Janus 3rd, 500AP (After Punishment)
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In the aftermath of the Divine Punishment and the subsequent global flood, humanity adapted and rebuilt their lives on the remaining landmasses of Earth. With the rise of airships, they overcame the challenges posed by the vast amount of water surrounding them. This new era led to a transformation of Earth into a new world, where history was rewritten and the planet was now known as Wearth by historians.
After the societal reconstruction and the emergence of new nations like Wyvernia, Maidsea, and Esknar, the planet began to thrive once again, with repopulation and economic recovery taking place over the following century. However, this progress was marred by Maidsey's transformation into a Pirate Republic known as the Legion of Auras, abandoning its previous democratic system.
Antonio "Tony" Martinez, Noah Stryker, and Carl Saviola, originally from Maidsea, found themselves as refugees in the Kingdom of Wyvernia after their nation collapsed. Despite being humans in a predominantly demi-human nation, they were warmly welcomed and eventually joined the Wyvernian Navy as pilots once they had come of age. The trio's skills and dedication proved their worth, and they were treated with respect and equal opportunities, regardless of their origin. They were soon assigned to the HMWS Wyvernia and flew the F-4N Phantom II.
The Andromeda was the most prestigous airship in the Wyvernian Navy's fleet. She was a rigid zellepin over 800 feet long with a flight deck spanning the top of her envelope and an island to the starboard side for air traffic control and officer flag facilities. The trio walked through the hangar and were shocked to see the varierty of early Cold War era aircraft from A-1 Skyraiders to F-4 Phantom IIs. The trio eventually found their way to the ready room where they would meet the ship's captain.
The captain entered the ready room to introduce herself to the pilots and enliste crew "Greetings and welcome aboard the Andremoda. I am Captain Raphaela Ainsworth and this is the HMWS Andromeda. I hope my crew have been kind to you considering the situation at hand."
"A lady captain..." Carl nodded in approval.
"Shut up!" Noah whispered to Carl.
The trio sat down with the others for the briefing. The Legion of Auras had stepped up its attacks on allied shipping and Wyvernia was now on a war footing. As tensions rose between Wyvernia'd allies and the Legion of Auras, the gloves were about to come off. With the increased attacks on allied shipping, Wyvernia had mobilized its fleet for escort duties, while the Phantoms were tasked with defending against enemy fighters and airships. It was a pivotal moment where everyone's role was defined, and the success of their mission relied on their combined efforts as well as the efforts of the allied nations.
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The announcement from King Celuchu marks the start of a hostile conflict, signaling a shift in diplomatic relations and potentially leading to significant consequences for both parties involved. The declaration of war will likely result in mobilization of troops, heightened tensions, and a heightened state of alert for the Kingdom and its citizens.
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The day before their departure, the boys headed to the local library. As Tony looked for a book, he was thrown off by a rather angelic yet familiar voice, "Find everything okay?" She was a woman of remarkable height, with flowing red hair tied back in a ponytail. Her cow ears twitched as she smiled at him. And Tony was lost in her heterochromatic blue and green eyes.
"Valentina?" Tony chuckled awkwardly, "How are you?"
"Doing pretty good, Tony...Just passed the aptitude test this weekend. Mama was a bit reluctant but I'm now a pilot...I didn't think it'd happen but my dream came true. Sure beats working at the library for the rest of my days." She giggled.
Noah looked over at Bella working on her computer terminal. The two may have been related but she looked slightly different with shoulder length black hair, her bangs covering her blue eyes. While Valentina was cheery, the latter seemed stoic and dedicated to her work even if it was considered mundane.
"Is Bella joining you?" Noah asked.
"Yeah! We still need an assignment but hopefully, it's the Andromeda. See you up there..." Valentina winked.
"Erk! Y-Yeah, see you in the skies." Tony chuckled awkwardly
Carl snickered at the thought of two Holstaurs flying a jet, "Be careful up there, ladies." He said before receiving a slap to the back of the head, "What the hell, Noah!?"
"Don't be an ass, fool." Noah shook his head.
As they reached the town square, they were captivated by the vibrant energy surrounding them. The streets were bustling with people rushing to catch the monorail, and the futuristic design of the cityscape was a sight to behold. They couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nostalgia, knowing that this would be their last day in the capital before embarking on a new adventure.
"I'm gonna miss it here..." Tony said.
"That Valentina girl's kinda cute ain't she?" Carl changed the subject, "I saw how you reacted when she told you she's about to get her wings. She seems to be your type...you always had a thing for the big ladies." He teased.
"Well she's really tall....and buxom oh who am I kidding, she's stacked!" Tony laughed.
"That's not the proper word...you mean...", Noah pulled a suave pose. "...thicc.", He replied. "Her sister, Bella, too. Lovely ladies. Although I don't know if they'd fit in a fighter...", He chuckled, a bit embarrassed.
"I think they'll be just fine depending on the plane they put them in. They're close to exceeding the height limit in full flight gear but they can get by. Plus they also kind of buck the stereotype that Holstaurs are dimwitted." Tony sighed.
"Lots of oil and some very tight clothes I would guess." Carl chuckled before receiving two slaps to the back of the head.
"Shut up, Carl!" Noah and Tony said in unison.