Unlike the previous missions at the Round table, there wasn't a defending air force plane in sight. The Round Table was overcast, grey, and dark.
"Pass through B7R; it's an awful place, but the fastest shortcut. Maintain current course", Eagle Eye paused until Cipher had reached the curved mountain range, "Enemy aircraft detected close to Area B7R. There's no time to change course, eliminate enemy air forces in the round table and break through it".
PJ spoke up, "they have different ID signals than Belka".
Four black jets slipped silently across the grey sky beneath the clouds. They flew in a finger-four formation.
A Hispanic voice barked over the radio, "this is Dragon One. The Demon Lord is threatening our mission. It's time to perform an exorcism".
Beneath the four matte black jets their bomb bays opened to reveal rows of missiles. Their lead plane responded, "This is Dragon five, roger. Let's denounce the Demon Lord".
Cipher and PJ accelerated ahead towards the enemy planes, staying in formation. As they approached they saw the four enemy planes fan out before disappearing from sight.
PJ was puzzled and irritated, "What the… what's with all of these invisible enemies!"
The four enemy radar blips showed again, this time they were less than two miles away. Simultaneously the green targeting squares in their heads-up-displays appeared. Cipher read next to one of the squares:
F-117
DRAGON
Stealth attackers, a strange choice for air defence.
Cipher launched a pair of missiles at the targeted F-117 Nighthawk. All four of the Nighthawks were painted in their trademark jet black colour schemes, but thin red and yellow curved lines streaked across the top of the fuselage. The underbelly of the Nighthawks was more impressive. Each craft displayed an orange dragon in flight, breathing painted fire which stretched to all the edges of the flat underbelly. It was a work of art. Before the pilot could evade the missiles both made contact and the Nighthawk disappeared from radar indefinitely. This would be easy.
PJ was having a different experience of the Nighthawks, having soon found out the type of surplus missiles carried by the Nighthawks, "Cipher they're carrying Q-A-A-Ms!" Then he addressed the attacking craft, "hey, can't you read your IFF? We're allies of Ustio! We're not enemies"
Eagle Eye responded, "It's no use, these fighters are from San Salvación. They've joined the Coup; it's too late to talk them out of it. Just hurry up and shoot them all down".
A Usean missile from the Nighthawk strayed close behind Cipher's craft. Cipher had to focus on the location of the QAAM whilst attacking the Nighthawk in case it looped around into an attacking position. One was distracting enough, but the four planes equipped with them knew how to use them. Three more QAAMs were launched into the air in quick succession, all targeting Cipher's craft.
"The Round Tables battles are over, what are you fighting for?" PJ was persistent in talking to the enemy fighters.
Dragon One was quick to respond, "the battle to realign the borders has moved to the meeting boardroom. It is you who should reconsider your presence here".
"Those lines will build a new future" PJ argued, but again Dragon One had an answer lined up.
"Those lines will be the death of millions"
"What do you mean?" PJ demanded.
"So long as people separate themselves, there will be conflict". PJ didn't have a response to that.
Now Dragon One spoke to his comrades, "ignore that we outnumber them, do not underestimate this Demon".
PJ laughed at this comment as one of his missiles made contact with a Nighthawk. The plane exploded into flames and he caught a glimpse of the canopy bursting open. As the parachute deployed, PJ retorted, "it's two against two now!"
"Dragon Six to Dragon One, it's just Diego and I now!"
The response came as automatically as in the argument, "roger that, Dragon Six. Stay in there, we're coming to get you". A missile darted beneath the painted underbelly of Dragon Six, just missing its mark. The pair of Nighthawks intensified their evasive manoeuvres. With a low stall speed the Nighthawks could effectively pivot to face the opposite direction to Cipher or PJ before darting in front of them, adjacent to the path of any missiles.
Cipher managed to stick behind one of the Nighthawks. A pair of missiles were launched and sped towards the evasive Nighthawk-
"Warning! The enemy's locked onto you!" Eagle Eye and PJ both exclaimed simultaneously. To Cipher's frustration the enemy Nighthawk had taken up a six o'clock position too and had now launched a QAAM. After Cipher's missile missed the target, the targeted Nighthawk flew in a straight line, tempting Cipher to fly right behind him. Cipher had no choice but to evade and the QAAM shot straight beneath.
The targeted Nighthawk now had a clear six o'clock, and made use of this to turn to face the grey F-16 covering the Demon Lord. A single QAAM dropped beneath the fuselage and as soon as the thruster activated it sped towards the F-16.
"Cipher, fly towards me, I have an idea". Cipher was thinking the same thing. Each allied plane was being tailed by a QAAM, as well as the Nighthawk responsible for firing each respective missile. Both planes built up speed before turning to face each other.
For both pilots the missile alert frequency increased as the QAAMs closed in. Now both fighters accelerated towards each other, pursuers tight on their sixes, and at the last moment they both banked right.
As planned the pursuing missiles shot past Cipher and PJ.
As did the Nighthawks.
PJ watched with disappointment as the two Usean fighters flew on unscathed. Perhaps that plan was too unrealistic. However it was smart to target the other fighter.
Before long PJ and Cipher were targeting a Nighthawk each in their bore sights. They both waited for a good opportunity to fire, but Eagle Eye shouted.
"Missile warning! Evade!"
