The canopy opened several seconds later.
A single pilot climbed out of the cockpit.
He wore a dark flight suit fitted closely around his frame, with reinforced sections around the chest, shoulders, and legs. A helmet rested beneath one arm, its visor wider than the ones used by Falcon One's crew.
The Ground Guidance Crew had already positioned an access ladder against the aircraft.
The pilot descended and approached Hans.
"Raptor One reporting, Commander."
Hans looked past him toward the aircraft.
The Raptor carried only one person.
Everything else appeared to have been built around keeping that person alive long enough to reach a target, destroy it, and return.
Hans opened its information panel.
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[ Vehicle Name: Raptor One ]
[ Vehicle Type: Raptor Air Superiority Fighter ]
[ Crew: 1 ]
[ Flight Characteristics ]
[ Maximum Combat Speed: Mach 2.0 ]
[ Loiter Speed: Mach 1.4 ]
