• The scenic silent void of space was tranquil. The stars all shining and space rock drifting by lazily like it was just another quiet day. The nearby sun for the planet system burning ever brightly radiating the inhabitable planets with its warmth. A bright flash would interrupt this moment as multiple worm holes, small and big would open up like giant gaping glowing mouths and let out ships and fighters of multiple kinds.
    The skies of the earth like planet they arrived to via worm hole travel looked deceptive from high orbit. A serene layout of continents with some dark spots of gray being major cities, mixed in with scattered patches of green and blue. It was strange seeing something that looked like his home planet but wasn't exactly.

    "This is Colonel Stukov to all pilots. The Damascus will now be dropping the meteorites we collected before arriving. Use those for cover on entry and expect heavy fire." Just as the message cut off the ship would begin to rumble as Brock was climbing up the ladder to his ZF-31, now with two red bulls eye marks and 2 yellow ones. Red ones being the ones he was most proud of being that they marked ace downs. Patting the canopy as was it being his ritual before climbing into his seat he would grin. "Fifth mark today and we'll get out custom paint job Shiva." Just as he said that Captain Talon would be passing by.
    "Rookie you still got a long way to go. You haven't fought in atmosphere yet have you?" Captain Talon was up on the ladder and face to face with him.
    Brock would jump back at the sight of his captains stern face right in front of him. "No , but just like the sims right?"
    "Thats why your still a rookie ensign." There was concern in his voice when he began to climb back down. "Watch your back , atmospheres a entirely different battle field. You won't have the luxury of zero g to put less stress on your body either."

    Flipping on the switches that activated his fighter craft once Captain Talon was clear he would wonder what he meant. What mattered was that his father was going to be present and that meant he had alot more than just his fifth mark to earn. It was also to prove he can fly anywhere and still be amazing. "Shiva we're gonna get that fifth today for sure now." Seeing the rest of his squad mates fighter planes boosters begin to glow he would drop his canopy. The hiss of the air tight seal making it secure he would immediately change his mind set to being the units marksman.
    "Captain Talon to mantis squad, you boys stay frosty out there today. That planet may look peaceful but theres been a raging civil war we were hired to settle in this operation." Already selecting his weapons payload he would see the armament crews rushing to mount the proper weapons according to their data pads. "Mission lay out for mantis squad is simple. We are to work with skull squad and reaper squad and clear a path to the capitol where the targets generals are gathered. Don't worry about numbers. We're sorting with our heavy shooters. Straight and simple mission. Clear a path, drop some heavy shots and get the hell out of dodge."
    Brock would nod seeing his entry position for the atmospheric reentry. Just as he was about to select his weapons payload according to his position he heard a rumble that shook his fighter craft from behind. Turning around to see what it was, a platform elevator was opening up and the top of three sets of massive cannons were visible only so far. The cannons gleaming in the bright under deck lights had 4 barrels each that looked like they belonged to a leviathans mouth. The rumbling grew louder as the elevator began to show more of the rising cannons that turned out to be the tops of some heavily armored shuttles. But there weren't at all. They looked like a cross between his fighter plane and a bomber.

    "Welcome the valkyries rookie, your meeting them for the first time." Captain Talons voice would cut in on his com as he got video transmission from the three massive bomber units.
    "So your the Surefire that took over" A familiar serene female voice would cut in.
    Brock looking at his video com would be surprised at the source of the voice. "Anne? What the hell are you doing here?"
    The female not wearing protective helmet yet looked nothing like a pilot of a heavily armed and armored bomber. Her blue hair which was left long and in two pony tails off the side and back with would smile showing her pearl white teeth. Twitching her nose up abit and opening her eyes up to reveal emerald green colors she would respond back. "Making sure that we get the job done right."
    "I'm not meeting her for the first time." Brock would say as his ZF-31 began to be lifted to the main deck.
    "You make it sound like I'm horrible dear." Anne would tease back and put on her helmet.
    "I'm not your dear you black widow." His focus gone and now back to his previous mind set he would hear the weapons pay load being put on with atmospheric reentry pods surrounding them.
    "Thats my call sign actually. Just take a look at my side." She would be referring to the grafity styled black widow spider on her bombers side.
    "We'll catch up on the past later then rookie." He would growl back. This began to worry him. "So he knows Anne already? Not good , he needs his focus."

    Captain Talons' worries proved true as Brock began to think twice about why his only female friend that knew him like the back of his own hand was here. He didn't have enough time though because just as he began to remember the day that she left saying she'll meet him again in space got interrupted by the holograms on the runway telling him it was being set up for his squad to launch. "Brock Surefire, sniping targets!" Pushing his boosters to max he would push off the deck in the same adrenaline inducing rush that made things a blur off the side and formed up with his squad.