Chapter 12

 TWELVE

Cossette sat across from Trigger, sipping a cup of coffee and reading the news on her phone. The small café the two were at had been a regular meeting place. Far enough away from the city and the base for them to not be recognized, and quiet enough to give the two a brief reprieve.

“So has Troy been giving you any grief lately?” Trigger asked

“Nothing recently, I think he learned his place after our talk a few weeks ago.”

“I see” Trigger said quietly, studying Cossette. He noticed her demeanor was terse, as opposed to her generally carefree attitude he had been used to.

“Is something bothering you? Did something happen at work?” Trigger asked concerned

He could see the question caught her slightly off guard, she furrowed her brow as she formulated her response.

“its just, some things are coming up and… I want to know where we will be standing on them” She said quickly.

Trigger leaned forward and gently took Cossette’s hand, looking her directly in the eye.

“Whatever it is, we can go through it together right?” He said reassuringly, a line that had worked for him in the past.

“Except this time, I don’t know if its that simple!” She shot back. Trigger had been surprised at the outburst.

“Should we talk about this elsewhere?” He suggested,

Cossette took a ragged breath and shook her head, wiping a tear from her eye. “I just don’t know anymore Trigger” she softly said. Trigger got out of his chair to comfort her.

A moment later, she lifted her head and took a breath to compose herself, looking at Trigger through teary eyes, she weakly smiled.

“Maybe we should talk more at home about this” she said quietly.

The two made their way back to Trigger’s apartment silently, hand in hand. Though he didn’t try to outwardly show it, Trigger had been shaken by the conversation at the café. Cossette and him had talked on multiple occasions through the small issues any couple faced, but they were always able to come to an understanding fairly quickly. Something about Cossette’s concern seemed different to him, and not knowing was gnawing at him more than he would like to admit.

Reaching the door, Trigger fumbled with the lock for a moment before successfully opening the door.

“Sorry” he said halfheartedly, holding the door open for Cossette.

“Can I make you some tea or something?” he offered, walking into the kitchen.

“No thank you Trigger” she said tiredly, taking a seat at the dining table.

“Can I now ask what is bothering you so much?” Trigger asked.

Cossette didn’t answer for a second, instead turning to look out the apartments window. “They secured Farbanti from the Radicals” She said

“Well isn’t that a good thing?”

“It is, but my Advisors want to see me move our government back to Farbanti, before the anniversary.”

Trigger thought for a moment, it was almost a month until the first anniversary of the Osean-Erusean war began, while a tenuous cease fire was signed between Cossette and the Osean Government, no formal treaty was signed due to the civil war that broke out after the Osean’s invaded the Erusean capital of Farbanti.

“so how soon are they talking?” he asked, leaning on the counter

“Beginning of next month.” She admitted.

Trigger sighed. “I see why you asked ‘where do we stand’ then. Aren’t you happy you will get to go home though?”

Cossette glared at him, he could see the pain in her eyes, it made him feel awful.

“What home to go to Trigger? I thought this-” she motioned around the apartment “­- was our home” she concluded, distraught.

Trigger stood in silence for a moment, “My contract is up in a year” he started,

“No rule says I have to recommission, even with the promotions they gave me. Once I get out, we can stop worrying about where I would be moving too. Besides my Squadron is based in Usea anyways, odds are we’d be fairly close by. Think you could wait a year?” Trigger explained

“Wait for wait?” She said wiping a tear from her eye
Trigger walked over to her and embraced her “Well you know, for us to be an actual couple. None of us having to hide that we know each other. This is not something we should be ashamed of” he said.

He could see a slight smile form on her face

“Rosa Cossette D’Elise, I love you and there isn’t a damn thing anyone could do to stop that” he said, kissing her on the forehead.

“Trigger you really make it sound easy, don’t you?” Cossette said, burying her face into his chest.

“What do you mean?”

She took a step back “We knew this was going to be an up-hill battle from the start, but you just make it sound like everyone from both our countries will just be OK with that. Some of my people are still fighting yours. I don’t know if any of that ill will can disappear within a year, let alone overnight.”

“I know. Believe me, I know.” Trigger admitted.

“I wonder what would have happened if this damned war didn’t start” she said

“Hard telling, I’d probably be sipping mojitos on the beach somewhere” Trigger smiled

“And I’d probably be dealing with my Mother setting me up on blind dates with members of high society” she said bashfully

“Oh, and I wouldn’t be ‘high society’ enough for her?” he said in mock defensiveness

Cossette smiled shaking her head. “Not nearly enough, unless your last name was Beckett, Lawrence or something like that”

“Too bad. I think I’m way cooler as a fighter pilot boyfriend than any of those dweebs” he said, making Cossette giggle.

***

The bases operations commanders sat around the conference table. Trigger as the flight operations group commander, Captain Boese overseeing the maintenance, Major Santos in charge of the base’s security, and finally Colonel Byrns and his executive officer Lieutenant Colonel Curtis.

“Gentlemen-” Byrns started “I would like to say first and foremost I come bearing good news from Command. General Shepard informed me this morning that the IUN has finally gotten off their asses to send us some relief. Which means many of you will be going home, or at least back to your bases in Usea”

With that announcement, a tired cheer went across the room.

“What will become of the Airbase?” Boese asked

“The IUN is keeping it as a forward operating position right now, just due to its strategic importance around the Elevator. Relief units should be showing up within the next week and a full rotation with a few exceptions will occur by the end of June.” Byrns replied satisfied.

“When can we let the men know?” Santos asked.

“Immediately. I’m sure they all loved their R&R in Selatapura but the vacation on Oured’s dime is over. I’m sure they will be happy to see their families again” Byrns answered.

Trigger nodded at the news, not sure what to make of it.

“Aside from that good news, now down to the brass tacks. How is each department doing? Trigger lets start with aviation ops”

“Yes sir” Trigger quickly said, he opened his prepared notes and cleared his throat.

“Current status of the Selatapura Joint Air Wing is as follows. This past week we had two incidents that effected mission readiness–“

“And those incidents were Trigger?” Byrns asked

Trigger sighed “On the eighteenth of the month, Lieutenant Garza, currently assigned as a Mudhen wizzo was detained by Base security forces for disorderly conduct. He has been counselled and is currently off flight status for the time being per my order.” Trigger tried in vain to undersell the situation. In reality, the wayward WSO, short for Weapons System Officer, had gotten belligerently drunk with his pilot, Lieutenant Nguyen. The two stumbled onto base in the dead of night, and when one of Major Santos’ men tried to apprehend them, Garza in a drunken shamble bum-rushed the Security Forces Airman. A baton beating, two black eyes, a bruised rib and one Taser cartridge later, Garza was calling Trigger’s phone at three in the morning at the behest of Major Santos to explain his side of the situation.

 

Trigger could feel Santos’ eyes bore into him, despite her short stature and generally unassuming appearance, he couldn’t help but feel slightly intimidated by the Hispanic woman’s ferocity when it came to her job. He couldn’t blame her for being upset either. Garza, in spite of his inebriated state, had successfully held his own against three of her Airmen before going down. Had it happened in any other time, he would have been on the first plane back to a desk job in Osea with a dead-end job and a demotion. Instead now, Garza was now stuck on bed rest under guard. Moron got off easy Trigger thought to himself as he finished his first report.

 

“And what of the second incident Trigger?”

 

“Yes sir, this one is a fresh one, so I don’t have all the details available. About zero-four-thirty-six this morning, AWACS Long Caster did pick up a primary track on the long-range radar. The target was a fast mover, low to the deck and about one hundred and sixty miles off the coast over the bay. It resembled the same kind of contact we saw back in December. CAP was deployed to intercept. Sixteen miles away from the target the lead aircraft, a Rhino flown by Lieutenant Allison experienced a Loss of Thrust in the right engine. The flight broke off the intercept and returned to base, by the time my crew made it back they had entirely lost the right engine and was on emergency systems for the hydraulics.”

“Anything you would like to add Captain Boese? This does sound like your department” Colonel Byrns motioned.

Boese nodded “Yes sir, with the ops tempo Trigger has had, we have just about burned through all the spare parts we got off the Anderson before the Navy kicked us out. We are just trying to make do to repair Jets that really should have gone back to the depot six months ago” he explained.

“Good news Tim, your going to get your wish pretty soon” Curtis quipped laconically.

 

The meeting had ended without too many more incident reports that stood out.

“Trigger, if you could stay behind a moment” Byrns asked, watching the other department heads leave

“Something I can help you with sir?”

“I wasn’t entirely forthright with you but since this affects your department, and more importantly you, directly I do have something else to tell you. Oured is moving the LRSSG back to Osea next week.”

The news hit Trigger like a freight train

“Any news on why that is exactly?” Trigger asked

Byrns shrugged “Of course it boils down to ‘Needs of the Service’. Word is since the communications networks went down, Leasath is starting some shit with their neighbors, and Command wants the LRSSG ready incase it goes hot.”

It was almost a textbook operation for the Long-Range Strategic Strike Group – even being in the name. It made sense to Trigger that Osea’s investment in the group would extend past Usea’s borders.

Trigger nodded in understanding.

“Will our relief arrive before that?” Trigger asked

“Yes, we are expecting the relief group this Friday. The 22^nd Composite Wing out of Fort Grays” Byrns said

Trigger sat in silence for a moment. He was more familiar with the Twenty Second wing than he would like to admit.

The wing was a joint unit between the Osean Maritime Defense Force’s VFA 506, an F/A-18F squadron otherwise known as ‘Golem’, and the 508^th TFS, an F-16C Squadron known as ‘Mage’. Based out of Fort Grays, the wing scored some of the first victories against Erusea in the opening days of the war. They were also held responsible for one of the greatest losses early on in the war.

After that incident, Trigger had lost track of the unit. It had been over half a year since he had actively thought of them. He felt a twinge of guilt at the thought. His tenure at Mage Two had been brief, but Golem and Mage had seen him through his earliest engagements of the war. He was elated to hear the organizations even survived past his incident.

“Do we have a roster on whose joining us?” Trigger asked

“Unfortunately no, the Leadership over at the twenty-second has yet to send it over. Say, weren’t you attached to the Five-oh-eight?” Byrns asked

“Yes sir, just wondering if my old flight lead was still with them” Trigger answered truthfully. 

Byrns nodded in understanding. “I see, well when I get the roster, I’ll forward it to your departments way. Make sure all your continuity paperwork is in order, or don’t and be like every other asshole I had to take over for” Byrns concluded, exiting the room.

 

Trigger sat alone in his office thinking.

Wonder what he’d even say to me now? He wondered.

***

Trigger sat in the smoke-filled squadron bar staring at the basket of hot wings in front of him. The atmosphere was shockingly celebratory despite the island chain being bombed hours prior.

He felt a pat on his back “Good work up there Trigger” a male voice said, Trigger turned to see his flight lead, Clown, taking a seat next to him. Clown set down his mug of beer and plate of food and pulled out two cylinders from his pocket “Cigar?” he offered Trigger.

Trigger politely took the stogie and studied it, while his flight lead pulled out a cutter and lit his own cigar.

Taking a few puffs, Clown put the cigar down and looked to Trigger. “Guess that was your first time, Right?”

“Yes Sir” Trigger said

“Knock it off with that ‘Sir’ shit. Would ya? I’m beginning to wonder if we shouldn’t have called you ‘Tulsa’ instead” Clown chided.

“Understood, the only ‘dogfighting’ I have done was BFM in the Tigers at Heierlark. Kinda different when the missiles and bullets are not simulations” Trigger said.

“Eh, for what its worth, my only prior experience is going through RED FLAG a few times, I think our Aggressor squadrons were worse than these chicken-shit Eruseans” Clown explained.

“I guess I’m surprised the Eruseans made the first move” Clown continued, taking a bite of his food.

“What do you mean?” Trigger asked

“They had their asses handed to them last time around by ISAF. Can’t imagine what they were thinking kicking a bear like Osea awake like that will do them.” Clown explained.

There was a slight commotion at the bar that caught Trigger and Clowns attention, from what Trigger could see, it was between Knocker, and two women he didn’t recognize.

“Fucking squids” Clown muttered. Squid was a derogatory term amongst the Air Force pilots to refer to their Navy brethren.

“What do you mean?” Trigger asked

“The Major over there, Knocker, is a subscriber to the ‘Girlfriend of the Month’ club. Command lets him get away with starting that kind of shit because he has the most recent air victories around here. Bet that’s going to change with this war”

“Hey Everyone, Shut the hell up!” A Pilot called out, turning up the sound on one of the Televisions

“-The Kingdom of Erusea has declared war on the Osean Federation.” A female news caster from the Osean Broadcasting Channel read out. A cheer went out across the bar with the news.

“The Secretary of the Navy has stated the enemy was targeting naval ports across the country. According to the Secretary, all of the nation’s Aircraft carriers – including ones still under construction – sustained severe damage in the attacks. We have yet to hear back from the department to the fate of carrier’s underway overseas” the OBC news caster continued.

“Well the Albatross Isn’t going anywhere! That’s for damn sure!” A Navy pilot yelled at the TV. The Osean carrier moored in the Fort Grays harbor had been hit. Thankfully most of the Crew had been off the ship so injuries and deaths had been limited. It still didn’t stop the ship from sinking into the mud of the harbor.

“We’ll get them back for that! You’ll be sure of that!” Knocker yelled out to a joyous applause.

Clown and Trigger sat at the back of the bar and watched the scene unfold.

“And here I was hoping for a low-key assignment” Trigger said mournfully.

“Don’t worry too much about that Trigger. Just listen to Knocker or me and we will get you through this in once piece.” Clown reassured him.

“So, Trigger, you and Brownie going to hook up now or something?” Clown asked slyly.

Trigger choked on his food at the question, coughing violently for a second

“what now?” he asked

“Damn, ‘Tusla’ really should have been your callsign.” Clown joked “That girl definitely has a thing for you” He continued.

“What the hell is ‘Tusla’ anyways though?” Trigger said, dodging the question

“Total Utter Lack of Situational Awareness, in other words. You around women apparently” Clown explained.  

“I don’t date coworkers” Trigger said flatly

“Oh, come on! Live a little! And besides, it might be fun to watch the breakup!” Clown defended himself.

“That’s a bit sadistic Clown” Trigger said.

“Eh, comes with the territory when your happily divorced” Clown said, splaying out his fingers.

“In that case maybe I shouldn’t be taking advice from you regarding my love life” Tigger said sarcastically.

“So be it Tulsa” Clown said despondent

“Can we please just keep it to Trigger?” Trigger asked

“Fine, you’re just no fun, are you Trigger?” Clown said jokingly.

Another cheer went across the Bar

“What now?” Clown asked, Cigar implanted in the corner of his mouth,

The TV had turned to The Erusean News Network, “-striking Farbanti from their aircraft carrier the Kestrel II. After a brutal battle, the Air Force successfully repelled them” the ENN caster said

Jeers could be heard from the Navy pilots as jokes were tossed from their Air Force counter parts.

“During the air raid, the Osean Air Force fired missiles at the city, and shot down a number of Erusean fighters” the caster continued while stock footage of an Osean Navy F/A-18F ‘Super Hornet’ played on screen.

“Fuckers don’t even know what a Rhino is!” Knocker yelled out at the TV.

Trigger tapped Clown on the shoulder “Is this normal?” he asked

Clown nodded “You should have seen these guys back in oh… fourteen or fifteen? When stuff was still going hot with the IUN and a few F.E hold-outs.”

“Must have been something to see” Trigger said, taking a sip from his diet cola.

***
Trigger was engulfed in the memory. as he sat in his apartment waiting. He hated himself for having to be vague over text to her, but he felt like he was out of options.  It wasn’t even a year ago him and Clown had that conversation, a dumb know-nothing Lieutenant and a somewhat sarcastic Captain. Now Trigger was regarding as an ace of aces and had his own Group to contend with.

Now I have to break this to Cossette, but how? Trigger asked himself.  

There was a brief rap at the door. Trigger rushed the door open and was greeted by a visibly concerned looking Cossette. “Trigger, what is going on?” she asked setting down her things on the counter.

Trigger sighed “I just got orders to return to Osea”

“How soon?” Cossette asked

“Monday.”

“So where does that leave us?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk about. I still have at least a year left on my contract with them, so it may be a while before I can come back to you” Trigger said mournfully

“Is there nothing you can do to stay?”

“I don’t know, me asking for a permanent assignment here will raise a few eyebrows more than likely”

“So, is this goodbye then?” Cossette asked, hugging Trigger. Trigger held her closely

“I don’t know” he whispered to the crying Cossette.

“Do you think you can stand being in a long-distance relationship with your secret boyfriend?” Trigger asked slyly, attempting to lighten the mood.

Cossette smiled, wiping a tear from her eye “I don’t know Trigger, I am one of the worlds most eligible bachelorettes at the moment. I’m sure I will have suitors lined up at the door while you’re gone.”

“Hey now, just remember your fighter pilot boyfriend is still way cooler than any of those guys could ever be” Trigger said Cooley

“Are you sure? I mean I hear some of them do have quite the estates to their names.” Cossette said

“But can any of them pull nine G’s in a dog fight?” Trigger defended.

“No, and I bet they don’t kiss quite as good as you do either” Cossette said seductively, leaning in and kissing Trigger.

“Well I guess we do have a few days to make it count before I have to leave” Trigger said, kissing Cossette again.

***
Cossette and Trigger laid in the bed breathless

“I’m really going to miss this when your gone” Cossette said exhausted

“I mean it’s only a year, right? We can totally wait that long” Trigger replied, catching his breath

Cossette hugged his arm, “I know, but a lot can change in a year. Can you honestly say you were the same person twelve months ago as you are today?”

“I mean, Yeah I guess your right but, we wont change all that much will we?” Trigger asked.

“As long as we don’t have any more wars the fight that is” Cossette said, her voice trailing off.

 Trigger took her hand “Hey now, don’t talk like that, you’re going to jinx it.”

“Did they say where your unit would be sent to?” Cossette asked

“Not sure exactly.” Trigger lied. He hated to admit it, but some things he simply couldn’t tell Cossette, even if he trusted her.

“I mean it doesn’t matter, because in a years’ time, we can be right back to this” Trigger reassured her.

Cossette leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “At least for now-“ She began “-we can stay exactly like this, no Erusea, no Osea, no Military, just us.” She said lovingly.

 ***
Trigger and the rest of the LRSSG stood under the wing of an F-15 on the flight line staring out towards the runway. Count walked over, lit cigarette in his hand.

“Come on man, put that out” Trigger chided.

“Why? I thought you didn’t mind smoking” He said, obnoxiously blowing smoke in Triggers face.

“Smoking I don’t care for, but I really don’t care when its next to a 750-gallon gas can.”

“Oh” Count said, tossing the cigarette to the ground and stomping it out with his boot.

“Jesus I’m surrounded by tobacco addicts” Trigger muttered to himself.

“I think I see them!” Huxian called out, jumping from the wing and handing Trigger a pair of binoculars.

Trigger searched the air around the approach end for a moment “Where, I’m not seeing them”

Huxian sighed annoyed and pointed in the direction, north east of the Airport.

“Looks like a large flight, Vipers and Hornets” Fencer called out.

“Weird, I didn’t think there were any mixed units like that anymore” Lanza said surprised

“They’re a Joint Composite Wing.” Trigger explained “So Navy is flying the Hornets, Air Force has the Vipers. Kinda works out since Fort Grays is a joint base between the two services”

“You seem to know a bit about them, was there a briefing we missed on this?” Skald asked.

“Oh, mister trivia annoyed someone knows more useless facts than he does?” Lanza said jokingly punching the other pilot in the arm.

“Cool it you two, its just that I have a bit of experience with the twenty-second is all” Trigger explained.

“Considering all the black ink on your record, they must be good” Fencer said.

“Something like that” Trigger’s voice trailing off as he watched the fighters make their way in.

 

Trigger could see the standard show-of-force maneuver the replacements were doing. In a front flying V formation made up of five F/A-18 Super Hornets, and behind them, still within the confines of the flying V was a diamond four ship of F-16 Vipers. Trigger could see flanking them was the two F-35’s from Salamander Squadron he had assigned to bring them in.

To Triggers surprise, instead of doing a standard over head break, the flight went on their way towards the city.

“What the hell are they doing?” Huxian asked

“Probably doing a city fly over. Its been a while since they were in town” Trigger replied.

***
General Shepard walked leisurely down the corridor morning coffee in hand, reading the recent reports on a tablet from the Erusean Civil war.

He could hear the frantic clack of footsteps behind him, He turned to see his frantic adjutant, Major Carter behind him. “Sir, we have a call you need to take right now!” Carter said out of breath.

“What the hell is it for? Eruseans set off a nuke?” Shepard asked annoyed.

“Not a clue sir, but its coming through the direct diplomatic line” Carter explained

The Diplomatic line was a concept Shepard loathed. It was a phone line that connected to both the Loyalist Erusean government, as well as his own. The Idea being that in the event of some miscommunications through standard communication lines, they would be resolved quickly with the diplomatic line. The Osean President and Yuktobanian Premier had a similar line set up following the Circum-Pacific War.

Shepard scratched his salt and pepper mustache

“Fine, I will take it in my office”

***
Trigger watched the fighters land one after another, A flood of memories washed over him as he saw the letters ‘FG’ Adorning the tails of the aircraft.

The Fort Grays aircraft made an elephant walk as they taxied in. one after another they marshalled in and parked, ramp personnel running wild securing the jets as their pilots ran their shutdown checklists.

It struck Trigger, that had things gone differently, there was a very real chance he could still have been one of them at that moment.

Of course, their first mission in Selatapura changed all of them. Trigger saw one of the Viper pilots step off from the aircraft, He jogged over from the shade to greet them.

The young woman was talking with a crew chief when Trigger approached her. He didn’t recognize her but judging from her rank of Lieutenant, he imagined she could probably have been his replacement.

“Is there something you need Major?” She asked annoyed, Trigger looked at her name patch ‘IRIS’

“Ok, Rude. Where’s the captain in the unit?” Trigger questioned. He made a mental note to talk to the young lieutenant later on the importance of first impressions later. She rolled her eyes and made a thumbing motion down the flight line; Trigger could see a small huddle of pilots forming up.

Trigger excused himself and made his way towards the group of pilots, he could see Count and Huxian jogging up to walk with him.

“Damn you’re on a mission today aren’t you Trigger” Count said

“You know, someone I kinda want to see” Trigger giddily replied

“Well your better off with your wingman just in case” Huxian said cheerfully.

“Jesus, are you two going to be like that the entire way back to Osea?” Trigger asked

“Only in front of you Trigger” Count quipped.

Trigger rolled his eyes.

***
Shepard picked up the phone

“This is Shepard, to whom am I speaking?” he asked annoyed

“General Shepard this is Ambassador Applegate -” the man on the other line started Fucking politician, Figures, Shepard thought to himself.

The General listen intently at the politician’s request.

“Ambassador, your going to have to give my people some time to find this particular officer. I oversee about twenty different bases and at least twice as many different squadrons”

“Just get it done General. We don’t want to keep her waiting”

Shepard hung up the phone annoyed. “Carter!” He bellowed, the portly Major rushed in. “Yes Sir?” Shepard handed him a scrap of paper with a name scrawled on it “Find me this guy and get their reassignment paperwork drawn up.” Shepard ordered. “Right away sir!” Carter said, rushing out the door.

***
The three LRSSG pilots approached the huddle of pilots. Trigger noted the mix of patches on their shoulders, the primarily black and yellow of the Navy’s Golem squadron, and the Orange and Blue of Mage.

“Hey” Trigger spoke up getting the gathered pilot’s attention “Any idea where the captain is?” he asked

The pilots made a hole for Trigger to see the lead pilot.

The two pilots stared at each other, before the Captain closed the distance.

Within a blink of an eye, Trigger was staring down the barrel of a Berretta M9 handgun. Trigger held his hands up defensively

“Move and I blow your fucking head off” the pilot growled.