Ace Combat Zero: The Aether Guard

[Katamari Roller]

"I really love this job. Y'know, being out with planes and mechanical duties are really my things. I'm just so happy they took me in. And the payments, those half depend on the pilots. Such as you, your payments really help me out, but others don't even bother to pay me extra..."

Miranda chuckled in her mind at Mayana's complaint. True, not all pilots appreciated the importance of ground maintenance. Then again, those pilots would not live long anyway. A fair trade was what it was. Of course, fairness in war had a different meaning. A normal person would not consider paying for one's blunder with one's life something 'fair'. But in war, if you didn't show any kind of appreciation for the ground crews... why should they care if the job was done properly?

"How about you?"

Ah, that question brought a few memories. The memories of why she did this job. Her fallen comrades, the very reason for her existence since she met them... the melancholy borne from such thoughts was something she savoured heartfully.

"It's good... it's very good. Ustio pays well for this job. But if you aren't familiar with it, you would think that risking one's life isn't worth the money. Now, I'm not gonna fall into clichés about the beauty of flying... but... there is definitely something up there that pulls you up..."

 

[Wyldfire]

Kayla watched Mayana take off for her dinner date. The joys of youth and excitement. Times like this made Kayla feel so very old. Pilots just kept getting younger and younger. Same with the ground crew. Even her nurse/receptionist Cindy was a baby. Kayla had to laugh at herself. She remembered being as young as these people. There were some pleasant memories along with bad ones in Dr. Martins' life. The bad memories were why she drank and smoked too much, not to mention her cavalier attitude towards relationships.

She let her thoughts drift as she went back to her quarters. She got a T.V. dinner out of her fridge and put it in the oven and set a timer. She then went to her room and took off the uniform. She actually doubted that she'd see Miranda tonight considering the age and cuteness of the "competition" for her time. Kayla couldn't blame Miranda really, what with her being an old battle axe and the mechanic so much younger and having more in common. But none the less, she kept the stockings on but took the garter belt off. next came the bra and panties, to be replaced by a black lace thong backed teddy and attached the stockings to the teddy's garter straps. She changed from the regulation two inch heels with a pair with four and a half inch heels. Over this she put on a flowing purple silk broomstick skirt with matching blouse and a black woven leather belt. As she waited for her dinner she went to her still and poured herself a tall vodka and lit a cigarette.

She looked about her quarters as she smoked and sipped her drink. These were the perks of being a civilian in military employ and a doctor. If she wanted to she could completely ignore the military staff until they crossed her office doorstep. The old doctor had done just that claiming he worked with barbarians. Kayla couldn't do that. She was too sociable of an animal and ignoring the rest of the base is a good way of assuring no social life.

The timer went off and Kayla pulled out her dinner. Mmm, salisbury steak and mashed potatoes. The vodka made the food palatable.

 

[Kaskasero_Kunai]

As she lay in her bed, her fingers probing, rubbing, Luisa's tongue flicked over her lower lip where Uriem had bitten down oh so carefully but intently, deliciously.

In her dream, Luisa told Uriem that yes, he was wrong. She recalled the strength she could feel in his arms, his hands moving along her back, his calm, warmth. Instead of moving away, she pressed herself, molded herself to him, maneuvering him away from the door and closing it as they moved towards the bed.

She imagined pushing him down and back onto the matress, climbing over him to straddle his pelvis. Luisa's fingers became slick as she dreamed of slipping the robe off her shoulders, undoing the knot to remove it as Uriem's hands reached up to caress her breasts. As a pilot, she felt fortunate not to have overly large breasts; they were small but pert; she imagined they'd easily fit in Uriem's hands.

An almost inaudible moan escaped her lips as she relished the fantasy her mind had crafted.

 

[RedMageNeko]

Outside, Uriem was entering the second part of his routine, sweat running down his neck as he practiced. But in Lusia's mind, it was something different.

Smiling up at her as she stradled him, his fingers, rough from work in the countryside before he joined the air force, savored the smooth skin beneath them, the way they fit so perfectly in his hands. Feeling her nipples under his palm, he smiled softly, rubbing his palms over them as he leaned forward to kiss her stomach gently.

 

[Kaskasero_Kunai]

In her bed, sweat began to bead on Luisa's brow as she imagined Uriem's rough hands on her chest, his fingers gliding over her flesh, his mouth on her stomach, exploring her with his tongue.

Her left hand went to the pull tab of his flight suit, drawing the slider down...

 

[RedMageNeko]

In her mind, a tone, yet not overly muscular chest, was exposed to her hands, Uriem smiling into her soft skin as his tounge darted out, tickling her belly button as he moved his hands, teasing the underside of her pert breasts as he took her nipples between his fingers, pinching, teasing them gently.

 

[Wyldfire]

It had been a long flight but the air was the only place that he felt at home. Losing his entire family to a surprise Belkan attack so many years ago, the sky was the only place he felt closest to them, and the only place he felt really safe. The base was finally in sight and Stephen reduced speed and velocity accordingly, everything with him was by the books. Finally, his wheels hit and lighting up reverse thrusters and increasing drag the iron tank of the skies can to a halt.

With it being night the landing area was quite silent besides for mechanics and such pulling in some late hours. As he hopped out of his cockpit and landed softly on the ground a member of the landing crew directed him to where he was to report and assured him his plane would be taken care of. With a nod Stephen walked off with a unsteady step, he was jittery when he was on the ground.

However, he made it to the registration and filled out the necessary papers and did all the other formalities that were required of him. But, that was not the end of it, he had to see the medic and get checked? The last thing he wanted to do was be in the care of a medic who would have to ask him questions he did not want to answer. Making his way slowly to the medics quarters he hoped it was too late for the medic to be in the office. Knocking on the door he looked in, Hello? Is...umm anyone here?

Kayla had just finished her dinner and poured herself another drink when a knock on her door caught her attention. "Come in, it's unlocked," she said.

 

[Kaskasero_Kunai]

In her dream, Luisa arched her back with a sharp intake of breath at the sensations her fantasy was providing her.

She rolled onto her side, her hand reaching into Uriem's open flightsuit, searching, her imagination continuing to fill in the blanks for facets of Ventril's body she didn't yet know.

 

[RedMageNeko]

A groan escaped the dream Uriem as her soft hand found his ache, his lips moving to her pert breasts as she felt the thickness under her fingers, almost to much for her to wrap them around him.

Pulling her closer, he became more passionate, his lips tasting every inch of her sweet, soft body as she stradled him.

 

[Dynosius]

"It's good... it's very good. Ustio pays well for this job. But if you aren't familiar with it, you would think that risking one's life isn't worth the money. Now, I'm not gonna fall into clichés about the beauty of flying... but... there is definitely something up there that pulls you up..."

Mayana smiled, taking a bite out of her fillet. The crust was delicious and the meat itself was tender and masterfully cooked. She listened to Miranda with genuine interest. She herself had always wanted to be a pilot, loving the aircrafts and all. Unfortunately for her, Mayana had airsickness and couldn't stand the feeling of the G-forces pulling on her body.

"Y'know, I tried to fly once, taking a few lessons back at the academy. They never really got that cockpit clean though..." Mayana wasn't particular in details, not wanting to ruin their appetite. Which would be a waste, 'cause the food was just wonderful.

"So, how's your fillet tasting?"

 

[Kaskasero_Kunai]

In her room, Luisa sat up in bed, breathing deeply, her skin flushed and hair a tangled mess. She blinked, looking around her room and gathering her herself. Noticing where her hand was, she quickly wiped it off on the thin sheet covering the bed, which she later removed.

While she was up, she headed to the bathroom again, rinsing her hands and splashing some cold water on her face. This is ridiculous, she thought to herself.

 

[Starsailor2804]

Kayla had just finished her dinner and poured herself another drink when a knock on her door caught her attention. "Come in, it's unlocked," she said.

Stephen entered the office at the voice of a woman. By now his nerves had calmed greatly and he hadn't really any concern about talking and being in contact. It always seemed that his uneasyness on the ground only lasted a few minutes, but on the ground he was truly just as dangerous. What most didn't know was he hid his real self, often to bring trouble as the strong would always prey on the weak. However, they didn't know that this one who appeared weak was actually luring them into his trap. He enjoyed violence and testing himself against challengers.

Waving away the smoke that seemed to head his direction in a thick cloud Stephen held back a cough as well. What the heck kind of operation was going on around here? This was the medics office, right? Looking around the corner he saw a woman who was not only much older, but definately not dressed in a 'uniform' he would expect for a medic. In fact, she was very barely dressed, and he thought for the moment she might have been expecting someone else. "Oh, I....I didn't mean to intrude...I....umm maybe I should come back at another time."

Stephen felt himself growing flushed, and not only that, all his blood seemed to be running south. What exactly had he gotten himself into? Looking at the alcohol on the table by the woman, he really began to wonder. The medic smokes, drinks, and barely ways anything? This was a military operation going on here, right?

 

[RedMageNeko]

As Uriem went through the last of his movements, he panted softly, a thin sheen of sweat running down his face and neck from the long workout. It had helped him think a little, thankfully. And it had helped him decide what he was going to do after the next mission. As he walked back to his room, he spoke softly to himself, smiling. "I wonder if that little resturant by the border is still there ..."

 

[Wyldfire]

Stephen entered the office at the voice of a woman. By now his nerves had calmed greatly and he hadn't really any concern about talking and being in contact. It always seemed that his uneasyness on the ground only lasted a few minutes, but on the ground he was truly just as dangerous. What most didn't know was he hid his real self, often to bring trouble as the strong would always prey on the weak. However, they didn't know that this one who appeared weak was actually luring them into his trap. He enjoyed violence and testing himself against challengers.

Waving away the smoke that seemed to head his direction in a thick cloud Stephen held back a cough as well. What the heck kind of operation was going on around here? This was the medics office, right? Looking around the corner he saw a woman who was not only much older, but definately not dressed in a 'uniform' he would expect for a medic. In fact, she was very barely dressed, and he thought for the moment she might have been expecting someone else. "Oh, I....I didn't mean to intrude...I....umm maybe I should come back at another time."

Stephen felt himself growing flushed, and not only that, all his blood seemed to be running south. What exactly had he gotten himself into? Looking at the alcohol on the table by the woman, he really began to wonder. The medic smokes, drinks, and barely ways anything? This was a military operation going on here, right?

"Are we lost?" Kayla asked.

Great, another pilot. Kayla thought about his reaction and was amused. It would seem the old lady had messed up the head of another young man.

 

[Starsailor2804]

"Umm... no, I was told to report here, that all new pilots had to have a checkup." His eyes wandered all over her body, her appearance, and so forth. Folding his arms he looked around then, wondering if this was really just a joke being played on him.

 

[Kaskasero_Kunai]

I can't be flying in this condition, Luisa thought to herself, leaning against the sink, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

 

[Wyldfire]

"Umm... no, I was told to report here, that all new pilots had to have a checkup." His eyes wandered all over her body, her appearance, and so forth. Folding his arms he looked around then, wondering if this was really just a joke being played on him.

"It's a bit late in the day for a check up today," Kayla said with a smile, "Put your file on the desk and I'll see you in the morning."

She knew she'd just been checked out so what the hell right? Her stride shifted to accent the sway of her hips. "Now, if you'll excuse me I need to lock up here so I can get back to my quarters. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day." With that she began locking up the cabinets with the records in them.

"You can come see me after tomorrow's mission is dealt with. Havew a nice night young man." Kayla said as dismissively as she could.

 

[Katamari Roller]

Miranda suppressed a laugh. Barely. She had resisted her first time pretty well, but Antonio, one of her wing's comrades, always told the same story that Mayana now mentioned.

"Oh, it's tasting a bit raw... the meat is a bit too soft. But still, it is damn edible, if you ask me. Food wasn't this good at my first base. We often wondered if we got the same as the infantry..."

Time flew by, between enjoying Mayana's company, and the food. And Miranda started to realise with no small amount of joy that Mayana was one of the few Ustians she had a link to in this base. The ground crews, the miscellanious and watch personnel, and the commander of the base, all were Ustians. But Miranda hardly ever talked to them. It was mostly pilots, and nearly all of them were foreigners.

It was good to have someone of her own 'blood' close...

 

[Wyldfire]

Kayla stopped in her locking up and stood looking at the ground. Everything was set for tomorrow. Kayla hated this part of the job. She didn't mind fixing up the enemy, it gave her a chance to give the men from the enemy to see a visual perk or two and perks of comfort. Not to mention the finest Vodka this side of Belkan. Over their stya they would get the rucruitment spiels.

This happened usually while the doctor was doing rounds. She'd call in all of the really good "split tails" she could find to do nurse type duties in very revealing civilian clothes. She'd pour shots for the recovering men if it wasn't counter to their health. On these days she also brought three cartons of cigarettes in for any of the patients. And there was the big draw to recruitment. If there weren't any of this base's stuffed shirts around she would offer up that devil weed to patients with either upset stomachs or those that needed help sleeping. Hell Kayla was in the process of writing an essay on the benefits of using marijuanna as a pain killer in certain cases. Or would she have to make "medical Brownies" instead? This prompted a laugh out of the Doctor.

She was glad she realized that because of the briefing this place had been left totally wide open, including the Pharmacy. Just before the pilot came in she'd gotten there and had started locking up. She had to wonder why Cindy hadn't come back to do that but that stopped immediately. Cindy was probably partaking of her own little pre mission superstition. Kayla wondered what man or mens' bed Cindy was in. She HAD to have sex the night before a mission. If Cindy didn't get it her job in the mission never went well.

Kayla shook herself from her memories to take a look about to see if her "esoteric experimental medicine" was where it should be. Good. The jar full of pungent plant buds was exactly where she'd left it. She opened the jar and pulled a pair of large beautiful buds out and put them into a bag and into her purse before resecuring the jar in it's case and locking it uop.

And the locking up contiinued.

 

[Kaskasero_Kunai]

Dropping onto the bed again, Luisa stared at the ceiling, wondering what Uriem was doing at that moment...

Soon enough, she drifted off to sleep.

Early the next morning, she groggily dragged herself from the matress, aroused from her slumber by the incessant chimes of her alarm.

Luisa rubbed her face, grumbled, muttered and searched for some proper undergarments and a clean flightsuit.

She headed off to the mess hall for breakfast.

 

[Dynosius]

"Oh, it's tasting a bit raw... the meat is a bit too soft. But still, it is damn edible, if you ask me. Food wasn't this good at my first base. We often wondered if we got the same as the infantry..."

Mayana grinned, this was Miranda at her best: Saying things as they truly were. She liked that in a person. The truth, a thing not many people said anymore. It was always to please another. Mayana came to the conclusion that she liked Miranda. A lot. Before she knew it, the evening flew by and time got closer to the small hours.

Checking her watch, Mayana was surprised at how late it had become. Already 0.15... She didn't quite like it. Tomorrow they both had to be in perfect shape for the mission. Mayana for checking up and preparing the aircrafts, and Miranda for flying straight hours in her plane.

"Shoot, it's already the next day... And I wanted to drink a little red wine with you in my quarters..."

 

[Katamari Roller]

"Hmmmmm...hmmm... wait, WHAT!?"

Miranda looked at her wrist-watch, wide-eyed, and noticed how late it was. She cursed. "Sorry, Mayana, but I've gotta go! I promised the doc I'd talk to her! See you tomorro... awwwww, man..."

Miranda slumped forward, her elbows onto the table, grasping her head. She'd really fucked up. She should have been watching the time closely. How had it happened? Hours and hours away... fuck, fuck! Kayla was going to kill her if the enemy didn't...

 

[Katamari Roller]

9:00 AM.


Miranda scratched her hair through the shampoo, the hot water dripping down her body. The showers in Valais were, thankfully, modern enough to include a heater. Having to shower with cold water up here, in the peak of a mountain, would have been the equivalent of suicide. It was hard enough letting go of your clothes...

In an hour, Fenrir team would be meeting at the hangars to get ready for combat, deciding the combat load and rules of engagement. Introducing the two newbies to the kind of combat here would be difficult, but at least Miranda knew she was bound to survive. She could, at the very least, count on the huge guy... Vanya, to be minimally competent thanks to his previous experiences.

Meanwhile, personnel all around the base started getting busy. The ground crews were refueling the aircraft, as scouting planes left to report on any new events near the battlezone. The Sapin airforce would be launching at 10:30 AM to reach the battlezone a bit before the Ustian mercenaries arrived, and hopefully clear the airspace. But until then, there was a lot to do. Study the flight plans, talk to Kayla, get the team ready, pay Mayana her two grand...

 

[Wyldfire]

Her eyes cracked open. Damn it was bright in here. What time was it? Kayla looked over and saw that it was 8:30. Time to get up and ready for possible wounded.

Kayla worked her way to her coffee pot and flipped it's switch. From there is was into the shower. Letting the cold water wake her up in the first second she got into it with only a minor yelp she took a quick and efficient shower. She dried herself off and got dressed in her scrubs and a pair of tennis shoes she went back to the kitchenette and poured herself a cup of coffee. She added lots of cream and sugar. If she was just drinking coffee for the flavor she took it black, but for medicinal use she took it with as much sugar and cream as she could take. The sugar would give her the extra little boost to get her through the morning. As she sipped the coffee she lit a cigarette and wondered if there would be many casualties today. Probably not. Pilots usually either came back intact, with maybe a minor injury or they came back in pieces if at all.

Breaking herself away from that kind of thinking Kayla grabbed her smokes and locked up her quarters before heading to the mess for a little bit of breakfast before heading to the E.R..

 

[RedMageNeko]

Uriem

I had one of the access panels on Void open, checking the radar guidance system one last time. Techs went over her just a few hours before, but I never completly trusted them. To many times on to many bases had shown me that the best person to take care of MY plane was myself.

Checking one of the leads, I sighed, slipping the wiring back in as I ran a hand over my face. I had done all I could to prepare myself for the mission. Now it was all in Lady Luck's hand.