When Blaze goes to Sand Island, she goes in as a nugget (a.k.a. a beginner pilot). Two missions later, she is made captain after hers is shot down and goes M.I.A. Blaze, along with her best friends and wingmen Chopper, Nagase and Grimm, start turn...
"In the beginning, there was nothing, which exploded." ~Terry Pratchett ________________________________________
Prologue
Genette
I've always been fascinated by wars. It stemmed from my Uncle Jason. He was a soldier from the Belkan War with a passion for history. It appears his interest rubbed off on both me and my younger sister, Elizabeth, and it was no surprise to anyone when she joined the military. It was an even smaller surprise when she joined the Air Force. Fighter jets had always been her one true love. Their speed, size, and power were irresistible to her.
While Elizabeth went to fight for our country, I went into journalism, specializing in military history and war stories. My main focus was on a war that happened when I was ten years old: The Belkan War. I had personal connections to the war itself, but I wasn't allowed to speak about it. Elizabeth, along with myself, were part of a handful of people who knew the identity of the infamous pilot that saved the world from Belka taking over.
One day, I would be able to write about them, and I eagerly and anxiously waited for that day to come. However, in the meantime, I focused my efforts and attention on another pilot who had fought in the Belkan War. He resided on Sand Island Air Force Base, and my goal was to interview him. He hadn't been discovered yet when the documentary on the Belkan War aired five years ago. I planned to be the first one to reach him before the original reporter did. That guy's name was Brett Thompson, and while I damn near idolized the man, I also wanted to reach his level of distinction. I wanted to turn my idol into my rival, and this pilot just might be my ticket to doing so.
Somehow, with a lot of pleading and persuading, I convinced my boss to let me fly to Sand Island for my article. On the plane ride there, I started typing the introduction, struggling and agonizing over the wording to ensure its perfection. I wanted it to be informative yet casual, gripping yet short. I wanted people to be instantly hooked; to be yearning for more.
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Finally, just before we landed, I settled on it.
Fifteen years ago, there was a war. Well, war's broken out here plenty of times before. They've tried to invade the Southlands through the northern valley time and time again. Luck was never on their side, though, and their victories didn't last long. They didn't realize times had changed. Facing one defeat after another, losing territory, and watching their nation dwindle, they built up their industrial strength to unprecedented heights and used it to wage one final battle against the world.
That was fifteen years ago.
They fought ferociously but were utterly defeated. The Belkans then committed the unthinkable; they used nuclear weapons on their own soil. Seeing this tragedy unfold before their own eyes, the victorious countries vowed to throw down their weapons.
The world was once again at peace, and thanks to them, it seemed like it would last forever.
On a distant island, far away from civilization, the protectors of the peace take to the skies.
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