Ch 9: Front Line
Note: Perrault is one messed up dude. I think his gas is getting to him. What do you think? And I thought I'd use Garret instead of Blaze for this chapter.
Sand Island October 4th, 2010. 0500
Garret wakes up in his grandparents' bedroom to the sound of gunfire and screaming.
"Where am I? What's going on?" Just then he sees his grandma run into the room with a young him in hand. She starts to put a pile of clothes over young Garret, when she stops, turns around to face him. Her hand reaches out for Garret and walks to her. They almost touch when a final shot rings out.
Garret awakes with a start in his bunk. He leans over the side and looks down to see Kei snuggled away. The last time he had a dream, Bartlett got shot down. Garret gets up and heads for the shower weary of the day ahead.
As he leaves the showers, Chopper calls out for him.
"Hey Kid!" Garret stops and turns to see Chopper running to him. "Got a minute?"
"Yeah. What are you doing up so early?"
"I couldn't sleep and thought I'd find someone to talk to."
"Oh yeah, about what?"
"Well several things really."
"Well, go take a shower and we'll talk. You smell like bed."
"Oh shut up." Chopper lightly punches him in the arm as he heads in.
"I'll be in my room."
"OK!" Chopper acknowledges from inside.
Garret enters his room to find Kei stretching.
"Morning Garret" as she rubs her eyes.
"Morning." Garret kisses her forehead and sits on the floor in front of her. Kei runs her fingers thru his hair.
"Did you sleep well?"
"For the most part. You?"
"Yeah. How come your up?"
Garret shrugged. "Felt like it, I guess." He could still remember seeing his grandmother. Her sad eyes, piercing. The fear and the sadness they showed. "I'm gonna be with Chopper for a while."
"Chopper, why?"
"He wants to talk."
"Oh, wow. Didn't know he got up this early." Kei sounded slightly surprised.
Garret chuckled. "He doesn't. He wanted someone to talk to. He couldn't sleep."
There was a pause. Kei could sense that something was up. They only been an item for a couple days but since they started flying together, she could almost sense when he wanted to open up but couldn't.
"Garret, what's wrong?"
"It's difficult Kei." Chopper knocks on the door. "Hey, Kid. It's me."
"OK, Chopper. I'll be out soon" Garret says he gets up. He kneels over Kei and kissed her cheek. "I owe you a chat too."
Chopper and Garret find themselves on a sidewalk chatting away. Chopper tells him about his wife, Maggie, and their five year old son Charles, much to Garret's amazement. Garret says that he never knew Chopper was married. He probably missed that bit on the way to Heierlark. Since Chopper was 29 and Maggie was 28, it would make sense that they have a five year old boy. They talked about the war and how they disliked it and having Grimm be a part of the squad. Chopper smiled and said he feels like a flight himself when he and Grimm fight by themselves. Chopper checked his watch. It was 6:30. They had been talking and walking for nearly 45 minutes. Sand Island isn't even that big.
"You know Garret," Chopper said to Garret's surprised. "You're a great guy. Like a brother to me. Even though you're younger than me, it's like talking to my big brother." Chopper trailed.
"Where is he?" Garret wondered.
"At home with my ma. They run a shop together in a quiet town in southern Osea. Pine Hilles." Chopper started to tear up. "I just miss 'em man. But I've been a failure much of my life, while brother has been successful. I've tried to fill his shoes. But he always had my back and said that one day I'll find my thing."
"And he was right. You my wingman, and damn good one. Grimm looks up to you."
"And we all look up to you. Especially Kei. I see it in her eyes. I won't tell nobody."
"Thanks Alvin." Garret smiled. It felt weird saying first names. "Back to the nicknames?"
"Of course. One more thing."
"Yeah?"
"I don't think I can fly under anyone else. Since the bombing of the port, I've counted on you to make the right decisions. And you have. Even though sometimes I think you're crazy. You predicted that we'd go to Heierlark. And we did. You said that we'd need bombs. And you put me and Grimm in F-5's and we stopped tanks. Whatever sixth sense you got, I like it and I trust it. But…" Chopper got quiet. "If anything happens to me, you promise you keep flying. I trust your calls, but I'm not crazy or dumb. You always made the right choices and quitting because someone shot me, Grimm or Kei down doesn't mean the end of the world. It means some punk got lucky. It happens. So, fly on?" Chopper held out his hand. Garret took it and was pulled into hug.
"Fly on." Garret said.
Sand Island October 4th, 2010. 0915
Wardog was silent was Perrault addressed for an emergency briefing.
"You four haven't even been back for 15 hours before this happen. You're like the plague."
Wardog, except Garret, flinched slightly.
A large combined force of Yuktobanian vessels and aircraft
has been advancing in the ocean directly toward Sand Island from the west.
Our intelligence has confirmed the presence of amphibious assault ships within the oncoming fleet.
We believe the enemy's goal is to conduct a landing operation on Sand Island and capture this base.
Close with the enemy, disrupt landing operations and suppress their naval gunfire directed at our forces ashore.
Perrault got up and said that he will do anything to protect this base even launching all aircraft capable of anti-ship combat.
Wardog left the briefing room quite stunned and headed for the planes. Garret was fuming.
"I'll take the Mirage" says Garret. "Kei, I want you be able to provide cover and attack anything that flies. You're in the Block60. Grimm you're in the F-2. Chopper your also providing air support in an F-20."
"Garret" Kei reached for his hand and stopped him. "What about the nuggets? It's too risky for them." Chopper and Grimm agreed.
"I'm with you on that Kei. I haven't had a chance to think of what to do with them yet except that we will each lead three of them. Once we get in the air and closer to the fleet, we'll figure it out." Garret turned and headed for the Mirage. The rest of Wardog headed for their planes.
1005 3 miles west of Sand Island
Each member of Wardog squad is leading a flight with 3 nuggets in a diamond formation, except Chopper because one nugget had a panic attack and couldn't fly. Chopper is flying a 3-finger formation.
"Wardog, this is AWACS Thunderhead."
Chopper smiled. "I missed that voice. Tell me, did you get that from your momma's side of the family?" Chopper smiled at his joke.
"Cut the chatter" Thunderhead said annoyed. "First enemy wave, bearing 280. Engage on sight."
"This is Blaze, roger." Garret angled up and led the flight to 2000 feet.
"OK, everyone listen up. All the cadets are going to stay here and out of the fight. Only come down if you absolutely have too. I am not risking your deaths today."
"Uh, Captain Lawson?"
"Yes Charlie?"
"I gotta question to ask you. But I'm not…" Garret cut him off.
"Ask now Charlie. Or you might not get the chance later."
"OK. Do you ever get scared?" There was silence.
"All the time Charlie. All the time." Garret said warmly.
"Thanks Captain."
"No problem." Garret started to descend on the incoming fleet. "Cadets, stay high and out the fight. Wardog, let's go!"
The invasion force opened fire on Sand Island and on the palnes. Garret and Grimm split the invasion force in half with Grimm taking the southern half and Garret taking the north side. Kei and Chopper flew up top with the cadets as they engaged incoming fighters.
"This is Grimm. I see Apache attack helicopters and hovercraft."
"I see them too. Rip 'em up."
The cadets couldn't believe the battle unfolding before them. A couple dived down onto the ships and took out a frigate with ease.
"We got one Marcus!"
"Nice shot Charlie."
Garret warned them as he sank his third ship. "No celebrating yet boys. You have to make it back home before you can do that."
"This is Edge. I just splashed a Harrier. I see no aircraft carrier in the fleet."
"Me neither. I just took down an F-35" Chopper radios back.
Garret: Oh please no. Please, don't be here.
Over the radio, Perrault can be heard worrying.
"Pilots, don't worry about us. We can handle the fight here! We'll protect the base."
"Jeez, what a tear jerker" Grimm groaned as his guns tore thru a hovercraft, a helicopter and 35mm shell fired from a frigate gun.
"We have to protect this base. If we can't, what do we say to our great heroes in the sky?"
"Great heroes? What's that all about?" asked Grimm as he and a cadet took on destroyer.
"Not sure. But I'm sure he has a whole different script for us when we get back. Nagase, your six is clear" said Chopper.
Garret could see his three cadets flying together shooting at the decks of the ships. One of them was trailing.
"Boomer, you're wavering. Relax." Blaze pulled alongside him as contrails fired out of the ocean. His heart sank.
"Ballistic missile fired." Thunderhead reported with nervousness in her voice.
Garret: DAMN IT TO HIGH HELL!
Chopper came on the radio. "Ballistic missile, where'd that come from?!"
"Who cares? Right now, everyone climb! Stop your attacks and climb to 5000 feet!" The nuggets were so into their attacks that almost dived into the sea. Garret circled around to find his cadets.
"This is Thunderhead. Ballistic burst missile impact in 20 seconds. Wait, now we have a countdown from, A-SAT Targeting System… Who is this?" There was a slight pause. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1!"
Garret was expecting to see a giant ball of light. What he saw was a thin stream of light 100 feet just on his front and left.
"Missile destroyed! Laser fired from orbit altitude! We got the ARKBIRD!"
"This is anti-sub plane Blue Hound. Sonic buoy picked up underwater sound match of the SCINFAXI.
Wardog: SHIT!
The SCINFAXI fired another missile and that too was shot by the laser from the ARKBIRD. It soon followed by firing three more missiles, 2 of them were shot down by the laser cannon.
"Number five will impact soon. All fighters, climb above 5000 feet." Thunderhead yelled into the radio. Garret tilted his plane up thinking his nuggets were hot on his tail when everything went white. The missile dropped right next to him and right above his cadets. All the cadets, not only those flying with Garret, weren't used to flying at a high angle, couldn't keep up and where caught in the blast.
"The nuggets! They're all falling!" Grimm was near tears. Over the radio, the cries for help can be heard as Wardog watched them fall into the sea. Nothing they could do. Some of the planes slammed into the sea so hard, the cadets died on impact. The rest sank to their deaths, ejection seat were out of commission.
Kei: It's like the enemy came out of the demon legends. Wait, it can't be!
"This is Thunderhead. The invasion fleet has one ship left. Do your best to weave thru the burst missiles and take it out.
" 'Just weave thru the missiles'? What are you nuts!?" Chopper was stunned at the idea Thunderhead proposed. Garret went down and dropped and fired on the remaining missile boat when the sky lit up again. The laser went into the sea. It was followed by an explosion and a wounded SCINFAXI quickly surfaced. It launched more 6 more fighters and readied all anti-air weapons.
"Look sharp Wardog. We're not done yet" said Garret as he turned towards the sub. It took him a while to realize that the sub was at least 700 feet long and 150 feet wide.
"God, it's huge!" Remarked Kei as she took down an F-35 as it impacted the one behind it.
Wardog engaged the enemy fighters all the while dodging the missiles that SCINFAXI seems to have an endless supply of. Once the fighters were shotdown, Garret and Grimm attacked the SCINFAXI in tandem with bombs and anti-ship missiles. Soon the SCINFAXI couldn't attack. It's runway was destroyed and surface launch tubes had collapsed.
The ARKBIRD fired the laser once more at the SCINFAXI ripping a huge hole in it.
"How is that thing still floating?" asked Grimm. They were amazed at the resilience of the SCINFAXI's outer hull. Garret dived down for a bombing run as he lined up his last bomb.
Garret: Send this message to your sister sub.
Garret angles up and dropped his bomb into hole. He hit 2000 feet as the SCINFAXI imploded in a dazzling display, sending up a water column 600 feet high and a shockwave that was felt from over 2000 feet.
"This is Thunderhead. All enemies clear. The SCINFAXI is no more. Thanks for the help ARKBIRD"
"Pleasure is ours."
Wardog regrouped behind an expressionless Garret as they headed home.
Sand Island October 4th, 2010. 1130
Garret and Perrault were at each other's throats in Perrault's office. The oak desk kept them from killing each other.
"How could authorize sending up untrained pilots into a battle like that?"
"It's simple. I wanted this base protected 2nd Lieutenant. I did what I had to."
Garret glared at the man. "You're a monster. You knew they shouldn't have gone up!"
"What about you? They were all under your command. You knew of the missiles."
Garret closed his eyes. The bright flash was still vivid. "Like I'm supposed to know they SCINFAXI was going to be used. I saw them die. Like dogs. The Yuke's didn't give a damn and neither did you. Don't you dare make this about me."
Perrault scoffed.
"It's been about you even since you arrived." Perrault looks a picture on his filing cabinet. It's him standing next to Lars Clarkson.
"How do you know Lars?"
Perrault answered in a matter of fact way. "He's my nephew. I had hoped to see him here. To see him grow into a legendary pilot, like the Cipher from the last war. Maybe better. But you changed that, twice. He was supposed to be here, fly under Bartlett, maybe even take Bartlett's spot and hold the rank of major."
Garret couldn't believe his ears. It was a family feud and he was being attacked.
"Now I get it. You wanted to make me look bad. Knowing that another 2nd Lieutenant became flight lead, not your nephew. Did you stop to think that maybe he's out of the military because your nephew decided to break Osean military rules and get drunk and start fights- twice and assault a member of the opposite sex who also happens to fly on my wing? Or was that something you were willing to over look? Should I tell the General? How about the military courts? That you sent 11 cadets to their graves because you had a vendetta against me? Don't bother writing the families, I'll get Wardog to. We can properly show the bravery of those pilots better than a spineless Base Commander. Good day."
Garret turned and walked out the office and went to his room. When he opened it up he found Hamilton and the rest Wardog, with Genette, in there.
"What's going on?"
Hamilton smiled. "For acts of bravery to the nation of Osea and the protection of her people, I promote you to 1st Lieutenant."
Garret, stood there shocked.
"1st Lieutenant? That's awesome… Oh… I forgot." Garret saluted Hamilton who returned the salute. The room filled with cheers.
"What about the rest of the squadron? Surely they too, right?"
"Indeed. Nagase and Davenport have also been promoted to 1st Lieutenant."
"What about 1st Class Airman Grimm?"
"That's 2nd Lieutenant Grimm now. He has gained since joining Wardog the first time the base was attacked" Hamilton smiled. "I'm sorry, but I have no badges but the paper work has been approved and will arrive in two days along with the badges. Then it will be, official. Then, have a good one Wardog." Hamilton saluted Wardog and left.
Garret leaned against the wall next to the door and laughed.
"Captain Lawson" spoke Grimm, "What's so funny."
"I was just in Perrault's office."
Kei looked at him. "Why?"
"The nuggets. I wanted know why he sent them up. We were in each other's face. The only thing stopping us from slugging it out was his desk and the memory of those cadets. Man…"
"Well Kid, there's nothing more that we can do except move on" replied Chopper.
"I know. I'm going to need each of your help. I want us to write to the families of those 11 cadets. It's only fair. Perrault can't do it." Wardog fell silent.
Genette got up. "I have paper and pens in the room. And I'll be of any use I can be." Garret thanked him as he left.