The sea was bright, calm, and shiny and salty blue. Ayanami, Laffey, and Akagi cruised peacefully back to the Akio. Today was finally the day where once again the Akio and Akagi will partake on operations together. R.A.E and W-heavy fighters will work alongside United Aeronautics and Anima Fighters as well as the other Ace squadrons. After they join back up, they will head to their new allies, Accilian's naval base to resupply. Accilian squadrons will also be joining the naval campaign. However, Akagi's radar was damaged from the storm and was getting repaired. So, a small group of fighters will take off and patrol the area as well as look for Akio.

Phantom, Gripen, Maeko, Marble, Skye, and Eagle went down to the briefing room. The lights went dark and the screen behind the briefing officer lit the room with an electronic blue. All the systems booted up and a map of the world was shown.

Briefing Officer: Good After everyone, here is the current situation. Our radar is out of commission and we need to get back to Akio quickly. But, we are worried about Intruders being in the area. Sadly even though were in open ocean, there is no guarantee that Intruders and maybe even an Intruder Mothership may be roaming around. You guys have it simple today. Patrol the area around the Akagi. The radius you should cover should be around 25,000 miles out around the carrier. Intercept anything that gets within that airspace, dismissed.

Everyone began to leave the room, talking among themselves. Maeko and Marble were about to leave when..

Briefing Officer: Wait, you two. you guys have new orders.

Marble and Maeko were confused but sat back down anyway.

Briefing Officer: We got reports of the Erusean Queen and Erusean Princess, as well as some intelligence officers and researchers aboard a private transport plane, heading to Osea. We could really use that Intel so Marble, when you guys get half-way into the patrol, break formation and vector 135 to intercept them. Maeko, we want you to take Marble's place and cover for him. Marble, when you intercept them, make them land. However, if they resist and use force, we grant you permission to destroy them. That is all. You two are dismissed

Marble and Maeko walked out. Marble began assessing the mission requirements and adding them to his mission log computer on his plane via electronic waves. Maeko offered Marble a hand shake for good luck. Marble looked puzzled.

Marble: What is the meaning of this hand gesture?

Maeko: Oh, it's like saying "good luck, I'll have your back" in this instance. It's just a nice thing people do.

Marble: People are very interesting. They make meaningless acts meaningful.

Marble shook hands with Maeko and went to their personal aircraft. All assigned planes were now on deck and took off on their mission.

15 minutes were into the flight. The pilots were chatting with each other about the political problems and issues behind the war. They also told secrets about some of the crew members on the boat. Marble said nothing. He continued to follow the others in a perfect formation. To Eagle, this was unsettling. The other Anima, when they talked or expressed different emotions responding to what one person says, their plane makes gestures along with them. But, Marble remained still, just following along with no other movements at all. He was looking out towards the horizon. he looked like he was thinking about something. Maeko received a message from Marble.

Marble (Message) It's time, cue your part of the mission

Maeko: Constrictor 1 to all planes, Marble is having a technical failure. He is heading back to the boat. Everyone continue your present mission. I will take his place.

Everyone: Aye!

This put Eagle at ease finally. He thought now that Marble was trying to fix his issue and now he needed to head back. This was common to him since Marble's body and plane were unstable and had issues that Marble, his mental model, made him feel sick. Marble broke from the formation, but instead went to complete his actual mission.

The rest of the group, surprisingly not running into any trouble. They had joined up with W-heavy and Physite aircraft and were led back to Akio. Eagle reported the position of Akio to Akagi. They began heading back, the Physite and W-heavy planes followed to say hello to the Akagi's crew as the Anima and Constrictor 1 landed. However, Skye landed and stepped back onboard Akagi, she couldn't find Marble.

Skye: Where did he go?
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Meanwhile, aboard the Erusean liaison plane
The Queen was having a cup of tea with her daughter, Rosa Cossette. Dr. Schroeder was talking with the Intel officers and other researchers. The flight was quite long and it was dark when they reached Osean territory. A picture of Rosa's dog, who had died during the Lighthouse War, hung over the table the Queen sat at. The pilots were relaxed as the plane cruised along until...

Liaison pilot: All Passengers, please fasten your seat-belts, a fast moving aircraft is approaching head-on with us. Erusean Escorts, can you identify the contact.

Erusean F-15D pilot: Roger Tulip Flight, we'll check it out

Both Erusean fighters darted ahead of the Liaison plane and towards the "unknown" contact. The Liaison pilots watched from radar. The Contact didn't change his position. Then both F-15D's disappeared from radar.

Liaison pilot: What the...

The contact continued to close in on the liaison plane. Then he disappeared from radar. The pilot looked up but everything was fine in front of him. He looked back down and saw that the contact had moved behind him and had a radar lock! the pilots jerked the plane into a violent bank and pulled. The radar lock alarm was blaring in both the cockpit and the cabin. Beer bottles and tea cups smashed everywhere. The radar to showed the unknown contact directly behind them, matching move for move. Then another contact showed up approaching from the side. Another one came in from above. Multiple contacts started appearing and disappearing.

Liaison pilot: Mayday, Mayday, This is Tulip flight, we are under attack by an aircraft that is scrambling our radar. Send support now

The radar pings intensified and the screaming continued. Multiple missile locks were on the liaison plane. The radar couldn't handle the excessive use and it exploded. The plane went silent. The lights had died and the only sound was the exhausted breathing. The Erusean queen took Rosa's hand. But, she was looking outside the cabin window. Her face was dead pale and was staring directly at something. The pilot looked behind him. There were two red L.E.D light glowing on a menacing fighter behind them. Inside the cockpit were glowing crimson eyes. The pilot didn't react and was stuck in fear. The fighter pilot looked into Rosa's eyes for 5 seconds, then pulled the trigger. A missile shot out and directly into Rosa's cabin. The night went silent.

Asamian AWACS: Good kill, mission complete RTB

Marble: hehe......roger

Marble disappeared into the darkness ahead, and he didn't look back.....