Chapter 1

 ONE

“So, What’s the threat matrix looking like?”

“What?”

“You know, what threats are we going to likely encounter at the AO”

“What are you talking about? Its literally just dinner”

“Its never that simple. Not for us” Trigger said slouching in the rear seat of the sedan.

as the car bounced along the freeway, Trigger sat fidgeting in his seat, Driving was his Wingman, Count, and in the shotgun seat beside him, reading a magazine was another pilot Huxian. Instead of their standard attire of flight suits and survival gear, the trio was adorned in ill-fitting Osean Air Defense Force service dress, For Trigger and Count at least, uniforms borrowed from other squadron members who had brought their uniforms, and Huxian, a Uniform she hadn’t worn since Flight School graduation a year and a half prior.

Trigger spoke up again

“Come on, you cant tell me your not nervous about how quiet it has been?”

“Dude, Its literally been over a month and a half since we had any real combat. Considering the crap we just went through? I’d consider that a blessing.” Count replied, changing lanes.

The Ex-con had a point, up until November, the members of the LRSSG were constantly on the move, never staying in one place for more than a few days at a time.  Their current location of Selatapura Airport, located on Gunther Bay, had been the longest any of them had been stationed in one spot during their deployment. In the rare instances Osean High Command had acknowledged their existence, the current orders were to ‘standfast’ and ‘await further instructions’. Every few days more of the scattered allied forces would arrive to the Airport, and with the continuation of civilian Air Travel, it made the Selatapura International Airport a quagmire of large civilian jets, and fast military fighters.

“Say, Trigger, who are we meeting again?” Huxian asked, not even looking up from her magazine.

“Princess Rosa Cossette D’Elies of Erusea” Trigger said, putting a hint of disdain in the pronunciation.

“Why the hell would the Princess want to meet us?” Count asked.

“Dunno. Probably cause we were the squadron that was responsible for killing those drones she was so worried about” Trigger said.

“Well to be fair, that was mostly you two, Jeager and I mostly sat on the side lines for that” Huxian said.

“Yeah, a real group of high-speed cheerleaders you two were” Trigger quipped.

“Speaking of Jeager, Where the hell is he?” Count asked annoyed.

“Well you see, our personal Jiminy Cricket had family issues to attend to back in Osea. So, the Colonel and I pulled a few strings to get him and Skald on a C-17 back home. Besides being down two planes already, and the lack of action, I didn’t need pilots sitting around.” Trigger explained.

“Ah, So he gets to miss all the boring crap that comes with ending a war then.” Count sighed.

“Yep”

***

Avril laid on the couch in the main room of the Penthouse.  Across the room, the open doors allowed a cool breeze to enter the room. Unlike what might have been expected, The Erusean’s had commandeered the Hotel far outside the downtown district of Selatapura for their Princess, citing a safety concern at higher-profile locations.

For all that however, Avril noted that the Princess didn’t seem to mind. While the accommodations were luxurious by the mechanics standards, Cossette had noted how ‘quaint’ the apartment was when she arrived weeks prior.

“So, Cossette, what are you up to tonight? Now that the Refugee camp is mostly established?” Avril shouted over her shoulder towards the kitchen where Cossette was busy.

a loud clattering of kitchenware could be heard before Cossette stepped into the main living room, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

“Im sorry, could you say that again, I was busy in the other room” Cossette explained.

“Yeah, I said what were your plans now that everything more or less is hands off?” Avril asked again, sitting up on the couch and folding the newspaper she was reading.

“Well” Cossette fell into a lounge chair across from Avril. While she didn’t show it outwardly, her voice betrayed the weariness that had developed over the past month and a half. Her country was still in the midst of a Civil war, albeit one the Oseans were now involved in on the side of the Conservatives that supported her monarchy. The weight of her country being on the brink politically, as well as the welfare of thousands of refugees was starting to wear on the nineteen-year old’s mind.

Cossette continued “I invited the Osean pilots over for dinner as a way of saying ‘thank-you for stopping my militaries bad idea involving drones from killing us all!’”, Avril was noting a uptick in the young woman’s cynical sarcasm since they had known each other. “Which reminds me, I need to change out of this” Cossette said, motioning to the T-shirt and jeans she was wearing. “My mother would kill me if she saw me trying to entertain guests dressed like this”, She said getting up and retreating to the far end of the room towards her suite.

“Hey, it looks good on you” Avril defended.

“Yes, It might work for you Oseans, but in Erusea, we have something called standards. It’s un-lady like to entertain guests in her home dressed like that.”  Cossette shouted from her room, a mocking proper accent, putting over-emphases on the inflection.

Avril rolled her eyes. “Whatever, I’m just saying you can pull that look off Cossette”

“So what time are they supposed to arrive anyways?” Avril asked.

“Around five thirty, why?” Cossette shouted.

“ok, Well its five fifteen now.”

“shit!” Cossette hissed,

“Calm down, what can I do to help you?”

“Well, I think the room is adequately tidied up. Tell me, how do I look?” Cossette said entering the room.

Avril took a moment staring at her friends’ outfit and shook her head.

“Did I tell you how much I hate you sometimes Cossette?” Avril chided

“Whats wrong?” Cossette asked worried

“Nothing, that’s what’s wrong. Do you even own a bad outfit?!” Avril said approvingly.

Avril made a motion for Cossette to turn around for her. Her friend had chosen a formal outfit consisting of a white knee length skirt and a white formal shirt. Finishing her spin Cossette made a curtsy to Avril who was grinning with the pride of a big sister.

“Well you are welcome to stay, I can have the staff bring you something, they already are bringing up a full course meal and I’m sure the pilots would love the company.” Cossette invited.

Avril shook her head chuckling. “Nah, as you said this is a formal event, and I’m about as far removed from formal right now. Besides, I need to get going anyways, with the civilian networks coming back, I need to see if I can’t get ahold of my family back in Osea. Its been more than a few months and I don’t know if they have heard anything about me yet.”

Cossette shook her head disapprovingly “You still haven’t done that. I told you that I could have set something up for you”

“Well what did you want, I was helping you”

Just then a sharp three knocks were at the door.

Both women’s attention shot to the door.

“Well, they are Military so it figures that they would be early. Let me get that” Avril said.

Avril moved and opened the door to see three uniformed officers of the Osean Air Defense Forces.
Each wearing the formal blue service dress uniform of the Air Force. She noted the ranks on all their shoulders. The two males, both of average height and build, one had short but stylized hair blond hair and a trimmed mustache while the other was clean shaven, had striking features and a sported a regular high and tight. Both men’s ranks were that of a Captain. The lone female of the group was an Asian woman with longer dark hair who wore the rank of Lieutenant and was also the only one wearing a uniform nameplate which read Húxiān. The three appeared to be in the middle of some heated discussion when Avril opened the door.

For a brief moment, the three officers stared at Avril.

“Scrap Queen, what a pleasant surprise!” the blond Officer finally spoke up, from his voice Avril recognized him as Count.

“Evening Ma’am; didn’t expect you here” Trigger commented. Though Avril had worked on Trigger’s plane for dozens of hours, She and Trigger had only met once while at the Penal unit, where in he delivered a particularly over-stressed F-15 that even she wondered if it could be salvaged, and then again on the aircraft carrier Admiral Anderson when she briefed Trigger on the condition of an F-22 Raptor he had taken to task against a pair of drones after his F-15C’s Landing gear collapsed during his carrier landing. Needless to say Trigger seemed well aware of the work he put Avril through any time he went on a mission.

“Trigger, you didn’t break any more planes did you?” Avril said smiling,

“No, We’ve been keeping him plenty busy on the ground Avril” Huxian spoke up, giving the mechanic a hug.

Rosa walked up and clasped her hands together
“Oh I see you all already know each other! Small world”

Instinctively, the three pilots straightened up. “Good evening your highness” Trigger said holding out his hand “Im Captain-“ Rosa laughed catching him off guard.

“Please Captain, Im not Military or anything so If its OK with you, we can do away with formalities. Im just someone trying to show some gratitude for a good deed you all did” She explained.

“Okay. Not what I expected” Count admitted, relaxing a bit.

the group laughed briefly before entering the apartment.

“Please do take a seat anywhere, make yourself comfortable, dinner should be arriving shortly” Cossette said gracefully.

Each of the pilots found somewhere semi comfortable to sit, Trigger sat down Infront of a vegetable tray and took a baby carrot to munch on. It seemed that some of their Air Battle Managers bad habits were starting to rub off on the pilot.

Avril shook her head slightly in disbelief “What are you all still doing here?” she asked again.

Trigger looked up at Avril a bit bewildered before Húxiān answered. “We were ordered to assist with security until the IUN can decide who has jurisdiction here” the last part made Cossette shift uncomfortably.

“So, How do you all know each other?” Cossette asked, motioning between Avril and the pilots sitting across from them.

Trigger sighed, briefly collecting his answer “well, ma’am, as much as I would love to share the story, as far as I know that’s still classified. You may get an answer out of Avril but we had a very long sit down with our superiors today on what we could and couldn’t talk about. I apologize” He explained.

“I see, Well I guess we also haven’t been properly Introduced, as you Probably know my name Rosa Cossette D’Elise, but please call me Cossette, and may I have your names?” Cossette said, trying to keep the awkward conversation flowing.

“Well, most folks call me ‘Trigger’, this man right here is my wingman ‘Count’ and that ray of sunshine -” he said pointing to Húxiān “- over there is Húxiān. I guess we do have to warn you she does bite though. I am sorry, unfortunately our fourth pilot Jeager couldn’t make it tonight” Trigger explained.

A smile broke across Cossette’s face

“Ah, Count and Trigger, Avril has told me so much about you two!”

“Well don’t believe everything she says about us – ow!” Count said in the midst of chewing on a piece of celery, Huxian noticing quickly, smacked him on the back of the head for his rudeness.

Avril shaking her head in disapproval, stood up “Count your still a dumbass I see. Cossette, I have to take off, See you tomorrow. You three try not to break any more airplanes” She stated before walking out of the penthouse.

“So… What can you tell me about yourselves?” Cossette asked.

***

Throughout the dinner the three pilots regaled self-censored stories about their flying adventures, and while Cossette was uncomfortable with the fact that in each story her countrymen were the targets she did not let it show for the sake of her guests. The four eventually find themselves lounging back in the living room of the penthouse, the open windows to the deck allow for them to see the view of the city and Lighthouse while allowing a warm land breeze to flow in.

It was finally Cossette’s turn to share her story’s. All the while this was happening she studied the three guests. One big thing she noted was that Húxiān and Count had since taken to sitting next to each other on the couch and Count had Húxiān’s hand in his resting on his knee. She also noticed that Trigger seemed uncomfortable anytime she approached him.

She waited for the laughter to subside from one of her more embarrassing accounts, of when she accidently flipped off her uncle, the King of Erusea at the time, as a young girl and his and her father’s Over the top exaggerated response.

She placed one hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle before she regained enough composure to talk again.

“So, you two, Are you an item or something?” She asked, motioning to Count and Húxiān. The mere mention of the question made Triggers eyes widen and shift and took both Count and Húxiān by surprise.

“I, well we, Uh” Húxiān stammered embarrassed.

“I guess we are just that obvious” Count admitted, still holding her hand.

“you think?” Trigger teased. 

The reaction of the three made Cossette giggle even further.

Count then explained

“Yeah after that mission under the Lighthouse where I almost bought the farm and ended up watching Trigger pull off that unrestricted climb Húxiān and I decided to finally start dating. Though since we are in the same squadron and all, and the fact I was just promoted to Captain we are a bit worried it might complicate things, so we try to keep it low key”

“Dude, I have about the situational awareness of a goldfish when it comes to these things and even I knew” Trigger added

“I think it’s cute, two combat hardened pilots, finding love in the middle of a warzone. It’s cute.” Cossette affirmed, making Húxiān blush slightly.

Count pulled his shirt sleeve back to reveal his watch, noting the time he stood up.

“Well Cossette, its been a wonderful time, but it’s getting fairly late and Húxiān and I have a sortie to fly tomorrow morning. Oh crap, shouldn’t have said that”

“Crap your right. Well, Princess, if you need anymore UAVs taken care of, you know who to call” Trigger grunted standing up.

As the three made it towards the door Cossette stood up. “Trigger if you don’t mind I had a few more questions I would like to ask you, can you stay just a bit longer?”

Trigger stopped and thought for a moment “how about you guys go ahead, I have tomorrow off anyways. I will just catch a cab back to the base later ok?”
“Got it, just remember the Colonel still wants us back for accountability at noon, so don’t stay out too late” Count reminded him.

“Of course, See you guys tomorrow” Trigger said shutting the door. “So, what do you want to know?”

“Well I was curious, you didn’t talk about yourself much if at all, just your flying”

Trigger shrugged a bit “Well its all I have really done my adult life. I’m pretty boring, sorry to disappoint.”

“Do you mind if I take the service coat off?” he then added.

 

“Of course, you may, it’s too warm for a wool uniform anyway. But you have to have some hobbies or something? You don’t have a girl back home?” Cossette inquired.

 

Folding up the service coat he rested it on a chair and then sat down on the couch adjacent.

“No Ma’am, in all honesty, never really good at such things. And its not like these past seven or so months has made it any easier.” He admitted

“Yeah, and sorry about the uniform, its not even mine, its been half a year since I left the Penal base and have still yet to find a BX or get my old uniform back via the mail yet.” He said in an attempt to break the ice. While normally talking about himself made him feel uncomfortable, now talking with Cossette seemed to put him at ease. He was shocked himself with how open he was being.

“What do you mean Penal base?”

“Fuck, shouldn’t have said that” Trigger said flustered. He weighed his options before continuing to speak.

“Well you didn’t hear it from me, but, that’s actually how Avril, Count and I met. We were all prisoners useful to the War Effort. It sucked but I guess it was better than doing time in any of the club fed’s back in Osea.” He admitted.

“So what did you do to end up there if I might ask?” Cossette inquired.

“Well, simply put I made a bad call on a mission. Someone innocent and important died and it got quickly got out of hand.” Trigger responded somberly.

They both sat in silence for a bit until Trigger spoke again.

“So, I understand that you were in the group with Tabloid right?” he asked

“Yes, I was. He seemed like a good man, Did you know him well?” Cossette asked.

“Well, I wouldn’t really call him a friend since we were both prisoners; but Tabloid was a solid dude and good pilot. He was one of the few that would stick around when stuff started to go sideways in mission. I don’t think for a second he was legitimately violent in any way, just too loud for his own good”

“I see”

She got up and sat next to Trigger on the couch

“Mind if I ask a question then?” She asked softly

“What?”

Cossette studied him for a moment

“What are you worried about?”

This took Trigger aback “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what are you so worried about Trigger? I noticed you seem to be on edge, like your waiting for something bad to happen” Cossette asked.

“Well, do be entirely honest I am a bit nervous. Not everyday you meet the leader of the people that only a few weeks prior was actively trying to kill you. And on top of that it doesn’t help that you may or may not have been instrumental in putting said leader in the position she is in now. Makes a person a wee bit antsy”

She tilted her head a bit in confusion at the answer, thought a moment before responding. “Trigger, Its ok. I acknowledge what happened. Its fine, I hold no animosity towards you. You were doing your job. I was doing mine. Besides the ones who actively tried to kill me, were my own people” Cossette responded kindly, the words oddly did put Trigger at ease, he almost didn’t notice her squeezing his hand.

 

“Do you want to talk about its Cossette?” He whispered, His concern was betrayed in his eyes. She gave him a weak smile. “Trigger its fine. I don’t really try to think about that day all too much.” She responded truthfully.

There was a sudden pop from outside, Instinctively Trigger grabbed Cossette and put himself between her and the open window shielding her with his body. Once the initial startle wore off Cossette started laughing.

“Jeeze Trigger, you could at least take me out to dinner first!” she wheezed between the giggles.

It was then that Trigger realized what he was doing and then immediately started to blush and stammer, something which put Cossette into further bouts of laughter.

while Cossette worked on composing herself, Trigger walked out to the balcony to see what all the commotion outside was. He leaned on the banister surveying the city scape of Selatapura.  Off in the distance he could see the culprit, on the shoreline bright flashes followed by dazzling balls of light erupted as fireworks lit the night sky.

He didn’t notice Cossette had come up next to him until she spoke

“They have been doing that every day for a month you know”

“well Ma’am, can’t say I knew that, any reason why?”

“Well I guess they figure any day without a war going on above their heads is worthy of celebration. Such and unfortunate state of events” she sadly stated. It was true, Selatapura was one of the most contested cities in Usea. It was only a few years between wars and the city had a long memory.

 

She studied the fireworks with him,

“My parents used to watch the fireworks with me all the time” she said absently. “I don’t think they appreciated it as much as I did. But it was one of the few times I felt like a kid after we became apart of the royal family”

Trigger moved his attention to Cossette. He watched silently as she remembered happier times, were the world was still at a relative peace and she was still a young innocent girl who knew nothing of the horrors that man can inflict on each other.

 

For the time they both sat silently and observed as the fireworks display fizzled out and ended in a grand finale. And with the grand finale came one other surprise to Trigger. A kiss on his cheek from Cossette.

He looked at her somewhat taken aback. She then realized what happened and started to get flustered herself. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have done that!” she exclaimed.

“Cossette, it’s alright. I was just expecting dinner first” Trigger teased softly back. This was rewarded with a smirk from the Princess.

“Well, I did already get you dinner first” she responded in kind, sliding her way under Triggers arm and wrapping her arms around him.

“Trigger, one last thing. Can you spend the night?”