5. Alister
Spoiler
"Vanship crew, prepare for takeoff," the voice of First Assistant Sophia sounds in the hangar of the Silvana. After hearing her voice, the mechanics working at the time begin to joke.
"Wow! So Miss Sophia is now the first assistant~"
"Yeah. Hearing a woman's voice awakens a desire to work!"
"Hey, you there! This is no time for talking. Get to work!"
Chief mechanic Godwin chastises both Kostabi and Ethan, and calmly continues to work on the preparations for the vanships. Another from the chief mechanic of the Silvana was not worth the wait. In the meantime, I start checking the vanship for prelaunch. No external damage detected, the pre-launch check - fuel normal, mapping normal - all present. All that remains is to wait for Tatiana, and then we can fly at once.
"Alis, are preparations complete?"
Tataiana appears at that moment, holding her helmet. She brought a map with her. Most likely, to double-check the instructions regarding our future strategy. I have my own map, but I take Tatiana's from her hands and look it over again. For Tatiana ... no, for me, too ... this may be our first combat mission, so we need to be as collected as possible. Since the time of my dismissal from the officers' school, when Miss Sophia... or rather, now First Assistant Sophia, right? On the whole, from the time they took us board this ship, we've only participated in several reconnaissance operations, but have never been in a real battle.
Looking out from over the map, I notice the commander of the vanship squad, Michael, talking about something with Godwin. The commander points to something near the engine of his beloved vanship, named the Wine Red. Is there some kind of problem? Wait, no. It seems like some adjustments need to be corrected on the vanship. I've heard many times that when it comes to fine-tuning, the commander here has some phenomenal skills. Nevertheless, he always wished to know how things really worked. Rumor has it that one day he noticed a fault in the cylinder just by the sound alone. At least, that's what I was told. In the process of me thinking about this, Tataiana has already taken her place in the front seat and is beginning her checks.
"What is the route?" her voice suddenly sounded.
"Let's see ... the enemy seems to be moving in the direction of Rothfu. The first vanship will move through the corridor of Otranto. The rest will be occupied with the search for the enemy, so will go at different angles. Our vanship, as usual, is the sixth, therefore we shall fly in the direction of 11 o'clock."
"Understood. If the enemy is moving directly toward Otranto, contact is not going to happen along our route."
I could hear regret in Tatiana's voice. Perhaps a chance to participate in a real battle will not be presented today? Meanwhile, the preparations seem to have been completed, and the commander sent the vanship lift up. Ready to depart, we in turn also start the engine. At this point, the mechanics hurried and ran around to also start preparing for takeoff. Since we're heading out last, we have enough time to check everything over carefully. So far everything is in order.
"Okay then, forward!"
While inspecting for any possible malfunctions for the last time, I heard the voice in Tatiana's headphones. I raised my thumb, indicating that the preparation checks were passed successfully. In response, the mechanics started to push the vanship onto the lift. There was a slight bump from the contact with the surface as the vanship was placed on the lift. We climb the dark shaft, and after a moment we find ourselves on the rear deck of the ship. It's quite dark outside, the rain cold. I don't like when it rains. Because of the memories of that day. Thanks to Tatiana, I'm here now. Moreover, I can fly in a vanship. Despite not managing to finish in the officers' academy, being here is enough for me.
The rain isn't stopping, so in the meantime the mechanics are connecting the communication cable. Finally, when the work is complete, Godwin gives the signal to the commander that the last vanship is ready for takeoff. The commander gives the signal "all vanships - takeoff."
Tatiana immediately applies the full throttle. The engine starts with a low growl, and after a moment it lets out a loud roar as the vanship quickly soars into the air. This is my most favorite time. When, in spite of the communication with the ship via cable, Tatiana and I are alone in the sky. As if dropping a huge weight off of our shoulders, we become free...
Our vanship rises higher and higher as it passes the port side of the Silvana. Tatiana looks toward the bridge. I wonder what she's thinking? Maybe the fact that the path to the post of captain of the ship is now closed off to her? Or perhaps about the first assistant, Sophia? Shaking her head slightly, Tatiana spoke:
"Okay then ... forward."
She repeated her earlier words. Yes, for me everything will be good. As long as you're going there with me.
"There. Engine is normal, direction 11 o'clock."
It's pitch black and the rain is freezing. I hope our future won't be the same way.
"Wow! So Miss Sophia is now the first assistant~"
"Yeah. Hearing a woman's voice awakens a desire to work!"
"Hey, you there! This is no time for talking. Get to work!"
Chief mechanic Godwin chastises both Kostabi and Ethan, and calmly continues to work on the preparations for the vanships. Another from the chief mechanic of the Silvana was not worth the wait. In the meantime, I start checking the vanship for prelaunch. No external damage detected, the pre-launch check - fuel normal, mapping normal - all present. All that remains is to wait for Tatiana, and then we can fly at once.
"Alis, are preparations complete?"
Tataiana appears at that moment, holding her helmet. She brought a map with her. Most likely, to double-check the instructions regarding our future strategy. I have my own map, but I take Tatiana's from her hands and look it over again. For Tatiana ... no, for me, too ... this may be our first combat mission, so we need to be as collected as possible. Since the time of my dismissal from the officers' school, when Miss Sophia... or rather, now First Assistant Sophia, right? On the whole, from the time they took us board this ship, we've only participated in several reconnaissance operations, but have never been in a real battle.
Looking out from over the map, I notice the commander of the vanship squad, Michael, talking about something with Godwin. The commander points to something near the engine of his beloved vanship, named the Wine Red. Is there some kind of problem? Wait, no. It seems like some adjustments need to be corrected on the vanship. I've heard many times that when it comes to fine-tuning, the commander here has some phenomenal skills. Nevertheless, he always wished to know how things really worked. Rumor has it that one day he noticed a fault in the cylinder just by the sound alone. At least, that's what I was told. In the process of me thinking about this, Tataiana has already taken her place in the front seat and is beginning her checks.
"What is the route?" her voice suddenly sounded.
"Let's see ... the enemy seems to be moving in the direction of Rothfu. The first vanship will move through the corridor of Otranto. The rest will be occupied with the search for the enemy, so will go at different angles. Our vanship, as usual, is the sixth, therefore we shall fly in the direction of 11 o'clock."
"Understood. If the enemy is moving directly toward Otranto, contact is not going to happen along our route."
I could hear regret in Tatiana's voice. Perhaps a chance to participate in a real battle will not be presented today? Meanwhile, the preparations seem to have been completed, and the commander sent the vanship lift up. Ready to depart, we in turn also start the engine. At this point, the mechanics hurried and ran around to also start preparing for takeoff. Since we're heading out last, we have enough time to check everything over carefully. So far everything is in order.
"Okay then, forward!"
While inspecting for any possible malfunctions for the last time, I heard the voice in Tatiana's headphones. I raised my thumb, indicating that the preparation checks were passed successfully. In response, the mechanics started to push the vanship onto the lift. There was a slight bump from the contact with the surface as the vanship was placed on the lift. We climb the dark shaft, and after a moment we find ourselves on the rear deck of the ship. It's quite dark outside, the rain cold. I don't like when it rains. Because of the memories of that day. Thanks to Tatiana, I'm here now. Moreover, I can fly in a vanship. Despite not managing to finish in the officers' academy, being here is enough for me.
The rain isn't stopping, so in the meantime the mechanics are connecting the communication cable. Finally, when the work is complete, Godwin gives the signal to the commander that the last vanship is ready for takeoff. The commander gives the signal "all vanships - takeoff."
Tatiana immediately applies the full throttle. The engine starts with a low growl, and after a moment it lets out a loud roar as the vanship quickly soars into the air. This is my most favorite time. When, in spite of the communication with the ship via cable, Tatiana and I are alone in the sky. As if dropping a huge weight off of our shoulders, we become free...
Our vanship rises higher and higher as it passes the port side of the Silvana. Tatiana looks toward the bridge. I wonder what she's thinking? Maybe the fact that the path to the post of captain of the ship is now closed off to her? Or perhaps about the first assistant, Sophia? Shaking her head slightly, Tatiana spoke:
"Okay then ... forward."
She repeated her earlier words. Yes, for me everything will be good. As long as you're going there with me.
"There. Engine is normal, direction 11 o'clock."
It's pitch black and the rain is freezing. I hope our future won't be the same way.
