-Chapter 11: Rescuing Yui-

The three remaining Argos Flight members set out in their given TSFs. Akihiro piloted the newly-developed Shiranui Phase 3 while Fiona and Stella flew in the Izanami R-78 and F-15 Strike Eagle respectively. They were already flying over Colorado and were approaching Kansas.

"The handling is amazing..." Akihiro thought to himself.

All of a sudden, a bleep was heard from his control panel.

"Enemy fighters, 12 'o clock!" said Fiona over the radio.

A squad of ten Enemy TSFs arrive, ready to attack the Argos Flight. They opened fire on the Argos Flight, with the Shiranui Phase 3 dodging at a lightning rate. It shoots down three enemy TSFs at once and slices through two of them. The Izanami R-78 and F-15 take down the remaining enemies.

"Incredible!" Fiona said over the radio.

"The Shiranui Phase 3...Amazing.." Stella said over the radio.

However, more enemy TSFs arrive in even greater numbers, ready to attack the Argos Flight. They prepare their guns and open fire on them. The Shiranui Phase 3 dodges every shot at a lightning-fast rate. All of a sudden, Sandek speaks to Akihiro over the radio.

" . The Phase 3 is fitted with a Prafka drive. This allows you to harmonize yourself with your true combat capabilities and enhance the abilities of the Phase 3. However, The use of the system has a time limit. Think of it as a double-edged sword." said Sandek over the radio.

"Got it.." said Akihiro as he activate's the Phase 3's Prafka drive system.

Once the system activated, The Phase 3 glows a bright blue and speedblitzes and takes down the enemy TSFs at an alarmingly fast rate. It shoots down over twenty enemies and slices through five of them at the same time.

Fiona and Stella look on in awe at what is unfolding right in front of them. The Phase 3 was moving and taking down enemies at such an incredible rate. How is this physically possible for one machine to accomplish?!

"What the?!" said Fiona in awe.

Stella could only look on as this unfolded in front of the both of them.

After every enemy was taken down, Akihiro deactivated the system and floated in the sky.

"Let's go!" he said as he flew ahead with Stella and Fiona following. They take down many enemy TSFs that come their way and continue to make their way towards Washington.

/

Yui's trial was interrupted due to the commotion in Colorado. Ridley was frustrated at this interruption, so he ordered a certain someone to take care of it.

"Bridges. We have friends who have just arrived now in Ohio. Take care of them immediately." said Ridley over a speaker.

Yui quickly realized what was going on: the Argos Flight was coming to rescue her! Yui put her hand on her heart and gave a small smile as she knew that Akihiro was coming to save her. Perhaps in the same way that a knight would rescue a princess.

"..I'll forgive you this time..If you save me.." she thought to herself.

/

As the Argos Flight approached Pennsylvania, They were confronted by Yuuya Bridges' TSF, the RAY-9RZ. This was the same TSF that killed Valerio a month ago. Fiona felt enraged at the sight of seeing the heavily armed white and red TSF.

"YOU BASTARD! YOU KILLED VALERIO!" said Fiona as she proceeded to fire at Yuuya, who would dodge her every shot. The RAY-9RZ charges and almost damages Fiona's Izanami R-78. However, Akihiro's Phase 3 clashes with the RAY-9RZ.

They clash several times in the sky and fire several shots at one another. Akihiro deflects the shots fired at him and clashes blades with Yuuya

"How could you work for Ridley?!" Akihiro angrily asks as the Phase 3 pushes the RAY-9RZ off and viciously slices the RAY-9RZ's right leg off.

"Why do you still fight, huh?! What do you have to protect?!" yelled Yuuya.

"It's obvious! To protect this world FROM THE BETA AND SECURE THE FUTURE!" yelled Akihiro as he charges at Yuuya's RAY-9RZ in the Phase 3 before clashing once more. The Phase 3's strength allows Akihiro to shatter the RAY-9RZ's blade.

"NGH! ..Next time, you won't be so lucky! I'll kill you for sure!" yelled Yuuya as he retreated in his TSF.

"Why...why would Yuuya..." said Stella in a sorrowful tone.

"Ridley probably got to him. That's how he managed to rally support for his dictatorial campaign. By lying." said Akihiro.

"I see...So he's just a puppet..But still! He killed Valerio!" Fiona shouted over the radio.

"I know. But for now, we need to focus on rescuing ." said Akihiro.

"He's right. We need to get moving before more enemy reinforcements arrive." said Stella over the radio. After that exchange was finished, they set off once again and headed towards Washington.

/

Cryska walked down the base's hallway and bumps into Sandek, who was looking for her to have a dicussion about Inia.

"...Ensign Barchenowa." said Sandek.

"Sir." said Cryska as she saluted.

"I know how much Ensign Sestina meant to you. But, she would have wanted you to continue fighting. No matter what." said Sandek.

"But...I can't.." said Cryska.

"Inia believed in you as I have done. Though I didn't treat you in the best of ways at times, I care very much about you. Not just as a soldier, but as a person. This is why I'm telling you this, Ensign Barchenowa. Your comrades need you. Lt. Flynn needs you. He's already out there trying to save Lt. Takamura." said Sandek.

Cryska's eyes widened as she heard Akihiro's name. She didn't know that he has recovered from his coma.

"...I understand...I'll head out if you need me to.." said Cryska after taking a deep breath.

"Watch over me, Inia.." she thought to herself.

/

Akihiro and the Argos Flight have managed to reach the US Supreme Court. Their TSFs land in front of the landmark building and point their guns at the Supreme Court's building. As they did, A squad of enemy TSFs arrived to defend it. Inside the building, Ridley knew who was in the Phase 3 and bursts out laughing.

"You never fail to amaze me, Akihiro! Are you looking for your beloved Lt. Takamura?" Ridley asked with his spine-chilling grin.

All of a sudden, The enemy TSFs were destroyed by a series of shots from the sky. It was an unknown TSF from above. It had a similar paint scheme to the Predator. However, this version looked like it was built for one pilot. Akihiro recongnized who it was right away.

"Cryska!" Akihiro called out as he opened a network to Cryska.

"Flynn.." Cryska said over the radio, sounding relieved.

Ridley's expression switched to one of annoyance due to the arrival of Cryska and storms off towards a flight of stairs behind the White House that lead to his hangar.

Meanwhile, Yui sneaks out the back entrance and manages to run towards the Phase 3 and the rest of the Argos flight. Akihiro ejects himself from the cockpit and lowers himself down from the Phase 3.

"Yui! Are you alright?!" Akihiro said after he ran towards her.

"...I could punish you for this, Ensign Flynn. ..But...Thank you." said Yui as she smiled.

"I wasn't gonna let my pal be killed by a crazed, homicidal madman.." said Akihiro with a serious expression.

"Ridley Abbott...I swear, I will kill you for taking Inia from me.." Cryska thought to herself as she clenched the control bars in her Predator.

"We have to go before he arrives. He's too powerful to fight right now." said Yui.

"I just want him dead after everything he's done..He killed My pals, Inia, the chairman..." said Akihiro as he clenched his fists.

"..I know. But the Phase 3's technology must be further developed before you can even think about taking him on." said Yui.

Akihiro nodded in agreement and took Yui onboard the Phase 3. He buckles her into the safety seat provided in the craft and gets ready to move with Cryska and the rest of the Argos Flight.

However, Ridley arrives in his Black Shell TSF and proceeds to attack Akihiro and the Argos Flight. But before he could carry out the attack, he was interrupted by an unknown TSF in the sky. It had a light green paintjob and looks as if it was designed for speed-based combat.

"Gotcha now ya son of a bitch!" said an unknown Irish male voice.

Ridley's Black Shell dodges every shot and attempts to shoot down the unknown TSF, which keeps dodging every shot at a lightning fast rate.

The unknown pilot manages to open a private radio link with Akihiro.

"Hey, Aki! Long time, no see!" said the Irish male voice.

"Well, I'll be damned! Joshua O'Brien!" said Akihiro in an excited tone.

Joshua O'Brien is a former ABNIA pilot from Ireland and Akihiro's best friend during those years. They would often talk to each other about the missions they went on together and they would get things done as a duo at an incredible rate.

"Akihiro?! He's a friend of yours?!" asked a surprised Yui.

"Not just a friend. A brother in arms and the greatest pal a guy could have!" said Akihiro with a smile.

"Let's get outta here before he gets mad!" said Joshua over the radio.

After that short exchange, Akihiro, Joshua, Cryska and The Argos flight flew in their TSFs and headed back to Atacama back to the New Yukon Base. The team of engineers and mechanics greet the team with a thunderous applause as they have managed to return with Yui.

Akihiro got out of the Phase 3 with Yui, which was greeted by one mechanic whistling at them. Yui got flustered and blushed when the mechanic did that as she thought that he assumed that She and Akihiro were a couple, which Yui did seem to like the thought of.

After seeing this, A strange feeling welled up in Cryska's chest. She put her hand on her heart, smiled and blushed a little. Was she starting to develop feelings for Akihiro in the same way she developed feelings for Yuuya Bridges two years earlier?

"Akihiro Flynn...You truly are amazing.." Cryska thought to herself.

-To be continued-