Chapter 14: Scoring a Major Victory

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

The Odyssey of Discovery: Gryphus 1

The Dread pilots, Gryphus and Tianlong Squadron continue to fight their deadly adversary near the gas giant planet that Nirvana currently resides in.

Meia destroys a sea urchin with her Dread's laser cannons.

She ordered, "All units, fall back! We'll rendezvous with the Nirvana on the planet's surface!"

Mori warned, "Watch out, Meia an enemy's closing in from 4 o'clock high!" Directing her gaze at that location she spots Fakedread Meia screaming towards her, unleashing its blood-curling scream but Mori fires a missile to gain its attention. Nearby, Jura battles her Vandread's demonic counterpart.

She grunted, "You won't beat me that easily, you fake!" Dita was in the same situation as Fakedread Dita fires its laser cannons at her then gets hit by a missile.

Whipping around, it sees the one responsible for that shot.

It was Mia closing in with the intent of saving her friend. Fakedread Dita aims the laser cannons at her but Mia breaks right to avoid the weapons then shoots her Dread's laser cannons at the red and blue machine. Fakedread Dita raises its gauntlets to deflect the rounds and begins a counterattack, connecting one of the laser cannons to its arm to use as a melee weapon. Gasping Mia barely turns left in time to avoid her Dread getting cut in half, she arms a missile and fires at the enemy. Fakedread Dita slices the missile in two. Hearing the missile warning going off, Mia stares at the HUD to spot an enemy missile closing in from 11 o'clock. She jinks right hard to shake the missile off and succeeds. A MiG-29 Fulcrum reveals itself as the culprit and fires its cannon at her, performing the Split S maneuver to make herself more difficult to gain a lock, Mia shoots a missile at the MiG-29 turning it into a fireball. Hearing Dita scream, Mia looks over her shoulder to see Fakedread Jura chasing after Dita but her opponent keeps Mia from assisting.

Meia directs the hostile's attention from its primary target but then Fakedread Meia comes out of nowhere and slices off her Dread's right wing. The futuristic aircraft spirals out of control and the replay of Meia's encounter with death plays in Gryphus 1's mind.

'No. Please, not again!' He mentally pleaded.

Fortunately Gascogne catches her with the Reg ship, putting Gryphus 1's fear to rest. The Dread leader had a shrapnel wound in her shoulder but the shoulder and chest padding took the brunt of the hit.

Gascogne ordered, "All ships, follow me. We'll lose them on the planet's surface."

Meia apologized, "Gascogne, I'm sorry." Breaking off her engagement with Fakedread Dita, Mia follows the others to the planet's interior placing her Dread in the Reg ship's shield for protection. The Harvesters follow them but upon seeing Fakedread Meia being destroyed by the planet's strong gravity the two other Fakedread units pull out, Fakedread Jura activates its shielding around Fakedread Dita.

Gascogne smirked, "Looks like you underestimated the planet's gravity which is good because flying into it is what saved us." The Dreads, Tianlong and Gryphus Squadron land in the hanger one by one and the pilots get out to take a breather. Mechanics jump in to repair the Dreads.

Jura sits near a wall, hugging her legs with her arms. She and Dita hear the sound of a hovering stretcher with Meia laying on it.

She said, "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Mia walks up to Dita.

Mia asked, "You doing okay, Dita?" The redhead nods.

Jura sobbed, "I can't take it anymore! I'm sick of picking battles we can't win! It's...useless!" Inside the hanger, Hibiki sneezes on Pyoro's computerized face. Ever since retreating from the battle, the Vanguard pilot has been thinking of doing the impossible: Turning a planet into a star!

The white robot exclaimed, "That's disgusting!"

Hibiki said, "Oh, shut up. Well, Pyoro do you think it will work?"

Pyoro replied, "I keep telling you it's impossible."

Hibiki asked, "Why?"

The white robot explained, "Although it's true this planet is about to turn into a star, it's impossible to do this mission by yourself."

Hibiki crossed his arms, "Let me think here."

Pyoro sighed, "Humans." On the bridge, the personnel hear the sound of metal being compressed under the gas planet's enormous atmospheric pressure. Belvedere informed they were in danger of being crushed while the Paksis was building up internal pressure to ensure its survival but at the cost of the Nirvana exploding.

Magno chuckled bitterly, "Looks like we're in a bind here. Two options are presented to us: Go out there and face the Harvesters or stay here and be destroyed by the planet's gravity." In the engine room, Parfet watches the pink flashing light the Paksis was giving off increase from the buildup of power. It seemed the Paksis was full of surprises.

Duero tried to treat a wound on Barnette but the woman refuses. She was earlier released from the brig due to the need of all pilots to defend their ship.

He said, "Let me treat your injury, Barnette."

Barnette replied, "Don't touch me! I don't need to be cared for by a man!" Kyle was strangely quiet during the verbal exchange.

Duero said, "If I don't treat you, you won't be able to fight."

The dark-green haired woman retorted, "I guess you've forgotten that I wanted you men locked up for good!"

Duero was unfazed by the comment, "Back then I was your prisoner but now I'm a doctor and I am telling you that if I don't treat your wound, you'll probably end up with a serious bacterial infection. Do you understand what that means?" Barnette was shocked into silence.

Dita ran into the infirmary, "Doctor, we need some kind of medicine to make everyone more cheerful!"

Duero replied, "I understand how you feel but I don't think medicine will help this situation."

Dita said, "But everyone's saying there is no hope for us! That we should accept the inevitable."

Paiway nodded, "That's right, it's all over! We're gonna die! Everyone on the ship is saying we should have ran away when we had the chance. Why are we risking our lives for a planet that doesn't give jack squat about us? It's stupid!"

Dita asked, "Why does it make everyone think we're going to die?"

The nurse exclaimed, "Dita, open your eyes! Face the fact that we got nowhere to run! We might as well give up!"

Dita looked at Barnette, "Do you feel the same way as well?"

Barnette answered coldly, "Leave me out of this, Dita. I was never a fan of your bubbly personality. You are too naive to accept the severity of this situation."

Dita stared at the floor, "I know you think I am air-headed but I don't like this anymore than you guys. I just don't anyone be so sad. Is that wrong?" She runs out of there crying.

Kyle walks out of the infirmary and heads some distance away before leaning against the wall, sliding down until he sat down. He holds his head, his black hair shadowing the Aurelian's face. He's unaware that he was followed.

A voice called out, "Kyle." The pilot looked up to see the Gisborn sisters staring down at him.

Meia asked, "What's the matter? You don't look so good."

Kyle snapped under months of repressed frustration and anger, "I can't deal with this shit anymore! Me, Alex, Eugene and Tianlong Squadron are stuck here in this alternate universe with no means of returning to our own time period. Everyone we know from our time period are dead, rotted corpses buried under six feet of dirt. Now the enemy we have been facing for so long is from the planet we were born on! You think this is something we enjoy?! Watching as Earth harvests descendants of our race with no remorse. Then again, I'm no different from them. Those Aurelian surgeons turned me into a monster! I killed an entire military base full of people in cold blood because of what they did to my country! Does anyone like that deserve to be loved? I lost everything in the span of one day, Meia. My mother, my sisters, Francesca and Diego Gaspar Navarro took them away from me! I'm essentially the last member of the Masterson family! I know for a fact I won't go to heaven when I die, not be reunited with my family. No, I'll burn forever in the depths of hell! I hate this fucked up harvesting operation, hate Earth, hate the human race for descending into this madness, I hate everything!"

Mia gripped her chest, "Kyle..."

Kyle continued to vent, "More importantly, I hate myself for not saving any of them! You're supposed to do die of old age not young! Why am I the one who stays alive while others die around me?" A slap echoes throughout the empty hallway and Mia stares in surprise at her sister.

Kyle looks at Meia who had tears in her aqua blue eyes then grabs his shoulders.

Meia said, "Don't blame yourself for something that was beyond your control. Those surgeons didn't turn you into a monster, Kyle they saved your life along with biological augmentation. Had they not done so, you would have died. I may not fully understand the pain you're in but you are strong-willed. People look up to you, Kyle. Hibiki thinks of you as the big brother he never had, Dita reminds you of your old self, you provide confidence in Eugene and you have shown me that relying on others isn't a burden. Why don't you allow us to show the same faith?" She pulls him into a loving embrace, wrapping her arms around him with the intent of not letting Kyle go until he calms down.

Mia added, "None of us like this harvest operation anymore than you do. In fact, it makes me sick to my stomach. I agree with sister you are not alone anymore, Kyle. You got friends you can turn to whenever you feel down or want some company. Meia and I miss our parents but we're coming to terms with their deaths. I am certain your family wanted you to live on and find happiness that you rightfully deserve. Life shouldn't be all about revenge or fear of betrayal, you need a hobby, do something you enjoy every now and then."

Kyle wondered, "A hobby, huh?"

The younger Gisborn smiled, "During your storytelling of the past, you mentioned you had a passion for airplanes and had models of almost every military plane created from the P-51 Mustang to the infamous SR-71 Blackbird. If you feel mad, be mad. If you're sad, be sad. Smile if you want to but don't keep your heart closed to others. Open it and see the wonders friends bring! We trust you with our lives. Well, Barnette still believes the whole men are our sworn enemy bullshit but still. Let us help you, Kyle."

Kyle narrowed his eyes slightly, "But whenever I try to form bonds with people, they disappear. How will this be any different?" Meia pulls him away enough to stare into his blue-gray eyes with her aqua blue ones, concern and happiness shine through them.

The Dread leader smiled warmly, "It will be different this time around. You have suffered a lot throughout your life but I'm not going anywhere. The same goes for the other crew members, they'll stick by you no matter what our enemy throws at us." Meia passionately kisses him pouring her love for him into the kiss.

Mia stares at the couple with a hint of jealousy she wished it was her and Alex doing this. Their relationship has been progressing steadily but still haven't taken the next step yet. She shakes her head to get rid of the jealousy and felt happy that her sister found someone to love. Mia hopes that she'll show her feelings to Alex soon.

Unknown to them, Tianlong Squadron watched them from the corner. They were happy that the Gisborn sisters were able to get through Kyle's self-loathing.

Satisfied with what they see, they leave the area.

Meia and Kyle separate from the kiss to stare into each other's eyes, the Dread leader sees Kyle's composure returning.

Meia asked, "Better now?"

Kyle stood up, "Yeah, thank you." He offered his hand to the Dread leader, "Shall we?"

Meia smiled, accepting the offer, "Yes. Come on, Mia." The two begin moving toward a certain location.

Mia replied, "Right behind ya, sis!"

Back at the dark hanger, Hibiki went over the next plan, "Okay by combining the density of the gases and the Paksis we'll be able to ignite the planet, we're fine up to that point. The question now is having enough time to escape without getting caught in explosion once nuclear fusion starts."

Pyoro answered, "It's still impossible to do so using only a Vanguard."

Hibiki rubbed his metallic temple, "We won't know until we try!"

Pyoro cried out in pain, "Stop it!"

BC climbed up the stairs and asked, "Have you considered using boosters? I'm certain you can build some out of spare parts."

Pyoro told her, "We included boosters in our calculations but we're still 20 seconds short for a complete escape." Hibiki rests his chin against the arm supported by his thigh.

BC commented, "You have changed a bit. It appears Kyle's presence have made you better."

Hibiki said without looking at her, "If you're up to something I don't have time for it!"

The platinum-haired woman dismissed his accusation, "Nothing of the sort, I'm paying you a compliment."

'One person's thoughts can move the masses. I wonder if you'll manage to fight a while longer.' She thought as she watched Hibiki making adjustments to his plan.

They both hear the PA system coming online.

Dita said through it, "Can anyone hear me? We might lose and die but that's what life is about, isn't it? Living it to the fullest? We all decided to fight this battle and show we don't need someone else to decide our futures. But now we're having doubts about our ability to win, you guys are deciding to accept the inevitable. That's a mistake! Please don't lose hope but if you do then it's all over for us. I will never give up because I know we can win. I want to be with you forever because I love you. So you must find within your hearts the strength to fight!" She breaks into sobs.

Hibiki smiled, "You idiot."

Dita wiped her tears and finished, "I won't give up. I'm going to see this through!" Barnette makes his way to Reg Central and types on the computer, searching for the kamikaze option. She attempts to activate it but she keeps getting denied access.

Gascogne said to her, "You need the manager's approval to that order, Barnette. That way it will prevent people like you from doing something foolish."

Barnette barked, "Then hurry up and put it through!"

The Reg leader walked towards, "What are you in such a rush? Nobody on this ship is holding you responsible, you are the one blaming yourself. It's useless to act tough now, everyone knows the good things about you as well as the bad. And in spite of that, they consider you a friend. Right, girls?" The lights come on and the Reg girls flood the room.

A smile forms on Barnette's face.

In the infirmary, Paiway watches in awe of the change of mood.

Paiway said, "Incredible. Dita's declaration somehow cheered everyone up."

Duero approached her, "I think you better help me get the infirmary ready we're going to be busy." BC finishes informing Magno of Hibiki's plan.

The pirate leader smirked, "I see. I knew there was a reason for him being so quiet, all this time he's been thinking of a plan. Let's give it a try. Parfet, did you get that?"

Parfet saluted through the monitor, "Yes, ma'am. I'm ready for it." The pink flashing light given off by the Paksis was reaching its peak.

An engineer alerted, "Full breach in ten minutes!"

Parfet spun around, "All right, time to show them what we're made of!" Pyoro displays the improvised plan Hibiki typed in.

He said, "Nope, still impossible."

Hibiki grinded his teeth in annoyance while a tick mark formed, "Would you shut up with that? Nothing is impossible!" Meia, Mia and Kyle finished entering the dark hanger.

The Dread leader suggested, "How about using my Dread? That should solve your speed problem. I take it you've given it some thought about the next step?"

Hibiki grinned at her, "You bet."

Jura lifted the hanger door, "So this is where you've been hiding. You are gravely mistaken if you thought of leaving me out. I have a notice for things interesting." Dita braces herself then exits her room and stands in shock at the crew's will to fight then heads for the hanger.

Hibiki said to her, "Don't just stand there, you're part of the master plan. And no slacking off either!" The Dreads, F-22 Raptors, E-3 Sentry II and J-10s take off while the launch platform readies its boosters to send the Vanguard into battle.

Dita come onto his monitor, "Excuse me, Mr. Alien."

Hibiki said, "What do you want? I already told of the mission details, didn't you?"

Dita shook her head, "It's not that. I just want you to do something when this is over. I want you to visit my room."

Hibiki asked, "Can't we deal with this later?"

The redhead said, "No, promise me right now!"

The Vanguard pilot sighed, "Fine, I will."

Dita smiled, "I'll be waiting for you."

Hibiki lowered his head, "Oh, brother." He lifted it again smirking, "Alright, time to go kick some ass!" The units move to their assigned positions with Meia, Dita and Barnette heading for the planet's core while Hibiki combines with Jura to form Vandread Jura.

Amarone stated, "Vandread Jura has reached the operation point, all units are in position."

Magno nodded, "Hm. Begin the operation!" Vandread Jura deploys its discs to create the green shield, wrapping the gas planet in it.

Hibiki watched the main team fire their lasers at the core, "Steady now. We need to make the temperature reach 36 million degrees Fahrenheit in order for nuclear fusion to start." Gryphus and Tianlong Squadron duke it out with the Harvesters while the Archangel resumes its battle with Gleipnir 2.0

Catherine greeted, "Hello, junk piles. Miss me?" She immediately chases after some MiG-17s.

She arms the ARAAM and fires once the lock turns red, the missile radar guidance system leads it to the target blowing the MiG-17 to pieces. Catherine breaks left to avoid the second MiG-17's cannon and retaliates with her J-10's Gryazev-Shipunov Gsh-23 autocannon, the bullets tear through the enemy fighter like knife through butter and pops flares to direct a heat-seeking missile from her 11 o'clock low. She doesn't get a moment's rest because 20mm bullets fly past her canopy, looking to her 4 o'clock high Catherine spots the black F-22 gunning for her. She tries to shake off the enemy stealth fighter but it follows her wherever she went and fires an AMRAAM, the enemy destroys it with the XLAAM.

'This Raptor. Every maneuver it pulls off is precise and unpredictable. It's almost as if... No way! They copied Kyle's flight data and used it to create this?' Catherine thought in shock/horror.

Gryphus 1 combines his fighter with Mia's Dread to form Amaterasu and pulls out its sword, Fakedread Dita uses its make-shift melee weapons. It swings the right lance/laser cannon in a horizontal sweep and Amaterasu blocks the attack and thrusts its sword at the Fakedread's chest but it uses the gauntlet on its free hand to swat the blade away. Amaterasu aims its twin-barreled plasma rifle and pulls the trigger, sending the twin beams of energy toward the red and blue machine and Fakedread shoots its left laser cannon to halt the beams' progress. They enter a contest of strength until both beams cancel the other out generating a bright flash of light. Fakedread Dita charges at Amaterasu with both weapons poised to eviscerate its opponent but Amaterasu's shield absorbs the hit and pushes Fakedread Dita back. The silver machine swings its blade and the Fakedread ducks, this was a trick because it left Fakedread open to the plasma rifle. Fakedread Dita barely avoids the attack from point-blank range, losing its left arm in the process. It tries to flee but Amaterasu puts its sword away and holds the plasma rifle in that hand before giving chase. The silver machine sets its boosters to maximum output and Fakedread Dita turns around to fire its remaining lance/laser cannon at the opponent, Amaterasu raises its shield to deflect the attack and thrusts its plasma rifle through the enemy's chest, the twin barrels protruding through the other end.

Gryphus 1 and Mia said at the same time, "Fuck you, imposter." With that they pull the trigger, twin yellow-white laser beams shoot out of the barrels and the Fakedread vaporizes.

Catherine called out, "Gryphus 1, help!" Turning his attention to the British woman's location, he spots the black F-22 Raptor shooting its Vulcan Gatling cannon at her.

He looked at Mia, "Will you be okay dealing with the Harvesters without me?"

Mia nodded, "Yeah. Go on, sir Catherine needs your help." Gryphus 1 nods back and defuses Amaterasu.

The dark F-22 arms an AIM-9X Sidewinder when it's forced to break left to prevent the right wing from getting shredded by its light colored counterpart's Gatling cannon. Still on his enemy's tail, Gryphus 1 switches to the Sidewinder and waits for it to track the IR signature. When it does, he fires. The black F-22 makes the heat-seeker follow it then directs the AIM-9X Sidewinder toward an unfortunate cube-type blowing it up instead. Swinging around the enemy stealth fighter shoots an XLAAM at Gryphus 1 and the Aurelian fires one as well, both missiles collide with each other.

Gryphus 1 activates Onryo Mode for this battle. However, he needs to be cautious when using this mode because he discovered it can corrupt him if he lets his anger get the better of him.

The black F-22 U-turns and unleashes the XLAAM at the Aurelian. Gryphus 1 releases chaff to jam the missile's radar, with its homing system effected the XLAAM spins in erratic circles before exploding. He fires the M61A1 Vulcan Gatling cannon at the dark stealth fighter, the 20mm bullets leave small holes in the wings but not deep enough to cause serious damage. The two fighters fly past each other.

Mori fires a pair of ARAAMs at some Su-27 Flankers then aims her F-10's autocannon at the pair of targets which are cube-types, the bullets make quick work of the targets.

Gryphus 2 warned, "Look out, Mori Fakedread Meia is coming in 11 o'clock high!" Mori searches the vast emptiness of space for the red Fakedread and soon spots it rapidly approaching her fighter.

The enemy screams toward its opponent hoping to bull ram it but the J-10 turns right causing Fakedread Meia to shoot past Mori. The multi-role fighter U-turns and prepares the ARAAM, suddenly the Fakedread breaks hard right to shake the missile lock off and a MiG-21 comes out of nowhere, Mori would have crashed into it had he not dodged in time. She makes the MiG-21 pay for that with a missile. Hearing the radar warning go off, Mori jinks right to avoid the second enemy MiG-21 from locking onto her.

Crux helps the Archangel fight Gleipnir 2.0, particularly its Mason Cannons. The cannons' fire rate compensates its low accuracy and one hit could shatter his E-3 Sentry II.

Weaving through the Mason Cannon barrage, Crux readies the AMRAAM and after the missile locks turn red he fires 4 missiles at the Mason Cannons. However, the missiles do very little damage to the cannons and charge up for another round. He spots Archangel performing a dive then turns upside down, aiming its 16" guns at the Shock Cannon. The recoil pushes Archangel down but the damage was clearly visible, the Shock Cannon was inoperable. Righting itself Archangel opens a missile bay for its cruise missile, Crux notices it and departs the area.

The Gleipnir class airborne fortress sets its missile lock on the rival airborne fortress then fires the cruise missile. The projectile hurls through space at incredible speeds and hits Gleipnir 2.0 ripping a hole in the ship's hull, this reduces the giant's performance. Coming around for one more pass, Archangel lowers its speed before taking aim. Once she finds the gaping hole Archangel fires her 16" guns at it, the gap increases in size. Gleipnir 2.0 lists to the side upon impact and Archangel fires again, this time her guns shoot at the same time. The armor-piercing shells plunge through the engine room, setting it on fire and rendering the behemoth immobile and open for more attacks. Archangel arms a second cruise missile and shoots it. The missile impacts the burning engine room setting off a chain reaction. The resulting overload of energy sets off explosions through the Gleipnir 2.0's interior until one massive explosion destroys the entire thing leaving only metal fragments.

'Maybe I should have stayed out of that fight.' Crux thought.

The Nirvana fighters were doing well in keeping the Harvesters' attention on them rather than the main team down at the gas planet's core.

On the bridge Belvedere informed, "Less than three minutes until the pressure crushes. Proceed to the next phase."

From her Dread Meia responded, "Roger that. Parfet, it's time!" The lead engineer and the others had their hands on levers in the engine room.

Parfet said, "We're going for it, people! On my mark. 5,4,3,2,1, energy reverse!" They pull the levers down and the Nirvana releases excess crystals into the planet's atmosphere.

The leader engineer stared at the ship's power source, "Come on, Paksis! You can do it! Once the heat decreases, the pressure should go back to normal." The pink flashing light gradually slows then stops completely.

Belvedere said in excitement, "They did it! The Paksis Pragma is returning to normal!"

Amarone alerted, "Damage to Vandread Jura is increasing!" Inside the machine, the pilots feel every hit.

Hibiki asked, "Are you done yet?" Meia, Barnette and Dita continue firing their respective Dreads' lasers at the core until it emits a white light.

Belvedere informed, "They did it, nuclear fusion has begun!" That was their signal to leave.

Magno ordered, "We need to get out of here! Bart, turn the ship quickly!"

Bart nodded, "You got it!" He steers the Nirvana toward the outer atmosphere with the Dreads following it.

Meia said, "Dita, from here on speed is everything!"

Dita replied, "Roger."

Barnette called out, "Dita! Do your best, okay?" The redhead nods.

The fledgling star's color changes from blue-green to yellow as it expands.

Hibiki and Jura spot the main team coming out and defuse Vandread Jura, allowing the Vanguard to free-fall.

Meia said, "You're out of position!"

Hibiki retorted, "Yeah, because you took so damn long!" Meia changes her Dread's flight path and combines with the Vanguard to form Vandread Meia.

The young Tarak sighed in relief, "That was close."

Meia chuckled, "If we hadn't combined, I wouldn't be able to hear any of your wisecracks again."

Hibiki returned it, "I can say the same for you. Let's go." The Vandread grabs Dita's Dread, double its speed while a flare from the star follows them.

Amarone said, "There's an asteroid field ahead! The Nirvana's shields have weakened for some reason."

Magno cried, "What the hell have you gotten us into?"

Bart responded, "Sorry but I'm a little busy right now!" He tries to keep the Nirvana away from the flare.

BC hopped into an empty bridge control console, "Everyone, switch thrusters to manual control. Sync them with Bart's movement on his mark." The Nirvana barrel rolls to avoid collision with an asteroid and then a Seed Ship crashes into another asteroid, turn the space rock bright orange.

Magno barked, "Bart, evade!"

The helmsman said, "It's too late!" Just when it seemed the end was upon them, Celtic presses the button on her console which made the Nirvana evade the asteroid.

The bridge crew stares at her.

'About time.' They all thought.

Vandread Meia closes the distance to the Harvest flagship and the lock turns red.

Meia placed a hand on Hibiki's shoulder, "I leave the rest to you. Be sure to come back."

Hibiki answered, "Gotcha."

Meia nodded, "Dita, begin phase three!"

Dita smiled, "Roger!" Hibiki combines with Dita's Dread to form Vandread Dita.

The blue knight-shaped robot detaches the laser cannons from its shoulders and combines them to form a lance. Vandread Dita charges it up and throws the lance at the Harvest flagship, the weapon destroys the interior and emerges from the other end taking out any Harvest unit in its path. A colossal explosion swallows the flagship.

Dita wondered, "Did we do it?"

Hibiki replied, "I'm not seeing anything. We really did it!" Their victory is short-lived when the Harvest emerges from the smoke, badly damaged but still functioning.

Ezra said in shock, "That's impossible!"

Magno growled, "Stubborn bastards, aren't they?" Gryphus 2 spots a flare approaching the Vandread.

He alerted, "Vandread Dita, get out of there! A flare's heading your way!"

Hibiki said, "Not yet!" The flare envelops them.

Magno exclaimed, "Dita!" The Vandread's radar signature disappears.

Amarone said, "Signal's been lost, captain." The crew fears the two were incinerated.

Bart cried, "Hibiki, you idiot none of this will mean anything if you're dead!"

Hibiki's voice came over the radio, "I'm not done yet!" Vandread Dita flies out of the flare, glowing red-hot from the intense heat.

'They're full of surprises.' Gryphus 2 thought.

Hibiki cried, "Do it!"

Dita added, "I'm never gonna give up. I promised!" Unknown to them, their hands were interlocked.

Vandread Dita extends one arm out and delivers the killing blow to the Harvest flagship, smashing through it and the explosion signifies the star's birth.

Magno watched it from the monitor, "Ah, this makes a long life worthwhile. I never imagined I would be here to see the exact moment a new star is born!"

BC nodded, "Quite a sight, indeed." The star's color settles to blue-white, its surface temperature a staggering 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit as it enters the main sequence phase fusing hydrogen into helium.

Vandread Dita hovers motionless.

Hibiki said, "I can't move. No matter what, I'm through."

Dita's arms smack Hibiki's face while she cheered, "We won! We really won!"

Hibiki grunted in pain, "Stop that, it hurts! Stop it, I said! Ow!"

Gryphus 1 said, "It's nice we won and all but can you guys come get me, I'm stuck. My distress beacon should be displayed on your radar." Vandread Dita ops for the rescue searching through the debris littered battlefield for the Aurelian.

Hibiki makes out a flashing blue light on Gryphus 1's right gauntlet then his armored g-suit.

Gryphus 1 asked Parfet to modify it so can function as an airtight space suit so he can survive drifting in space until someone rescued him. However, he only had a 5 hour oxygen supply which meant unless he was rescued he'd end up being a frozen corpse floating through space.

Vandread Dita carefully grabs Gryphus 1 in its hand and heads for the Nirvana. The machine defuses before landing in the hanger.

Hibiki exits his Vanguard to see the others waiting for him.

Dita and Jura said, "Welcome back!" The rest of the crew say the same thing and Hibiki falls onto the platform.

Jura hugged him, "You're amazing! I never doubted you for a second." She starts planting kisses on him which made Dita jealous.

She pulled Hibiki away, "Stop that!"

Jura said, "What's up with you, Dita? I was just thanking him." The two start bickering with each other until an alarm goes off.

Pyoro panicked, "We got a problem!"

Jura told him, "Go away! Can't you see I am busy?"

Pyoro said, "There's no time for it. Take a look at this!" His face switched to a display map, "Earth has discovered we destroyed one of their flagships. In reaction to this they have redirected other flagships and are preparing to strike Mejale and Tarak!"

Jura stared at the screen, "There's four of them?"

Barnette wondered, "We were lucky to get rid of one. How are we going to survive facing four?" Chatter erupts among the crew.

Hibiki said to them, "What is wrong with you? Are you going to hide and wait for the end to come? We just scored a major victory and proved to the Harvesters we do not fear them. If you fall down you pick yourself up. We've not come this far to give up now! We take the path laid out to us. Isn't that right?"

Dita smiled at him, "Right!"

Magno heard the speech, "We take the path laid out to us. Heh, that kid's getting more clever with his words every day."

BC nodded, "I agree, captain this journey is still far from over. Who knows what surprises await us." Kyle removes his helmet and lets out a deep sigh of relief.

Meia approached him, "You alright?"

Kyle nodded, "I'm fine. My plane's trashed but those are replaceable." As if hearing his words, a plane appears seemingly out of nowhere.

Alex studied the design until realization dawned on him, "Is that what I think it is?"

Kyle replied, "Yep. That, my friend is Fenrir." That night finds Kyle sitting on the bed in Meia's room wearing a white tank top and blue sweat pants. His circlet rested on the nightstand.

After the battle Meia offered Kyle to share the room with her, a huge leap in Meia's trust of him. Well that and the fact she promised she'll be with him.

The Dread leader emerges from the bathroom wearing her pink nightgown and without her circlet. Kyle though she looked pretty with it on but now though she looked more stunning without it.

She sits down next to Kyle and wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a passionate kiss. Kyle wraps his arms around Meia's slender waist relishing the feel of her creamy soft skin against his hands. After a full minute they separate to stare into each other's eyes. They lay down pulling the covers over them.

Kyle asked, "Did you mean it what you said back there? You'll remain at my side?"

Meia pulled him closer, smiling warmly, "Yes, I do. My planet can call me a traitor for all I care, Kyle. I love you with all my heart." She placed his hand on her chest, "Can you feel my heartbeat? It races whenever I'm next to you and it feels like I can do anything. Is this what love feels like?"

Kyle thought about it, "I guess so. Never been in love with any girl to find out but you were able to somehow break through the emotional barriers I put up after my family's death. No one has affected me this way, not even my own squad mates. It appears we are similar than I first thought, Meia. We both lost people dear to us and shut ourselves off from others thinking we'd be safe. However that only led us feeling lonely in a cold, bleak existence."

Meia placed her forehead against his, "True. Maybe fate wanted us be together."

'Perhaps, Meia. Perhaps.' Kyle mentally answered.

The Dread leader asked, "By the way, Kyle where did you get that aircraft. Fenrir, I think was its name."

Kyle replied, "Diego Navarro was developing a new aircraft at Archelon Fortress that would have changed the outcome of the Aurelian War had it entered mass production. I led the Aurelian Air Force to destroy Fenrir and Archelon Fortress. A Leasath ace squadron named Alect Squadron piloted the four functional airplanes, the battle was fierce but they were ultimately no match for my skills. An amphibious team explored Archelon Fortress and discovered a fifth Fenrir taking off. They asked me to destroy it which I did and flew out of the escape hatch at the summit of the island before explosions tore Archelon Fortress apart. They took a Fenrir prototype for me to pilot in the effort to produce the next generation of fighter jets. That Fenrir you saw in the hanger is an updated version of the prototype. It's the only one Aurelia made. Why do you ask?"

Meia said, "Because I didn't see your F-22 return to the hanger."

Kyle explained, "Oh, that. The black F-22 Earth sent provided one hell of a fight, mirroring my actions and shook off any missile lock I had. We inflicted damage on each other but my F-22 survived long enough to launch an AIM-9X at the enemy. I then ejected before my fighter blew up." Satisfied with the answer, the two drift off into slumber, holding each other close with Meia resting her head on Kyle's chest and him holding the Dread leader in his strong arms.

The entire Nirvana crew deserved this victory for sure.

A/N: Chapter 14 done. This concludes the first stage of The Odyssey of Discovery: Gryphus 1.

The crew scored a major victory with the destruction of the Harvest flagship.

Kyle expressed the emotional turmoil inside him and his thoughts about the harvest operation. Meia promised she'll be there for him and Mia shared her own thoughts about the harvest.

The Archangel defeated Gleipnir 2.0.

Kyle defeated the black F-22 but at the cost of his own though he now has a new plane to fly.

Lastly, Hibiki told the crew they must keep moving forward no matter what Earth throws at them.

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Stay tuned for the second stage.

Vader 23A