School Idols of the Lighthouse War
Chapter 8
First Contact
The days after the Roca Roja mission, Trigger is pressing hard on her dance moves. But by now, Trigger is learning her Japanese by Shizuku.
In a classroom of the air base...
Trigger: So this phrase is this: 私たちは才能豊かなスクールアイドルタイプのパイロットです./Watashitachiha sainō yutakana sukūruaidorutaipu no pairottodesu./We are a talented School idol type pilots. Did I say it correct?
Shizuku: 正解です、アレクサ。私たちはあなたと私たち全員のためにあらゆる種類の航空機兵器を揃えています./Seikaidesu, arekusa. Watashitachi wa anata to watashitachi zen'in no tame ni arayuru shurui no kōkūki heiki o soroete imasu./Correct, Alexa. We have all the types of aircraft weaponry for you and all of us.
Trigger: したがって、あらゆる敵の脅威に対してあらゆるミサイル兵器を使用できます./Shitagatte, arayuru teki no kyōi ni taishite arayuru misairu heiki o shiyō dekimasu./So, I can use any missile weapon against any enemy threats.
While Trigger speaks her Satsuman language, the school bell rings.
Shizuku: All right, Alexa. It's lunch time.
Trigger: Okay, this class is pretty good.
At the lunch room of the air base...
Alexa is prepping to get her afternoon meal and when gets her meal, Hanayo's mom is giving her a riceball.
Trigger: Wow, so that's a riceball?
Hayano's mom: Indeed. It's a pretty one I made.
I heard that you are our exchange pilot, is it true?
Trigger: Indeed, I am an exchange member.
Hanayo's mom: And I heard that you are comfortable with the School Idols on our base, Hanayo has saved you, after all.
Trigger: Indeed. I learned that you are an idol?
Hanayo's mom: Actually, I was an idol in training. Before my debut even began, I was married with a man. And years later, I gave birth to Hanayo.
Trigger: What a story!
Hanayo's mom: Indeed. But I'm proud of my daughter. She made her debut along with her friends, right?
Alexa: Wow. I am really happy for your daughter.
Hayano's mom: I am, I heard she's now at the SN Sakamoto, right?
Trigger: She is. I can't thank her enough for everything that went on in the court tribunal.
Hayano's mom: You won't have to. But, how are you holding in the base?
Trigger: Doing very well, Captain Sonoda and Lieutenant Osaka gave me a good teaching for your language.
Hanayo's mom: I think I have a little proposal to ask for Air Commander Miyafuji.
July 17. 08:00 AM.
Trigger's P.O.V.
On the morning of July 17th, I was busy learning my Satsuman language with Ayumu.
Alexa: So this phrase is as follows.
この戦争を調査するのは私たちにとって例外的な任務となるでしょう./Kono sensō o chōsa suru no wa watashitachi ni totte reigai-tekina ninmu to narudeshou./It's gonna be a exceptional task for us to investigate this war.
Ayumu: 正解だよ、アレクサちゃん./Seikaida yo, arekusa-chan./Correct, Alexa-chan.
Then Shizuku arrive with news of the sortie.
Shizuku: Alexa-chan? You and Lily White have a mission today.
Alexa: I think that language lesson will be put on hold until I get back.
Ayumu: Very well.
Several hours later...
I was quaking in my flight suit, while Setsuna came to my door.
Setsuna: Alexa! Are you there?
Alexa: I am! Come in.
Setsuna opens the door.
Setsuna: There you are. Are you ready? Shioriko is going with us too.
Alexa: Shioriko-chan? Good thing that she assisted us in the last mission. Anyway, I'm ready to go!
Setsuna: Let's go to the briefing room.
After Trigger and some of the girls get the lunch, they are heading for the briefing room.
Satsuma Air Force Briefing Officer: All right School Idols and Trigger, today's mission will be a very complex one. 2 Osean squadrons are retreating in the Yinshi Valley. This area however, is quite mountainous. And there are some radar sites as well as anti-air emplacements and SAM launchers. And thunderclouds are also the most worrying problems. But we are a special unit. We can't let the weather ground us.
Spare Squadron is also on the way to escort. We shall do the same.
Nozomi and Rin, you two will handle the enemy ground forces in the valley as well as the choppers.
Umi and Shioriko, you two will take air patrol. Setsuna will come from the north shortly after.
And Alexa, we have intelligence that a Erusean ace squadron will appear. You know what to do with them.
Trigger: I shall be extremely careful on the air. The enemy ace squadron will see what I'm made of!
SADFBO: All right, Hachinodate will relay the weather and find the enemy ace squadron.
Good luck out there and save those escorts!
After the briefing...
Alexa: Okay, flying through the storms is crazy, but an enemy ace squadron here in that place seriously terrifes me. But I can't let fear rule me.
Okay, after eating my boxed lunch, time to fly. I hope that they are ready.
After eating lunch, Shioriko, Lily White and Setsuna are ready to fly.
At 15:03 PM, when the girls are flying on the Yinshi Valley...
Trigger: All right, Hachinodate. We have arrived at the Yinshi Valley. Setsuna is in the north on route to our location.
Hachinodate: Roger that, Lily White 4. She is already on her way.
Shioriko: I see also the Spare Squadron and Bandog.
Hachinodate: Contacting them now.
After a few minutes, Hachinodate made contact.
Bandog: We meet again, Hachinodate.
Hachinodate: Likewise.
Bandog: All squadrons, this mission needs to be quick. Target the enemy radar facilities and their AA weaponry.
Hachinodate: They're set up on rugged terrain and there's a lot of cloud cover. Very unusual to do that.
Bandog: You will be near thunderclouds. Spare Squadron, you guys were born unlucky.
Hachinodate: School Idols, Trigger. Be extremely careful while flying on those clouds. You don't know where they strike! And don't ice up your plane.
All Lily White members and Shioriko: Got it!
Champ: Wait. Who's the dumbass who came up with this plan?
Bandog: Just shut it. Them's the breaks.
The School Idols and Trigger begin their big attack.
Nozomi: Time to put my missile bursts into action. Fire in the hole!
Nozomi's special missiles on her plane are released and the fire burst destroys one radar and 3 AA guns.
Rin: Nice, Nozomi-san. The enemy didn't see that coming!
Bandog: What missile explosion was that?
Hachinodate: That is a missile burst. It blasts on several impacts, even on the ground will also be hit by those missile bursts.
Bandog: That's why those explosions went off! I can see it now.
While the School Idols kick off the battle, Cyclops 1 called in.
Cyclops 1 Wiseman: Air Force Base 444 Squadron, this is Cyclops 1. The Cyclops and Strider squadrons currently contain 7 aircraft.
Standby. We'll be arriving shortly.
Bandog: Understood, but let me remind you that we are not alone however.
Full Band: Are you telling us that we have to dodge lightning?
Bandog: I think so, just stay focused.
Wiseman: We're low on ammunition. It'll be hard to take on hostiles. We'll have to rely on you guys to make it home.
Bandog: Cyclops 1, this is Bandog. We need the job done on time.
Wiseman: Bandog? Cool name. Nice working with you, Mr. Guard Dog.
Anyway, who are those aircraft working with the 444 Squadron?
Hachinodate: Cyclops 1, This is the AWACS Hachinodate of the School Idol Air Division. They are the ones neutralizing the enemy for you.
Wiseman: Ah, you are from Satsuma, you girls work independently then the Oseans.
Shioriko: In fact, Wiseman. We are a specialized black ops unit to find who is responsible. And we work for the Air Force Bureau of Intelligence.
Wiseman: Ah, the SBI and the OIA are working together, huh?
Hachinodate: Not the first time.
Bandog: The terrain makes this airstream bumpy. Don't damage those planes.
Rin: We got it, Bandog.
Spare Squadron and Lily White unit spreads out and destroys the enemy radar sites and enemy copters as fast.
Hachinodate: Destruction of enemy facility is confirmed.
Full Band: Missile incoming! Evade!
Spare 13: I've never flown this close to a mountain!
Trigger managed to evade and destroy the SAM's in the forest.
Trigger: Enemy SAM destroyed!
Champ: Trigger just wrecked one!
Trigger gracefully flew up from the mountains to see if there was more.
Count: The regular forces have gone further into Erusea. What are they looking for?
Full Band: They're investigating the ruins. That's all I know.
Tabloid: You sure found out quick. They got a secret weapon or something, maybe?
Full Band: There's only so much I could find out.
Bandog: Enough talk, Spare Squadron!
Trigger and the School Idols have no problem flying into the clouds.
Bandog: Damn. Their aircraft can fly without problems in the clouds!
Spare 3: Cliffs below me and clouds above! This is a joke. It has to be.
Champ: I wanna send Eruseans to hell, but I'm sure ain't joinin' em.
Rin fired her accurate guided penetration bombs and destroyed many targets on the ground.
Rin: Targets eliminated-nya!
Hachinodate: Nice going, Lily White 3!
Trigger neutralized the enemy helicopters.
Erusean Ground Unit 1: Do they have a death wish?!
Erusean Ground Unit 2: Unknown.
Trigger and Umi destroyed the next 3 choppers patrolling the area.
Umi: Enemy helo eliminated, Lily White 4.
Trigger: Copy that, Lily White 1.
Trigger accelerates to the next targets to destroy.
Full Band: Gah! I've taken a hit!
Rin: Trigger, let's do a volley attack!
Trigger: Good idea, firing!
Trigger and Rin opened missile and bomb fire on the facilities and destroyed it.
Spare 10: This mission is crazy. All our commander thinks about is looking good on the General Staff Office!
Bandog: This mission doesn't require you to talk. Use your head as well as your hands.
Count: Righto.
Some of the Spare Squadron struggle to fly straight into the storm.
Spare 12: The wind! I can't fly straight!
Count: Use the winds to guide you, amateurs!
Hachinodate: Lily White 4, missile! Watch out!
Trigger: I see it.
Trigger already evaded that missile.
Nozomi: Nice evasion!
While Trigger evaded the missile, she spotted the enemy radar and destroyed it.
Trigger: Enemy radar down.
Shioriko: Good job. Stay alert.
Hachinodate: It's cloudy around there. Our radar visibility is unfazed, so stay sharp and alert.
Hachinodate: All targets down. No complaints here.
Trigger flies to the south to check for more until Strider 3 call sign Jaeger calls in.
Jaeger: Caution! Bandits inbound! Here comes the UAVs!
Trigger: Here we go again!
Wiseman: We might as well cross the line!
And just on point. Several UAVs are flying on the recon aircraft.
Jaeger: There they are.
Wiseman: Leave this one to our friends.
Jaeger: Wish we'd used that hole to get home too.
The Cyclops and Strider Squadrons drop their fuel tanks and evacuate the area, while the UAVs chase them.
Wiseman: Things don't always go perfectly.
The thunder and lightning went off on the retreating squad and the chasing UAVs.
Umi: All Lily White members listen up, the drones just jumped on the Osean recon team. They aren't equipped for air to air. They need good air cover. We are going in. Nozomi and Rin, escort the recon team to the safe point.
Rin and Nozomi: Understood!
Shioriko: Umi, we must assist them as much as possible! Spare Squadron will support.
Umi: Wilco.
Trigger, take any UAV out as you see!
Trigger: Got it!
Bandog: All 444 aircraft, get them out of there. Not even one is to go down. I repeat. Your top priority is to get them out safely, even if you die in the process.
Count: That's impossible!
Champ: I'm not flyin' in there to help out some people that I don't know about!
Count: As they say in my house, there's a thin line between bravery and stupidity.
While Count argues, Lily White and Shioriko are getting many escorts out and eliminating many drones in the thunderstorm.
Strider 2: Thanks. I owe you.
Trigger: No prob.
Trigger flies to the next area.
Wiseman: All right, good start. Now let's get the remaining 6 out of here.
Trigger: Lily White 4 copies.
Shioriko: R3BIRTH 1, understood.
Full Band: Someone flew into the thunderclouds!
Hachinodate: Lily White 4 broke through the thunderclouds! Nice work for a rising School Idols ace.
Trigger: Well, I tried my fullest.
Trigger shot another drone, while Rin and Nozomi are still getting many recon aircraft out of here.
Jaeger: Strider 4. Watch your six!
Strider 4 got hit, but Trigger got the drone.
Trigger: No more on my watch!
Bandog: Help by getting in between them and the UAVs.
Full Band: I don't even have time to check radar!
Shioriko and Umi destroyed 2 UAVs each.
Hachinodate: UAV destroyed.
Count: I can't get a lock! I overshot it!
Strider 3: Breaking off! Thanks, girls!
Trigger targets another drone in a long distance.
Wiseman: Bandog, Hachinodate, there are still 5 more aircraft in the combat zone.
Cyclops 3, watch your tail!
A thunder nearly hit Trigger.
Trigger: Whoa, that was a close one!
Shioriko: Lily White 4, are you okay?
Trigger: I'm good, my plane and the radar are all right and my HUD is all good.
Spare 14: Trigger's been struck by lightning!
Bandog: Calm down. She's all right. Check your HUD for errors. You'll make it if you don't panic.
Cyclops 4 named Húxiãn: Cyclops 3! Missile in the air!
Jaeger: Wiseman, 444 Squadron and the School Idol Aircraft Support incoming! Sorry, but I'm using this chance to break off!
Wiseman: Jaeger, look after the survivors.
Jaeger: Roger.
Wiseman: 4 to go.
Trigger: Things are looking up!
Wiseman: Hachinodate, may I have a request?
Hachinodate: Go for it.
Wiseman: Jaeger is already leaving the area. May I loan one of your pilots? I need someone to help Jaeger. I will bring it back as fast as possible.
Hachinodate: I'll send Nozomi to return.
Wiseman: Good.
Hachinodate: Nozomi, Jaeger needs some people to look after, head with him to the base.
Nozomi: On it!
Rin: Good luck Nozomi.
Nozomi: Can you handle this on your own?
Rin: I'll will.
Trigger saw something!
Trigger: What was that with that UAV?
Tabloid: UAVs zapped! They're acting funny!
Trigger: How's that possible?
Umi: Shioriko, how long is Setsuna there?
Shioriko: 4 minutes. She's flying as fast as she can.
Do you hear me, Setsuna?
Setsuna: I'm heading to your location.
Shioriko destroyed another enemy drone.
Bandog: UAV destroyed!
Húxiân: I'll owe you one.
Wiseman: Cyclops 4 has broken off. Húxian, I'll order you to land at the School Idol Air base.
Húxiân: Okay, going to their airbase now.
Wiseman: There you go! Things are looking up. You School Idols are clearly the skilled ones we might fully need! I think I shall contact your commander for a good request to organize our special squadron.
Jaeger: Looks like there are 3 girls who've got everyone's backs.
Shioriko: Actually, there are 6 of us.
Wiseman: I'll see.
Cyclops 3: Got it!
Wiseman: Cyclops 3 has broken off.
Bandog and Hachinodate, It's just me and 1 more to go!
Hachinodate: Lily White 4, you're the only one who got the job done and well. You definitely got what it takes to be an idol fighter pilot.
Make sure the rest of 'em stay alive!
Trigger: I'll hold on to that.
Count: You let that new idol go after that, Bandog?
Bandog: I commend her for doing a great job.
You're in no position to call someone a devil or a Idol, Count. Don't make me laugh.
Full Band: I'm not letting a damned robot shoot me down.
Someone hurry up and rescue our hapless regulars.
Umi shot another drone down.
Umi: That's it! Another one down!
Rin: Good shot, Lily White 1.
Wiseman: Cyclops 2 has broken off. All my guys managed to escape. Got big gratitude for you all.
All School Idols and Trigger: Thank you, Cyclops 1.
Bandog: It's gonna be a long way around those thunderclouds.
All cowards, go hide in the thunderclouds like Trigger did.
Trigger: I heard that, Bandog!
Hachinodate: Cyclops 1 has broken off!
Bandog: He could've broken off anytime if he was by himself.
Hachinodate: All UAVs are destroyed. Great work, Lily White Squadron and Shioriko. Setsuna will come very soon.
Trigger: Wilco, Hachinodate.
Wiseman: Nice teamwork. Thanks. Who is that? Tell her I'm grateful.
Bandog: Copy that, Cyclops 1.
Spare Squadron. Mission complete. RTB.
The Spare Squadron is about to return to base, but Lily White and Shioriko are going much later, because they are waiting for Setsuna to arrive.
But Trigger senses something.
Umi: What's the matter, Trigger?
Trigger: I sense that an ace squadron is approaching.
Hachinodate: Are you sure?
Bandog: Wait a minute, hold it.
Champ: Oh, give me a break. You have more chores for us?
Bandog: Trigger's senses are right! Spare 8! Champ! Bogey approaching fast from the rear!
All available units, support Spare 8!
Trigger: I see them!
Bandog: Trigger, your plane is Osean, but is modified with the Satsuman technology! Can you handle these Erusean planes?
Trigger: Wakatta/理解した/I got it.
Champ: I don't need any support! This is all mine. You think you can scare me?
Champ got tailed by the Erusean fighter.
Champ: He's glued to my tail!
Champ tries to outmaneuver the enemy fighter.
He's still not firing!
I ain't afraid of it!
Bandog: Spare 8! No dogfighting!
Champ: Negative! I'm not letting this slide!
Champ performed a cobra maneuver. And as Champ tried to attack his opponent, the Su-30 performed a Super Kulbit maneuver. And after a second later, the Mig-29 with Spare 8 on it is destroyed. Champ is killed.
The Su-30 flies in a line.
Wit: You could've done that sooner.
Mihaly: I want to understand the enemy.
Trigger sees Spare 8 shot down by an Su-30SM.
Trigger: So that's the one who killed Brownie?! That guy is very good!
Full Band: He shot down Champ! He was toying with him!
Mihaly shot down 2 more fighters.
Bandog: Spare 10 lost! Another one. 1 recon plane lost. What with this guy? That's an Su-30.
Trigger: Umi, Shioriko, stay off his path! This one is mine! I have a score to settle.
Bandog: All squadrons, provide support for Cyclops and Strider. Keep the bandit off of them.
Count: Negative, that's not possible.
Hachinodate: Umi, Shioriko, Trigger. Get to that top squadron. We can't lose more Osean friendlies!
Umi: Shioriko and Trigger: We're on it!
Spare 12: You told us that our jobs are done. I'm going home!
Trigger managed to catch them and she is now prepared for battle against the ace squadron.
Wiseman: Why are some of 444's craft flying out of bounds?
Húxiān: Those damn cowards bailing on us?!
Shioriko: Not all of us.
Bandog: I just sent back the damaged craft. We only need guys we can use.
Hachinodate: Standby everyone.
Bandog: What is it, Hachinodate?
Hachinodate: 2 fighters inbound, a Erusean Mirage chased by a Scarlet red Su-57.
BGM: Dive!
Umi: That must be Setsuna! She's finally here!
Rin: And just in time!
Setsuna: All units, this is Azuna 2! Here to help!
Setsuna performed a Kulbit on the Mirage, in which it destroyed the Mirage in a rapid blast.
Shioriko and Alexa: Way to go, Setsuna-san!
Hachinodate: Beautiful! Now, join with the others and help us to challenge this ace squadron.
Setsuna: On it!
Bandog: Spare 2, Spare 11, form an element and take up the rear.
Tabloid: Bandog, that freak took down a load of craft in one go. There's no way I can handle that.
Hachinodate: Trigger's taking the beast head-on. Rin, Setsuna, Umi and Shioriko, you deal with the support.
Shioriko: We'll challenge them.
Full Band: So this is where Tabloid bows out.
Tabloid: Damn! At least I've got more of a chance of survival if I turn my nose at the enemy instead of my tail.
Count: Sorry, but I'm outta here. I'm not throwing my life away for guys I'll never see again.
Sol 3 performed a Kulbit on Setsuna and Rin, but did not fire.
Mihaly: Sol 2, Sol 3. They've got two rearguard. 4 more aircraft are on to us. The better one's mine.
Wit: Copy that, King.
Mihaly: Don't call me that.
While Wit and Seymour are evading the Satsuman School Idol aircraft, Mihaly focuses on the Osean-Satsuman fighter.
Full Band: Orange coloring. Experimental maybe?
The School Idols are distracting the enemy. Make a break for it.
Wit: Sol 3! Watch your tail!
Seymour: Don't worry. I'll perform this move on them.
Seymour performed a side-knife slide, and is on Shioriko's tail, but R3BIRTH 1 outmaneuvered him.
Tabloid: Don't mind if I do!
Seymour: How do you do that one? That one is very good!
The School Idols focus their air performances on Wit and Seymour while Trigger tails Mihaly.
Tabloid: Trigger, kill the bastard that shot down Champ! I'm not good enough!
Trigger: Do not worry, Tabloid. I'm on him!
Mihaly fired his missile at Trigger but missed it.
Seymour: I'm on one of the idols' rear!
But Setsuna performed the Kvochur Bell on Wit and Seymour's eyes.
Wit: Wow! How can she do that?!
Seymour: They have a lot of training on their skills. They must be extremely very good!
Wit: From the air and in a concert!
While Wit and Seymour are in awe of the skills of the School Idols, Trigger is chasing Mihaly in the valley.
Trigger: I'll chase him in the mountains!
Hachinodate: Don't lose him!
Mihaly: Shaking bandit.
Trigger: It's time to put all my idol training in good use!
Jaeger: Wiseman, you see that color? And the way he's flying?
Wiseman: It's Mister X for sure.
Jaeger: The pilot of the experimental squadron's X-plane.
Húxiān: Wiseman, we don't wanna mess with this guy! It's clear by the way he flies. Way outta my league.
Wiseman: Exactly the man we didn't wanna run into.
Jaeger, If it comes down to it, we'll act as a shield. Just get my guys out of here.
Jaeger: Understood.
Mihaly battles Trigger, and tries to shoot her down, but Trigger evades.
Mihaly: Sol 2, this is Sol 1.
Wit: Sol 2 here. What's up?
Mihaly: The missile did not connect. That wasn't the plan.
Wit: She must be very good.
Húxiān: You're telling me that there's two craft taking on the orange guy?
Jaeger: No… just one's taking him on.
Húxiān: No way. I wouldn't last a minute. But that girl who performed that maneuver, she looks clever and young.
Jaeger: Húxiān, do not engage. If he gets close, just run.
Húxiān: Copy that. Was gonna do that anyway.
Trigger continues her air battle with Mihaly while the 2 other Sols are entangled with the School Idols.
Tabloid: Doesn't miss an opening. The guy's a goddamn flying wizard.
Wit: Sol 1, this is Sol 2. Status?
Mihaly: She flies fast and decisive. Flies like a veteran. I see a great deal of promise here
Wit: She's an exchange idol fighter. She can fight damn well. We encountered those pilots where we up against them. They showed us some nice pointers.
After some flight maneuvers, Trigger fired a missile and hit Mihaly.
Bandog: Nice! Bandit hit! Lily White 4 got him!
Setsuna: Good job!
Shioriko: Excellent job, Trigger!
Umi: Nicely done!
Trigger: All right! I have him! But he's not yet down.
Wit: Sol 1, please respond. What's your status?
Mihaly: My status? Well, I'm feeling a little excited.
Hachinodate: Bandit's in the clouds. Chase him down. You've got this.
Trigger chased Mihaly in the clouds.
Sol 1 (Copro): Warning!
Mihaly fired another missile but missed the target.
Mihaly: She dodged again. Interesting. A Satsuman modified plane. Does that mean something?
Wit: We don't know.
Copro: Feedback filter damaged.
Mihaly tries to calm his breathing.
Copro: Warning! Systems malfunctioning.
Hachinodate: Watch yourself and your aircraft, Trigger!
Trigger: I know!
Copro: Over-G!
Hachinodate: Be careful chasing him in the clouds.
Wit: Sol 1, fighting in those clouds is risky. You don't know what might happen.
Mihaly: I've got no choice if I want to bring this one down.
Trigger fired another missile after a few minutes in the clouds but missed.
Seymour: Sol 1, I can't see you in the clouds.
Mihaly: Focus on your own job, Seymour.
Copro: Over-G!
Trigger and Mihaly are still flying around the clouds and mountains, trying to knock each other down.
And then Trigger released a missile and hit Mihaly again.
Tabloid: Yeah! Another hit!
Confirm visual in the clouds!
Umi: Good, another hit! Keep it up.
Hachinodate: Get him as best you can!
Mihaly: Clever flying.
Copro: Alert! Please reboot systems.
Trigger hunts Mihaly with all she got, but Mihaly is not yet down.
Wit: Sol 1, this is Sol 2.
Mihaly: My status is fine. Do not interfere.
Wit and Seymour are still tangled with the School Idol fighter planes. With every maneuver they make, the School Idols do the same.
Wit: Sol 1, the clouds are moving in. Let's return to base.
Copro: Alert! Systems failure!
Mihaly: Affirmative.
Seymour: Until the next time, School Idols!
Sol Squadron retreated when the clouds came in.
Bandog: Bandit is retreating. He managed to survive somehow.
Trigger is out of breath after the fight with Mihaly.
Trigger: Phew, that pilot surely is tough! But I survived.
Hachinodate: Lily White 4, Great work taking on that ace. He may have escaped, but you'll get him next time.
Count: Trigger, kindness gets you killed.
Setsuna: That was some flying, Trigger!
Shioriko: You are truly something!
Umi: I think that you get the role of an idol fighter pilot clearly.
Rin: You fought so well.
Trigger: Thank you, girls!
Wiseman: Hey, Hachinodate. Who's the girl who worked herself out at the rear?
Hachinodate: Our rising idol of our division.
Wiseman: Makes sense. Only an idiot would be brave enough to pull off those moves.
Bandog: I'll guide some of you back to Air Force Base 444 though I doubt you have enough gas to make it.
Wiseman: Appreciate the help. Will she be back at your base?
Bandog: I wouldn't be involved if I were you. And no, she has to land on their own base.
Hours later at the Sansaoban Airbase...
SATC: Lily White 4, You are clear to land on the runway.
Make a visual landing.
After that, Trigger landed.
SATC: Nice work! Standby for your next sortie.
After landing, Trigger and Setsuna taxi their planes to their hangar.
As Avril describes in her memoirs...
Avril: The crew said the enemy has one mean son of a bitch flyin' for 'em.
Our team had a few Air Force hot-dogs, real experienced pilots.
But this guy swooped in like a hawk, locked on and took 'em all out in the blink of an eye.
Reminds me of a story Gramps told me once…
He said a little while before he retired from active duty.
He saw an enemy fighter wipe out an entire formation right in front of him.
It was like seeing how a shark works, when it's going after it's dinner.
This enemy pilot stalked Gramps' pals from below, just like how a shark would.
Then, one by one, he'd put the bite on 'em.
Sounds like what happened to our guys today as well as the School Idols.
Kinda surprised so many made it back alive.
I bet what they saw what was going on, they broke formation and left their buddies to the shark.
Hang on. There's 3 extra planes here.
They're foreigners too.
Debriefing Spare Squadron:
Some of you returned without permission and you failed as escorts.
So how about you rethink your value while in solitary.
Take them away!
Well, well, what do you know. Pilots who make it back to base alive. Treat them well and feed them plenty.
After all, we have to get a favorable report out of them.
I've spent enough of my time being the commander of some worthless penal unit.
Debriefing School Idol Air Division:
Lily White, Shioriko and Setsuna, excellent performance all around. Flying through the thunderclouds and mountains wasn't so easy as we hoped, but you dealt it with good precision.
All the squad members of the recon squadrons made it out safely, well done.
Trigger, outstanding job by fighting the enemy ace. You gonna need more training if you are going to be in his level.
Also, we have one pilot landed on our base, and she appreciates from what we do.
Trigger, tomorrow, we are planning to get a small concert ready for all those idols here at the base. You will get the VIP seat arranged from us.
For now, get some rest. You did a fine job dealing that ace. He may have gotten away, but you'll get him next time.
After the debriefing, Alexa is on the VIP room upstairs of the concert room.
Alexa: Man. This place is big! I have a good place for me to watch, perhaps my idol dances are gonna be good.
At that moment, Húxiān arrived.
Húxiān: Wow! So that's the place that you girls perform?
Shioriko: Indeed.
Húxiān: Oh hi, Trigger.
Alexa: Hello, Húxiān. You can't wait for the performance of the School Idols?
Húxiān: I can't wait for it.
Shioriko: Oh, and Alexa.
Alexa: Yes?
Shioriko: Team CYaron is only 2 hours away. They are coming very soon. Ai is along with them too.
Alexa: Cool, who are they?
Shioriko: You knew You Watanabe right?
Alexa: Yeah.
Shioriko: She's coming this way along with her childhood friend, Chika Takami, and the frightened but brave Ruby Kurosawa, the little sister of Dia Kurosawa.
Alexa: Cool! They are definitely a good team to perform tomorrow!
Húxiān: I agree as no other.
The girls are making some good conversation at tomorrow's concert.
End of Chapter 8
Man, that was a long chapter, but Trigger and the School Idols are soon gonna make a concert to impress the public. She take a break from the frontline now and she will soon perform again, but this time in a concert! Can her dances be her best ability to do it for a concert? Find out the next time!