Training Session

Morning briefing started at half past eight. Commander Wheeler read a short summary about «hunters» program to the airbase personnel and then led the pilots to the shooting range.

"Who can tell me what is this thing I am holding?", he showed a metallic device in his hand with funnel-shaped barrel.  "Yes, comrade Leitis".

"Are you taking us for greenhorn, commander, it is a standard portable magical gun. More precisely, USRC-produced Baker model".

"And what is it used for?"

"Are we on an exam? It amplifies natural magical power of a wielder to produce spells that can actually harm a target. This model works with five magic types most used by union pilots: fire, earth, water, wind and mental. Alemanian models use probability as the fifth one instead…"

"Enough, comrade Leitis. And the last question: what it has in common with our fighter planes?"

"Fighter plane guns are just a bigger version of this one. Typical Jacobson models we use here have two of them and a gunpowder machine gun as an emergency weapon".

"Perfect mark for you. Now take your guns and show me how to use them. Leitis, you can go first".

"Any limits on spell use?"

"No limits, just make sure not to blow up the place".

"But of course, commander", Lily put herself in a position and aimed at the target on the other side of the range.

«Distance 100 meters, no significant wind, error margin is about two degrees, let’s use water element, lower the temperature, shape it as a thin icicle for better accuracy, harden… then shoot», an icicle made with water magic launched from the gun and pierced almost perfectly in the bulls eye, placed at the heart of the human-shaped target.

"Not bad, you are free until flight practice, comrade. Alexis, you are next".

"Roger that", he aimed his gun at the target. In a few seconds a gust of razor wind crossed the human silhouette, slicing it into four pieces.

"This looks like cheating, comrade Gruel".

"Why so? Check the target, slices crossed exactly at the heart of it".

"John, check it, please", Wheeler called one of the servicemen nearby.

"He is right, sir!", the man ran to the target and shouted back.

"You are also free for now. Asking you theory is probably futile, comrade honour student".

Alexis shrugged and left the range.

He walked outside and saw Lily sitting on a bench. When he came closer, he noticed she is sewing something from scraps of fabric.

"Mind if I ask what are you doing?", he sat on the bench near her, keeping some distance not to disturb the woman.

"Oh, it is just a hobby of mine. I am making a scarf from some used parachute material. The ones that come with our uniform are so boring. Don’t you think so?"

"To be frank, never thought of it. But this one looks nice indeed".

"You agree?! My previous commander was annoyed with it!"

"By the way, why you decided to transfer here, I heard your previous commander and a few comrades moved to a different regiment".

"Oh, it is a long story. My previous regiment got re-equipped with western «Airvipers». They are cool and all but I prefer my «Jac-9s». So we had a choice: either move here or get back to our initial regiments. And I had no desire to get back where I was before, as the commander… lets say she was a bit of a prick. She is probably happy we left, though. Did not like some of our… antics... at all".

«Better not to ask what exact antics she means», Alexis thought. "So, how do you find it here?"

"Hard to say, we only arrived recently. But so far the base looks nice, the locals are friendly and the commander is a looker".

"You better not put your sight on comrade Wheeler…"

"Huh, are you jealous, comrade Gruel?"

"Nope, just… you’ll see pretty soon".

"I am joking. It’s Inna who has her sights on him anyway. As I said, guys like you are not my type".

"Good to hear. Anyway, do you mind if I watch you work?"

"You already are. Feel free".

They spent about an hour sitting there. Lily worked her needle, while Alexis just watched her. Sometimes they exchanged a phrase or two just to keep the conversation, until the signal came that everyone finished their shooting practice and it is time for a flight one.

"The assignment for today is simple. There are five targets scattered in the field. You need to dive and hit all of them within 5 minutes of time. The count starts once you take off. Anyone unable to hit all of the targets will be subjected to extra training. Comrade Leitis, you go first".

"Roger!", Lily put on her pilot cap and jumped into the cockpit of training «Jac-1».

The plane slowly gained speed and took off the ground. After reaching the decent height, she lowered the nose of the plane and dived into the ground. A barrage of icicles shredded the first target. When she turned right and hit the second one. She got her fighter back up and dived again. This time a band of fire was launched at the targets. Two more of them got hit before she put her plain horizontally, close above the ground, and hit the last target with a barrage of fireballs.

"2:21, good time, starshyna", Alex was ready to end the exercise and ask the second participant to start, but it was not the end. 

Lily got her plane back up and started slowly rotating it, until she did a perfect barrel roll. Only when she landed on the ground, stopped and jumped from the cockpit.

Alexis heard two slaps nearby. After turning his head, he saw Inna and Kate covering their faces with palms. Looks like it was not the first time.

"How was it?", Lily innocently looked at the commander Wheeler.

"Impressive. But I hope you will avoid doing it with training planes, comrade. They are pretty old and not to durable. Anyway, next one, comrade Slacker".

"Got it, I will keep it in mind", Lily nodded to Alex, but mischievous spark in her eyes told that she will do it again…