Albatross Sky ~Self-Defense Force Love Story~ [Episode 2] To Raise an Army for a Hundred Years Is Only to Protect Peace (2)
[Episode 2] To Raise an Army for a Hundred Years Is Only to Protect Peace - Combined Fleet Commander-in-Chief Isoroku Yamamoto (2)
"I hear the Lightning's maintainability is much improved over previous aircraft, but how is it in reality?"
"Well, the B-model is the first STOVL aircraft for the Self-Defense Force. The structure is more complex than anything we've had before and we have little know-how, so it's quite a challenge. There are also a lot of black boxes from the Americans."
"I see, that's right. Thank you so much for always maintaining it until late."
"It's my job. More importantly, Yuhi-san, you can push that girl even harder, you know?"
"Eh?"
"When you were in the Aggressor Squadron, everyone always came back with the airframes beaten up, so I couldn't let my guard down and it was really tough. You haven't been trained half-heartedly, so please don't hesitate to push her to the limit."
Absolute confidence shines in Misuzu's eyes as she says this. In the Aggressor Squadron, not only the pilots but also the maintenance crew and air traffic controllers possess the highest level of skill in the country. Her tone may be soft, but as someone entrusted with the aircraft, she likely grasps the exact difference between the top pilots and Yuhi.
"Yeah... Thank you, I'll do my best."
"Yes! Defeat Ash and Gaia, right?"
Misuzu smiles brightly. Come to think of it, she said she was close with Gyobu and Toshio.
"Hey. Were those two really that amazing back at Komatsu?"
"You mean with women?"
My head droops. So it was that, after all!
"Uh, no, not that, I mean, as fighter pilots."
"Ah, well, they were. Ash was my neighbor, but he really stood out. Strangely, I've never heard of him losing in an ACM. The highlight was probably his heroic performance at last year's tactical competition, right? I envied how happy everyone in the 306th was."
Honestly, I'm not good with types like Gyobu. What I want to ask about is more...
"Uh, that is..."
"Ah, you mean Yuhi-san's darling?"
"H-he's not my darling!"
Misuzu laughs happily, "Ahaha."
"Gaia was already a phenomenon, a monster, as everyone knows. He would push the airframe to its absolute limit, to the point where you'd wonder how he was flying it like that, so maintenance was always a struggle. I saw veteran pilots from various squadrons turn pale during our inspection tours many times. I even heard some lost their confidence and retired."
Her words carry weight because she has watched him up close as a maintenance crew member. I suppose his reputation for skill is well-deserved.
"Still, this squadron has gathered some truly amazing members. The flight leaders go without saying, but the 8th Squadron's Viper Zero rider, Lieutenant Junior Grade Satoshi 'Nuts' Namekawa, is a ground and anti-ship attack specialist feared by the US and Australian forces as the 'Eastern Mirage' during the Cope North exercise. Lieutenant Junior Grade Kazuhiro 'Teeda' Kiyose of the 305th was called the 'Undertaker' for shooting down US Air Force F-22s multiple times in an Eagle, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Ryosuke 'Jack' Hojo of the 204th is a promising young pilot who served as the third plane for the squadron leader receiving the review at the Central Review Ceremony. Oh, were you and Jack in the same class, Yuhi-san?"
"Yeah, at the Air Academy. We didn't talk much, though."
At the time, I was overwhelmed with my own affairs and couldn't see what was around me. Hojo had greeted me on the first day saying it had been a while, but honestly, I didn't remember him well, and he seemed shocked by that.
"I see. But for me, the best is still the Witch of the Northern Air Defense Force, Idea, who earned the title of Best Guy at Chitose in her second year! It feels like a dream to be able to talk to you like this."
Misuzu's gaze, as if she were looking at an idol, makes me very embarrassed.
"Oh, right, I've been wanting to ask for a while, why is your TAC name Idea?"
I am momentarily bewildered by her innocent question. After hesitating for a moment, I exhale and open my mouth.
"It was given to me by my senior pilots. They said it's the name of a witch from a famous role-playing game. They said it was perfect for someone as expressionless and unsociable as me."
"What is that! That's terrible!"
I smile bitterly at the indignant Misuzu and shake my head.
"It was true, so I didn't particularly resist it. Now, I've grown quite fond of it."
To push myself, I had drawn a line between myself and my fellow pilots. That was why I gave a cold impression to those around me, and was mocked as a "witch" during my Chitose days.
"But, Yuhi-san, you are definitely not expressionless or unfriendly. You are very expressive, and even to me, who is younger, you look very cute."
"That can't be true, someone like me..."
I have never been good at making expressions since I was little. Especially smiling. That is why I am very envious of girls like Misuzu.
"Even this morning, you were having fun with Gaia in front of the MacArthur statue, weren't you?"
I almost spat out my coffee. I couldn't believe she had seen that.
"You looked just like a married couple who had been together for years."
"Th-that's impossible, with a guy like that!"
"I don't know, I thought you two looked great together."
"Stop it! That topic is closed!"
"Okay~"
Misuzu brought her mug to her lips with a smirk. This was completely throwing me off. Even if he is my superior, that sloppy man is someone I must defeat, definitely not someone I would be intimate with.
I don't know if he's a 'Phenomenon' or whatever, but I will definitely beat him!
The image of the woman's triumphant face from yesterday flashed through her mind, and Yuhi's fighting spirit ignited.
＊
But that opportunity did not come easily.
Since setting sail, the days have been filled with endless take-off and landing training and scramble training according to the schedule. Of course, I understand that this is important training, so I would never cut corners, but the more I was kept waiting, the more my desire to fight Toshio grew.
The ACM training with him that I had been longing for. That chance finally came on the ninth day after the first landing.
"From now on, for three days, we will conduct one-on-one ACM between elements. I don't need to explain the intent, do I?"
Everyone nodded at Katsuno's words. It was the first step to understanding a partner's skills and habits and building a combination. Although, for Yuhi, it was the perfect opportunity to gauge her own skills.
After starting the Lightning and lowering the canopy, Yuhi glared at the flight leader's aircraft waiting for the launch signal in front of her. She could feel the adrenaline slowly seeping into her body.
I can finally fight Gaia. The rumored 'Phenomenon'.
Before long, the air intake duct covers opened, the afterburners ignited, and his aircraft took off from the 'Nagato' in an instant.
Next was Yuhi's turn. Following the deck crew's signal, she moved her beloved machine forward and arrived at the starting point.
Hand signal for launch OK.
When she opened the air intake duct covers and started the lift fan, the 3-bearing swivel nozzle pointed diagonally downward with a sharp sound. Short take-off mode, ready for launch. She signaled readiness with a thumbs-up and saluted; the deck crew returned the salute, crouched low on the spot, and pointed toward the bow.
GO!!
Full throttle. Igniting the afterburners and accelerating all at once, Yuhi's Lightning shot off the 'Nagato' with great force.
|High-rate climb---
The massive ship "Nagato" instantly became like a leaf floating on the water. As I climbed to an altitude of 15,000 feet in one go, I joined up with |Toshio <Gaia> who had been waiting in the sky ahead of me.
"Well, shall we begin? After a break, we'll start the combat after crossing. Lock-on from off-boresight is disabled. It's a best-of-three. Any questions?"
As the flight leader, he calmly reviewed the briefing details.
Off-boresight refers to targeting an enemy aircraft from a position significantly deviated from the bore (muzzle) sight (aim).
Since the aiming of conventional aircraft was fixed forward via a head-up display or similar, it was necessary to get behind the enemy aircraft to lock on.
Because this resembles dogs fighting over each other's tails, dogfights between fighter jets are called "dogfights," but the Lightning, equipped with a helmet-mounted display system and missiles with ultra-high maneuverability, no longer necessarily needs to get behind the enemy aircraft.
The aim is projected onto the helmet visor. In other words, if the pilot turns their face, they can attack even if the enemy aircraft is to the side or behind them, and this off-boresight capability is the Lightning's greatest strength.
However, since this could lead to winning by a fluke, wouldn't it be impossible to accurately measure the true ability of each side? Thinking this, Yuuhi proposed "disabling off-boresight."
Link
Next Episode Albatross Sky ~JSDF Love Story~ [Episode 2] Raising an Army for a Hundred Years is Only to Protect Peace (3) | Kyo
Previous Episode Albatross Sky ~JSDF Love Story~ [Episode 2] Raising an Army for a Hundred Years is Only to Protect Peace (1) | Kyo
Read from the beginning
Albatross Sky ~JSDF Love Story~ [Episode 1] It is Important for a Commander to be Optimistic First (1) | Kyo