Trades46 here,
Slower work rate now that University starts again. I will continue to write this until its completion.
Enjoy,
Chapter 9
I must have been out for a very long time since I've crash the Next and sent to the hospital. So much things have changed, for better or worst.
Upon my awakening, my good friend Grinnell was the first one to pay me a visit.
"Oh thank the gods that you made it out. I was afraid that you might have been gone when you didn't eject" he plead to me.
Grinnell also explained to me that the Silverhawk Next only sustained minor damages and that during the two weeks I was out, that the crewman have gotten the thing in flying condition once again.
He also grimly told me that my left eye, unfortunately, has been lost in the course of the accident. However, with some quick surgery with state of the art technology, they have been able to restore my vision with an optical sensor.
I slowly felt my left side on my face, quickly took a mirror on the side of the bed. A blue optical sensor now resides where my left eye used to me, also a long vertical scar also was left in my left visage.
I let out a sigh, knowing that one day or another that an accident like this was going to happen. Like Grinnell had said, it was really a miracle that I lived through this accident without ejecting to safety.
The door to my room opens again as Corporal-now-2nd Lieutenant Lance and Lieutenant Ti2 came inside. Ti2 quickly ran across and gives me a hug on the bed.
"Pratica-san! I was so scared that you would have died!" She cried to me.
'Gently, I'm still a bit cut up'
"Ahh…Gomen."
"Glad you'll well Colonel Pratica. Lil' Princess 'ere was scared to wits when HQ said that you 'ere shot that day." Lt. Lance said to me at the side.
'Thanks for visiting Lance. Notice that shiny new badge there, congratulations.'
"It's thanks to you for keepin' my men safe then Mr. Pratica. I don't think we've made it back to base if it for Major Treizz and you."
The doctor then walks into the room, telling everyone that visiting hours are over. Lance and Grinnell had to almost pry Ti2 off me before they left.
After a few more days in the hospital I was discharged. Thanks in part to the advancement in bio-medical sciences recoveries barely take a week except the most serious of injuries. Despite my high-speed crash, I only sustained heavy injuries in my left eye. The doctors think I was blessed by the gods to live through with such little harm. I believe it is a testament to Grinnell's work of passive safety, who I hope is no longer thinking that the accident is his fault.
It is still 7am when General Kristoph summons almost all the available pilots to the base for a mission brief.
The briefing room is filled with pilots and officers alike. I recognize a few familiar faces among the crowd: Lieutenant Lance, Sergeant Rexton and Major Jean are all present along with their squad members. My mind quickly gives condolences to the members of the deceased Hammerhead squadron that flown with them that day. I snap back my attention as Kristoph enters the room following everyone's salutes. The officer at the front of the room clears his throat and begins the briefing.
"Everyone, we have received word at the frontlines have gotten reinforcements and are now pushing the Belser battleships back towards the atmosphere of Darius. However, recently new Belser threats have been encountered in our counter strikes."
The screen changes to display the 'Ribbon' Belser fighters that we have fought before.
"These new Belser air superiority fighters have engaged our forces in many fronts. The Belser previously never used such agile yet heavily armed units in their ranks, so it is of importance that we need to deal with this threat."
The slide switches to the disassembling of the downed Belser fighters in the hangar. I recognized that on of them was Ribbon 15, one of my kills during that particular day. The rest were of different squadrons which adorned different liveries and color schemes.
"We have classified these fighters as 'Black Comet' fighters. They apparently use a very similar architecture to our previous lineup of Silverhawk 'Gaiden' units. Our analysts believe that the Belser may have reverse-engineered a downed Silverhawk in the last war 300 years back to create this unit."
The slide changes to the insignia of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing of the Belser fighters. The blue crescent moon tied by a purple ribbon. I notice Jean Treizz in the corner of my eye shift himself in his seat, grumbling under his breath.
"Darius Defense Administration also has confirmed the most dangerous Belser aces as the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, call-sign 'Ribbon'. They have wreaked havoc in our frontlines and battle squadrons alike. HQ advises all units to stay clear of these units if encountered. As of now, our Silverhawk fighters are incapable of engaging them in a dogfight as our experiences have shown."
Lance exchanges looks with Rexton, who just shrugged.
"For this purpose, Command has officially declared that the 301st Joint Fighter Unit 'Phoenix' be an official squadron after Colonel Riga Pratica has downed 3 Ribbons and shown us that the next generation Silverhawk fighters are capable of standing up to the Belser threat. Col. Pratica and Lieutenant Ti2, Command has entrusted you to this task."
I'm suddenly taken aback by the declaration of the '301st Phoenix unit' declared as official when I thought that Gen. Kristoph would chew us out at the mock creation of a new unit. Lance gives me a subtle grin at the notion.
General Kristoph then stands up from his seat. After clearing his throat, he begins his speech.
"Now that is established, going to the main topic. On the front lines at Zone B, DDA Command has amassed enough men to mount a counterattack on those Belser aliens."
The screen now changed to the atmosphere of Darius, were 3 Belser battleships with hundreds of drones swarms surrounding them.
"DDA has re-established connection to the Orbital cannons* which the Belser severed months ago. We also have 5 Motherhawks** with a hundred Silverhawks ready to push them out of our planet's perimeter. The main issue at hand, as the officer has said, are those pesky Black Comets which will give our Motherhawks a headache. You all are to join up with the main attack force in the inner atmosphere and mount a joint assault on the Belser battleship 'Mud-Wheel', 'Disaster Jaw' and 'Assault Jaw'***. We will provide cover fire with the Orbital cannons and the Motherhawks will support with Hummingstinger* interceptors. We don't think they have any Ribbons in the fleet, but be ready to engage the enemy Black Comets at moment's notice. You will all take-off in 1100 hours. Dismissed!"
"Can you believe it Riga-san? The general actually let us use the callsign Phoenix! We're now really officially part of our own fighter unit!" Ti2 happily dances in the hangar after everyone suited up.
"Wow, a promotion and a new unit all in the same day. You're a real ace Pratica. Guys were praising you in the hangars for downing 3 Ribbons in a row." Rexton followed.
'Not really, I did get shot down eventually. Even I underestimated them.'
"Bulls, Pratica. We all know then them controls fried by themselves. Your engineer friend, Grinnell, was it? He kept tellin' that the prototype shorted with your fancy moves up there against them Ribbons" replied Lance. "No wonders you get promotion and a new unit to fly with the little princess."
I look forward to see Major Jean Treizz walks towards me. He stops inches from where I'm standing.
"Look Colonel. While I didn't down any Ribbons back there, I was the one shooting them up all over the place before you swooped in and surprise-attack them. I want to tell you that I will be dealing with the Ribbons after they show up. I don't let a target I see go unless they shoot me down first. You're not the only one who has a score to settle."
Jean quickly walks away to his yellow Silverhawk after saying this.
"Jeez, what's his problem…" muttered Rexton, while Lance looks questioned. Before I can reply to them, Grinnell usher to me and Ti2 that our Silverhawk prototypes, now fully armed with all testing facilities removed, that our mission is about to begin.
Notes:
*A satellite mounted energy cannon controlled by remote transmissions from either DDA HQ or Motherhawk carriers.
**This is a pun on Silverhawk and Mothership. It is essentially a big space battleship which can house Silverhawk fighters in space and launch them.
The Hummingstinger is a small single seat high speed interceptor fighter that has pulse guns and high speed missiles deployed from the Motherhawk. The name refers to their distinctive humming of their pulse engine units, which are extremely light and powerful, but has high fuel consumption. This reason forces Hummingstingers to rely on the Motherhawk for support.
***These are real Belser bosses used in Dariusburst and Another Chronicle. Google them for more details.
That's it for now. See you next update.
Trades46