December 15, 2025 — 09:23 AM
En Route to Philippines – 28,000 Feet Over East China Sea
The C-17 Globemaster III soared high above the clouds, its four engines humming with steady purpose. The ridgelines of northern Japan had long faded behind them, swallowed by a blanket of fog and ocean haze. Below, endless blue stretched in all directions. No ships. No land. Only water, horizon to horizon.
Inside the cockpit, Thomas Estaris sat in the left seat, visor half-lowered over his eyes as he reviewed the return telemetry on the navigation screen. They were cruising at altitude, halfway home.
Madel, seated beside him, sipped from a thermos of hot water. Her eyes flicked across the control panel.
"All systems nominal," she said, glancing at the digital fuel gauge. "Remaining flight time: two hours, twelve minutes."
Thomas gave a tired nod. "Smooth ride so far."
"Too smooth," she replied under her breath.
