Missing in Action

by Galantron

Over a period of 102 days, 198 air force pilots from 10 countries disappear. Now, during the testing of a new stealth system, a Japanese pilot and his F-2 jet vanishes, followed 24 hours later by an American pilot and the F-15 Eagle jet with the new stealth system. It now maybe up to Haru, Chihiro, and their friends to solve the mystery and save the pilots and possibly the world.

2. Pre-flight Discussions

Activity at the US Air Force-owned Yokota Air Base was buzzing under the midday sun of August 5th, 2002. Members of both the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the United States Air Force were preparing for the test flight of a new and powerful aircraft stealth system. It was to use a single McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle as the platform for testing this aircraft stealth system. The individual chosen to fly the F-15, was 19 year old, fresh out of training, US Air Force rookie pilot, Aaron Berkley. The aircraft that were to be used to simulate enemy fighters, were going to be two Mitsubishi F-2 aircraft. Leading the simulated attack, was going to be one of the Japan Air Self Defence Force's most experienced pilots, 40 year old Uehara Morita. His wingman was 25 year old junior pilot, Hiroyuki Daizo. In the 15 minutes they had before they had to go to their flight stations, Aaron, Uehara, and Hiroyuki were talking about a string of strange disappearances of 198 pilots and their aircraft from the air forces of 10 countries, including the USA and Japan.

Aaron said, "It's all just so strange. These disappearances are just plain weird. It begins in the Mediterranean on April 15th with 20 of the Israeli Air Force's finest and their aircraft, vanishing without a trace. Then April 26th, the French Air Force gets it, with 20 of its pilots and their aircraft going missing in similar circumstances. Then in a period of 7 days between May 8th and May 19th, in the skies above the North Sea, first the Royal Air Force loses 20 of its pilots and their planes on the same circumstances. Then the same goes for the German Air Force, 20 pilots and their planes disappear, never to be seen or heard from again."

Hiroyuki added, "Yes. Then 11 days later on May 30th, in the skies over the South China Sea, the same thing to China and its People's Liberation Army Air Force, 20 pilots and their aircraft go missing. Then over the Indian Ocean, between June 10th and July 21st, the same goes for both the Indian Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force, 20 pilots and their aircraft from each of their respective air forces are never seen again. Then on July 3rd, above the Sea of Okhotsk, 20 pilots of the Russian Air Force and their aircraft suddenly vanish into thin air."

Uehara also added, "Then on July 14th, in the airspace above the Bering Sea, 19 US Air Force pilots and the aircraft they flew also mysteriously disappeared. Then 12 days later, in the skies over the Sea of Japan on July 26th, 19 pilots of our own Japan Air Self Defense Force and the aircraft they flew vanished in the same circumstances."

Hiroyuki then mentioned, "The fact that the US and Japan have each had 19 of their pilots and the aircraft they flew vanish while 8 other countries had 20 pilots and their aircraft disappear leaves just one question."

Aaron, as if he were reading Hiroyuki's mind, then asked, "Which singular pilot from air force of either the United States or Japan will disappear next and when will it happen?"

Hiroyuki added, "Exactly."

Uehara then said, "We now have 7 minutes before we have to get into our planes, so let's keep getting ready for it."

Aaron then said in agreement, "Right. Let's get to it then. Chop chop."

Within 7 minutes, they were going to be ready for the test flight. Little did they know that it would be the strangest day of their lives.