After a ten-hour flight, the boys had neared the Andromeda's position. They radioed that they were inbound and were preparing to ditch into the sea. As they set up for approach, engine one sputtered and died...the plane was low on fuel...then engine two followed along with the last two engines. Noah radioed for an emergency landing and assisted Tony in gliding towards the sea. With no engines left, they prayed for a miracle - a safe landing amidst the vast expanse of water that awaited them.
"Confirm idle." Tony said.
"Engines idle." Noah replied
"Solaris 1 and 2 the runway is clear." The airboss confirmed.
"we won't make it..." Tony said, "Saviola confirm that the emergency power and emergency generator is online."
"Online." Carl confirmed.
Tony and Noah clicked their seatbelts on and prepared for their landing as the Andromeda's airboss offered futile suggestions, "We're gonna end up in the sea." Tony said bluntly. He maneuvered the old airliner as carefully as he could to maintain its glide, "Flaps down...flaps down please."
Noah nodded and put the flaps down, "Flaps at 20 degrees, want more?"
"No this is fine.." Tony looked over to his friends, "Any ideas, guys?"
"I got nothin'" Carl shrugged.
"Nope." Noah shook his head.
As the 707 made contact with the water's surface, the rescue helicopters swiftly arrived to retrieve the boys and Kira, ensuring their safe return to the Andromeda. Meanwhile, the old airliner gradually descended beneath the waves, concluding its final chapter in the depths of the ocean.
"KIRA!!" Alysia shouted between her sobs, embracing her sister.
"Alysia...my little Alysia." She giggled, "Look at you...you're an aviator now aren't you?"
"Yes indeed!" She smiled, "Are you proud of me?"
"Beyond proud.."
"I hoped i'd be the one to find you but it looks like these humans did it.." Alysia looked over to the trio.
"Carl was there for me when I was in that hellscape just as I was there for him...but it was a concentrated effort between all of us that we escaped." Alysia sighed.
Amidst the chaos, Tony, Noah and Carl found solace in their accomplishment of not just surviving, but also bringing a torn family back together. As a medical crew swiftly transported Kira to the infirmary on a stretcher, they both felt a sense of relief and fulfillment knowing that their actions had made a positive impact on someone's life.
"Bella!", Noah opened his arms as she ran towards him, embracing him fully with her arms tightly wrapped around his body while he was 'squished' in her bosom fair. "Oh yes, this is peak life.", He laughed.
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"I'm so glad you're okay!", She said, a feeling of concern in her voice.
"Me too, girl...me too.", He sighed in relief. "I was worried that I'd never see you again.", He buried his face further into her chest while his arms did the best they could to embrace her.
"When we get back, we're gonna get some drinks! I know an awesome bar." Valentina giggled.
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In the town square, Alysia, Carl, Valentina, and Bella were enjoying a fun date at a local cafe. Alysia appeared more comfortable talking to Carl and the Morosini sisters were gradually becoming more acquainted with Tony and Noah. The group had truly hit it off and they chatted about their pasts and future plans. They seemed to have bonded well and created a pleasant atmosphere around them.
"Carl...my sister wrote this to you." Alysia handed Carl a letter.
Carl opened the letter and read through it, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile as he continued. Kira showed her appreciation for protecting her when they were imprisoned and had grown fond of him. Carl's heart swelled with joy and a newfound warmth as he carefully tucked the letter away - it was a testament to the connection he had formed with Kira, a reminder of the bond they shared and the gratitude she felt towards him.
"Valentina can I ask you something?" Tony looked at her.
"Of course, you can. What's your question?" Valentina giggled while setting down her glass.
Tony blushed as he worked up the courage, "T-They say when a Holstaur brushes her chest up against someone, it means that she has feelings for them. Is that true?"
She blushed, "I... I can't lie. Tony... I do... have feelings for you... since the day we met if you can believe it." She finally said, looking away from his gaze.
"Would you be my RIO?"
"I-I'd love that!" Valentina blushed.
"What about you, Noah...would you let someone fly with you?" Bella asked coyly.
"Well...", Noah looked at Bella. "I suppose...", He then turned his face to her. "...would you be interested in pursuing our enemies and face many dangers, with an impending risk of death, yet also of great success and countless glories, ma'am?", He asked her, chuckling, "We could use someone to drop the kabooms anyway."
"If it's with you then....yeah." She chuckled.
"Ain't you two lucky...I got a special gal in mind to fly with but she's gotta recover first." Carl chuckled.
Oliver arrived in his green military issue Dodge M880 and honked the horn repeatedly to lure the group inside. They entered the vehicle, reluctant to spoil their fun yet compliant all the same. Oliver drove them to the airbase, he had something special to show them. When they arrived, Tears of Fear was playing on the radio as they entered the hangar. Three F-14A Tomcats stood side by side with their wings in the oversweep position.
The Tomcats were painted in the VF-302 livery with their distinctive setting sun on the tail, "Tomcats...we got Tomcats." Tony passed his hand along the nose of the jet.
"There's more coming...the squadron is supposed to get 12 of them."
"Highway?", Noah looked at his buddy, grinning...certain that he'd catch the reference.
To the danger zone!" Tony winked.
"Hell yeah, Iceman!", Noah laughed, high-fiving him. "We gonna kick the tires and light the fires!"
The gang prepared for their briefing at the airbase's ready room. They celebrated the arrival of the F-14s while bidding farewell to the phasing out F-4s. However, the joy was short-lived as news of Zetros declaring war on Wyvernia and pledging support to Auras in their fight against the kingdom was announced. The stakes were high, and the challenges ahead seemed even greater.
"So what does this mean for us?" Tony asked while preparing his notepad.
"It means that the Zetrosian government will provide Auras with all the resources that they need...weaponry, training, maintenance for said weapons. They're no longer a pariah state." Commander Kogan explained.
"So this is a full scale war? How strong is Zetros? Their economy hasn't been doing too well.." Bella added.
"When you've got slaves and you're an airship builder all that kind of falls by the wayside, Lieutenant Morosini..."
"But we haven't started the transitionary training to the F-14s, sir.", Noah was worried. "Worst-case scenario, we'll need to keep the F-4's for the time being, or else...", He sighed. "If we cannot fly to the best of our abilities, any edge we may have with the F-14's technological superiority will be useless."
Captain Ainsworth sighed and interjected, "It takes about three to nine months to train a pilot on a new type. The war had just begun so I suppose if they're given the training they need then they can rejoin the fleet." She sighed, "With those Mirage F1s taking to the skies, the F-4 is showing its age."
"We can get it done in three months, right guys?" Tony looked at his friends
"3 to 9 months?", Noah was perplexed. "But even so, we'll still need the F-4's, we can only learn so much in a single day. If they strike us when we don't even know how our new bird works...it's gonna be a massacre!", He was tense. "I don't think they're gonna wait 3 to 9 months to attack us just so we can learn how to fly these Tomcats."
"Andromeda's sister, Exxelsior already has her Tomcats but even then, VF-302 isn't fully ready to deploy until we get rid of the final F-4s." Tony sighed but he understood where Noah was coming from.
"Oliver may be a vampire but he tends to have a big mouth." Kogan sighed, "Those first Tomcats are for training...You are all going on a final cruise with the Phantom before transitioning to the Tomcat. Saviola..you'll need a RIO...do you have anyone in mind?"
Carl didn't hesitate when he picked his RIO, "Kira Celuchu." He said quickly.
"Alysia's elder sister? Well before she was captured, she was an F-4 RIO so it shouldn't be too difficult for her." Kogan sighed
Despite the low morale due to the age of their planes, the gang headed to their quarters after being dismissed by Kogan. They knew this would be their last cruise with the old Phantoms, but they remained determined to make the best out of the situation until they could receive training on the newer aircraft.