Chapter 4

 FOUR

The evening was cool, the sun was just starting to set, making the marble of the obelisk in the center of the park almost glow. The mid-afternoon rainstorms had subsided leaving a glossy look to all the buildings.

Trigger hated it.

The location Avril had provided him lead him to a park just outside of the financial district of Selatapura, next to a university campus.

Trigger wasn’t too sure what to expect, His entire day just had felt off, It felt like it had been years since Trigger had any down time to do anything, even on his days off in the weeks previous he would generally spend in his room reading or working out, only leaving the Airbase once to a local convenience store the ODF personnel frequented. Never one for fashion, Trigger spent his morning clothes shopping, resulting in his current attire of Jeans, a T-shirt and his leather A2 jacket.

Trigger looked down at his watch,

1723

The military officer in him made him habitually early to everything, but realizing he had time, and taking in the nice cool evening, Trigger found a park bench and decided to people watch.

He was surprised on how normal everything felt. Not two months ago, there was fighter jets dueling in the skies above, while tanks and armored personnel carriers ruled the streets. Now people went about their day as if nothing happened.

Usea had been no stranger to conflict, from the insurrections in 1995, the coup d’état in 1998 or the Continental War after the Ulysses planetfall, the people knew war all to well. Trigger supposed that is what made them so easily adaptable to returning to their pre-war lives. He chuckled at the thought

“For us, the day we came as liberators was the most important time of our lives. For them it was Tuesday” Trigger said to himself.

He watched as rowdy college students made their way out of lecture halls, and businessmen in their suits and briefcases moved like a herd towards the parking structures around the plaza. Had it not been for the Space Elevator dominating the skyline, Trigger could have sworn it could be any major city in Osea.

 

“Wow, I didn’t actually believe her when she said you’d be here this early” a voice behind him spoke

Startled, Trigger jumped up and hovered his hand above his hip, the A2 not only provided the practical use as a warm garment, it also aided in concealing the Glock 26 subcompact handgun that Trigger was concealing. One of the two concessions he had to make for going out by himself.

It took him a moment to recognize the girl in front of him. Trigger wasn’t sure what exactly he expected, she was wearing a hoodie, sunglasses and capris jeans, She looked like she could have blended in seamlessly with any of the sorority girls milling around the park.

“Cossette” he said,  

“The one and only” She said, walking to Trigger and giving him a hug, Trigger taken aback awkwardly patted her on the back in response, still not convinced he wasn’t walking into a trap.

 

“So, Im glad Avril actually found you, I am not going to lie and say I wasn’t hurt that you didn’t leave a number or anything to call you by!” Cossette said playfully.

“Well, I actually don’t have a cellphone, And I cant really have you calling the base” Trigger awkwardly responded.

The answer made her giggle.

“So, shall we go?” she asked

“Uh, Yeah. Where too?”

“Dunno, we could go walk around the shopping district if you would like?”

“Sure? Lead the way?” Trigger stammered, offering Cossette his arm.

 

Though he had seen the City plenty of times from the cockpit, Trigger was still next to useless knowing where anything was in the city, compounded with the fact he couldn’t read most of the signage lead to him being at Cossette’s mercy as they walked their way to one of the shopping plaza’s

 

“So, Trigger, is this the first time you’ve been to Selatapura?” Cossette asked as they walked.

“Not exactly, I was here once before but didn’t stay too long” Trigger explained,

he wasn’t exactly lying, but he had only been in Selatapuran airspace all of forty-three minutes from start to finish, most of the time was spent acting as SEAD and then air escort. For his trouble he had found himself a new home in Zapland.

 

“I see, My Parents took me here a few times before the IUN took Selatapura over, its really improved over the past few years!” Cossette explained, Trigger noted a slight hint of sadness in her voice.

“Yeah, I wanted to see the Space Elevator back when I was a student, but evidently I haven’t made the time. Now if I’m being entirely honest, I don’t think I want anything to do with it!” Trigger said with a sigh.

the couple continued their walk arm in arm for a time in silence, taking in the sunset.

 

“So, If you don’t mind my asking, what exactly do you do now?” Trigger spoke up.

“Thankfully I have many advisors who have been able to handle the day to day, I was busy with the refugee camp but even that has been taken care of now. So, most of my day is just trying to act as a manager more than a ruler.” Cossette said

“So, what were you doing before all of this started Trigger?” Cossette asked,

“Not much to be entirely honest, I was assigned to a base that was known more for its surfing than any combat related stuff” Trigger replied, remembering the seven weeks he was assigned to Fort Grays. He had arrived the second to last week in April and was shipped off to Oured for a kangaroo court-martial the first week of June.

It had been nice while it lasted.

“I see, Sorry I guess you can’t share a whole lot, can you?” Cossette replied sheepishly

“Don’t worry about it. Honestly if we can talk about anything other than my flying that would be great” Trigger reassured her.  

The two had arrived to the entrance of the district, Trigger was taken aback with how quaint it seemed, in spite of the large glass windows advertising each shops specialty, the red tiled roofs and rustic motif along one of the many rivers that went through the city gave the entire place a cozy feel.

As Trigger and Rosa walked through the many shops, Trigger noticed he was actually at ease with the situation. He wasn’t the feared fighter pilot, and Cossette wasn’t the leader of a country, they were just a young couple on, an albeit awkward, second date.

 

As the night progressed, the two stopped at a café to get dinner. As they sat and ate Trigger could hear a dull roar as a thunderstorm rolled in onto the coast off from the sea.

 

“Looks like they’re gonna get some IFR practice in tonight” Trigger quipped

“What’s that?” Cossette asked, looking up from her plate

“Ah, Sorry, pilot thing, just noticing the weather coming in. Figured any pilots flying tonight are going to have to rely on their instruments to get home”

“nerd” Cossette teased.

“Eh, Sue me. I didn’t ask for any of this” Trigger grumbled

“Oh, So your not happy with this?” Trigger asked pointedly.

 

Trigger realized his faux paus and stopped himself for a moment. It was true that his life over the past six months had been something he wasn’t expecting, the defeats as a Mage, the hell that was Spare Squadron and the all-or-nothing missions of the LRSSG, He had done more in that brief time than what most did in an entire career.

“You know what. After everything has been said and done? I’m not sure what I would have done differently. So, I guess Its not that bad in the end.” Trigger admitted, much to Cossette’s satisfaction.  

Trigger and Cossette finished their meals and continued their stroll through the district.

 

“So, I guess if we want to do this again, we need a better way of communicating right?” Trigger asked

“Wow, someone is bold today” Cossette chided playfully

“I’m a fighter pilot, comes with the territory” Trigger quipped

 

Cossette laughed softly and took his hand, leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, taking Trigger by surprise.

“Yeah, I would like that” she whispered softly in his ear.

 

“Guess we got to figure out a way to keep it secret thought… I’m not too sure how enthused my superiors will be to find out I’m in a relationship with you” Trigger said running his hand over his hair.

“I do have a burner phone I use; we could just get you an actual phone and use a fake name?” Cossette recommended.

Trigger thought about it for a moment

“Actually, that might work. Is there a cellphone store here?” Trigger asked

“Is there a Cellphone store around here? Look around Trigger” Cossette responded sarcastically, motioning to the multiple electronics stores along the river-side.

“Ah, fair point” he replied sheepishly, causing Cossette to grin and give him another kiss.

***
Minutes later Trigger was out some money but now had a brand-new smart phone. He wondered what ever became of his old one since none of his personal effects had reached him yet, But at least for the time being he had a way to contact Cossette.
 
“So, What should I put your name in as?” Trigger asked, punching in Cossette’s contact info.

Cossette thought for a moment

“Why not Elizabeth?” She mused

“Ok, any particular reason?” He asked, typing in the name

“Well its not like we can use my actual name, or my original pseudonym I went to school under, Elizabeth seems innocuous enough” Cossette rationalized.

“Fair enough. Huh, kind of feels like I’m in high school again” Trigger noted sarcastically.

“How long has that been Trigger?” Cossette questioned

Trigger thought a moment, making sure to count on his fingers.

“Five years? Let’s see, I graduated at seventeen, took four years of college, another year of flight school, and I am about to turn twenty-three. So, around five-ish years?” Trigger described.

“Cradle robber” Cossette teased.

“Hey, you’re the one who hit on me!” Trigger defended himself

 

The wind had started to pick up and the weather was starting to turn sour, Trigger could feel some water hitting him as he noticed the storm had grown closer.

Just then, his Pager went off.

The second concession he had to make going out alone was that the Base Operations department issued him a pager, generally to remind him that he wasn’t authorized to stay off base and to return for final muster. He checked his watch

2116

He furrowed his brow reading the message,

“What’s wrong?” Cossette asked concerned.

“Don’t know, just a mass recall notice. I guess I have to cut this short again” He said disappointed.

“Well you do have a job to do, just make sure you actually call me again.” Cossette said in jest, kissing Trigger again.

“Of course, I’m sure its just because of the rain” He reassured her, giving her a hug.

 

He had seen the message before; He was sure it wasn’t because of the storm.

***

Trigger made his way to the location his Pager had directed him to. Waiting to greet him was a handful of armed Security Forces and the other Osean personnel who had the Friday off and received the same notice.

“So, any guess what this is about?” Said a man who walked up next to Trigger, looking over Trigger recognized him as a C-17 Pilot with the callsign of ‘SMIR’, though no one could quite figure out what that meant.

“Don’t know, I got the same recall you did” Trigger replied.

The Lieutenant in charge of the Security Forces quickly read off the list of names and confirming that all personnel were present and accounted for, directed them into a set of Vans for the ride back into the base.

The ride was silent the way back, Trigger noticed the rainstorm getting progressively worse as they got closer to the base.

The storm had let up just as the vans were pulling into the Base, where they were greeted by more armed Security Forces Airmen. Once they departed, the Pilots were directed to go to their bar and wait for further instructions. As Trigger noticed that multiple aircraft were absent on the ramp as he made his way across.

Trigger could see one of the Air Battle Managers, Sky Catcher standing outside of the squadron’s bar. He had only met her a handful of times, only nearing middle age the thirty-eight-year old’s once brunette hair had turned prematurely grey. She looked up at the Trigger and SMIR, Trigger noticed her eyes were bloodshot. She held out a plastic box and directed the two pilots to put their phones inside.

“Any Idea what happened?” SMIR asked

“There was a mishap, The Colonel will brief you all once everyone is here” She replied tersely

 

Trigger took a seat at the bar and watched the Door. He watched more pilots file in, keeping account of who in the LRSSG was missing.

He had found Tailor, Skald, Huxian and Lanza quickly, but noticed Count was still absent. Huxian had been the last LRSSG pilot to return, still wearing her survival gear.

“Hey what the hell happened? Where’s Count?” Trigger walked up to her and asked.

“Im… not allowed to say much. Last I heard he’s still up there with the others.” Huxian said choking back tears.

There was a collective murmur as less and less pilots filed in.

An hour and a half after he arrived, Trigger saw Count walk in with Long Caster, both men looked exhausted. By his count only three pilots were missing, Twister, Mover and Fencer.

Count looked dazed as he slouched into one of the couches.

“Hey, what the hell is going on?” Trigger asked concerned.

Count didn’t respond, staring off in a trance.

A moment later someone called the room to attention, and the Base’s Colonel walked in.

 

Trigger could see on the Colonel’s face a pained expression. Someone had set up a step stool so the diminutive man could stand above everyone in the room and be seen by everyone.

the room fell silent as they waited for him to start.

The Colonel cleared his throat

“As many of you know, we had an incident at Twenty-one-thirty hours tonight. We can’t go into all the details but what I can share is that Major Valencia’s Tomcat was the aircraft. Search and Rescue has been dispatched and we can confirm now this is a recovery operation. Next of kin is also being notified but until that occurs, we need you all to stay here.”

The words hung in the air. Trigger felt a pit in his stomach form hearing the words ‘recovery operation’ followed by ‘next of kin’.

“What the fuck happened?” A pilot near the back of the room asked.

The Colonel eyed through the room before giving up on who asked, It was a question on everyone’s mind, and would be the subject of a board later on.

The Colonel Sighed. “We will need to wait for the board to convene. No use in speculating right now” he answered.

 

Trigger was still reeling with the news. He had been no stranger to death. During the war, outside of a handful of pilots, he had lost count of how many people he had flown with who had been killed in combat or in accidents. Even in flight-training at Heirlark there were fatalities. Aviation was dangerous and everyone knew the risk, it was the mantra he would repeat to himself every time he saw an accident report.

He found very little comfort in those words now.

 

He found an unoccupied couch and slumped into it. Off in a corner he could see the Salamander Squadron members discussing the news amongst themselves. The collective daze was broken by the dull roar overhead. Trigger walked out and saw the navigation lights of what he assumed to be a DC-10 pass by.

“They’re a slurry bomber” a somber voice said behind him. Turning around Trigger could see it was Long Caster. “We called them in when we got confirmation about the crash site. There was already a small enough fire that started, thankfully most of the area was pretty damp already so it should be extinguished by the morning.”.

***
Trigger woke to a consistent beeping next to him, rolling over he found the offending object to be his wrist watch’s alarm that he set hours prior. It took his bleary eyes a moment to adjust before he could read the blue LCD display.

0830

0830

His mental fog and exhaustion made it take him longer then usual to mentally calculate exactly how little sleep he had gotten. Sliding out of bed Trigger found a rumpled, but still clean pair of ABU pants and his belt throwing both over his shoulder, his next stop in his room was to the coffee maker, quickly finding a bag of instant coffee he tore the top off and poured it into the machine and hit the ON button.

Continuing his morning routine, he made his way to the shower, hoping that it would be enough to bring him back to an alert state.

At least we get to stay in private rooms this time Trigger thought to himself.

The Oseans upon taking the Selatapura Airport as their base of operations, consequently captured one of the hotels that had surrounded the airport as its residential building, while some troops stayed on the airbase in makeshift barracks, all the remaining Pilots and remaining administrative staff were assigned rooms in the hotel dubbed by its guests as ‘Casa Del Oured’.

Trigger finished his morning shower feeling somewhat better and finished getting dressed in his Airman Battle Uniform. Pouring the coffee into a mug, he noticed his Cellphone had a notification on it.

He smiled when he opened it, seeing it was a ‘Good morning’ from Cossette. He quickly shot back a reply and sighed, starting to second guess himself on if the wording was bad or not.

Really how hard is it to misconstrue ‘good morning’? He thought to himself as he made his way out of the room.

 

By the time Trigger reached his office, he saw his phone had another notification.

Is everything OK?

He thought about his response before typing.  Will tell you if I can later.

The aircrews had been released once Twister’s family was notified. Trigger pushed the thought of how they were doing out of his head, it was just too painful for him. Instead he dwelled on if he even could tell Cossette what had happened.

He sighed in defeat at the ramifications his newfound relationship was starting to uncover.

Trigger got into his office later than he usually did. The generally chaotic atmosphere of the hangar was noticeably subdued today. By now the news had spread, No one knew what happened, but the theories were at every water cooler and shop.

Trigger paused when he passed Twister’s office. It still doesn’t feel real yet. he thought shaking his head.

 

Opening the door to his office, Trigger was startled to see the bases Colonel sitting behind his desk

“Oh Sir, good Morning!” Trigger stammered.

The Colonel smiled sadly and waived his hand, standing up out of the chair.

“No need for that Trigger, I’m the intruder here. Just shut the door behind you.”

Trigger did as instructed and the Colonel motioned to an empty chair, sitting back down behind Trigger’s desk.

“Take a seat Trigger, we have a fair bit to discuss and I don’t really care for the formalities at this time” The Colonel continued, waiting for Trigger to take a seat, the Colonel took a moment to study the pilot.

“Trigger, do you know how many pilots we have at this base currently?” He asked.

Trigger thought a moment, before responding.

“Sir, currently we have three assigned to the 124^th, another four in the 122^nd, the crews of the two supporting AWACS and another Twenty-two pilots in the mixed Salamander Squadron.” Trigger responded. The Colonel nodded satisfied with the answer.

“As you know, evidently I am short staffed with field grade officers at the moment. On top of losing a good pilot and a good man, I am also now short an acting Group commander of the Airwing you just described.” The Colonel explained. “I’ve read your file Trigger, and despite all the black ink there is one thing that it seems to point to, you seem to have this aura about you that people just follow you into hell itself. What that phrase the Pilots were throwing around ‘Stick with Trigger and you’ll make it’?”.

Trigger nodded in slight embarrassment. It was a phrase that had been coined while he was assigned to the Spare squadron, that still followed him after his incarceration. Though he wouldn’t admit it, Trigger secretly hated that his Squadron used it. To him, it was just extra responsibility if someone were to follow him, it almost killed Count on their suicidal run under the Elevator, something he was furious about until Count reported his survival.

“So Trigger, what I’m trying to get at here is, your uniform is unfitting of your rank” The Colonel said in jest, motioning Trigger to stand at attention, he walked over and pulled out a pocket knife, removing the sewn on ranks on Triggers collar, he stepped back.

“I need a new Group Commander, and I’m picking you for that slot. As of now, you have been promoted to Major, and will report directly to me. You will probably need these.” He explained, pulling out of his pocket and tossing across the desk two metal ranks. Trigger looked at them for a second, realizing that they were those of a Major.

“Sir, what happens to my squadron?” Trigger asked.

“Well, it was never yours to begin with. That being said, I am planning on having Count be Strider’s new number one, I trust you to balance the rest out.” The Colonel chastised, standing up and walking to the door. “Until someone with more tin on my uniform says otherwise, or you die, consider yourself the newest Field Grade in the air force. Congratulations Major.” He said, before walking out of the room.