September 29
06:48 AM
The sun lazily crept over the horizon, casting long golden streaks across Petrichor Air Force Base. The skies, a mix of deep blue and wispy clouds, carried a rare sense of peace—a stark contrast to the chaos from two days prior.
Though the enemy bombers and fighters were gone, their presence was still felt. Scorched craters marred the tarmac. Wreckage—twisted metal, shattered canopies, the remains of aircraft too damaged to salvage—littered the base. The scars of battle ran deep, but the cleanup had already begun.
Inside the barracks, the smell of fresh breakfast drifted through the halls, rousing many of the pilots and personnel from their slumber.
But Emilie remained fast asleep.
Wrapped in her blanket, she let out a quiet sigh as she shifted to her left side, pressing her face into the pillow. Then—
BZZT. BZZT.
Her phone alarm shattered the silence, vibrating aggressively on the bedside table. With a groggy groan, she reached out with her right hand, blindly feeling around until she found the device and tapped the screen to silence it.
Rolling onto her back, she stared up at the ceiling, blinking away the remnants of sleep. She ran a hand down her face, exhaling sharply.
"Man... This downtime is so worth it..." she thought to herself. "But who knows how long it'll last..."
Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, she let out another sigh.
"Ugh... What a morning already..."
She picked up her phone again and scrolled through her notes. One entry caught her eye.
September 29 – Meet the Captain at the Hangar with the Squadron.
She blinked. Then facepalmed.
"Shit... I forgot."
A chuckle escaped her lips. "Heh... Can't wait to see these planes. Anything's better than the damn F-5 Tiger II."
She rubbed her eyes, forcing herself fully awake.
"Right... Time to get ready."
She zipped up her flight suit, ran a quick hand through her hair, and stepped out of her quarters.
The mess hall was already bustling with activity. Pilots, engineers, and ground crew gathered in clusters, chatting over their trays. The smell of eggs, bacon, and fresh-brewed coffee filled the air—a comforting scent that, for a brief moment, made everything feel normal.
Emilie stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room. She spotted a familiar figure in line—Ayaka, standing with a tray in hand.
She approached, falling in beside her.
"Morning, Ayaka," Emilie greeted, her voice still laced with traces of drowsiness.
Ayaka nearly jumped, startled by the sudden greeting. "Oh! Good morning, Emilie!"
Emilie smirked slightly. "Didn't mean to scare you."
Ayaka shook her head, smiling softly as they moved up the line, receiving their food. Once their trays were full, they walked over to a vacant table and sat down.
Emilie barely took a few bites before she noticed Ayaka glancing at her, hesitant as if she had something on her mind.
"So, umm... Emilie?" Ayaka finally spoke, fidgeting slightly.
Emilie glanced up, fork in hand. "Mhm?"
"I... uh... I wanted to thank you for two days ago," Ayaka said, bowing her head slightly.
Emilie blinked, then chuckled lightly. "You don't have to thank me, Ayaka. You held your own up there."
Ayaka nodded but still looked a little uncertain. "I-I know that, Emilie... but if it weren't for your words, I wouldn't have been able to join Wolfsbane."
Emilie shook her head. "The higher-ups would've promoted you anyway. The way you flew that night proved you deserved it."
Ayaka leaned forward slightly. "R-Really?"
Before Emilie could respond, another voice cut in.
"Oh really! For your first combat sortie, you actually did better than most rookies."
Emilie turned to her left to see Mona and Teppei walking up, trays in hand.
"Oh, glad you two could finally join us," Emilie quipped, smirking.
Teppei let out a laugh as he took a seat. "Well, had to get some stretching in before heading up here."
Mona chuckled. "Come on, Teppei, I saw you. You barely even stretched."
Teppei scoffed, shaking his head. "Hey, come on! I stretched enough, okay?"
Emilie shook her head, laughing. "Alright, alright, you two. Eat your food." She then lowered her voice slightly. "We've got a meeting with the Captain and Kaeya at Hangar One later."
The trio nodded, digging into their food.
The conversation drifted between different topics—yesterday's maintenance schedules, the few remaining wrecks still being cleared off the airstrip, and of course, speculation on their new aircraft.
"I still can't believe we're finally getting rid of the Tigers," Teppei muttered, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Yeah," Mona agreed. "They've served their purpose, but damn, they felt like they belonged in a museum, not on the front lines."
Ayaka, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "I've only flown in the F-5 for training. This will be my first time piloting something different."
Emilie leaned back slightly. "Well, you're in for a treat. The F-14A is a whole different beast."
Teppei grinned. "Yeah, she's got some weight on her, but she's got power. And if you can handle that swing-wing system properly, she moves like a dream."
Mona smirked. "You saying that like you've actually flown one before."
Teppei shrugged. "Simulators count."
Emilie chuckled, finishing the last bite of her breakfast. "Guess we'll see just how well those 'simulator hours' hold up in the real thing."
With that, they finished their meal, gathered their trays, and prepared to head for Hangar One.
The moment of truth was coming.
The F-5 Tiger II was being retired from their hands.
And today, they would finally lay eyes on the aircraft that would carry them through the battles ahead.
Hours later…
The four pilots walked along the vast apron, their boots crunching softly against the tarmac as they headed toward the massive main hangar. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the concrete, the scent of jet fuel lingering in the air.
Breaking the silence, Teppei glanced at the others with a grin.
"Say, what plane do you think they have in store for us?"
Mona shrugged. "I don't know. Hopefully something modern."
Ayaka tapped her chin thoughtfully. "How about a Dassault Rafale? Those things are common with the Armée de l'Air."
Mona shook her head. "I don't think so. Captain said it was surplus planes, so it must be something a bit older than that."
She turned to Emilie. "What about you, Emilie? What do you think?"
Emilie tilted her head up slightly, tapping her chin.
"Hmm… Something not too old but not too new either. I'd say maybe an F-15 or an F-16."
Teppei's eyes lit up as he pumped a fist slightly.
"Ooh! Good guesses, Emilie!" He leaned back, placing his hands behind his head. "I hope it's an F-16! Always loved the way they looked!"
Ayaka chuckled. "I actually hope it's the F-15."
Mona nodded. "Me too. Pretty sure you've heard of the Demon of Nod-Krai, right?"
All three nodded.
"Yeah, I've heard about it," Emilie said.
"She's a mercenary pilot from Snezhnaya. I heard she's called the Knave."
Mona tilted her head. "The… Knave?"
Emilie nodded. "Well, that's what the reports and documentaries say. She was Snezhnaya's ace pilot during the Khaenri'ahn War. Fifteen years ago."
Right on cue, their destination came into view. Standing outside the hangar were Kaeya and Captain Maksim, waiting for them.
Maksim nodded as they approached. "Right on time. Here come our Wolfsbane aces."
The four saluted.
Maksim waved them at ease. "At ease, folks."
They stood straight, hands resting by their sides, as he continued.
"Alright. As of today, you're no longer flying F-5 Tiger IIs. A squadron from Mondstadt sent these over—donated them for you four."
Teppei nearly bounced in place. "What is it, Captain? F-16s?"
Maksim smirked. "You'll see."
He and Kaeya led them inside the dimly lit hangar. The moment they stepped in, their eyes adjusted to the shadows—and what they saw made their breath hitch.
Four aircraft stood in perfect condition, their sleek frames illuminated by the overhead lighting.
Twin engines.
Variable-sweep wings.
A legend in air superiority, interception, and multi-role dominance.
Emilie's eyes widened. "Holy shit…"
Ayaka's breath hitched. "Are these… F-14s?"
Teppei let out a gasp. "Like… those F-14s that Maverick flew!?"
Kaeya chuckled.
"That's right, young ones. And they're in top condition too."
"The Mondstadt Air Force kept them well-maintained. The engines were overhauled just a few months ago."
"They've also been extensively modified."
Maksim gestured toward the aircraft. "No need for a RIO anymore. Your radar system's been upgraded to a newer model that eliminates the need for a backseater. But the second seat is still there if you ever need to transport a passenger."
Mona turned to Maksim. "We'll be able to fly them today?"
Maksim nodded. "Of course. You four will do a familiarization flight around Petrichor Air Force Base today."
Right on cue, the hangar doors began to open, letting in the golden glow of the setting sun.
"Your pilot numbers have been transferred from the F-5s, so whatever your numbers were last time will remain the same."
"Now, go on. Get yourselves ready."
Without hesitation, the four split up, heading toward their respective aircraft.
Emilie's was the second from the left. She stepped toward it, taking in every detail—the sharp nose, the massive twin vertical stabilizers, the iconic wing geometry. She walked around the fuselage, running her hand along the cool metal.
Then she stopped near the exhaust nozzles.
Something about them caught her eye.
Her expression hardened.
"F-14As…"
She muttered under her breath, narrowing her eyes.
"These engines… TF30s. The infamous ones."
"Known for compressor stalls at high angles of attack."
She exhaled sharply, pushing her concerns aside.
"But… better than nothing."
Climbing up the boarding ladder, she slid into the cockpit, settling into the pilot's seat. The smell of aged leather and avionics filled her senses as she ran her hands over the familiar controls.
"Alright… this is where your sim training pays off, Emilie."
She reached for the canopy switch and flicked it. The canopy hummed as it lowered, locking into place with a firm clunk.
A ground crew member gave her a thumbs-up, signaling that she was clear to start up.
Emilie returned the gesture before sliding on her helmet.
She reached down to the left-side lower pedestal and flicked the engine start switch to the right.
The right-side TF30 engine began to spool up, the deep whine gradually building.
Her eyes scanned the engine instrumentation.
20% RPM…
She pushed the right throttle from Cutoff to Idle.
A moment later, the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) rose as the engine stabilized.
She repeated the process for Engine One.
Within moments, both TF30 engines were running, their low, guttural hum resonating through the airframe.
Clicking her radio, she spoke.
"Wolfsbane, can you hear me?"
One by one, the responses came in.
"Starseer, loud and clear."
"Herring, loud and clear."
"Soumetsu, I can hear you."
Emilie nodded.
"Alright. Let's fly—get to know these birds more."
She disengaged the parking brake and slowly taxied forward, leading the formation out. Mona followed, then Teppei, with Ayaka taking the rear.
Glancing at her instruments, Emilie took in the layout.
"Liking this so far… straightforward… labeled nicely."
She shifted her focus to the control stick.
"And the switch to change from Sidewinders to Sparrows is right here… flick of the thumb. Perfect."
Reaching the runway, she lined up at the threshold. Holding the toe brakes, she brought the F-14 to a stop.
Her eyes flicked to her wingtips.
They were still swept back.
She reached for the yellow lever beside the throttles, lifting its clear protective cover.
With a firm push, she moved the wing sweep from Swept to Extended.
It took a painstaking 30 seconds.
Once the wings were fully extended, she pushed the yellow lever back into place and pressed the Master Reset button, setting the wing sweep to Automatic.
She keyed her radio.
"Raven is departing."
Pushing the throttles to 80%, she held the brakes.
Then—
She slammed the throttles forward to full afterburner and released the brakes.
The F-14 surged forward, afterburners roaring as she was pressed into her seat.
She glanced at her airspeed indicator.
Airspeed's alive.
The tarmac blurred past.
"Looking good so far…"
Her radio crackled.
"Starseer is departing."
140 knots.
150.
157.
She eased back on the stick.
The F-14 lifted off effortlessly.
She reached for the gear lever and pulled it up.
The landing gear retracted.
She banked left, flying due south before pulling into a high-climb right turn, adjusting the throttle to maintain energy.
She nodded, impressed.
"Power-to-weight ratio's better than I expected."
Her radio crackled again.
"Hey, Emilie. It's Kaeya. How's the F-14 so far?"
Emilie smirked.
"I like it so far… I'm gonna try some combat maneuvers—see how she handles."
Emilie levels out, pushing her speed slightly higher.
280 knots.
She then pulls hard on the side stick, yanking her F-14 into a vertical climb, rolling the aircraft as she ascends. At the apex, she pulls back hard again, flipping the nose over into a steep vertical descent before leveling out.
She starts working the stick aggressively.
A hard left turn.
A hard right turn.
Then, fast-paced jinks left and right, testing the Tomcat's responsiveness.
A grin spreads across her face. "Woo! Now this is what I'm talking about!"
Teppei's voice crackles over the radio.
"I'm loving this! This plane has power! I feel like I'm the king of the skies!"
Mona joins in, her tone more analytical.
"Cockpit's spacious, very comfortable… and the maneuverability is impressive."
Ayaka's voice follows, a hint of excitement in her usual composed tone.
"I love the power this thing has… I can push myself even harder."
Teppei then gets an idea.
"Hey! What about a simulated dogfight?"
Mona raises an eyebrow. "Dogfight?"
Kaeya, listening in from the ground, responds with a chuckle.
"I don't see why not. Sounds like a great way to test if you really know the plane's limits."
Mona hesitates. "I don't know, Teppei…"
Ayaka encourages her. "Come on! It's a test to see who's the best pilot in equal machinery!"
Teppei agrees. "Yeah! And whoever gets the most locks gets to be flight lead!"
He turns to Emilie. "It's your call, Emilie!"
Emilie narrows her eyes.
Then—
She snaps her F-14 into a sharp 180-degree turn, heading straight toward her squadmates.
"Game on!"
Teppei pumps his fist. "Alright! Herring, engaging!"
Mona exhales sharply before responding, "Starseer, engaging."
Ayaka joins in. "Soumetsu, engaging."
The Dogfight Begins
Emilie immediately locks onto her first target—Teppei.
She slides into his six o'clock position.
"Whoa, whoa! You're chasing me already!?" Teppei yells.
Emilie chuckles. "You suggested this, Teppei! Let's see if you can keep up!"
Teppei jinks left, then right, trying to shake her.
But Emilie mirrors his every move flawlessly.
Then—
A lock tone.
"That's a kill, Teppei!"
Teppei slumps in his seat. "Damn it!"
He breaks left, but Emilie's IFF warning blares.
She's being targeted.
Glancing over her shoulder, she spots the F-14 on her tail.
Ayaka.
"I've got you, Emilie! You're not getting away!"
Emilie grits her teeth.
She starts weaving aggressively, searching for an escape.
Then, her eyes land on the variable-sweep wing lever.
She flips the cover and manually sweeps the wings forward.
The extended wings generate massive lift, yanking the F-14 into a sudden high-G climb.
Ayaka, still in automatic wing mode, struggles to match the maneuver.
Emilie slams the throttles to idle, then pitches the nose downward into a sharp dive.
For a moment, she goes weightless.
Then—
She pulls back hard. A lock tone blares in her ears.
"That's another down!"
Ayaka sighs. "Damn!"
She peels off and joins Teppei in the cooldown zone.
That leaves only Mona.
Emilie scans her radar, but movement catches her eye first—
Mona, off her left wing, slipping onto her six.
She scoffs. "Not on my watch!"
She jinks right.
The two begin weaving, rolling, and juking, neither gaining an advantage.
On the Ground
Kaeya and Maksim watch from below.
Maksim sips his coffee. "So, who are you betting on?"
Kaeya smirks. "I'll put my money on Starseer. She seems like the type to pull something sneaky."
Back in the air, Emilie makes a split-second decision.
She yanks the stick back, throwing the F-14 into a steep 60-degree climb.
Then, an idea.
She snaps the left throttle to idle and stomps the left rudder pedal.
The Tomcat suddenly snaps into a tight, near-flat spin, descending sharply.
Mona tries to follow but overshoots.
"Holy crap, Emilie!"
Emilie slams the throttle back to full, stabilizing the jet just as Mona turns.
She swoops in—
Lock tone.
"That's a kill, Starseer!"
Mona shakes her head, then laughs. "Damn… but this is fun!"
Teppei and Ayaka rejoin, ready for another round.
On the ground, Maksim chuckles. "Looks like you owe me twenty Mora, Kaeya."
Kaeya waves it off. "Yeah, yeah. I'll get it to you sooner or later."
He glances back up at the dogfight raging above.
"Look at them go…"
Maksim nods. "They're damn good pilots."
Kaeya watches a moment longer, then murmurs, "Maybe they're the ones who'll turn the tide of this war…"
The Day Ends
By 2:45 PM, the familiarization flight and simulated dogfight come to an end.
The final scoreboard:
Emilie: 16 kills, 2 deaths
Mona: 9 kills, 4 deaths
Ayaka: 4 kills, 6 deaths
Teppei: 2 kills, 10 deaths
Their F-14s now sit silently on the apron.
As the four pilots walk toward the hangar, Teppei groans.
"Man! That was a bummer! I had more deaths than kills!"
Emilie chuckles. "Looks like you've got some improving to do, Herring."
Laughter follows as they approach Kaeya.
He crosses his arms. "So, Aces, what do you think of the F-14s?"
Emilie speaks first. "Love the layout. Maneuverability is great. The thrust-to-weight ratio is fantastic. And the cockpit? Surprisingly spacious."
Ayaka nods. "I agree, especially on the power."
Kaeya smiles. "Good to hear."
"Because starting today, these are your new assigned aircraft."
He gestures toward the silent F-14s.
"Go get some rest—you all earned it."
Emilie nods. "Thanks, Kaeya. See you around."
The four pilots head back to the main building.
Kaeya shakes his head, smiling.
He glances at the Tomcats of Wolfsbane Squadron, letting out a quiet sigh.
"Watching them fly… reminds me of what I was fifteen years ago."
He exhales.
"But… that's in the past now."
With that, he turns and walks back to the hangar.
That day would end.
Two days of downtime had been worth it.
New aircraft—Grumman F-14A Tomcats.
And something else.
The awakening—
Of the Emberhowl.