Three Strikes [✓]

Lying In Wait

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Lying In Wait

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Spring Sea, Usean Coast.
September 4th, 2019.
1644hrs.

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"Salvation—"

The transmission was cut to static rather abruptly, and the pilot never got to finish what he was going to say. The Alicorn's crew sat in silence for a moment until their captain spoke up. "What just happened?"

Captain Matias Torres had watched as the four blips on the Alicorn's radar vanished suddenly right before they escaped the combat airspace. Just gone, in the blink of an eye. He had a feeling that he knew what happened, but he didn't want to lose all hope just yet. Torres eyed the command duty officer as he waited for an answer, feeling disappointment and anger starting to creep up. The officer nervously checked with other members working on the bridge, then checked radar and the footage from the camera that they had attached to the aircraft so they could watch their plan unfold. At last, he turned around in his chair and answered the captain in a careful voice, "It...it seems they were shot down by Three Strikes."

Torres drew in a shaky breath and took a few steps over to look down at the controls and the different screens, all displaying that the Alicorn's squadron had been shot down and what would have been Torres' defining moment as a captain of a now separate faction — what would have finally set him apart from those that came before him with a similar goal — was lost with them. "The damn bastard ruined it..." he seethed, leaning forward slightly and staring down at the radar that displayed blips of the remaining Osean and the retreating Erusean forces. He took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself, but the more he did this the angrier he became.

His crewmen all exchanged worried looks, the command duty officer finally speaking up, concern lacing his voice, "Captain?"

"Don't you see?" There was a pause and Torres began to slowly lose his composure. Everyone on the bridge froze and then flinched as Torres slammed his fist down onto the screen. It was loud and echoed throughout the room but the screen remained unharmed in spite of the impact. But that wasn't Torres' concern. He couldn't care less if he broke the damned thing. He let out a frustrated growl and jerked upright, eyes still fixed to the radar as he watched the Osean aircraft finally withdraw. His voice rose. "She walked all over it with her DIRTY BOOTS! Over the CRISP, WHITE SHEETS OF MY BED THAT I HAD JUST MADE!"

His breath caught in his throat for a moment and he let out a short cough and allowed his breathing to slow moment by moment as he pulled himself together. He had a plan. He had to have a plan. Torres looked around the bridge as the crew seemed to relax slightly, though anxiety seemed to glitter in their eyes. A small smile crept onto his face and he interlocked his hands behind his back as he began to pace slowly. He chuckled. "Let's have this Three Strikes assist in our next plan," he said to them. "Three Strikes will make a fine sideshow in our scheme to kill a million people..." Torres' eyes narrowed on the command duty officer, his expression hardening. "Or was it the plan to save ten million lives, Command Duty Officer?"

"To save ten million lives, sir," the officer answered as though it should have been common knowledge. He looked unsure for a moment. "But sir...Osea has Three Strikes...how are we supposed to use her in our own plan? Oseans are known for being stubbornly devoted to their country. Almost as much as Belka. You'd never be able to get her to assist you."

Torres raised an eyebrow and smiled again. "Oh, she'll be assisting us. But she won't be aware of it. You see, we're going to slowly tip the odds in our favor and Three Strikes can take care of the Erusean forces that may try and get in our way." He paused, quickly thinking of a way to motivate and explain to his men how their plan would be able to work. Recalling one of his favorite pastimes, he continued, "Think of it as a fast paced game of chess. White moves first, coming up with a quick strategy to start the game and challenge their opponent. Black goes next and is given more time to strategize instead of making a split second decision. I like to sacrifice a pawn right at the start to test the waters. The pawn still holds value, regardless of what one might tell you. They lead the charge and their fate can help you determine possible outcomes — whether you're fighting an aggressive player that acts on chance or a more merciful one that waits for a better opportunity to make a more meaningful kill.