**Chapter 1: Shorebirds**
**Blaze's POV**
It had been two days since the air battle. I still had nightmares about that fight.
*The missiles and tracer rounds flying around my cockpit, my plane's engine roaring trying to get away from it all and then, I turn and see a missile just before it impacts with my cockpit...*
"AAHHH" I shout as I wake up from the nightmare.
I hear a noise and Kei's head appears next to my bunk.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine" I lied.
"Don't lie to me Blaze, I know your lying" said Kei.
I sighed, "OK you win, I had a nightmare"
"About what?" asked Kei.
"..."
"Blaze I can't help you if you won't tell me what's wrong" said Kei.
"The air battle... I have nightmares about that"
"And what happens?" asked Kei.
"I was one of the pilots that got shot down. I see what they saw before they died"
Kei was silent for a minute.
"You must think I'm stupid to wake up screaming about that" I said.
"Scoot over" she said.
"What?"
"You heard me scoot over" Kei said.
I scooted over and Kei jumped up into the bunk.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Your not alone, I've been having nightmares about that air battle too" Kei wrapped her arms around my chest and fell asleep.
I did likewise but a little later because I was hesitant. I thought to myself,
'she's nice, and beautiful' I slowly fell asleep into a peaceful sleep.
**Garrett's POV **
I woke up at 0530 hours and got dressed and walked to the hanger. I met up with Pops and we went to work on the planes. I was just finishing up tuning my F-5 when Captain Bartlett walked in and started talking to Pops. I finished my work and was about to leave when Bartlett asked me a question.
"Hey Lightning, where'd you learn to fly like that?" asked Bartlett.
"I'm a former ISAF pilot sir, I learned from the best" I said.
"I see... dismissed" and I left.
Later, Pops found me and told me to gather up the squad and meet at Hanger 9.
**Blaze's POV **
Me, Kei, Chopper, Bartlett and, Garrett arrived in front of the hanger and Pops was there to meet them.
"First off, Jack, your F-4G is out of commission until we get a new engine for it" Pops said. Bartlett sighed in disappointment.
"So, I got some new planes Osean wants us to fly..."
I was bored and looked over to one of the other hangers, I saw men disassembling a F-14A Tomcat. I felt sad, a magnificent plane was going to be destroyed. But I saw that the plane had more bullet holes than I could count. Now the F-14s where only remained on aircraft carriers.
"Blaze, are you listening?" someone asked.
I looked at the voice startled for a moment.
Pops was looking at me disappointed.
"Sorry" i said.
"Well, I'll say it again. Your squad got new planes, F-20A Tigersharks" said Pops.
I nodded, I didnt know much about the F-20A but I did know it was an upgraded F-5E so I was happy.
"Your planes are ready to fly at a moments noticed and I re-tuned the planes to be just like your F-5E blaze" said Pops.
"Thanks" I said.
Then we heard over the PA system, "Wardog squadron to the breifing room ASAP"
I sighed.
I turned around and bumped into two of the reserve pilots. Airman 1st class Hans Grimm and Airman 1st class Shelby Miera, who Garrett has a crush on.
They saluted me and I saluted back.
We were given the briefing, We were it escort a damaged unknown recon plane that penetrated our airspace. We were dismissed and headed to our planes.
We got to the hanger and I walked up to my plane when Pops stopped me.
"Next week, your getting RIOs"
I grumbled, I hated Radar Interception Officers. They're so annoying. They can't stand experienced pilots.
I got into my F-20 and took off.
We were flying in a V-formation as we headed to the recon plane.
"This is AWACS callsign Thunderhead. Your orders are to not fire on the target" said Thunderhead.
"You got that nuggets?" asked Bartlett."
"Wardog two, roger" said Kei.
"Wardog three, roger" said Chopper.
"Wardog four Roger" I said.
"Wardog Five roger" said Garrett.
Then Chopper and Bartlett got into an arguement until 4 high speed bogeys were inbound to our location.
Me and Garrett formed up. Blaze and Lightning. I smiled.
We flew up behind the enemy planes.
They started firing on our squad.
"They'refiring on us" shouted Chopper.
"Wardog, weapons safe" said Thunderhead.
"Oh come on man those aren't blanks they're firing" Chopper said.
"Then shut up and fire back" shouted Bartlett.
I fired a missile at one MiG-21BIS and it exploded.
I filled his wingman full of lead.
Lightning did the same.
"Thats two for two" I said over the radio.
"Wardog, this is Thunderhead, twelve high speed bogeys inbound"
"Lightning your with me, Chopper stay with Bartlett, you too Nagase" I shouted over the radio. "Sorry Captian"
"No problem just what I was going to say" said Bartlett.
I smiled.
We turned and engaged the MiG-21BIS'. I shot down another MiG and noticed a BAE Hawk heading in my direction. I fired a missile but he evaded it.
"Rookie, your not going to shot down Hawk Gigantor" the pilot said over the radio, as he passed me and got right behind me.
"Well you've never flown with someone like me then" I said.
I gave my plane full throttle and did a high G-roll followed by a reversed Barrel roll and I ended up on his tail.
"But how?!" he said.
"Bye bye" I said.
I launched a missile and watched as the BAE Hawk exploded.
I turned to the battle just as everyone was finishing mopping up the remaining fighters.
"This is your captian speaking can you hear my voice" said Bartlett.
"Yeah" I said.
"Well , we have to comemerate the fact that we made it back alive, I'm going to call you Kid, no matter what, Got it? Good" said Bartlett.
I shook my head.
We returned to base and had dinner and I saw Nagase writing in a little red book. I didn't really care because I soon fell asleep.
