Eugene Solano's Memoirs: Standoff in the Skies II

Eugene Solano's Memoirs: Standoff in the Skies II
-Volume Two-

The Gleipnir had always been lingering on my mind since that bad nightmare of the battle where Gryphus Squadron was almost annihilated by the attack of just a single SWBM. Aurelian ground forces organized a formation to settle the score with that monster and were advancing toward the river side city of Santa Elva.

"There it is, the Gleipnir!"

"Commence firing! Give it everything you've got!"

The ground forces quickly opened fire on the giant hull of the Gleipnir when it showed up above the sky. Attacks from the ground were supposed to be the best bet against the Gleipnir, for it was believed that the Gleipnir was not capable of launching an attack downwards. But the ground forces underneath the Gleipnir were instantly blown away just after the moment it emitted a flash of light. An unknown attack from the Gleipnir. Something that was not in our data... looking at the shockwave spreading downwards, I learned that our operation was totally beside the mark.

The moment I realized it, I found myself shouting on the radio.

"Gryphus One! If our ground forces are wiped out here, we'll be unable to maintain the military. I'll display damage status of our friendly ground forces on your MPG. Protect them and don’t let it max out please."

This was different from the mission at Cape Aubrey. Gryphus Squadron took back Port Paterson, which gave the Aurelian forces a little bit of hope. For those who gathered, and for the purpose of taking back Aurelia, the importance of the roles we had to carry out was growing bigger than ever.

I saw the Gleipnir in front of me for the first time, and its presence was overwheming, almost godlike. As if it was the incarnation of the sky itself. Its giant body disappeared like it soaked into space. And then, an Aurelian aircraft that was flying close to it blew up. It crashed into the invisible giant. Other planes quickly and dispersed.

It seemed there was nothing we could do against the Gleipnir’s optical camouflage. However, there was one plane that was inflicting damage to it effectively. Gryphus One… The flight lead. The missile fired from his plane hit the invisible wall and exploded.

“Serious damage on the optical camouflage system! We can’t maintain optical camouflage!”

A strained voice of a Leasath soldier was heard on the radio. At the same time as that voice, the giant hull of the Gleipnir showed up.

“Right on! The cloak’s been stripped off!”

I could hear Gryphus Squadron members rejoice, but that moment of our hope lasted only for a second. A missile was launched from the upper deck of the Gleipnir. It smoked a long trail to climb up the sky, and started to dive down on us.

“Gleipnir fired a missile!”

I shouted out right away. Tension was bursting from my chest and made me feel suffocated while I was couting down. The hammering of my heart couldn’t be subsided.

“10 seconds to impact. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Impact!”

Just that moment, a spear of light tore up the sky. An even greater fireball exploded in the air. When the light was set off, the explosion gave birth to intense shockwaves which swiftly expanded away to consume the surrounding space. A moment after, a thunderous roar resounded the sky and it felt like my body was blown away. The shot that reminded me of the nightmare at Cape Aubrey threw me into confusion with such ease.

The emblem of Rick’s plane was enveloped in flame…
They all went dowm, exploding and being incinerated…
It was as if the nightmare at Aubrey Bay were replaying in front of my eyes.
The aftermath of the compressed air passed by, leaving the atmosphere slightly shaken just like the nightmare was still lurking around.

My brain had already ceased to function, and all my body could do was to tremble at a loss for what to do. My eye were left open, but nothing was moving in my sight… until the emblem of the Captain’s plane came in. That symbol of the bird smiling like there’s nothing to worry about.
Under a pressing circumstance like this, it was smiling so optimistically just like it had been. I almost thought it told me to stop being scared of anything.
It reminded me of a scenery of the past.
Aubrey Base, before the war broke out.
In the base where it was always cold and was filled with the sea smell, I saw 2nd Lieutenant Rick pointing at the Gryphus Emblem.

I heard him say, “Listen, vultures are believed to feed on dead flesh. People even think they are ominous creatures. They always stare down at their preys in the sky with tremendous eyesight. Our existence may be awkward in peaceful days like now. Heck, that’s why we need to remember Gryphus to keep an eye on the surroudings. Look. What this bird has in its beak It’s the Southern Cross, the symbol of our country. This means we are the ones who protect this country. To do that, you gotta be able to relax and smile no matter how desperate the situation is, just like this cute Gryphus birdie. That’s our duty. Someone who is always stiff like you is far from mature. Train hard to get to know what Gryphus is all about. If this bird laughs you away, then you are still a nugget.”

… He’s right. There’s no time to be confused.
It’s my duty to deliver appropriate information to everybody. That’s what I must do. I gotta relax myself to carry out my job. At this rate, the Gryphus won’t stop laughing my ass away.

The SWBM was launched one more time by the Gleipnir. But its timing of impact was totally predicted due to the analysis of the data from Aubrey Base.
“10 seconds to impact”
The Captain’s plane, which was charging at the Gleipnir, changed course simultaneously.
He descended to lower altitude in an instant, leaving splendid trails in the sky.
That was a perfect maneuver in sync with my countdown.
“5… 4… 3… 2…1… Impact!”
At that moment, the Captain’s plane was at safe altitude and weathered the shockwaves.
Upon the impact, he once again started to fly toward the Gleipnir.

He steadily decreased the number of the Gleipnir’s SWBM launchers, and evaded enemy attacks in accordace with my instruction.
That moment, I was under the strange illusion that I was dancing in the sky with the Captain.

And when I came back to, the Captain’s emblem caught my eyes. I surely saw the Gryphus, which always laughed at me, welcome me with a gentle smile.
The moment I felt so, I thought I was a member of the Gryphus Squadron for the first time.

End

Sources
PROJECT ACES: ACX WEBSITE

Accreditation
Originally posted by Ribbon-Vermilion
All Translation done by yellow26

2nd half of the article. Sorry for my long absence. Any edit is welcome.

The emblem of Rick’s plane was enveloped in flame…
They all went dowm, exploding and being incinerated…
It was as if the nightmare at Aubrey Bay were replaying in front of my eyes.
The aftermath of the compressed air passed by, leaving the atmosphere slightly shaken just like the nightmare was still lurking around.

My brain had already ceased to function, and all my body could do was to tremble at a loss for what to do. My eye were left open, but nothing was moving in my sight… until the emblem of the Captain’s plane came in. That symbol of the bird smiling like there’s nothing to worry about.
Under a pressing circumstance like this, it was smiling so optimistically just like it had been. I almost thought it told me to stop being scared of anything.
It reminded me of a scenery of the past.
Aubrey Base, before the war broke out.
In the base where it was always cold and was filled with the sea smell, I saw 2nd Lieutenant Rick pointing at the Gryphus Emblem.

I heard him say, “Listen, vultures are believed to feed on dead flesh. People even think they are ominous creatures. They always stare down at their preys in the sky with tremendous eyesight. Our existence may be awkward in peaceful days like now. Heck, that’s why we need to remember Gryphus to keep an eye on the surroudings. Look. What this bird has in its beak It’s the Southern Cross, the symbol of our country. This means we are the ones who protect this country. To do that, you gotta be able to relax and smile no matter how desperate the situation is, just like this cute Gryphus birdie. That’s our duty. Someone who is always stiff like you is far from mature. Train hard to get to know what Gryphus is all about. If this bird laughs you away, then you are still a nugget.”

… He’s right. There’s no time to be confused.
It’s my duty to deliver appropriate information to everybody. That’s what I must do. I gotta relax myself to carry out my job. At this rate, the Gryphus won’t stop laughing my ass away.

The SWBM was launched one more time by the Gleipnir. But its timing of impact was totally predicted due to the analysis of the data from Aubrey Base.
“10 seconds to impact”
The Captain’s plane, which was charging at the Gleipnir, changed course simultaneously.
He descended to lower altitude in an instant, leaving splendid trails in the sky.
That was a perfect maneuver in sync with my countdown.
“5… 4… 3… 2…1… Impact!”
At that moment, the Captain’s plane was at safe altitude and weathered the shockwaves.
Upon the impact, he once again started to fly toward the Gleipnir.

He steadily decreased the number of the Gleipnir’s SWBM launchers, and evaded enemy attacks in accordace with my instruction.
That moment, I was under the strange illusion that I was dancing in the sky with the Captain.

And when I came back to, the Captain’s emblem caught my eyes. I surely saw the Gryphus, which always laughed at me, welcome me with a gentle smile.
The moment I felt so, I thought I was a member of the Gryphus Squadron for the first time.

End