Chapter 10

He Moming operated the system, step by step, conducting the inspection. His mind was constantly bombarded with specific data about the VF-1S. The more he saw, the more incredible it seemed. He Moming had already recalled the description of the VF-1S. This cutting-edge fighter was supposed to be the only one of its kind. And its pilot was Roy Fokker. But now, He Moming was sitting in the VF-1S, no doubt about it. Then where was Roy's fighter? Thinking about this, He Moming looked up at Roy.

"Captain, as far as I know, there should only be one VF-1S, right?" He Moming asked, puzzled.

"Oh? Good kid. You know that too? Yes, there is only one VF-1S, but don't forget. There are still some semi-finished products in the factory. Your new partner is the latest one off the production line. Fresh out of the oven!" Roy patted the edge of the cockpit and smiled.

"Latest off the production line? Has it been tested yet?" He Moming was startled and asked immediately.

"Um. No. When you came over, I had just finished talking to the maintenance team, and we agreed to prepare it as quickly as possible for a test flight. As for the test pilot? Are you interested? This is your machine, after all." Roy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He Moming nodded eagerly, indicating his willingness. Come on! The VF-1S had already been designated as his exclusive machine by the AI Vires. It was his private property. How could he let anyone else touch it?

Roy checked the time and called He Moming to leave the cockpit. The two of them covered the plane with a canvas again. Roy then led He Moming to the simulation training center. Roy explained that to avoid unnecessary operations that could damage the fighter or even result in serious injuries that would prevent him from participating in battles, he would give He Moming some special training. He Moming immediately agreed, but was curious about who the instructor would be. Roy generously indicated that the instructor was right there, in front of him. He Moming repeatedly expressed that there was no need to involve such a high-ranking figure as Roy. However, due to the hierarchical pressure, He Moming was obediently thrown into the simulation training machine to be thoroughly beaten—unilaterally.

After two days of inhumane unilateral beating, He Moming finally stood in front of the VF-1S again. That morning, He Moming was woken up by the maintenance team's call while still in a deep sleep. Therefore, He Moming got up as quickly as possible and headed to the hangar. At this point, the maintenance team had completed all the procedures and was waiting for He Moming, the pilot, to board the VF-1S for its maiden flight. Eagerly, He Moming took the flight helmet from the staff and climbed into the fighter. Under the guidance of the staff, He Moming started the fighter. The staff gave him a thumbs up, and the canopy slowly closed. He Moming put on the helmet and pressed the communication button. At this moment, someone was already waiting for He Moming to come online in the communication channel.

"This is Delta. Please respond if you hear this."

"This is He Moming. Received." He Moming adjusted his helmet and replied.

"Lieutenant He Moming. Mission code: 00091. Please use runway 02 for takeoff."

"Received. Mission code: 00091. Runway 02 for takeoff." He Moming gave a thumbs up to the ground crew, and the lift platform slowly rose. The light changed from bright to dark, and then from dark to bright. Although He Moming had already been on a space flight before, this time, perhaps because it was his exclusive machine, he felt very excited.

"Reached takeoff position. Runway clear. Takeoff is the responsibility of the pilot."

"Received. He Moming, VF-1S. Takeoff!!" Although it felt a bit childish, He Moming still shouted it out. He Moming pushed the control stick, and the power increased. The VF-1S instantly burst into an extremely fast speed, leaving the runway in a flash and entering the predetermined flight path.

"This is Delta. Lieutenant He Moming, please respond."

"This is He Moming. Currently executing the predetermined flight plan." He Moming connected the communication and replied.

"Please proceed to location D3 to meet up with your team. Your flight plan has been revised."

"Received. Um, can I ask a question?" He Moming thought for a moment, not focusing on the revision of the flight plan, but rather asked with a hint of playfulness.

"Huh? Sure." A puzzled voice came from the communication channel.

"Although I've heard it from someone, are you Miss Hazumi Nisa?" He Moming tried to keep his tone as steady as possible.

"Yes. I am Hazumi Nisa. Is there something you need?" Hazumi Nisa was a bit surprised by He Moming's question but still answered.

"Oh, nothing. I just heard about you from a young teammate." When He Moming said "young," he deliberately emphasized the word.

"Oh. What kind of 'young' teammate is that? I'm very interested in what they say about me." Hazumi Nisa's voice was very steady, as if she was just casually replying.

After that, He Moming chatted a bit more and then turned off the communication. Under He Moming's control, the VF-1S would not simply fly in a straight line to location D3. Instead, it would move left and right, up and down, roll, and make emergency turns using the auxiliary thrusters. In the vast space, the VF-1S was like a bird that had escaped from its cage, freely spreading its wings and flying.

"Lieutenant He Moming. You are already 3 minutes past the scheduled time. Please proceed to location D3 as soon as possible. Don't make unnecessary moves." Hazumi Nisa's voice came from the communication channel again.

"Received. This is not an unnecessary move. It is a necessary part of the test flight." He Moming countered.

"The test flight plan will be conducted at location D3. Before that, please proceed as soon as possible. Don't make unnecessary moves." Hazumi Nisa replied firmly.

"Indeed, as the 'young' teammate said. I am now heading to location D3. He Moming received." He Moming replied with a firm tone and then closed the communication. The VF-1S accelerated again towards location D3.

With the VF-1S at full speed, He Moming quickly reached location D3. He Moming could already see three fighters waiting at the designated location—fighters with skull emblems. It turned out that his teammates this time were from the Skull Team. He Moming joined the formation with the VF-1S.

"Hey. Hey. He Moming, do you hear me?" A voice came from the communication channel. It was Mark.

"He Moming received." He Moming looked back at the fighter not far away and replied.

"Tsk tsk tsk. I never thought you would come out in the VF-1S so casually. It's really enviable." Tatsuya Hikaru's sarcastic tone spread through the communication channel.

"Right, right! That's right. How could you come in the VF-1S right away!! Isn't the VF-1S supposed to be the only one and the captain's exclusive?" Hayato Sugao shouted in the communication channel.

"Um. The captain said that there were some extra semi-finished products, and they managed to put together this VF-1S." He Moming seemed to sense the resentment in the communication channel.

"This is impossible!! How could it be like this!! I can't accept it!!" Hayato Sugao stubbornly expressed his resentment towards He Moming's possession of the VF-1S, and it was at a sky-high level. Mark and Tatsuya Hikaru also took the opportunity to fan the flames.

"All members of the Skull Team, please respond." Just as He Moming was gradually losing ground against the three, Roy's voice came through the communication.

"This is Skull Two. Received."

"This is Skull Three. Received."

"This is Skull Four. Received."

"This is He Moming. Received."

"He Moming, from today on, you are Skull Five. Please respond." Roy ordered He Moming after everyone had responded.

"This is Skull Five. Received." He Moming replied loudly. At this moment, He Moming was finally truly recognized by the military represented by Roy. This would greatly help him in future actions.

"Today's plan is the test flight of the VF-1S piloted by Skull Five. In addition to the general test flight tasks, there is also a combat mission. Due to various reasons, we cannot allocate too much time for the test flight. Therefore, we have decided to complete the test flight as quickly as possible. Today, Skull Five and the VF-1S must participate in a combat mission. The tasks for Skull Two and the other three fighters are to provide rescue if the VF-1S piloted by Skull Five encounters any malfunctions. Before that, all three of you must stay on the sidelines and observe. Understood?" Roy explained the revised flight plan in the communication channel. The meaning was clear: to use the various pressures of a combat environment to test the maximum combat capability and potential faults of the newly produced VF-1S.

"This is a disaster of a test flight plan!" He Moming's eyes twitched.

"Captain, I object." Mark's voice contradicted in the communication channel. Tatsuya Hikaru and Hayato Sugao also raised objections.

"Objection overruled. You must execute the order. This is a command." Roy ignored their objections and issued a firm order.

"Skull Five, received." He Moming took a deep breath. Since coming to this world, he had always faced dire situations, right? Yes, he should be used to it. Anyway, He Moming did not have much aversion to this arrangement, but rather felt a bit excited.

After Mark's and the others' requests were firmly rejected by Roy, they reluctantly began to execute the flight plan. Under the strong supervision of Mark and the others, He Moming carried out various tests according to the predetermined plan. Soon, with his increasingly skilled piloting, all the general routine test items were completed as quickly as possible. The data collected matched the records of the VF-1S previously piloted by Roy. Although there were some differences, it showed that He Moming had great potential. Captain Glaubal, sitting in the command seat, looked at the data comparison on the screen and nodded repeatedly. After exhaling a puff of smoke, he showed a satisfied expression.

"Routine tests completed. All aircraft return for refueling and then proceed to the combat phase." Hazumi Nisa's voice was as unusually calm as ever. He Moming mentally complained while opening the communication and calling Mark and the others to return.

The VF-1S, under the cooperation of He Moming and the ground crew, smoothly docked at the parking position. The lift platform returned the VF-1S to the hangar, and He Moming entered a standby state. After all, he would have to engage in combat after refueling, right? He Moming held a water bottle, replenishing his water while watching the ground crew refuel the VF-1S. At that moment, He Moming's thoughts began to wander. Just as He Moming was lost in thought, a pair of hands covered his eyes from behind.