Chapter 2

The Lighthouse war dragged on from May 15, 2019 to December 1, 2019. Lasting for 8 months, the brutal war had an estimated death count in the hundreds of thousands. Osea was deemed the victor, and Erusea was placed under sanctions, its territories dispersed. Gründer Industries was to blame for fueling the flames of the war, and thus was shut down, its assets frozen. The previous Belkan weapons manufacturer, responsible for the development of the ADF-01 FALKEN and the F-22 Raptor, had lost all its glory, and its remaining assets flowing into General Resource.

(December 10, 2019)

TAC name: Trigger

((Sol 2, Evade, evade!))

((Perfect movement, just like Mihaly's))

Trigger woke up with a start. He could feel the sweat that had accumulated around him, spreading to his bedsheets.

Sickened by this, he moved over and checked his bedside clock; 7:38 A.M.

((Another nightmare, huh.))

Sighing, he stood up, and walked to the singular window of the room he was in.

Opening the blinds, he was greeted with an orange tinge. The Sun had started to rise, signaling that it was a new day.

Realizing that trying to sleep again was a useless plight, Trigger put on a spare shirt that was lying on the floor and went to check his smartphone that was by his bedside clock.

It had only been 4 days since the end of the Lighthouse War, yet Trigger could still vividly remember the day when fighting the ADF-11 prototypes; Hunin and Munin.

Named after Norse Mythology, they descended from the heavens to unleash their wrath at the International Space Elevator, trying to send their flying data to drone manufacturing plants across the world. Had Trigger not stopped them, it would have been chaos, with more ADF-11s flying around with Mihaly's flight data.

While looking at his smartphone for the latest news, he paced around the room he was in. He had returned to Oured after the war and had been told he would be reassigned, but wasn't sure what the new mission was.

Currently, he was in one of the military institutions in the capital, and was being evaluated for any trauma that he had gone through during the war. Trigger sighed. Even though he was considered a top ace of the Osean Air Defense Force, he was tired of fighting.

Body damage from extreme G-forces, the 444 Air base, the fight against Mihaly; the strain was too much for his body and mind. At this point, Trigger thought about retiring and living by himself in the countryside, even though he was only 23 years old.

That was a dream, but with nothing left, flying was the only thing that he depended on to have a purpose in life.

"Gloating won't get me anywhere" Trigger thought aloud.

With that, he put on a fuzzy white sweater, with the Osean flag beaming on the right shoulder, and left his room for the mess hall.

(8:30 A.M)

There was already a line forming in the mess hall for food.

Soldiers and army personnel could be seen sitting down and eating breakfast, either chatting or eating in silence. Trigger wished he could have woken up earlier so that he could have skipped the line and gotten some hot food.

He entered the line and picked up a number for a breakfast set; A hot breakfast set with sausage, eggs, and pancakes. After picking up his number, Trigger followed with the line until he felt someone punch his shoulder.

((Mornin' Dumbass))

((Good Morning to you, Scrap Queen))

"Growing out your hair I see" Trigger quipped as Avril picked up her number and lined up behind him.

"Felt I needed a change of pace," Avril said as she attempted to fix her bed hair. "After all, I'm not really working on planes or being at the front lines anymore, so might as well act like a girl for a change."

Avril Mead; Trigger had met her on the 444th Air Base after being accused of Vincent Harling's murder.

Avril was there due to violating wartime aviation laws. Due to her ability for fixing up aircraft, she was sent to the Penal Base where she attained the nickname 'Scrap Queen' for fixing up so many defunct aircraft.

Trigger remembered the plane that she fixed up for him, a SU-47 Berkut that had been in Osean hands for a while, but had no idea what to do with it, ultimately becoming mothballed until Avril brought it out of decommission.

He had to give her props; even though she might seem tough on the outside, she was a softie at heart, taking care of Cosette and all that.

"Are you being assigned anywhere Avril?" Trigger asked as they got their food and walked towards an empty table.

"Not yet, although I was asked to join the IUN as a lead mechanic on the Fort Grays Air Base" she replied.

Trigger knew Fort Grays; it was the Air Base where he conducted most of his training at and was still a nugget when the Lighthouse war broke out.

"What about you Trigger?"

Trigger wolfed down his eggs before answering, "Not sure either, I'm hoping for the security job to protect the skies of the Space Elevator or I'm considering going AWOL and escaping to the countryside."

The AWOL remark was met with Trigger getting his head smacked by Avril. "Not funny dumbass. There's really no need, as Osea is building two new Arsenal Birds to protect it."

That was true, Osea had begun construction of two new Arsenal Birds ever since the other two, Liberty and Justice were shot down after being hacked by Erusea.

"I'm guessing then that the facility on Tyler Island is back online then" Trigger quipped.

"Right on the money" Avril said. "I was actually also asked to supervise the building of the new Arsenal Birds, but I declined. Gives me bad memories when I was at the Space Elevator."

Trigger knew; the day the Arsenal Birds fell, Tabloid had given up his life to save a little girl from being crushed by the falling drones. Seeing Tabloid getting crushed had a profound effect on Avril, and she still seemed deeply affected by it. Trigger could feel Avril's pain, so he decided to change the subject,

"Count and Huxian look like they're going to leave the Air Defense Force. They've had enough after the war."

"Really? Kinda unexpected but I'm not surprised" Avril remarked. "Did you at least talk with them as to why they decided that?"

"I'm pretty sure it has got to do with the fact that those two hit it off."

"OI WHAT"

The personnel in the room all turned around to see Avril lose her mind. She could not believe that Count, a man she thought as absolutely incompetent, was able to snag a girlfriend and actually have a competent love life.

"Keep your voice down Avril, goddamn" said Trigger

"I can't fucking believe that man, holy shit" said a visibly shaken Avril.

Trigger always knew. Count always had an eye for Huxian, ever since joining Strider squadron.

Who can blame the man? Being cooped up in a Penal Unit for quite a long time can do numbers on a person. Trigger thought back to the conversation he and Count had after the war. He closed his eyes and envisioned the scene.

It was at the base of the Space Elevator, the cool wind blowing their clothes in one direction.

(December 2, 2019)

"I'm leaving the Air Force Trigger."

"Huh?"

Trigger was dumbfounded at the comment the man next to him said. After all, they've stuck together for the whole duration of the Lighthouse War, and seeing as Count was going to leave, Trigger felt an emptiness he never felt before.

"Is there a profound reason as to why?"

"I guess it relates to the time when I was in the Penal unit, and the time during the tunnel run in the Space Elevator." Count sighed, "That landing I did had a profound effect on me, I thought I was going to die."

"But you made it, and we are having this conversation now, no?"

'Why am I trying to find excuses for him to stay? I have no right in what he wants in life.' Trigger thought.

"Trigger, I know you and I have been through a lot, but after this war, I think it's time for me to hang up my wings. Besides, I kinda have a thing going on with Huxian now that nothing is stopping us."

"Since when… ?"

"We started being a thing in secret after Wiseman's death." Count explained. "We comforted each other while mourning his death, and realized we needed each other. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner man. I always had the urge to, but the war was at its peak, and I never got the chance to."

"Its all good. Somehow I always knew you guys had a thing going on."

Trigger looked at Count. The Count he knew was still there, but there was no longer the spark that kept him going to fly. Trigger knew that the war had made Count tired, and the Space Elevator run was the final nail in the coffin for Count to hang up his wings.

"I wonder what the guys in the 444th squadron would think if they looked at us now," Trigger said as he looked at a distant white figure at the base of the Space Elevator.

"They'd be proud of us, a little jealous but proud of how far we've come" Count stated as he averted his gaze towards the white figure Trigger was looking at.

"So, what will you do Trigger?"

"I'm thinking about staying in the Air Force, I've got nowhere to go, I have no family, and flying is the only thing that I've got left. It's the only thing that gives me the drive to go on.

"That's fair enough," Count stated.

The white figure in the distance suddenly raised their arm up, mimicking the Space Elevator needle. It seemed as though they were reaching for the sky.

"I wish for your success, Count. Thank you for flying alongside me as Strider 2. I'm glad to have called you a friend."

"The honor is mine, Strider 1. If you need me, I will always be there for you, partner".

With that the two men shook hands, and stared into the unknown blue sky above.

(Present time)

Trigger was in a daze, remembering the talk he had with Count, when a voice rang through the overhead speakers.

"TAC NAME TRIGGER, REPORT TO THE GENERAL STAFF'S OFFICE IN 0930 HOURS" said the overhead loudspeakers.

"Looks like I've got to go Avril, we'll finish this talk later" Trigger said as he hurriedly ate his sausages and pancakes.

"We better, I need a full explanation as to how that fraud was able to snag a girlfriend" Avril spat.

Trigger sighed but smiled; this was the Avril he knew and loved. He quickly finished his breakfast, put his tray in the return section, and headed for the General Staff's office.

(9:30 A.M.)

((Knock, Knock))

((Come in))

Trigger took a deep breath before entering the office. "You called for me, Vice Chairman Edwards?"

"Yes I did, have a seat Captain."

Trigger sat down. Vice Chairman Edwards was part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who helped Trigger by outing General Howard Clemens, the individual who attempted to assassinate Trigger due to 'security reasons.'

The previous General in question even hired a group of mercenaries from General Resource to eliminate Trigger, but to no avail.

"Trigger, your efforts in the Lighthouse war are commendable. Not only you turned the tide of war in Osea's favor, but you can be also considered a savior of the world for destroying Hunin and Munin. There is never enough praise for what you did over the course of this war."

"Thank you sir!" Trigger stated as he stood up and performed a salute.

"I know we have been vague about your reassignment for a while, but it is about time that we have given it to you. I'm sorry for putting you in this position, but you may consider it as a breather and a last assignment before you can be honorably discharged." Edwards claimed

Trigger gulped. Even though he had been wanting a peaceful life after the war, the sky was the only place he belonged in. He now had no one to turn to, now that Strider Squadron had been disbanded.

The next words that came out of the Vice Chairman's mouth dreaded Trigger to the core.

"We would like you to venture through the Gate. A new problem has arisen. The special forces there are having a hard time dealing with the new situation, and we would like you to go to the other side and help our them there."