////Location [i]United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. [/i] ////Time [i]0700[/i] A banner with the words "GOOD LUCK!" sagged over the large entrance of a hangar. Inside stood a girl with striking white hair and more notably small wings sprouting out of it. Her cold blue eyes stared at the entrance, waiting for the arrival of her guide. Instead, a middle aged man in a sharp uniform entered the hangar. She gave a hasty salute and he returned it. "At ease flight officer, only came to see you off." he glanced around the hangar, noticing the empty plastic cups and stuffed trash cans. "I take it your going away party with your fellow squadron mates was a success?" he said with a chuckle "Yes sir! Sort of regretting it now though... Still a bit hung over..." she said giving a yawn. "If my parents had seen me at that going away party I would been dead within a minute." The man chuckled again, but soon his expression became more solemn. "Listen.... Flight-, no, Alika, I know you must resent them for not showing up to see you off.... It's just your father being a Colonel now and your mother in-" "Marcus, you don't need to defend them. I'm sure they have their reasons...They always seem to do.... I'm just happy I'm doing something for myself for a change..." she paused and gave a sigh and sad smile "But it hasn't been all bad. I'm gonna miss you sir, and the 118th. I mean what will happen to Maxwell if I'm not there to stop him from crashing into another wing of the Academy!" she said, seemingly trying to keep a light heart about the situation. Just then a large gust blew through the hangar and at its entrance stood a mighty griffin. The two starred for a moment at the beast, amazed by its appearance. "Well, I guess that's my guide... I better be going." Alika walked over to her gear, picking up her gear and weapon before leaping into her Striker. The engines glowed blue for a moment as the warmed up. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC2_UyvprAU]She began to taxi out of the hangar[/url] and looked over to see her entire flight on the side of the run way in a line. Marcus walked out in front of them. "Attention!" They all stand straight, arms at their side. "Bear Arms!" Everyone gives and holds a salute, staring at her intently. Alika held by the urge just to run up and hug all of them and simply nodded instead. The griffin walks up to her confused. She turns to it, petting its head. "Don't worry big guy, I can fly myself, could you just lead me there?" The griffin tilted his head and nodded, still no entirely sure if the strange human was speaking the truth. With a strong flap of his wings he was in the air, with Alika soon following. She glanced back below at the academy fading away into the distance. Giving a sad sigh, she looked forward towards the griffin, flying through the sky. After a few hours they passed through the Black Gale and began to approach the new academy. The griffin motioned to the school and waved off. "Thank you!!" Alika yelled. The griffin cawed in response and flew away. The early morning sadness was now replaced with the a new found excitement as she watched griffins carrying students landed and dropped off her potential classmates. Giving a big grin she dove down and did a fly by of the school at supersonic speeds, causing a sonic boom moments later. She circled again at more moderate speed before landing. "I see your still your lively self Alika!" --- ////Location Russian Federation FOB Kolski II, Chrimea ////Time [i]0700[/i] The skies were dark grey and mud seem to be everywhere Leytenánt Akulova went. The only part that was solid ground on the base was the hastily paved tarmac of the runway and landing pads. Elena gave a big yawn and hunched over. She had spent most the night providing nighttime CAS (close air support) to advancing forces and she didn't even have time to change or anything. Instead she wore her somewhat muddy camouflage uniform carried her gear on her back. She already had her striker unit mounted and her gun set up as she practically fell asleep with it once she got back. Just then a griffin landed, causing quite a stir. Within a minute, several troops, an armored car, and a tank had stopped what they were doing and pointed they're weapons at the beast. The griffin cautiously looked around, suddenly feeling very small when his rider suddenly loudly proclaimed "BACK OFF COMRADS! THIS IS MY BEAST! I SHALL TAME YOUUUUUU!" and jumped into the air. The griffin had only one thought. "...What????" The griffin gave a yelp when Elena landed all 250lbs of equipment, not to mention her own muscular self onto it suddenly. "Forward flying beast! TO victory!" the griffin, still dazed and confused by what's going on, stumbled a bit before launching into the sky. "Mighty beast not so mighty eh? Of course you no match for me!" They flew through the skies for a couple of hours, the whole time Elena lazily napped on the beast's back, letting him do all the work. It wasn't before long they arrived at the academy. The beast shook Elena off, flinging her to the ground. "OW! Son of a bitch! Hey! Flying beast! GET BACK HERE!" But it was too late as the griffin had hurriedly flown away. Elena stood up, brushing herself off before looking around. "Damn... what a freak show.." she mumbled, seeing the wide diversity of the students. "Though I guess me and Alika don't have very much to..." a sonic boom rang out over the students. "Well speak of the devil." She walked over to where Alika stood and waved. "I see your still your lively self Alika!" "Die in a fire Elena" Alika said, turning away, arms crossed. "Eh? What? What did I do to anger my little birdie?" "I still haven't forgotten what happened in Hawaii!" "Ohh dat? Oh ho ho, come now, that was all in the past and besides..." Elena but her arm around Alika and leaned in next to her. "If I remember correctly you really enjoyed it." Alika's face went red and she pushed Elena away. "I WAS REALLY, REALLY DRUNK NO THANKS TO YOU!" she then realized what she yelled and became even more embarrased. Elena simply laughed her heart out at the poor girl.