The Project's End - Part 1 Snippet

Chapter 1: The Crash (1943)

February 14th, 1943

Dear Mordecai,
          'Everyday feels empty without you, you've been gone for three years. I remember the first day you shipped out. I hope the photo of your son and I will inspire you to make it home.. In one piece. I'm counting the days until you come home in June. Your son, Jasper, is learning to walk and I can't wait for him to see his father again. His birthday is in April, he'll be four and just like his daddy, leaving messes everywhere.

          My sister, Vivian, got married in January. I can't believe my little sister is growing up. I remember the days when we were younger. Your brother has been helping me out through some times and now he's coming home from New York City. We're going to the pictures, when he arrives with my sister and her husband, Jack. I hope to hear back from you soon.'
-Love, Lylian Lucien.

March 2th, 1943

HMS Indomitable (R92), Offshore of Lae, New Guinea

          Standing on the deck of the aircraft carrier, I meticulously checked my plane before takeoff. The tension in the air was palpable as I communicated with air control, ensuring everything was in order for my mission.

          Today, however, would prove to be unlike any other in my career. As I lifted off from the runway and soared over the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, a nagging feeling of unease grew in the pit of my stomach.

          "Control, this is Captain Lucien. Do you copy?" "Roger, Lucien. You're clear for takeoff. Good luck out there," came the response. Taking a deep breath, I eased the throttle forward, feeling the raw power of the engine beneath me.

          The carrier's deck fell away as I climbed into the sky. The vast ocean spread out below, a seemingly endless expanse of blue. Despite the clear skies, something felt off.
Attempting to establish contact with air control, I encountered only an ominous wall of static. Sweat trickled down my forehead as I adjusted the dials in a desperate attempt to restore communication.     

          "I'm Mordecai Jasper Lucien, named after my father, who died back in '39 due to cancer. He was a pilot too, a hero of his time. I followed in his footsteps, joined the Navy, and made my way through the ranks. Lylian, my wife, always supported me, even when it meant long deployments and the constant fear of losing me."

          As the static continued, my mind wandered to the last conversation I had with Lylian before my current deployment. We were in our small kitchen, the warmth of home wrapping around us like a comforting blanket.

           "Mordecai, you don't have to go back," Lylian had said, her eyes filled with concern. "You've done more than your share." "I know, Lylian, but it's my duty," I replied, holding her hands in mine. "I can't turn my back on my squadron. They need me."

          "And what about me? What about us?" she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. "I'll come back to you, I promise," I assured her, kissing her forehead gently. "I'll always come back to you."     

          Shaking off the memory, I focused on the present. "Control, do you copy? This is Lucien. Repeat, do you copy?" Nothing. Just static. Suddenly, without warning, the peace of the moment was shattered as my plane was struck by Japanese fire.

           The cockpit erupted in sparks, and I could feel the plane lurch violently. The world around me plunged into an abyss of darkness. As consciousness slowly returned, fragmented memories surfaced. The first time I flew solo, my father's proud smile as he pinned my wings on my uniform, the day Lylian and I got married under the old oak tree.