[MoMA SDI] Scramble!

[Aurangzeb Khan]

SDI Jagdgeschwader Airfield, Novaya Sorensk SDI Facility

"Photorecon-1, you are cleared to proceed onto runway for take off."

"Roger that tower."

There was no getting away from the fact that the Taifun was a monster - in a good way - it completed the 300 metre take off run in little over 7 seconds under what was euphemistically called "combat-air conditions" but which in reality consisted of opening the throttle out to maximum and hoping that you'd remembered to pull the set the programming correctly for take off. There was not much margin for error, overshoot the runway in a Taifun going at full pelt you are not skidding along through the sub-tropical undergrowth on a collapsed undercarriage, you are not only smashing the concrete step crash barrier and the perimeter fence with the force of a missile, you could also find yourself skipping along across the waters beyond the utilising the same aerodynamic and hydrological principles employed in the infamous Ashkenatzim Ekranoplan.

On this occasion however such fears are unnecessary and the take off faultless, the Taifun climbs at dizzying speed up to 35,000ft within 3 minutes. Only intensive training and immense physical strength prevented the pilot from passing out under the weight of the g-forces being piled on him but he recovered his composure quickly and levelled off.

More radio chatter followed.

"Photorecon-1 your allocated Mission ID is MASS001. SDI Z-Sites acknowledge FOF recognition signal. You are cleared to proceed to Amity. Have fun snooping. Silence on this channel now. Out."

"Roger that. Out."