Chapter 9: Lame Aquila
"Hey, Caden, you ready for this?" Bowden asked while Caden was suiting up in his flight gear. Bowden was garbed in similar gear, but some of his patches were different. As both Caden and Bowden were trained in piloting Windwalkers and because they were now part of the Nibel Air Force, they both had ranks to indicate such. "Or should I say 'Commander'?" Bowden asked again, referring to the rank patch on Caden's left sleeve.
"Do I need to start calling rank, Lieutenant?" Caden jokingly asked. "Relax, Bow, the ranks are just for the bureaucrats. They can't exactly sign over a multi billion gil aircraft to some civilians. This just justifies it to the Council of Lords and Commons. Chancellor Valor's already taking slack for signing over the Air Command to the I.U. Hell, they're talking recall here."
"I don't think this is the time to start talking politics, Caden," Bowden said in hopes to derail Caden from his current focus. "You need to focus on getting us to Junon and then to Midgar. Now stop trying to avoid the obvious. We need you at the top of your game."
"You're right. I have to focus," Caden confessed still tugging on his gauntlet. "It's just everything that's been going on has been s little overwhelming." Caden pulled the helmet with his callsign out of the locker in front of him, and closed it. "But I can't dwell on it. I need you and Mar to keep me focused, ok?"
"Don't worry, we will," Bowden responded, putting his hand on Caden's shoulder. "Just try to make our job little easier."
Caden laughed. "No promises. Now let's get out their. Our bird waits."
"All pilots report to your Windwalkers. Repeat, all pilots report to your Windwalkers," A voice spoke out over the PA system. "Highwind crew, report to field seven for you duty assignments. This is not a drill. Squadrons Fire, Wind, Water, and Earth will launch in ten minutes."
"You heard the announcement. Wind Squadron, time to fly!" Captain Kazinski said as he snapped his helmet on. The word 'Monsoon' was written in red on left side of the helmet. "Kaze, Noreast, you're up front with me. Typhoon, Twister, watch our six."
"Yes, Sir!" Caden and the others responded before scrambling for their fighters. Caden ran up to his modified Windwalker B and met up with Marlene, Bowden, and Sephiroth. "Alright, guys. We have our orders. We're flying up front. How's the retrofit?"
"The cabin's a tight fit for four, but all the restraints are set and there's still enough room for me and Sephiroth," Marlene responded. "You and Bow better keep us up."
"Don't worry. Caden won't wig out on me," Bowden said, opening the side fuselage door normally used for fire control access. Inside were four seats in a cramped compartment, each with it's own restraints. Marlene entered first followed by Sephiroth. The only light in the cabin came from an opening behind Caden's seat in the cockpit, and that was all the light that they would get while in flight. After Marlene and Sephiroth had secured themselves inside the Windwalker, Bowden closed and secured the hatch. "You ready?"
"Let's fly," Caden said enthusiastically. The two knocked their helmets together and climbed to their seats. Inside, they set their restraints and Caden began the pre-flight tests. "Everything checks out, but there's a problem with the fire control system," Caden said, joking about the last part.
"Gee, I wonder why," Bowden said sarcastically. "So we ready?"
"As soon as Monsoon gives us the go, yes," Caden replied and finished the pre-flight tests. After configuring a few settings on his control panel, the HUD popped up on the canopy and the whole plane began to fill with the sound of the engines. "Well, now we're ready on Monsoon's word."
They did not wait long for the Wind Leader to call out on the intercom. "Wind Squadron, time to fly. Follow me and stay at eighty-percent power." Caden signaled to the crews just outside the Windwalker to clear away.
When the all clear was given, Caden gently guided the plane up. "Wind Two, airborne," he said into the face-mask com system. The Windwalker continued to rise with little trouble. "So far, so good, Bow."
"Don't jinx us until we get back here Caden," Bowden said with light humor. "Fire control is now going through me."
"Ok, now I'm worried," Caden jested, now feeling a lot more relaxed then before, but not enough to forget his apprehension.
"Are you both going to be like this for the entire flight?" Sephiroth yelled up through the small opening the connected the cabin to the cockpit.
"It's either this or the in flight movie, and trust me, it sucks," Caden said while setting the throttle to match Monsoon's. "So just sit back and enjoy the show. We'll land in Junon, refuel, and then it's show time."
"And here I thought we'd be bored for the next few hours," Marlene said with a laugh.
"Well then, sit back and enjoy the show," Caden responded, steering the aircraft south-east. "Ok, we're at our cruising speed and altitude. You guys can move around a little... Well, as much as you can. Junon Harbor's a few hours at this speed, so stretch out if you can. Otherwise, try and relax."
"Nibel Aircraft, you have entered Junon airspace. State your flight status and destination," an air traffic controller said over the intercom.
"Nibel Air Command flagship Highwind with four squadrons of Windwalkers heading for Junon Harbor's air strip," Cid responded in compliance. "Flight status should have been cleared with JSO under I.U. Charter article five. Our flight plan number is A Four Seven Nine NAC to Junon."
There was a moment of silence while the air traffic controller checked his records. "Nibel Flight group, proceed with your flight path to Junon Harbor. Be warned that any deviation will be treated as an act of aggression."
"Alright everyone, you heard the man. Stay on course!" Cid commanded all the Windwalker pilots. "When we reach Junon Harbor, land in your squadrons. We'll refuel and take off from there."
"Hey, Kaze, you still with us?" Monsoon asked over the intercom.
"Yeah, I'm still with you," Caden responded immediately. Despite his best efforts, Caden was still a little distracted from the mission.
"Never got a chance to meet you on the ground. This your first mission?" Monsoon asked.
"Yeah. Just graduated from Wutai," Caden responded while he prepared for his landing procedure.
"Ah, that's right. You're the guy who banked the Highwind at two hundred," Monsoon said, much to Caden's dismay.
Caden and Bowden looked at each other in surprise. "Wait a minute! How many people know about that?"
Monsoon laughed while his wingmen called in to say that they knew. "The Admiral had pictures of you up all around the base for the month. He had an unofficial order to drag your ass down if you got within fifty meters of the Highwind. Sorry, kid, every pilot up here knows your little secret."
"Great," Caden sarcastically responded. "What's our approach vector?"
"Fire's going down first, then us," Monsoon replied after second. "Your heading should be one twenty and negative ten. Approach at under one-fifty meters per second."
"Copy that," Caden said before turning off the com system. "Mar, Sephiroth, strap in and don't scream. We'll be landing in Junon Harbor in a few minutes." With that said, Caden turned the com system back on.
"Nibel Aircraft, give your squadron name and number for landing assignment," the air traffic controller said over the intercom.
"Wind Two reporting in," Caden responded while continuing to guide the plane forward.
"Wind Two, you are cleared for landing on the south approach. Stay with your squadron," the air traffic controller responded.
"Making approach from vector one twenty and negative five at ninety-five meters per second," Caden said while setting up his flaps and landing gear.
"Hey, Caden, you want me to take over?" Bowden asked. "You've been at the controls for hours. You've got to be tired."
"Great timing, Bow," Caden sarcastically responded. "Most of the work's done."
Bowden looked back and shrugged. "Hey, it's the thought that counts."
Caden rolled his eyes. "Yeah, just make sure the nose is up. Otherwise, you'll be the first killed."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Bowden shot back when he took control of the Windwalker. "You relax. The 'game' hasn't even started yet." Caden tried to do so while Bowden took over all the plane controls. "Damn, this thing is sluggish."
"Hey, if you flew the plane I was putting around in yesterday, you'd be ready for it," Caden said while laughing.
"That's the thing," Bowden said with serious tone. "The plane I was chasing you in was set up the same way."
"Is it going to affect us in a fight?" Caden asked, knowing full well that it would not.
"No, I don't think so," Bowden responded unceremoniously. "It's still weird." Bowden continued to guide the Windwalker in. The approach into Junon Harbor was simple, there was a steady west wind blowing and there were no air pockets to effect the flight. The eventual touchdown was equally steady. The moment Bowden shut down the engines and electrical systems. Aircraft technicians came up to the Windwalker and attached two separate hoses to the underside of the plane. While the crews worked, Bowden and Caden hurried down their ladders to the deck below and let Marlene and Sephiroth out of the hidden cabin.
They all moved around a bit while the crews worked on the Windwalkers and the Highwind. Caden stayed close to the Windwalker, but seemed like his mind was a thousand kilometers away. "It's time, isn't it? Time to see if I'm the one or if I just got lucky a couple of times."
Do not discourage, A distant and pained voice said. You will be our salvation. Caden looked around but could see no one. It was as if the air itself was speaking, but with great suffering. Do not be afraid, for you know me.
"Aeris?" Caden asked completely without thought.
No, but she is of me, as are all her ancestors, the voice said again, then silenced.
Marlene walked up behind Caden, still trying to make sense of his encounter. "Who were you talking to?" she asked. She did not overhear the voice. "Never mind that. The Windwalker's refueled, and Monsoon's ready to take off." Marlene looked at Caden, because something did not seem right. "Hey, Caden, you alright? You look like you just saw a ghost... Well one you don't know on a first name basis."
Caden gently shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He now thought that he knew who or what the voice belonged to, but was still unsure. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking."
"Well, just try to keep it together until we're back here," Marlene said, leading Caden back to the Windwalker.
"Ok, we just cleared the Provoka Mountains, so stay alert!" Cid's scratchy voice commanded over the intercom. "All squadron leaders, report in!" Each of the squadron leaders reported in their callsigns and squadrons. "The target will be in range within a five minutes. All pilots, check your weapons and set up for your attack runs. The ground units are in position and ready to attack once the initial air strikes are complete."
"You heard the Admiral, Bow. Get our weapons and tracking up," Caden said while he took the Windwalker of autopilot. Their flight took them over the gradually dying earth that led to Midgar. Even the rich colors of the stone seemed to fade to black. The sky darkened with clouds the closer they flew to their target. A sense of not death, but of non-existence permeated the air like a foul stench. "So this is the triumph of Shinra..." Caden said, trailing off at the end. He was now in visual range of the forbidden Mako city, and could see the trails of mist coming from the reactors. The distant spire like silhouette of a sky scraper almost seemed to beacon the small aircraft. It was like a ghost of steel wandering a sea of stone. "Geez, that thing's huge! Bow, you ready?"
"Yeah," Bowden responded, still adjusting his equipment. "What about you?"
Caden looked down at the ground and could see multiple artillery units and soldiers. "Yeah, I'm ready. We'll be in range soon so stay on your toes."
"Gotcha'," Bowden responded then finished his adjustments. "Fire control is ready."
"Tiger and leopard stalk prey," Cid said over the intercom before Caden could say anything.
"Tiger is stalking," Fire Leader Inferno said as his squadron pulled away from the main group.
"Leopard is stalking," Earth Leader Rockhound said while his squadron followed Fire. The Highwind followed suit and began to drop missile clusters. Several projectiles flew from the main missile and arched around their direct path. Soon, similar missiles began to fly from the Windwalkers.
"Fire two, snake four," Fire Two announced over the intercom.
"Earth one, snake two," Earth Leader Rockhound announced. Each time one of the planes fired a cluster missile, they would announce their squadron, number, and missile's number.
"Command ship, we're taking fire from sectors four and six," Inferno said calmly yet with confidence. "The prey is wounded." With that announcement the Windwalkers of Fire and Earth squadron retreated from Midgar.
"Fire and Earth, return to the nest," Cid commanded while the Highwind pulled back followed the Windwalkers out. "Ground crews, it's up to you now. Take out those anti-aircraft weapons."
"Understood, Admiral Highwind," a voice said over the intercom followed by artillery fire from far below. Caden watched the streaks of fire fly towards the besieged fortress city and the resultant explosions that lit the otherwise dark skies. "Artillery strikes are going as planned. Their defenses are down at the sectors two, three, six, and eight gates. Shinobi no Kami is in position and ready to infiltrate on your word."
"Good, send in the ground teams and tell them to stick to ranged weapons," Cid responded calmly, although with a sense of satisfaction of how well the plan was proceeding. Caden on the other hand thought it seemed too easy. "Crane and snake on hunt," Cid commanded, queuing Caden to follow his wing leader in the strike.
"Snake is hunting," Water Leader Tsunami said as he lead his squadron towards Midgar.
Caden waited patiently, but he could not shake the uneasy feeling he had. In a matter of seconds, he would be involved in aerial combat with ground based anti-aircraft guns. Caden swallowed his apprehension and waited for the word. "Crane is hunting," Monsoon said and began to pull away.
Caden followed but turned off his intercom so he could speak freely to everyone in the Windwalker. "Ok, everyone. Here we go."
"We're counting on you, Caden," Marlene said while holding on to her restraints.
"Just remember that you are as good as everyone says, and you will be able to land us safely," Sephiroth said in a rare moment of encouragement.
"WARK" a chocobo said from out of no where.
Caden looked ahead in shock and confusion. "Swift!? How the hell did you get in here?"
"Caden, we can't worry about that now," Bowden said with urgency. "We'll have to bring him in with us. Anyway, he could help me out."
"Alright, we really don't have a choice," Caden reluctantly conceded. "Just stay still back there." Swift 'warked' in agreement and Caden again turned on his intercom.
"Wind squadron, commence attack," Monsoon commanded. Soon after, the five aircraft group began to fire their missile clusters and announcing their attacks to the other planes in the group. The Windwalkers fired their missiles and dodged gunfire from Midgar. The deadly dance continued even after Wind squadron joined Water.
"I have a lock," Bowden said so that Caden could steadied the Windwalker. "Wind two, snake three." The missile cluster dropped a few meters and burst into twenty or so smaller projectiles that streaked away from the aircraft. The swarm of missiles hit their target seconds later in a spectacular flare over Sector Six. "Dead on!"
"Nice shot, Bow," Caden commented ecstatically. An anti-aircraft battery caught sight of the Windwalker and began to fire. Caden was forced to dodge a stream of fire, but did so with ease. "Try and target that Triple A between Sector Five and Sector Six."
"I have it in sight," Bowden said with a slight grin. Its fire rate was fairly high and did not seem to aim at any particular fighter. Caden began guide the Windwalker closer to streaks of bullets while trying not to get hit.
"Kaze, the rest of us are out of snakes," Monsoon said over the intercom. "We'll cover you as much as we can until you're out."
"Gotcha'," Caden responded immediately. He and Bowden locked onto the anti-aircraft battery. "Wind two, snake two." The missile fired just before the stream swept near the right wing. Taking the opportunity, Caden hit a switch on his panel. The fire stream narrowly missed the wing where the smoke generator was set, but Caden's timing was impeccable. The generator flared to life, and Caden pitched the plane far to the right. "This is Wind Two, we've been hit. Our right wing is damaged and we're leaking fuel." The Windwalker began to fall into a death spin towards Sector Five of Midgar.
"Kaze, pull out!" Monsoon yelled out with an urgent voice.
"I think my controls are fried. They aren't responding," Caden said, trying to sound panicked. "Our ejection system isn't responding either." That was the last thing Caden said before shutting off his com system and dropping the external fuel tanks.
"Wind Two, respond! Wind Two, do you copy," Cid yelled into the microphone of his com unit. He was responded to by only static. "All aircraft, Lame Aquila. Repeat, Lame Aquila. All squadrons return to the nest."
"Copy that, Admiral," Monsoon responded right before the sound of metal hitting the side of his Windwalker could be heard. "What the hell!? Admiral, I've been hit on my right main fuel tank, but there's no damage."
"WHAT!?" Cid yelled back into the microphone.
"They're using blanks," Monsoon said, still surprised by his lack of damage. "We just walked the kid into a trap."
A man watched the battle from a window in the central tower of Midgar and seemed pleased with how it was proceeding. He could see Caden's Windwalker make the maneuver into Sector Five and the flash from the exploding fuel tanks. The explosions that continued around the ring of Midgar illuminated the dreary ruins of the city. He continued to watch in the unlit room not acknowledging the man that stood behind him. The man in the back appeared to battle worn and tested. His eyes glowed with an unholy amber light. "Sir, our outer defenses have been breached. Can you please tell me why it is so necessary to fire blank shells at the enemy?"
The man watching the battle did not move, but rather stared more intently at the ensuing conflict. "No, Lenox. You are a soldier and should be quite accustomed to the concept of 'need to know'. Right now, you don't need to know."
Lenox was no less then upset at the man's lack of candidness. "How am I supposed to command my men if I don't know the whole story? And what about the report of the crashed Windwalker in Sector Five?"
"That is of no concern of yours," the man said sharply. It was obvious to Lenox that the man did not want anyone to disturb the potential wreckage. "Tell your men to reinforce Sectors Two, Three, and Eight."
"Yes, Sir," Lenox reluctantly said. There was no point in arguing with the man, as it was not at all unreasonable since those sectors had been invaded. Without saying another word, Lenox left the man to watch the battle unfold.
"Were you there long?" the man said without moving while another man stepped out of the shadows. The unknown man's eyes glowed green, providing little light to the room.
"I heard it all," the man with green eyes said, walking further into the room. "I don't understand why you keep that fossil around."
"Because, he commands the respect of the troops," the man responded calmly. "It will not matter long, though."
The green eyed man leaned against an upright support. "Is it because of the roboguards they repaired or are they simply obsolete?"
"Neither," the man said while closing his eyes to ponder. "He's here." The man opened his eyes again only for them to glow yellow. "It's time for you to meet your brother."
"Yes, Father" the green eyed man responded and left the room.