School Idols of the Lighthouse War
Chapter 6
The Debut of a Idol Pilot
Sansaoban Air Base
30th June
16:37 PM
Trigger's P.O.V.
Trigger is been training for 3 weeks with the School Idols and she feels the fine ways of the School Idols who are now strecthing their bodies.
Trigger got the strectching with Ayumu, the leading member of the Azuna Squadron.
Trigger: Do you girls think that I can do it now?
Ayumu: Of course you can, you are our newest asset, even if you're Osean.
Trigger: You're quite cute from when you're very young, Ayumu.
Ayumu: I have a little quote named, Ayumu-pyon.
Trigger: And I learned that you have a pet snake named Sasuke, is he real?
Ayumu: Not exactly.
Trigger: Oh. It's worth the ask, and wearing your school idol training outfit makes me a bit comfy.
Ayumu: That's why we wear our pilot suits for later.
As Ayumu and Alexandra talk, Umi came to ask Trigger.
Umi: Um, Trigger?
Trigger: Yes, Umi?
Umi: Tomorrow, Lily White squadron is going to sortie, and you, will going with us, we're gonna test you with a new aircraft that is ready.
Trigger: Okay, I'l hope that this plane could be do a lot better.
And on the Next Day...
Trigger: All right, it's finally time to take the sortie with the Liliy White Squadron, and I have been learning a few Satsuman words, thanks to Shizuku, this mission will be my test with the School Idols. Pilot suit ready, and we are go-go.
Nozomi: Trigger, you coming now?
Trigger: Coming now, and no groping on me!
Nozomi: You are no fun.
Yeah, I warned Nozomi to do not her groping on me, otherwise she will be in trouble.
Briefing started...
Satsuman Briefing Officer: Welcome, Trigger. Welcome to our School Idol Air Division.
There are many school idols at our disposal and these squadrons are quite very capable for any attack and defense.
They are now your squadmates and you have to handle yourself on any case.
You, Trigger, on the other hand, are an approved exchange pilot in our unit.
We have you cleared from the murder charge of the former Osean president Harling. And we have you escaped from the hell that you were supposed to go, but luckily, we have you now in our Air Division, we hope that you can be redeemed for this mistake.
Here's the mission.
Erusean fighter planes and bombers frequently attacked the 444th Air Base in Zapland, 2.5 kms close to our airbase.
The base is used by the 444th Squadron, known as the Spare Squadron. This squadron consists of convicted pilots who committed crimes and sentenced to this penal squadron.
They managed to send some planes in the air to intervene and intercept the enemy aircraft.
But the next attack might not hold them for much longer.
So, as an independent unit, as members of the Satsuman Air Defense Force, we are going to take the enemy on. Spare Squadron will support.
Trigger, show us your skill of fighting the enemy of the air.
You and Lily White Squadron, along with Lanzhu, Osaka and Ayumu are going to sortie.
So, are you in?
Briefing ended.
Trigger: Okay, I have my mission, do we have to assist this squad or?
Umi: No Trigger, we are leading this intercept mission. Osea's Spare Squadron must support on this interception and deception mission.
Trigger: All right, do you girls have a plane ready for me?
Shioriko: We have a Satsuman modified Mig-29A ready for you. It's well loaded with modified anti-air missiles.
Trigger: Cool! Can't wait! So, let's go!
Sansaoban Airbase
July 1
8:02 AM
The School Idol Girls are prepping their fighter planes for take off, as well as Trigger.
Satsuman Aircraft Traffic Controller: All right, Trigger. Follow the orders of Captain Sonoda.
Trigger: Roger that.
Satsuman ATC: Lily White 1, you cleared to taxi to the runway.
Umi: Understood! Moving to taxi to the runway.
Umi and her modified F-15C with high tracking LAAM's is taxiing to the runway and a few minutes later, she took off.
Nozomi: Sansaoban Tower, this is Lily White 2. Moving to taxi to the runway.
And 2 minutes later, Nozomi took off in the air.
And 2 more minutes later, Lily White 3, that's Rin, has been ordered to takeoff.
Now its Trigger's turn.
Satsuman ATC: Trigger, your temporary callsign is Lily White 4. Please verify.
Trigger: Message received. Ready to taxi.
Satsuman ATC: Roger that.
And then Trigger headed to the runway...
Satsuman ATC: Lily White 4, you're cleared for take off.
Trigger: Affirmative, ready to go!
Trigger's new plane, a Satsuman modified Mig-29 with Osean markings has taken off.
Satsuman ATC: Altitude restrictions lifted. Good luck out there.
And some minutes later, Ayumu, Osaka and Lanzhu have taken off.
At the same moment, an AWACS showed up.
AWACS: Hello girls, this is the AWACS Hachinodate. Miyafuji has assigned me to assist you and giving you the command and issue orders.
Ayumu: Read you loud and clear, Hachinodate.
Umi: All Lily White members, listen up. Trigger, you too as well as Ayumu, Shizuku and Lanzhu.
The Erusean fighter planes and bombers are on their way to attack Zapland. Our task is to eliminate them.
Trigger, you know what to do to take them out.
Trigger: Got it!
Nozomi: Understood.
Rin: Understood-nya!
Lanzhu: 明白了/Míngbáile! (Understood!)
Ayumu: Got it!
Shizuku: Roger that!
And so, the School Idols and Trigger fly south towards the Zapland Airbase.
Zapland Air Base
8:17 AM
At the same time in the Zapland Prison Airbase...
Osean ATC: Follow orders, pilots. Taxi to the runway now.
Check your altimeter and wait in front of the runway.
Spare 2: Control, would you kindly send me up first?
Spare 2 heads for the runway first.
Osean ATC: Spare 8! Champ! This is the control tower! You are not cleared for take off! Obey orders!
All aircraft preparing for takeoff, watch out for Spare 8! He's forcing a takeoff!
Spare Pilot: I'll take up command. Any objections?
Osean ATC: That'll get decided in the skies.
Count: Touché.
Osean ATC: All fighters, commence deception and interception.
Champ: Woooohoooo! My blood's boilin'!
Osean Control Tower: Toss the chump in solitary once he gets back!
Tabloid: If he makes it back.
High Roller: Champ's gonna survive? Anyone wanna bet on it?
OCT: All Spare members, take off now!
The Spare Squadron members have been taken off.
Count: So, all units. No missiles again. The FCS is locked.
Full Band: Damn.
Tabloid: You're good.
Champ: Let's make it more interesting!
AWACS Bandog: Prisoners use nothing without supervision. Not even a pencil.
Champ: Why are you so sure?
High Roller: That's what we are, I learned that someone killed Harling, but she got away cleanly.
Count: Always in the know, aren't you two?
High Roller: I am.
Full Band: In this war, intel is a life-or-death matter.
Bandog: Settle down. I'm handling surveillance.
The bombers that attacked our dummy runway are coming back for another round.
This will be your redemption, boys. Take it.
You guys just need to make a lot of noise. Make them think there's fighters at the base.
Count: Anyone got a smoke? I'll owe ya one.
Bandog: If any one of you die, just think of it as you atoning for your crimes.
Spare Squadron: Much appreciated!
Bandog: One more thing, Any aircraft leaving the operation area will be shot down. You hear me?
Count: Righto.
Back on the side of the School Idols...
Umi: Erusean fighter planes and bombers are inbound, Lily White, prepare to engage!
Nozomi: Roger.
Rin: Understood-nya!
Trigger: Got it! Engaging hostiles!
Erusean Fighter 1: Noli 3, this is Skoll 1. Numbers we can handle. You are safe with us.
Skoll Squadron, get into formation.
Erusean Bomber: There's a juicy target!
The Erusean bombers are launching a bombing run on the 444th Air Base
444th AFB Staff: Look at them. Blowing up a bunch of paper planes.
Tabloid: The enemy seems to think our air force is concentrated on this base.
Full Band: Everything on the ground is fake. Can't the enemy see that?
Tabloid: Means they're that convincing.
Spare Pilot: They like that idea.
While the bombs hit the fake targets, at the command center on the 444th,
Colonel McKinsey: Hey! What was that shaking?!
444th AFB Staff: There's smoke!
McKinsey: Don't let the enemy get closer! Are they trying to kill us?
Bandog: Shall I order to shoot down all?
Commander? Commander McKinsey…? Damn it!
Back by Trigger and the School Idols...
The third wave of bombers want to approach the base, but they have to get through the School Idol fighter planes block them.
Rin shot 2 fighters with 2 AASpect Missiles in good succession.
Rin: Targets down-nya!
Umi: This is just our beginning of our interception! All School Idols, attack!
All School Idols: Roger!
By that order, Trigger managed to shoot down a enemy bomber.
Trigger: I got one! It's a direct hit!
Nozomi: Way to go, Trigger!
Hachinodate: All School Idol units, Azuna 1 and 3 as well as Lanzhu, we are going to the 444th base. Lily White, stop the third and the fourth wave!
Umi: Lily White 1 copies, We defeat the enemy waves, you'll go to the penal base.
Trigger, you are a Lily White, you have to hit the enemy hard.
Trigger: Roger, Lily White 1. I'll do what ever I can.
And while Ayumu, Lanzhu and Shizuku, along with Hachinodate head out to the 444th Base, the battle there is continuing.
Meanwhile by the 444th Air Base...
Count: Bandog, what's happened at the base?
Bandog: Communications have been broken down on the base, I'll have–
The communications with Bandog went offline and a new voice of the new AWACS came in.
Hachinodate: Attention, all Spare Squadron Air units, this is AWACS Hachinodate. You are now weapons free, take all the hostile craft down!
Count: Righto, this is the order that we want to hear!
High Roller: I'm going to have to rethink my odds. Which bet is what I'm going to play?
Tabloid: Why didn't you tell us from the start? Moreover, what is that unit that is engaging, and why can't we call Bandog now?
Hachinodate: Bandog is trying to contact your commander, but right now, I have the comms.
Count: Roger that, Hachinodate. All right, I'm assuming command. All aircraft, support me.
Champ: Who's gonna dance to your lyin' tune?
Count: I'll show you all how it's done.
Hachinodate: More enemy fighter planes closing in just west of your position. Ayumu, Lanzhu and Shizuku, cover the area.
Ayumu: Understood!
Lanzhu: 明白了!
Shizuku: Roger that!
Full Band: Are those your escorts, AWACS?
Hachinodate: Yes they are, they are under my command. And they fight very hard.
As Full Band watches the School Idols fighters smash the enemy in no time, Count asks this.
Count: Idols, we'll compare with the score later.
Tabloid: Yeah. I'm betting that report will get dressed up real pretty.
As another Spare Pilot shot down an enemy, Hachinodate reported this new wave.
Erusean fighter: This is Skoll 4, ejecting!
Hachinodate: Incoming hostile group detected. Engage at your discretion.
Count: Righto!
Hachinodate: The bomber is at a high altitude. Look up and engage it.
Full Band: Welcome to our base, Satsuman fighters. If you need intel, you come to me.
I've got a lot of questions about what's going on out there.
I want to hear more about these drones the enemy is using later.
Erusean Bomber: We're cut off! We can't break away. We can't–
*Comms breakdown*
Erusean Fighter 2: Bomber is hit… no, the bomber is shot down!
Erusean Bomber: We're losing escorts! Hurry it up. Finish the job and let's get out.
Erusean Fighter 5: Don't panic! This isn't our first dance!
Erusean Fighter 6: Attack missed, I'm trying again.
Erusean Fighter 8: Missile incoming! Evading!
Erusean Fighter 9: Wingman down! I'm surrounded!
Lanzhu: Enemy bomber tried to break through, I'm going in!
Hachinodate: Hit it, Lanzhu!
Lanzhu's Su-35S shot a fast tracking missile and destroyed the bomber.
Tabloid: Wow! Look at the Idols go!
Count: They are pretty good.
More bombers were getting shot down as well as escorts, but they kept coming in numbers.
Erusean Fighter: Fox 2! Fox 2!
Champ: Man, those pilots are getting more what we have! At least they are decent for what they are trained for.
Count: I wouldn't go that far. Targets that are slow aren't a challenge.
Don't let it go over your head, guys.
Hachinodate: These pilots of my group are on a different level than you guys.
Count: Whatever!
Hachinodate: More planes inbound!
There are a lot of 'em. Bombers and escorts.
Count: All right, all aircraft, follow me! You too, Satsuma team. We need all the help that we could get.
Tabloid: Jeez, now he thinks he's squadron leader.
High Roller: Escort, I have no bets on you, so watch your backs.
Hachinodate: Communications with my escort squad are not allowed, these members are under me.
Full Band: Understood.
As more enemy aircraft are coming to the base, the School Idols are shooting more targets on their way down.
High Roller: They are too good!
Count: Don't get too excited!
Hachinodate: Keep up the pressure!
McKinsey: What's going on here? Who's this on our channel?
Hachinodate: Colonel McKinsey, this is Hachinodate. Maintain silence for the moment.
McKinsey: I don't recognize this voice. Who are they, though?
Tabloid: These pilots got most of them. Maybe all of them.
Count: These pilots shouldn't be here!
Hachinodate: Stop your babbling, Count. Your true identity is given away by that.
Tabloid: You shouldn't say that about luck!
The only good thing about this squadron is that the aircraft fly nicely.
Can't believe these things used to be scrap. Just what kind of magic does she have up her sleeves, anyway?
High Roller: I don't know what her problem is, acting like she's royalty or something.
Count: That's because she's the Scrap Queen!
Champ: Queen? More like a bad-tempered tomboy.
As more and more aircraft are shot down, more reasoning and questions are coming in.
Tabloid: Why in the world would someone make a squadron of convicts? Gotta be some kind of reason.
Full Band: They're winging it.
Tabloid: The paper-mâché strategy at the base seems to be doing the trick.
Guess every man and his dog has an idea how to end a war.
Hachinodate: One bandit left, take it down now.
More Erusean fighters are getting shot down by the Spare Squadron members as well as the School Idols, but they have more fighter planes eliminated than the Spare Squadron knocks them out.
Hachinodate: The last escorts are down. The bombers are defenseless!
You guys can go home early, we however, are not yet done.
Full Band: Well, I love this job. But you get all the fun, save some for us!
Champ: Even our noble Count is no match against a team of pilots of this caliber.
Hachinodate: Oh, let me show you that, Ayumu, take the last bomber down.
Ayumu: Roger, Hachinodate! I'll show them.
Ayumu released a High-powered tracking missile of her F/A-18F and it went to the bomber, and destroyed it.
Hachinodate: All threats eliminated. Well done! Now all School Idol pilots, we better leave the area. All Spare members, transferring comms and radio frequency back to your original AWACS.
Afterwards Bandog calls on the Spare Squadron.
Bandog: This is Bandog, I lost contact with you guys, are you okay?
High Roller: We are all alive! A squadron aided us, too bad that the dinner is already tonight with them but they are leaving now.
Too bad, so sad.
Bandog: Shut up, Spare Squadron. Mission complete. RTB.
You know, another squadron is not that bad. We even don't know who hijacked our frequency.
Oh well, I'm just figuring it out.
While Bandog figures it out, Spare Squadron is returning to base for debrief.
Back by Hachinodate along with Ayumu, Lanzhu ans Osaka...
Shizuku: Phew, we have a lot of enemies shot down.
Ayumu: Tell me about it. We will be soon be back at the base for lunch.
Lanzhu: Agreed. Hachinodate, any news for Lily White?
Hachinodate: They are wrapping up the last of the enemy forces.
As Hachinodate sends the news on the School Idols, meanwhile on Lily White...
Trigger: All enemy escorts are dealt with, Lily White 1!
Umi: Great job, Trigger. 3 bombers left with no escorts.
Nozomi: Show us what you got, Rin.
Rin: Will do-nya!
Trigger, watch this one!
Rin fired her tracking missile at the bomber, it hit the bomber and destroyed it.
Rin shot the first bomber down.
Rin: Bomber destroyed!
Trigger: Good one, Rin!
While Rin destroyed a bomber, Umi asked Trigger to watch her special move from afar.
Umi: Watch this one too, Trigger.
Umi locked on a bomber at long range and said her best words.
Umi: Love Arrow Shoot!
Umi released a Long Range Tracking Anti-Air Missile on the bomber, flying it a long range, and destroyed it on impact.
Trigger: Great shot from afar, Captain Sonoda!
Umi: I am an archer on the ground, but here, this is my special ability.
Trigger: Cool! I'll take the last one! Fox 3!
Trigger engaged and fired a HVTAAM, and destroyed the last bomber.
Umi: Lily White 4, the final target is destroyed.
Mission complete, everyone. Let's go home.
Nozomi: Not bad at all, Trigger. You have what it takes to be a School Idol Ace.
Trigger: *chuckle* That's cool, Nozomi. I think that I need more practice to dance.
Umi: Don't worry, that will be arranged.
Hachinodate: Are we late?
Rin: No, we are already done.
Hachinodate: Good, all planes, RTB.
And when all Idol planes return and land in Sansaoban Airbase, the AFB Controller calls in.
Satsuma AF Controller: Lily White 4, this is the control tower. Make your landing check.
Trigger: Copy, prepping for landing.
Satsuma AF Controller: You have permission to land. Wind conditions are calm.
Perform a visual landing.
Trigger landed with flying colors.
Satsuma AF Control Tower: Nice job! Stand by for your next sortie.
Trigger: Phew, This is a good day for us!
Debriefing in the Spare Squadron:
We had no idea why the communications went down during the battle, but did I say you guys to take down the enemy?
Throw anyone who disobeyed into solitary.
Take them away!
Debriefing on the School Idols Air Division:
Great work dealing with the enemy bombers, all units.
The bombers have only attacked the 444th Prison Air Base, but we managed to deal with them with the help of Spare Squadron.
Trigger, you did a fine job along with Lily White Squadron.
But you have a long way to go before you become a School Idol Ace.
They still don't know who we are, but let's show them that we are not to mess with.
Trigger, great work out there. Get a good rest. This is your debut, after all.
After the debriefing, Trigger retires to her room.
Trigger: Well, what a debut I make, I think I like this squadron, I should try a singing course, just in case.
End of Chapter 6