1995.
As Galm Team, Crow Team and other Osean and Ustio squadrons enter the airspace near Sudentor, one pilot contacts PJ.
"PJ, you gonna get remarried to your girl?"
As they pass over Stier Castle, the young pilot responds rather insulted, "We're both getting married for the first time!"
Cipher rolls his eyes and lets out a slight chuckle. Before anyone else can chime in, the AWACS interrupts them.
"Crow Team, do you read me? Head for Waldreich to take out any remnant forces the Belkans have positioned out there."
After a few seconds, he then asks, "Galm 2, what's the problem? You're behind."
Upon hearing this, Cipher looks up at his cockpit mirror. He sees the small spec in the sky behind him that is Pixy, much farther back than usual.
Pixy answers, "Don't worry, I'll catch up."
Concerned, PJ asks, "Is there a problem with your craft?"
"Nah… I'm just sad." Pixy responds.
Narrowing his eyes, Cipher decides to keep an eye on him this mission. He's never like this.
Another transmission from the AWACS comes in.
"Emergency transmission from Allied HQ! A Belkan Bomber equipped with nuclear weapons has taken off for Ustio!"
Stunned, PJ yells out, "WHAT!?"
Ignoring him, the AWACS updates them, "Enemy bombers are approaching this airspace. Galm Team, Crow Team, head to intercept!"
All pilots push their throttles all the way forward. They're motivated now.
Crow Team all acknowledge the order, but Pixy radios, "This war would end if they blew everything up…" Concerning Cipher even more. They'll probably have to have a talk once this mission is over.
Observer Zero radios the Belkan bombers, "Stay on course for Ustio. Ignore the interceptors."
A Belkan officer asks her, "Miss Zero, I cannot in good coincidence let you do this to us!"
"Belka is on its last legs. This is a logical decision to halt the Allied Forces' advance. If Belka falls, then—"
"I don't care! This is not the way!" the officer yells.
"Leave the room if you do not agree." Zero orders.
"Very well!" The officer storms out. He grabs a radio in another room and starts giving his own orders against the Siren.
PJ gets the bombers on his radar, "We can't let them use those nukes!"
The AWACS says, "Do whatever it takes to stop them!"
The flight lead of the Belkan bombers radios back to Zero, "Everything is going to plan. No changes are necessary at this time."
"They will be intercepting you in a few minutes. Be ready." The Siren orders.
"Prepare to engage the enemy. 5 miles remaining." The AWACS updates the Allied pilots.
"4 miles remaining."
"I see them! Enemy bombers with nukes!" PJ confirms.
The bombers in question are BM-335 Lindwurms, Zero's own unique design, based on the limited technology she had to work with. They're fast, tough planes for their size, but not invincible. They have Sukhois and Eagles escorting them who pounce on the Allied interceptors immediately.
Almost instantly, Galm Team and PJ take out a bomber each.
The flight lead updates Zero, "Two planes… no, three planes are down, but this has no bearing on our plans."
"Correct. Continue on course." Zero responds.
Another bomber pilot, almost robotic, adds, "We must carry out our duty."
A while later, another Belkan voice suddenly sounds out to the bombers, "Warning! Change course immediately or you'll be shot down!"
Half of the Belkan escorts start moving into weapons envelope on their own bombers. When the bigger planes refuse to turn back, they start getting shot down by the Belkan fighters.
"The enemy's attacking each other!?" PJ exclaims upon seeing it he chaos.
"Don't worry about that now. Just concentrate on shooting down those bombers." The AWACS orders.
The Belkan escorts who are still helping the bombers get orders from them, "Eliminate anyone who tries to interfere. They're no longer our allies. Don't hesitate to shoot them down." The lead bomber pilot says with a soulless tone.
The Belkan fighters fight each other all while getting shot down by the Allied fighters.
PJ's flight lead, Crow 1, suggests, "This is perfect. Let's use it against them!"
Crow 2 agrees, "Take them out while they're still confused!"
Pixy remains silent as he dogfights the infighting Belkans.
Watching everything happening on her radar, Kestrel can't help but keep watching Pixy's blip flying very strangely. Usually he sticks to Cipher to cover him but he's staying far way from him this time. Not that Cipher really needs him there but it does usually make them far more efficient.
"What's he doing…? I hope he's okay…" the Carrier says.
Weeker replies, "He's probably just having an off day. He'll be fine. I want to know what the hell is going on with the Belkans. They seem to be fighting each other. Has their command structure really collapsed that much?"
They've been listening to the Allied radio too. They've had interference like before, but not as much this time. Kestrel still can't tell what's doing it.
"I have fighters on standby in case any bombers get through, sir."
"Good. Keep them prepped." The Commander nods.
"Stay airborne until we reach the destination point." The lead bomber pilot orders as his plane is riddled with machine gun fire. The armour on his plane is holding up well. The ensuing chaos among the Belkan fighters is taking attention off them.
"Move according to plan." Another adds.
The Belkan officer going against Zero keeps ordering the bombers to be shot down. The room he's in gets its door kicked but it holds. Zero must've ordered them to make him stop interfering. He puts his chair up against it and continues trying to protect what little Belka has left.
Observing just how many bombers there are, PJ knows they have little chance of shooting them all down in time. He contacts the AWACS, "This is Crow 3. Please identify the craft with the nuclear weapon!"
Unable to do so, the AWACS responds, "You'll have to shoot all of them down. To all units in this airspace, stop the nuclear attack! Shoot down all Belkan bombers!"
Cipher damages an escort to the point they cannot fight any longer and their plane is essentially now just a parachute. He disengages and goes back to attacking the bombers instead. There's no point in wasting more ammo on a defenceless target.
A Belkan pilot going against the bombers yells out, "They'll end up destroying the entire country!"
Another adds, "Do they intend to wipe our homeland off the map!? That's crazy!" The officer must've informed them on what the bomber squadron's true mission is.
In the midst of the chaos, Crow 1 asks, "How many planes are left!?" Only to be met with constant radio chatter.
PJ says to himself, "I won't let them do this…"
Internally, Pixy wonders if he should just allow the nuclear weapon to be used. Perhaps the war would be over quicker. He sees that they've managed to break through.
Kestrel launches her backup planes to shoot down the bombers.
"No! We're too late!" In a desperate attempt to reach out to the enemy bombers, PJ switches to an open channel, "Don't be stupid! Nukes won't solve a thing!" But he's completely ignored.
The AWACS updates the Allied Forces, "All planes, something strange is happening. The bombers are withdrawing…"
Kestrel concentrates and pushes her pilotless planes to intercept the bombers, then—
KABOOM
Before PJ can ask if what he just said worked, everyone's vision becomes white in a massive flash.
Kestrel's map shows a massive red circle growing before interference reduces it to static. Her radio becomes completely white noise again. She loses contact with all of her pilotless planes as they fall from the sky, making her stumble. Weeker catches her before she falls. They both then hear the sound of the massive explosion, then the shockwave hits her ship and shatters her windows, causing both of them to take cover.
"What the hell was that…?" Kestrel asks.
Unable to hear their instruments over their ringing ears, all planes in the airspace stop fighting to regain their senses.
Everyone's HUDs and radars become unreadable as electromagnetic interference from the nuclear blast messes with their planes.
The AWACS urgently radios, "This is Eagle Eye! All teams, damage report!" His transmission is filled with static.
PJ radios back, "This is Crow 3! Negative! Unable to confirm the situation!"
Crow 2 yells, "What the hell is going on here!?"
Crow 1 reports, "Dammit… My gauges are malfunctioning!"
PJ says more to himself but still over the radio, "What was that light…? Am I alright…?"
Zero radios, "All bombers, mission accomplished. Return to base."
The officer going against her is brought before her. He says, "You bitch! Look what you've done! This will not help us! You and your other bomber squadrons have destroyed half of our homeland!"
"A necessary sacrifice for the greater good. I am not yet done with this experiment. You humans become far too attached to irrelevant things, places and people. It's time for logic to take command."
"No! NO!" The officer yells as he sees her shock tentacles moving towards him…
Cipher looks around for his comrades as his IFF is having problems. He gets his radio back and tries to get everything else working. He doesn't notice Pixy right behind him.
Kestrel yells, "Come on, you stupid piece of junk!" Has hits her radar and it flickers back on. She sees what Cipher sees. "…What's Pixy doing…?"
She gets her radio receiver back. She says, "Pixy? What's going on? Pixy?" but she's unable to reach out with it. She and Weeker both listen in.
Galm Team both receive a transmission on their private channel with Kestrel.
"Larry, can you hear me? Your Fairy Godmother's here, Cinderella."
Annoyed by the caller's nonchalance, Pixy responds, "How can you say that after what just happened!?"
"Today is your lucky day, Larry. Like your birthday."
"And you're here to pull me off in a magical carriage… to hell I suppose…" Pixy replies.
Kestrel and Cipher wonder what he's talking about. Are they speaking in code?
All of sudden, Cipher gets a missile lock warning. Pixy says to him, "Buddy… I found found a reason to fight…"
Forgetting nobody can hear her, Kestrel yells, "Cipher, he's targeting you! Pixy, that's not an enemy!"
"I think the knows, Kestrel…" Weeker says grimly.
"What?" Kestrel looks at him.
The lock on warning is swiftly followed by a missile warning, prompting Cipher to violently roll his plane out of the way, almost breaking his airframe as the missile explodes just far enough way to not do serious damage.
Kestrel gets closer to the radar and yells, "PIXY, WHAT THE HELL!?"
Weeker stares at it as well and whispers, "I wonder how long he's been planning this…"
The AWACS yells out, "Galm 2, what are you doing? That's not the enemy! Cease fire!"
Pixy keeps trying to shoot down Cipher, who manoeuvres too well for him to get a good shot. He fires another missile but this one is way off. Cipher's unable to switch his IFF to be able to target Pixy, who must've done it in the OFS Kestrel before takeoff or when he was lagging behind earlier.
Kestrel tries in vain to reach out to Pixy despite the interference in her radio, "Pixy! Pixy! Stop! Please!" A tear rolls down her face. She can't believe what's happening.
Weeker can only put his arm around her to comfort her. She keeps trying to no avail.
The AWACS orders, "Warning! Enemy reinforcements detected!"
Confused, PJ asks, "Reinforcements!? From which squadron!?"
Now being targeted by Pixy and this new squadron, Cipher moves like he's in Area B7R again. He struggles to shake Pixy the most, who's been studying his tricks for years. Eventually he manages to break off and Wizard Team keep Cipher busy while he slips away.
Still distraught by what he's witnessed, PJ yells, "What is Belka thinking!?"
The AWACS radios, "Galm 2 is leaving the combat airspace! Pixy, what's going on!? Respond!" Only to be met with silence.
Now that Pixy is gone, Cipher starts massacring the squadron that dared to team up on him.
"Galm 2 has disappeared from radar. Destroy enemy reinforcements." The AWACS says.
Galm 1 shoots down the second to last, but then runs out of ammo despite the mercy he showed earlier. He stares down the last plane jousting with him.
Seeing Cipher in trouble, PJ goes to help. He comes in at the last minute and blows up the last plane. He forms up with Galm 1, who nods in appreciation.
Pixy radios Cipher again, "This is where we go our separate ways, buddy." And cuts the transmission.
The AWACS orders, "All enemy planes are down. Return to base. They've all gone insane…" With clear disdain in his voice.
Weeker pats Kestrel on her back to comfort her more as she cries into his chest, refusing to let go. She thought she could trust Pixy. She thought they were friends. Eventually she calms down and Galm 1 and Crow Team return to her ship.
Cipher lands back on the Carrier. It takes him a while to get out of his plane. He goes straight to his cabin and slams the door shut. After a while, Kestrel knocks on his door. "Cipher? It… it's me… do… do you wanna talk about what happened?"
After a few seconds, the door opens and she's let in. She spends the night in there.
The next day, Kestrel sits with Cipher in the mess hall and they watch the news on TV. The footage shows a mushroom cloud over Waldreich and the headline reads, Estimates of over 12,000 dead."
Cipher sees Kestrel staring at the TV in horror. The news presenters talk about how Belka has detonated not only one, but seven nuclear warheads on their own soil to halt the advance of the Allied Forces. No military on Earth in their right mind would advance through terrain that's been reduced to a radioactive wasteland.
Cipher puts his arm around Kestrel and she looks at him with a distressed look in her eyes. She asks, "How could they do such a thing? Their own people…" she hugs him.
The presenter continues, "…The leaders of the Belkan military have declared that their remaining territory is now the Holy Land of North Belka…
Kestrel pulls away from Cipher and she says, "I'm sorry… I must look pretty pathetic for a new Carrier, huh?"
She looks at him and is surprised to see him shaking his head. He isn't crying himself, but she can see he's torn up about something.
"Still feeling bad?" She asks.
Cipher looks down and nods slightly. Before he can speak, the Carrier's tannoy sounds out with Weeker's voice, "Kestrel and all pilots, report to the briefing room."
Both of them stand and Cipher gestures for her to go first. She nods and they both make their way there.
Once in the room, Kestrel sits between Cipher and PJ. The officer in charge of the briefing looks at them and the rest of Crow Team with a somber expression. They all know the loss of life is serious, even if no Ustio or Osean civilians were killed.
After a few seconds of silence, the screen comes to life and the man takes a deep breath. He starts, "We have discovered remaining enemy troops gathered in Yering Mine area, in Northwest Belka. Numerous divisions of the Belkan Army refuse to accept the change in government and are disobeying the command to disband."
The screen shows someone Kestrel reacts slightly to. It shows a small girl with what looks like some sort of plushie on a jellyfish. She has a blue streak in her snow white hair, whose colour matches her skin.
"We believe this strange individual is the one who has taken control of what's left of the Belkan forces still loyal to the new government. We don't know exactly who or what she is, but this picture taken by our spies proves her existence."
PJ asks, "Sir, if they're disobeying their new leadership, shouldn't we try and get them to ally with us?"
"Negative. They may be attacking their fellow countrymen, but they're still trying to stop us as well. Such an alliance will not be possible." He turns his attention to everyone else as the screen switches back to the map of the future area of operations. "Your mission is to clear out the remaining Belkan troops, and if the reports are accurate, there are still plenty of them."
An Allied base appears on the map in Osean territory. The briefing officer continues, "The Heierlark Base, located in Osean territory, has been arranged for your refuelling. If your tank is low, go there and they'll help you out."
The man looks at Cipher and addresses him personally, "To compensate for losses in Galm Team, Crow Team and Kestrel herself will be joining you. We're counting for your best performance yet."
Kestrel, who was thinking about who that strange girl was, is snapped out of it by hearing she'll be flying with Cipher this mission. The briefing officer looks at her and says, "Show us what you can do, Kestrel."
"Yes, sir!" She salutes.
In the hangar of the OFS Kestrel, Cipher and the Kansen walk towards his plane. Kestrel asks, "So… I'm going up with you this time, huh?"
Cipher nods.
"Um… do you think I'm good enough to fly with you?" Kestrel asks him.
Cipher shrugs.
"Uh… do you… think we'll see Pixy again?"
Cipher stops and stares at her.
"… I'll just go get my own plane ready…" Kestrel quickly makes herself scarce.
Cipher sighs and shakes his head as he goes to check his weapons and bombs.
"Stupid Kestrel… why the hell did you ask him that!?" Kestrel mutters to herself, lightly hitting herself in the head.
PJ catches up to her and calls out, "Hey, Kes!"
"Patrick?" The Kansen turns around, "What's up?"
PJ asks her, "Hey, so… is Cipher doing okay?"
"I… I don't know… he just… doesn't talk very much… he barely even said anything when we were alone in his room all last night… he didn't even say anything when we went for breakfast…" Kestrel answers.
"Uh… you were both alone while you were both emotionally vulnerable? And you stayed overnight?" PJ asks, taking a step back.
"Huh?" Kestrel asks. She thinks about it and her eyes widen, "AH! No, not like that!" She yells, blushing, "Dammit, Pat! What the hell is wrong with you!?"
"Okay! Sorry! It just… sounded weird, you know?" The young pilot puts his hands up.
Kestrel sighs and replies, "It's alright… Let's just be sure to watch his ass, huh?" She puts her hand out.
"Yeah. If Pixy shows his face, we'll make sure Cipher gets all the help we can spare!" PJ shakes it.
Elevators take the newly refuelled and rearmed planes to the flight deck and the pilots all take off on their new mission…