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SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT
Broadcast over speakers onboard, Doss speaks:
This is a CODE RED ALERT and all hands are required.
Earlier this evening, Bone intercepted a directive from the Architects to initiate a Sterilisation Event in Xitang, China on 01/29/2026 at 1600. There's no information about what is triggering this, but we have a unique chance to save 50,000 souls from eradication.
Evacuation is our primary goal here. We know the blast radius is 15.5 miles (25 km for our non-Americans). We need to get as many people as possible out of the radius as quickly and as efficiently as we can. St James has a suggested approach here. Espionage, consult with your chain of command for assignments.
Ground Forces will be on site getting as many people to safety as possible. Your primary directive is evacuation. Utilize any resources at your disposal.
These people are Veiled. This makes things easier and trickier at the same time. We won't have widespread panic: you're fighting against complacency.
Pilots, your primary directive is drone destruction You're the hail Mary: as long as the drones are targeting you, they can't execute their orders. We need to give people on the ground as much time as we can. You'll be against the big boys, not just the standard drones. They're powerful, but they're slow. Take advantage of your maneuverability.
Strategists, you'll be manning Command with Science. Let them run point on ground communication and stick to what you know best: how to keep our pilots alive.
Remember the mission. Let's go be big damn heroes.
Eli & Griff | The Hangars
Right now, he was more interested in finding an older pilot with a history of —
“Gotcha,” he muttered, arm reaching out to snag Griff’s bicep before the other man could brush by him in the stream of people readying the ships.
It shouldn't have surprised him, and yet Griffin still had to swallow down the yelp of surprise, telling his already racing heart that this wasn’t danger but — a quick glance confirmed his suspicions — a well meaning check in. He fought the urge to shrug Eli off and —
What, exactly? Hightail it to the plane? The very place he didn't want to be?
The smile on his face couldn’t be less convincing, but he tried anyway. “Hey, E. I’m just looking for Fox, you seen him?”
Eli frowned at his roommate, the unimpressed look in his eyes slightly more weighted than usual. While most people would consider the question fair for a dual-seater pilot to ask, Griffin had been snagged by someone who didn’t easily play along.
“No,” he answered truthfully. His foster brother could have done the foxtrot as he slipped by him for all he knew, but his focus had been solely focused on finding his other brother by circumstance. “Where’s your head at?”
He winced; Eli was nothing if not straight forward, which he appreciated on days not today. “It’ll be better in the air,” he deflected. The answer would fly with just about anyone else, but he knew his roommate and headed off the next question with: “I don’t have a choice, Eli. Head’s gonna be a mess whether I’m here or out there, and at least out there I can do something.”
Save other people from what he had had to live with ever since coming out of the Veil.
Clapping a hand on his roommate’s shoulder, he added, “I ain’t going to do anything dumb out there. Promise.”
Eli’s scowl only deepened, but they both knew their hands were tied. They had to deploy to take down the drones no matter what baggage they carried because saving humanity was more important than giving in to the nightmares and memories.
Or something like that, but right now Eli felt more concern for his friend than for the masses. Selfish, sure, but he could live with that realization.
“Don’t be stupid and play the hero either,” the younger man finally said, squeezing Griff’s shoulder with a warning look, “I don’t want another roommate.”
Griff widened his eyes, the picture of innocence. “I can’t promise not to play hero, especially if we’re anywhere near 1. Fox hasn’t said anything but I think he’s got a Thing for Philip.” Which was sweet, and immensely easier to think about than getting in his seat and flying out to play chicken.
Because that’s what this mission was: call the drones to them to buy time and hope none of them got shot out the sky.
“Philip has a brand new pilot he needs to be more concerned about,” Eli countered, deep lines framing his brows.
“No heroics,” Griff echoed back at the younger man. “I know where you sleep.”
“An unfortunate side effect of being roommates,” came the beleaguered sigh, but just for a moment a hint of a smile ghosted across his lips. He gave his friend’s shoulder another squeeze before releasing it, unable to stop himself from quickly memorizing the man’s face — death a very real side effect of their job.
Something they were both aware of. Griffin pulled him in for a quick hug, arms tight around Eli for the full beat of a heart before letting him go.
He took a deep breath. This would be fine. They would be fine, and they'd save the day and no one else would have to die. That was the mantra that he had to believe in right now or he'd fall apart from memories and fear.
“I'm taking out more than you today. Get ready to owe me one social event, McLeod.” There was no waver in his voice, just bravado he desperately wanted to feel.
They both needed this moment of levity, of putting on a brave face when they knew what awaited them on the other side of the hangar door, so Eli took a step back, both hands rising to shoot the other man the bird.
“Choke on my exhaust, Loon.”
Griff grinned and blew him a kiss. “I'm adding a cuddle to the pot. You look like you need a post-mission cuddle.” But he was already stepping away, eyes searching for his partner.