Translated by WING(wing@starland.virtualave.net) Proofreading and Revision by B-ko 1998 Mission 1: "The great sky of betrayal" tank: An enemy plane 10 o'clock! Evade, evade! *WIIIZ!* *BOOM* *ROARR* *VROOM* Shin: He got hit bad... There is no way he can survive... soldier: AAAGH! *PLOP!*(sound of tank hatch opening) soldier: Au! soldier: Aaagh! soldier: Eeeek! Shin: Area 88, Headquarters! In southern district point IIIB, rebel tanks are crawling up to the north! Shin: This is 00 section Shin Kazama! Shin: Heck! Are they listening to me or what!? This is just like usual, and I'm sick of it... Shin: I repeat!! This is 00 section Shin Kazama! Don't put a hand on my game! Got it!? Shin: I bought this F8E Crusader and it used up all my saving... Shin: So do not take this badly... *BOM BOM BOM* tank: Ouch! *VAOOOOOM* Shin: Well, I must have earned at least $6000 by this... Shin: It's time to return to the base... *GOOOO* Shin: Runway in sight! Shin: Main-wing elevation set to 7 degrees! Shin: Front leading-edge slats to open! Shin: Flappers to 30 degrees! Shin: Air brake, open! Shin: Gear down!! Approach go! *GOOOOOOO* Shin: Alright, it's working well! This sure worth 300 thousand bucks! Shin: (talking to himself) Yet...that cost will delay my return to Japan again... Saki: Nice to see you back, Shin! Saki: You must have earned a lot. Shin: I blasted 4 or 5 tanks. They should reach 8000 bucks!! Saki: After dinner, at half past 6, I'll ask all pilots to gather in the Briefing Room. I'll give pilots instructions for tomorrow's mission!! Saki: Your earnings for today should be recorded in your gun-camera. Hand it to the registrar as soon as you can! You'll receive your score within a hour. Saki: Any question? Shin: Not at all... Saki: Then, have a good rest... Shin: ... McCoy: Hehehe...welcome home, Shin! Shin: McCoy... Shin: I need sidewinders put on my mounts! Shin: And can you get me 300 shells for a 20mm cannon? *CLICK CLICK* McCoy: That will add up to 1000 bucks! Shin: That's too high! make it 800! McCoy: Hehehe...How's 850!? Shin: All right. Take that from my target chipcard! McCoy: Deal! *whiz* narration: This is Middle East...a strategical base, Area 88...The most forefront frontline! Area88, an entry to the hell. Once you step on the runway your luck is in the hands of Allah. Narration: We abandoned God and shook hands with the devils in the hell. Narration: We are daredevil mercenaries! Micky: Hey! aren't you Japanese!? Shin: ! Micky: I'm Micky, Micky Simon. I'll be joining Area88 from today... Micky: What's your name? Shin: Shin Kazama! Micky: Shin, Ka, za, mah... Heh, what a weird name! Oh well, I knew there were a lot of strange names out in Asia. I want to visit Japan, too, sometime. Micky: I'm going to make prenty of sum here. You must have come here for the money, too, right? Well, I am willing to see what 'economic animals' like us can do here. Shin: If you want to earn money, give your best! I don't know how much you want, but first you've got to stay live! Micky: You are too tight! don't you ever get tired of thinking that way!? Shin: No... Micky: Darn, I wonder what's going on around here. That long haired guy and you there...Well, what's his name, that long haired fellow? Shin: He is the commander of this base. Saki is his name! Micky: A commander? Is he that great!? Micky: He doesn't look like that. Shin: Area 88 is an alien mercenary unit. We are hired by the Kingdom of Asran for a 3 year contract. Shin: Our past, rank, and qualifications are no use here. All we have here is the war professionals... Shin: And pros don't need company. Bye...! *FLICK!* *VVVM VVVM...*(the sound of air conditioner) Shin: Damn, this noisy cooler never gets fixed...! Shin:... *CLINK* Shin: 2years and 3 months still to go... Shin: 2 years... *WHOP* *CRACK!* Shin: 2years, its too long...! I can not tolerate that long...! Shin: I've had enough... I want to go back... Shin: I want to return to Japan...! I don't want die here... *VVVM* *Briefing Room* *BUZZ BUZZ* pilot: O... Pilot: ... Pilot: ... Saki: Now, I give you the instructions! Saki: Attack target is at southern district point IIC, the anti-air missile base! Saki: Asran Air Force will commence their operation from tomorrow afternoon! In order to make their operation successful, we must attack this base before hand! Saki: This mission begins 6 hours from now... PilotA: You want us to rush into the devil's mouth? No way! PilotB: When I flew near that base, the missiles are shooting off like rain!! PilotC: Missiles!? Shin: Saki! I'm not going this time! Saki: Shin! Refusing orders will cost you 5000 dollar fine! Shin: Sure, I knew that before hand! Its cheap enough if I can buy my life with it! Saki: All right... Anybody else refusing? Micky: Hey, why did you refuse? Is the target that bad!? Shin: It depends... Shin: There'll be a high rate of return if you're using the latest model with the back precaution radar working properly... Shin: But, I am not sure if my F8E Crusader can get through the raining missiles, or not. Micky: .... Shin: Give it your best shot! As the number of pilots decrease, the risk will become higher, but your quota will rise also! Shin: Everybody is pro here... You must match your machine's ability to the mission given. Pick the best choice for your money and for survival. The rest is luck! Bowman: Saki! I will quit! Saki: Bowman... You have only $2000 left on your deposit. Bowman: Shin! Lend me 3000 bucks! Come on! Please! Saki: ... Bowman: Hehehe...come on, you got millions in your account and $3000 won't hurt you, right? Shin: I deny that!! Shin: Go and be dead!! Bowman: Someone help me please! Bowman: Waaah! Shin: ... Jeff: Bowman! I will accompany you. Bowman: Jeff... Jeff: We'll be partners and I'll cover your back, so don't worry! Bowman: ... Saki: You, the new guy overthere! Micky, is it? Saki: How'll you make out? Micky: I will quit too! Shin: ! PilotD: Hey, greenhorn! What the hell you here for?! PilotE: Have you got enough money!? Micky: Hehehe! Saki: I accept! Micky, you will also receive a $5000 fine! *DDDD!* Shin: How come you didn't go!? Micky: It was my hunch! Shin: !? Micky: Now I understand this base does awfully dangerous jobs. Micky: Then, it is wise to follow the guy who knows how to survive! *BEEP BEEP* ControlTower: Enemy formation approaching! Control: Enemy formation approaching! Shin: Just as I expected! They come! It's time for my job! Micky: Shin! Did you know this is going to happen, so you rejected the command!? Shin: Moving targets like fighters are worth much more than still targets like missile bases. Shin: If the rate of risks are the same, I will take the one with higher reward! Micky: (Talking in his thought) Shin Kazama...what a guy..! Shin: Start engine!! *POOM!* *PYYYY!* *BOM* Shin: ! Micky: Hey, Shin! You've got good skill! My hunch was right! Shin: ... Shin: The squadron is coming back! Shin: Welcome back, Saki! Saki: I heard you defended our base! Shin: I only took a job with good money. Saki: Next operation will be the day after tomorrow. Shin: ! Bowman:(outside word balloon) He he he... Bowman: Oi, Shin! Bowman: I wrecked 10 launchers and blasted 5 tanks at the base! Bowman: It will be $30000 bonus! I won't let you look down on me anymore! Shin: Bowman, where's Jeff? Bowman: He got knocked by a missile and exploded at once! I have luck but, he got no luck! Saki: Wretch! Shin: They are risking life for money. It can't be helped. Saki: Shin, what about you? Why are you fighting here? Shin: It's for the great sky who betrayed me.. End of chapter 1...