To the Heavens and Unknown
Prologue: Into the Storm and Unknown
War. There are many definitions for this word. Some say war is about greed and power, while others say war is about fighting for peace. There are others who fought for freedom while others to protect their home-land and loved ones. But no matter what your intensions or definition of war is, it will only lead to a few things.
Death, violence, and destructions.
People kept saying war never changes regardless to the era, but its ways, tactics, and warfare always changes. From sticks to stone, sword to arrow, from muskets to machine guns, warfare changes form time to time. Mankind always manages to build bigger, deadlier, and more destructive war machines; From ironclad to aircraft carrier, chariots to tanks. Even the sky isn't peaceful as before; from the earliest glider to the modern fighter jets. And the sky, is where I belong.
Heh, I know some of you might be asking 'who the hell is this dude? Saying sky is his place.' For allies, I'm known as Osean Bigshot, dumbass, hero, Harling's murderer... As for the enemies, they shall tremble while calling me 'Three Strikes'; That old bastard Mihaly included. But they do have one thing in common; they known me, as Trigger.
Born on Oured, capital city of Osea Federation, I served in the OADF (Osea Air Defense Force) as I achieved the rank Captain during the Lighthouse War as the leader of the Strider Squadron. But that was in the past, now I'm just a retired veteran from the Air Force after my retirement time came. Now hold it right there gentlemen, you might be asking 'Aw com' on! Three years? Does that even count?'
Yes it does.
After my last dogfight at the Space Tower with the two drones, due to extreme G-Forces overload, the Docs found me wounded from the insides, that means no more dogfighting for me. Any G-Forces that goes higher than 9G can ends up in internal bleeding or worse; death. So, yeah, no more splashing enemies and flying around doing stunts 'Mihaly style'.
Thanks to the efforts of the LRSSG which consists of Strider and Cyclops squadron, we were able to end the Lighthouse War. I received quite the award and medals during the war. As a compensation for my service, the Osean military and the government decided to allow me to keep one of my many fighter jets, the F-2A.
They even gave me a land and a house on the outskirts of Oured. Did I forgot to mention that they even lend me one of the airstrip in Oured so my flying skills won't rust? Heh, think so.
Anyway, I lived in peace as there wee no more wars to fight for Osea, until now. The only war fought after the Lighthouse War is the Aurelian War, which Osea did participate in. Currently I'm flying at 12,000 meters above ground in the Osean airspace to test my jet; did I forgot to mention that I still has the Three Strikes marks on?
Strangely enough, the aircraft preparation groups even loaded my jet with live ammunition such as the Vulcan cannon, LASMs, (Long range Air to Surface Missiles) Air to Air homing missiles, and rockets. DOn't get fooled by those 'sortie' preparations; it's not like I'm going to another war or something; just a weird, quiet, retried guy who wants to enjoy his time in the sky; as well as splashing aircraft and land target dummies.
Over the years, there had been lots of events that happened as far as I could remember. Huh, who had thought that Count, my former wingman and now the Captain of the Strider Squadron and Huxian, another fight pilot in the Strider Squadron hooked up with each other. Hell, they even got married and had two kids. And Count had me as the godfather of his first child. Jaeger retired earlier than us since ehe wanted to spend more time with his family. H maybe an old man, older than me but her sure is living happily throughout his life. I can still remember the awe look on his son's face when he told him the story of me beating Mihaly and dogfighting two mad drones. Mihaly A Shilage, the top ace of the Erusia Air Force during the Lighthouse War passed away peacefully in his sleep. At least he found peace knowing that his granddaughters were still working to maintain the peace. Princess Cosette, let just say she's busy with all the politics, but whenever she had time, she always visited me or invites me to her palace. Avril Mead, known as Scrap Queen, still did what she do best, buffed up the jest to top conditions, now she even got herself to work at the airfield where I usually sorties for test flights. Though she always beats me up for burning tout he engine of the jet; it's not like I could help since that's the way I fly...
Currently flying in the Osea airspace, I silently thought about the Lighthouse War. It only been three years since the war ended and my last kill, yet for me it felt like decades; guess my old habits showed up again. It's not like my skills are getting rusty, it just that test flight are missing the thrill and excitement of shooting down enemy aircrafts and getting chased by missiles. Even in time of peace, where I have friends that I can rely on and fame for war effort which I could make it into bedtime stories for kids, even though I never got married since I'm a silence type... But something inside of me is waking up, something that I have yearn subconsciously...
BOOM!
Holy! The fucking hell?! That almost shocked me. That strane=ge, weather broadcast didn't forecast about a storm during the evening. Hell, that's the biggest yet beautiful storm I've ever see. And of course, just like something that messed-up Bandog would say; 'What a smart move for a dumbass.'
I flew straight into it.
I've never seen a storm that's this violence, its even messing with the system! Shit, I couldn't contact the AWACS about my current status. Calm down Trigger, do what Bandog once said stay calm and check the HUD system for error. Good, seems like there's nothing wrong, now do what I do best, fly a damn plane. But the storm made it difficult to control the jet with rains pouring on the canopy and I gad ro evade thunder clouds. One wrong move and the coffin dancer will surely come for my grave.
But as what people always says, fate is a bitch. A lighting bolt suddenly came form a thunder cloud and exploded next to the jet, and that ended up making the system malfunction.
"Warning, system malfunction. Warning, system malfunction."
Shit! At this rate I'm gonna crush. I'd never felt a tiny but of fear since the dogfight with Mihaly in a storm, and the system ain't helping by screaming malfunction in my ears. When I thought I was going to crush, a bright light suddenly shot from the storm and blinded my vision as everything went dark afterwards.
"Warning, attitude below 1,000 feet. Warning, attitude below 1,000 feet."
I slowly came to, and the first thing I heard was the god dman system screaming for the attitude, which my jet is falling from the sky in a high speed and velocity. Yeah, high speed falling from the sky... FALLING FROM THE SKY IN A HIGH SPEED! I'M FUCKED UP! I'm going to crash... You thought!!!
"Caution: Pull up, pull up."
Quickly taking over the jet to raise the nose and thrust, I was able to save myself from a certain death. Plus, it would be too embarrassing if the news got on report: "Legendary fight pilot Trigger, feared by foes, beaten Mihaly, was killed in a crash when flying in a storm". Hell not, not today bitches!
Now the question is, where am I? All I could see is a green, REALLY green forest in the horizon. Hang on, I don't remember having forests along at the outskirt of Oured. I tried to contact the Osean airstrip or the AWACS, yet no avail. Suddenly, the radar found multiple blips off yellow to the northwest from my position. The blips that will change my life. The blips that showed a new breed, of War.
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(Captain Rainbow Dash's POV)
Here I am, fighting another battle, or war, since the Battle of the Bell; in my aircraft "Spitfire" MK.V. After Twilight's coronation, she decided to put on a technological revolution in both daily lives and military; knowing the fact that the weakest countries always gets invaded or looked down. Thanks to the researchers and my fellow teammates, a new type of fighting machine called "Warplanes" were invented, now that was about 20 years ago.
Currently, the newly discovered Western Minotaur Empire (No, not the ones like Iron Will, the ones from Greek Mythology), was found with superior technologies, instead of signing a peace treaty with Equestria, they immediately declared an invasive war against us after seeing our rich lands. With no other choice, Equestrian with its allies were thrown into a massive war.
I'm Captain Rainbow Dash, leader of the Rainboom Squadron, which is the updated version of the Wonderbolts, Equestrian Royal Air Force. Right now I'm leading my squadron with my new and old teammates; Lighting Dust, my old foe, but as tike passed, she came to accepting me and apologized for her past mistakes, now becoming the second in command in my squadron, also my wing-mare.
The Minotaur Air Force were well quipped with the newest fighter jets, which we later learned that it is called Me-262. (Coincidence?) They're nearly two times faster than the Spitfires, armed with deadly auto cannons while we're just simply armed with machine guns. This is not gonna end well, I can already see the gates of heaven opening for me and my squadron.
Suddenly, I heard Lighting Dust shouting, "Rainboom 1! Check your 2 o'clock! I see something!"
Turning to the direction Lighting Dust provided, at first I saw nothing, but then, a small black dot began to appear. Then it got closer, it's colored with dark blue, but its unlike any of the aircrafts I've ever seen, I can tell it was a jet, but not the ones like the Minotaurs. I have no idea what that boogie is or its intensions. Suddenly, the boogie zoomed passed our squadron with a loud sonic boom.
Okay, this is defiantly NOT something the Minotaurs would come up with. Their Me-262 can only fly up to 869 kilometer spot hour, and this boogie's jet? From my calculation, holy Celestia...
This mysterious jet can fly up to around 2,000 kilometers per hour! That's like... THREE times faster than the Me-262! (They don't have the knowledge of supersonic or Mach speed yet)
Whoever or whatever piloting this mysterious jet is, I prayed he or she is a friendly, or Celestia knows how this would end up...
"Cap, should we contact the boogie with the radios?" Lighting Dust asked.
"Premission granted, and try to get that boogie on our side." I replied. I have this feeling from my mind that this mysterious boogie will determent the tide of the war.
And my guts, are correct.
Author's Note
(This is the F-2A, the fighter jet piloted by Trigger)
The Me-262, in the story belongs to the Western Minotaur Air Force
(The Equestrian Royal Air Force's Spitfire fighters, though they have others such as P-51 Mustang and Hawker Hurricane)
To the Heavens and Unknown
Chapter 1: Welcome to the ERAF (Part 1)
(Trigger's POV)
Okay, let's recap a bit. After I freed myself from the storm, I ended up in a unfamiliar place with no communication with my men and just a vast of forest. Currently I'm following the blips on my radar, hopefully there are civilizations around, and lets hope that they're friendly; the last thing I want is getting group attacked by a bunch of natives.
After a mare ten minutes or so, the blips are getting closer and brighter, and the radio started to chatter with disoriented voices. Suddenly, my heart beats faster as the excitements ran across my heart underneath my calm facade. This familiar feeling, it always occurs whenever there's a battle nearby or an upcoming battle. Lucky for me, I get to splash some unknown enemies. Suddenly, smoke arose from the plains overhead, at the edge of the forest, as if there's a battle occurred in this area some times ago. My radar blipped louder, signaling me that two large waves of boogies were charging towards each other, holy, my blood are boiling, an air combat!
Suddenly, two boogies on the left broke of with their allies and came charging towards me, I was able to evade them before I caught a glimpse of both planes. I was expecting them to be jets, but to my surprise, they're propeller powered. They looked almost like the retired Spitfire fighters back home. They got an emblem of two... Horses with horns? And a shield that has four letters on them... ERAF? The fuck? Plus both Spitfire doesn't look like the ones they used in air shows, more like the ones in action. They got their war paints on like the ones form 1940s which I had only saw in history museums and old warplanes textbooks.
Hmm... They seemed like they're trying to dogfight me... Welp, good luck with that, I ain't gonna waste my warm-up time. Suddenly, another boogie, which I believe is a jet, flew out from another direction and dove for the two propeller planes. Again, I caught the jet's form and recognized it as another retired old warplane; Me-262. Well shit! These two Spitfires are in trouble! I can't just sit there! I quickly turned on my radar locking system and quickly locked up the Me-262, missile seekers off, and waited for the long flatline locking sound.
Beep!
That's my signal, I pressed the trigger. A High-Velocity air-to-air missile was fired from my wing-tip, and flew straight at the enemy jet. The jet did not evade or pop flares, it just ran into the missile and exploded into a fireball with scraps flying out. Pfft, doesn't even know to evade, what a worthless target...
I lowered my airspeed for the two Spitfires to catch up, the two Spitfires flew besides me, forming an escorting formation. The Spitfire on my 3 o'clock had a lighting bolt emblem on its nose, while the Spitfire on my 9 o'clock had a... Rainbow covered by a sonic boom? Just how can a propeller plane fly faster than the speed of sound?
The Rainbow-marked Spitfire looked like the leading plane, while the one with the lighting bolt one which I assumed is his/her wingman. Then, I heard the radio started to chatter again, this time, a female voice came out of the radio, from the Lighting Bolt Spitfire.
"Hey! You there! With the weird looking jet! Thanks for saving us from the Minotaur's ambush! Phew, that was a close call, if you don't show up, we'll get wiped out!"
I didn't respond to the radio call since my soldier inspect told me that they may be hostile, plus I normally don't respond to any radio calls even from Bandog. And who the fuck are the Minotaurs? The ones from myths? Once again, the same voice came from the radio.
"Hey! Didn't you heard me?! Are you dead or what?!"
Okay, whoever that bitch is, she's getting on my nerve.
I heard you lady lousy, no need to shout in my ears. I just don't wanna talk that's all. To respond that bitch's radio call, I tapped on the radio a few times loud enough to make sure they can hear me.
"Hey, hat's with all the tapping?! Can you reply like a normal pony?!"
Pony? What's with the weird words? I am anything but normal. I'm limited edition. Then the second voice popped up, from the Rainbow-marked Spitfire.
"Calm down Lighting Dust. Maybe he just feel uncomfortable talking to strangers, plus with you yelling in his/her ears." the second voice sounded raspy, but more experienced, however I still caught a glimpse of nervousness in her voice. Guess that missile kill sure shocked them a bit. Wait, do they have missiles?
"You think so Rainbow Dash? Well, in that case, sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Then, could you please respond to my question with tappings; single tap for yes and twice for no. Understood?" This 'Lighting Dust' asked, politely this time. What's with the weird names? Rainbow Dash? Seriously? You know what, I'll just call her skittles.
I tapped once.
"Good, so, question number 1; would you like to communicate with us?"
Tap once.
"Okay, second question; who and what are you? If this isn't rude to ask."
I ignored that question.
Skittles sighed in the radio, "Lighting, yes or no questions."
"Oops! Sorry, if you like to communicate with us, you'll have to come with us on our airfield, sounds good? Hmm... just received orders that our bombers went for their airbase, so the Me-262s turned back, so don't worry about the air combat yet. So, are you coming?"
Darn it! Missed another chance of playing. At least that's better than nothing, I guess.
Tap once.
"Right then, follow us! Lead the way Dash!" Lighting Dust replied rather cheerfully.
Why did I feel like I made a wrong move? Is it correct to follow them? Well, my jet is low on fuels, guess I'll have to be a daredevil, as always, and find out.
All I know for now is that...
...
...
...
I'm REALLY, REALLY far from home...
Will I get back to my friends again? No more hilarious jokes from Count, no more insults from Bandogs---- Hang on, why am I missing that? ...
Let just hope nothing bad happens... At least there's advanced civilization out there.
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(Rainbow Dash's POV)
I still cannot believe that strange pilot decided to come with us, I mean it's not like that's a bad thing... He or she saved us from the Me-262 using a... rocket that can turn and track its target? Plus the technologies from the look of the jet feels pretty futuristic, I'm just relived that this strange yet dangerous jet is on our side. Let's just keep it that way.
And why can't the pilot talk? Guess I'd have to ask him/her when we get back.
After about fifteen minutes of flying in silence, we're approaching our airfield. Me and Lighting Dust landed first, to make call for the strange pilot.
"Oi! Spits! Clear the runway, we got a plane to land!" I told my old teammate. Though both Spitfire and Soarin were no longer flying due to their age, they're still in service in the ERAF, but their jobs were now as ground staffs.
"Sure, is it for that new friend of yours?" Spitfire asked.
I nodded. With that said, Spitfire went on with the other staffs to tow the planes away from the runway and cleared the vehicles. We then stood at the side of the runway, waiting the jet to land.
"Say Dash, why re you so excited when you mentioned that pilot? And why did you so easily told Dust to tell him to land? Why not do it yourself? Aren't you the bold one?" Spitfire asked, a bit teasingly.
"Pfft! Nothing like that, I just want to give her a thanks for saving us that's all." I replied.
"To think you can easily trust her. To begin with, how do you know that her gender is a female?" Soarin asked, who also cam e with then.
"Aren't all pilots females? Since males were usually buffed up and can't slide into the cockpit? No offense Soarin."
"None taken."
"To answer your question, just a assumption. Nothing more." I answered.
After that, the plane finally landed with a loud screeching nose. Hmm? What's that on the tail of the jet? Three... Lines? Scratches? Who puts that on their plane?
Also, with that strange flag on his tail, I've never seen that flag as well? Which nation does she belong to?
When the plane's roaring engines came to a stop, the canopy finally opened and a figure came out of the cockpit. The figure is covered in storage flight built with tubes and belts, plus a strange looking helmet with black light-prove goggle. We're shocked, a female's body couldn't be that buff and big... That means...
My thoughts were interrupted when the figure finally removed the helmet, revealing a very handsome face... BUCK! Where dod that thought came from? (Guys, just picture what Trigger looks like without his helmet on. Golden hair, blue eyes, brown hair... Whatever that's in your mind)
But what;s more shocking which made our jaws dropped is the fact that he is a... MALE?! To think this is the guy who saved us, I could only blush and start to wonder, did Celestia send us a miracle? We'll he does look lie a miracle, just like the stallion of my... BUCK! WHY AM I THINBKING THAT AGAIN?!
(Trigger's POV)
After ending the radio conversation, I landed my F-2A on the airstrip. Judging from the structure, it seems very old yet modern at the same time. Perhaps this place haven't achieve the same modernity as the Osean Federation or the Kingdom of Erusea?
Guess I'll have to ask them myself. Coming out from my cockpit, I took off their helmets and mask to ease the tension. Then, one of the woman---- Wait, I just realized that they looked like humanized horses? So... a mare? Yes, I believe that;s what they're supposed to be called. The mare with sky blue coat, rainbow hairs, around 20 with simple flight jacket like what an old war fighter pilot would wear.She starts walking towards me.
"Y-You're a male?!"
That's the first thing you ask? On a second thought, why would she react to this? I put on a slightly unamused face.
"A-ah, sorry! I don't mean to be rude, it just that the pilots were usually females around here... So, who are you? Where did you come from? And what's with the strange mark on your jet?" she quickly apologized, stammering in the processes.
Pulling out my notepad an open from the cockpit, I started to write my response, guess that how we're gonna communicate from now on.
(Trigger writing:)Isn't it rude to ask someone's name yet, while you haven't introduce yourself?
"Ah, sorry. I'm the Captain of the Rainboom fighter squadron of the ERAF, Equestrian Royal Air Force. Nan's Rainbow Dash, but you already knew. I'm one of the best pilots of the entire ERAF! These are my friends, Spitfire and Soarin, former pilots, now ground staffs, Lighting Dust, my wing-mare. How 'bout you then?" She asked, sounding a bit prideful at the mention of her being the best pilot, I just chuckled at that mentally.
(Trigger Writing:) The squad leader of Strider Squadron, number 015, callsign Trigger from the Osean Air Defense Force of the Osea Federation. Also, fro the fact that you being the 'best' pilot... Miss, try dogfighting more than a hundred drones with them shooting missiles at you in the same time, or dogfighting the most deadliest squadron of the Erusean Air Force, one on one with an elite pilot that shot down hundreds of jets, and shooting down two mad drones in a space-tight underwater tunnel. The you can talk. Sorry if that sounds offensive, but I prefer the facts.
The look on their faces, priceless. Rainbow had her jaws literally on the floor.
"Huh? Trigger? Quite a weird name for a name." Spitfire was the first to return.
I smirked.
(Trigger writing:) Lady, please, your name is even weirder.
"Y-You really shot down that many?" Rainbow asked, for some reason her eyes were bigger than before and were sparkly. I simply nodded.
"That's AWESOME!" then she realized the situation she's in, "Heh, sorry. Aside from that, Osean Federation? Never heard of that country before."
NEVER HEARD OF?! Osean Federation is one of the biggest an desist name to recognize for a country, ey she never heard the name before?! Can it be? I just have to confirm it!
(Trigger writing:) Then tell me, aside from this Equestria, is there anymore countries you could name?
"Well, there's our allies; Griffonian Empire. Hippogriffian Kingdom/Seaquestria, Kingdom of Changelings, Yayakstan, Dragon Land, and Kirin State of Liberation. A-as for the hostile countries, Western Minotaur Empire, their allies Centaur Empire and Grogarian Empire. I don't think there's anymore countries aside form those. Why ask?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Just as I thought, not only I'd never heard of these names before, none of the history books had them on it either. It could only confirm my guess;Ive been send to another world by that storm. I must have been stayed silent so long the act that Rainbow Dash an d her friends started to worry about me.
"Hey, you okay?" Skittle asked.
(Trigger writing:) I'm fine, just spaced out a bit.
"If you say so, by the way, do you have a place to go?" She asked.
I shook my head.
"If you don't how about you come with us?" She asked, blushing a little, "I mean, it's the last we could repay you."
"WHAT?!" the others shouted, wide-eyed.
"Dash! You can't just bring a stranger to our nation!" Spitfire said, raising her volume a bit.
Dash looked at them, with a slightly angry look, "What? That's the least we can do. Plus he don't have any places to go to!" Hmm, wonder why she cared so much about my situation here.
"Yeah, but what if she's a spy from the Western Minotaur Empire? I mean he does looks like a Minotaur." Soarin asked.
"Looks can trick you mind, plus look how confuse he is when he heard the names!" Dash defended.
Soarin sighed, "Fine. What do you think Lighting? Anything to say?"
"Personally, I'm quite intrigued with him, the fact we'd never heard of the Osean Federation. At least, he isn't our enemy. So I think it should be fine to bring him to Equestria and our allies." Lighting Dust said.
"With that said," Rainbow Dash begin, looking at me with a slightly dreamy smile, "Welcome to the ERAF, Trigger."
I could only nod. It's going to be tough to find a way back to my world. Which means I have to survive in this Equestria, perhaps helping their war is a way to repay their kindness. But fighting yet another war after the Lighthouse War isn't the exact plan I was having. But it is the only way to earn their trust.
