The East PacificBoard

South of the Felteran Strait

There was an aura of calm surrounding the afternoon sky, the sun shined, the air was calm, and clouds coated the sky in a gentle blanket. Far below was the sea, shimmering and glistening as it reflected sunlight across its surface. High above that sea, a shape darted through the clouds, banking back and forth as turbulence gripped at its hull. It was 23,000 feet above the ground, maintaining a steady pace towards the northwest. It’s body resembled a sort of insect or bird, its wings buzzing back and forth to generate thrust and maneuver. On the back sat several rattling rockets, which occasionally roared to life to maintain speed while conserving fuel.

Inside the cockpit sat two figures, their faces obscured by oxygen masks and flight gear. Their equipment was alien compared to flight suits of a similar make in valsora, it was largely made of animal parts, adorned with soft fur and almost clan like accessories. In the back sat the navigator, his seat was cramped and surrounded by a mix of communication and surveillance equipment. The sound of a radio ping echoed throughout the cockpit, and the navigator began to make calculations and check over the map in front of him. He locked in a new trajectory with the divider, and drew a small trace to make a note of the adjustment.

“Kell, adjust seven degrees starboard, then start transmitting.” He said to the pilot up front

The pilot, her head blocked from view by the seat, nodded and tapped her head against the glass of the cockpit to confirm. She pushed the stick right, gradually shifting the Ornithopter several degrees to the right, once in position she pulled on a small instrument, locking the stick in place.

“We’re on our flight line, transmitting now.” She said as she pressed several buttons on the short wave radio, and turned the dial on the side.

The Navigator would go back to his charts, silently humming a song to himself as he worked. It was muffled by his mask but still audible. It was a warm song, simply, sweet, something you could play on a single instrument. The kind of song you listen to as a kid to learn rhymes. The Navigator kept on humming as the Pilot slowly joined in. The harmony traveled on both ends of the radio channel as the aircraft sped through the skies just beyond Southern Rajyam.

The song was broken up as the Navigator spotted puffs of smoke in the distance, followed by gentle booming piercing into the interior of the thopter’s hull.

”Heads up Kell, I got bogeys quadlo.” the navigator called out.

The pilot would turn her head to look at the scene, then glancing down towards the sea below. She refocused her head front as the navigator zoomed in on the puffs of smoke. He gradually locked the scope into position and adjusted the sight for a clear view.

“Looks like the Outlanders are at it, I see multiple aircraft friendly and hostile. I also got smokes in the air, probably from rafts on surface.” he said

The pilot would start to prepare countermeasures as she replied back,

“Must be the Yuks, they’re hitting targets all across the southern naval line to give us a smoother trip to the coast, best keep our eyes open.”

The navigator would check the radio transponder, switching it to a secure line to minimize risk of interception. Then he’d broadcast the return signal and prepare for descent. Then he’d strap himself into his seat and hold.

The pilot would disengage high altitude maneuvering thrusters and press the stick to the right. The Ornithopter would invert, spiraling before entering a dive into the clouds below. The aircraft would slice through the cloud line as it fell like a lightning bolt down to 18,000 feet. After less than twenty seconds of falling, the pilot pulled up, and reset the maneuvering thrusters. The Ornithopter would speed through the misty sky, dipping between the clouds as a massive shadow was cast over it.

The thopter emerged from the clouds, the view from the cockpit was flooded with an immense looming shape. Just ahead of them was the titanic form of the Arquean Air Fleet, buzzing with activity as the scout squadron of Ornithopters began to return and dock. The pilot accelerated before slowing down just ahead of the mothership. She gradually began to power down the thrusters and guide the thopter in.

Just behind them, a large mechanical arm extended outward, flexing with cogged joints as it opened its docking clamp. The Ornithopter slowly drifted under it, starting to lose lift as the engines began to stall under the weight. The frame of the small aircraft shuddered as the docking clamp locked around the top of its hull. The mechanical arm reversed, sliding the scout craft into a launch tube, as a pulley system would pull it up and lock it into place.

The side door of the craft depressurized and slowly slid open, letting the pilot and navigator out onto the launch deck. A mechanical crane came down, lifting the aircraft up into the storage bay hanging overhead. The pair walked along the catwalk at the lowest level of the airship, strolling past flight crews hauling high capacity bombs and rockets towards the combat aircraft getting ready for launch. They reached the end of the catwalk, starting to climb the ladder stairs to the next level just above. Once at the top the duo starting walking along a narrow corridor hanging across from the aircraft storage bay. As they walked past they spotted a archtek on the hull of one of the aircraft, welding a damaged section of the armor back tougher.

“Larin! Some of the deck officers from 3 are hosting a Bakan tournament tonight, you in!?” The pilot called

The tek nodded, before returning to their repair work, waving as the two continued on into the engineering bay. The area was abuzz with activity as last minute modifications and maintenance would be performed to any equipment on the schedule. For the equipment not under repair, the crew was testing them in small mock scenarios to gage their readiness. Once through engineering the two climbed further up and into the crew deck. Heading for their barracks along the walkway after reaching the top.

The inside of the barracks was a somewhat cramped series of bunk beds stretching out on both ends of the wall. There were also the other members of their flight wing, who sat around the barracks reading, lounging and chatting. Jeran and Kell sat on their respective bunks, setting their flight masks down on their footlockers after undoing them on the way up. The two started to talk as they began to unclip and undress from their flight gear.

“You think we’re on the first wave tomorrow?” Jeran asked as he unclipped his boots

“If we’re lucky, we’ll launch just before noon, and we’ll see the first of the action.” Kell replied as she placed her boots to the side of her footlocker. Once finished she undid her hair tie, letting her medium length auburn hair drop down to her nape.

Jeran would nod, exhaling a little bit as he thought about what was ahead as he undid his flight jacket and rigging, hanging it against the side of his bunk. He leaned back against the support beam, resting his head against it. Kell tilted her head as she began to unclip her jacket and flight suit. She finished undoing her last buckle, letting the suit fold down to her waist. Kell then stood up and went over to Jeran, sitting next to him on the bunk.

“Hey, look at me, what’s going on? You’ve been quiet ever since we landed.” Kell squeezed Jeran’s hand, her tan skin contrasting his far more pale complexion. Jeran sighed, opening up his eyes, locking his gleaming amber eyes with her teal green ones. Kell brushed his blonde hair out of his face, tucking it behind his ear. Then she slid over to his side, placing her arms around his torso and letting him lean against her chest.

“I don’t know Kaverine, it’s just so sudden. Packing up, leaving home for a war in a world we don’t know anything about. Pada I’m just all shades of anxious right now.”

Kell smiled at the use of her second name. She began gently stroking Jeran’s hair as she replied

“You’re homesick Marine, I think all of us are, you just haven’t been talking about it. You know you’re supposed to share these things with your Borte.”

Jeran looked down, sighing a bit. He knew Kell was right, but he felt frustrated none the less. Kavrine started pulling at his flight buckles, undoing his undergear where she could as she spoke into his ear quietly.

“Now, I’ll help you get undressed, then we can pick some outfits for the Bakan Tournament tonight. Sound good?”

Jeran nodded, starting to unbuckle his lower harness as he looked at the sigil hanging above his bed.