Chapter Text
June 8th 2026, 09.20 am
It was a normal Thursday morning for Lt. Zack Gynerman, an Erusian pilot stationed at the Allenford air base. He is part of a project called Project Aces, which was an elite squadron compromised of pilots from all around the world. Basically, aces called in ready for combat and constantly learnig. The project had pilots almost as big as a battalion but it was divided in to teams of 2-6. Lt. Zack "Lupus" Gynerman was Siegfried 2 of the 203rd Tactical Fighter Squadron “Siegfried Squadron”.
This time, Zack had to do one of the weekly routines at the base. The officers called it an air to air practice or dogfighting drill, but instead of students against instructure, it was team against teams. They even have a ranking system. Siegfried was 3rd out of 32 teams. Pretty impressive, today he was supposed to be against skull team, the 2nd best team. Unfortunately, they left for a recovery mission so he was now against the one and only Valkyrie team, and if you guessed it right they were the No. 1 team.
Zack and his team were outnumbered 4-2, it might not sound fair in numbers but so is war. Although the real problem was clearly not the numbers. Zack was nervous but he still wanted to win. He climbed into the cockpit of his aircraft. The SU-37 Terminator painted in dark black and grey camo with yellow stripes on the tips of its wings. It was at the end of the runway preparing for take-off. Beside him was Sagittarius 1, code name Winter with his SU-37, only this one it was painted in white camo with black stripes in the tips of its wings. "Hey you ready buddy?" Winter asked his wingman. "Cant you figure that out yourself?" Zack replied with a bit of friendly mockery in his tone. "Just asking and beside, this time it'll be a bit personal for you considering we're up against that lady friend of yours" he chuckled as he teased his wingmen. "You got a point, but I'm not the one who did an uncontrolled flat spin in the middle of battle, I'm glad you still alive and amazed that you can still show up after that embarrassment" he replied. The leader lost at that point and they proceeded to take-off.
At 9.000 ft above ground level. 10.30 am.
"I don't think i need to tell you the details but incase you forgot, we're up against the Valkyrie team. They consist of 4 F-22 Raptors, they have good mobility and stealth tech so radar won't help that much, keep you eyes peeled". Winter informed his wingman over the radio, "think we have a chance?" Lupus asked. "Aren't you supposed to to be the optimistic one?" Winter replied. Before Lupus answered he saw a glint of reflection, it was the four Raptors. "Hey, nine o'clock, its definitely them", "Wilco, I got eyes. Its finally time huh". The two Terminators turned towards the raptor to do a pass.
"Valkyrie 2 here, here they come".
" Valkyrie 1 here, stay sharp girls let's end this quick and swiftly".
"you say that but you probably know it won't be quick, especially knowing you're the one who's gonna have personal thoughts about him, right Captain?"
"that's one strike there Valkyrie 4 and its not that personal".
"Awww you're blushing aren't you Capt".
"Oh c’mon, No. 3, look just do you're best". The clear sight of the SU-37 brought and end to the Valkyrie team. "Valkyrie team, BREAK!"
As the two teams flew by each other, Lupus saw it, the rose emblem on Valkyrie 1. On the other hand, Valkyrie 1 saw the black wolf emblem on the SU-37, the emblem that she knew too well over the years. Lupus soon hit the brakes and went up to do a sharp loop to quickly gain his opponents six o'clock. Valkyrie 1 didn't have time to react but Valkyrie 2 went to her aid.
On the other hand, Winter broke hard left in pursuit of the other two. No 3 broke off to try to get a better angle at her pursuer, Winter paid no mind and focused on no 4, No 3 successfully got behind Winter. No 4 tried to lose Winter at the clouds where he would lose her while No 3 could track him on radar. "Not in a million year girls". He went to the clouds but as they were in the clouds, Winters IFF suddenly grew closer to no 3 on his 6 o'clock. This took No 3 by surprised and when they were out of the clouds, she saw the white SU-37 vertically stopping. He did the cobra, they almost crashed but luckily she avoided him over the cost of giving Winter a straight clear shot. He locked on the Raptor and after one second, he spoke "Sagittarius 1 bandit down, you're out number three, better luck next time", before he could let her comment, No 4 was right om his tail.
Meanwhile No 1 and 2 got on Lupus's six o'clock. No 2 was leading, aiming to get a shot but out of the three she was not the best dogfighter. "Aaah, Valkyrie 1 take the lead I can't get an angle", " Wilco". Seeing as they switched positions, Vidar climbed up and letting them get close while being cautious. When the were close enough he rolled and went inverted pulled the stick and went straight down. Both followed while enduring the high G's. "Sorry for the wait buddy, you're favorite team leader is present to save you're pity ass". Winter came in from 4 o'clock high. "Took you long enough, you didn't flirt you're way through did you? Well not that I really care" Lupus chuckled while replying. No 1 suddenly broke off to try to position herself on the new bandit, but this time Winter focused on the one that broke off having complete faith on Lupus to stall time. Lupus lost them in the clouds and is dueling Valkyrie 2, "alright, I guess this one won't be bad" he said to himself.
Winter broke out of the clouds sweating hard "where are you Rose, c'mon just give me a hint". Suddenly a missile lock warning sacred him to death, not able to predict where it's coming from, he gave up. "Valkyrie 1 bandit down", and then she passed him and cut him off while she dives in searching for her teammate and her last opponent. But she was too late, all she saw was the dark SU-37 facing towards her, but then suddenly "Sagittarius 2 to Sky keeper". Vidar called out to their AWACS watching somewhere in the sky.
"I am unable to proceed due to low fuel, requesting permission to return to base".
"This is Valkyrie 1, my aircraft is also low on fuel, requesting permission to return to base".
"Sky keeper here, I guess that's enough for today. Its been awhile since I saw something like that. I'll call this one a tie for now, permission granted, good work team.
The two landed together and after parking their aircraft inside their hangars, the two was greeted by the Winter and the rest of the Valkyrie team.
"Not bad Sagittarius", said 2Lt. Christina "Schnee" Alonzo AKA Valkyrie 3.
"Well there's a reason there 3rd", said 1Lt. Yuki "Belladona" Kisanagi AKA Valkyrie 2.
"I think we should at least get second best, I mean we got all of you", said Capt Marcus "Winter" M'ckenzie AKA Sagittarius 1.
"You're in no position to say that you ass", Zack growled.
"I couldn't agree more, no hard feelings Mr. I did a flat spin in the middle of an operation", said the one and only Grace "Rose" Prowler, AKA Valkyrie 1. She is also thought to be the world's best ace in her generation and the ranking system did back that up, but who knows somewhere out there would be a person that could rival her, hell maybe even beat her in a flash. For now she has Zack, she really holds a lot of respect for him.
"Hey, where's No 4?" Zack asked looking for Margaret "Daisy" Blanc, AKA Valkyrie 4.
"The usual, she went straight to the cafeteria", said Yuki. "For?" Asked Marcus. "Duh, for food what else", said Grace explaining how the girl always seems hungry after a sortie.
"Well we're going to head off now, you guys cool you're head off" said Grace, "not offering us to join, I can help cool you of you know" said Marcus, The guy really can't stop flirting now can he? The girls shook him off as they teasingly brought up about that incident for him to lose enough confident so that he gives up.
"You holding up ok there buddy? Well, not that I need to ask, I mean you look fine as a horse to me" Marcus commented, amazed that Zack was looked like a man sweating from the natural heat. "That was fun though, they really were challenging. Shame I got low on gas right where i saw her". He continued on talking as they walk back to base.
20.30, At hangar No 2
"What is with you with this hangar" Grace asked curiously as Zack always seems to relax here frequently. "C'mon, it's always warm here", they both chuckled. She sat closely next to him, and put her head on his chest while he wrapped his arm around her. It was a known secret that the two pilots had an intimate relationship and it's been going well for the past two years. Other members at the base keep speculating if the two thought about marrying each other. But for Zack, he's just going to give his best at the present.
"By the way, what happened when I left you with Yuki" She asked. "Well I did some sharp turns to close her in, soon she couldn't keep up and then I started rolling around her in quite close range. At that point it was more like a play and then I ended that just in time, she can't even answer me properly when I asked her situation.
"You evil being" They both laughed softly.
"On second thought it is kind of nice in here", she spoke. "I told you, and plus no one really comes here that often, if you know what I mean" he smirked as he stroke her hair. She smiled as they both relaxed, she then got up to his lap and then gave him a kiss. They both blushed and smiled while putting their face close to each other. It was hard to believe as they both tried to kill their friends and each other in the lighthouse wars and here they are now, embracing each other not giving a damn about what happened, nor what's to come.
June 9th, 08.15
Grace and Zack was nowhere to be seen that morning, she was assigned to do a little air patrol. So the team was instead lead by Winter since Zack was also missing. A little time has passed, a mechanic wanted to grab some parts from hangar 2. But he found two people, two pilots, two aces. it was all to clear who the two people sleeping next to each other was, the mechanic knew why the slept there but really. "People these days are unthinkable" he chukled.