Chapter 9:
Blaze looked down on his fried egg, toast and bacon as he sat in the empty canteen, although he had managed to get up earlier and grab a bite to eat, he was starting to regret that decision as going into the canteen had made him realise how many people were killed when he couldn't fly. The array of empty seats and tables to either side of him had brought reality back to him with a bite. To try and take his mind off his dead comrades he got out of his chair and went to make another coffee, his third of the morning. When he returned however, the eerie silence of the dead remained. Paul Green, one of the trainees killed, had been one of Blaze's friends at Heirelark. Blaze had only found out about his death when he saw his name was amongst the dead on the plaque outside the briefing room which had been hung up to commemorate the dead. Since then, Blaze had been left with a numb feeling in the pit of his stomach. Blaze shook his head and brought himself back to reality although he was still struggling to eat his breakfast.
"Good morning" Blaze looked up to see Nagase walking in, strangely, not carrying her red book.
"Hiya" Blaze briefly smiled
"I see you've managed to get some breakfast today" said Nagase looking at Blaze's plate of food.
"Yeah, I got up ten minutes earlier and I was expecting to find Chopper waiting for me when I got out but I haven't seen him at all"
"I haven't seen him either now you mention it"
"It's not like Chopper to keep himself to himself" laughed Blaze
"At least it means I don't have to watch his food tricks again" said Nagase, buttering herself two slices of toast.
"Why? What's his great trick?" said Blaze looking bemused
"Well, while you were in the shower yesterday, we had breakfast, and one of Chopper's party tricks is to snort his baked beans. Unfortunately he isn't very good at it. Yesterday he nearly choked on his first attempt and his second attempt was even worse as it flew out of his nose and straight into Grimm's mouth! He was gurgling mouthwash for the next ten minutes" laughed Nagase.
"Perhaps I will learn how to that, then I could fire them at Perrault when we have briefings" joked Blaze, "Is Grimm that red haired guy?"
"Yeah, he came over to us at breakfast to ask for some flying advice as he has got his squadron assessment in a few weeks" replied Nagase, who came and sat down on the other side of the rectangular table, opposite Blaze.
"I bet he won't be doing that again anytime soon, not with Chopper around at least"
"Yeah Chopper's advice was to not bail out like he did, I told him to just relax. Anyway if he passes his test he will be in the squadron so I'm sure he will be able to get his own back"
"I'd pay to see that!" Blaze exclaimed. The two pilots then sat in silence for a few moments, Nagase looked across to Blaze to see that he was toying with his food rather than actually eating it.
"What's up?" she asked
"What? Nothing, it doesn't matter"
"It does, you can tell me" Nagase persisted
"It's just that I noticed that a guy called Paul Green was amongst the dead, when only you and Bartlett survived"
"Was he a friend of yours or something?"
"Yeah, I didn't even realise he had been assigned here till I read the list of the dead. We both went to flight school and Heirelark together; we even had our own band back in the day"
"I'm sorry" said Nagase quietly
"Don't worry, it's not your fault, I don't know why I didn't see him when I arrived"
"He had gone back to the mainland, he had left one of his certificates behind, he only got back just after the briefing"
"That sounds like Greeny, one of the least organised people you will ever meet" said Blaze almost reminiscing about him.
"Like Bartlett said, we have to fly in their honour" said Nagase, who started to eat her second slice of toast.
"Yeah, his death has made be even more eager to fly then before"
"That can't be good news for all the other enemy squadrons out there" Nagase smiled. The two pilots continued eating there breakfast and as they were about to leave, Chopper stumbled in.
"What happened to you?" asked Blaze, looking at the deep bags under Chopper's eyes.
"I didn't realise... what time it was. I was listening to music... then I looked at my watch and it said quarter to six" Chopper gasped.
"You've been listening to music all night!" Nagase laughed
"Yeah, I dunno how. Bloody hell!" Chopper said slapping his forehead.
"If only you could give as much attention to your 6 o clock as you do to your music" Blaze sighed.
"You were the one who nearly got shot down" Chopper exclaimed
"Yeah, but I'm not the one who's going to get bollocked by Bartlett for having bags under my eyes the size of Yuktobania!" sniggered Blaze as he walked past Chopper, who was still stood in the doorway.
"Where are you going?" asked Chopper looking towards Blaze.
"The briefing room, where else?" Blaze replied looking at the clock behind Choppers head that said 6 o clock. Blaze and Nagase went to the briefing room and tried to stall for Chopper whilst he got changed, but unfortunately neither Bartlett nor Perrault would believe them, finally he arrived.
"Nice of you to turn up Davenport!" barked Perrault
"You look like you have had a bad night out Motormouth" Bartlett smirked
"Yeah, yeah can we start this briefing or what?"
"Yes Davenport we can, however I want to see you afterwards" Perrault said with a menacing look in his eye.
"Until five minutes ago this was going to be a simple sit on alert briefing, but now we have a situation" started Perrault as the digital map of the mission area burst into life, "A ship of unknown origin has been detected approaching the Sand Island coastline, it has launched numerous unmanned drones or UAV's, probably used for reconnaissance. Your job Wardog, is to shoot them down, you are not permitted to fire on the ship. Dismissed" Bartlett, Blaze and Nagase quickly stood up, saluted and left for their planes, Blaze gave Chopper a quick encouraging smile as he sat slumped in his chair waiting for Perrault's abuse.
"That guy really needs to keep his gob shut!" groaned Bartlett as he; Blaze and Nagase approached their planes.
"It's his nature" said Blaze
"Yeah well it's his nature that's gonna get him court marshalled or killed. That's why he got targeted yesterday – he's the only pilot the enemy can hear. God they probably think he's the flight lead, no wonder their so confident"
"Who do you think the enemy is?" asked Nagase looking intrigued.
"I have no idea" said Bartlett shrugging his shoulders, "I am gonna have to talk to Chopper after this mission before he gets himself into even more trouble"
"I don't know if that will change him, he was the same at Heirelark" said Blaze not sounding confident.
"I know, I read his file, I think central command have this notion about me that I can sort him out a bit. Anyway that's enough yapping about Motormouth. Blaze, Nagase!" The two pilots looked to Bartlett.
"Fly like you flew yesterday and you will be fine, but don't get complacent, now get in"
"Yes captain" replied the two pilots looking happy.
As Blaze clambered into his plane, he looked back to see Chopper jogging across that tarmac towards the planes, "Heads up, Motormouth is back" Blaze called to Nagase.
Nagase looked back and said, "I hope he doesn't fly as slow as he runs!" Blaze laughed and pulled his canopy down and went through his ritual of placing the photo of his parents on the dashboard before starting his engine.
"What happened then?" asked Blaze as the planes taxied for takeoff.
"I'll tell you when we get back" Chopper replied, "I tell you what man, his quadruple chin at close range is not a pretty site!"
"I can imagine" said Blaze as a picture of Perrault's chin appeared in his mind.
The four planes quickly took off and looped back over Sand Island in perfect formation; Blaze was flying the tail position again and looked down at the tranquil Sand Island as it passed by below. "That's one of the most beautiful airbases in the whole world" Chopper boasted.
"Wardog, this is Thunderhead, your targets are dead ahead shoot them down before they return to the ship, good hunting"
"Sure thing, you got that gang?" asked Bartlett casually
"Yes Captain" the pilots replied
"Good, let's go" Blaze lit his afterburner as Bartlett lit his and the four planes rapidly closed in on the UAV's, "Got and get them nuggets" Bartlett ordered as the UAV's came within site. Nagase and Chopper set off for the targets and Blaze soared over Bartlett's plane and dived straight towards one. "Shoot em all down kid" said Bartlett as Blaze quickly destroyed a UAV with his cannons.
"Man you gotta aim real tight" said Chopper as he struggled to destroy a UAV before finally hitting hit, Nagase meanwhile had already got two, "Impressive Edge" said Bartlett.
"Thank you captain" she replied, sounding pleased with herself.
"I suppose this is a good time for a game of kill-scores" proposed Chopper.
"If, you can keep up with Kid! He's taking them all down!" said Bartlett as he watched Blaze line up and quickly destroy three UAV's in quick succession - all with his cannon.
"Man, how do you aim so well?" asked Chopper as he caught up with Blaze.
"It's all about anticipation" he responded as he swooped down on another. "Edge you take the one on the left, Chopper you take the one on the right. I'll take these two" said Blaze
"Well done, you're saving ammo by doing that as well" admired Bartlett as he circled above.
"Thanks Captain" replied Blaze as he took down the last of the UAV's
"Well that was easy" said Chopper as if he was about to get into a hammock.
"Well done, those toys were pretty easy eh?!"
"Now do we take out the ship?" said Chopper sounding eager as he lined up the ship in his sights.
"NO!" cried Nagase
"Why not? It's a sitting duck" whined Chopper
"Motormouth! Were you not listening during the briefing – we are not to fire at the ship."
"Oops understood Captain. Sorry." Chopper said sounding embarrassed
"Erm guys" Blaze started, "I've got like 8 bogeys inbound on my radar heading 280 closing fast"
"What?" said Bartlett sounding surprised, "Thunderhead confirm"
"Roger that, same vector as before – 280"
"Jeez, how many planes have they got lined up at the border? We've only got four planes, we had better abort. This way" said Bartlett. The four planes lit their afterburners and followed Bartlett back towards Sand Island.
"Do you think you can keep up with me kid?"
"I have done so far" replied Blaze.
"We'll see" Bartlett replied sounding smug.
"Chopper you need to pick up the pace, your way behind" said Blaze as he screamed ahead of Chopper.
"I can't keep up, their running me down" exclaimed Chopper.
"Ah, I see you're taking the tail position today Rock and Roller, hold on I'll clear your six. Blaze, Nagase quit gawking and start shooting" The three planes turned around and headed straight towards the enemy.
"Dammit, why did I have to draw the short straw today?!" exclaimed Chopper as he cursed himself.
"Nagase I'll cover you six, you get some kills" said Blaze
"Roger, I'll keep an eye on yours" replied Nagase, she felt relieved that she had Blaze and not Chopper watching her tail.
"Don't forget to get some kills as well kid!" said Bartlett as he cleared Chopper's tail with two well placed missiles that gave the pilots of their planes no chance.
"That won't be a problem captain" replied Blaze as he took down a fighter flying straight towards with his machine guns, the plane didn't explode so he assumed he had killed the pilot as the plane plummeted into the sea.
"Chopper you stay with me, Kid and Nagase are having a field day with those fighters" Bartlett said as Nagase took down two fighters whilst Blaze barrel rolled behind a plane on Nagase's tail and obliterated it with his missiles.
"Yes captain" he replied. Bartlett took out another fighter, this time he let it come in behind him before pulling his airbrake so the enemy flew past him, giving him a free shot on the enemy planes tail – he didn't miss. Blaze and Nagase were pursuing two planes that had attempted to pounce on them,
"Nagase you take the one on the left, I'll take the one on the right"
"But that means our missiles will cross paths and hit each other!"
"Just trust me, one the count of three, one, two, three" The two pilots fired the missiles at their targets, and as Blaze expected, the two enemy fighters swerved straight into each other as they attempted to lose the missiles, which had also flew into each other, creating a very expensive fireworks show.
"Nagase, how many you got" asked Bartlett
"None, we've finished up here"
"That was quick! Rejoin the main squadron, Chopper is taking the last one"
"Oh no" Blaze murmured, Nagase laughed although she was the only pilot who heard him.
All of a sudden Chopper's voice shrieked over the radio, "Yeah one down, we're the rest of them, let me have em!"
"Kid and Nagase shot them all down" said Bartlett looking towards his new star fighter pilots.
"Ah man, you had to ruin my fun didn't ya!"
"Wardog, this is Thunderhead, return to base, all targets destroyed"
"Roger that Thunderhead, let's go home Wardog" Bartlett led the planes back towards Sand Island.
"That was our best dogfight yet" said Chopper
"We've only had two!" said Blaze as he checked the outer ring of his radar for bogeys.
"Yeah, but we we're much more efficient that time around"
"I guess your right" replied Blaze, looking on from the tail position.
"Aren't I always?" Chopper boasted.
"You're as good as been right as Perrault is at going on a diet!" Nagase interrupted resoundingly.
"Good one Nagase" laughed Blaze as Chopper's radio waves turned into silence.
"Guys keep your heads on the swivel we're not home yet" interrupted Bartlett sounding serious. A few moments later disaster struck.
"Watch out Nagase there down below us too!" shouted Bartlett as a white streak shot out from the recon ship.
"Oh shit, please, not now..." Blaze thought to himself as Nagase desperately tried to shake off the missile, all he could hear was Nagase's cries as she tried to withstand the G's through her manoeuvres. The missile was barely 20 feet from Nagase's plane when out of nowhere Bartlett swooped past and took the missile off her, "C'mon Bartlett, shake it off" was all Blaze could think about as he sat in his cockpit, stunned by the manoeuvre he had just seen, but it was too late, the missile exploded on Bartlett's wing sending him in several violent rolls before he could stabilise the plane.
"Captain!" Nagase cried.
"Hey, save the waterworks, these things are expendable, I'm just gonna bail out here, radio Pops and tell him to get my replacement plane ready. It's getting the crew back alive that counts." At that point the canopy of Bartlett's plane jettisoned off and he ejected out and his white parachute gradually brought him back to earth.
"This is Thunderhead, I have radioed the search and rescue team and they are on the way, stand by Wardog – I have a message from central command." There was a few seconds of silence as the three planes circled Bartlett's crash site, then the bad news came.
"Warning Warning, Wardog squadron return to base immediately"
"But rescue copter isn't here yet" complained Nagase as she took the lead position of the three fighters.
"Never mind, leave that to the rescue team – the enemy has just declared war on us!" Thunderhead shrieked. Without even Chopper saying anything the three planes went to max thrust and rocketed home, Nagase took one last look back at the parachute that was now nestling in the water, not realising that she would not see Bartlett for a very long time.
As the three planes landed together, Blaze looked across to see that Pops had already brought out the replacement missiles onto the tarmac as well as all the refuelling equipment. Blaze had barely gotten out of his plane before a team of replacement pilots and junior mechanics were attending to his plane. "What the hell is going on here?!" exclaimed Chopper as he and Blaze walked over to Pops, "I was going to ask you the same question" he chuckled, "What happened to Bartlett?"
"He did this incredible manoeuvre, he swerved across the path of a missile and took it off Nagase's tail but then couldn't evade it and ended up bailing out in the sea." said Blaze
"Ah, don't worry about the captain now, he's one of the best fighter pilots there is not to mention one of the best soldiers. He will be ok. Now how is Nagase?" asked Pops trying to see if he could see her.
"She's probably beating herself up about it" said Chopper bluntly.
"I'll go and see her" said Blaze turning to go and find her, Chopper and Pops continued their conversation.
"Hey" said Blaze as he found Nagase; she was leaning against the hangar staring into space.
"It's all my fault" she whimpered
"No it's not, we shouldn't have flown back that way" said Blaze putting his hand on her shoulder trying to reassure her.
Nagase shrugged him off and carried on staring, "He said if you fly like that you'll die real soon, I nearly did"
"Look Nagase, we all make mistakes, Bartlett's fine, he bailed out, I'm sure he's been in the same situation before."
"I know but he shouldn't have done it. The air force would have been better without me"
"Don't say that" said Blaze looking Nagase in the eye, "You flew out of your skin today, you got the most kills"
"I'm a wingman though and I lost my flight lead" Nagase murmured
"Just because your lead got shot down, doesn't mean you're a bad pilot. What did Bartlett say? We fight for our comrade's honour and that's what we have to do. He will be back, mark my words he will. Right now we've got a war to fight and your one of the best pilots out there."
"Thanks Blaze, I shouldn't beat myself up so much I suppose. Do really think I'm that good at flying?"
"Yeah, it comes naturally to you. You're a lot easier to cover then Chopper I'll tell you that now!" Blaze smiled.
"Thanks I'm been stupid, Bartlett will be ok until the rescue team arrives, you've cheered me up a lot again" Nagase smiled, "Let's go and see what Chopper is doing" Blaze and Nagase walked over to the planes to find Chopper waiting for them, looking very grumpy.
"Are we going to debrief?" asked Nagase
"No, St Hewlett is been attacked, we have to go there now, we'll get briefed in the air by Thunderblock" moaned Chopper
"Right, let's go" said Blaze moving towards his plane.
"Good luck" called Pops as the three pilots climbed into the planes. The pilots returned salutes and they taxied off towards the runway.
"Man what a crap day this has turned out to be" exclaimed Chopper as the three planes took off side by side. Genette and Pops looked on as reports of the first wave of attacks on the harbour crackled over the radio in the hangar.
