Chapter 5: Close Call
Disclaimer: I don't own Vandread or the Ace Combat series.
Vandread Ace
As the Nirvana continues its journey towards Tarak and Mejale, it comes across a desert planet.
Magno looked at the monitor inside the conference room, "This planet appears to be dead."
BC offered, "I think we should investigate. There could be something worthwhile if we sent a recon team down to the surface."
The pirate captain said, "I'm not concerned about you going, BC. It's the others I am worried about." Inside the Vanguard hanger, Hibiki was currently finishing up doing maintenance on his machine. He recently completed another training session with Nagase and to his surprise the young woman was patient with him, something he never knew.
He sighed, "These women are such slave drivers, aren't they partner?" Dita sneaked up on him unsuspectingly and blew a heart kiss to him that made Hibiki lose his balance and fall onto the platform, "Maybe I'm not eating right."
Dita asked in genuine concern, "Are you okay?" She seems to be unaware of the fact that Hibiki's looking up her skirt and he gulps nervously.
He decides to head to the infirmary where Duero hooks him up to wireless sensors and his hand crawls up until it reaches his upper thigh. Grimm decides to tag along since he was bored.
Hibiki smacked it away in embarrassment, "What do you think you're doing?"
Duero answered, "Examining you, that's all."
The pilot hugged his legs, "Keep them to yourself!" He becomes nervous when Duero comes closer.
Duero said, "You look exhausted."
Hibiki exhaled, "Well, being trained by the Ghosts of Razgriz and fighting side by side with the women during battle is not easy, doc so of course I'm tired. Someone has to protect them."
Duero smirked, "So you're fighting to protect them, is that it?"
The young lad stumbled, "Well...I'm stronger than them. Since the women...are weak..." His pulse rises all of a sudden and Duero notices it.
He suggested, "Let's stop talking about the females."
Paiway appeared out of nowhere and asked with a raised eyebrow, "What's this? A video game?"
Duero asked, "You've never seen a pulse meter before?" He is quite surprised when Paiway asked about what the machine was. On Tarak, pulse meters are pretty common in medical facilities.
Paiway said, "What's it to you if I haven't?" Then she told him with a slight pout, "Anyway, all health problems can be fixed in the Jacuzzi!"
The doctor wondered, "Ja...cuzzi?"
Grimm explained, "It's like an artificial hot spring, doc. If you're rich enough, you can have one built in the backyard of your house but I recommend bathing in a natural hot spring."
Duero raised an eyebrow, "You certainly know a lot about them."
The brown-haired Osean smiled, "Before I signed up for the Osean Air Force, I use to travel around the world with my parents. One time while visiting Osaka, Japan, we rented a room of an inn and bathed in a natural hot spring it was built next to. It would be any man's dream to be in the Jacuzzi with all those attractive women but I respect their privacy." Inside the mentioned room, Jura relaxes in a reclining chair as she being attended to by therapists.
She said, "Space combat damages my hair."
One of the therapists assured her, "Don't worry, I'm here to restore that Jura."
Jura smiled, "Thanks. I won't battle unless my hair's just right." She then noticed Meia and Nagase in the hot tub, "Hey Meia, are you trying to lose some more weight?"
Meia answered, "Excess body fat gets in the way of combat."
The blonde-haired Dread pilot joked, "But you won't have any breasts left if you keep this up!"
Meia chuckled, "Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself, Jura."
Jura asked, "What do you think of this place, Nagase?"
Nagase replied, "It's pretty nice. I could sit in this hot tub all day but if I did that, I would wind up looking like a boiled lobster." Inside the cafeteria, Dita looks at the different sort of meals presented to her on a conveyer belt until she chooses a pair of sliced meat. However, Barnette was planning to eat that one.
She made her displeasure known, "Dita, that's loaded with calories!"
Dita smiled, "That's alright, Barnette. He told me that he wasn't eating right." She departs the cafeteria, leaving a confused Barnette behind.
Back on the bridge, Belvedere said, "Heat signatures have been confirmed."
Ezra added, "There appears to be an artificial structure on the surface but I can't say for absolute certainty because there is a sandstorm raging at the moment."
BC said, "Perhaps we can gain some useful information down there."
Magno cried, "Our kitchen running low on supplies." She then put a smile on her aged face, "Oh well, we'll just have to do things like old fashioned pirates."
BC smiled, "Thank you, captain. Begin weather monitoring! We'll head down there as soon as the storm ends."
Around 12:04 p.m., she made an announcement, "Attention all crew. We're going to be investigating a planet all pilots will immediately begin simulations onboard the Vanguards." That catches Hibiki off guard.
He said in bewilderment, "What? Women are going to be using the Van-Types?" In the Vanguard hanger Nathan, Meia, Jura and Barnette watch the engineers paint the machines all sorts of fancy colors.
Barnette whined, "I know it's impossible to get to the surface with the Dreads but still it doesn't mean that I don't like to be using a Vanguard." She brings up a valid point, although the Dreads were built for space combat, they were never designed for operations on a planet's surface like the upcoming mission. Another thing that surprises the group was that Magno has made Nathan the leader of the recon team, given the fact that he's had experience in close air support during ground missions.
Nathan said, "Quit complaining, Barnette. It's better than nothing."
Jura cried, "Well it doesn't matter to me as long as it comes out nice." Nathan sees Hibiki running through the door and towards his Vanguard, when he gets there he spots Dita about to paint it a different color with a spray gun. He jumps right in front of it, covering half of his body in pink paint.
He glared at Dita, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Dita said with starry eyes, "Wow, a pink alien! How cute!"
The Dread pilots start their training inside the simulation pods, Hibiki, Duero and Nathan watch from the observation room.
On the simulation pod's screen, Jura and Barnette's virtual Vanguard due battle with a group of MiG-27 Floggers but needless to say, they didn't stand against the enemy's cannon.
Jura finally had enough and said, "Ah! What is wrong with this thing? Why can't it move with a little more elegance? I'm out of here!"
Pyoro asked, "Don't you need permission first?"
The blonde-haired woman fired back, "Oh, shut up!"
Hibiki mocked, "See? Those women don't what it takes to pilot a Van-Type." That earned him a slap to the back of his head, "What was that for?"
Nathan told him, "They have never piloted a Vanguard before so don't judge them needlessly, Hibiki. Over time, they will get better." Then he, along with Duero, look at the monitor showing Meia and her vitals. Her pulse rate was abnormal. Her breathing was heavy, she was sweating profusely and she looked withdrawn and frightened. Nathan chucked up these classic signs as one thing: claustrophobia, fear of enclosed spaces. He has seen a few would-be Osean fighter pilots display these symptoms and tried their best to conceal the condition but Nathan wasn't fooled because he was the one evaluating their potential.
The simulation screen showed "Died in combat. Simulation over." Meia slams her fist into the wall in frustration.
Duero asked, "Are there medical overrides on Mejale?" She looked at his image, "On Tarak, doctors are given the authority to ground pilots when they are in a situation similar to yours. Do you want that?"
Meia shouted, "Of course not!" She absolutely loathed the idea of him thinking she was weak.
Duero suggested, "In that case, I advise you widen your field of vision. That will help reduce the strain on your body."
The Dread leader retorted, "Keep your advise to yourself. I don't need anyone's help, least of all you. I'll be just fine, thank you very much." Nathan shakes his head over her defiance.
'Pride can be your worst enemy.' He thought.
Meanwhile, Bart is reading some sort of instructions book.
He mumbled, "Let's see how to use the 'ten in one knife shield.' Following the will of the pilot along with the electronic pulse speed." He closed the book, "Oh, I can do this!"
Hibiki said, "Whatever. Just keep doing whatever it is you're doing." His face suddenly lands in-between Jura's breasts.
She said in a seductive tone, "Hello there. The next time we go out, you'll combine with me. I hope you keep that in mind." She then leaves, freeing Hibiki's face and allowing him to breathe again.
He blinked in confusion, "What was that all about?" Down in the simulation room, Duero and Pyoro arrive in time to see the pod open up. Meia's face was currently resting against her arms as she struggles to get her breathing under control.
Duero said, "Your problem seemed to have originated from something psychosomatic in nature. Do you know what caused it?"
Meia looked at him, "Your observation can't be more wrong. It's only fatigue, doctor."
Duero cried, "Adamant denial. That case is serious."
Meia said with irritation, "It's just fatigue!" She stumbled out of the pod and refused Duero's assistance, she glared at them, "There's nothing I hate more than people who don't mind their own business!" Walking to the exit of the room, Meia sees Nathan leaning against the wall with arms crossed and giving her a stoic look.
He said, "You should sit this one out, Meia."
Meia asked, "Why?"
Nathan spoke, "A person with a condition he or she refuses to accept is a liability to the rest of the squad."
The Dread leader cried, "If it's about what happened back there, then you shouldn't worry. Like I said, It's only fatigue."
The Osean informed, "You're a horrible liar. I know claustrophobia when I see it and you showed all the classic symptoms. If you went with us on this recon mission, you would only be a liability. You are weak, Meia."
Meia narrowed her eyes dangerously, "What did you say?"
Nathan said calmly, "You are weak, not physically but emotionally. You must have experienced something traumatic in your past that has caused you to become who you are now. Strength can only be achieved by accepting your weakness. This is why I advise you to sit this recon mission out." He sees Meia physically twitching as she feels her anger rise, it seems Nathan had inadvertently struck a nerve. Meia runs at him with intent on taking his head off but Nathan catches her fist the blue-haired Dread pilot switches to her free fist but it too gets caught. Nathan lets go when he sees Meia ceasing in trying to pummel his face in and he allows her to leave.
Hibiki contacted Magno, "Hey, old lady! You there?"
Magno replied, "There's an old lady right here. What is it, little one?"
Hibiki said, "Tell your people to stop messing with the Van-Types, it's really insulting having them being painted all those dorky colors. Anyway..." The transmission ends abruptly when he hears Dita approaching.
BC blinked in confusion while Magno chuckled, "Heh, it's sure gotten livelier ever since we captured those 7 men." Paiway hides behind the bushes in the Nirvana's garden and snaps pictures of Hibiki munching down on one of Dita's boxed lunches. Of course, his table manners need a little adjusting.
She later talks to Jura, who is currently showering.
The young nurse said, "And what's more surprising is that he was under Dita's control! All from a single boxed lunch."
Jura purred, "I see." Inside the kitchen, Barnette was wearing an apron that replaced her shoulder pads.
Barnette asked with a raised eyebrow, "That's it? That's the reason I am doing all this cooking?"
Her blonde-haired friend while inspecting her fingernails, "It's so that I can combine. You love it when I'm beautiful, don't you Barnette?"
'What an enchanting world you live in, Jura.' Barnette thought.
She then spots a bottle of fire hot sauce, an evil smile forms on her face as she secretly adds it to the steak.
The brunette said, "There we go! All done!" They set out in search for Hibiki.
Grimm walks past them as he heads for the kitchen for something to drink. A little bit earlier, he was told by Nathan to remain on the Nirvana along with Nagase and Snow in case the enemy decides to launch a surprise attack during the recon mission. The 19-year old had no objections since he had a point.
He enters the kitchen in time to see Bart screaming in pain, his lips swollen and red after eating a piece of meat that had the fire hot sauce on it. He immediately downs a glass of water in an attempt to douse the blazing inferno attacking his throat and stomach.
Dita comes out with a pair of ice cream cones.
She said, "Hello there, Mr. Pilot. Why are your lips swollen?" Bart swiftly covers them and when Dita sees the ice cream on one of the cones beginning to melt, she offers it to him but the helmsman runs out of the kitchen.
Grimm looks on with a sweat drop then Dita offers him the ice cream cone, he gladly accepts it and starts licking. Ezra emerges from a storage room holding a bunch of lemons in her arms.
Grimm greeted, "Hello, Ezra."
The gentle bridge bunny said, "Hi, Dita and Grimm."
Dita noticed the lemons and asked, "What are those lemons for?"
Ezra admitted, "It seems that I have had a craving for something sour lately." Dita gets a cute look on her face while Grimm shakes his head with a smile, he knows that Ezra's craving for the lemons was a sign of her pregnancy. The one thing that intrigued the Ghosts of Razgriz was the way babies were born in this universe since the two genders live on separate planets and that also means that the natural way of how babies were born was obsolete. He finishes eating the cone.
The alarm goes off signaling that it's time for the recon mission and making Dita throw her unfinished ice cream cone in the sink then heads for the Vanguard hanger. The five begin their descent toward the desert planet's surface. The Vanguards deploy their heat shields while Nathan's F-15E Strike Eagle's black body glows red-hot from friction. Parfet told him that the aircraft's outer skin had a mysterious coating that protects it from the immense temperatures of re-entry while allowing it to survive without requiring a heat shield.
After successfully passing through the atmosphere, the Vanguards' heat shields turn into umbrellas to slow their rate of descent. However, none of them had enough time to train using a Vanguard so they wind up crash landing on the surface while the F-15E Strike Eagle changes into robot form, the boosters in its feet keep it hovering above the ground for a second then deactivate.
Back on the Nirvana, Meia ran to the Vanguard hanger and growled in frustration, "I'm too late!"
Pyoro hovered over to her and said, "Don't push yourself will they be okay without you, Meia?"
The Dread leader said in defiance, "This shouldn't have happened! I'm responsible for their safety including Nathan's!"
The white robot stated, "But the launch shuttle was made for one way only. They aren't any more."
Meia cried, "What are you talking about?" On the planet's surface, the recon team begin their mission but there is nothing but miles of sand beyond their field of vision.
Jura said in a bored tone, "This place sure looks deserted, huh?"
Barnette agreed, "There was no need for Meia to come down here with us." The robotic head of Blaze's F-15E Strike Eagle looks around, his battle hardened instincts tell him that something is not right.
Hibiki's Vanguard loses its footing and slides down a sand hill.
He said, "Come to think of it, this is my first time using my Vanguard on land."
Jura's Vanguard walked up to him and knelt down, "Hey, can't we hurry up a little?"
Dita stopped her, "Stop it, the only person that Mr. Alien is going to do it with is me!"
Jura snapped back, "Now wait just a minute! Who gave you authority on what I can or can't do, huh?"
The redhead struggled to say, "Y-you just can't!"
Hibiki yelled, "Will the two of you knock it off?" He ignites the Vanguard's boosters to leave the arguing duo but then a laser beams shoots from out of nowhere and hits his machine, making it crash to the ground. Without warning, the sand attacks them.
To make matters worse, the missile warning blares and Blaze moves out of the way as an air-to-surface missile strikes millimeters in front of him shooting up a column of sand.
On the Nirvana's bridge, Duero sees their pulses rise dramatically.
BC said, "Recon team, report!"
Blaze replied, "The sand is attacking us!"
The platinum-haired woman gasped, "What? The sand is attacking?" Back on the desert planet's surface, Blaze soon traces the origin where the AGM-65 Mavericks are being fired from to a pair of A-10s flying overhead. The jets make a right turn to line up for another strafing run, this time they fire their 30mm, GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling cannon. The rounds strike mere inches from the recon team and Blaze waits for them to turn around and when they do, he downs one of them with the M61 Vulcan Gatling cannon. Only one more A-10 to go. Hearing a scream, Blaze turns his machine around to see the Vanguards in the process of being covered by sand.
Hibiki exclaimed, "What the hell is this stuff?"
Blaze said, "This whole thing was a trap and we fell right into it." Amidst the chaos going on, Meia comes landing in a Vanguard that was left behind. She shudders from the impact and her vision is in a red shade as her claustrophobia shows its effects.
Duero urged, "Meia, do you read me? Turn on your monitors!"
Meia said in a raspy tone, "He should mind his own business!" The blue-haired woman follows the doctor's advise and activates the monitors. After that sand comes hurling at her, Meia only has enough time to gasp before the sand attacks her.
'What should I do? I'm scared!' She thought as she clutched her face with her hands.
Back with the recon team, they have trouble dealing with the Sand Vanguards despite Blaze destroying the other A-10.
He cried in disbelief, "What did you say, Duero? Meia is down here?"
Duero told him, "Yes. She should be nearby." If didn't have his helmet on, he'd be pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. Sand Vanguards are attacking him and his team and now Meia chose to ignore his advise and come down here.
Blaze said, "Damn that woman. Her pride is going to be the death of her one of these days. Barnette, go search for Meia."
Barnette replied, "Roger!" She separates from the group to look for the Dread leader, eventually she finds the Vanguard fully covered with sand. Barnette uses a shovel to try in removing the sand but Meia's Vanguard punches Barnette off and leaps into the air to touch the laser grid and an alarm sounds.
A timer appears on one of the bridge bunny's monitors.
Belvedere said, "A self-detonation system has been activated on the planet. 300 seconds until detonation."
BC informed the recon team, "Did you guys get that? You need to get out of there!" On the planet, the recon team is boxed in.
Hibiki said, "We would if we weren't surrounded at the moment." An alarm warns that a hostile is approaching from behind them, turning around Hibiki sees another Sand Vanguard standing on the hill and is about to attack when Barnette tells him that it's actually Meia.
Inside the cockpit of the Vanguard, Meia was almost catatonic when Hibiki said, "Hey! Are you taking a nap in there? Get that stuff off!" He tackles the machine to the ground.
Meia told him in a somewhat weak tone, "Stop. Just...save yourself."
Hibiki refused, "Ain't happening. You may piss me off but I'd feel miserable if you died here." Blaze watches the young lad try to scrape the sand off but it keeps coming back so he looks around for something to get rid of it before the self-detonation happens.
BC exclaimed, "You guys only have 30 seconds left! Get out of there now!"
Blaze said, "We know. Hibiki, attack those tanks to your left. They are filled with liquid nitrogen, the sub-zero temperatures should be enough to get rid of these Sand Vanguards."
Hibiki replied, "You got it, Blaze." His Vanguard throws one of its swords into the tank, cracking it open and liquid nitrogen starts to leak out, flooding the surrounding area with its sub-zero temperatures.
Jura cried, "What are you doing? It's freezing in here! Wait a minute, freezing?" Looking through her monitor, Jura witnesses the frozen Sand Vanguards become brittle and crumble to pieces, much to her and the others' surprise. The sand over Meia's unit cracks then falls, exposing her to the blinding light from the outside.
She said, "To think I'd owe my life to a man."
Blaze told sternly, "Look Meia, we have less than 30 seconds to get off this planet so if you don't want to get barbecued, I recommend we evacuate now. Make your decision!" The Dread leader tries to reply but she can't because the sheer urgency of the situation so she makes her decision.
Meia cried, "Let's go." Blaze nods and orders the others to start taking off when he looks over his shoulder the Osean notices that Meia's Vanguard is not moving.
Blaze asked, "Why are you standing there? Come on, we don't have much time left!"
The Dread leader stated, "For some reason, my Vanguard is out of power! I can't move!" Releasing an exasperated sigh, Blaze approaches the disabled machine and rips the cockpit open. He next extends the Strike Eagle's hand and opens the canopy.
He said, "Come on, Meia. I don't care about what your beliefs are about men but right now you have to trust me. It's either that or die." Realizing that she has no choice Meia walks over and climbs into the back seat of the cockpit to the F-15E Strike Eagle and upon closing the canopy, Blaze changes the aircraft into jet mode and ignites the afterburners to catch up with the others.
The personnel on the Nirvana's bridge watch as the timer reaches zero and detonations start happening all over the planet, for a moment they believe the recon team didn't make it out in time but they are soon proven wrong when the team's radar signatures appear on the monitor, their vital signs reappear on the bridge control console as well. They look out the window to see them emerging.
Blaze sees a spec of light gray to his left so turns his head at that direction and sees an aircraft that looks familiar. Upon zooming on it, it's confirmed to be a MiG-1.44 MFI Flatpack. He knows only one person flew that jet and he was killed by a ricocheting plane.
Ezra said in relief, "All members safe and accounted for."
Belvedere stated, "Wait. I only see 4 signatures on the radar. Why aren't there 5?"
Blaze explained, "The Vanguard Meia came down in ran out of power so we had to leave it behind, that's the reason why you are only getting 4 blips on the radar. Don't worry, she is in the seat behind me. We're coming in for a landing now." He lowers his jet's landing gear and flaps. He carefully directs the F-15E Strike Eagle into the hanger and the back gear touch the ground first then the front gear, leveling the aircraft out and Blaze activates the speed break. The F-15's airspeed rapidly drops until it reaches zero, the pilot shuts off the turbines.
When the canopy opens up, Meia exits without thanking Nathan for saving her.
Back on the bridge, Belvedere said, "I've retrieved some data from the planet."
BC ordered, "Read it."
The blonde-haired woman asked, "What? You want me to read it?"
The commander repeated impatiently, "What? Didn't you hear my order? Read the message!"
Belvedere apologized, "I'm sorry. I'll read it now. 'Attention. This year's harvesting are red cells, white blood cells, lymph cells, platelets, etc. All blood components are in good condition.' This is where the data ends."
BC looked at Magno with disbelief and shock, "Captain, t-this means..."
Magno said, "It appears that what the enemy really wanted to do was to harvest us for their own purposes. It's safe to assume from this information is that they think of us as nothing more than vegetables! If there's one thing I have learned here is that we are facing truly formidable opponents." Inside the Vanguard hanger, the machines are returned to the storage area while the pilots recover from the mission.
Meia sits down with her back against the giant crate behind her.
'Being saved is bad enough but being saved by a man is a disgrace. And of all men, it had to be that Osean!' Meia thought acidly.
She hears Hibiki moan as he emerges from his Vanguard.
He sniffed, "I think I caught a cold." He looked down to see Meia staring at him before turning away, "What's her problem? She should grateful that Nathan saved her." He sneezes after finishing that sentence.
Later that day, Meia is requested to come to the conference room. Stepping through the doors, she sees Magno, BC, Duero and the person she didn't want to see, Nathan.
Magno greeted, "Hello, Meia. Please, sit down." The Dread leader sits in the empty chair facing the old woman.
Meia asked, "What is this about?"
Magno began, "I'm sorry if this upsets you but you are no longer allowed to go on any future ground missions."
The blue-haired woman blinked in shock, "What? Captain, I was just suffering from fatigue."
Duero stated, "Not according to the vital signs I noticed during the simulation training for the Vanguards. Your pulse rate was higher than normal, you were breathing heavily and your performance suffered because of that. You have claustrophobia, Meia. You perform exceptionally well in the Dread because the cockpit is more open spaced but in the confined cockpit of a Vanguard, it's the exact opposite."
Meia fired back, "Nonsense. It was only fatigue, doctor."
Nathan said, "Quit making excuses, Meia. During the recon mission you were virtually unresponsive because of your fear of enclosed spaces and that almost cost us our lives. Like I said earlier, a pilot with a condition like yours is a liability. I am a squadron leader, too and it's my duty to make sure that my wingmen get through the mission and come back home alive. If it wasn't for me, you would not be here right now. I know it's a hard pill to swallow but Meia you have to realize that we need to work together if we want to make it back to warn both Tarak and Mejale of the harvesting."
The Dread leader said, "We will do just fine without you!"
Nathan cried, "Well then, answer me this question. If you were facing a flight of Su-37 Terminators flown by ace pilots and they outnumbered you 4 on 1, what would your course of action be? Would you rush head-on into battle with them like a fool and wind up getting shot down or retreat to fight another day?" He stares at her with stoical eyes as he waits for the answer.
Meia stumbled, "I...I...would...I would...retreat to fight another day rather than get shot down."
Seeing the troubled look in Meia's eyes, Magno assured, "Don't think that we're turning against you, Meia because that is not true at all. I am simply looking after the safety of my crew including yours, sometimes we all have to make difficult choices throughout lives and we may not like the outcome of them. However, I am agreeing with Nathan and Duero on this one. I can't allow you to risk your life doing a recon mission if it means using the Vanguards. My decision is final, do you understand?"
Meia sighed, accepting defeat, "Yes, captain."
The pirate leader said, "With that taken cared of, I have something else to say. Nathan, I am placing you in charge of future ground missions we may have." Nathan sees Meia getting up from her seat, obviously not happy about that declaration.
Nathan stood up as well, "Listen Meia, I am doing this not out of personal gain or of boosting my pride but because Magno is requesting it." The Dread leader gets in his face boring holes into him.
She sneered, "Why? So you can get your team killed like with that Chopper guy?" Nathan looks away and kept calm but those words stung.
The leader of Razgriz Squadron returned his gaze to her, "If I were you, I would choose my next words very carefully." Magno, BC and Duero feel an icy cold chill run down their spines from the warning tone in Nathan's voice. However, Meia is too blinded by her anger to sense it.
The blue-haired woman continued, "Or better yet, Nagase would love to see you making a fool out of yourself if you messed up on a mission." The next thing she knows, Nathan pins her against the wall with a forearm against her throat but making sure not to press too hard on it or she'll choke. Meia feels her blood freeze when she stares at the seething Razgriz Squadron leader.
Nathan said, "Listen, you ingrate! Nagase happens to be my wife, one that I love dearly! What you said was uncalled for! Say something like that again and you won't have to worry about the enemy shooting you down because I'll do it myself! You don't want the Ghosts of Razgriz as your enemy! Watch what you say next time, do you understand?"
Meia nodded, "Y-yes." Releasing her, Nathan walks out of the room not wanting to be in the same place as the Dread leader.
Meia had a look of fear on her face, something that no one has ever seen before. The crew felt that nothing could faze her until now.
Nathan enters his and Nagase's bedroom and sits on the bed releasing a big sigh. Just then the bathroom door opens and Nagase walks out after showering and drying her hair. She only had a towel on her at the moment, Nathan momentarily stares at her athletic body that he came to admire and that she loves him. He brings his gaze up to her beautiful face, loving the way she looked.
Nagase finally notices his presence and Nathan quickly snaps out of his gaze.
She asked, "Nathan, what brings you here?"
Her husband answered, "Just got out of a meeting with Magno. She appointed me as the head for any future ground missions we might have but Meia didn't take it well or the fact that she isn't allowed to take part in them involving the Vanguards due to her claustrophobia. She then had the audacity to insult you and Chopper. I'm growing tired of her attitude towards men." Nagase sits on his lap before embracing him in a comforting hug, allowing Nathan to inhale the lavender scented shampoo that she uses. Nathan wraps his arms around her waist.
She said, "Something else is troubling you, dear. What is it?"
He replied, "While we were returning from our recon mission, I saw a MiG-1.44 flying nearby. You think that snake Hamilton somehow cheated death?"
Nagase shook her head, "Impossible. There's no way he could have survived that ricocheting plane colliding with him. I think that MiG-1.44 you saw was just your imagination playing tricks on you."
Nathan said, "I hope so because if it wasn't I would love noting more than to make that snake pay for framing us as Yuktobanian spies. If by some miracle that he has somehow returned from the grave then I will make him rue the day he ever framed us."
His wife told him, "You look tired from that mission. Why don't you get some sleep?"
Nathan nodded, "I guess that would help calm me down after the way Meia disrespected my two squad mates." Getting rid of his shoes and shirt, he pulls back the cover and climbs in. What he doesn't expect is Nagase straddling him and removing the towel, revealing herself in all of her glory. Nagase softly smiles as leans down squishing her 36 C cup breasts against his chest, she sighs softly when she feels Nathan's arms around her bare back and start rubbing it. They both soon dozed off into sleep.
A/N: Chapter 5 done.
Looks like the recon team suffered a close call and Meia insulted Chopper and Nagase. Of course, Nathan didn't take too kindly to that and intimidated her.
The MiG-1.44 makes its first appearance here. For those of you who don't know, Hamilton piloted that plane during the mission where you have to destroy the SOLG's control system. I am not a big fan of futuristic looking aircraft in the game although the ADF-01 Falken is an exception.
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Stay tuned for chapter 6.
Vader 23A