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Legendary Aces
Chapter 14: Demons of Razgriz
The demon soars through dark skies
Fear and death trail its shadow beneath
Until men united wield a hallowed sabre
In final reckoning, the beast is slain
-Blaze-
Sand Island
0900hrs 12 November 2010
Soon after breakfast, my team was asked to meet up in one of the hangars. I was hoping it was for the reason I expected. Not only was it what I expected, but something I didn't expect as well.
"Hello, Captain Akari." I recognized the voice immediately.
"Hello, General," I said. "Are these for us?" I glanced through the whole hangar before he answered. Four F-22s were already parked inside. They probably arrived before any of us woke up this morning.
"They are," General Bartlett said.
I had expected that our new toys had come in, but I didn't expect General Bartlett to meet us here.
"We get to fly F-22s?" Chopper said. His mouth was hanging open so far you would probably stick a softball in there.
"That's right, Lieutenant," the General said. "I pulled a few strings to get them for you, and all I ask in return is that you put them to good use."
"Affirmative, sir," Nagase said.
"Now while you all introduce yourselves to your new toys, I need to have a word with Captain Akari alone," he said as he turned to me. "Walk with me?"
I nodded and started following him. As soon as we were out of earshot of the others, I spoke my mind. "I assume she contacted you?"
"Yes. Do you know what she's been working on?"
"I don't know."
"How many F-22s did I bring here?"
"Four?"
"Three. One of them, while it looks identical to an F-22, is different. You'll notice this as soon as you enter the cockpit. I've told your superiors that only your team has authorization to enter the cockpits, so only you will know the one is different."
"What's different about it?"
"It's an advanced prototype. It has stronger engines, greater range, and better agility than a standard F-22 Raptor. Your plane is the X-22 Dragon. There are two in existence. Layla has the other. As soon it is out of the prototype stage, it will be given a different number."
"Does she intend to improve it even more?"
"Yes. She's working on a wing design and stronger engines. Currently, the F-22 has the best airframe for it, but she won't rest until she surpasses that."
"So that's why it looks identical."
"Right. You are ordered to keep this a secret from everyone until such a time that an emergency arises in which they need to know. If Colonel Perrault or anyone else gets suspicious and asks you about it, you are not to tell them anything. If they try to pull rank, tell them you have been ordered to silence by a higher rank."
"You have this thought out pretty well."
"Yes. In addition to the X-22 Dragon, I've also brought an additional toy. Four Multi-Purpose Burst Missiles designed after those used by your mother's old wingman when he flew the Morgan."
"Pixy?"
"Yes."
"It's a shame they haven't seen each other since that day."
"Also. There's one more thing I want to talk to you about."
"What's that?"
"Your state of mind."
I stopped in my tracks. How did he know? Did mom tell him? "No."
"I'm not asking."
"I may not answer even if you did."
"I'm telling. I want to know what's going through your mind. And yes, your mother told me."
"She gave me advice."
"She doesn't think you'll put it to use very soon, so I'm going to give you some as well."
"Go for it. I'll listen, but I make no promises of using it."
"I know how much you love flying. Now you believe that your blue sky is stained red with blood."
He described it exactly how I felt.
"I've walked that path before. You believe that what you love has been corrupted by what you hate." He paused for a moment. "That is wrong."
"Then what is right?"
"Instead of believing that your sky has been tainted with death, believe that your sky needs protecting from it. You love flying as much as your mother, aunt, and uncle, I know this. Jack, Allison, and Layla never hesitated in battle. I did. If you want to still be able to fly after this war is over, you need to get your act together."
His words hit me hard, but I knew he was right.
"If you don't get over it, you may not be able to return to the sky once we are in a time a peace again, and that's the best time to fly."
I looked down as we continued walking. "Yeah."
"I know of a man who you should talk to, if you can find the time to meet him."
"Who?"
"It's a bit complicated, and I'm not who to ask. Next time you see Allison, ask her about her mentor."
"What's his name?"
"Allison will tell you."
-Gennette-
Crew Ready Room
0612hrs 14 November 2010
Despite the hectic mood among the staff at HQ, the start of the briefing was delayed. But the weary pilots, knowing full well that they must force their exhausted bodies back into the air once the order was given, weren't the slightest bit disturbed by the delay.
"Hey... what are you writing there?" Grimm asked. He looked over to see what Nagase was writing.
"I just can't remember this next phrase..." Nagase said quietly.
"Here, lemme see," Chopper blurted out, expecting to take the book.
"Hey!" Nagase swatted him away. "The princess couldn't feed the dove that day. She was too sick."
"May I take a look?" Grimm asked.
"...Razgriz," Chopper said. "The Demon of Razgriz got her, right?"
"You know the story?" Nagase said.
"The demon from the north sea!" Chopper said. "I remember, my grandma used to tell me bedtime stories about it. And every time she did, I'd be too scared to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night."
Nagase let out of short laugh.
"Settle down, people!" Hamilton said.
I know a little about that famous legend, too. When history witnesses a great change, Razgriz reveals itself ...first as a dark demon. As a demon, it uses its power to rain death upon the land and then it dies. However, after a period of slumber, Razgriz returns.
-Briefing-
"Ahem, gentlemen..." Colonel Perrault started the briefing, but was interrupted.
"Excuse me, Colonel. This is an absolutely vital mission to us. As the staff adviser sent from Central HQ for this effort, I'd like to explain it myself. The Osean Army is planning a vast offensive with the ultimate objective of occupying the capital of Yuktobania."
"If this operation succeeds, it will end the war in very short order. However, the Yuktobanians have attacked our beachhead with ballistic missiles from the Hrimfaxi, a Scinfaxi-class submersible carrier stationed in the icy waters of Razgriz Straits."
"Fortunately, our ground forces had already completed attack preparations, so despite the missile attack the offensive began as planned. Nevertheless, we must neutralize the threat of another Hrimfaxi missile attack on our ground forces."
We have a single chance to stage a successful air attack on the underwater carrier Hrimfaxi. Our passive sonar has detected a transport submarine that we believe is headed for the Hrimfaxi. We believe the transport sub's mission is to supply the Hrimfaxi with missiles.
Based on its course and speed, we've calculated its rendezvous time with the Hrimfaxi. By amazing coincidence, it is precisely the same time as the zero hour of our ground attack. At this time, the Hrimfaxi will have to surface to restock its missiles.
At that exact moment, ingress at low altitude to avoid detection, launch a surprise attack, and sink the Hrimfaxi. One surfaced, it only takes the Hrimfaxi one minute to rig for an emergency dive. If your approach is detected, you will only have one minute to complete your attack on the Hrimfaxi.
"Now, keep in mind there won't be any support from Arkbird this time around. This mission rests solely on your shoulders. The entire ground offensive is relying on this first surprise attack, so don't disappoint us. I want you to turn the icy Razgriz Straits into the enemy's graveyard."
-Mission Start-
-Blaze-
Razgriz Straits 64'12'33"N 97'05'03"E
1559hrs. 14 November 2010
"Wardog, stay at low altitude and fly towards the submarine fleet," Thunderhead ordered. "You are restricted from flying above one thousand feet. We can't risk having our surprise attack detected."
"I'm getting chills," Chopper said. "This northern sea is where the Demon of Razgriz came from."
"Razgriz..." Nagase added quietly.
"Heh, there's no way that coulda been the Razgriz," Chopper said.
"Hold your chatter. Commencing comm out procedures shortly. Maintain radio silence." Thunderhead ordered.
"Guess I'll cut off the mic and try talking to myself," Chopper said.
I heard a weird noise as the radio cut out.
As we approached a sub in the distance, I switched to one of my long range anti-ship missiles and fired away. My missile sent the submarine to a watery grave.
"Awesome, we totally surprised 'em! We can talk now, right?" Chopper blurted out.
"That's not the Hrimfaxi. Didn't you look at the ship identification chart?" Grimm said.
"Whaaa?"
"This is Lieutenant Colonel Mitchel, the adviser to HQ. That picket submarine just sent off an enemy detection notice."
"Enemy planes! Halt all resupply operations!" the Hrimfaxi reported.
"Enemy planes? We're still in the middle of our mission! Dammit! How did they smell us out?!"
"Thirty seconds to Hrimfaxi dive," Thunderhead reported just as I fired my secret weapon. It was a multipurpose burst missile.
"You will want to steer clear of that thing before my missile goes off," I said. "Just wait for the fireworks."
"What?" Chopper said. "We have to sink it."
"Trust me. If you get anywhere near that thing, you'll be feeling a little toasty in the morning," I said. "That's an order, stay back a bit."
My missile went off in an enormous explosion. By the time the smoke cleared, the Hrimfaxi was gone.
"Damage status on enemy sub unknown," Nagase said.
"Those bastards are diving!" Chopper added.
"It's probably not out of the picture yet," I said. "But it's definitely hurting real bad."
"This is Submarine Squadron Command. The enemy is undertaking a large-scale offensive. Attack the enemy forces with long-range missiles from the Hrimfaxi. Urgent! Transmitting target coordinates."
"This is Hrimfaxi. We cannot comply. We're unable to launch missiles underwater due to battle damage."
"What's the point of your existence if you do not fire now?! They're penetrating our defense lines as we speak! Hurry up before they overrun our allies!"
"Emergency surface! Grab on to something! Once we break the surface, launch the missiles and unmanned drones!"
"The Hrimfaxi's antenna has appeared above water. It's surfacing!" Nagase said.
I watched as the massive submarine finally surfaced, and as a missile launched.
"Hrimfaxi launching burst missiles," Thunderhead reported.
"And carrier jets," Nagase added.
As soon as the Hrimfaxi surfaced, I fired my remaining anti-ship missile at it and ordered my team to fire theirs as well. After a series of hits, the Hrimfaxi attempted to dive again.
"Ballast tanks damaged! Unable to submerge! Forget it. We'll just have to deal with them above the surface!"
"The Hrimfaxi has stopped its dive! We've damaged it!" Grimm said.
"All this damage from four planes?! How is this possible?!" Hrimfaxi said. "What the hell's going on?! Are the Oseans using some kind of black magic?!"
"Maybe," I said, taunting the enemy. "Everyone stay clear again. I'm launching my second burst missile."
As soon as my team cleared the area, I sent my second multipurpose burst missile at the Hrimfaxi and watched as it exploded, tearing a large gaping hole through the sub.
"Lower hull flood spreading!" Hrimfaxi said. "It's finished we can't save this boat."
"Hrimfaxi, it appears you're up against Razgriz itself out there," Yuke Command said.
"Looks like they were the real Razgriz, not us... Maybe someone's trying to tell us that our time is up..." Hrimfaxi said just before the ship finally dipped below the water's surface. The stored burst missiles finally exploded from the inside.
I saw water fly up at least a thousand feet.
"Mission complete," I said. "Return to base."
On the way back, Chopper asked, "Kid, where did you get those burst missiles?"
"The General."
-Post Mission-
The surprise attack on the Hrimfaxi was a success and the carrier has sunk to the bottom of the Razgriz Straits. The threat from the northern sea has disappeared and the Osean forces are on the offensive against Yuktobania.
-Gennette-
Sand Island
1921hrs 15 November 2010
"Me? Heavens," Pops said. "The ace pilots who sunk the enemy submarines are right over there, and I'm the person you want to interview now?"
"No, it's not that. It's just that I heard you used to be a fighter pilot yourself," I said.
"I just fly freight planes for the maintenance crews now. The Captain, Captain Bartlett that is, said it was time for an old man like me to quit trying to compete with the young guys. Talk about a lack of respect!"
"Where did you meet Captain Bartlett?"
"We were both shot down and we bailed out behind enemy lines in the last war. We got through the bullet-ridden battlefield and made it back to the allied front line. I tell you, it was tough getting the Army to believe we were on their side."
"Shot down? You two?"
"Hey, it was a long time ago. Everyone makes mistakes, right?"
"Oh, no, I didn't mean it that way. Even if you're not flying with those pilots, your age and experience provide a lot of support for all of them. I just wanted to tell you that. I've seen that you really listen to what they say, and you always have helpful suggestions for them."
"Well, thank you."
"I think they're all going to need you, now more than ever."
"I'll do what I can."
"These people, it's like they're walking on a tightrope that could snap at any second. They're going to reach their breaking point sooner or later."
"Yeah."
-Blaze-
Sand Island
1945hrs 15 November 2010
Allison had returned to Sand Island again shortly after we returned form the Razgriz Straits. I finally had a chance to pull her aside.
"What is it?" she asked. "If you need to ask me about what your mother talked about, I'm not the right person for that."
"No, that's not it, exactly," I said. "The General talked to me about that, and said there was a man I should talk to if I could meet him."
"And he said I could help you with that?"
"He said to ask you about your mentor."
Her eyes widened, something I've never seen before. She quickly regained her composure and said, "No."
"If the General said I should talk to him, then I need to know."
"Kye, I am not the person who can introduce you. Maybe your mother can."
"Why not?"
"I have no right to stand in front of that man." She started to walk away but stopped short and said, "Ask your mother."
"I'm asking you."
"You're asking me for something I can't give you."
"What happened?"
She sighed and faced me. "Have you ever heard of the Yellow Squadron?"
"The Erusean ace squadron you fought several times in the last war."
"Their squadron leader, Yellow 13, was a friend. I killed him at Farbanti. We were on opposite sides of the war. He knew Erusea was wrong, but he was Erusean born and he was fiercely loyal. He died for his loyalty, and I have a great respect for him."
"I didn't know."
"Only your mother and grandfather are aware of the story. The man you seek was not only my mentor, but your mother's and Yellow 13's as well. Shortly after your sister was born, we went off to train under him. I'll tell you his name, but you'll have to go talk to your mother face to face if you want to track him down. I don't know where he is and I refuse to introduce you to him. I lost the right to speak to him the moment I killed Yellow 13."
"I understand."
"His name is Mihaly A. Shilage."