Yukikaze

Yukikaze and the Knights independent of the other planes. He pushed the missile release button and Yukikaze’s fire control system sent the Knights toward the targets indicated by the control plane.

There were eight large JAM aircraft flying in formations of two, three, and three. They kept at a distance of about five klicks from each other, never drawing any closer, and from this Burgadish reckoned the one unit in the center was carrying a nuclear missile.

“They’re maintaining a space cushion so that they aren’t all destroyed in case that missile detonates.”

The three Flip Knights were nipping at the heels of one of the three-ship JAM formations. The JAM fighters quickly detected the pursuit and the two groups of planes began to maneuver. Rei flicked the dogfight switch to OFF with the tip of his finger, transferring the Knights’ gun control from Yukikaze to the individual units so that they could attack on their own judgment. Since the control protocol was hastily installed temporary logic, he couldn’t give them advance guidance control. Rei left it to the Knights themselves.

The data transmitted by the Knights was projected onto the HUD as he watched. The three enemy craft were coming into the Knights’ firing range when one of the JAM pulled a snap turn and rushed at Knight-I to attack. Knight-II provided cover, crossing Knight-I’s flight path, and a firing cue appeared on the HUD as Knight-II opened up with its laser cannon, annihilating the JAM fighter. Knight-I continued straight along the clear path that had been opened up for it, with Knight-II now to its rear, providing backup.

The other two JAM moved into a fighting wing formation, closing on their target at supersonic speed. Now that it had become apparent that they’d most likely lose in a dogfight, the JAM to the rear seemed to be sacrificing themselves to shield the nuclear missile carrier that was now in the lead, and worse still, accelerating.

Knight-V charged forward and began firing its laser at the fighters as soon as they were in range. A hit.

Having lost its escorts, the last JAM flew on, staying just outside of firing range. They were now barely six minutes from the target point.

This was all happening too far away to be seen by his naked eye, so Rei watched it on his HUD and on the multidisplay below. Humans aren’t necessary, huh? he thought bitterly. Colonel Guneau had died in battle precisely because humans were necessary to the fight. Rei could feel it in his skin, as though he’d been struck. That’s right, he thought. I’m the one who’s fighting here. It wasn’t the JAM versus Earth machines: it was the JAM versus people, just as Major Booker had said. It was just so obvious, but... Watching the movements of the JAM and the Knights on the displays was more than enough to cause his misgivings to well up. He was beset by a powerful feeling of alienation, as though his mechanical allies were fighting of their own accord.

Maybe they are, Rei thought as a shudder traveled down his spine. Perhaps it wasn’t such an obvious truth that people were necessary to the fight. The JAM were aliens. It wouldn’t be so incredible for them to believe that it was machines, not humans, that ruled Earth.

Humanity believed that the JAM had arbitrarily attacked them, but perhaps Earth’s machines had accepted the JAM’s declaration of war. If that were true, then humans had no reason to be in this war. If that were true, then the JAM and Earth’s machines might regard this as their fight, one that humans had no place in.

Rei gave his head a quick shake, as though to drive the thought from his mind. That’s crazy.

“Targets increasing velocity. Speed now three-zero... The Knights can’t catch up to them.”

Before Burgadish had even finished speaking, Rei had keyed the dogfight switch to ON and pulled the trigger. Knight-I and V, nearest to the targeted JAM, fired their lasers. There was a long delay from Knight-II, or rather, it seemed like a long delay but was not even five seconds. Target detonation. Knight-I and V couldn’t avoid being caught in the heart of the nuclear blast. However, Knight-II quickly changed course and fled. Almost as though it were alive.

“B-3,” came the call from the control plane. “Send K-II to the target indicated. What’s wrong, B-3? You want the Knight to get lost?”

Rei came to himself again. He released his finger from the trigger. The stores control panel read RDY FK II.

Knight-I and V had disappeared. Flipping the dogfight switch to OFF, he guided Knight-II to its next target.

“Come back alive,” Rei murmured. At the very least, don’t get killed. He could sort all this out later. He’d have plenty of time. As long as he kept himself alive.

III MYSTERIOUS BATTLE ZONE

The JAM were targeting Yukikaze. She was fighting them to the utmost limits of her abilities. He could not perceive the fierce battle being waged between them, yet he knew the enemy was there. She was warning him: They’re here.

THE MAN CAME bearing nationalism. After touring several sectors of Faery Base, his pale blue eyes protected behind a pair of Ray-Ban Aviators, he announced that he wanted to learn more about the mindset of the soldiers who fought the JAM.

Although he had a press pass issued by the United Nations Earth Defense Force GHQ, Faery Base’s authorities didn’t want him there, which they made clear in the way they treated him. They carefully questioned him to make sure the purpose of his investigation was not simply to reinforce his own preconceptions and warned him not to write an article that would be slanted in favor of a specific country.

“And just what is that supposed to mean?” American freelance journalist, military critic, lobbyist, and writer Andy Lander asked with an irritated air. “Are you suggesting that I’d intentionally write a biased article?”

“Not at all,” answered Colonel Roland of the base’s Office of Public Affairs. “I’m just asking you to recognize the fact that this is a war between all of humanity and an alien race. As to how you do your job — ”

“Yes, of course I realize that. But I think that approach is a little too vague. I want to ask the soldiers about what tangible things they’re fighting for here on the front lines of Faery, not about some abstract sense of duty.”

“Our mission is to defend Earth. What’s so abstract about that? The only reason we’re here is to keep the people of Earth from being attacked.”

“I’d still like to try and conduct a deeper analysis than that.”

“Then why don’t I save you the trouble?” Colonel Roland responded with an irritated look on his face. “Here’s what we’re fighting for: self-preservation. In combat, that’s all that matters.” His expression suddenly softened. “A perfect answer, don’t you think? A solid answer. It’s not as if anyone here actually wants this war.”

“Would anyone be that crazy?”

“There are plenty of people back on Earth who might be. A lot of individuals and organizations are making huge profits from it.”

In the end, Lander never heard anyone in the FAF say that they were fighting for their homeland. And he had certainly never anticipated witnessing a scenario in which Russians were fighting using American-made weapons, or even more shocking, vice versa.

Although the materials for the majority of the fighter systems the FAF was equipped with came from Earth, the designs were entirely their own. Lander tried to gather information on the research and development teams but was given no details: each time, his inquiry was blocked for “security reasons.” Finally, in a fit of pique, he declared that he thought it was a misuse of funding for the FAF to be developing fighters on its own without passing that technology back to Earth. He demanded to know what sort of fighters were being developed and was determined to see one for himself. Then he formally requested the opportunity to go up in one. He had never flown in anything aside from passenger jets, but he was an intrepid individual and in good physical health. He was a man who had