Yinshi Valley, Usea
July 12th, 2019
Alex and the rest of Spare Squadron soared into the valley. Their objective was to take out Erusean anti-air sites and ensure that two Osean reconnaissance squadrons, callsigns Cyclops and Strider, could get home safely.
They received a transmission from Bandog, the AWACS assigned to monitor them.
"Be advised, you will be near thunderclouds. Man, you guys were born unlucky."
"Wait, who's the dumbass who came up with this batshit plan?" asked Spare 8, callsign Champ.
"Just obey orders," replied Bandog, disdainfully.
As Alex and his wingmen began wiping out the enemy SAM sites and AA guns, the leader of Cyclops Squadron, callsign Wiseman, contacted Bandog.
"Air Force Base 444 Squadron, this is Cyclops 1. The Cyclops and Strider squadrons currently contain seven aircraft. Stand by, we'll be arriving shortly."
"Understood," Bandog replied.
"We're low on on ammunition. It'll be hard to take on hostiles," said Wiseman. "We'll have to rely on you guys to make it home."
Alex dropped a laser-guided bomb on a radar site, causing a spectacular explosion.
"Destruction of target facility confirmed," said Bandog. He didn't offer any congratulations.
"I'd rather be back in my cell," remarked one of the other pilots.
"There's no way I'm going back to the brig," said Champ. "Don't get in my way."
Within minutes, all remaining enemy anti-air and radar sites were down.
"All targets destroyed," said Bandog. "No complaints here."
Suddenly, Alex heard the voice of Strider 3, callsign Jaeger, over the radio.
"Caution! Bandits inbound! Here come the UAVs!"
Alex saw seven F-15s in the distance. They were being pursued by a swarm of MQ-99 UAVs.
"Leave this one to our friends," said Wiseman as he dropped his fuel tanks.
The F-15s scattered.
"The drones have jumped on the recon team. Our friends aren't equipped for air-to-air. They need our cover," said Bandog. "All 444, aircraft, get them out of there. Not even one is to go down. Destroy the UAVs."
"That's impossible!" shouted Spare 2, callsign Count.
"I'm not flying in there to help out some a-holes I don't know s- about!" remarked Champ.
"As they say in my house, there's a thin line between bravery and stupidity," said Count.
Alex pursued a UAV into one of the thunderclouds.
"Someone flew into the thunderclouds!" yelled Spare 6, callsign Full Band.
A moment later, Alex emerged from the cloud.
"Spare 15 has broken through the thunderclouds," said Bandog. "Nice work for a dumbass."
Alex then took out the UAV with a missile.
"Cyclops 3, watch your tail!" shouted Wiseman.
Alex looked down and saw a UAV behind Cyclops 3. He engaged it with a long-range missile.
"Thanks. I owe you one."
Suddenly, Alex's F-16 was hit by a lightning strike.
"Trigger's been struck by lightning!" someone shouted.
Alex's HUD was messed up and blurry. He evaded a missile from a UAV.
A minute later, the HUD returned to normal. Alex saw Cyclops 4, callsign Huxian, being chased by a UAV.
He launched a long-range missile at Huxian's pursuer, destroying it in midair.
"UAV destroyed!" said Bandog.
Huxian radioed Alex. "I owe you one."
"Looks like there's one guy who's got everyone's backs," remarked Jaeger.
"Spare 15, you're the only one earning any redemption today," said Bandog. "Make sure the rest of them stay alive."
"Copy that," replied Alex.
"You'll let the devil with three sin lines go after that?" asked Count.
"You're in no position to call someone a devil, Count. Don't make me laugh."
Alex destroyed another UAV.
"The cavalry is here? Just in time!"
"444… No, that one bird is doing all the work. We'd be losing more men if it weren't for him."
Alex saw a UAV launch a missile at Wiseman.
"Cyclops 1 is hit!"
"I'm hit but still functional!" said Wiseman.
Alex eliminated the UAV attacking Wiseman with an air-to-air missile.
"Spare 15, all UAVs in the vicinity confirmed destroyed."
"Nice teamwork! Thanks!" said Wiseman. "Who is that? Tell him I'm grateful."
"Copy that Cyclops 1," replied Bandog. "Spare Squadron, mission is complete. Return to base."
Alex smiled for the first time in weeks.
"Wait a minute. Hold it."
"Oh, give me a break," said Champ. "You have more chores for us?"
"Spare 8! Champ! Bogey approaching fast from the rear! All available units, support Spare 8!"
"I don't need any support! This is all mine." Suddenly an Su-30 appeared on Champ's rear. "Dammit!"
Alex watched from a distance as Champ tried to shake off the Su-30. It matched his every move.
"He's glued to my tail! He's still not firing! I ain't afraid of it!"
"Spare 8! No dogfighting!"
"Negative! I'm not letting this slide!" Champ abruptly slowed down his MiG-29, causing the Su-30 to shoot right past him. He locked on and unleashed a missile.
Suddenly the Su-30 pitched upwards and rolled onto Champ.
Alex saw an explosion. The Su-30 flew through the smoke. It had orange wing tips, just like the one that shot down Ashley at Chopinburg.
"He shot down Champ! He was toying with him!" exclaimed Full Band.
The Su-30 proceeded to take out another Spare Squadron jet.
"Spare 10 lost! Another one."
One of the F-15s from Strider Squadron was next.
"One recon aircraft lost! Get in with that monster, Spare 15! We're gonna lose more friendlies!"
"Roger that. Wilco." Alex flew after the Su-30. He chased it between the cliffs, trying to get a lock.
The Su-30 broke off and unleashed a missile at Alex's F-16. Alex evaded it and flew behind the Su-30. He attempted another lock.
"Wiseman, you see that color? And the way he's flying?"
"It's Mr. X for sure."
Alex launched a missile. The Su-30 dodged it with ease. It proceeded to maneuver on Alex, firing its autocannon.
"Wiseman, we don't wanna mess with this guy! It's clear by the way he flies. Way outta my league."
Alex unleashed another missile. He missed yet again.
"Exactly the man we didn't want to run into. Jaeger, if it comes down to it, we'll act as a shield. Just get my guys out of here."
"Understood."
Alex went toe to toe with the Su-30, engaging it in a life-or-death series of maneuvers through the clouds.
"You're telling me there's only two aircraft taking on the orange guy?"
"No, just one's taking him on."
"No way. I wouldn't last a minute."
The Su-30 flew straight at Alex's F-16. He attempted another missile launch but the enemy aircraft blasted past him before he could fire.
"Huxian, do not engage. If he gets close, just run."
"Spare 15, caution. If your plane gets beat up, you're a sitting duck," warned Bandog.
"Doesn't miss an opening. The guy's a goddamn flying wizard," observed Spare 11, callsign Tabloid.
The Su-30 launched a missile. Alex evaded.
The two fighters continued to maneuver against each other for a couple minutes.
Suddenly, the Su-30 broke off from the engagement. Alex attempted to pursue but the enemy was too fast.
"Bandit is retreating. He managed to survive somehow."
"Trigger, kindness gets you killed," said Count.
"I tried to go after him but he got away," replied Alex.
"Hey Guard Dog, who's the guy who worked his ass off at the rear?" asked Wiseman.
"The biggest dumbass in the unit," Bandog replied.
"Makes sense. Only an idiot would be brave enough to pull off those moves."
Fort Grays Air Base, Usea
Ashley stumbled as she headed over to the table, tray in hand. Her drink nearly tipped over but she managed to stop it from spilling, though some of it did get on the floor. She steadied herself and continued.
She'd made significant progress over the past week. Today was her first day walking by herself, rather than relying on a wheelchair or crutches to get around.
Footpad, Boggard, and Faun were already at the table.
"Hey guys." Ashley smiled at her wingmen.
"Ashley, where are your crutches?" asked Faun. He was the only pilot apart from Alex who called her by her first name.
"I don't need them anymore," she replied.
"So let me get this straight," Faun paused for a second. "Two weeks ago, you were half-dead. Now, you're walking again?"
"Yeah, pretty much." Ashley nodded. She grimaced in pain and rubbed the back of her neck. "It still hurts like hell, though.
They began to eat.
Footpad spoke up. "So, when are you going to start flying again? I'm sick of having to deal with Faun here."
"What? Hey!" Faun was not amused.
Ashley was silent. She had a despondent expression on her face.
"Brownie, why are you looking so glum?" Boggard asked.
"I miss Alex, that's all. I know this is cheesy but I want to see him and lay my hands on him more than anything else."
"Well, about that…" Boggard stopped himself.
"About what?" Ashley was intrigued. "Tell me."
"Ok, but you're not gonna like this." Boggard sighed. "Before the Harling mission, Trigger told me that Knocker tried to get him to break up with you."
"What?!" Ashley was caught off-guard. "Why?!"
"He said that Knocker thought his relationship with you was messing up his judgement."
"God damn it!" Ashley was furious.
"It gets worse," added Faun. "After Trigger got arrested, Knocker had him removed from the roster."
"So, even if he manages to survive and get out of Spare, I still won't see him again?" Tears began to flow from Ashley's eyes.
Footpad tried to comfort Ashley. "Look Brownie, I'm sure Knocker did what he did because he cares for you…"
"He doesn't give a s- about me!"
"Sorry you feel that way." Footpad watched as Ashley wiped her tears away with a napkin.
"So many wonderful things happening to me," she remarked sarcastically.
Knocker was in his office when Ashley barged in. He noticed she was clearly worked up about something.
"Brownie, what do you want?"
"It's about Trigger. Is it true that you tried to get him to break up with me while I was in a coma?"
Knocker nodded. "It was for the best. That relationship could have cost both of you your lives."
"So you kicked him off the roster? What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Don't talk to me like that." Knocker stood up. "You and I both know that Trigger had to go."
"Why?!" Ashley glared at him.
"You and him dating was already a strict no-no. The two of you were lucky I didn't take action when I found out. Then, he shot down Harling…"
"You mean some cake eaters at the MoD decided to scapegoat him for Harling's death."
"I'd wouldn't say it that way but yeah, that's basically what happened. After the incident, I decided to send Trigger away…"
"Because you're a coward?"
"No, for the sake of the unit," replied Knocker. He stepped forward and looked Ashley in the eye. "I know you hate me for doing this. Frankly, I hate myself for doing it. But you acting out like a teenager won't help Trigger in any way."
Ashley was silent.
Knocker put his hands on her shoulders. "Look, I'm sorry for making you upset. If there's anything I could do, please let me know."
"Thank you." Ashley leaned in and gave him a hug.
That night, Ashley sat on her bed, holding her phone. She called one of her former instructors, someone who she knew could help her and Alex.
Come on, please pick up, she thought to herself as she held the phone to her ear.
Finally, she heard the voice of Colonel Jack Bartlett, the commandant of the OADF Flight Academy.
"Hi Ashley, what can I do for you?"
"Jack, you know my boyfriend Alex, right?"
"Are you talking about the Alex you had a crush on for the past two years?"
"Yeah. We started dating a few months ago."
"I heard he got into a lot of trouble. Is that what you want to talk to me about?"
"Yep. I don't think he actually killed Harling. I think he's being used as a scapegoat."
"What makes you think that?"
"Well, one of the guys who was on the Harling op told me that Alex told him he only fired two missiles and both hit enemy drones. Plus, his flight leader told me that the prosecution was originally planning on dropping charges due to lack of evidence. Then some dumbass reporter wrote an expose in the Oured Times and the whole thing got blown out of proportion."
"I see. To be honest, I suspect the same. Fortunately, I have quite a few friends in high places. They may be able to help."
"Who are you talking about?"
"You remember Pops, right?"
"Vaguely, yeah. He was at my brother's funeral."
"Well, he's a colonel at the General Staff Office now. I'll talk to him, see if he could help us."
"Thank you, Jack."
"No problem, Ashley. If you need anything, I'm always here to help. I'll talk you later. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Ashley ended the call. She put her phone on the table and climbed into bed.
Perhaps I'll finally be able to see Alex again, she thought before she fell asleep.
