Chapter 9: Narrow Margin

"From a ripple of change shall the storm rise..."

We landed at base and I hopped out and got into another plane. As the ground crew, rearmed and refueled our planes Chopper began talking over the radio, "Hey, Kid. Who do you think it was that declared war? I mean Osea's been peaceful for the last fifteen years."

"I don't know Chopper," I looked over at Nagase's plane, it wasn't damaged but she kept staring out the cockpit. I knew she was blaming herself, "Nagase, it wasn't your fault, there was nothing you could've done."

I didn't get a response over the radio but I did see her make a handsignal, "Yes" I knew that Bartlett didn't blame her but I couldn't stand seeing her blame herself. I didn't talk to her after that. "Wardog, this is the ground crews, you are fully loaded and ready to go."

"Alright, thank you ground crews."

We took off and headed for St. Hewlett Naval Port.


As we flew Thunderhead gave us an in-flight briefing, "Yuktobania has launched a surprise attack against the Naval fleet at Port St. Hewlett. You need to defend the Kestrel and her fleet as they exit the harbor. Edge, you lead the formation."

"Negative. Blaze you take the lead. I'll fly on your wing."

"2nd Lieutenant Nagase, follow your orders."

"No, Blaze is leading. I'll protect his six o'clock. And I'm not gonna lose another flight lead."

Suddenly another voice came over the radio, "Quit screwing around, this is war," just after I heard that, a F-14 shot past me, "The enemy's all over and they're gonna eat you alive."

"Ahh, I'd better stick to the trail position thanks," Chopper came over the radio.

"This is Captain Snow, callsign Swordsman. Engaging the enemy."

Then another voice I didn't recognize came over the radio, "This is the AA Cruiser Excaliber, the ship blocking us up ahead. You've got to move away. We can't use our SPY radar."

Thuderhead came back on the radio, "Wardog, cleared to engage."

I pushed the throttle all the way up and I saw a flight of three planes on my radar. I turned towards them, once I leveled out I saw the signature on my HUD. I pulled in close behind one of the planes and pulled the tirgger, luckilly the guns worked. I saw the plane burst into flames. I rolled over and tried to come in on the next plane. Before I could get a good bead the plane burst into flames and I saw Swordsman fly in front of us, "Chopper, split off and cover Swordsman. Edge, you stick on my tail, alright?"

"Roger, breaking off," I heard Chopper call out.

"Sticking to your tail Blaze," Nagase called out.

I looked back and saw Chopper full afterburner, struggling to keep up with Swordsman. As I focused back on the battle I saw another flight of enemies inbound. I pushed the throttle forward and I rushed towards the new formation.

I took one more plane out when among the ground forces yelling I heard another voice speaking, "Their ships are sitting at anchor, this is like target practice."

Is that the enemy's voice? It didn't matter, I pulled in behind another plane and realized I was going too fast, I did a quick snap roll to bleed off some airspeed. I managed to stay behind the enemy and I fired a quick burst with my guns, the outer edge of the planes wing flew off and the plane started rolling uncontrolably. I looked at my radar again and saw another enemy flight trying to fly in from the port exit. I dove for the deck and pushed the throttle forward, "You still with me Edge?"

"Yes sir."

I switched to my missiles, "Edge, switch to Sidewinders and lock on to the target on the right."

"Roger."

As we flew towards the enemies I dropped down to below 300 feet. I flew over the water of the bay and between the Kestrel and one of the destroyers. We kept flying and went under the bridge, I saw the two planes show up and I heard the beeping in my ear as my missiles began tracking. The beeping soon changed to a steady ring and I fired, I felt the weight shift to the left but I didn't see the Sidewinder up ahead, the engine must not have fired. I quickly fired my second missile and this time it tracked. I saw Nagase fire her Sidewinder just after mine. We watched as both missiles tracked to their targets. I saw two explosions, indicating the hits. I mentally added that kill to my kill count. 4 in a day. I pulled up and headed back to the fleet. I heard someone new come over the radio, "This is the Port Captain, all ships evacuate the port, ships nearest to the exit first."

Then I heard one of the ships come over the radio, "I don't care if we take hull damage we're clearing out of here any way we can."

We got back to the fleet and I saw a plane making a pass at the Kestrel. I dove down and let out a quick burst with my guns. I didn't hit the enemy, but he broke off his attack. I pulled back up and heard the Port Captain come over the radio, "All friendly aircraft, protect the Kestrel."

Swordsman came over the radio, "This is Swordsman, I'm on my way. That's our ship."

I heard Thunderhead interject, "Negative, this is AWACS Thunderhead. Swordsman remain in Eastern Sector. Continue battle and protect our territory."

"But that's my carrier."

"Wardog, provide cover for the Kestrel."

Swordsman started cussing out Thunderhead, "Dammit. You pig-headed..." Swordsman gathered himself, "Alright, I'm counting on you Wardog. Don't lose our ship."

"Roger, defending the Kestrel. Don't worry Swordsman, we'll keep her safe for you."

"Alright, I trust you."

"Another wave inbound, it's no use, there's too many of them," Thunderhead began to lose it.

I heard the ground crews start to tell him to get a hold of himself, then there was more chaos on the ground. I came back on the radio, "Edge, break off and orbit the Kestrel in a one-mile wide circle."

"Roger, splitting off."

We began to orbit the Kestrel on oppisite sides, any time a plane came through one of us would force it to break off its attack. Soon, it was down to one last enemy, I pulled away and went after it. I came up behind it and fired a quick burst from my guns. The plane fell towards the water and I watched it go in, right on top of a group of people floating in the water. I felt my stomach turn inside out as I saw flames engulf the people. I leveled out, frozen in horror. I heard Nagase mention the people, I ignored it. I kept flying, eventually Chopper rejoined us and we flew back to the carrier. "Kid, did you see those people?" Chopper said.

"Yeah," I spoke solemnly.

"So you saw it too...that sea."

Suddenly a new voice came onto the radio, "This is the captain of the aircraft carrier Kestrel, my congratulations to all ships that manged to escape. As captain, I will now form a provisional battle fleet. The enemy's formed a blockade to prevent us from escaping. We have to break through this. Good luck everyone. All allied aircraft, your support is requested."

I checked my radar and saw about 5 aircraft plus several ships. "Wardog squadron, split up, Chopper, you attack the airborn forces. Edge, stick with me, we're going to attack the enemy ships."

"Roger, Blaze."

"Sure Kid, I'm on it."

I looked back and saw Chopper peel off and go for the enemy aircraft. I rolled over and headed for the deck. I leveled out around 150 feet and I flew straight for one of the ships, "Edge, you still with me?"

"I'm on your tail Blaze," I heard Nagase acknowledge me.

"Good," I kept flying until I saw the enemy ship appear on my HUD, "Edge, you ever dive bombed before?"

"No sir?"

"Ok we're going to climb up when we approach the ship then switch to your bombs, roll over and drop it on their ass, alright?"

"Alright, I'm ready when you are."

"Good, let's go," by now we were only about a mile away, I pulled up on the stick and once I reached about 1000 feet I rolled the plane over and switched to my bombs. I pulled the stick back again and my plane pulled back to the deck, When I was at about 500 feet I released a bomb and extended the speed break, then I pulled hard on the stick, I felt my body get crushed in my chair and my G-suit constrict around my body, then I saw a black curtain cover my eyes. I had to let up on the stick, so I did. The curtain retreated and I saw the blue sky... or was it the water? I saw the autopilot switch and flipped it immediately. I felt my plane roll over as it leveled out and flew straight. My thoughts turned to Nagase. If I barely made it out is she still alive? I turned off the autopilot and yelled over the radio, "Nagase? Nagase? Answer dammit."

"I'm alright Blaze. That was one hell of a pull out."

The sound of her voice calmed me, "Good, let's go after another one shall we?"

"Yeah, sure."

I saw another Frigate and dove for it, I kept the angle a bit more shallow this time. I dropped one bomb and it hit right on the bow of the ship, blowing it in half. I saw Nagase destroy another ship then the captain of the Kestrel came back on the radio, "This is the captain of the Kestrel. Our fleet has successfully made it into safe waters. My thanks to the brave warriors of the sea... and in the air."

I flew back over the carrier and waggled my wings as we began to head back for Sand Island, "So Kid. Does it feel good to be the flight lead?"

"Yeah, feels nice to tell you when to shut the hell up."

"Alright good, that's great."

"Chopper?"

"Yeah?"

"Apparently you didn't get the point, so shut the hell up."

"Oh."

We flew for a bit then Chopper joined back up with us, "One, two three. One, two, three planes. Count 'em up man we're all back safe. Man I can't wait to tell the Captain once they pluck him out of the ocean."

"Yeah, let's go back home."

We flew back to base and landed.