This is a story which I always wanted to tell, between that of two enemies which when thrust into extraordinary situations, become unlikely allies.

Alas, it is quite long, and will span over five chapters. I suppose this is a good time to begin.

It began when Lt. Valerie Vickers took part in a long-range raid that will be known as "Operation Lightning", the raid to destroy a bunker containing a Project Balaur intercontinental railgun. This bunker in particular was located on a previously uninhabited rocky island known as St. Vith Island, so named by the Sanctan explorers centuries ago when passing it.

For those centuries, it was another mark on a map. Over the years, the Lanzarrian Conglomerate added a remote radio and weather station, but the only inhabitants remained oceangoing birds which stopped over to rest on migrations.

That was until Project Balaur. The only way such a large caliber gun could be maintained while protected was through a massive bunker complex. And St. Vith Island had everything it needed. There was a natural fresh water spring, some vegetation, and the remains of a large, ancient volcano. In addition, St. Vith Island was the only site available which could target the Paternian Republic itself.

Work began quickly and quietly, until Paternian Information Control discovered the project. Such a discovery was so frightening that a raid to destroy it was planned.

A defector quickly divulged the plans, and it was decided that only air attack can destroy it. But how to get through the heavy bombproof doors was the issue; until it was revealed that the gun would fire against naval targets.

As a ruse, the Paternian Navy 19th Destroyer Squadron was deployed in the area, posing as a much larger cruiser task force. Project Balaur was readied against its first target, a process that takes up to an hour due to the heavy doors and the immense power needed to charge up the capacitors to fire the gun.

Cue Lt. Valerie Vickers and the 11th Attack Division. Equipped with Pummeler A-1E, they descended on the island in full force, flying a mere few meters above the choppy seas, laden with bombs and rockets. As they closed in to the target, the Black Hydra turrets opened up, but could not distinguish the sea mist from the Pummelers of the 11th Attack Division. This confusion was further compounded by electronic warfare aircraft, simultaneously jamming and destroying Lanzarrian radar sites.

The Pummelers descended upon the open doors and dropped 1000lb HEAT bombs onto the gun emplacement itself. However, the gun platform and area was very strong due to the need to handle the immense recoil, and none of the bombs penetrated the thick steel.

It would be the armor-piercing rockets that would fell the mighty bunker. A 70mm anti-armor rocket penetrated the ammunition hoist doorway and through the floor, where it struck a generator responsible for the operation of the ammunition lifts for the secondary batteries. The damaged generator caught fire, went haywire and exploded, setting off the secondary battery ammunition off. This blast was sufficient to gut the entire bunker, killing all with either fire or the shockwave from the blast. It severely damaged Project Balaur's operating equipment, effectively knocking it out.

So how does Valerie Vickers end up stranded with a drunk, disenfranchised radio officer? Her plane was hit, began to leak fuel, and was forced to land on the radio station runway, staffed by nobody less than Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Ricks, who was sent to upgrade the radio signal by apathetic officers who denied his leave so he can visit his sick mother. Not that all officers are like this; these men were pure, unbridled a**holes.

And today, he wakes up tied to a chair in the common room, with an Paternian woman sitting across in what seems to be a flight suit cleaning a revolver.

"W-What is happening?" he mumbles, as he tries to move his limbs, only to find them constrained.

She turned to him and said "Nothing much, other than the fact you're my prisoner."

"P-Prisoner?" he asked.

"Yes. Just so you know, don't think of getting out of here. There is nowhere else to go."

"You realize there is a superweapon-"

"A superweapon which my unit destroyed," she said, confidently. She looked up, and he was greeted with a youthful, almost innocent face. "That was quite a rude introduction," she said, adding "We should get to know each other. I'm Lieutenant Valerie Vickers. What's your name?"

"Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Ricks."

"Nice to meet you. Now, I want some information that I think you have."

To be continued...