Ch 10
Two planes were involved in a deadly game of cat and mouse, each trying to outmaneuver the other.
"The guy's way too fast." Aang said, as he struggled to put the enemy plane in his crosshairs.
"Shoot him down already!"
"I can't! He's too damn quick!"
"Shit. Keep him busy. Reinforcements are on the way."
Aang found himself flying side by side next to the enemy fighter, both planes ascending. Looking at the enemy fighter, Aang slowly pulled the accelerator back and pushed the right peddle to the floor, yawing behind the enemy plane.
Aang pulled the trigger and watched as the .50 machine guns tore the enemy plane to pieces. But that victory was short lived. A jet quickly ascended right behind him, its cannons blazing. Aang stalled his aircraft and dove towards the ground.
The jet continued its pursuit, and shot off the right wing. Aang opened the canopy and let momentum carry him out. Opening the parachute, he watched as the 162 flew away, his do-335 calling to the ground.
"Aang, wake up." Ursa said, shaking him awake.
3 years later
Aang woke up from his dream and saw Ursa sitting on him.
"Morning, Ursa." Aang said.
Aang attempted to sit up, but Ursa pushed him back onto the bed.
"What? No good morning kiss?" Ursa asked, leaning on him.
Aang lifted his head and kissed Ursa who returned the favor.
"By the way, I'll be in a meeting all day." Ursa said.
"Hope it goes well." Aang said.
"I doubt it." Ursa said, as she got off him. Ursa looked in deep thought when a thought came to her.
"You're starting your training to fly fighters, right?" Ursa asked.
"I am." Aang said.
"Good luck." Ursa said.
Entering the war room, Ursa sat on the throne and watched the generals talk amongst themselves. Ursa despised these meetings, because she didn't believe her presence was necessary. Let the generals lead the war effort. The have more knowledge and experience than she did.
"We can send our long-range bombers, escorted of course, and strike at Ba Sing Se. We have plenty of thermite and FAEB to drop on them." A general said.
"What will a single strike do?" another asked.
"Not a single strike. During the night, we'll launch our entire bomber force to burn the city. Our fighters will be busy with another mission." The general said.
"But our bombers will be slaughtered when they scramble fighters and anti-air defenses."
"Our fighters will act as a diversion, and draw away their defenses. While they're busy dealing with that attack, our bombers will move in, unopposed."
Ursa's mind immediately went to Aang, and she was glad Aang wasn't in the fighting yet. But she wondered one thing. The fighting would continue for years on end. And Aang would soon be in the middle of that hell.
Ursa excused herself and headed to the bathrooms. She looked a mirror and vomited in the sink. Turning the water on, she rubbed her face with water.
Aang, can you survive this war?
Meanwhile, a Do-335 trainer was high above the capital with a bald, blue arrow tattooed pilot at the controls.
"You have the aptitude for flying. Sure, you haven't flown a plane before?" the instructor joked.
"First time." Aang said, and took the plane thru several maneuvers.
The aircraft leveled out, and Aang looked back to see the teacher.
"You were a fighter pilot, right?" Aang asked.
"Yes. To be an instructor, you must have experience."
"If you don't mind me asking? What's it like? The fighting?" Aang asked.
The instructor grabbed the joystick in his cockpit and quickly pushed it forward. The plane dove towards the ground, and inverted.
"What the hell?!" Aang exclaimed, as he struggled to regain control of the aircraft. The instructor quickly leveled out and accelerated. Aang watched as the terrain passed at high speeds. One mistake, and he'd be spilled all over the ground.
The instructor quickly pulled the stick upwards and they shot into the sky like a rocket. Aang struggled against the crushing G-forces, then felt his body go weightless as the nose tilted backwards and fell towards the ground.
"The plane is stalling. Unless you recover, we die." The instructor said.
Aang slowed down and held the stick in his hands, firmly gripping it. The drone of the prop engines filled his ears. The plane shuddered as it plunged towards the earth. His breathing was fast, a sign of fear. His eyes were monitoring the instruments, and payed attention to the altimeter.
Aang pulled back on the stick, and the plane calmly leveled out. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled.
"You wanted to know what it was like? This is just a taste. But someone is shooting at you." The instructor said, pulling the trigger, firing the 20mm guns. Aang went wide eyed as the plane vibrated from the gunfire.
"It's hell out there. This is a 50-year-old fighter. We're now using jets, like the F-16 and Gripen. Much faster, and deadlier. I hope you fully understand what you're getting yourself into." The instructor said.
"Sir, what's your name?" Aang asked.
"Jeong Jeong."
Night came, and Ursa was very happy to be out of the meeting. Her mind was occupied, thinking about Aang, and what his plans were in the military. When she entered her room, she found Aang slumped over on the bed, a book laying near him. She put the book away and lay next to Aang.
Unable to wake Aang up, she closed her eyes and fell into a weary sleep.
"Ursa." A tired voice said.
She woke up, only to notice Aang wasn't with her. The voice called out again. Ursa grabbed a pistol and walked towards the voice. She quickly turned around a corner, the pistol ready. She saw a figure hunched over.
"Ursa, why?" the figure asked.
Ursa approached the figure and lifted its head. She dropped the pistol and backed away in horror.
"No. This isn't happening." Ursa said.
"You said I'd be okay. But look at me." The figure said, standing up and forcing Ursa to look into his eyes.
Ursa looked and saw Aang, barely recognized because he was badly burned. Ursa put a hand forward and touched the burnt flesh. Aang seemed to crumble into ashes at the touch.
Ursa screamed with a jolt and woke up. She observed her surroundings, and saw she was still in her bedroom. Turning to her side, she saw Aang peacefully sleeping. A tear ran down her cheek, as the realization set in. Aang could die in the war. And there was nothing she could do about it.