(STORY EXTRACT)
 
The radio aboard the Valkyrie crackled as both myself and Static sat inside the aircraft, looking over the instrument panels in front of us. The packed, plowed snow runway stretched out in front of us as I sat up to see out of the cockpit, the bulldozer tank pulling off to the right as it lifted the blade, passing out of view a moment later. Darn well-armored cockpit, can’t see a damn thing out of here… Static slipped on a headset behind me, the hum of fans filling the cockpit as the electronics powered up. Okay, second time taking this thing off… screw you, automatic takeoff. “Alright, everything looks fine… let’s, well, start her up.”
 
“Bracing myself already. At least if things screw up again, we’re facing north this time.” Oh, har har. Letting off a sigh, I looked over the console, reading the switches. Hydrogen talismans, on. Primary igniter, engine one, two, three, four, all primed. Throttle at idle, wheel brakes set, area around intakes and exhaust… hopefully clear. Right. Drawing in a breath, my hoof moved for the igniter switch, eyes wrenching shut as I pressed it in and held it. Please work, please work, please work…