Around the time that the aliens were detected the FIM started planning it's response, together with other nations it was agreed that it was favourable if we could limit destruction of the Earth by meeting the threat in orbit. Therefor the FIM provided material and men to a commando raid on the alien mothership and construction of a 1 km long coil gun started, which could launch fighters into space. The Mosquito VTOL and the SM-219 Planet Defender VTOL were chosen since they both were space worthy. A large fleet of both were constructed and would be the FIM's first line of defense. No one would be able to call the FIM cowardly.

Written pre /r/worldpowers reset

[2100h May the 15th 2063]

"So how many times have we tested this thing?" The whole contraption looked a little scary to be honest.

"The Mosquito or the coil launch tube?." Roanne asked while scribbling on her notepad.

"The launch tube. I have flown in the Mosquito before after all." Jack answered

"Exactly zero times." Roanne answered still scribbling on her notepad.

"Good, good, so what will happen if this goes wrong?" Jack asked a little anxious.

"Not much. The worst that will happen is that you don't reach space. Then you can just land again." She said, still scribbling on her note pad.

"Good that makes me a lot less nervous." Jack said as he started walking over to his Mosquito.

He got up on it, opened the cockpit and jumped in. "Wish me luck!" He said as he closed the cockpit. "Sure thing" Roanne said looking up from her notepad. "Oh and also, it could go very wrong, and crush the Mosquito but don't think about that."

He was just about to shout something you could get hanged for some place, but the Mosquito's cockpit closed on him before he could say anything. He would have to get revenge on Roanne when he got back from space.

The crane lifted the Mosquito into the large metal tube. At the end of it he could see the blue sky he would be fighting in.

It was time to start the Mosquito up. He ran though the checks and started the AI. Lights all over the cockpit lit up, and screens blinked to life. "All right let's see what you can do." He hadn't tried flying this craft in combat before, so this would be interesting. Although only a few FIM pilots ever had actually been in combat.

"This is 1-1 are we ready for launch?" He heard over the intercom. "Yes." one other pilot answered. "Just finishing the start up." Another said. "I'm going to be ready in a short moment." He said himself. He finished checking the computer systems. "Ready." He said. "Me too." The last pilot answered. "Okay, everyone is ready?" "Yes!" Everyone answered. "Roger, this is squad alpha we are ready for launch." The squad leader said to central control. "Roger squad alpha you will be launched in 10."

This was it, it had to work otherwise they would have to use the SM-219 Planets. He checked everything one last time.

"5"

He looked around the cockpit one last time.

"4"

Everything was in order.

"3"

He shifted around in his seat a little.

"2"

He grabbed the throttle a little tighter.

"1"

This was it.

"Launch!"

The fighter started accelerating quickly, and he was forced back in his seat. It was shaking a little but nothing too concerning. He could barely move as the fighter accelerated to enormous speeds, far greater than anything it could reach on it's own. All the systems were working fine, the AI was constantly giving him information on everything he needed to know.

Soon he was out of the tube. The islands behind him got small really quickly. "See you when we're in space squad." The squad leader said. That wouldn't be in too long.