air Division along with the now defunct 2nd and 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadrons. This squadron has also seen limited action in the Rectan War several years back, primarily only for reconnaissance missions.
Hound One is the last surviving member of the original five members of the squadron, and as such, he keeps with him many of the memories of the "good ol' days." He essentially fits the stereotype of the loud, proud war veteran, and he's just about as lively as he must have been back then…at least, as far as I've known him.
Hound Two was called the Prodigy at the end of his first mission for the OADF. He is a known mercenary hailing from Directus, the capital city of Ustio, currently under control by Belka. The man himself wasn't quite the sociable type, so no one could really tell what went through his head. Maybe his unnatural skill in being able to handle a large variety of fighter jets in his time said a lot more for what kind of person he is than what little he actually says. Of course, it's never a good idea to judge a book by its cover, and that's what makes him a mystery.
And me? I'm just a fighter pilot, call sign Hound Three.
April 17, 1995
Vaud Air Force Base
2100 hours
"There's no other place like home."
I've barely been assigned to this base just yesterday, and I never would've imagined that I'd have been sent up to the skies just the next morning. It's just like being the new kid in the neighborhood or the new kid at school: there's a certain level of anxiety and nervousness every new kid has to go through, and that's certainly not coming from combat stress. Still, just like that new kid, he's gotta be able to make some friends some time.
Debriefing still felt like I was still up fighting in the air; it was intense and it gave me that feeling where an alarm would just go off somewhere. The Base Commander isn't quite the friendly superior as I knew he wouldn't be, yet he gave me a compliment on the side about how impressive my flying was today. A lot of the other pilots I went up with today extended their welcomes as well as their congratulations to me today. Soon enough, I found myself at home in the company of people I can easily trust. It was that, or I've been drinking too much.
The video recording of Hound Two's final kill in the operation today was pretty impressive. Of course, it was pretty hard to figure out exactly what Hound Two did from the view inside his cockpit, and that added some suspense mixed with a few cheers upon the destruction of the enemy craft. Fortunately, Fang Four managed to record the whole maneuver, which was quite impressive and even earned quite the number of rewinds and replays by popular demand. On the video, the Belkan fighter was originally giving chase to Hound Two. The chasing plane then fired a missile, but Hound Two suddenly broke left to avoid the missile, and began to go around the plane and had successfully managed to execute a perfect circle-strafe maneuver with his aircraft to take down the enemy fighter in only fifteen rounds of machine gun fire. The maneuver itself was thought to have been impossible, and that earned Hound Two a lot of merit.
Hound Two took a bottle given to him by the Captain himself and downed it quickly before giving a smile as he was given recognition. Everyone then turned to me.
"Now this man right here," began Fang One, "he's the one who got me back here alive. So I want to thank him for it, and give him the credit that he deserves. So how about we give this rookie a damn good welcome?"
"I agree! Let's all give a warm welcome to the rookie who did exceptionally well on his first sortie…Hound Three!" declared Captain, beaming and pleased with himself…and maybe a little inebriated.
Everyone present started giving me a loud round of applause, with a few even raising up their bottles in my direction. I felt a little embarrassed and just simply raised my bottle towards Hound One and Hound Two, and nodded. I couldn't help but grin; it felt good to be given praise by the others who were much more experienced than me. Gull One and Gull Two ruffled my hair and gave me quite the hard slap on my back, which almost caused me to fall over forward.
Soon enough, the small party was over, and mostly everyone began to head off to get some much-needed sleep. As I headed back to my quarters, I was startled when someone tapped my shoulder from behind me. I then turned around quickly and saw Swan Two there, smiling with her hand extended towards me.
"Congratulations," she simply said.
I took her hand and shook it. "Thanks, and thanks again for the assistance this morning," I said, to which she chuckled.
"You know, you're the first person who's admitted that I helped you score a kill," she then said. "Everyone else doesn't like the fact that they've been helped out by a woman. But you, on the other hand…"
"I've got no problems with it, honestly," I then said. "All I want is for everyone here to be able to come home to their families safe and sound when this war's over."
A small smile then formed on her face. "Mmm, I'd like that too, and I like where your mind's set."
I couldn't help but smile at that comment.
"You know, you have a lot of potential," she then said. "Make the best out of what you have, and don't let go of what you believe in. I think you have what it takes to survive."
"Yeah, I hope we can all survive this," I then said, trying to hide a bit of sorrow from my voice. "If it hadn't been for that reinforcement showing up, then I don't think I'd have survived that encounter."
"Oh yeah, the talk of the base, right?" wondered Swan Two. "Mobius, was it?"
"Do you know anything about him?" I asked.
"Not much. I've heard he's a mercenary pilot flying a Raptor."
"A Raptor?"
"You know, the F-22 'Raptor.' Said to be one of the most advanced air superiority fighters to date," she replied quickly.
"Hmm…wonder how it feels to fly one?" I then said.
"Well you never know, you just might experience it. When you do, let me know," Swan Two replied. She then began to walk away. "I'll see you around, alright hotshot?"
"Sure thing," I said as I began to walk backwards, almost into someone else.
As I lay in my bed that night, I couldn't help but replay the events of how the man with the call sign 'Mobius' came to my aid.
"A mercenary pilot, huh?" I asked to myself before my close closed and my body drifted away to the comforting embrace of sleep.
Mercenary pilots aren't generally as well received as much as those who actually fight for their country. These pilots are instantly labeled as those who only fight to earn their keep. Others, like Hound Two and possibly even Mobius, are respected since they have their own causes to fight for. Money is the least of their troubles.
But who exactly was Mobius, and what was he like? With skill and power like that, it's strange that he chose to be a mercenary. To add to that, he was one who was fighting on our side. What exactly are his motives? More importantly, why did he save my life? Was it because my situation was that bad?
Little did I know that things would change dramatically. Not just for me, but for everyone else around me. Perhaps that was the last night I'd be able to live somewhat peacefully. If anything else, that was at least a moment's reprieve for me.
