Over mainland China and Burma, a pair of Dopps carried the complete Apsalus by tow cables; Aina sat in the cockpit preparing final checks for the Mobile Armor's first test flight.

"Altitude: 9500. Wind Speed: 0.5 to 0.6" The Strato Viper piloting a Night Raven flying high altitude recon for the Alpsalus. "Surrounding area cleared of all hostiles."

"Escort planes stay on guard." Ginias ordered the Dopps through their headsets.

"Flight program. Check." A Tech at mission control announced.

"Linking to main computer." Aina added as she activated a connection to the network.

"Gyro system. Activated. Trim control, on."

"Generator system, RGA. Activating all control systems." Aina began flipping a series of switches and in a sequential order bringing the Mobile Armor online. Ginias asked about the pressure in the plasma cylinder as Aina continued activating the Apsalus for its test flight. "3% percent below normal, barely within the limit but I'll make it work somehow."

The mono-eye sensor in the Zaku head glowed with an ethereal aura. The monitors, displays and sensors flashed to life as Aina gripped her hand on the throttle activating the Minovsky craft system.

"We're preparing to release tow cables. Are you ready?"

"Ready when you are!"

"Cable release on my mark. 5…4…3…2…1…" The Air Viper signaled to his wingman to release cables. "Take off!" He ordered releasing the cables sending the Apsalus into freefall. The massive Mobile Armor fell at incredible speed, Aina kept an eye on her altimeter at 5000 ft. she would activate the Minovsky craft to lift the Apsalus back up to 9000 ft. With arcs of plasma, the Minovsky craft crackled to life and Aina pushed on the control stick propelling the craft forward over Burma.

"Minovsky particle compressor functioning normally!"

"Plasma propulsion power is at point zero. Within predicted values."

Ginias smiled with confidence as the reports came in that the Apsalus was working as he predicted. Cynthia took notes for her report to Cobra Commander. She had no doubt that he would be pleased by the results but this was the first test flight. While both Shakoor and Granin's research were theoretically possible but there was a difference between the theoretical and the realistic. One test flight didn't mean squat; but it would be enough for the Commander to see this for himself.

"No instability detected in gyro system."

Speeding over Burma, the ride was a smoother than Aina predicted; she actually thought the Apsalus would shake itself apart and her with it. "I'm increasing power." Pushing forward on the throttle, the craft began to lift into the atmosphere. Going higher, the Apsalus punched through the clouds into the upper atmosphere, as a Strato Viper, Aina was used to being at such altitudes.

Punching through the clouds into the upper atmosphere; catching a glimpse of the rising sun from high altitude, Aina smiled. "Big brother, I think your dream will finally come true." But that voice in the back of her mind returned; telling her this was wrong. Ginias was wrong. Could this be my conscious? I am testing a weapon that can be destructive. But can this destruction lead to peace?

The ringing of her smartphone woke Fox from her light sleep at the data terminal. "Fox here."

"Sylia, its Shinobu," Shinobu Nagumo was the CIA liaison to GI Jo. She was a friend and classmate of Sylia's back at West Point. When after serving in Army Intelligence, she was picked up by the CIA. Originally when approached by Langley, Hawk was suspicious of needing a CIA liaison but Sylia vouched for her character and she trusted Shinobu that was enough for Hawk.

"Are you on a secured line?"

After a few seconds of silence, Shinobu answered, "I am now."

"What's up?"

"Hawk told me you're in China."

"We're approaching Burma, chasing a lead."

"Good, I just got a report from MI-6's Far East section. Reports of a flying object over Burma. At first we thought it was bogus, but this is from the Brits."

"I still wonder if the Chinese are on the level."

"They must be serious or making a good show of it. My money is on Beijing's on the level."

"Really?"

"Chinese Intelligence and military are really nervous if whatever's going on doesn't wind up in North Korea, at least from the intel I'm getting."

"The thought had crossed my mind." Whatever Cobra was developing somehow ended up in the hands of the bat-shit crazy Kim family sent a shiver down Fox's spine. This was a family who had no compunction to unleashing 150 starving dogs on a relation who became a liability. "Send me whatever you have, Shinobu, it'll be nice to have some reliable intel for a change." Over a secured datalink, Fox received images from a RAF Nimrod R-1. The image wassomething punching through the clouds, zooming in and enhancing the photo as much as possible, she could make out the tell-tale design of a Zaku head, but larger.

Falling back into her chair, she could feel her blood run cold as the ghosts of Tselinoyarsk crept back into her mind. She needed to tell her Knight Sabers what they might be up against but she would be violating her orders not to discuss Tselinoyarsk. Bad orders… but I'm duty bound to follow them.

Even if those orders get them killed?

"Yes." She whispered.

"Yo Boss!"

The sound of Priss' voice broke Sylia from her thoughts. "Priss stop calling me boss,"

"Sorry Boss." Priss grinned at the ironic humor.

Giving off a sigh, she decided to indulge her 2nd in command. "What is it, Sgt.?"

"Ya okay, ya look whiter than a Priest's sheets."

"Speaking from experience?" Sylia joked as she knew Priss was far from religious. Nene once joked that if Priss was ever to go Catholic her confession alone would take 5 years, while Priss would refuse to take up Islam because she would have to give up booze, smoking and pork; hell she'd flipped off Scientology, thought of it as a cult with better lawyers. "I'm fine Priss, its nothing. We got an op to prepare for."

"Thanks to your extra ordinary efforts," Ginias addressed his entire staff in a assembly hall before a podium with Cobra emblem and large portrait of Cobra Commander behind him. "We've finally completed the first stage of the Apsalus project. The completion of the Apsalus is close at hand. On the day it is completed our power over the Earth will be renewed at the light of victory will fall upon Cobra!" Ginias thrust his fist into the arm. "Sieg Cobra!"

"Sieg Cobra!" His staff chanted.

Off to the side, Cynthia watched all this, she let a little smirk escape her lips as Ginias was about to get a rude surprise.