1500 hours
Bernard Empire jets cut through the haze like knives of light.
Lieutenant Kai Mercer pushed his F-35C Lightning II into a hard climb. Sunlight blazed across the canopy, HUD symbols glowing sharp green against the bright sky. Target markers flickered—dozens of Indiana sky-fortresses drifting through the high clouds ahead.
His comms crackled—sksshhk.
Raven-One: "All elements, hold tight. We push the center. Command wants these forts broken."
Kai / Raven-Three: "Copy. On your wing."
Raven-Two: "Sensors clean for now. Watch the rune cannons—they swing faster than before."
Kai eased the throttle forward. The Lightning surged to Mach 1.6 with a BARRROOOM, the roar of the engine a living beast behind him. Vapor trails ripped off the wingtips as he dropped into attack speed. Below, the Atlantic glittered in full daylight, whitecaps flashing as Bernard destroyers fired upward. Missiles streaked toward the clouds in bright contrails, vanishing with a fading sssshhhhh.
