(October 2, 2025, Yokota Air Base, Tokyo, Japan, 0702 hrs. JST)
At the mess hall, numerous personnel were having breakfast, some of which reading newspapers that would often show the success of the mercenaries.
"Nothing like the ladies tugging everyone's heart strings back in Hokkaido." One said while reading a paper with the headline, 'Idols Graces Again'.
"That kinda feels awkward for those bucketheads." Another replied while giving names to USEA humorously. "Hey, isn't that the same area where the Infinites took down Gleipnir two days ago?"
"Yeah. They just tried to make a landing with some of their flying aces at their backs. Fortunately for us, they just stopped when the squadron scared them out of the beach."
Takeo and Itami entered the hall getting to eat while they discussed about something.
"Gleipnir, then beach landing?" Itami recalled the recent instances of USEA assault on northern Japan. "That feels like something is amiss."
"Supposedly." Takeo replied. "I kinda think they are too determined to get to Ginza and take control of the gate. Remember, there are still some soldiers out there regrouping. So we have to be very careful."
"Yeah. You're right."
The two then began to discuss an upcoming military exercise that will take place not far from the Bōsō Peninsula.
"Now, as for that drill, do you think that would be a good idea to let the girls inside the planes?" Takeo asked. "We could be encountering enemy aircraft."
"That's the problem." Itami replied. "Rory was just too eager to see how battles unfold with her own eyes. Tuka too wants to experience airborne flight. And I'm not sure how the princess would handle such maneuvers, since she was shocked the moment we do something surprising to them."
"Yeah, you maybe right. We wouldn't simply risk their lives fighting USEA while they are with us. If the other side finds out about this, an uproar within the citizenry could ignite."
"Then we have to be very cautious from now on." Itami concluded and the two continued to get their meal.
(Hangar, 0800 hrs. JST)
"Please tell me why are you dragging us into this place!" Piña demanded as the others were following Tuka to a particular hangar.
"As what she said, Tuka. Why?" Rory followed.
"Because I spotted something covered with cloth." Tuka explained. "It must be one of those 'aircraft' they told us about."
"That explains it then." Lelei responded. "Your interest would be pretty ambitious even for the standards of the citizenry."
"Well, um, thanks?"
"No need to worry. We are just as fascinated but you are much more awed by what Itami and his friends did to that black monster."
When they reached the hangar, they found the suspected covered 'aircraft' Tuka was looking for.
"I found it!" She shouted. "Help me get the cover out!"
"Better hurry up!" Rory responded. "Itami may be looking for us right now."
The girls then took hold on the front side.
"On three. One. Two. Three!"
They pulled the cover and the plane was revealed. The appearance shocked them.
"Wha...is that...even real?!" Piña asked in shock.
"But, it doesn't even have windows!" Rory followed. "How can a pilot even see?!"
"Not even a single tail." Lelei continued. "Probably this world is much more advanced than what we thought."
The plane featured no windows, no horizontal tails, a wing that is slightly pointing downwards, vertical tails that point slightly away from the craft and a central mouth in the bottom of the plane. It even featured a white coat of paint with light blue spots. This surprised the girls due to its unusual design.
"I wonder what kind of aircraft is that?" Tuka wondered. "What kind of magic does this thing do?"
Just then, footsteps was heard and the girls found the person making it. It was Goodfellow.
"You ladies found out what was inside that tarp, I suppose?" He asked.
"Yeah, we did just that." Tuka replied in embarrassment.
"Speaking of which, I believe this aircraft can fly even without windows." Rory continued. "Am I right?"
"Yes. This one is an experimental aircraft designed to test out a hardware that can enhance the pilot's capabilities."
"Then this world somehow utilized magic to create something that can help a soldier or a citizen feel better." Piña said. "I felt impressed considering how far your people went."
"Thanks your highness."
"Just what is the name of the aircraft?" Tuka requested with curiosity.
"This one is called the YR-99, codenamed 'Forneus'." Goodfellow answered.
He then began to remind the ladies of the exercise.
"Listen. Tuka, Piña, you'll be flying with the Infinite Team. Rory and Lelei can watch the exercise together near the sea. We will hold it today, so be prepared."
"Thank you very much!" Tuka thanked him with joy.
Piña began to feel uneasy.
"Ugh, why do I get the feeling that I'm getting surprised by what he said?" She said quietly in her mind. "I mean, it's just an exercise. What can go wrong?"
"That's settled then." Lelei agreed. "Rory and I will watch the exercise from a designated area. We'll be fine."
"Good." He agreed. "Everyone, report to the briefing room in a while. There is going to be a small orientation."
They nodded immediately after.
(Briefing room, 0830 hrs. JST)
The Infinite Team was waiting for Goodfellow, Akira and Reaper to arrive for their briefing regarding the military exercise.
"If you people were going to fly with the girls on board, try not to be too hard on them." Kuribayashi reminded the two men. "I don't know how they would react but something tells me that they would be scared for a while."
"We'll try." Takeo replied. "It's just an exercise. Nothing much surprising but take out dummy tanks and drones."
"Even if it's just an exercise, they probably might still get scared." Itami said to the two. "Hard maneuvering is just one of the things we might be doing."
"I had to agree with Itami on that." She replied. "Anyway, the only thing we can do is hope they come back here okay."
Just then, Reaper, Goodfellow, Akira and the girls arrived. The three pilots salutes.
"I would agree that Itami and Takeo are ready to take the girls out for a flight, right?" Akira asked with some humor.
"Uhh, yes." Itami replied.
"We're ready." Takeo followed.
"Good." Reaper responded. "Don't make them too shocked."
Goodfellow then went to the front as the others went to their seats.
"Alright, time to get started." He said as the screen flashed towards the Bōsō Peninsula. "We will be conducting a military exercise to test the UNF's ability to launch an offensive towards enemies within the coast. The Infinite Team will practice dogfighting to cover our troop's simulated advance. So don't expect much of a heated battle. Meanwhile, Lelei and Rory will be watching the battle near an outpost to see how you are doing."
He then shifted to Itami and Takeo's objective.
"Now, on to Itami and Takeo. They will be carrying Marceau and Princess Piña in their respective aircraft. Show these girls what you two can do, but please don't scare them too much if possible."
There is also one final thing Goodfellow had to say.
"While this may be an exercise, heated activity within the northern part of Japan means that all of our aircraft's weaponry has live ammunition. So we may encounter enemy aircraft. Alright, if there aren't any questions, good luck."
Everyone began to leave except for Akira and Goodfellow.
"Excuse me, ladies?" Akira asked them and afterwards, they stopped. "We have some words for you."
"Is there anything else?" Lelei asked as well.
"We need to tell you some rules and guidelines." Goodfellow replied
(Hangar, 0845 hrs. JST)
As the pilots were checking their planes, Lelei and Rory approached Itami and Takeo.
"Listen, we will be going there ahead of you while your aircraft is being prepared." Lelei told the pilots. "They found a spot for us, so be careful."
"We'll see you battle fron our post." Rory followed. "Good luck out there."
"Yeah, you two." Itami responded.
"We'll put up a show for all of us." Takeo said with enthusiasm.
The two then went to a helicopter that will take them to the exercise area. Shortly after, Itami started to feel concerned.
"Hey, were are the other two?" Itami wondered. "It looks like they might have took some time listening to some rules."
"That's likely." Takeo replied. "It's their first time sitting in an airplane."
Just then, two figures wearing flight suits and holding flight helmets are approaching the hangar. It was Tuka and Piña.
"You look nice wearing that suit." Itami said to the two ladies.
"Aww, thanks." Tuka replied cheerfully. "They even gave me my own helmet."
"Well, to be honest, there is nothing much fancy wearing it." Piña responded. "Your superiors said we had to wear these because it will protect us while we are in the aircraft."
"I understand what you meant, princess." Takeo said to her. "We all had to while flying a fighter."
"'Fighter'?" Piña asked with confusion.
"Yeah. Those aircraft behind us? They are usually called 'fighters'."
"Alright, ladies." Itami enthusiastically said. "Let's go."
"May good luck be with us." Akira said to everyone. "Let's hope an actual dogfight wouldn't happen. Otherwise, we may end up with some of us either getting broken or unable to fly anymore."
They went to their assigned jets. Tuka goes with Itami on his F-4E Phantom II while Piña goes with Takeo on his F-16F Fighting Falcon. When they are seated, the ground crew began to help them harness themselves for the mission ahead as well as to help them wear their helmet and oxygen masks.
"Listen, your highness." A crewman said to Piña while pointing at a yellow-and-black ejection seat lever. "Whatever you do, don't pull that yellow thing with black stripes until your pilot says so."
"I will." She replied.
"Okay. Good luck."
The canopy closes as they prepare to leave. Tuka remained enthusiastic as Itami began to taxi his plane towards the runway. Takeo and Piña followed as well. When the two were at the runway, Itami began to radio the control tower.
"Infinite 3 to tower, we're at runway 36." Itami reported. "Requesting permission for take-off clearance."
Piña suddenly became worried as she was waiting for the take-off clearance.
"Affirmative, Infinite 3." The tower responded. "Tower to Infinite 3 and 4, you are cleared for take-off. Windspeed is 210 degrees at 3 knots."
"Roger, control. Infinite 3 and 4 taking off."
"Here we go!" Tuka said with excitement.
The two then entered full throttle and the planes began to plow throught the runway. Piña began shouting as well.
"Aaaahh! Are you crazy?!"
"Just try holding on for a while, your highness!" Takeo rebuffed.
"I can't! Not when we are moving fast!
The planes then pulled their noses up to get lift and shortly after, they left the ground.
"Awwuah!" Piña shouted again as she was being lifted from the ground.
"Give me a break!" Itami said. "We're babysitting girls up here!"
They retracted their landing gears and their flaps shortly after. As they reached cruising altitude, Piña began to calm down as she saw the base and Tokyo from inside a plane.
"Wow!" She said while looking at below. "It's beautiful."
"See." Takeo responded. "What I'd told ya'."
"Anyway, we're up here at our predetermined altitude." Itami radioed Takeo and Piña. "Tuka, how are you doing back there?"
"I'm fine." She replied. "Thank you. I can see the city from up here."
"That's great."
Itami then contacted Reaper.
"Infinite 3 to leader, we're joining formation."
"Roger, Infinite 3." Reaper responded. "Let's get going."
The planes then head for the exercise area in the Bōsō Peninsula.
(Near the coast of the Bōsō Peninsula, 0959 hrs. JST)
"Goodfellow to Infinite Flight, you are approaching the combat area." Goodfellow told them.
"Roger, Goodfellow." Reaper responded. "We're heading there at bearing 106, angels 5."
"Copy."
Goodfellow then turned his attention to the girls inside the planes.
"I need you girls to stay calm and orderly as the exercise progresses." He reminded them.
"We'll do." Tuka said.
"I humbly agree." Piña followed.
As the planes are closing in on the exercise area, Reaper then began to receive a radio signal.
"AWACS Sky-Eye to Infinite Team, we have you on radar." The operator said.
"Sky-Eye, is that you?" Reaper responded. "Good to hear your voice since three months ago."
"Yeah. It's been a long time seeing you in the air here."
"Uh, ladies, forgot to tell you something. This is our AWACS, Sky-Eye."
"Hello there, Sky-Eye." Piña radioed him.
"Is this the princess of the Empire that command is talking about?" He asked.
"Yes, she is." Takeo replied. "Her name is Piña Co Lada."
"I would like to say hello to you as well." Tuka said.
"Who is she?"
"Her name is Tuka Luna Marceau, AWACS." Itami responded. "She is an elf."
"Whoah!" Sky-Eye exclaimed. "I thought elves are in fiction, like unicorns."
"Well, it is real in their world. Remember the dragons and orcs three months back?"
"Oh yeah. Okay then."
Just then, Sky-Eye noticed something on the radar. It is another flight.
"Hold on." He said to the team. "I'm getting a reading on my monitor."
He then recognized their IFFs.
"IFFs confirmed. It's the Ridgeback flight."
"Wait!" Reaper exclaimed. "Single line?!"
"You know them, captain?" Piña asked him.
"Well, your highness, they are an elite fighter squadron that fought in Operation Eternal Liberation alongside us. We had some rivalry, but they and us are all focused on who's getting the biggest rewards during missions."
"Whoa! No wonder." Tuka replied.
The leader of the flight, known by her callsign as 'Edge', began to radio Reaper.
"Edge to Reaper, can you read me?"
"Yeah, I can hear you." Reaper responded.
"It's been a long time since you pulled that tunnel flight back then. This one is still fresh in our minds."
"Still awed, I see."
"Yeah." She continued. "You could say that."
Edge then turned her attention to the princess and the elf.
"You ladies are not from here, am I right?" She asked.
"Yes, we just came here two days ago." Tuka replied. "We even witnessed Lieutenant Itami dealt a fatal blow to the 'Gleipnir' thing."
"Yeah. I heard from reports that the guy with the dragon emblem took that beast down."
"Anyway Edge, these people are Tuka and Princess Piña." Itami explained to her. "I am Youji Itami, number three of the Infinite Team.
"It's an honor meeting you, Lieutenant." Edge replied. "I am also honored, your highness and Tuka, to see you."
"Why, thank you." Piña responded.
"It's great to see you, Edge." Tuka followed.
"And you must be Takeo Kurata?" She asked him who was flying with Piña.
"Yes, ma'am." Takeo replied. "We flew with Reaper as his wingmen."
"Nice. I'll be seeing you do your best."
"Uh, Reaper, we have an incoming transmission from the ground." Sky-Eye reported.
"Patch us through." Reaper requested.
"Roger, rerouting transmission."
He then received a signal from Lelei and Rory, who arrived there first.
"To all pilots, we would like to say how honored we are to witness your training with our own eyes." Lelei said. "We would cherish this for years to come."
"Show us what you got." Rory followed. "I'm counting on you."
"Hehehe, roger that." Reaper concluded.
The Infinite and Ridgeback flights then came together. Tuka and Piña were surprised by the plane the Ridgebacks mainly used, a dark blue ASF-X Shinden II forward-swept wing fighter. It also has a white line at the top, the decal that earned the Ridgebacks it's nickname from Reaper's former team, the former Bone Arrow Squadron of Arrows Air Defense and Security.
"Alright, we are approaching the target area." Reaper reported.
"Aknowledged." Sky-Eye responded. "Tagrets are 35 UAVs at bearing 350. You are cleared to engage."
"Copy that. Alrigh guys, let's get to business."
"Roger. Edge, engaging."
"Raven, engaging."
"Dagger, engaging."
"Gremlin, engaging."
"Dragon, engaging."
The planes then broke formation to take out the UAVs. As they maneuver to get behind the target, they armed their missiles and cannons in order to guarantee a kill. The girls began to feel the g-forces pulling them in every hard maneuver.
"Dragon, Fox 2!" Itami shouted as he launched a missile on a UAV. It exploded near the plane but dealt enough damage to send it spiraling down to the sea.
"Enemy UAV down!" He confirmed. "Tuka, are you fine back there?"
"Yeah." She replied with a nod. "I'm okay, even thought I was pulled by some kind of magical force."
"You'll get used to it. Don't worry much."
Meanwhile, Takeo, Piña, Edge and Kuribayashi were engaging a flight of five UAVs that just broke off formation in a simulated effort to chase their human adversaries.
"Watch it." Edge warned. "Those UAVs are going to catch us as if they want to fire back."
"Yes, ma'am." Takeo replied. "We'll do."
"Just shake them off and fire back as well." Kuribayashi said. "Remember what happened back in La Pérouse."
"Then let's show them how we do it."
The planes then broke off as well, in which one will chase the UAV while the other protects the wingman from enemy fire.
"I've got a bandit on my six!" Kuribayashi reported. "Get that guy off me!"
"I see him." Takeo reported. "Piña, hold on."
"Alright." Piña agreed.
He then maneuvered to the chasing plane and began to arm his cannon.
"Behind target!" He shouted.
As he aimed, Piña wondered how the pilots she met today were not afraid of doing potentially dangerous moves.
"Those pilots, they fly and fight differently." Piña said to herself. "Is that how they do it, saving their friends so that they can do the mission together? If that's the case, I have to take control of a plane myself."
"Guns, guns, guns!" Takeo shouted as he pulled the trigger, hitting the UAV with bullets before exploding.
"UAV down!" He confirmed.
"Nothing like training." Edge complemented. "You guys are pretty good despite your service record."
"Thanks, Edge." Takeo agreed. "I appreciate it."
"Enemy down!" Kuribayashi reported as she destroyed another aircraft. "I did that while you three are not looking."
"Uh, sorry about that." Edge apologized. "We were just discussing about your squadron's record."
"That's okay." She replied with calm. "Anyway, let's continue."
"We better be." Piña responded. "Your allies need help."
Meanwhile, Akira and Reaper were dealing with another group of aircraft while the remaining Ridgeback members were dogfighting nearby.
"As soon as we finished this, I would like to report to Wernher Noah about our shipment of aircraft upgrades." Akira said to Reaper. "USEA somehow gained more advanced weapons at their disposal."
"You may be right." Reaper agreed. "Those fighters back in Hokkaido were definitely skilled as well. So we might get into difficult situations more often. There must be a backer for them."
"Anyway captain, let's keep on training."
For a while, they continued with the exercise. As well, Lelei and Rory were seeing a simulated landing at a nearby beach where the UNF are covered with smoke to conceal themselves.
"They are doing well, I see?" Rory asked.
"Yes, ma'am." A soldier responded. "The landing is going well as we speak."
"I appreciate it." Lelei said. "You're soldiers are well-trained for this."
"Some of our soldiers are assigned to a certain branch. Those are part of the Marine force."
"I see. So they land in the beach and you establish your camp for further campaigns." Rory continued.
"That's correct. The white smoke over there was intentional. They don't want an enemy to shoot them so they try to use that to take cover and try to shoot back with the necessary equipment to see."
"An example of your magic in practical warfare." Lelei suggested. "That's a probably old concept."
"You could say that." The soldier said with admittance as he points to a Harrier flying above the landing troops. "We also have close air support to complement the landing."
"We saw that before, back in our world." Rory recalled. "The time when the Infinite and a ground unit took on a dragon and scared it away."
"Whoa!" He said with surprised. "They did, right. That's how the Infinite Team would do with something like this."
As they continued, the exercise began to wind down as they simulated dogfight and landing turns into a success.
"All UAVs destroyed." Sky-Eye declared. "Landing is successful. All air units, well done."
"Roger that, Sky-Eye." Reaper responded. "We'll be heading home on your authorization."
"Copy."
Just then, he notice unknowns on his monitor.
"Uh, wait. All units, stand by. We have possible bogeys at bearing 004 at 25 miles."
"Are those UAVs?" Piña asked him. "Please tell me they are just target drones."
"I don't think those are target drones, your highness." Itami responded. "They might be actual hostiles."
This spooked her.
"If that's the case, we have to intercept them." Reaper suggested. "I don't know what those guys want but I think they wanted to disrupt the exercise."
"Then let's get them." Edge agreed.
"Sky-Eye, we'll intercept them and take out the bogeys if necessary."
"Copy" Sky-Eye agreed. "Proceed to the interception point."
"Affirmative." Reaper concluded.
"We'll wait for you somewhere." Lelei assured them. "Don't worry about us."
"Just tell them we have something waiting for them." Rory said.
The Infinite and Ridgeback flights then head to the interception area. When they saw the bogeys, they were surprised to see F-117s, T-50 PAK-FAs and F-35B Lightning IIs with them.
"It's them, alright." Kuribayashi confirmed. "Those are indeed USEA planes."
"Break off and engage." Reaper ordered. "Let's teach them it's only polite to respond in kind."
The flights then broke off and began to engage them in an actual dogfight.
"It's them, the ribbons and the single lines." An USEA pilot reported.
"Well, well, well, they have the dragon with them." Another said.
"You mean the guy who took down Gleipnir?"
"That's him alright. Don't worry. We can deal with them."
They broke off as well as the Nighthawks began to do evasive maneuvers. One USEA plane managed to get behind Takeo and Piña.
"Got him." The pilot said.
"We're spiked!" Takeo reported. "Piña, hold on!"
"Uh, what he is try to do?!" Piña asked as the bandit fired his gun at the plane.
"He's trying to kill us!" Takeo responded as he began to do evasive maneuvers. "We better hope we are not hit!"
As they try to shake him off, he fired a missile.
"Fox 2!" He shouted.
"Dammit, a missile!" Takeo shouted as he began to evade the missile lock. "Evading!"
Once he is in an angle that can shake it off, he activated the afterburners and began to fight back.
"Fox 2!" Takeo shouted back as he fired the missile and hit the pursuer.
"That guy is done for." Takeo said in relief. "Let's go help the others."
"Yeah." Piña agreed. "That was close."
Meanwhile, the other pilots were dealing with more planes as the Nighthawks began to speed towards the exercise area.
"Dragon, Dagger, deal with the bombers!" Edge ordered the two. "They're heading for the beaches!"
"Don't worry about us!" Reaper assured them.
"We'll handle things from here!" Akira followed.
"Copy." Itami accepted. "We'll get them. Dagger?"
"Yeah!" Kuribayashi responded. "Let's go!
"Don't forget us!" Takeo radioed as he was about to go with Itami. "We'll help you!"
"Thanks. Let's do this!".
At the beach, Lelei and Rory noticed on a pair of binoculars the scope of the fight.
"It's a war zone out there." Lelei described what she saw. "At that rate, the enemy wouldn't even make it here."
"Not even close to here." Rory continued. "Even though their planes aren't meant to take those head on, still, their spirit remains high. This is surprising."
"Let's get out of here while we still can." Lelei suggested.
They applied full thrust as they began to pursue the attackers. As they were near, they noticed that a few PAK-FAs are trailing behind.
"They're chasing us!" Itami reported. "But were almost there."
They began to arm their missiles as the T-50s began to arm theirs as well.
"Prepare to fire under my command." A USEA pilot ordered.
Shortly after, they got a lock on the three planes.
"Now! Fox 2!"
They fired their missiles at Itami and his wingman. Suddenly, the latter fired theirs at the Nighthawk.
"Fox 2!" Itami shouted and he and his friends proceeded to evade.
The missiles then hit the Nighthawks, bursting them to flames.
"Dammit!" The USEA pilot said with disgust. "They took them all! They will pay for this!"
"Itami, how about we deal with them?" Tuka suggested. "They are our only enemies left."
"I was thinking of the same thing." Itami replied. "Alright then, let's go."
"Dagger, roger." Kuribayashi agreed. "Let's take them down."
"Gremlin copies." Takeo followed. "Moving to engage."
The trio then began to engage the T-50s despite some major performance differences.
"Suddenly those guys are really good!" A USEA pilot described them. "So they are the true nemesis!"
"I can't get him!" Another complained. "What the hell is going on?!"
"Fox 2!" Kuribayashi shouted as the missile began to fly towards a USEA plane and hit it shortly after.
"Almost on him." Takeo began to pursue another one as the USEA pilot tried to evade.
"Firing guns!"
Takeo riddled the plane with bullets until it was engulfed in flames.
"Enemy down!" Takeo confirmed.
"Thanks!" Itami said. "I got a bandit in sight. I'll go after him."
He began to maneuver for an attack on the PAK-FA as both maneuvered.
"Itami, he's doing some sort of maneuver." Tuka said.
The T-50 maneuvered hard and managed to shake off Itami. He then proceeded to engage Kuribayashi.
"That guy's on me!" She said. "I'm evading!"
"Fox 2!" The USEA pilot shouted before firing the missile. It failed to hit her and resorted to using guns.
"I'm closing on him now." Itami assured her as she tried to shake him off.
"Almost on him."
When he got the enemy locked on, he fired his gun.
"Guns, guns, guns!" Itami and Tuka shouted in unison as the bullets began to tear apart the lead plane.
"Gah! My control's offline!" He panicked. "Damn!"
"We got him, Itami!" Tuka said. "It's over!"
"No enemies had entered the exercise perimeter." Goodfellow confirmed. "Good work, people."
"Thanks, Dragon." Kuribayashi thanked him. "Now they are getting scared."
"No damage to our planes." Takeo reported. "We're lucky we escaped."
"He's right." Piña said as well. "Those men are not worth our time. Let's go home."
"Yeah, but I wonder how the others are doing." Itami replied.
Just then, Reaper, Edge and Akira raidoed them.
"This is Raven, all enemies in our spot are down." Akira reported. "No need to worry."
"We took them out while you handled yours quite flawlessly." Reaper followed. "Nice job."
"Nuggets, I would like to say thank you for your help." Edge congratulated. "Without you, I can't imagine how devastating the attackers could cause."
"Yeah, thanks as well." Itami replied. "Command, were going home."
"Aknowledged, Dragon." Sky-Eye accepted.
Back on the ground, Rory began to compare the dogfight to two of the recent events back at their home world.
"Do you remember what happened to the bandits and the allied armies back then?" Rory asked Lelei.
"Yes." Lelei replied. "They never got what they came for. The armies didn't reach Alnus thanks to the UNF's weaponry, and even though the bandits managed to open the gates back at Italica, they didn't last long."
"Exactly. They were just too blind by their desires and this is the result. By that, they would be sent to their doom."
"By comparing this with the ones back home, you were trying to say that USEA has something in common with many of the nations back home. I get it."
"Getting to the gate and continue the pointless war is what they want." Rory explained. "But they will have to think of something else the moment they will be evicted from our home."
(Yokota Air Base, Tokyo, 1503 hrs. JST)
In her room, Piña was writing in her diary what happened today.
"Just today, the girls and I saw an event that we didn't see before our own eyes. We saw an actual 'dogfight', as what the locals here called it. Me and an elf named Tuka nearly got killed when we saw it up close. Luckily, we survived thanks to the efforts of Lieutenant Itami and his allies. We felt grateful that we can get to live until now."
A knock was heard from the door.
"Your highness, are you there?"
"Yeah. Come in."
Tuka entered the room to talk with Piña.
"Still recovering from the imbalance, I see?" Tuka asked her.
"Yeah. They said we will get used to it after a few more flights."
"You need to rest, your highness." Tuka suggested. "You need your energy for the days ahead."
"Thank you for showing concern for me." Piña thanked Tuka. "Get some rest as well. You also rode a fighter."
"I will. Get well soon." Tuka replied with a nod and left shortly after.
Piña then continued to write her diary quietly as she began to ponder on what to do next.