>>5382053“Sssooo why exactly are we doing this again? And how does it help Tucker and the others?”
For the last time, you reply groaning at Eddie’s question, Blumenkrantz has something to show us!
“Any chance he could do it in a better-lit place?” Grumbles Talbot as you and the rest of your friends wait impatiently in a pitch-black hangar, “The last time someone told me he had something to show me in a dark room it did <span class="mu-i">NOT</span> go well!”
As you and Kiki turn to look at Talbot, you’re blinded by a sudden flash of lights… along with the sound of a powerful engine roaring to life! It takes a few minutes to shake off the blurry vision, but once you do you nearly drop your jaw on the cement–rising from a massive hatch in the center of the hangar comes a marvel of modern engineering! Clad in shining black paint, the aircraft in front of you appears to be some kind of <span class="mu-g">FIGHTER JET,</span> but the wings are all weird and propellor-y! And why’s it so <span class="mu-i">BIG!?</span>
“Ho-ly <span class="mu-s">CRAP,</span> Stan…” Eddie mutters as Kiki, Talbot, and Lil’ Stanley watch in stunned awe, “This… this is one of those <span class="mu-g">VETOS,</span> r-right!?”
“<span class="mu-i">VTOL</span> aircraft–state of the art in every way!”
Shaken from your stupor by Blumenkrantz’ booming voice, you turn to find him standing behind you all beaming with genuine pride! “Armor-piercing gunpods, dumb and tracking missile launchers, engines that’ll shake off a blizzard like a preschooler off a bull… and a computerized piloting system so easy to use a child could figure it out… We call ‘er ‘<span class="mu-g">’FIDO’–</span> and she’s a <span class="mu-i">damn</span> good girl.”
“Where…” Talbot babbles as he takes in the sights, “Where the hell were <span class="mu-i">these</span> during the attack? O-or before?!”
“Mothballed indefinitely.” Blumenkrantz growls as he puffs a cloud of acrid smoke from a fresh cigar in his mouth. “Got ‘em custom from an old <span class="mu-i">CHAIR FORCE</span> buddy of mine–he fucked me on the engines, though–keep ‘em lit for too long and they putter out. No good for repeat missions. Still,” he continues as the cockpit slowly opens, “she’ll be a much smoother ride than some Commie hand-me-down chopper, that’s for damn sure.”
Hopping out of the front seat like a kid getting off of a carnival ride comes Christy with an uncharacteristically chipper grin on her face. Scampering over to your entourage with remarkable speed, she skids to a halt in front of you before making a dramatic ‘<span class="mu-i">ta-daaa</span>’ gesture with her arms!
How do you respond to all this?
>THANKS, BLUMENKRANTZ. SERIOUSLY.>SO WE’RE PILOTING, THEN?>ANY WORD ON OUR OTHER PALS?>WE’LL NEED TO PREPARE A BIT BEFORE TAKING OFF!>YOU GUYS GONNA BE OKAY WHILE WE DO THIS?>WRITE-IN! 