(September 30, 2025, Tokyo, Japan, 1106 hrs. JST)
In the middle of the tunnel, the Special Region ladies were in a Humvee quietly waiting for any light that would come out ahead of them. As the moved along, they saw a light not far ahead.
"Is that what I think it is?" Princess Piña asked.
"Yeah." Tuka responded. "Daylight. I think that's the other side."
When they exited the tunnel, they were shocked by the buildings that were higher than an average building back at their world.
"Wow!" A response came from Tuka. "It's beautiful."
"Uh, how can they build such things that rose up to the heavens?" Piña again raised a question. "Are they walls?"
"No, your highness." Lelei explained. "Itami told me that in his country called 'Japan', they did that for effective use of space."
"So that's why."
"No need to worry. This, as they say, was a result of moving forward."
"Maybe I would check them out if we have some time." Tuka said.
After a little while, they slowly stopped.
"What is going on?" Piña asked the driver. "I need to know now!"
"Security checkpoint, your highness." The driver responded while pointing to the men wearing the letters 'MP' in their helmets. "We have to be checked for anything dangerous. You'll encounter them as we move along."
As three military police officers began inspecting the convoy, Piña felt nervous on what they are doing. When they finished the inspection, one of them went to the driver.
"All clear, soldier." The officer reported. "You're free to go."
Piña felt relieved and the convoy then continued their journey to Yokota Air Base. As they moved along, the girls were fascinated by what this world has to offer, seeing people wearing the same type of clothing Tuka is now and wagons that are different from the one they are using.
(Yokota Air Base, 1350 hrs. JST)
The convoy then arrived at the entrance to the base itself. While waiting, they saw a flying 'iron eagle' that is very different compared to the ones being used by the UNF in Alnus, being larger and carrying what looked like green spears with a yellow stripe painted on each one. It also emitted a loud noise as it went closer.
"Another iron eagle?!" Piña said in shock. "And...they are different?!"
"Looks like it." Lelei replied. "I wonder if they have different species of iron eagles with them."
They moved shortly after. As they continued moving, more unusual buildings were seen, some of which housing more 'iron eagles'.
"As what you said, Lelei." Rory recognized Lelei's explanation. "They could be stables for more of their iron egales."
They stopped at a large building in what was believed to be a headquarters. They went outside the Humvee and were still surprised. Itami and Takeo, the two Infinite Squadron pilots who went there earlier, came to greet them.
"Ladies, what you are standing right now is Yokota Air Base." Itami explained. "This is where the iron eagles, or 'aircraft' to us, were launched to fight and strike from the air."
"This is also one of the main airbases in a region called the West Pacific." Takeo continued. "We are currently fighting a war against the remnants of a fallen empire known as the USEA Federation."
There are some confusion between the ladies.
"So this what an 'airbase' can do?" Tuka asked Itami. "Launch attacks from the air?"
"Well, it's not just that. Airbases can also be used to help people on humanitarian grounds like in disasters."
"Okay." Tuka replied cheerfully. "They are not always bad."
"Yep."
"Itami, can we get close to those eagles if your superiors allow?" Rory asked. "We want to know how they work."
"We'll try. After all, some of them are thinking of the same thing."
As they continued, Kuribayashi came.
"Uh, ladies, may I excuse the boys to come to the building?" She asked.
"You may." Piña replied.
"Thank you."
"Guess we can continue later." Takeo said.
"I'll see you later." Itami finished the conversation and the two left with Kuribayashi.
"All we can do for now is to find some place to rest for a while until they come back from their mission." Lelei suggested. "This is just the beginning."
"You may be right." Tuka agreed. "Princess?"
"I am fine with that." She replied.
Just then, a man wearing glasses came to the ladies.
"You must be the ladies from the Special Region, am I right? He asked.
"We are." Rory replied. "We are just thinking of where to rest."
"We'll provide you in a while. For now, just follow me."
"Who are you?" Tuka asked.
"Almost forgot." He replied. "My name is Goodfellow, Reaper's superior during his time as a rookie."
"I see." Lelei continued as they begin walking. "So you were his commander when he just started becoming a feared pilot?"
"That's correct." Goodfellow responded. "I oversaw what he did. He took down a lot of enemies, some of them really big."
"Big like a dragon?" Piña asked him.
"Way bigger than that, which will be the focus of the mission that they will undertake today."
(Briefing room, 1405 hrs. JST)
The girls then entered a room with Itami and his friends. The latter two were surprised by their sudden appearsnce.
"Uh, what are you doing here?" He asked the girls.
"Well, the superior of your captain invited us to see how you people do in missions like this." Rory explained.
"So that's why." Kuribayashi said. "Anyway, just be quiet for now when the briefing starts."
"Okay, we will." Tuka replied.
As if on cue, Reaper, Akira and Goodfellow entered the room.
"Captain, you heard of the girls' visit?" Itami asked him.
"Yes, I was informed of this by Goodfellow." Reaper replied. "He just dropped the girls here then went to find me."
"Excuse me Akira, but how's our planes?" Takeo politely asked.
"The planes are starting to receive their weapons. The mechanics said they can have it ready in 10 minutes." He replied.
"Thank you sir."
Reaper then sat down and Goodfellow went to the front, standing beside a screen.
"Alroght, let's get things started."
He then opened a map of the world.
"Following the failed attempt to destroy Gleipnir, the UNF is requesting your squadron to come here to intercept the aerial fortress."
The screen changed to a map of Hokkaido.
"We believed that Gleipnir will pave the way for an armed invasion of the island, then proceed to Tokyo in the Kanto region. In other words, right here. That's when the Infinite Team comes in."
Finally, the combat area was revealed.
"We received intel that the Gleipnir is heading for the La Pérouse Strait and launch attacks from Hokkaido using its shockwave ballistic missiles or SWBM for short. To complement this, it has a shock cannon that can cause destructive attacks equal in magnitude and also an experimental stealth system that can literally be invisible to the naked eye. Your mission is to take down the fortress and keep Hokkaido safe. Be warned, however, that it may have air cover to keep it safe from fighter attacks. That's about it. Dismissed."
The pilots left for their planes and the others went as well to witness them take-off.
(Hangar, 1417 hrs. JST)
They entered an area that houses the planes. The girls were impressed when they saw the five aircraft up close.
"This is...I can't explain it." Piña expressed her opinion. "What is that? It looks different than the ones we saw so far."
"That's a JAS-39C Gripen." Akira explained. "It's an aircraft developed by a country called Sweden."
"And that..." Tuka followed while pointing to another one.
"It's an F-2A." Akira said to her. "It was built here with help from another country, the United States of America. However, there are issues with getting these things for Japan."
The elf nodded.
"We'll be back later to show you more of what we have." Akira assured them and left for his plane.
(1427 hrs. JST)
The Infinite Team is on the flight apron waiting for taxi clearance. Reaper is flying his F-15C Eagle while his wingmen were flying different models. Itami flies an F-2A while Takeo goes with his F-16C Fighting Falcon. Kuribayashi flies a Mirage 2000-5 while Akira uses the JAS-39C.
"This is Infinite Lead, requesting permission for taxi to runway 36." Reaper requested to the control tower.
"Affirmative, Infinite Lead." The tower accepted. "Taxi to runway 36 and await clearance."
The Special Region girls were looking at the planes going towards the runway. When they approached the runway, Reaper radioed the tower.
"This is Infinite Lead, we're on the runway. Requesting permission for take-off clearance."
"Roger, Infinite Lead. You are cleared for take-off. Wind speeds are 201 degress at 5 knots."
"Affirmative, control. Infinite Team, taking off."
Reaper and Akira went first, applying their afterburners as they thunder down the runway at high speeds. The girls were awed by the roar and lights as they lift off. Itami and Takeo went next, followed by Kuribayashi. When they are already in the air, they head northeast to Hokkaido.
"I hope they are okay." Rory said to them.
Just then, Goodfellow came to them.
"We'll be showing you the battle thanks to something that can show real-time video feed."
"Real-time video?" Lelei asked.
"Don't worry. I'll explain the details as we move along."
(Near the La Pérouse Strait, 1447 hrs. JST)
While the squadron is flying to the strait, Goodfellow radioed them.
"Listen, the girls are watching your actions via a camera installed in your cockpits. They might get surprised when they saw this."
"Think they can handle this?" Kuribayashi asked. "I'm just worried about them seeing a fight like this."
"Don't worry." Takeo assured her. "We can explain this to them later."
"I thank you for this." She finished.
The Infinite Team then arrived at the interception point after almost an hour flying to the area.
"Alright. We're in the interception area." Reaper announced. "All craft, split up and commence your search."
"This is Gremlin, roger that." Takeo responded.
"This is Dragon, roger." Followed by Itami.
"Dagger, I copy." Then by Kuribayashi.
"Raven, roger." And finally, by Akira.
The planes split up and began searching the landscape.
"Remember that Gleipnir has an experimental stealth system so we have a hard time finding it with both our eyes and radar." Takeo reminded everyone.
For a while, they searched. Thanks to their drop tanks, they can fly a while longer.
"Seen anything?" Kuribayashi asked.
"Negative, nothing yet." Akira responded. "Just keep looking."
As they continued, it starts to be a little exhausting.
"Not much here though." Itami said. "Just some greenery."
"Hey Dragon, if what Goodfellow said regarding Gleipnir's sealth system is true, then that means that it might have slipped right under our noses." Takeo said to Itami. "Don't you think so?"
"Looks like it." Itami replied. "But I kinda doubt it wouldn't make it that far at the moment."
Then, they noticed something.
"Hold on, I noticed something unusual." Takeo reported. "Look like ripples on the ground."
"Stay where you are, Gremlin." Itami said. "I'll check."
When he got close, more ripples showed up. Itami flew back and the ripples were transferred to the sky. Unsure, he armed his cannon and fire a few rounds. They stopped in mid-air. This prompt Itami to radio his wingmen.
"I found it! Dragon to Infinite Team, I have confirmation of Gleipnir!"
"That's it!" Reaper responded. "All units, follow Itami's lead ands shoot it!"
The planes then armed their cannons and fired at the area Itami is shooting. After a couple of bursts, the ripples then turned transparent black, revealing Gleipnir.
"There it is!" Akira said. "Raven to Goodfellow, Gleipnir located!"
"Affirmative, Raven." Goodfellow responded. "You are cleared to engage."
In the fortress, the commanders and crew were surprised that one plane found them first.
"We've lost our optical camouflage!" A crewman reported. "Too much feedback!"
"How's the hull?" The captain of the Gleipnir asked. "Is it still okay?"
"Yes sir, our hull sustained light damage."
"Prepare the SWBM. It's time to show these sky pirates what Gleipnir can do."
"Yes sir! Arming silo #1!"
As the Gleipnir prepared to fire one SWBM, the Infinite Team began to arm their missiles to engage the beast. Kuribayashi then noticed that one of the SWBM ports are opening.
"Guys, be careful." Kuribayashi warned them. "They're about to fire one SWBM."
"Alright. We'll fly below it then to evade." Itami replied.
"Good idea." Reaper agreed. "Get down and wait until the blast dissipates."
When the missile was launched, the team dived below the Gleipnir, only to see several USEA fighters coming from below to engage the Infinite Team.
"We have bandit's imbound!" Takeo reported. "Looks like elite squadrons to me. Now they really went under our noses!"
"All units, the ribbons are under the Gleipnir." One USEA pilot said while mentioning the ribbon, a symbol of fear to USEA and hope to the UNF. "Take them out."
"Roger." Another responded. "Engaging the ribbons."
"Dragon, Dagger, Gremlin, engage the Gleipnir while me and Raven get the fighters!" Reaper ordered. "We'll cover you!"
"Copy!" Itami responded. "Dagger, Gremlin, with me."
"I'm with you!" Kuribayashi said.
"We'll get Gleipnir!" Takeo followed.
"Missile impact in 5...4...3...2...1...now!"
The missile exploded with a surge of energy spreading out. Back at Yokota, the girls were shocked at the firepower the airborne fortress contains at its disposal.
"That's what they're facing?!" Piña asked. "That's too powerful for them! Even our world couldn't escape that!"
"I wouldn't be surprised by what Goodfellow said about Reaper." Lelei said. "He was right."
"They know what they are doing." Rory followed. "Looks like the kingdoms underestimated the military power of this world. That's why Alnus remains untouched."
"They can do it!" Tuka tried to keep their spirits up. "I believe they can!"
The fight continues as the three pilots targeted the SWBM ports. One was disabled.
"Silo #3 is hit!" The crew reported.
"Damn! Get our defenses up!" The captain ordered. "I want those planes down before we are too!"
"Roger! Arming defenses!"
"Don't just stand there, start shooting!"
The Gleipnir's defense system was activated and SAM launchers and AA guns were already aiming at the three planes.
"Watch it, AA guns and SAMs are online!" Takeo warned.
The three planes used evasive maneuvers to try to get close to the silos. Meanwhile, Reaper and Akira were engaging the fighters as a hail of bullets and missiles engulfed the sky.
"Fox 2!" Reaper shouted as the missile flies towards one USEA plane. The plane was hit.
"I'm hit!" The pilot shouted and bailed almost immediately.
"Reaper, we have to maintain air superiority!" Akira said. "We can't afford to lose Hokkaido!"
"We can do it!" Reaper replied. "Just give them more time!"
"Watch it, Captain! Enemies at your five!"
"I see them!"
Akira locked on one of the planes with his missiles.
"Fox 2!" He shouted and shortly after, the missile hit the plane, sending it to the ground.
"Good shot, Raven!" Reaper congratulated Akira before hearing the missile warning alarms.
"They fired missiles. Let's evade and get behind them."
The planes did some maneuvering to shake off the missiles. When they missed, they began to get behind the planes and fired their missiles and guns to take them out.
"Gray Wolf 3 here, I can't control my aircraft!" One of the pilots shouted.
The three pilots assigned to attack Gleipnir then took out the remaining silos to finally render it's SWBM capabilities useless. Some of their defenses were also out.
"All SWBM launch ports are down!" The crew reported.
Just then, two large explosion took hold of the plane. Two of their engines was hit.
"Engines one and five are on fire!" Another crewman reported. "We're losing thrust!"
"We can't stay here! We must retreat! The Gleipnir is taking heavy damage!"
"No!" The captain rebuked. "Arm the shock cannon! I want them decimated!"
"You sure, sir?"
"I don't care about how much damage we sustained. Get our fighters to head up."
"Uh, I'm on it!"
The surviving USEA planes then flew up, making Akira and Reaper confused.
"Why are they going up?" Akira asked. "Are they withdrawing or something?"
"I don't know, but something tells me this is not right." Reaper replied.
Just then, Reaper noticed a glow on the bottom of Gleipnir.
"What the...?"
"Captain, Akira, nose up!" Takeo said. "Hurry!"
The glow was discharged and a shockwave was formed on the ground. Fortunately, the two pilots escaped unharmed.
"What was that?" Kuribayashi asked.
"That's the shock cannon!" Goodfellow answered. "Take it out!"
"We can't! The fighters are keeping us distracted!"
"I'll volunteer to take it out." Itami said. "Cover me"
"Roger, Dragon!" Kuribayashi replied. "Take care of yourself!"
Itami then dived below the Gleipnir as he began to arm his remaining weapons for the final blow.
"You can do it!" The girls in Yokota said in unison. "Take it down!"
The plane then got a lock on on the cannon.
"What is that emblem?!" One of the officers shouted.
"A dragon emblem?!" Another shouted. "This can't be..."
He fired some multiple shots and the cannon was damaged though it can still fire some more shots, which Itami evaded after doing the first run.
"Next one will be better." A confident Itami said as he was about to do a second run.
"Do it!" Reaper pleaded.
He armed his last remaining missile and fired at the center. He also fired his gun for maximum damage. Moments later, the unthinkable happened.
"We're hit!" The Gleipnir crewman shouted as the rest try to save the ship. "Shock cannon is down! We're losing power very fast!"
Just before it begins descending to the strait, the captain of the fortress saw the dragon emblem one last time on the monitor.
"Damn you, Dragon..."
The Gleipnir hit the water in a steep glide, breaking into pieces before the airframe exploded. The USEA fighters were shocked by what happened.
"Gleipnir's shot down?!" A pilot reacted. "This can't be true!"
"We can't stay here!" Another said. "We must retreat!"
The planes then left the combat area, leaving the Infinite Team as the sole squadron.
"Good job, Dragon!" Reaper congratulated him. "The monster is down!"
Cheering was heard within the squadron and in Yokota as news of the Gleipnir's demise spread. The girls also joined in.
"We just go out alive today." Takeo said in relief. "Whew!"
"Not a bad shot you are!" Kuribayashi told Itami. "I should stick with you all the time."
"It's okay, I'm fine with it." Itami replied.
"Now that the Gleipnir is gone, we should head back now and rest." Akira suggested. "USEA wouldn't take this loss so lightly."
"Yeah! Guess you're right."
(Yokota Air Base, 1538 hrs. JST)
At the flight apron, the girls and base personnel were waiting for the squadron to return.
"I have them on my radar." The control tower reported.
The Infinite Team then closed in on the base. As they prepare to land, Itami went first.
"This is Infinite 3, requesting permission to land." Itami said.
"Roger, Infinite Three." The tower agreed. "You are cleared to land. Welcome home, Lieutenant."
He touched the ground and began to taxi to the apron. Once he is out of the runway, the others soon followed. After that, Itami was greeted with applause as he exited the cockpit.
"Good job on handling the Gleipnir." A mechanic congratulated him.
"It's him, the guy who took down Gleipnir!" Another said to his colleagues.
"First he saved Ginza, now this." A third compared today's actions to the heroic act hed did three months ago.
The girls were standing in front of Itami while Lelei came forward.
"I didn't know what to say to express my awe when we saw you fight." Lelei said.
"No need to worry." He assured her. "It's okay."
"Thank you."
Rory went next.
"The stories you told me were indeed true after all." Rory agreed. "I wanna see you do some more missions like this."
"If only command would request us to do it." He replied. "Yeah, I think we shall see more."
Piña then came forward.
"I, uh, I had to say something. What you did, and what we saw, just told me what would happened if our world goes to war with you. I shouldn't see this plague our land anymore. I believed that a formal peace treaty should end this fight."
"I agree with that." Itami replied. "We'll figure out a way to end this."
"Thank you. Our empire would be reluctant at first, but in time, they would understand."
"They will."
Tuka was the last to come forward.
"Hey, Itami, about today. You did good on shooting that 'shock...cannon' thing down. I was wondering that you could teach me how to fly with one of those things."
"Maybe I could." Itami replied. "But we have some requirements to fill before you can fly. I promise I can help you experience it."
Tuka nodded with a smile and Itami left for the quarters. Then, Reaper approached her.
"You are kinda fascinated with flying, don't you?" Reaper said in curiosity.
"Yeah. The way he flies that thing, I wanna be a pilot someday." Tuka replied. "Someday, I wanna fly with him and see other places."
"Nice idea. And by the way, where did you found out about the word 'pilot' and its concept?"
"From one of your soldiers."
"I see."
"C'mon cap!" Takeo shouted to call him.
"Itami's waiting for us!" Kuribayashi followed. "He might get the grub first!"
"I'll be there!" Reaper replied.
He then turned to Tuka.
"Don't worry, we'll help you." Reaper assured her. "You can count on it."
Tuka smiled knowing that she may be the first non-human pilot to fly in years time.