#ashes

Hawks don't need muzzles or leashes. They're not much of a threat to personnel like the hounds. But without their targeting systems highlighting friend from foe and seeing the world from the ground instead of thousands of feet in the sky would send the hawks into a panic. they'd shriek and claw and try to escape to the sky. which is of course why they were not allowed on tops of buildings or cliffs. Jump risks, all of them.

But it was time for another sortie. Her task was to provide aerial support for the team of hounds on the ground. Her primary goal this mission was recon. The target was dug in and heavily reinforced, none of her standard armaments could break through. One of the bombers could carry a heavy enough payload but they'd only get one shot.

Flare’s equipment was designed for upper atmosphere flight. Her eyes were even more sensitive than a typical hawk and her lungs were modified to work in low atmosphere, in case her oxy system was compromised.

The floor texture changed again. they had arrived at her bay. The flaconer helped them into the pilot seat. Techs scrambled around the bird; performing pre-flight checks and connecting the Hawke to the jet's systems. Finally the lead tech handed the Hawk’s helmet to the falconer and ordered everyone clear. She waited for everyone to leave the hanger before finally pulling the hood off her precious Hawk.

Twelve blinked at the sudden light but her eyes quickly focused on the handler who smiled at her as her helmet was lowered over her head. The handler leaned down and kissed her Hawk’s forehead before locking the visor in place.

Twelve grinned and her canopy started to close. Falconer climbed down the platform and retracted the steps. She put on and adjusted her headset and radioed to control that her Hawk was ready. When takeoff clearance was granted she switched to her and her Hawk’s private channel.

“Fly girl."

Here within the central chamber,

ISSUE 30 - Diego Luna: What Remains After Leaving. | La Revista de Milenio (24 May 2026)