Chapter One: Two worlds apart

Erusean Experimental Testing facility.

The sun burned down upon the arid sandy landscape. What was once a great Salt Lake had now dried up, leaving a snow white sea of sand and hardened salt. The horizon extended for what looked like forever, only broken by the odd tumble weed blowing in the wind. Stepping outside was like stepping into an oven as the hot air and beating sun engulphed anyone foolish enough to brave the heat, even at the start of Autumn the heat was especially potent. Nighttime was no better; it was as cold as a demon's soul. It could cause even the strongest man to tremble feverishly as numbness spreads from limb to limb. Going out alone, the eerie howls and grunts of various desert critters and beasts fill the ears with an overwhelming sense of feeling like something is watching. The constant extreme heat, cold and the sounds is enough to unhinge the strongest of minds.

Dr. Schroeder POV:

One day, a classmate of Mihaly's granddaughter visited. I saw the rose emblem. She certainly laughed like a princess, and I found out later that she was in fact the daughter of Erusea's new leader. She was this connection to the royal bloodline everyone was talking about. The one to restore the monarchy. She was truly a godsend for the Erusean people. If Mihaly's granddaughters were like the moon, she was like the sun, wrapped in light. Her face was so expressive. It's no wonder that the people of this war-torn country instantly feel at ease when they watch her speeches.

They started singing…

The pilots of the support planes smiled, even though they wished their nation were independent from hers.

Angelic…

A few months had passed since the princess arrived. It was later revealed to Dr Schroeder, the head scientist of the facility, that she was sent here by her father, the King of Erusea. Citing her safety after a small, but insignificant bombing raid on Farbanti, her home and the capital of Erusea.

Rosa sat in her office; her mind wandered as she took in her surroundings as she did every day. Inside felt small and cold, the air conditioner sounded like a car engine quietly idling away along with the constant buzz of the fluorescent lights. Four cubicles shared an empty common area where she was currently sitting. The carpet below was sea green, a vast contrast from the bright red she had grown used to on her family's rose emblem. There was only one window throughout the whole space, vertical, narrow and fortified with iron bars. It felt like a prison, Rosa liked to sit here and feel the warm sun against her pale skin occasionally, without having to experience the extreme heat from the desert. The office was cluttered, even in the common room there were books piled one on top of the other as well as paper folders in various colours of blue, red and pale yellow littered the oak table. There was nothing fancy about the building. It was basically a solid concrete box with a door. Cold and barren, a bit like the man it served.

Rosa had heard stories from generals and military high command about an Osean ace, known as "Three Strikes". Everyone seemed to fear him and although she hadn't read the reports, her father would almost shake whenever his name was mentioned in any recent engagements with Osean forces. Now that she had a lot of time on her hands, she decided to do some digging to see if she could find any info on him. After hours of searching, she could only find a few images of his aircraft, what looked to be an F-15C with three distinct scratches painted on each of the aircrafts tail fins.

Like her, the mysterious Three Strikes has also been used to muster the courage of his fellow countrymen, the beacon of light for the war they were fighting against her country. To her, the two had more in common than anyone would have thought. Her mind often wondered about what he looked like. How old was he? Maybe he was young like her, trying to find his way in the world. No way, not with his achievements, last she heard, he made short work of Erusea's Njord fleet stationed at Sniders Top and brought down an Arsenal Bird at Stonehenge. Although many had died in these battles, she couldn't help but admire his bravery and skills as a pilot, fighting for the lives of his friends and no doubt, loved ones at home. She felt that they were both in the same boat as each other. They both shared the same sense of morality and integrity. Three Strikes symbolised hope and the possibility of a brighter future for many. Making her more drawn to him as a source of inspiration. She sat wondering if she might have the chance to meet him once this war is over, but for now they were two souls worlds away from each other.

Rosa couldn't stomach the feeling of the countless lives being lost in her father's version of "peace". She had been shocked on learning the loss of the entire Njord fleet at Sniders Top, the loss the Arsenal Bird at Stonehenge and the counterattack launched by the Oseans and their Usean allies. This was her turning point, if she had any doubts about the war, she was now positive about them. Some might have called these thoughts treacherous and treasonous, so she kept to herself for the time being. For now, she would have to fulfill her Royal duties as an adored Princess in the public eye, to will her people on to keep fighting. Something she felt would break her if it continued. She had longed for a time when she was a mere commoner, long before all the politics and war. A time where she and her people knew peace.

Rosa sat as she spoke on the phone with the Erusean Minister for Defence. She had been the face of the Erusean war effort, albeit unwillingly for the past couple months.

"Defence Minister, I understand your concern. I know I may be safer here, but I would like to come back home, to Farbanti." She said assertively.

I understand Your Highness, but what will your father say about this? He sent you away for your own safety." The minister replied.

"Just let me worry about the details." She interrupted him. "For now, I need to serve the people where they are, not cooped up in some secret base in the middle of nowhere."

Once she had calmed down, she decided to test the minister with an idea. "Perhaps we should consider negotiating some sort of peace term with the Oseans? Even just a ceasefire." She winced at what she had just said. There was silence on the other end.

"Have you gone mad?" The minister said in a raised tone. "You want to surrender?! Everything that has happened has been according to plan. With new drone designs we will never need to send another Erusean to fight! If we could just wait a little longer?"

Based on the way the minister was talking to her as the call went on, she was getting the feeling that he too was wondering why an eighteen-year-old girl was being entrusted with overseeing such a large part of the war. She was starting to see just how many lives were being lost and how unstable it was making her country in the wake of recent events. How many more soldiers… no… young men and women would have to die just so the corporate arms dealers and warmonger factions amongst them could keep profiting from this war? She felt weak and pathetic, here she was sitting in some secluded location whilst her people suffered and died in a war she frankly, didn't support. It was something she was not okay with, but she had neither the means nor the power to do anything about it. She wanted to, no had to get back home.

Rosa gave a defeated sigh. She knew she had to hold back her tears and appear strong and decisive for her country. She sat down and punched in the password to her computer to watch a video of her new speech, still thinking about The Three Strikes. How she would never be as strong and courageous as him. She rested her cheek in her hand and began to watch glumly.

"When I recall my homeland, my thoughts are filled with the sights and sounds of the city. But home means something different to all of us. Therefore, I've decided to visit every place our people call home. The kingdom of Erusea is a land of diversity. Each region has its own unique and special culture…"

Cape Rainy Airbase, Erusea.

Trigger sat in the briefing room. This was it, the attack on Farbanti, the battle to finally end the war. He had waited for this moment his whole life. Pilot briefing dragged on for longer than usual of course, causing Triggers mind to wander.

Trigger POV:

I sat there as the voices of Long Caster and various other higher ups, the names of whom I never really knew dragged on and on about the details of the battle plan. I leaned way back in my chair and looked out the window. I could see the sky, blue, with a few fluffy looking clouds, it looked so bright, their voices faded. As Long Caster talked, he straightened the bag or should I say bags of chips and other various snacks he had brought in just so he could focus, so that everything was square and evenly spaced. Trigger couldn't help but notice that he had let his facial hair grow a little more than usual. He is probably stressed about the operation ahead of us God bless his soul.

"We will be the only fighter wing available throughout the battle. Erusea will fight like a tiger." He said firmly. "But we cannot lose. We must seize the capital and end this war. Trigger?"

"Huh? What?" I said sharply straightening up in my chair.

Long Caster let out a sigh as I stumbled around in my chair. "Sorry I was just thinking." I snapped.

"About the mission?" Long Caster said with his arms crossed.

"Yeah, about the mission, sir." I said sheepishly. "I just can't help but feel worried. We will be the only ones there supporting the main battle?"

"That is correct, Captain. I know it sounds like a tough one but if we brought in any other fighter wings it would mean pulling resources from other areas of the campaign." Long Caster spoke while digging around his snack box.

The Colonel sitting in the corner raised his hand to speak, then interrupted. "We are talking about the best fighter pilots on the planet, Captain. I'm sure that they'll be able to complete the mission to the letter." He said in an authoritative tone.

"And come home, sir." I replied. "And… come home..." I repeated.

Long Caster looked at me, his mouth half full of chips, he sat and chewed then shot a look at the colonel. The Colonels face straightened up, looked to the floor and he slouched back. "Every mission has its risks." He said quietly, his eyebrows raised, and his hands in the air. "These pilots accept that."

"I don't, sir." I interrupted. I stood up and walked out saluting both Long Caster and the Colonel.

Trigger felt the cold Autumn air against his face. He felt uneasy. Never had he felt such pressure on his shoulders. It was exciting yet daunting. In only a span of a few months he had become the face of the Osean struggle to liberate Usea and end the war. The poster boy of the Osean air force, the fearsome "Three Strikes". To him though, he was doing his job, serving his country and he was proud to do so. In that moment he started to think about the families of those who he had killed. What were they thinking, is this how they viewed him? A good man doing what's right for his country? Surely the people he had killed all felt the same as him, fighting for what they thought was right, for their King and country. He felt a little sadness cross his mind for the countless souls who had fallen to his hand.

Trigger couldn't help but think of the Erusean Princess of all people, Rosa Cossette D'elise. He admired her, even though they were on opposite sides of the war. He had often listened to her broadcasts while stuck in the 444th Penal unit in Zapland. He recognised her strength and determination as a leader. In a way, he could understand her. He now knew the pressure of being a figurehead, basically everyone knew of him and the expectation and pressure for him to perform was enormous, he could only imagine what she must have been feeling. She was young like him, Trigger being only about a year and a half or so older than her at twenty, turning twenty-one the next month. He was the youngest pilot the Osean Air Force had ever deployed for active duty. She was like a beacon of light shining through darkness for her own country, the same as him. He thought to himself that surely he had gained the attention of her Highness after his recent victories at Sniders Point and Stonehenge. Whether she liked it or not they were both in the same boat. Both had shared goals and values, driven by a desire for peace and justice, despite being on opposing sides.

Trigger POV:

I had caught up with Count and we had begun to suit up for the mission ahead. We made our way out to the hangars when we were joined by Tabloid and Avril who had come to see us off before we took off. They had both been transferred to the same base as us and had only landed about an hour ago. The atmosphere was tense. Even Avril, usually a rock seemed a little uneasy about the mission. Once we entered the hangars, we could see maintenance crews running around like chickens readying our aircraft for the enormous task ahead. There was a mix of uncertainty, hope and confidence that we could deal the final knockout blow to Erusea and end the goddamn war.

Count and I strolled down the walkway and approached our planes. To our delight we saw that our F-15C Eagles had been prepped down to the last rivet holding the wings together. They were fitted with air-to-air AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, AIM-120 AAMRAM missiles as well as GBU-15 guided bombs for ground targets, along with extra countermeasures. We weren't complaining, for a battle like this, we had to be armed to the teeth with as much firepower as possible. Count gave a whistle as he walked to his aircraft.

"Damnnnn… you've really outdone yourselves here." He said excitedly. "They've even been repainted too!"

"Well, if you're going out to win a war, we figured that you and trigger's fighters should look the part." Avril said sarcastically playing it down. "No need to thank me or anything."

"What she means is that the Scrap Queen gave your planes a special touch." Tabloid said winking.

"Thanks Avril. We won't let you down." I said smiling putting an arm around her shoulders.

She gave a nervous shrug as if to say you're welcome. Tabloid stepped in and extended his hand towards Count and I. "Good luck out there, we will be waiting for you when you guys come back!"

Count and I both gave him a firm hug, we have gone through this routine countless times but this time it felt different. Like everything was at stake here. Once Tabloid stepped back, Count and I motioned for Avril to come over and pulled her into a three way hug.

"Just don't die, okay? She said with genuine concern.

"Wilco Avril. Just wait, I promise we will come home." I reassured her.

Count and I began walking toward our fighters to start pre-flight checks, we could see all the others were already loaded into their cockpits.

"Late as ever!" Huxian Joked. "We were beginning to think you got cold feet Trigger!"

I couldn't help but laugh a little. It was good, I needed every last bit of humour and good cheer to raise our spirits