Rays of crossing tracer fire spew towards me. I flick the stick, corkscrewing over the two leading jets and narrowly evading their gunfire. I look to their wings as I pass, hunting for a roundel. Unmarked bandits huh... I aline my sight with the third plane. With a click of the trigger, a buzzsaw of bullets saw the bandits wing off. He spirals out of his wingman's formation. His aircraft now cut in two spirals to the ground in a roulette of burning flames. The fourth jet alines himself in vengeance for his fallen comrade. He throws out another line of gunfire. I pitch up, causing the rounds to miss entirely. I roll back on top of him, aligning my sights with his clear topside. With another click, his engine is set ablaze as he spirals towards his friend. Two down, two to go. I turn back towards Boss. The remaining two flying towards the clouded blizzard Boss remains in. Two puffs of smoke erupt from the wall of clouds. The jets split from formation, dropping flares and chaff as they split. The missiles ignore the pointless countermeasures. As the missiles collide with them, their once noble jets fall as flaming ash. Shortly after Boss shoots out of the clouds.
Jax: "Good kills, skies clear."
Boss: "I wouldn't be so sure."
Two more jets break the wall of clouds behind Boss, each firing a missile. Boss ducks and weaves, dropping countermeasures as he evades.
Jax: "I thought you hit the hangers and runway!"
Boss: "I thought so too."
His annoyance and frustration leaking into a sarcastic tone. Third-party reinforcements? Or was this a pincer attack from that squad of 4? I'll think about it later. I call out spirits fourth stage, excelling me even faster than before. Since cloaking isn't an option here, speed is the way to go. In seconds I arrive in gun range, blowing one of Boss's pursuers out of the air. The second one breaks away from Boss in attempting to evade me. Without missing a beat, Boss turns around. Sending out another missile, the ignited jet falls in flames.
Jax: "all clear?"
Boss: "All clear."
Jax: "Stage 2, You think those last two were third parties?"
Boss: "I'm not sure. But in a heavy hailstorm like that, I'm more surprised at how they found and ambushed me. With hail and snow of that size, radar clutter is inevitable. Our radars barely picked up those guys from inside the storm, and these are next-generation, especially yours."
Jax: "If they were close enough maybe they'd get a clear enough view. It's probably backup for the target bass. And we left just before they arrived."
Boss: "I hope that's the case kid... I hope."
We turn back towards base, skies clear. A few hours later we arrive in Yurie's airspace. Arriving on the landing stretch, Boss begins to slow behind me.
Jax: "So boss... Why ya slowin' down?"
Boss: "..."
Jax: "I mean can't you just do this?"
I commence landing sequence one, sliding to stop in front of the towers as Spirit loops back for her landing. Boss touches down shortly after, rolling down the runway before taxing down the driveway.
Boss: "Showoff..."
Jax: "Teehee."
I taunt Boss as he taxi's towards his hanger. After-words, I turn towards the tower, hopping up its morale-breaking stairs. Once more arriving at the top winded, I pause to catch my breath before pushing open the door. Chloe remains seated at her desk across the room. Continuing her lightning crusade on the laptop's keyboard. She glances up for a second, spotting me enter the room. She adjusts her glasses before resuming her attack.
Chloe: "Good work today."
Jax: "You too."
I walk up to her desk. Taking out and placing the USB on her desk.
Jax: "I got you a gift! I hope you like it."
she pauses, removing her eyes from the screen. She glares daggers of burning steel into my soul, I grin in response. She grabs the USB, sliding it into her laptop.
Chloe: "Sophia analyze this data and send it to the engineering team afterward."
After Sophia's replies, Chloe returns her gaze to your laptop, continuing her work.
Jax: "Hey Chloe before I go, I have a quick question."
Chloe: "Out with it so I can return to work."
Jax: "Who begun the raid before my signal?"
Chloe paused, returning her gaze to me with an annoyed expression.
Chloe: "Didn't you call it in? you said extraction was successful and to begin the assault."
Jax: "no I didn't, I was still inside the base."
Chloe: "then I don't know what to tell you, Jax, I heard word for word: 'data retraction successful. begin the air raid.'"
Jax: "Then what about the warning? Didn't you give me a warning about it starting?"
Chloe: "Warning? You mean when I said to fall back? And let Lucas take over the air raid?"
her face morphs into more and more confusion. Realizing my seriousness the more she answers my questions. She doesn't seem to be lying either. I slide my hands into my pants pockets as I look out a nearby window.
Jax: "Never mind, I slipped a few times during the mission. Guess I bumped my head a little."
Chloe: "Jax you should find some time off. Maybe ask someone to take over a mission or two that doesn't require stealth. I heard something happened with you earlier today and you were possibly poisoned."
Jax: "I'm fine, a little bit of Spirits cleaner got on my fingers was all. Doc just panicked a little bit for no reason."
Chloe: "That's good to hear... But you should really take a break, your only 18 after all."
Jax: "Maybe, not right now though."
I head towards the door, passing a wave across the room before stepping out. If I'm the one who started the air raid. Who exactly am I? As I walk down the steps, a static shock spikes through my right wrist. Clenching my fist to submerge the sudden pain, I raise my wrist. The digital display now flashing on and off through the cracked glass screen. I almost forgot this thing broke. Guess I should pay Doc another visit. As I continue my flutter down, my wrist once more jolts me. I wrestle the latch holding it in place undone. It flops onto the step below me with a clank. I flop my wrist up and down, forcing the pain down.
D a m n B a s t a r d .