For after all, what is man in nature?

[Yaneza-kun]

Seeing the fighter planes soar ahead of the transport, Qtronix started focusing on the mission. It was could be a soft drop or a hard drop, depending on how quick the enemy responds to seeing a lot of parachutes deployed over them.

Qtronix gave his rifle a good check-up. The rifle, firing .30 caliber rounds on a semi-auto platform, it was an ideal battle rifle, fitting for a super-soldier. With bullet speeds going up to 3000 feet per second with the recoil of a simple assault rifle, the technology of the Fenrir Rifle seems to be pulled out from a sci-fi book.

Turbulence hit the transport plane. It was only a matter of time before they had to jump out.  

[Malfrost]

Cipher steadied his breathing as he observed the area, he knew there would be some air patrols, he just had to spot them. His eyes scanned the area, jumping from spot to spot without blinking, he had spotted his target.

"Galm 1 to all fighters, targets spotted at vector 280, let's tag em and bag em boys." Cipher went full throttle ahead of the rest of the planes, he increased his altitude and dropped on the unsuspecting Mig's firing off a burst of two missiles that slammed into the fuselage of one of the Mig's, downing it instantly. The other Mig's reacted quickly and broke formation, four of them off to intercept the other fighters, and one in hot pursuit of Cipher.  

[Yaneza-kun]

The rear door of the transport dropped and wind assailed the soldiers. Despite the loud roar of the wind, he could hear one of the flight officers yelling, "Count to five then pull the pin!"

One by one, paratroopers jumped out of the plane and spread their limbs out as they started free falling. Qtronix was the last one to jump out, and he was so excited he forgot to wear a parachute.

He was dropping fast through the atmosphere, then spotted a bag not so far from him. Luckily, the wind that rushed into the plane detached a parachute from it's container, and he grabbed the parachute and started harnessing himself.

The paratroopers already pulled their parachutes out, and are slowly descending, however Qtronix dashed past them. He thought that opening the chute this high up may be dangerous as they are open to enemy fire, so he decided to open his chute a few seconds later than the rest of the paratroopers. He could see the battle of the fighter planes in the distance.  

[Malfrost]

Cipher soared through the air, his foe still hot on his tail, he caught the sight of the parachutes, "Galm Team, chutes are out check your fire if you have to fly by them." Cipher issued the command as he broke hard right. His enemy was unable to react in time as he soared over Cipher.

Cipher calmly brought his plane back to level and fired another barrage of missiles, slamming into the Mig right as it neared the paratroopers. The remnants of the Mig floated harmlessly around the paratroopers as Cipher soared above them and turned to join the rest of his team in the dogfighting, two kills already to his name today.  

[Yaneza-kun]

Qtronix touched the ground and his chute covered him up. In quick moves, he started packing his chute up, while other paratroopers did the same once they landed. So far, the attention was at the fighter planes, but one can't be sure that no one saw the parachutes deploying.

There was a random depression in the terrain that could be used as a trench, and it immediately was made into one as bullets started flying at the paratroopers. One of them yelled, "Contact!"

Qtronix dashed for the trench, and despite the coldness, the other paratroopers found it better than being out in the open. The paratroopers started returning fire, and Qtronix observed how these men fought.  

[Malfrost]

Cipher didn't have much work to do as his boys had already taken out the remaining fighters, thats when his missile alert alarm cried out. One of the SAM's had fired! Cipher pulled up hard on the stick as he climbed to avoid the missile. It sputtered and then fell harmlessly behind him," Galm 1 to all fighters, climb to above 10,000 feet, the SAM's can't hit you there." The fighters did as commanded.

"This is Galm 1 on all ground commanders, Air Superiority has been achieved. The rest of the mission now rest on your shoulders."  

[Yaneza-kun]

Qtronix felt several bullets whiz by his hair. Other paratroopers lay prone on the ground, keeping their heads low in hope that a bullet will not hit them. Some were lucky, the others... not so much.

He already saw the morale of the paratroopers dropping from the expressions they portrayed upon their faces, and he figured it was time he had his fun. With a quick move, he stood up above the cover and started shooting with his rifle. With every shot, his arms moved to a new target, as if he was an aimbot.
He fired a series of quick shots and reloaded with amazing speed.

Once the immediate threat was neutralized, he spotted the SAM site and immediately scoped in with his rifle. With three consecutive shots, he disabled the wiring of the SAM, rendering it useless.

A sniper shot caught Qtronix's shoulder, but he did not fall. He picked up a soldier by his collar and set him on his feet, "We need to assist the 2nd Battalion." Qtronix said, blood lightly streaming from his gunshot wound. The soldier nodded his head. Qtronix noticed that he was with the transport plane of FNGs.

All the while, several more SAM missiles were launched, and gunshots echoed. Qtronix started running along with the other paratroopers to the next SAM site, all the while looking at the skies and wondering what it was like to have a fight among the clouds.  

[Malfrost]

Cipher held his position above the clouds, he was always thankful to be a pilot, he considered ground fighting to be too chaotic and dirty. Fighting in the air however was like a dance that could range from anything like a slow paced waltz to a fast-paced tango. It might seemed chaotic to the outside observe, but every Ace pilot could feel the flow of battle.

"Galm Team, as so as we get clearance from the Ground Force, sweep in and destroy the tanks. Two tanks for everyone, alright?" Cipher issued his commanded to which he received all affirmatives.  

[Yaneza-kun]

In rapid response to the distress calls of the 3rd Battalion upon spotting tanks moving in to their position, the 1st Battalion re-routed towards the 3rd Battalion instead, as the 2nd Battalion has taken care of their SAM site.

Qtronix's Fenrir rifle had ceased to operate, since the ammunition's special coating froze over and jammed the gun. Pulling out his sword from behind him, he pressed a button by the hilt, and the blade vibrated so fast that you didn't even see it. This allowed every slash to cut through anything softer than diamonds.

With enhanced speed and killer eyes, he eliminated enemy troops one by one, making his way to the final SAM site. One might describe him as a raging storm cloud, but that only glorifies Qtronix's actions, for he IS Qtronix Stormcloud.

Once the commanders saw that the final SAM site was destroyed, they radioed to the fighter planes the all clear.  

[Malfrost]

"We got the all clear. Galm Team...let's do it!!" The fighters descended from on high like eagles descending on their pray. Galm Team quickly destroyed the now defenseless tanks on the ground, it was over in a matter of seconds.

Cheers arose from the fighter pilots as they soared over the ground forces in victory, Cipher got on the radio. "Good work everyone, Mission accomplished. I have a message for that super-solider on the ground...Yo Buddy, still alive?"  

[Yaneza-kun]

"Yo Buddy, still alive?" came the message from a radio signal that Qtronix intercepted. Qtronix smirked and walked with the soldiers. His first engagement was a success, and he couldn't wait to get back to base.

Many soldiers cheered and horsed around, especially the FNGs. It was their first engagement too, after all.  

[Malfrost]

[Operation Complete]

Cipher and the rest of Galm Team taxied back onto base to the cheers of the defense crew, Ustio was still safe, so long as this base was still here. Sipher got out of his plane with a smile and walked back to the library, no debriefing was call this time. He just wanted another cup of coffee.  

[Yaneza-kun]

Despite not displaying any pain or weakness, Qtronix was rushed to the infirmary to get his shoulder checked. The nurses couldn't explain why he wasn't in any sort of pain as Qtronix refused the anesthesia.

Just as he was done being patched up, Qtronix saw the small woman again. She had worried eyes, yet a blank facial expression. "I heard you got hurt, Superman. How's the shoulder?" she asked.

"Nothing really. Got sniped, is all." Qtronix said, assessing the woman. Qtronix extended his gloved hand, "I'm Qtronix Stormcloud, by the way. We never got a proper introduction earlier."

The woman was surprised, mainly because she never expected a super-soldier to be so social. "Taiga Arisaka." She said, but refused to shake his hand. Qtronix tilted his head and wondered why she did not shake his hand.

"I have to repay your worry." Qtronix said.

"Oh, you don't have to. I'm sure super-soldiers have more fighting to do." she replied.

"No no... How about..." Qtronix held up his index finger, "One date?"

Taiga laughed, "Don't be silly, Stormcloud." Qtronix bowed his head in defeat. Taiga waved to him and walked off. He watched her vanish across the corner and he shook his head, then started going to the library.  

[Malfrost]

Cipher stood outside the entrance, a grin plastered on her face, "Well Buddy, see you made it out in one piece, how was your first engagement?" Cipher held a piping hot cup of coffee, the warmth of him, the coffee and the library was a clear contrast to the bitter cold outside.  

[Yaneza-kun]

"It was fine." Qtronix replied. His eyes wandered around the snow-filled grounds. It was gonna be tough shoveling a path through it.