Chapter 25

Continuous light was drawn on the midnight sky. A different kind of light, not from the sunrise that will give a wonderful start, not from the millions of stars that will send twinkle on our eyes and not even a moonlight that will make our hearts calm.

It was a light of cruelty and pain.

Patuloy sa pagpapaulan ng bala ang aming grupo para mapulbos ang mga kalaban.

They didn't expect that we'll be using the water to overpower their number. I am a kind of combatant pilot that will use an unexpected tactic in unexpected situation.

This attack made a great damage for them, within few minutes I received the datas from my status monitor. Almost half of the enemies are down and some of the planes are barely functioning, but their motherplane is still alive.

Katulad nang una naming taktika, nagsimula nang pumalibot ang maliliit na eroplano sa kanilang pinakamalaking eroplano.

The most worthless thing I've ever seen, a plane made to kill thousands of innocent lives is considered to be as trash.

Hindi biro ang bombang dala ng eroplanong ito na maaaring bumura sa isang maliit na bansa.

I can't help but to close my fist out of intense anger. Kailangan ko itong maunahan, kailangan kong gumawa ng paraan para sumabog ito at malusaw sa sarili nitong kahangalan.

If I could just be inside that routing plane..

But I bet Pedro have already realized my plan, kaya hindi nito hinayaang ako ang gumamit ng maliit na eroplano.

I felt a sudden pain in my chest when that idea went on my mind. What if Pedro had the same plan?

Without a blink, I pushed my radio button to communicate with Pedro.

"N-No! Pedro—don't do that damn thing! I had plans! You can't be a bait."

Buong akala ko ay sasagot siya sa akin pero lumipas ang ilang segundo ay tahimik ang kanyang radyo.

"Ped—"

"I won't, babalikan pa kita."

I heavily sighed in relief.

He was about to give me his words, but I didn't let him. He'll just make my heart ached more, I need to concentrate his words are just distractions.

I started tapping the information needed and I send it right away with my comrades. I gave them which spot in the enemies formation was the weakest and strongest. I also gave them the estimated time that will last for every change of movement.

I have already calculated this since they are using the same tactic that we had before. Wala na silang mapapagpilian dahil masyado silang nagulat.

I can see that they had the weak intelligence.

Muli akong humugot nang malalim na paghinga at pinagmasdan ko ang eroplanong siyang punterya ng sasakyang hawak ko.

My eyes burned with fury and my nails dug shaking on the keyboard. Hindi ko mapakalma ang sarili ko, ang galit ko ay nag-uumapaw na.

Basura ang lahat ng konektado sa eroplanong ito. At kung bibigyan lamang ako ng pagkakataon, I want to enter inside that plane and crash the face of their damn pilot.

Gamit ang aking mga kamay na wala nang ginawa kundi humawak ng iba't ibang klase ng eroplano, malugod ko itong gagamitin sa unang pagkakataon upang sumira at bumasag ng mukha.

Hindi titigil ang mga kamao ko hanggang walang dugong dumadanak at mukhang nababasag mula sa isang pangahas. Mahirap akong galitin, napakahirap.

Anong klaseng konsensiya pa ang natitira sa kanya? Anong klaseng puso pa ang nakakabit sa piloto ng eroplanong ito?

I want her to regret the day that she was born, the day that she became a pilot just to follow irrational and immoral leaders. Curse them.

Pilot's responsibility isn't just to fly airplanes, but to hold human lives. It was not just doctors and nurses, but also those different professions.

Lahat ng propesyon ay may kakayahang humawak at magdugtong ng buhay. At ang makita ang kapwa ko piloto na may pinaglalabang kasalungat sa akin ay talagang nakakapag-init ng dugo.

Kabaliktarang walang katwiran.

Mataas na muli ang lipad ng aking eroplano at tulad ng kalaban ay nakapalibot na rin sa akin ang maliliit na eroplano.

We still have split teams and Pedro is in charge with attacks. Gumagawa ito ng malaking butas para mas mabigyan ako ng malaking daan para maunahang pasabugin ang malaking eroplano ng kalaban.

Nag-uunahan lamang kami kung sino ang makakapagpasabog sa bawat isa. I saw how Pedro's routing plane played with the enemies.

His plane isn't just dancing with the wind but also with missiles after it. Or should I properly compare Pedro's aviation skills as one of the finest?

The routing plane was like a fast speed phoenix with glimmering fire on its tail. I can't help but to admire him. Shit.

Why didn't I see this before? Bakit ngayon ko lamang binigyang pansin ang kahanga-hanga nitong kakayahan sa pagpapalipad ng eroplano?

Since I have already sent him all the important details, the specific location of officials in command from the enemies, it's already easy for him to take them down little by little.

No one from the enemies can make him down, lahat ng mga eroplanong nagtatangkang kumalaban sa kanya ay nahahantong lamang sa pagbulusok.

"Behati,"

"Commander.."

Ilang beses akong napalunok nang makita ko sa monitor ang patuloy na pagbaba ng bilang ng kalaban, pero ang mas umagaw ng pansin sa akin ay ang unti-unting paggalaw ng kanilang eroplano.

Damn, they are now locking me as their target.

"Baby, I don't like this. They are aiming for you.."

"I know.." sagot ko sa kanya.

In a short period of time, I have already studied the capacity of this plane and its weaponries. And I am admitting that when it comes to combat skills, they can easily overpower us.

Our engineer is genius but he lacked of resources. Hindi katulad ng sa mga kalaban na maaaring mapunan ang pangangailangan ng bawat piyesa ng eroplano.

If they can overpower us with their instrument, we can also deceive them with our strategies.

I hit the button confirmed after I received a message from Engineer Wright. What will expect from the ex-UASA engineer? Everything is unexpected with him.

I wonder why UASA let go of him?

I grinned while looking to our enemy's nuclear generation. I will give you a good privilege to do as you please. Just generate and think how powerful you are. You'll definitely drown with that thought.

And the moment that you meet your peak, I'll gladly help you to drown yourself miserably.

You'll explode with your own power.

"What are you doing Lieutenant?! Do the first movement! FIRE OUR BIGGEST MISSILES!"

At last I heard Commander Thanh San's voice.

"It's been a while, Commander. How are you?" I casually asked him like I wasn't inside a life threatening battle.

I started tapping my fingers as I wait for the right time. Come on, show me what you've got.

"What were you planning Behati?"

"Commander Armstrong, I need you to clear all our allies. Clear the field, they can't be part of the explosion."

Sinigurado ko na dagat ang nasa ibaba ng aming labanang ito, malayo kami sa lupa.

"Behati.."

"Don't worry Commander, always remember that your Lieutenant was born for survival."

"And always remember that I am still surviving..because of you.." I smiled with his words.

"You are just imagining things, Commander."

"Yeah, I love you more..baby.." I open my mouth to answer him but I stopped and I bit my lower lip. Damn this Commander.

"This is Space Commander Rylandrien Peter Armstrong from Universal Aeronautics and Space Administration, ordering all the remaining pilots from alpha, bravo, charlie and delta team to spread away from the enemy's target area. Clear the field and hold a straight opening from the west part."

Agad na lumabas ang timer sa aking monitor na siya rin lalabas sa bawat eroplanong konektado sa akin.

"The airfloor is yours.."

"Roger!"

I looked at the nuclear meter. It's almost time.

Karahimahan sa mga eroplano ay lumayo sa kalangitan. Pedro wanted to stay but he needs to lead his flock, hindi baba ang mga ito sa lupa kung hindi siya susundan ng mga ito.

Mas mabuti na rin na dalawa na lamang ang eroplano sa kalangitan kung sakaling hindi umayon sa tama ang aking plano.

Dahil malaki ang eroplanong dala ko hindi mabilis ang mas pagpapaangat dito. When I hit the best position, I did everything to full my speed. Double the speed I made before.

"Fvck, what are going to do Behati?!"

With everyone's naked eyes, they'll just see me as a brave hero that will cover all the explosion. But it wasn't like that. Tonight isn't the end of the world and not even me.

And I had Engineer Wright's permission to do this.

With the enemies bomb's mouth ready to explode, as my speed continuous to move faster than the light and with my hands ready for my abrupt action..

I hit the two different buttons the bail out and a self-destruction command. It was just few seconds, until we witnessed the biggest explosion on air.

Everything is a mixture of good calculation, from time, speed and impact since in the battlefield you'll die if you just make an assumption.

Before both planes explode with each other, the bail-out plane that was supposed to escape me from the possible damage didn't play the game. Hindi kasing bilis ng inaasahan ko ang lipad nito.

And right now my plane is swirling unevenly with the midnight sky. Shit. It's damn uncontrollable, I will crash.

"Behati! Baby.. answer me.."

"Pedro, there is something wrong.." I am trying my best to control the plane but it wasn't working.

"Behati!" napamura ako, hindi niya naririnig ang sagot ko.

I tried to manipulate the plane for the second time. Huminga ako nang malalim nang mapagana kong muli ito. But everything is black.

I am blind. The monitor is off, the radar—all the navigation system. Shit!

Nasaang parte na ako? Saang direksyon ako pupunta? Kahit tumingin ako sa labas ay kadiliman lamang ang nakikita ko.

There is no electricity in Mynmar right now. Hindi na rin ako tatagal sa ere, bubulusok na rin ito kung hindi ako magmamadaling ibaba ito.

"I'm blind..wala akong makita.."

"Behati..baby..I can see you up there.." agad akong tumingin sa radyo. Hindi rito galing ang boses ni Pedro.

Hinanap ko ang pinanggagalingan nito, to my surprise I saw a small woki-toki.

"Pedro, wala akong makita. I am blind, where am I? Where is my exact location?"

I am running out of gas.

"You are---" I was waiting for his words when I noticed small moving lights from below.

What are those?

"Behati--- the people—baby they are—baby follow the lights. Can you see them?"

Kahit hindi kami nakaharap ay nagawa kong tumango. There are small moving lights from below giving me the guide on where to land safely.

Mabilis ang pagkalat ng mga liwanag na siyang nagsisilbing mapa sa akin para sa muli kong pagbaba sa lupa.

With my small amount of gas, I maneuvered my plan down to the land.

I landed safely.

I push the door and the moment I stepped out from my plane all I did was to stare with mixture of tears dripping from my eyes.

Sumisikip ang dibdib ko, nag-iinit ang puso ko at nagtitindigan ang mga balahibo ko sa aking nakikita.

Mga bata, matatanda, lalaki, babae, mga kabataan, buntis, mga sugatang sundalo, mga piloto at iba't ibang klase ng taong siyang nakasaksi ng digmaang ito.

Maging ang lalaking may bughaw na mga mata na siyang nagsisimulang humakbang patungo sa akin.

 Sabay-sabay nilang itinaas ang simbong apoy mula sa nagliliyab na mga kahoy.  

Ngayong gabi dalawang klase ng liwanag ang nasaksihan ko, liwanag mula karahasan at liwanag ng apoy mula sa bagong pag-asa.

"Welcome back, Lieutenant..the bravest woman I've ever seen.."

--

VentreCanard