Chapter 10: Acquiring New Weapon

Disclaimer: I don't own Vandread or the Ace Combat series.

The Odyssey of Discovery: Gryphus 1

The Nirvana continues its steady course to Tarak/Mejale territory, the crew on constant alert for enemy attack. The ship comes across a terrestrial planet.

BC explained, "99% of the planet's surface is covered with water and has a nitrogen/oxygen atmosphere which means it fulfills the requirements for human life." The monitor zoomed in on an object, "There's an island and the inhabitants appear to be humanoid. We've also detected a colonization ship at the bottom of the ocean."

Magno chuckled, "Why don't we go say to our long lost relatives."

Belvedere's eyes sparkled, "This planet is so beautiful!" The alarm suddenly goes off.

BC asked, "What is it?"

Amarone stated, "Enemy approaching from behind the planet!"

Bart appeared on the monitor, "Should we run away?"

BC asked, "How many?"

Ezra replied, "Approximately 12 cube-types and two strange objects I can't identify." The water's planet star unveils the giant silhouettes emerging from behind the planet.

The first one resembled an octopus when swimming with a long metal rod sticking out of it.

The second was massive in size, black in color, swept-back wing design, two fusion reactors fueled powerful twin turbojet engines and tinted canopy windows. Its weaponry included four 16" guns mounted underneath its wings housed in triple turrets that can fire shells designed to penetrate shields and inflict massive damage, cruise missiles that had the same destructive firepower, Optical Camouflage and SAMs. Its designation number was G-2234X12.

Magno's eyes widened, "What is that?" The cube-types sense the Nirvana's presence and cease their construction of the weapons to engage the pirate ship.

Hibiki ran out of the door and to the hanger, "Alright, time for some action!" He stops in his tracks when a blinding light makes him shield his eyes followed by a laugh he knew anywhere.

Jura said, "The time has come. Listen up. You and I are going to combine in the upcoming battle, Hibiki." She asked Barnette who was recording it, "Did you get that? I was great, wasn't I?"

Barnette gave her the thumbs-up to hide her annoyance of this whole combining obsession, "Perfect!"

Hibiki sighed, "This is stupid." He walks away much to Jura's chagrin.

She said, "Hey, where do you think you're going? I haven't finished talking to you. Come on, Barnette this calls for phase two of my plan!"

Her friend told her, "Right behind you, chill out." The fighters heads out to engage the Harvesters.

Hibiki's Vanguard swings one of its swords at a nearby enemy unit but the cube-type avoids it and its comrade crashes on top of the Vanguard, pushing it down until Jura fires her red Dread's laser to destroy the cube-type in turn saving him.

Jura said, "Hello there, are you ready to combine?"

Hibiki answered, "I think not!"

Dita alerted, "Mr. Alien, watch out!" His returns his attention to the front as the approaching cube-type gets destroyed by Dita's Dread.

She blew him a kiss, "If you wanna combine, do it with me!"

Hibiki groaned, "You two are so damn annoying! Knock it off!" He tried attacking the enemy but they avoided him and retaliated, "They learned how to avoid my attacks!" BC and Magno observe the battle carefully.

BC said, "It appears the enemy has learned from their mistakes and improved their maneuvers."

Magno nodded, "They're able to predict our hand. How disgusting!" Gryphus 1 executes a hard right turn to shake off radar-homing missiles and arms the XLAAM on the enemy MiG-17s. To his shock, the enemy fighters pulls the split S, intentionally let the missiles follow them until they rapidly close in on pilot's 12 o'clock high. Gryphus 1 releases chaff to jam the XLAAM. He switches to the AIM-9M Sidewinder and fires but again the enemy MiG-17s release flares to confuse the heat-seeking missiles, remaining calm the Aurelian closes the distance and fires the M61A2 Vulcan Gatling Cannon at them. The 20mm bullets tear off the left wing on one of the MiG-17s, the enemy fighter spins out of control and then explodes. Its comrades fire their NR-23 cannons at Gryphus 1 prompting the Aurelian to evade. The F-22's outstanding maneuverability allows it to weave through the gunfire. Turning around he quickly fires the XLAAM at the remaining MiG-17s.

Crux and Gryphus 2 perform the scissors move, flying through each other's flight path to keep the enemy from locking onto one without risking getting shot down by the wingman. A combined missile strike downs the enemy cube-types with no difficulty.

They see cube-types pile on Hibiki's Vanguard and start pushing it down toward the planet with Jura in pursuit.

Ezra stated, "They're about to enter the atmosphere!" The cube-types on Hibiki's Vanguard blow up from the extreme heat of the reentry.

Hibiki exclaimed, "It's hot! I don't want to be roasted alive today!"

Jura grinned, "Barnette, I hope you have the camera rolling."

Barnette replied, "This isn't the time for that, Jura!"

The blonde-haired Dread pilot laughed, "Ha ha ha, the third stage is about to begin!" Her Dread reaches the Vanguard and the two machines fuse right before they crash into the ocean.

Additional cube-types look at the water's surface wondering if the pilots survived.

They soon get their answer when the new Vandread emerges.

It retained the red color, a pair of arms housed the engines, another pair was for close-range combat, 4 discs orbited the Vandread and a mirror hovered at the center. Its shape resembled a familiar crustacean.

BC asked, "What is that?"

Amarone face faulted, "It's a crab." Upon seeing the new Vandread Jura, nearly all members of Gryphus Squadron laugh their asses off.

Ignoring Jura's whining of how ugly her machine was, Hibiki tries to figure how to move it.

He pushes a button on the control console that activates the engines, sending the Vandread to the island.

Jura whined, "I've had enough! Let me out!"

Hibiki told her, "Stop whining and help out!" He noticed the control stick, "What does this do?" The young lad pushes it forward and the right arm swings at one cube-type, destroying it while the others evade. Pressing the green button on top of the control stick, the central mirror rises and the discs direct the laser beams at the remaining cube-types turning them into scrap metal.

Up in space, the Dreads and Gryphus Squadron finish annihilating the attackers.

Meia contacted Magno, "We've finished mopping up the enemy but we have been unable to destroy those two strange weapons no matter what we do."

Magno replied, "You did well, Meia. Return to the ship. I wonder why there's people here, perhaps out answer lies down there." In Vandread Jura the pilots rest from the battle.

Barnette said, "I was able to record your elegance on camera, it's stored for everyone to see. Jura? Hello, Jura?" Ezra was able to establish communication with the island.

Ezra cried, "Communication established, captain."

Magno ordered, "Put it up on the main monitor." The screen displays a beautiful blonde-haired woman in her 20s, blue eyes, fair skin tone, wore a purple robe and had a mask resting on her chest.

She bowed, "Greetings travelers, my name is Fanieta. Welcome to the most beautiful planet in the universe, Anpathos."

Magno asked, "Anpathos, eh? Is that the name of your planet?"

Fanieta nodded, "Yes, we have called it that ever since we arrived and have been waiting for you."

BC wondered, "Waiting for us?"

Fanieta smiled, "You must be the Munya, yes?"

Magno raised an eyebrow before answering, "There must be some form of misunderstanding we are not the 'Munya' you speak of. Pardon me for being straightforward but may we visit you? There are questions I'd like to ask."

The blonde-haired woman explained, "The ceremony is almost at hand so we won't be able to greet you properly."

Magno shook her head, "There's no need." She next contacted the helmsman, "Bart, can you hear me? Some of us are going to the surface of the planet."

Bart slumped, "Sure."

The pirate leader instructed, "Keep the ship running while I'm gone, I leave you in charge. Oh yeah, you are forbidden to run away, got it?" Hibiki jumps off Vandread Jura to land on the beach and looks at the people staring at him.

He wondered, "Is there some kind of festival going on? Hey Jura, we should check it out! Hey!" Jura sulks about her Vandread.

Hibiki hears the sound of an engine and turns around to see the landing shuttle coming in for a touchdown. Magno, BC down the ramp and BC spots an orange flag with the picture of a human in the kneeling position with something standing vertically out of its back. Eugene lands his E-3 Sentry II on the beach nearby. Earlier he discovered that his airplane could survive atmospheric reentry and vertical takeoff and landing. A neat trick in his opinion.

BC asked herself, "Why does that flag design look so familiar?" Inside the Nirvana's hanger, Dita paces back and forth.

The redhead said, "Mr. Alien and Jura. They're down there together!"

Meia told her, "Why don't you try to calm down, Dita?"

Dita replied, "But Jura's done there with Mr. Alien alone!"

The Dread leader assured, "The captain and commander are on the planet too."

Dita said, "But even so. Mr. Alien." Meia closes her eyes, shaking her head. Typing can be heard so Meia turns to see Kyle running his fingers over the keyboard of the mini-computer on his left gauntlet, he was able to form a connection to the G-2234X12 and the loading bar was halfway full along with bunch of encryption codes being deciphered.

Meia asked, "What are you doing?"

Kyle replied, "I'm attempting to get that new Gleipnir class airborne fortress on our side. Imagine what kind of strategic advantage we'd have if we acquire such firepower, Meia. The Harvesters would be shocked to have one of their own weapons being used against them. Almost...there." The loading bar reached 100%, "Got it! He he he ha ha ha! Using this airborne fortress against the Harvesters is going to be very fun!" The Dread leader stares at Kyle, the big grin he showed was creepy but it was better than the stoic expression he normally wears.

She asked him, "Kyle, why are you obsessed with revenge?"

Kyle looked her in the eyes, "I thought you'd understand why when I told you my past. But to put my personal reasons in layman's terms, Francesca took my family away and both nearly amputated and immolated me. She will soon understand why payback's a bitch. By payback, I mean giving her a taste of her own medicine. Rabat would have made a prime example had you not interrupted." Countless scenarios of him making Francesca pay for her sins play through his mind, each one making the torment she put him through look like child's play.

Meia replied, "What will you do when Francesca is dead?"

Kyle stared at the ceiling, "My revenge sated and my family can rest in peace."

The Dread leader asked him, "Would you do it by any means necessary?" She finds herself under Kyle's intense stare that almost made her knees give out but then her cheeks light up when Kyle pulls her closer.

He looked at her blushing face, "Not true at all, Meia. I might be somewhat bloodthirsty but I'm not heartless. There's no way I would sacrifice this crew including you. You're too beautiful to die so young when you still have life ahead of you." Meia's heart felt it was going to break out of her chest from beating so fast. Looking into his blue-gray eyes, the rational part of Meia's mind shuts down and she finds herself nearing Kyle's face.

A voice teased, "My, my, sister. I had no idea you could be so bold, were you planning to bring Kyle to your room where things get heated?" Breaking out of her emotionally induced state, Meia turns her head around so fast it pops her neck and sees Mia staring at them with a coy smile.

Meia stuttered as she broke out of Kyle's embrace, "I...have...I have no idea what you're talking about, Mia. Don't be ridiculous! There's...there's no way a woman can love a man! Speak of this to anyone and you're looking at a demotion!"

Mia laughed, "Whatever you say, sis, whatever you say." Meia walks away from the two, her cheeks red with embarrassment.

Down on Anpathos, the spikes on top of the temple rise and start glowing affecting the planet's tides.

A civilian said in excitement, "The time has arrived! Just like the prophecy said!"

A female civilian added, "Let's finish preparations!"

Magno, BC and Eugene were heading for the shrine when Hibiki called out, "Old lady!"

Magno turned with a smile, "Little one. You're safe, are you?"

BC asked, "What about Jura?"

Hibiki said, "I don't feel like talking about Princess Crabby."

Magno assured, "As long as she's safe, that's all that matters. Why don't you come with us?" Hibiki follows them to the inside of the shrine, staring in awe of the interior.

Fanieta said, "This shrine leads to the holy path."

Magno asked, "First off, can you tell us of the Munya you're waiting so patiently for?"

Fanieta explained, "They are the ones who guided us to this blessed land, our people are forever grateful. We consider the Munya to be the foundation of Anpathos and we believe they're in need of us."

Hibiki raised an eyebrow, "In need of you? What for?"

The blonde-haired woman answered, "According to the prophecy they require the spiral code."

BC narrowed her eyes, "The spiral code?" She looked at the picture engraved on the wall above them, "The spinal cord!" Inside the helm, Bart gets bombarded with numerous requests from the crew until he couldn't take it anymore.

Bart shouted, "Ah, shut up!" He closes the open channels.

Paiway showed up on another, "Don't slack off!" The people of Anpathos ready themselves for the arrival of the Munya when in reality it was the Harvesters.

Magno said, "Good times and hard times, life is full of both. These people have more to experience."

Fanieta replied, "Our time of bliss is the moment the Munya arrive to greet us. No one among us questions that."

Magno scoffed, "Ha! You seem to be very peaceful but could it be that beneath that mask you're hiding goosebumps?"

The blonde-haired replied calmly, "There is nothing to fear, all of this is for the Munya. The traditions of Anpathos have always been this way." Magno narrows her eyes at the blind devotion Fanieta speaks of.

Bart continued to get bombarded with requests until he snapped, "AH, SHUT UP ALREADY!" The alarm sounds as the Nirvana picks up a new signature.

The approaching Harvest unit shared the same bizarre shape as the octopus-like object and it shot a beam down to it

Down on the planet, BC received Bart's transmission, "Enemy reinforcements? How many?"

Bart stated, "Just one but it's really big like some sort of container!"

BC asked herself, "Could it be a harvesting vessel?" She spun around, "Captain!"

Magno chuckled, "Heh, looks like your Munya have arrived."

Fanieta smiled, "They have arrived?! Finally the prophecy has come true!" The shrine begins to shake as the spikes shoot a beam of light that begins to influence the planet's ocean, causing water levels to rise. The inhabitants put their masks on and head for the shrine. Magno, BC, Hibiki and Eugene watch them walk up the spiral stairway.

BC said, "Looks like they planned this out. Everyone will be gathered in one place!"

Magno exclaimed in defiance, "I'm sorry but I have no intention of us being harvested along with you!"

Fanieta replied, "Tradition forbids us from resisting."

Hibiki told her, "Enough of this bullshit. Doesn't any of this seem weird at all?"

The blonde-haired woman replied, "Not at all, this is simply tradition."

Eugene sighed, "Magno, our words aren't going to change their minds so we might as well leave."

Magno closed her eyes, smirking, "Hmph! Prophecy, tradition, those are convenient words. For people who can't make their own decisions."

The smile on Fanieta's face disappeared as she put her mask on, "Tradition is tradition. Destiny cannot be changed." The Harvesters close in on the Nirvana.

Bart asked, "What now?"

Meia said, "It's easy. You want us to set up a defense line around the ship, right?"

Bart replied, "I suppose so. Dread teams, prepare to scramble!"

Meia smirked, "Roger that!" She led the fighters out to engage the enemy, "Meia to all Dread teams, our mission objective is to maintain our line of defense. Don't wander too off." She gets a "roger" from the pilots.

Back in the shrine, Magno and Fanieta continue their battle of beliefs.

Magno asked, "Are you sure this is the right thing to do? Do you have any proof? I don't see any ships around the island. What could people holding on to a scrap of land possibly even know about this planet they live on? What could youngsters like you know about life? The most beautiful planet in the universe? Have you compared it to other planets?"

Fanieta's fist shook with anger, "That was determined long ago. You people arrived here unannounced and you insult our god? How can you be so cruel?"

Magno looked at her in disappointment, "God, eh? I see there's no point in going further, let's go." She began to head for the exit when she suddenly fell to her knees moaning in pain, "My back went out, I can't walk like this. I have no interest of being involved in this affair. I don't want to die in a place like this, got it you two?"

Eugene nodded, "Understood, ma'am. Come on, Hibiki. We're heading out."

Hibiki replied, "Right."

Magno watched them leave before returning her attention to Fanieta, "Now then, what can we do to pass the time?" Eugene and Hibiki run across the walkway and soon spot Jura's Dread.

Hibiki called out to the blonde, "Hey, we're going to launch now! Hey do you hear me, Ms. Crabby Pants?"

Jura snapped, "Yes, I do. Go away!"

Hibiki jump onto the Dread followed by Eugene, "How long are you going to sulk? Take a look around, do you see what's happening here? We're the only ones who can do this, come on!"

Jura said, "It doesn't matter."

Eugene stated, "Hope this come back to bite me in the ass. Hey, Jura." The blonde-haired woman turns and before she can make any retort, her eyes widen in shock when Eugene kisses her on the lips. Bolts of pleasure run through her body from the unexpected contact. She was raised to believe that men were like parasites that needed to be eradicated but strangely having Eugene kissing her felt...nice.

Hibiki stands in equal shock at the sight before him.

After a full minute Eugene separated from Jura, "You are more courageous than this, Jura. Most people dream of saving an entire planet! Are you willing to let an opportunity like that just pass you by?" The more she listened the more it made sense.

She came to her senses and smiled at them, "That doesn't sound bad. Okay, I'll do it. Let's combine right away but if I see either of you slacking off there will be hell to pay."

Eugene smiled back, "That's the Jura I know."

Hibiki mumbled, "Women change their minds fast, huh?" Eugene returns to his E-3 Sentry II and takes off, its powerful afterburners giving it the speed needed to escape the planet, exiting the atmosphere he was greeted with the Nirvana fighters engaging the Harvesters.

Inside the helm Bart said, "I won't run, I won't run, I won't run! Ah, we're done for!"

Magno told him, "Grow a spine! I've been alive for a very long time and have seen many deaths along the way. Every time someone died, I cursed myself for being powerless. I cursed myself for not being able to do anything to save those people. Departed with so many things left to do, their lives cut short. When I think of these things, it feels like I'm being torn apart. But even in their final moments not a single one gave up, they were all brilliant, shining stars to the end. I'm proud to have met them and proud to call them friends. This is the reason I won't forgive those who rely on others to create their own destinies!"

Moved by her speech, Bart said, "I'm not budging an inch!"

Hibiki called out, "You're in the way, move!" Vandread Jura roared past him, "You've done your job so go take a nap or something!"

Jura grinned, "If you don't move, you'll end up being a casualty!" The Vandread locks its main arms together and the discs are sent to assigned positions and envelop Anpathos in a massive green shield, this cancels the effect those spikes were generating reducing the water levels.

'That's impressive.' Crux commented in his head.

Jura beamed, "If anybody can cover an entire planet, I'd love to see them try!"

Hibiki bumped his chair against hers sending her to the other side, "It's too early to celebrate!" He grinned at the Harvest cargo unit, "Hungry, eh? Chow down on this!" He slams his fist onto a button and the central mirror creates a powerful vacuum effect, sucking up tons of water from the planet's surface and redirecting it to the gaping maw of the conjoined enemy ships.

Meia narrowed her eyes, "That's so reckless."

Dita added, "Though I must admit, I am a little jealous." Eventually the Harvest unit couldn't take anymore water and starts breaking up then explodes.

Hibiki yelled, "We got him!" Swarms of MiG-17s close in on Gryphus 1's position little do they know of the surprise they're about to get.

The G-2234X12 detects the enemy fighters and comes online, arming its SAMs and fires them after gaining locks. The rain of missiles down every single MiG-17 and the Dread pilots watch in awe of the airborne fortress destroying its own allies.

Barnette wondered, "But how..."

Gryphus 1 cut her off, "You can thank me for that. The Harvesters foolishly left its mainframe unprotected so I thought it will prove useful in our war against the Harvesters." The last of the MiG-17s get shot down and the G-2234X12 takes position by the Nirvana's side. However, Gryphus 1 feels like a new name was in order for it.

After the battle was over, Jura complained, "What do you mean you didn't get it on video?"

Barnette fired back, "I was too busy fighting for my life to sit around and record the damn thing!"

Jura shrugged it off, "No matter as long as you record the elegance and beauty of my machine with your camera next time. Can you imagine any other machine putting up a barrier around an entire planet?"

BC asked, "You look tired, captain why don't you get some rest?"

Magno replied, "There's something I would like to do first." She heads for the bridge.

Bart sighed, "I feel like I'm gonna die."

Magno asked him, "What is this? I was gone for a bit and look at the shape this ship's in."

Bart stood up, "Excuse me? I beg your pardon but do you have the slightest idea of how hard of a time I had while you were gone?"

Magno said in sarcasm, "No Bart, I have no idea."

The helmsman replied, "I thought as much. First off you spoil the crew on a daily bases from room change to work shifts. There's only so much a person can do not to mention you tell me at the last minute!" Magno closes her eyes, nodding for him to continue while BC looks on in amusement.

That night Kyle lays on his bed staring at the picture of his family one of the few things keeping him from going insane. He's come to accept the fact that he, Alex and Eugene won't be able to return to their time line but he wonders if his squad mates have come to terms with it. Kyle wasn't going to pressure them into answering.

In her room, Meia struggles to get some sleep the image of her almost kissing Kyle was still fresh in her mind. Is it possible for a man to love a woman? She remembers him explaining that he was born from a union between his mother and father so it was possible. Meia also wanted to help Kyle overcome the emotional turmoil going on inside him. That day when Kyle told her of his past especially when his sisters were raped and murdered, his mother and adopted sister died in the bombing raid of his hometown and his brush with death it made her heart ache for some reason. The constant pain he felt when thinking of the good times he had with his family made him feel guilty of not being able to save any of them. She caught him one time crying in the cockpit of his F-22. Kyle told her that he was beyond redemption and could only find closure when Francesca and Diego Navarro were dead. To her it means Meia wanted to help Kyle heal from the emotional pain he constantly feels. Nobody can live by themselves, that's what her mother told her in her fight for life. But how could she help him? That is the question she kept asking herself since returning to her room for the night.

Meia said, "Why do you keep others at arms-length when they want to help you, Kyle? Why do you keep me from helping you?"

A/N: First chapter of 2015 done.

Here, the crew encounter a planet where the natives followed the belief that their god would guide them to the holy path. However Magno knew their god was actually the Harvesters that would kill them without remorse.

Vandread Jura made its debut and Eugene gave Jura some motivation which helped in the end.

The crew acquired a new Gleipnir class airborne fortress and seek to use it in their battle against the enemy.

Lastly Meia wonders why Kyle refuses to let them help him find a reason to live on after his vengeance is sated.

Read and review.

Stayed tuned for chapter 11.

Vader 23A