Chapter Text
1623 January 9th, 432 AC | Jesta Island Chain | Hitman 1 "Monarch" | Operation Red Current
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Quiet. Not like the peaceful kind, but a focused quiet. You know, the kind you get when you’re “in the zone” or something, or at least that’s how I certainly can define it as far as I’m aware. Alarms and signals? Don’t quite know what you mean. Totally no missiles or jet engines following behind me or anything either. All I can hear is the air around me and- wait, I'm hearing something.>
< Hitman 1 WSO | "Prez": “Monarch! Hey, Monarch! We have a missile tracking us! Pop a maneuver!” >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Oh, well out of my zone. What is it again? Holy shit, missile! >
*Monarch pulls back on the stick and brakes slightly, followed by releasing flares*
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Pulling up with the force of a mantis shrimp now, I just so happened to narrowly avoid the missile going straight for me as my flares got released. Pretty damn close of an encounter if you ask me. >
< Hitman 1 WSO | "Prez": “Missile lost, nice Monarch!” >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": I don’t know how she can handle all of those Gs, but I really admire it. I don’t know why really, just something about her. Anyways, now to get the source of the missile. Check my radar and… Well I see now that it was another pilot in another F/E-4, or was it that SAM site? Either way I'm going for the pilot, not like they were a threat to me or anything. You just can’t fire a missile at me and not expect a lethal consequence. >
*Monarch's plane looped the enemy fighter and managed to tail them, but they kept turning so Monarch couldn’t easily hit them with a missile at the moment. However, Monarch begins to fire the jet's machine guns at the enemy fighter, shooting the hostile down in a grand explosion*
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": It’s good that machine guns are a thing because I probably would've been tailing them for an hour or longer. That was a sick ass explosion though. >
< Hitman 1 WSO | "Prez": “Another one down! Nice! One more target left I’m pretty sure.”>
*Monarch gives Prez a thumbs up and angle towards the SAM site to hit it with a missile.*
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Closer... Closer... And... Target locked, sending out. >
*The missile successfully splashes the target, effectively wiping it of the map*
< AWACS | "Galaxy": “Nice job Hitman team, all targets on IFF appear to be cleared, getting confirmation from Ronin now.”>
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": There’s our glorious AWACS, Galaxy, he’s got our eyes for anybody in the area, just in case. >
< Hitman 3 | "Comic": “This wasn’t much, Galaxy. I think we did quite great on our mark.”>
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": That one’s Comic, I think we may have a sort of competition like thing going on, but it’s all friendly between us. >
< Sicario SOF | "Ronin": “This is Ronin to Galaxy, we’ve got eyes on the target. Appears to be a sort of cordium containment chamber, readings says it’s unstable.”
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": That doesn’t worry anybody at all, totally not like it’s something close to super reactive uranium. >
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": “That doesn’t bode well.”>
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Oh and that’s diplomat, if the name suggests anything he’s quite amiable, and he certainly is a communicator. >
< AWACS | "Galaxy": “Copy that Ronin, just about how much is there?” >
< Sicario SOF | "Ronin": “About as much as needed to power an airship for over a year, according to our sensors. Can’t really carry anything out.” >
< AWACS | "Galaxy": “Ope, patching into the contractor now, they’ve got something to say apparently.” >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": I swear to Dust Mother if we have to explode that I’ll buy everyone a cookie. >
< Federation Contact: “Clean the scene, everything you've witnessed is confidential by Federation decree, destroy it.”>
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Motherfucker hold on, what? They want us to what?! >
< AWACS | "Galaxy": “Copy that. Ronin, exfiltrate. You hear that, Monarch? Highlighting the target to your IFF, blow it when they're not on site.” >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": For sure, I’ll wait a bit before causing an explosion equivalent to a damn nuke. Although, I’m not against making big fucking explosions, but aren’t there people living here? Maybe not actually. >
< Sicario SOF | "Ronin": “Looks like we’re ahead of schedule then, Galaxy, all clear for demolition, Hitman.” >
< Hitman 1 WSO | "Prez": “Alright Monarch, let’s strike that target!”>
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Her excitement, I fear, matches my own, I just gotta hope that this curiosity doesn’t kill us.
*Monarch goes in for one more dive towards the island and releases a missile towards the target, before hightailing out to a safe distance of course.*
< AWACS | "Galaxy": “Missile is out and going Monarch”>
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Thanks for confirmation Galaxy, even though our eyes can clearly tell us. Can’t wait to enjoy the sand a bit more before- >
*A loud and deafening explosion fills Monarch's ears, even through her helmet and her plane’s slightly shaken cockpit*
< Sicario SOF | "Ronin": "Oh shit!" >
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": "What the hell?!" >
< Hitman 1 WSO | "Prez": “Woah, I felt that in my teeth, hot damn, Monarch!” >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": I totally wasn’t at all startled from the explosion, I swear my only worry was somehow getting everyone cookies. Dust Mother forbid I try making my own sweets again though, that took me almost two days to clean up. More exhausting than piloting I swear. >
< AWACS | "Galaxy": “...huh, uh… well we’re done here, Hitman, RTB at your leisure.” >
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": “Oh boy… Think the water’s still good? We’ve still got sunshine till we get back, I think.” >
*Diplomat follows Monarch in formation*
< Hitman 3 | "Comic": “Oh just become a surfer and drop out, you bum.”
*Comic also follows Monarch in formation*
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": “Oh yeah, me, you, and the flight lead start running a little beach bar on a gentrified resort built from our blood money, hah sound good, Monarch?”>
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": I guess it is a pretty fun idea, but I’ll pass on getting out of flying anytime soon. >
< AWACS | "Galaxy": “Hold it, bogeys inbound due north, same bearing as the reinforcements.”>
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Huh? Intriguing... More reinforcements for the privateers are coming in? >
< AWACS | "Galaxy": “Fighters approaching us direct south of your position, flash or we flag you as hostile.”
< Mercenary Pilot | "Master Goose": “Easy, easy, we’re flashing IFF, we're just here to help and, by the looks of it, late to the Burlok party.” >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Aw man, I kinda wanted to do a little more fighting. She probably knew what I was thinking too. >
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": “You hired by the mercs in the fort there, bud?” >
< Mercenary Pilot | "Master Goose": “Nah, past tense now, got no beef with you, purely business, I’m sure y’all would know.” >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": I sense we’ll see you again in the future, no doubt. >
< Assassin 1 | Kaiser: “Galaxy, put me on... this is Assassin 1, callsign Kaiser, I'm the leader of the Sicario Mercenary Corps,” >
< Assassin 1 | Kaiser: “We understand what you mean by that. Sorry about cutting your revenue stream, gentlemen, but you know how business is.”
< Mercenary Pilot | "Master Goose": “No sweat, we were going to head west towards Cascadia anyways.” >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": Wait, Cascadia? What the hell could be going on there? >
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": “Cacadia?” >
< Mercenary Pilot | "Master Goose": “Oh yeah, haven’t you heard? Civil war against the federation, ambassador has been giving contracts out and stuff all day. Rebels need mercs, and I need to get money somehow. Master Goose 1, out.” >
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": “See, that seems like a fun kind of name we could have… Right boss? Boss?” >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": I don't know what Diplomat means because Hitman is a pretty good name. Also I feel like Kaiser is brewing up an Idea. >
< Assassin 1 | Kaiser:“Civil war… In Cascadia… Alright.”>
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": I'm pretty sure that probably translates to: "Well gang, get ready to go into a whole civil war as a backing to the insurrectionists." which I’m not totally against, I’m just not sure I’m ready for it, or maybe I am, whatever. Can't wait to spend time on the beach later today. >
*They all proceed to fly home to base, with a mission complete, and a new upcoming opportunity.*
1720 January 9th, 432 AC | Some local beach-side military airbase, Creole Republic
*Seems to be a sunset beach party in celebration of the end of their contract in the Creole, and someone seems to have brought cookies. Cookies bought with all the blood money they got from the previous mission. Monarch and Diplomat are laying down in beach chairs as the others play some volleyball.*
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": "Wow Monarch, these cookies are delicious. Where'd you even get these?" >
*Monarch finishes a cookie before answering.*
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "Spent all of my money at a few bakeries nearby. They were all more than happy to allow me to get a bunch of them after I showed them a few wads of cash that I had. Premium cookies right here." >
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": "Really? No new jet? You were really excited to get a new one before we went on sortie." >
*Diplomat grabs another cookie from a comically large cookie jar.*
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "I wanted to celebrate us for getting our recent contract finished. That and I made a bet with myself." >
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": "A bet? Bet on what? Seeing an explosion today?" >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "Something like that." (Shrugs) >
*Monarch looks out into the beautiful sunset before them. Taking it in as it slowly goes down, then suddenly it was interrupted.*
< Hitman 1 WSO | "Prez": "Hey, Monarch, look out!" >
*Prez runs over to them as a ball aims towards Monarch's head, and there is a split second before it makes impact into their temple.*
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": I have a crucial decision to make. I could let it hit my head and embarrass myself, or I could catch it and show no effort to impress them. >
*Before Monarch could make a quick decision, the ball gets caught by Diplomat.*
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": "Wow, Monarch. How do you have such quick reaction in the sky but not for a ball?" (Chuckles) >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "What do you mean? I was totally going to catch that! You just so happened to have reached it before me." >
< Hitman 2 | "Diplomat": "Sure, buddy. Just like how you totally got caught sleepwalking to your jet at 2 in the morning." >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "Hey! That was one time man." >
*Prez approaches Monarch and Diplomat, who seem to be bickering a little.*
< Hitman 1 WSO | "Prez": "Hey you two, why don't you come play with us? It'd be more fun if Sicario's Hitman 1 and 2 were playing with us instead of bickering in beach chairs while the sun's setting." >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "Fine, fine. Come on dip, lets play volleyball." >
*Diplomat and Monarch join in the (basically) company volleyball game with the scores already at 20/20, and it begins to get heated quickly. Monarch, despite being top ace, is struggling against the other team, composed of Comic, Prez, and Kaiser, who somehow the best out of all of them. As it continues on and the sun sets, it ends up with a tie somehow. Then Kaiser gets a call.*
*Kaiser answers his phone, probably a Sicario official or correspondant.*
< Assassin 1 | "Kaiser": "Yeah?.. Really?.. I'll inform them about it in briefing when we're moving." (Listens for a moment) "A visitor?.. Who could it possibly be?.. Got it. Thank you." (Hangs up the phone)
< Assassin 1 | "Kaiser": "Monarch, you got a visitor apparently." >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "A visitor? Who is it?" >
< Assassin 1 | "Kaiser": "Dunno, but they are either a journalist or a family member that you don't know about." >
*Monarch chuckles a little at the statement because there wouldn't be any family here in Creole, but still there is a slight curiosity in her mind. She says a quick "I'll be right back" before going to the front of the base to talk to whoever this mystery person is.*
*Entering the visitor center that the base supposedly has, Monarch sees someone who appears to be a somewhat middle aged male with brown hair and aviator glasses with an old looking uniform that suggests either; 1) he is an old pilot or 2) a poser who just wants to look cool in stolen valor. Either way, Monarch is curious.*
*Monarch walks up to the man, he looks up at what appears to be a female pilot in a slightly sand covered uniform.*
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "I was told someone wanted to see me. I assume that would be you?" >
< ??? | "???": "That would be right... You the top ace here?" >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "Yeah, I am. You also a pilot? Sure look like one. Experienced?" >
*The man stands and reaches out his, supposedly for a shake of hands.*
*Monarch shakes the stranger's hand, simply feeling the aura shared between them.*
< Scarface 1 | "Phoenix": "Call me Phoenix, I led a squadron called Scarface back in the day. And yes, I was an ace at combat too." >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "Monarch. I lead Hitman squadron, if you've heard of us." >
< Scarface 1 | "Phoenix": "I've heard. That's why I wanted to meet the pilot doing high G tricks by that island not too long ago."
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "You were there? How?" >
< Scarface 1 | "Phoenix": "I was listening into some radio chatter with a plane of my own. A stealthy one at that." >
< Scarface 1 | "Phoenix": "I was only watching though. Don't wanna mess around with this 'Pacific Federation' country that I've heard so much about." >
< Scarface 1 | "Phoenix": "What even is the Pacific Federation? You work for them?" >
*That last sentence pieqed Monarch's interest. How would this guy not know so much about the biggest collection of nations/federation since before calamity?*
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "How about I ask you a question. Are you... From around here?" >
< Scarface 1 | "Phoenix": "Why do you need to know?" >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "It's not everyday that there's someone you come across that doesn't know about the Federation." >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "Well, unless they've been literally living under a rock their whole life." >
*Phoenix pauses a moment. Thinking about something, but Monarch can't exactly read him for a solid expression. Until, of course, begins talking again.*
< Scarface 1 | "Phoenix": "Got time for an interesting story?" >
< Hitman 1 | "Monarch": "Wouldn't mind listening in for a bit. However, I'll need to page my boss that I'll be busy for a little while." >
< Scarface 1 | "Phoenix": "Alright then. Well, it all began when I was assigned to take care of a little coup d'etat..." >
*And so begins Phoenixes four hour story session with Monarch. Where he details everything from Usea to his last engagement with a strange and unfamiliar squadron by the Skully islands.*
1530 August 27th, 1998 | Skully Islands, Southeast Usea | Scarface 1 "Phoenix"| Routine Patrol
*More soon, I swear.*