Over the next few days Fremel, Mya, and a dozen or so others worked out the design for the flying machine. They worked through several models that had 4 goals; Get airborne, get to the Krizian Capital, carry several people, and make it easy to disembark from the craft. Fremel and Mya, after studying up on aerodynamics found in the archive, understood the principles of how to make something glide, but no matter what they did they could not figure out powered flight. It was suggested that they use a motorized wagon to get them up to speed so that the craft would launch and glide to its designated target, but that was quickly dismissed when it was pointed out that they didn’t know the conditions they’d be launching in and they may not have the ability to race a carriage down a field.

Several days passed with no progress. Temperatures were on the rise and nerves were fraying. There seemed to be no answer to their problem. Every solution ended up having some flaw to it that they couldn’t risk that in the moment they couldn’t overcome. It wasn’t until Jason checked in on the progress that the answer came. He listened to their progress and realized where the problem lay. The fundamental issue was that they needed an engine that created thrust, but the underlying reason why they couldn’t solve the conundrum was that the Humans that had signed on to help just assumed that there was no way to create a thruster. Why else would these two brilliant people just ignore that possibility? They never thought that Mya and Fremel had never heard or even conceptualized the idea of a thruster. At least not in terms of rocketry. Once Jason explained Newtonian physics and that all they needed was something that could push on the craft it didn’t take long for a working model, using a modified energy pistol for a thruster, to be built as proof of concept.

It was decided that the airship would only use the bare minimum of resources to accomplish the goal while all others would go towards building more areas to extend space within the walls and fortifying defenses with ARMS material where possible. With this in mind, the ship was built and prepped to go on a one way trip to the core of the enemy forces. Before being approved for the mission one last modification was requested. The craft was equipped with a self destruct function. Whether the mission was ultimately a failure or a success the last thing that any of them wanted to risk was that anyone in the Krizian Empire find it and back engineer the vehicle. If Jason’s mission was successful others having powered flight would likely prove to be a threat that they would yet again have to deal with. On the other hand, if they failed, while Jason would not have to be worried about much of anything anymore, they aircraft would certainly be used as a template by Chris to bypass the Free City’s defenses and secure control of not only the local area, but the whole of the rest of the world. Jason suspected that no other culture on Debris was anywhere near as advanced as the Free Nation and the Krizian Empire and even if they were given access to all technology that the Free Nation had developed they could not develop rapidly enough to pose any threat to a Krizian conquest.

After the alterations has been made the strike force that Jason had selected and recruited assembled. Jason had thought hard about his choices. He could have asked others and they would answer his call. Plenty were more proven in combat than some of the ones he planned to bring along, but in the end, it wasn’t just about fighting prowess or experience. Jason needed to trust every person that was going to go with him and they had to be able to work together with as few understandings as possible. There were always going to be mistakes in a fight, but the more he could do to limit them, or at least have an idea where each of the members of his party was going to falter and back them up, the better, and even more so each could also do so in turn for the others. With that as his guide, it was pretty clearly obvious who he had to bring with him. The first on the list was Xev. No one could question that she was among the strongest people he’d ever encountered, if not the strongest. Jason wasn’t even certain that he’d seen her go all out. Over the years they’d developed an understanding. An odd one, but there was no one he’d want by his side in the current situation. He had some doubt as to whether she’d accept coming along on the mission, but she didn’t disappoint him. She had her own goals. There was no doubt that the current events probably had no effect one way or the other in accomplishing them. Regardless, she was going to risk her life to help him. He could ask nothing more of her.

The next member of the team he’d thought hard about. Jason had rescued her from some likely horrible fate when they had first arrived. He’d protected and watched her grow from a young girl, shy and scared of losing all that she had again, to a self confident young woman transforming her fears into the skill to ensure that she would never have to endure the pain of losing another loved one without being able to put up a fight. Jason didn’t want to bring her along, but he knew she wouldn’t leave his side knowing that there was a chance that he wouldn’t be coming back. She would find a way to follow him so there was no point in fighting it. Moreover she had developed her ability to operate the ARMS units that resembled magic, both in their offensive capabilities and their medical abilities. She would prove to be a valuable irreplaceable asset. He’d still leave her behind though. It was just him being protective of her. He’d long since acknowledged that they’d become like family, if not in fact, in feeling. She was like his little sister now and he’d never want to put her in danger. However, he still acknowledged her ability and that it was for the best for everyone to bring her with him.

The most dangerous selection that Jason had made was the former Krizian scout. Over the year that they’d known each other they’d grown close and she was the only person of their ranks that had seen beyond the borders and been in the Krizian capital, but the danger was still there that she, Alyssa, was just a deep cover agent and would turn on them at some critical moment. Since they’d met there was rarely a day that passed that they didn’t see each other and they’d shared much about themselves with each other. He felt that he could trust her and more, but in the back of his mind he’d always worry that she could betray him. It wasn’t that there was anything that indicated duplicitiness in any way. It was that he was the leader of his people and he had to consider every possible thing that could go wrong. At the same time, how could he deny his own feelings on the matter. He trusted her. Something deep inside him said he should and it was the same thing that had kept him alive all this time so he did. If in the end she did betray them he’d have to deal with it then. Until that time he would assume that she was like any other random person he’d met. Beyond all that though, she was already an amazing fighter when they’d met and she had only grown better since she had set eyes on bringing down Chris and his regime.

The final two seats were filled by recommendations by Xev. The first of the two was a bulky Thisin male that wore scattered pieces of plate armor and had an enormous sword strapped to his back. It was sure to be ARMS gear, but even if it wasn’t the mass of the blade would be enough to do some serious damage to anything that was in its path.Jason was unsure what to make of the reptile, but he trusted Xev and if she said that this fellow would make a good member than he would believe her. Even if Xev hadn’t recommended him Thisin were an almost telepathic instinctive trait that allowed them to predict what those around them wanted or intended and react to it, often before the person taking the action knew that they were taking said action. The only other thing that Jason knew about him was that he was called Jello. Considering the Thisin didn’t have names till recently Jason suspected there had to be an interesting story behind it.

The last member of their party was a complete mystery. Xev had told him nothing about them, not even a name, but she signed off on their skill and guaranteed that they would be able to sync up with the group. The first thing that Jason noticed was their short stature compared to others and a set of slim, yet fit, legs that extended out of a cloak. Jason wanted to ask if they were female, but decided to be polite about it. The last thing he needed to do was start a conflict right before they started on their journey. The cloak covered the entire rest of their body, hiding their frame, and it’s hood kept their face hidden in shadow. On their back was something wrapped to hide what it was, but was long than their body if placed end to end. The only way that they were able to carry it was that it was set on a diagonal which allowed it to not drag on the ground. Jason guessed that it was a weapon of some sort and left it at that.

When all six of them had arrived they piled into the aircraft, taking their seats. Jason set at the pilot controls looking over them. Mya explained what each of the buttons, levers, and switches did one last time before exiting the craft and waving to them from outside. She was joined by several of the other engineers, builders, and council members in wishing them farewell as the entrance ramp was pulled up, sealing the party inside. Mya signaled for everyone to get back. They’d only had so much time to design and construct the vehicle which meant it hadn’t been tested extensively. They had only gotten it to power on and give a low power burst. They were afraid to push beyond that believing that they may only get one chance at this before the enemy reached them. The audience back away, behind a barrier marking where they believed it would be a safe distance even if everything went catastrophic.

Mya joined them just as engines came to life.A whining hum was produced as they charged up. When the instrument panel inside read that they ready to firee Jason pressed a button. Suddenly them rapidly acend. Outside the engines fired off a beam energy at the ground. mya had neglected to warn people that she had attached several large cannons to the aircraft to provide thrust. This by itself was not a problem, but the fact that she did not adjust them to not fire as weapons was. It was just fortunate that the power of the bursts pushed them high enough in the air that no one would be harmed by the ship if they weren’t turned to propel the craft forward. Jason turned a dial to rotate the engines into place and just like that they were on their way to end the life of a madman.