Chapter Text
One Hour ago, Bronya Zaychik was still not involved with anything regarding the Cascadian Conflict.
She had just finished her last morning Chauffeur job. Her passengers: a business couple, retiring to their hotel. The moment they had stepped off, Bronya pulled the limousine into the parking lot, switching off the engine and rolling down the windows.
With a tired sigh she swung open the driver side doors, before carefully lifting her prosthetic legs from the pedals and dropping them on the asphalt. While the stays meant she could still use them with but a smidget of loss to her motor functions, her stumps still hurt from a full morning of driving.
With deft fingers, she undid the straps and removed her right prosthetic, before massaging where her leg ended halfway down. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel the phantom limb. Maybe even remember what it felt like to be in a co*ckpit again…
Her phone trilled on the dash. With another sigh, Bronya affixed her prosthetic again, pulling the straps tight, before she picked her phone up. Probably another job.
Destiny, however, was never a choice in a single moment. It was a cascade of many fates, decisions, all tumbling like a domino towards a predetermined, yet ever unknown result. Today, Destiny landed on her lap. In the form of a simple email.
NEW URGENT MESSAGE RECEIVED
|URGENT_|CONFIDENTIAL_|SECURE CHANNEL ONLY_|ENCRYPTED_|
Subject: DEPLOYMENT ORDER
Log in to Reservist Portal to view Message
She logged in on her phone, her eyes quickly skimming the message:
From [emailprotected]
Subject: DEPLOYMENT ORDER [DO NOT IGNORE]
[ALCON]
PACFED Emergency Deployment Order Effective IMMEDIATELY
Reservist Deployment Criteria has been met pursuant to PACFED Defense Agreement Protocol 3-9, Article 1.
Crystal Kingdom assesses immediate confrontation threatening Core Federation territory in your area.
Additional strategic resources have been allocated. Readiness levels are to be immediately raised to highest levels.
Report to your CO and duty positions and follow all orders as given by HIGHCOMM and PK callsigns.
PACFED DEFCON stands at DEFCON 2.
She scrolled down, and a prompt appeared, asking for her name. Her fingers flew over the keypad and the message disappeared, replaced by a new one.
CONFIRMED VIEWING BY PERSONNEL
SENDING READINESS STATUS...
Sending Encrypted Data...
_User Credentials_
Name: BRONYA RAND ZAYCHIK
DOB: 18/08/AC399
SID: FID_RE_04262023
Unit K-9
Rank: CPT
Reservist Air Wing
Readiness Date: AC432/4/7
1235 HRS
DEPLOYMENT LOCATION:
FRONTLINE 59
Bronya slammed the door to the limousine shut, switching the engine on and flooring it out of park. She fishtailed onto the highway, catching her third speeding ticket for the day as she raced to base.
---
ANADYR AIR FORCE BASE
GULF OF ANADYR
Bronya hobbled as fast she could, approaching the reporting officer. Normally, the guy in charge would be some bored looking NCO, but this time the RO was a full ranked officer that looked particularly jumpy, his leg bouncing up and down. He glanced up as he heard Bronya’s prosthetics clacking on the floor, glancing down at her legs before meeting her eyes.
“You must be Zaychik.” He said gruffly, his pen ticking off her name on the clipboard. “You’re late.”
Bronya saluted emotionlessly. “Reservist Zaychik, reporting.”
“Kasper, Colt and Romansky are already in their jets. The only ones missing are you and Fujio. Get in your suit, and your bird, now.” The officer bit out.
Bronya saluted again. “Yes Sir.” Before turning on her heel and making for the changing room.
She pulled off her jacket and shirt, stuffing them into her locker and pulling her flight suit out. All the while, gears were spinning in her head.
Actual deployment? Of us Reservists?
Never mind her physical condition, K-9 had never even got a reason to crawl into their co*ckpits over the last four drill deployments.
Bronya shrugged as she pulled her flight suit on and zipped it up. Perhaps they just want us to soak in the seats for a bit.
She hobbled her way over to the hanger, where her plane was waiting. An F/D-14, painted in Federation colors, Magadan Division. It was, however, bereft of her own liveries. While Elias and Andrei did theirs, Bronya never saw the reason after her last…accident.
The ladder was already in place, and the crew chief saluted her as she grabbed hold and laboriously lifted herself into the co*ckpit. Of note was the absence of her WSO.
Right. Naren was late as well.
A new, unfamiliar voice suddenly filled the hanger. “Sorry I’m late! Is this F-3A?”
Bronya looked over to see a woman with shoulder length dark purple hair, pulling her flight suit on. Behind her, the RO stalked into the hanger.
“F-3 deployed an hour ago! Who the hell are you?”
“F-3A WSO! Seele Vollerei!” The woman saluted.
The RO looked over his clipboard. “Your flight went up without you. Looks like someone filled in your WSO spot.” He glanced over to Bronya’s plane. “You're type-trained in the F/D-14, right?”
“Yes sir!”
The RO jerked his thumb at Bronya. “You’re K-9A’s WSO now. Get in, and help get that bird in the air now.”
Seele’s eye glanced over to Bronya, who nodded. “Y…yes sir!” She stammered out, before she bolted for the ladder.
“Uh, hey.” Seele greeted her as she strapped in. “You got a name?”
“Zaychik, Bronya. You can call me Bronya.” Bronya replied, running the final of the pre-flights.
“Okay.” Seele pulled her helmet over her head. “Guess we’re working together…”
Bronya nodded as she pulled on her own helmet, flattening her silver drill on its inside. “All systems green.”
“All green back here too.” Seele said. “Radar looks good, good for takeoff.”
Bronya toggled her radio on. “K-9A, Ready for launch.”
