Chapter Text
“When you look at the picture of a wing tip vortex formation, and you see a picture of a galaxy, of a spiral nebula, you see that something is similar in both pictures.”
- Alexander Lippisch, The Secret of Flight.
April 1st, 2020, Selatapura Airport
15:46
In the briefing room of the military section of the airport, Strider 2 was twirling around a stick pointing at the projector screen showing what they'll do for the upcoming aggressor training. Every member of the LRSSG and Sol was here with one important exception.
Trigger was absent, because he asked for a day off, and high command was in no position to deny the hero of the Lighthouse War such a humble request.
Count was the only one who was somewhat happy about that, because he was selected as the lead of the joint training by Strider 1 himself until he got back, a feat he made sure to boast about whenever he could.
Everyone turned in the direction of the door when they heard a commotion down the hallway.
David North burst in, laptop in his hand, and spoke quickly in a serious voice that no one heard him use before,
“Where is Schroeder?!” he said, and without waiting for an answer he unplugged the projector and connected it to his laptop.
Everyone stood up in confusion.
“Hey, hey, what's going on?” asked Huxian.
The projection changed to show multiple documents, IDs, and maps. The screen split vertically and on the right side Alex’s chat box appeared.
“There's no time. Where is Doctor Schroeder?”
said the AI and the pilots were surprised to note that Alex’s tone wasn't emotionless like last time they heard it.
Count, understanding this is something important, replied,
“Uh, we actually haven't seen him around here in quite a few days, but Trigger said the guy has something to show him, which is why he's not here either.”
David finally noticed the missing flight lead,
“What!?”
The gravity of the situation set in when Mihaly Shilage came through the door and demanded in a rough voice,
“Where. Is. Three. Strikes.”
The members of Sol squadron hurried in a military salute for their former leader, while the members of the LRSSG tensed. This was the first time they were meeting Mister X in the flesh.
Before the Osean pilots could ask what he was doing here the analyst snapped,
“Stop gawking and answer!”
The situation became even worse when the Princess of Erusea also stepped inside, and before everyone could react she said in an icy tone,
“This is a matter of international security. Where has Schroeder taken Three Strikes?”
Gunther Peninsula, same date and time
Trigger was currently using one of his very well earned breaks travelling to a small airport north of Selatapura.
A few days ago, Doctor Schroeder approached him to ask for his opinion on a new plane that was developed in secret.
He was suspicious for obvious reasons, but the moment Schroeder caved and showed him the statistics he agreed.
Mach 5 . The report said.
Turns on a dime. The report said.
Hypersonic missiles and complete COFFIN without a HOTAS
it said.
Trigger, being a plane enthusiast, simply had to see it with his own eyes after Schroeder assured him the craft was not a mockup, but the real deal.
This is why the doctor was leading him to a room only entered via keycard.
When the door opened with a hiss, he saw the craziest aircraft he's ever seen, that coming from him was something.
The craft was sleek, tailless and had near vertical wingtips to compensate for the lack of a tail. Canards were a bit farther back than where he could see the COFFIN entrance was.
There were 2 engines that were clearly 3D thrust vectoring, which was directed by three control surfaces.
“This, is the XFA-36A Game.” said Schroeder with pride.
“It's…” Trigger couldn't find his words, “It's the largest leap in tech I've ever seen.”
“Not just in looks! Remember the performance?”
“I will admit, I was skeptical at first, but now?” he said moving closer.
“Would you like to take a look inside?” asked Schroeder, clapping his hands.
The COFFIN opened and Trigger climbed a step ladder to check it out. The only thing in there was what looked like a small bed with digital controls on the armrests. Above the bed, something looking like a large hairdryer was in position.
“That's the actual connection. It lowers onto the pilot’s head like a helmet and picks up the neural waveforms, sending them to the aircraft.” explained Schroeder.
“I can't believe it, this stuff was supposed to appear only decades from now.” said Three Strikes in awe.
“It's not prepared for a flight at the moment, but you can test the COFFIN if you want.”
Trigger nodded numbly, still having trouble taking it all in.
He took position in the ‘bed’ and waited.
Schroeder retreated to a safe distance and clapped his hands, the COFFIN closed by his command.
The first sign that something was wrong came when Trigger accidentally moved and hit the walls of the COFFIN. It sounded wooden and hollow.
A powerful whine started from what he realised too late was a mockup and his eyes widened.
White overtook his vision and he left like he was being stretched, he could swear his ears were ringing but the only sound he heard seemed like an inverted sonic boom.
Trigger tried to blink, and it looked like it worked for a second, but instead of seeing the COFFIN, he was in an F-16.
An Arsenal Bird was in front of him, along with multiple targeting boxes.
“HQ, what's happening?”
“Sky Keeper, I repeat, maintain air superiority.”
As if in fast forward, the MQ-101s moved to new positions,
“Mage 2! Support!
Somebody!
Support!”
“Bandit is down.”
The scene changed to show the Space Elevator in the evening sky. Multiple drones were swarming an Osprey.
“Mother Goose One, turn 180 degrees and exit combat airspace!
Mother Goose one! Mr. Harling! Are you piloting that plane?”
“Mage 2!”
Next he was in a sorry looking briefing room,
“It doesn't really matter if he's Harling’s murderer or not.”
A picturesque valley,
“Spare 8! Champ!
Bogey approaching fast from the rear!”
Snowy mountains,
“All right! I got the last one!”
“Damn it! Goddamn it!
Why does this-”
Chopinburg,
“All aircraft, caution. Bogies!”
“Fun ain't over yet.”
The flashbacks became faster and faster, F-15 cockpit, Stonehenge, Sierraplata, Farbanti…
“This should prove to be fun.”
“I'll act as a lure.”
“Eject already, Wiseman!”
A Raptor cockpit. Tyler Island,
“Hey, you. Dumbass with the scratches on his tail. Y’hear me?”
Shilage,
“There are pilots like you in every generation.
And I felled every last one of them.”
“Mister X is ascending rapidly!”
“Can you hear me, pilot with the Three Strikes?”
Gunther Bay…
“Cossette, Smash it! Smash all six of the bastards!”
“Away with you!”
“It wasn't magic. It's a scam.”
“Warning. Incoming bogey.”
“Clever little bastards.”
An awful metallic screech.
“There we go! One down! One down!”
Time slowed down. The last drone got off Sol 2’s six. A Kulbit, and disappeared in a blinding light.
“Can you hear me?”
Everything turned black.
Outside, Schroeder covered his eyes as a bright flash blinded him followed by a thunderclap.
When he opened his eyes again the entire front section of the mockup, along with Trigger, was nowhere to be seen.
“The singularity has been taken care of.” he said in his hidden earbud.
Simon Cohen entered the room,
“Wonderful. With Three Strikes gone, who can stop us now?”