116 First Aerial Prototype (1/2)
Falledge, Merchant District
Hitsu stood next to a statue of wind wolf, waiting for Tyrier to appear at the plaza next to the main street that led into the Merchant District, tapping his feet impatiently as he waited. The plaza was filled with people and races of all kinds. from the large greenish Oerkins to the stout and short dwarves, there were even a few mixed breeds in the crowd.
Finally, after like an eternity, Hitsu spotted Tyrier in his top hat, coat, and cane, strolling out of the Merchant District. As he was able to approach Tyrier, Hitsu spotted some movement at the corner of his eye, and when he turned to look, a couple of shadowy figures ducked out of sight into an alley.
”Damn, was I followed?” Hitsu muttered to himself, ”I was careless!”
Tyrier spotted Hitsu at the statue of the wolf and strolled up to him, ”What's up?”
”I got some important news and also I seemed to have picked up some rats,” Hitsu wagged his eyebrows to the direction of the alley were his followers had ducked into.
”Empire or?” Tyrier asked, his eye narrowed and he gripped his cane tightly.
”I think its local thieves,” Hitsu gave a shrug, ”I think offed a couple of them the other day.”
”Well, it seems its still too early for lunch yet,” Tyrier glanced up at the sky and grinned, ”I could do with some exercise.”
”Then let's do it,” Hitsu grinned too, jerking his head towards the alley.
As the two of them entered the alleyway, the smell of sewage grew stronger and sounds of the bustling crowd disappeared. ”Come on out, I know you are there,” Hitsu spoke out, his hand on his scabbard.
Two figures detached themselves from the shadows and stood before Hitsu and Tyrier while another two more figures appeared behind them, blocking off their exit route. ”Well, well well,” A third figure appeared in front of them and said, ”Fancy that, walking right into my lap.”
The person who spoke was a slim looking elf with shifty eyes and a sharp angular face. He wore a jacket with long tail coats and trousers with knee-length boots and held an ornately carved staff. On his head, a similar top hat to what Tyrier was wearing, rested in a fashionable angle.
”Capias Kane,” Hitsu spat, ”So, what do you want?”
”Oh well, a few of my boys went missing the other day,” Kane looked at his nails and buffed them against his coat. ”I was wondering if you knew anything at all.”
”Those?” Hitsu raised an eyebrow, ”They tried to double cross me, accepted my money and attempted to rob me later.”
”I see, but it is bad for my reputation if I allow anyone to off my boys,” Kane said, his eyes narrowing. ”This is the price you have to pay. Take them, boys!”
His four henchmen stood forward, drawing short swords and wicked looking knives, surrounding the two Claymore One members. Tyrier gave a shrug and turned to the rear, facing the two at the back while Hitsu deals with the two in front.
The two henchmen rushed forward, stabbing towards Hitsu, who eyed the speed of the attack with contempt. He easy sidesteps the first stab and punches out with his leather glove protected right fist, catching the henchman in the jaw, shocking his brain and knocking him out with a single punch.
The other henchman hacked his sword at Hitsu who after giving a punch he gave the first henchman, did a round horse kick using his body momentum, the back of his left heel hitting the face of the henchman, breaking his jaw and sending a couple of teeth flying out.
Tyrier blocked the thrust of one of the enemies at the rear, and countered with a backhanded whip of his cane, drawing a mark across the man's face and sending him scrambling back crying with pain. He then smacked the second henchman with his cane on his sword arm, breaking bones, and stab hard with the cane's tip in the abdomen, causing the henchman to vomit bile out.
Kane stood ashen-faced as he watched four of his men get taken out easily. ”Whoa, easy there!” He quickly backed off into the alley, ”I was just joking around!”
”Uphold your end of the deal,” Hitsu said, ”Or end up worst, don't worry, we know where to find you.” And the two of them left behind the moans and groans of pain in the alley.
-----
Sawtooth Mountain Pass, Marine Support Base
The nine cylinder air cooled radial engine roared as it pushed the bi-wing prototype out of the hanger and onto the stretch of newly built runway. Spectators lined the sides of the runway with both medical and fire services on standby as they watched the first test flight of the YF-1 Cobra, YF meaning prototype fighter.
Flight Lieutenant Peter sat at the rear of the tandem cockpit as the pilot with a navigator/gunner in front of him, crewed by test pilot Third Sergeant Legos Stilva from the newly formed Airforce. Both of them wore modern parachutes just in case of any failure, they were to ditch the plane and eject out.
Despite many disapprovals from High Command and Commander Tommy, Peter forced his way to be the test pilot of the Cobra, ignoring the risks it may bring to him and the rest of the crew, using the argument that, other than he as Tommy was the commander of the Airforce, no one else has actual piloting experience who could fly the plane and provide feedback and comments on the plane's performance.
Peter pushed the controls and the plane responded eagerly to his commands, rolling to the middle of the runway. The two seater fighter bomber prototype designated YF-1 Cobra, retained several features and looks from the original Aircon DH 2 despite many changes made to the design. The bi wings were spaced slightly further away from each other to reduce aerodynamic interference between the two planes and flaps were installed.
The engine used was a 9 cylinder radial engine pushing an output of 220 horsepower and the design of the aircraft hull and wings was streamlined, the cockpit was enclosed and in tandem rather than open, making the aircraft look more sleek and deadly like a dart.
”Cobra One to Eagle Nest, do you copy?” Peter radioed the control tower that was built in parallel to the runway. ”Cobra One is all green, ready to take off.”
”Eagle Nest to Cobra One, you are cleared for taking off, God speed over!” The control tower responded. ”You better not crash my plane!”
Peter grinned as he recognized the voice belonging to Tommy, ”Roger that, Eagle Nest, save some champagne for me when we get back! Cobra One launching!”