As the sun reached its peak, the ground crews worked tirelessly, swarming over Emilie, Mona, and Teppei's F-5E Tiger II fighters like bees over a hive. The faint scent of fuel and the acrid tang of gunpowder filled the air as the trio stood at a distance, watching their aircraft undergo final preparations. Armament teams secured live missiles to the underwing pylons, fueling crews topped off the tanks, and maintenance specialists double-checked every system for peak performance.
It was war now. Every step mattered.
The sound of hurried footsteps on the tarmac pulled them from their thoughts. An officer jogged toward them, slightly winded from rushing across the airfield.
"Lieutenant Emilie! Starseer! Rock n' Roller!" he called out, catching his breath. "The Base Commander has a message for you."
Emilie folded her arms, waiting as the officer composed himself. "Let's hear it."
The officer took a deep breath before continuing. "You are being deployed to Lumidouce Naval Port. Captain Maksim says AWACS Thunderspike will brief you once all mission details are confirmed."
Emilie's gaze darkened slightly, her mind working through the implications. "Understood. We'll launch as soon as our birds are ready."
The officer gave a curt nod before turning and heading back to the command post.
Emilie turned to her wingmen. "Well… this changes things."
Mona exhaled. "Lumidouce Naval Port… That's where The Arkhe is stationed, one of Fontaine's and Teyvat's most powerful aircraft carriers."
Teppei chimed in, his expression serious. "Yeah. It even saw action in the Khaenri'ahn War fifteen years ago. That thing's a legend."
Emilie tapped her chin. "If we're being scrambled there, it can only mean one thing—they're under attack."
As if on cue, a crew chief called out from the flight line.
"Pilots! Your birds are fueled, armed, and ready to fly! Let's get you airborne ASAP!"
Emilie turned back to her squadmates. "No time to waste. We're at war now."
With that, the trio sprinted toward their fighters.
The ground crew was already pulling the boarding ladders away as Emilie climbed into her cockpit, settling into the ejection seat with practiced precision. Her fingers moved swiftly, securing her harness, adjusting her oxygen mask, and locking her helmet into place. The cockpit canopy whined as it lowered, sealing her inside with the familiar hum of avionics coming to life.
One by one, their fighters rolled out onto the taxiway. Mona was first, followed by Teppei, and finally Emilie, forming up in a tight sequence as they awaited clearance for departure.
The tower crackled to life over their radios.
"Wolfsbane Squadron, you are cleared for immediate takeoff. Proceed southeast to Lumidouce. AWACS Thunderspike will contact you en route. Good hunting."
"Wilco, Petrichor Tower. Wolfsbane is rolling," Emilie responded.
One by one, the Tiger IIs roared down the runway, afterburners blazing as they lifted off into the sky, banking southeast toward the embattled naval port.
Chaos at Petrichor Air Base
Back on the ground, the situation at Petrichor Air Base was growing more chaotic.
Inside the operations building, Captain Maksim had just finished a tense phone call with Teyvat's central command in Marcotte City. He slowly set the handset down, exhaling as he tapped his fingers against the receiver.
Across from him, Houallet, one of the senior officers at the base, noticed his expression. "Bad news, I take it?"
Maksim let out a slow, measured breath before speaking. "There's no point in keeping you in the dark, Houallet… Natlan has declared war on us."
Houallet's eyes widened slightly, but he remained composed. "...That's confirmed?"
Maksim gave a slow nod. "HQ just relayed the official statement. And as we speak… Lumidouce Naval Port is under attack."
Houallet's jaw tightened.
Maksim adjusted his naval officer's cap, turning toward the door. "I need to speak with the base commander immediately."
With that, he stepped out, leaving Houallet standing in stunned silence.
After a long moment, Houallet ran a hand through his hair. This was real. The rumors, the tensions at the border… it had all been leading up to this.
Something outside caught his attention—the thunderous roar of jet engines. He walked over to the window, peeling back the blinds just enough to see.
Three F-5 Tiger IIs streaked into the sky, heading southeast.
His eyes narrowed. "...Three planes only? Where's Captain Candace's Phantom?"
As he watched the last jet vanish beyond the horizon, a feeling of unease settled in his gut.
The war had begun.
1:32 PM – Over Lumidouce Naval Port
Thirty minutes had passed since takeoff. The three F-5E Tiger IIs of Wolfsbane Squadron were now streaking over the azure waters of the Fontaine coastline, the sprawling naval harbor of Lumidouce coming into view beneath them.
Mona, at the front of the formation, gave the order.
"Everyone, drop your external tanks."
Emilie's gloved finger pressed the jettison button. A slight jolt vibrated through her airframe as the centerline external fuel tank detached and tumbled away. A moment later, two more tanks dropped from under the wings. She caught glimpses of the other two pilots doing the same as their aircraft shed the extra weight.
Now, their Tigers were leaner. Lighter. Ready for combat.
The radio crackled to life.
"Wolfsbane, this is AWACS Thunderspike. Listen up, I'll make this quick."
The controller's voice was sharp and businesslike, cutting straight to the point.
"We've received reports that Natlan aircraft launched a surprise attack on our naval harbor here."
Emilie's eyes narrowed as she scanned the port ahead. Even at their altitude, she could see smoke rising from multiple points across the docks. Fires raged. Explosions bloomed among the moored warships.
"The situation is critical—widespread panic throughout the harbor and the neighboring naval city."
"Ships from the 2nd Fontaine Naval Fleet are docked at the port and are sustaining heavy fire."
Emilie gritted her teeth. This wasn't just some small skirmish. It was a full-scale attack.
"Your mission today is to provide aerial support for the fleet so they can escape the bay."
"And among the ships..."
There was a pause.
"Is the Fontaine Ousia-Class Carrier—The Arkhe."
Mona's breath hitched slightly at the name.
"It is the flagship carrier of the Fontaine Navy."
"The third flagship of Teyvat."
"And, more importantly, a critical combat asset."
Thunderspike's voice carried the weight of the situation in every syllable.
"Protect The Arkhe at all costs."
Emilie was the first to acknowledge.
"Wolfsbane Four, roger."
Teppei followed.
"Wolfsbane Three, affirmative."
Then Mona.
"Understood, Wolfsbane Two."
Thunderspike continued.
"Alright. Starseer, you're leading the formation."
Mona exhaled.
"Negative, Thunderspike."
Before anyone could react, she smoothly banked left, throttling back slightly to let Emilie fly ahead.
Emilie looked to her left, frowning. "Mona? What are you doing?"
Mona's voice was firm. "You take the lead, Raven. I'll fly by your wing."
There was a sharp sigh from AWACS Thunderspike.
"Second Lieutenant Megistus, listen to orders! This is war!"
Mona tensed but didn't waver.
"No… Emilie is leading. I'll protect her six o'clock."
Her grip on the flight stick tightened.
"And I'm not losing another lead flight."
Before the argument could escalate, another voice cut through the comms—female, assertive, and laced with urgency.
"Quit screwing around, guys! We're officially at war!"
At that moment, a sleek, swept-wing aircraft shot past them.
An F-14A Tomcat.
Their IFFs blinked and updated.
Fontaine Maritime Defense Force (FMDF)
Callsign: Tempest
The pilot's voice returned, commanding but composed.
"The enemies are all over the place. We have to move!"
Teppei clicked his radio. "I… uhh… I'll stick to Emilie's tail… Thanks."
The woman introduced herself.
"This is Captain Mualani of Strike Fighter Squadron 28 (VFA-28), callsign Tempest."
"Engaging the next enemy formation!"
Before Emilie could respond, new transmissions flooded the frequency—this time from the embattled ships below.
"This is the AA cruiser Souverain! The ship ahead is blocking us!"
"Please move away!"
Thunderspike's voice cut through the chaos.
"Wolfsbane, you're cleared to engage!"
A sharp grin formed on Emilie's lips as she slammed the throttle forward.
"Raven, engaging!"
Mona followed, her voice steady.
"Starseer, engaging!"
Then Teppei.
"Herring, engaging!"
The three F-5Es dove into the fray.
As Emilie lined up her first set of targets, Mona's voice came through again.
"Emilie, I'll cover your six. Is that okay?"
Emilie focused on her target but responded.
"No need, Mona. We should disperse and take out the targets."
There was a brief silence, then Mona spoke again, her voice tense.
"I promised I wouldn't lose another lead flight. And that means I won't lose you, Emilie."
Emilie sighed but relented.
"Alright, alright. Fine."
The battle for Lumidouce Naval Port had begun.
Emilie locked onto her first targets—two A-6E Intruders flying in tight formation.
A sharp tone blared in her headset.
"Fox Two! Fox Two!"
She squeezed the trigger, sending two missiles streaking through the sky.
As she banked right to line up her next attack, the first missile found its mark. The Intruder erupted into flames, debris scattering in all directions. Shrapnel from the explosion ripped through the second aircraft, shearing off its right wing. The crippled jet spun wildly before plummeting into the ocean.
The Allied radio was pure chaos.
"The tanker ship just exploded! Where the hell is the fire boat? It's spreading to our ship!"
"Nobody saw them coming?!"
"NO!"
"Shit! This is not a drill!"
"OH, THANKS FOR THE HEADS-UP, YOU IMBECILE!"
Emilie barely had time to process the frantic chatter before spotting another Intruder, this one being pursued by a friendly aircraft. She lined up the shot.
She squeezed the trigger.
"Guns!"
Tracer rounds ripped into the A-6E's cockpit and wings. A second later, the left wing tore clean off, sending the jet spiraling into the sea.
"Raven's got the target!" she called over the radio.
"Thanks, Raven! But there's more incoming! West of the bridge!"
"Copy! Heading there now!"
She yanked the stick left, rolling hard toward the bridge. Her IFF updated—two more fast-moving A-6E Intruders closing in.
She dove low, skimming just above the water.
Firewalled the throttles.
Afterburners roared to life.
The sheer force of her speed kicked up water behind her as she punched beneath the bridge.
Then—
A lock.
A tone.
"Fox Two! Fox Two!"
Two missiles roared off the rails. Emilie pulled hard on the stick, rocketing into a near-vertical climb.
Seconds later—distant explosions.
AWACS Thunderspike confirmed it.
"Splash two, Raven! Good work!"
Teppei's voice cut in, full of amusement.
"Hey, Emilie, you know how to give orders, right?"
She keyed her mic as she leveled out.
"Yeah. And I say—disperse!"
"Cool! Following orders! Herring breaking away!"
The enemy radio crackled.
"Don't let the vessels escape! Sink them all!"
Then the Allied frequency.
"It's time for our AEGIS ship to live up to its name."
"Wolfsbane, we need cover until we break out of the port!"
Emilie keyed in.
"Understood! We'll handle it!"
Mona's voice cut through.
"Starseer's got a splash!"
Teppei followed.
"Herring's got a target!"
Mona stole a glance at the burning harbor below.
Her eyes widened.
"The whole damn harbor's in flames!"
Teppei exhaled sharply.
"What the fuck happened here? This is worse than I thought."
The radio crackled again.
"This is the port captain! All vessels—depart immediately!"
Another voice, frantic.
"I don't care if we take hull damage! We need to clear out NOW!"
"Escape the port and take evasive actions! We can't afford any mistakes!"
Then, the voice of The Arkhe's crew.
"This is the carrier Arkhe! We're approaching the port exit!"
The port captain responded instantly.
"Roger, Arkhe! You take top priority!"
Above the carrier, the sky was alive—missiles streaking, explosions blooming in the air.
In the chaos, Emilie had racked up six aerial kills.
Mona bagged three.
Teppei secured two.
Mona keyed her radio.
"Emilie, do you have eyes on The Arkhe?"
"Affirm. I spotted it near the bridge."
"Alright. That's good. I see it too. Looks like we're still in this fight."
An A-6 Intruder streaked past Emilie, climbing sharply.
She snapped her F-5 Tiger II into a hard left bank and pulled back, chasing after the bomber.
Her throttles slammed forward to full military power. The twin J85 engines roared as she clawed for altitude, closing the gap.
Then—
A lock.
A tone.
"Fox Two!"
Two Sidewinders streaked off the rails. Emilie immediately broke away, rolling left to avoid debris.
A second later, the A-6 vanished in a fireball, its wreckage tumbling toward the sea.
The radio crackled with chaos.
"Thunderspike! We need an update!"
AWACS Thunderspike responded, calm but firm.
"We have four more bogeys! Bearing 174! But there might be more inbound!"
A voice groaned over the comms.
"Oh, come on! We need your radar—we're blind without it!"
Then another, panicked.
"I'm abandoning ship! We're sitting ducks here!"
A furious response snapped back.
"COME BACK HERE, YOU DONKEY!"
Then, the update they had been waiting for.
"The Arkhe has cleared the port! She's in open waters!"
A cheer rippled across the radio.
"Bon voyage, Arkhe! Stay safe out there!"
Mona's voice cut in next.
"Starseer's got another target!"
Emilie keyed her mic.
"Raven's got three more!"
Teppei followed up with a smug tone.
"Two more down for the motormouth!"
Then—another voice. Mualani
"That's my carrier! Moving in to defend!"
AWACS Thunderspike immediately countered.
"Negative! Tempest! remain in the southern sector and defend our territory!"
"But that's my carrier!" she shot back.
Thunderspike ignored the protest.
"Wolfsbane, defend and provide cover for The Arkhe!"
Mualani let out a frustrated growl before forcing herself to calm down.
"Damn it, you pig-headed son of a—... Argh! Fine! I'm fine."
Her voice softened, but the tension was still there.
"Don't let me down, Wolfsbane. We're counting on you."
Emilie keyed her mic.
"You can bet on us, Tempest."
Another A-6 dove straight for The Arkhe.
Emilie immediately rolled over and yanked her F-5 into pursuit, throttle maxed.
She lined up the shot.
Squeezed the trigger.
A burst of 20mm tracer fire shredded the A-6's tail. The rear empennage tore away, sending the aircraft into an uncontrollable pitch-up.
At high speed, the Intruder violently disintegrated mid-air before erupting into a fireball.
Mona whistled over the radio.
"Nice kill, Captain!"
The comms exploded with even more chaos.
"ENEMY ANTI-SHIP MISSILES INBOUND! BEGIN PHALANX FIRE!"
In the background, Emilie could hear the rapid brrrrt of the CIWS opening up.
Then—
"NO, STOP! YOU'RE FIRING INTO THE DOCKS, YOU IDIOT!"
AWACS Thunderspike cut through the noise.
"The fleet is leaving the port area! Good work!"
"Fly along The Arkhe, Wolfsbane! Provide cover and exit the area!"
The trio adjusted course, heading west—away from the burning harbor.
Below them, a sea of chaos.
Wrecked planes.
Ships ablaze.
Survivors struggling in the water, their cries for help barely audible over the radio static.
Mona glanced down—and her breath caught.
"Th-Those people... o-on the waves..."
Teppei's voice was uncharacteristically quiet.
"E-Emilie… did you see that?"
Emilie exhaled, gripping the stick tighter.
"Yeah… I saw it."
The radio crackled to life.
A calm but firm voice came through—The Arkhe's captain.
"This is the captain of the aircraft vessel Arkhe. My congratulations to all vessels that made it out!"
"As captain, I am now establishing a provisional battle fleet."
"There are still a few enemy attack vessels blocking our path."
"So may I kindly request aerial support to clear them out for us?"
Emilie keyed her mic.
"Of course, Captain."
AWACS Thunderspike followed up.
"Looks like you understand the objective. Commence the operation!"
Emilie nodded, eyes scanning the sea below.
"Raven, engaging!"
She quickly directed her wingmen.
"Herring, Starseer—break formation and spread out! Take out all attack vessels!"
Teppei responded immediately.
"Wilco. Herring, dispersing!"
Mona followed.
"Roger. Starseer, dispersing!"
The trio split up, their F-5 Tiger IIs banking away from each other.
Emilie spotted the first target—an enemy attack vessel steaming dead ahead. She shoved the stick forward, diving toward the target as the UGB reticle lined up on her HUD.
Then—
The crosshairs aligned.
She pressed the release.
"Bombs away!"
A single UGB tumbled from her underbelly hardpoint. Seconds later, a massive explosion engulfed the vessel. Emilie pulled up, climbing through the rising fire and debris unscathed.
She glanced left—another attack vessel. This one was moving, heading straight for The Arkhe.
Not on my watch.
She banked hard left, rolling her F-5 over the ship's position. Then, she pulled into a steep climb, her altimeter spinning upward.
3,000 feet.
4,000.
5,000.
She yanked the stick again, inverting into a dive. The nose of her F-5 snapped downward.
The reticle locked onto the vessel.
It was still moving. She adjusted, leading the target slightly.
Then—
"Bombs away! Bombs away!"
Two UGBs dropped in succession as Emilie pulled up hard.
A thunderous explosion tore the ship apart.
AWACS Thunderspike's voice crackled through the radio.
"That's a kill, Raven!"
Then Mona:
"Starseer's got two!"
Teppei followed.
"Herring's got one more!"
Then—
Silence.
An eerie, weighty silence.
AWACS Thunderspike spoke again.
"This is Thunderspike. All enemy attack vessels are down."
"The battle fleet is now in open waters. Good work, people!"
Emilie eased back on the throttle, letting her wingmen form up.
Teppei's voice broke the quiet.
"Say, Emilie—how's it feel to lead a flight?"
Emilie chuckled.
"Feels good, not gonna lie."
Teppei whooped, his excitement shaking through his mic.
"Awesome! Glad to hear it, Emilie!"
Emilie shook her head, grinning.
"Alright, people. Let's head back to Petrichor."
Teppei started counting.
"One… two… three…"
"One, two, three!"
"One, two, three planes!"
His voice turned lighter.
"Count 'em up, guys! We're all safe!"
Then, more somberly—
"Can't wait to tell Candace about this once they pluck her out of the water."
For the first time, Mona chuckled.
"Can't wait to tell her that too, Teppei."
Emilie nodded.
"You got that right. Come on. Let's head home."
The three planes banked left in unison, heading southwest—back toward Petrichor.
Hours later…
The trio returned to Petrichor.
Unscathed.
Unharmed.
And in high spirits.
They had accomplished their mission, secured the fleet's retreat, and returned in one piece. That alone was a victory worth feeling good about.
But their mood wouldn't last.
They made their way to the base commander's office to report in, still shaking off the adrenaline from the battle.
Yet the moment they entered the room, something felt… off.
The air was heavy.
The base commander sat slumped in his chair, shoulders low, face grim.
Emilie spoke first.
"Commander?"
The man looked up, eyes dull.
"Emilie..."
"Teppei..."
"Mona..."
His voice carried a weight they hadn't heard before.
Emilie frowned.
"What's happening? Where's Captain Candace?"
The commander let out a deep sigh.
"She's missing..."
The trio's eyes widened.
"Wh-What!?" they said in unison.
The commander stood, running a hand down his face before speaking.
"The Sea Monster rescue team arrived at the scene where Candace ejected."
"But all they found… was her parachute. And pieces of her aircraft."
A pause. Then—
"We suspect the spy vessel we didn't attack this morning took her in as a POW."
Silence fell over the room.
The three exchanged looks, trying to process the revelation.
Candace…
Their leader. Their mentor.
Was missing.
A prisoner of war.
The commander sighed, rubbing his temples before slumping back into his chair.
"You three are dismissed. Stand by for further orders."
The trio stiffened, giving a slow salute before stepping out.
None of them spoke.
None of them even tried.
They didn't return to the mess hall, nor the hangars.
They went straight to their quarters.
Emilie walked in, shutting the door behind her. She placed her helmet down on the desk, then removed her glasses, setting them beside it.
Running a hand through her hair, she sat on the edge of her bed—then let herself fall back against it.
She exhaled, staring at the ceiling.
"Great... Just fucking great..."