"As a people, Erusians must not be afraid to push back any invading threat! Even if it is not of this God-given Earth, rest assured Erusea will do her best to quell any threats! The Stonehenge will be our solution to this interstellar situation!" ~ King Jeremiah XI of Erusea, 1998 G7 Summit
Chapter 2: Aces High
[Valais Air Base]
[East Ustio]
[0550 hours]
[3/15/2024]
[Alt: 10000ft]
"Knight Squadron, this is AWACS Spirit Eye. From now on, I will relay any orders from Belkan Air Force Command. Your current orders are to intercept and destroy incoming Osean attack aircraft. Bombers sighted at vector 080, range - eight miles. Knight Squadron, engage."
Those were our orders. Shoot down some bombers. It seemed easy enough at the time. As my squadron split up, I found myself trailing an Osean attacker, what appeared to be an A-6 Intruder. When I squeezed the trigger on my flight stick, I heard the 23mm cannon on my aircraft roar to life, and watched as the opposing aircraft was slowly torn apart, a segment of wing flying off. After a short burst, the A-6 burst into flames. "Werewolf 9 hit! Ejecting!" The enemy pilot proclaimed over the radio, before being cut off by the sound of an explosion. By this point, I had already broken off my pursuit in search of said bombers. At the start of the raid, it was 0550, and the sun was beginning to crest the nearby mountains.
"This is Grizzly 4, on direct approach to Valais Air Base. Preparations are complete for first pass on main hangar facilities at the Southern end of the base. Dagger 5, Dagger 2, think you could fly support? These ol' Stratofortresses ain't exactly got much in the ways of AA." One of the bomber pilots had commanded. From the tension in his voice, it was clear that stress was starting to get to the enemy pilots. Maybe they hadn't expected such fierce resistance? "That's a big negative, Grizzly 4. AWACS has confirmed on radar three fighters inbound, we're breaking to engage." His comrade, either Dagger 5 or Dagger 2, I could not remember, had responded. As I looked forward, I found myself in an aerial game of cat and mouse.
Two opposing fighters, both F-5E's, had broken off their defensive formation of the bombers to engage, and attempt to, shoot me down. Even though I was still considered a "Nugget" by the rest of my squadron, I nonetheless made it as difficult as possible for the enemy fighters to get radar lock. When I saw an opportunity, I applied full brake, which caused the opposing fighters to seemingly slingshot ahead of me. The moment I got good tone, I made my announcement. "Knight 4, Fox 2!" I said, and launched a missile from an underwing hardpoint. The missile struck one of the Osean F-5's in the starboard engine, causing it to burst into flame. Orange fire leaked from the twisted metal, and the pilot made his final farewell. "I'm hit! Ejec-" Static.
Like the pilot of the A-6, he too was cut off by the sounds of an explosion, and his aircraft proceeded to disintegrate in the skies over Ustio. I would learn later that the pilot of that particular aircraft was 1st. Lieutenant Jamison Briggs, Jr., a father of two and proprietor of a restaurant in downtown Oured. After the war, I made sure to track down his surviving family and share my condolences about his death. I would make sure to visit his grave, and lament how we couldn't share the skies over Osea without bloodshed. As I scanned my surroundings, I had lost sight of the second Tiger, certain I had lost the aircraft. "Knight 4, behind you! Behind you!" My radio blared to life. It was one of my fellow pilots, Capt. Carlos Ortega.
Ortega was... An unusual pilot. He always said that he favored CAS (Close-Air-Support) aircraft, but seemed more than capable in a fighter. "Enemy's locked on, break hard right!" I followed through with his command, turning just in time to watch a missile streak off into the distance. "I'll handle the fighters, you go after the bombers." "Copy that. Valais ATC, this is Knight 4 on approach from vector 179. I have two bombers on scope." After relaying a sitrep, I applied full thrust and began my pursuit of the B-52s that had attacked our base. "Shit! Shit! Dagger Squadron, we've got a fighter tailing us! Requesting support, over!" To the bomber crew's dismay, there was no response. "I repeat: We need help, now! Are there any fighters still up?!"
"Knight 4, Fox 2." Two missiles streaked away from my aircraft, impacting the port wing of the Stratofortress. Fuel ignited, causing orange flame and thick, black smoke to pour from the stricken bomber. "Grizzly 5, we're breaking up! We're bailing!" Unlike the two fighters, the crew of the B-52 had managed to escape the aircraft, before it broke apart in mid-air. As I watched the bomber sink into the vast sea that was the morning sky, my radio crackled to life. "Knight Squadron, this is AWACS Spirit Eye. Valais ATC reports complete sanitation of enemy aircraft from airspace. Good job, and RTB immediately." On the ground, however, things had gone awry. The IFF (Identify - Friend or Foe) systems on Valais' AA defenses had been damaged in the raid.
"That is a negative, Spirit Eye. We still see one fighter on scope, and are attempting to get a lock." The ground crew stated, as our AWACS tried to convince them otherwise. "There are no more fighters on our scope. All we see is Knight 4. Do not engage. I repeat: Do not engage!" By then, it was too late. A single SAM (Surface-Air Missile) had been launched, and it was aimed at my fighter. "SAM launched. Spirit Eye, tell us when that fighter's been blown out o' the sky for us." "Knight 4, break! Break! Friendlies have launched a single missile at you!" I did my best to evade the missile, but it was no use. There was an explosion, and the right wingtip of my plane seemed to vanish. "This is Knight 4! Attempting emergency landing on Runway 1B!" I alerted Valais as best I could, before receiving the one piece of news I dreaded.
"Negative, Knight 4. Runway 1B was hit during the attack. You'll have to ditch." With those words, I reached between my legs and yanked on the ejector handle. In an instant, the cold air was blowing in my face, and the rocket boosters of the ejector seat propelled me out of my stricken fighter, which exploded shortly after. "Well... Long way down..." I said to myself, holding on to my parachute with all my strength. "Spirit Eye here, aircraft that was shot down was Knight 4. Knight 4, how far out from Valais are you?" Spirit Eye asked. Even with the radio crackle, I could tell that the voice belonged to a woman. "Spirit Eye, I'm about twelve clicks out. When I get back, tell the guy who shot me down that I'm gonna punch him in the face.
"It's highly likely that this will be your final mission. We need heroes after the war, too. Make it back in one piece. Dismissed!" ~ Anonymous ISAF Operator, prior to Operation Judgement Day, 2005
[Valais Air Base]
[North Ustio]
[1250 hours]
[3/15/2024]
Now that I was back on the ground, and more importantly, back at the base, myself and the rest of my squadron made our way to the briefing room for our debriefing. Standing at the opposite end of a large, round table was our Base Commander. An older gentleman, it was obvious the surprise attack had alarmed him, considerably. "You three... You're the fighter pilots who saved this base, is that correct? I extend my thanks, and gratitude to you three." He asked, with Eugene nodding. "Yes sir. We're the 7th Air Division, 22nd Reserve Fighter Squadron." With pleasantries now out of the way, our Commander began the debriefing.
"At 0550, we were attacked by a relatively small force of Osean attack aircraft, bombers, and fighters. We believe these actions have something to do with the recent political turmoil in the Free Republic of Osea, formerly the Osean Federation. The Republic of Osea recently announced plans to leave FATO, citing 'Geopolitical exploit' as their reasoning. Now, on with the attack. The Osean Air Force sent a flight of four A-6 Intruders, two small fighter detachments, and two B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers. Thanks to you, this force was obliterated. However, we are still left with one question - Why? Why, after 30 years of peace, would Osea reform itself into a Republic, and then go on the offensive? As of now, we are on the defensive, and we are unsure of if, and when, there will be another attack. For now, though, we can hope that this sends a message to Osea. Dismissed."
After the debriefing, I decided to head to the mess hall, wondering if there would be any form of report about the early morning attack. To my astonishment, there was. "Hey, you mind turning the TV up?" I asked, as one of the other 'residents' of the base did so. The news report that followed would change my life forever.
"The morning of March 15th will forever be remembered as one of violence, as the Free Republic of Osea declared war on its Eastern neighbors of Belka, Ustio and Sapin, and announced that they would commence invasion efforts of Aurelia in the coming weeks. These actions less than a year after the assassination of President Vincent Harling at his landmark fourth inauguration, following a landslide victory against his rival, Maxwell Huntley. The Independent State Allied Forces, along with FATO, have condemned the actions of Osea, with ISAF Four-Star General Markus DeWynter saying at a press conference, "The actions of Osea are inexcusable. ISAF and FATO will do what they can to maintain peace within the region." As of right now, the number of casualties has not been released. For the Usean News Agency, this has been an early breaking report."
War. War had always been in my life, from as far back as I could remember. My father was a soldier serving under the ISAF flag during the Erusian War of 2003-2005, he was killed during Operation Judgement day, the ISAF attack on the Megalith launch facility. In school, we were taught how warmongering did more to spread fear and hatred, than it did to spread unity and peace. My step-father fought during the Circum-Pacific War of 2010, taking part in the Invasion of Yuktobania. After he returned, he gave me a valuable lesson that I would never forget. "Keenan. Son. War isn't just what you see on TV. War is an unfortunate side-effect of power hungry leaders, and the men behind them, wanting more than what they already have."
Even though I was only 14 at the time, those words stuck with me. At my step-fathers funeral, I gave a brief eulogy, about how good of a man he was, and how he was a valiant soldier. I we never able to truly say I loved him. Even now, those words resonate with me every minute of my life. "Hey, Keenan. Wanna get something to drink from the cantina?" Eugene asked, having sat next to me after the news report. "Huh? Oh, no thanks. I'm fine. Besides, isn't it a little early to be drinking?" I asked him, managing to form a smile despite the intense dread I felt, knowing that we were officially at war. Eugene could only break out into laughter, as did I. "Y'know, Ace, you sure know how to lighten up the room."
