Episode 18: To Windermere

Keith looked up to the customized VF-31F with an expression of melancholy. It is a unit he had come to know quite well with the emblem of Shinigami on the unit's back. It is the unit previously belonging to Messer Ihlefelt, his rival and the man he killed. He shot him through the cockpit in their last battle. Despite being enemies, he felt nothing but respect for the former Delta 2.

And now this unit is his.

Since he will be collaborating with the Delta flight for the forseeable future, he need his own unit and the only unit available for his use is the black VF-31F belonging to Messer. The irony of the situation is not lost to him, though he doesn't mind it. To fly the VF of his rival is an honor to him.

"Is something wrong?"

Kazumi asked him, seeing the complicated expression on Keith's face. The White Knight of Darwent turn to face the new ace pilot of the Delta flight and shook his head.

"Nothing. Just thinking about a pointless thing."

Kazumi hummed and then head towards his own fighter. His Siegfried had been repaired and upgraded after its last encounter with Mary. The final modification which tuned the unit to his exact specification made it difficult for anyone other than Kazumi to pilot it. It is why it took quite some time for him to get his VF back. Since they are about to head to Windermere, Kazumi is doing a final system check on his unit.

Keith is not quit sure what to make of Kazumi. Sure the man is skilled in and outside of a VF, his crazy maneuvers and tricks made him an opponent even he find very hard to match, but there is something about him that bothers Keith, like his lonely wind for one thing. But there are also changes he saw in him. Keith is not sure but the man will play an important role in the coming conflict, he just knew it.

Keith put away his thought for now. There are things he must do before they launch, like making sure that the VF works. While it looks like it is in prime condition, it had been kept in storage since Hayate received his upgraded unit. It had stayed in storage for several months so he wanted to make sure that it is ready for combat. Keith went to look for Makina and Reina to inquire more about the unit.

As Keith left, someone else came and climb the ladders that lead to Kazumi's cockpit. Kazumi glanced at the newcomer and immediately got back to work on the system check while also talking with the person.

"What are you here for, Mikumo?"

He asked in a level tone which he never used in casual conversation with the Mysterious Venus. But since he is working, he is a bit more serious than usual. As this is the first time Mikumo actually see him working on his fighter from up close she is mildly surprised by Kazumi's more serious tone. This is actually the first time she visited Aether's hangar. Before this she has no reason to come but with Kazumi here, she has a reason to visit.

Mikumo chuckled as she sat on the edge of Kazumi's cockpit observing him do some system check. His eyes went from the datapad in his hand to the controls of his fighter quickly like he is just repeating a procedure he had done many times before. After finishing all the system check in under five minutes, Kazumi put down the datapad and look up to Mikumo.

"Well? I don't think you came here because you are bored."

"I'm just curious. I've never visited a pilot in the hangar before."

"I see. Well, there's nothing interesting here unless you are Makina."

Kazumi told her while thinking about the pink haired member of Walkure who called the VF-31 'Sieg-chan'. Kazumi had met some enthusiastic technician before but Makina is just something else with her love of mecha. Not even Aisha Blanchett, the one who put together the YF-30, love her mecha as much as Makina.

"It's not that but… nee Kazumi, why did you become a pilot?"

Mikumo asked, looking down at the instruments in the cockpit. Kazumi is surprised at the rather inquisitive question coming from the Mysterious Venus. He thought for a while before answering.

"I… can't really remember. It's been so long since I thought of it and to be honest, I myself am wondering why I still sat behind the controls of a VF. I just can't seem to leave the life of a pilot even after all that happened."

Kazumi answered and then he looked behind at raven emblem on the back of his bright red unit. Mikumo too looked at the emblem and then at Kazumi who put on an expression that is a mixture of pain and nostalgia. She now knew how Kazumi earned the name Bloodraven, and it is not because of his unit's color.

"You're still in regret, aren't you? Can't you just… stop? I mean, you could ask for a different position."

Kazumi stared at Mikumo and chuckled mirthlessly.

"It's not that simple."

In the space next to Kazumi's fighter, Mirage Falyna Jenius is in her fighter doing system check with Hayate accompanying her. While Mirage is focusing on her system check, Hayate watch as Mikumo talk with Kazumi in mild interest. It is still strange for him to see the reclusive Mikumo actively interacting with someone not from Walkure, even going as far as to visit him in the hangar.

"Have they always been that close?"

Hayate asked Mirage. The female pilot did not answer immediately or look away from her cockpit's interface and simply blushed, remembering what she and Freyja saw not a few days ago. Hayate look at her oddly, wondering why she's blushing. Seeing that Mirage won't be answering that question anytime soon, Hayate decided to ask about something else.

"Speaking of which, is it alright for us to go to Windermere airspace directly?"

Hayate asked. Putting aside the dimensional rift that doesn't allow them to fold directly to Windermere airspace, Windermere is their enemy even though there has been no clash with the Aerial Knight since the second battle of Ragna. Though Hayate hardly consider them an enemy right now with what had happened, their two sides are not really friends either.

"There should be no problem. The White Knight, Keith had sent a message to Windermere using a channel only he knew. Plus we have made a ceasefire agreement right now. Windermere's warcrime had been put on Roid Brehm's shoulder and Windermere had made repairs as a sign of peace. The current King does not wish for further conflict. Furthermore, we are part of Chaos, not the NUNS. Our relationship with Windermere is better that at least they will not fire on us unless we shoot them first."

Mirage explained to him. Hayate had not heard anything about that and was a bit surprised though that explain why there have been no conflict with Windermere. He did not pay much attention to politics after all unless it came up. Basically Roid Brehm had been made as scapegoat and shoulder all the mess made in the conflict. Not really hard since many people, even Windermereans, fell victim to his attempt at subjugating the galakx using the power of the Star Singer.

There are probably more things happening behind the scene that they don't know about but the result is at least seen. Hayate could appreciate the ceasefire with Windermere. With the Aerial Knights out of the picture they could focus more of their resource to fight their new enemies, the one identified as Thanatos squadron.

Hayate frowned when he thought about their new enemy. They are certainly elite black ops unit. One of their pilot alone could give him and Mirage so much trouble and their opponent is not even the best pilot in the enemy unit. The enemy commander could take down Arad and chuck by herself and even though he could face her by himself, Kazumi admit that he doesn't like fighting the one called Mary and that said a lot.

Not to mention that the enemy could infiltrate Ragna and almost killed Mikumo. Usually it was them who infiltrate the enemy planet but being on the receiving end is not nice, especially since they almost lost one of their friend in the process if Kazumi was not with her.

"Nee, what do you think we will find in Windermere?"

Hayate asked again.

"To be honest, I don't know. By this point, anything can happen."

After all preparations have been finished, Aether detached itself from Macross Elysion and took off. Once the carrier exited the atmosphere a fold gate opened and the ship fold in, setting a course to Windermere just outside the area where the dimensional rift is located. The Aerial Knights will be meeting them there and lead them through the rift and to Darwent.

Keith and Kazumi are on standby in their respective VF since they will launch once the ship fold out and meet with the Aerial Knights. Meanwhile Hayate and the rest of Delta flight are on the bridge together with Walkure. There are still a few minutes until they fold out.

The moment Aether fold out, the two VF-31F was brought onto the launch ramp. The black shinigami unit and crimson raven unit then launched to meet the Windermere's Draken III units belonging to the Aerial Knights. 3 Draken units are waiting for them that Keith identify as Bogue, Theo and Zao's units.

"Sir White Knight, it is a pleasure to see you once more! We thought you died when you struck down the traitor Roid Brehm!"

Came the voice of Bogue who excitedly greeted Keith when he opened a channel to communicate with them. Always the loud and loyal one with him, though it is also rather endearing.

"I hope you receive the message I sent. We have things to discuss, Bogue. Lead us to Darwent."

While the Aerial Knights are still wary about the Delta flight and Walkure, they had read the message Keith sent and have been ordered to guide them to Windermere. The three Aerial Knights salute Keith and began their preparation to open a path to Windermere. There are more important things that needs to be done and the two groups need to put aside their rivalry.

While the Aerial Knights led the Aether and its crew to Windermere, several light years away, Macross Styx in full stealth mode is hidden in the darkness of space, watching the two formerly conflicting groups. On the bridge stood Captain Joseph Omer and Commander Mary who had followed the Aether since it launched from Elysion.

"Windermere, the birthplace of the Star Singer."

"What could they possibly want with that planet?"

Joseph wondered. That is the million dollar question, one that Mary also wanted to know, and she intends to find out even if she has to infiltrate Windermere alone. The commander of the Thanatos squadron grinned. She has a few tricks up her sleeve that could help her slip past that dimensional rift.

"I don't know what they are planning to do there but I intend to find out."

"Can you even pass the dimensional rift?"

"I have my ways."

Mary answered cryptically. Joseph simply nodded, already used to the commander's mysterious nature, and will leave everything to her. She is capable enough to do what she said she will. Mary exited the bridge and head to the hangar where her newly repaired VF-29X is. It's only been a short while but she is looking forward to meet Kazumi again, especially now since she will be going out alone.

"I think it's time we have a little chat, Kazumi."


Sorry that this took a while and it is quite short but I've been running low on inspiration and needed something. Fortunately, I got that something after I wrote another Macross Delta story. So here we have the whole crew going to Windermere. The next episode will take a while though since I will need to work out what is what and things about the Star Singer and Star Knight. I have the stuff but I need to compile it first so it can work. Also, Kazumi's past will be revealed slowly in this arc.

I hope I can keep the promise of monthly update at the very least. Well, I do have everything planned out but like usual, plans don't survive contact with enemies so we'll see how this goes. Also, I have started a new story, an alternate version of this story titled 'Macross Delta: Heirs to the Stars'. It features Kazumi too but this time he is assigned to Mikumo BEFORE she joins Walkure. That means Kazumi will be present in the conflict with Windermere. While his past there is relatively the same, there are differences between Kazumi in Heirs to the Stars and Song of the Stars. I hope I could make that story work as well as this one.