“What?” said Major Booker. “Our forces are firing on each other?”
“I don’t think this is an exercise, so yes, that’s what they’re doing. They’re using live ordnance.”
“They might be causing the crews to hallucinate, or they’re disrupting the planes’ electronic warfare systems. Check it out!”
“That’s going to be difficult, sir. Both sides in this fight are targeting me as an enemy, and we’ve got real JAM forces closing in as well. Let’s get back to base and analyze the data we’ve gathered. Captain, prepare to break to portside…NOW!”
Transmitting the sign that they were engaged in combat reconnaissance, the comm chatter from Minx continued.
“These guys look like they’re trying to settle a whole bunch of old scores.”
Major Booker turned at the sound of the voice, Generals Cooley and Linneberg following suit.
“They never liked how callous the SAF acts. That goes for the JAM too.”
“Rei…it took you long enough. What have you been up to?”
“Looking carefully into the mirror, shaving. For the first time, I wished I had a better one,” Rei said.
“I assume Captain Foss has briefed you on the mission.”
Captain Foss stood silently at Rei’s side.
“Yukikaze isn’t ready to sortie yet. You can ask Lieutenant Eco for the details. Captain Pivot, send out Llanfabon. Have them tell us what the situation is at Kanworm.”
“Send out Yukikaze too,” said Rei.
“Sending you out now would be suicide. Yukikaze’s the last ace the SAF has up its sleeve.”
“Which is why you need to send us out now.”
“What do you mean?”
“The JAM are waiting for me and Yukikaze,” Rei said. “As long as we stay hunkered down, the attacks will continue.”
“What, are you the Messiah or something?” Booker asked, incredulous.
“What happens to the people of Earth or the FAF isn’t my problem. I don’t really care. I just want to do what I want to do.”
“Oh, spare me the heroic bullshit. And just what do you want to do? Kill yourself?”
“Jack, a strategy where only one person survives would still be acceptable to the JAM. As long as one survives, you haven’t lost.”
“And you’re going to be that one person, is that it?”
“It could be anyone. You, Colonel Rombert, General Cooley. That’s not what I’m interested in. I want to be with Yukikaze, that’s all.”
“I think that Rei’s—that Captain Fukai’s belief that the JAM are waiting for Yukikaze is the vital point here,” Captain Foss said. “It’s not that they won’t attack Yukikaze, but as long as we don’t send her out, they’ll keep pressing this attack.”
“This is Lieutenant Bruys in Unit B-7, Llanfabon. Engaging JAM. Six hundred units have been wiped out. Shit, it’s not just the JAM. The FAF guys are targeting me too! Cutting my drop tanks. I need to lighten my load, or I’m dead. Won’t be able to make a direct RTB. Direct me to a refueling point.”
“Head for TAB-16,” Major Booker instructed. “After you neutralize its air defense and radar system, work something out with the people there. Is that clear? With the humans, not the base computer. I’ll send over the data the SAF is collecting on the overall combat theater. Analyze it yourself and work out a survival strategy.”
“Understood.”
“Pass it along to the other two planes.”
“No response. I guess they’ve been shot down. I don’t have time to confirm the collected data. Okay, I’m receiving it. Once it’s downloaded, I’m switching on my jammers. Just wanted to warn you in advance that I’ll be going dark for a while.”
“Roger.”
“Over and out.”
Two SAF planes had been shot down at the same time, and Llanfabon was left on her own and in danger. The command center fell silent, but only for a moment.
“This is Carmilla. Control, please respond.”
“Control, Major Booker here. What’s up?”
“Skymarks III and IV are designating tactical fighter groups approaching from Troll base as enemies. We’re confirming that the approaching planes are FAF, but Skymark’s still judging them to be enemies.”
“This is Lieutenant Tang aboard Chun-Yan. Control, the approaching aircraft aren’t just fighters from Troll. They’re coming in from the other main bases. They must be coming to attack Faery base, sir. It looks like they think that we’ve been taken over by the JAM.”
“This is Zouk. Dozens of alert fighters launched from Faery base to mop us up are moving to intercept them. We’re saved.”
The strategic computer cut in on the display.
This is a war between the computer systems of the FAF. It’s possible the bases surrounding Faery base think a coup has occurred. The FAF humans are getting caught in the middle.
“You could describe it as a panic from false rumors,” General Linneberg said. “A common tactic in an information war is to exploit normal fears and frustrations to produce a state of panic. Now it’s been done to our computers. This must have been exactly what Colonel Rombert was trying to achieve.”
This is SSC. Carmilla team, I am also recognizing the approaching planes as JAM. I believe this is the result of a JAM deception. Will correct error based on your data. Send data. If possible, visual confirmation by onboard crewmen is preferred.
“This is Carmilla, roger that.”
This is STC. I anticipate actual JAM forces will be closing from behind. Do not overlook this.
“Kill or be killed,” said General Cooley. “Carmilla team, keep watch on the other planes taking off from Faery base and divert them. We’re sending out Yukikaze now. Cover her takeoff. If anything tries to stop her, even an FAF plane, destroy it.”
“General, you’re sending him out?”
“Go, Captain Fukai,” she said. “Find the real JAM out there, then report back to me in real time. We have to keep the SAF from falling into a panic as well.”
“We need accurate information inside and out in order to stop this panic,” said General Linneberg. “The SAF are the only ones who can stop this.”
Rei nodded as he entered the flight plan from Major Booker into Yukikaze, then left the command center to suit up in his flight gear.
“Rei, look at this,” said Major Booker, stopping him in his tracks. “You’re going out, even now? If you jump into that, you won’t be coming back alive.”
The tactical display was stained bright red showing the enemy offensive under way.
“Why? Because you’re ordered to?” Booker said.
“You always ask me that, even when you already know the answer, Jack. See you. I’m borrowing your watch, though. Don’t worry. I’ll return it.”
He raised his arm lightly in a rough salute, just as he always did. And then Rei headed for Yukikaze. Her repairs complete, she’d been moved to the armament loading area for her final inspection. Wearing his flight suit, helmet in hand, Rei walked in to see the normally unmanned area crowded with maintenance personnel hanging all over Yukikaze, making their final checks on her. Some of them were carrying machine guns. Then Captain Foss approached.
“Edith. What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on your state of mind.”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to come along with me.”
“I honestly wanted to, but General Cooley won’t allow it. But I think being aboard Yukikaze is the safest place to be at the moment.”
“So do I.”
“Or, rather than safe, maybe I should say it’s the most comforting place to be. I’m sure that’s how you feel. But it would be wrong for me. I shouldn’t come between you and Yukikaze.”
“I still don’t like you,” Rei said to Captain Foss. “You’re an annoying tag-along who just makes my life difficult. But I have to admit that you’re good at what you do. There’s one thing I have to ask you, though.”