Phoenix Wings

[Soul Reaper]

Phoenix Wings

Honor, Duty, Loyalty.

These are the ideals your entire life is based upon, your Honor in life, your Duty to command, your Loyalty to your nation. Anything less, is not acceptable, nor is it affordable. You are the first and last line of defense of the people you protect, the nation you protect. That is your sole purpose.

You, have failed your purpose, your actions have betrayed those ideals you swore to follow and protect. You, have failed. Your punishment, death.

A single gunshot, a man hitting the ground lifeless, banners of flaming skulls adorning the walls, the voice of men and women rising..

For Those We Left Behind.

***

"Westridge, Kyle...service number 43002-4403.."
"Westridge, Kyle, service number 43002-4403"

Kyle woke up with a jump, breathing heavily and uncontrollably, his eyes darting left and right looking for danger, his body bathed in sweat. The torture still hadn't ended, his memories never faded from his dreams and nightmares.

It took him a full minute to get to his senses, his heartbeats slowly eased and he started breathing deeply. He looked down between his legs to his bed, his sheets were wet with perspiration, he jumped down and noticed that his fellow officers were still asleep. Kyle walked to the sink and turned the faucet and splashed the ice-cold water on his face and looked up at the mirror to see his reflection, he jumped back as the reflection he saw was twisted, his face lined with crinkles, a grin at the tip of his mouth, his dark abysmal staring back with malevolence, a face of evil. Kyle splashed another handful of water on his face and looked back, this time his own eyes staring back at him, he let out a sigh and put his hands to his face and left them there, thinking. No, it wasn't the time to think, he had a duty to perform. He turned for his locker.

***

"Couldn't sleep again, sir?"
"Couldn't sleep enough."
"Don't worry, it'll pass."
"Yeah right."

The Hades' hangar bay was fairly quiet, his shift's cycle hadn't began completely just yet. A few technicians dotted the area, working here and there on ships or equipment, the flight deck officer was examining Kyle's own Nyx before take off. He noticed another pilot 2 maintenance bays to the left, who also had a technician with him, performing checks on a Nyx. The pilot noticed him and smiled, raising his arm in greeting, Kyle noticed the flaming skull emblem emblazoned on the pilot's flight suit, the emblem of the 44th Battlegroup.

..your punishment, death.

Kyle shook off his trance and returned the gesture with a crisp two-finger salute and a smile. Vanguard pilots frequently visited the Hades, Kyle had no idea why, perhaps it was to show that they were still there in the shadows, watching. He knew for a fact that two Kronos warships were in-system, not too far from Hades itself.

"Right, everything looks ok, she's clear to fly, when's your briefing?"
"No briefing, I'll take her out for a spin, didn't put on my flight suit for nothing."
"Yes sir."

A few technicians walked to the ship as Kyle climbed the ladder to his cockpit and slid in, a technician handed him his helmet and checked marks on his data pad as Kyle did his pre-flight checks. The technician gave him a thumbs-up, Kyle nodded and toggled the cockpit windscreen to slide back. The hangar's automated systems took hold of his ship with clamps under the wings and started towing him to the launch tube. Kyle clicked on the engines, he heard the sound of his reactor come to full energy with a buzz, his turbines spinning up as his engines came to life. A quick control of his weapon systems, everything was green, his ammunition topped off, energy feeds to the guns were OK.

The Nyx was placed onto the launch bay which turned 180 degress to fit him into the launch tube, his comm system clicked and an officer's voice was heard.

"Patriot, confirm callsign."
"Confirming, Patriot on duty, pre-flight checks complete, I'm ready to roll."
"Roger that, mission parameters?"
"Stroll in the park, Tau patrol, solo."
"Roger that Patriot, mission accepted, you are cleared for launch, good hunting."
"Roger that Hades, keep frosty, Patriot launching."

Kyle keyed the ignition, the Nyx's engines roared to full power. His hands darted to the control sticks, the Nyx accelerated with a force that drilled him into his seat, half a second later the Nyx flew out of the launch tube into the misty asteroid belt of Tau 39, Kyle slid the Nyx into a sharp turn and clicked his cruise engines online, flashing by Hades as he made for the 23 hole.

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