Ch 4
"Settle down. As you all know, supplies are running low. While the Eruseans have left us alone, we can't take the chance. We need to be able to push back any threat." Longcaster said.
"If we can't communicate with Osea, and since time is against us, where are we going to the supplies?" Huxian asked.
"You're not suggesting what i think you are, are you?" Jeager asked, a look of horror on his face as he realized their next mission.
"I'm afraid so. Inside Erusea, there's a castle that's been converted into a supply base: Shilage castle." Longcaster briefed.
Trigger lowered his head, remembering the girls talking about the castle. But they needed the supplies. They could deal with the aftermath when the war ends.
"It's occupied by some Erusean forces that have broken off from the main group. Strider squadron's mission will be to clear the way for our transport planes."
Rosa clenched her fists in disbelief. They were going to raid the castle, and rob innocent people of desperately needed supplies. Though it seemed that the pilots themselves weren't happy with their orders. Some already started smoking cigarettes, trying to numb their nerves.
"We need to talk." Rosa said, pulling Trigger aside.
"What?" Trigger asked, as he headed to a nearby armory, swapping his rifle for a machine-gun.
"This is insane! Trigger, you're going to raid them like a bunch of marauders!" Rosa said.
"I don't like this, but we have no choice." Trigger said.
"No choice. That's what i thought at the start of the war. Now look at us. Your assault could cripple their ability to defend themselves." Rosa warned.
"Not if it goes right. We can be in and out before casualties mount." Trigger tried to reason.
"And if something goes wrong? You raid more areas?" Rosa asked.
"We're not going to make a habit of this." Trigger said.
"I can't justify this course of action." Rosa said.
"Rosa, get it thru your fucking skull! This is our last option to continue fighting! If we don't do this and the Eruseans attack, we're all dead! And they'll parade you and the Shilage girls naked as war trophies." Trigger yelled.
That threat stopped Rosa in her tracks.
"You don't know that." she said, her defiance breaking.
"But would you take that chance?" Trigger asked.
"No." Rosa said.
"Damn war." Trigger spat.
…
No-one spoke during the flight to the castle. Everyone knew their orders. And everyone hated it.
"Proceed to Shilage castle. No friendlies in sight. No need to ID your targets and…" Longcaster started before he stopped.
"Longcaster, what is it?" Tabloid asked.
"Shit! Everyone, pull back now!" he ordered, seeing his fellow pilots retreat.
"Longcaster, what is it?" Trigger asked.
"Bad news. I'm getting reports of 30 aircraft at the castle."
"30?! There's no way we can fight thru them all." Count bemoaned.
"What the? I'm getting an SOS message." he said.
"This is Wit, of the Voslagian airforce. We're under attack by the radicals! Any friendlies, please respond!"
"So what? Let them kill each other. Less enemies for us to fight." Count said.
"Even so, that's still alot of enemies to fight. Damn it. There's got to be another way." Huxian said.
"There is. All aircraft, i'm tagging the Shilage/Voslagian aircraft as friendlies. Your orders are to take out the radicals." Longcaster said.
"What did you say?" Count asked.
"Think about it. We help them against the radicals, maybe we won't have to steal the supplies from them. And if they refuse, we're in a position of strength to take it by force." Jeager pointed out.
"Fine. Lets just get this over with." Count spat.
"This is the three strikes from the LRSSG. We're here to help." Trigger said.
"Three strikes? Never thought i'd hear that." Ronald said.
Approaching the castle, they fired their missiles, taking out several enemy planes in one strike. The radicals were caught off guard, and turned to face the new-comers.
"There are more vehicles along the road. They don't appear to be military." Count said.
"They're refugees. They must be fleeing since the conflict got worse." Jaeger replied.
Seeing enemy planes approaching, Trigger and his squadron immediately tangled with the planes. It was clear that the radicals were hurting from the war and their over reliance on drones. The newest batch of pilots weren't as tough or skilled as the previous Erusean pilots they faced.
"These pilots are nuggets. Why send them?" Tabloid asked.
"They're trying to use numbers and brute force, instead of skill and cunning. When we picked them up heading towards us, a quarter of them turned tail and ran. Or they were ordered by their masters to retreat. Our enemy must be hurting real bad." Seymour said, as he also dueled an enemy plane.
Trigger could only agree. He tailed some poor sucker in a MiG-21, who cut the breaks and let Trigger fly over him. Hearing the radar warning, Trigger easily pulled the stick on his gut, and his SU-30SM performed a Kulbit.
"Just like champ." Trigger said, as he fired a missile into his enemy.
"You're scary, Trigger. You know that?" Count asked.
"Lets just get this mission over with." Trigger said, pinching his nose. He was sick of Count running his mouth off during missions, especially since the war was going so horrible for everyone.
"So what's this faction split from the Erusean military?" Count asked.
"Do you ever shut up?" Trigger muttered under his breath.
"The autonomous state of Shilage used to be a nation. The region has always leaned towards independence. Those who want to restore their homeland flock to it. Their core consists of officers from Voslage, which neighbored Shilage." Jaeger explained.
"I heard they have some good pilots." Tabloid said.
"We may have faced them during the war." Count said.
"Shilage pilots, where is mr X?" Trigger asked, as he gunned down a drone.
"He'll be here soon. We just have to hold out as long as we can." Wit said.
The fight dragged over the castle, and a furball of missiles and bullets tore across the skies. No quarter was asked, and none was given. It was a fight of extermination. The outnumbered and outgunned Shilagea/Osean pilots using all their wits and battle skills to take on the numerous radicals.
"Lets show them what the Voslagian air-force capable of." Seymour said, as he dodged a missile, and fired at one of the radicals.
"Go after the manned fighters. The drones will be slow as hell." Wit advised.
"You sure about that?" Count asked.
"We've been working with these drones long before the war started. Of course i'm sure about it." Wit snarled.
"I thought your drones were fully automated." Tabloid said.
"They were. But these drones appear to be in slave mode to the manned fighters." Wit said.
Trigger trailed two drones and shot them down, watching as the remains crashed into the castle.
"Take in civilians and refugees without discrimination! Get away from the stone buildings and take shelter somewhere sturdier or underground! Get everyone underground! If you hear a jet engine, get down and cover your head!" an officer on the ground ordered.
"This town is of high cultural importance. It's unfortunate it's being bombed as it is." Jaeger said, as he led another fighter into the guns of Sol 5.
"So much for my vacation." Tabloid said, as he saw the AA defenses from the castle firing every round they had. Looking down, Trigger saw them fight harder than any Erusean he'd fought before. He felt a sense of kinship with the soldiers below. It was a last stand, and they knew it.
Despite their best efforts, the radicals were pushing them back, cornering them like a frightened animal.
"Shit, we losts Sol 4." Trigger said.
"I hope he's okay. Bailing out over these conditions." Wit said.
"I can see his chute from here." Seymour observed. Only for a drone to shoot the chute to pieces. The pilot fell to his cruel death, far above the ground.
"Jesus. I can't watch." Tabloid said.
"You defile this country. As long as you're here, this country will never know peace." Wit snarled to the radicals, taking down two more drones in the process.
"Where the hell is mr X?!" Trigger exclaimed.
The flaming wreckage of Sol 5 fell past his canopy, catching by surprise.
"Damn it. Even with the snowbirds, we can't buy ourselves time." Wit said.
A loud cracking noise was heard, and 3 of the radicals went down at once.
"A new record." a growling baritone voice said.
"King. He's here." Wit said, as the few radicals retreated from the new foe.