Mission 3: Narrow Margin.

[Pearl Harbor, USA. 1433 hours. September 27, 2040.]

AWACS Thunderhead: "Due to pressing circumstance…I'll be issuing an emergency in-flight briefing. Go ahead Peterson."

Peterson: "Our naval base at Pearl Harbor reports that Russian aircraft have launched a surprise attack on the port. The situation there is critical with widespread panic. Ships from the 3rd U.S. Naval Fleet docked at the port are currently under attack and taking heavy losses. Hurry to Pearl Harbor and provide air cover from our naval vessels attempting to escape the bay. Among these ships is the aircraft carrier Kestrel. It is the flagship of the 3rd Naval Fleet and a critical combat asset. You must protect the Kestrel at all costs. That is all."

AWACS Thunderhead: "Thunderhead to Wardog. Edge, you lead the formation."

Lexi: "Negative. You take the lead, Blaze. I'll fly on your wing."

AWACS Thunderhead: "Second Lieutentant Lexi Bunny, follow your orders."

Lexi: "No. Blaze is leading. I'll protect his 6 o' clock. And I'm not gonna lose another flight lead."

Plucky: "Quit screwing around. This is war! The enemy's all over and they're gonna eat you alive!"

Clyde: "Aaah….I'd better stick to the trail position, thanks."

Plucky: "This is Captain Plucky Duck, callsign Swordsman. Engaging next enemy formation. Give me a position."

U.S. Fleet: "This is the AA cruiser Excalibur. The ship blocking us up ahead, you've got to move away! We can't use our SPY radar!"

Blaze: "Disperse, weapons hot."

AWACS Thunderhead: "Cleared to engage."

Clyde: "Roger. Moving to attack enemy at will."

Lexi: "Edge, engaging."

Clyde: "Chopper, engaging."

Blaze: "Blaze, engaging."

Lexi: "I'll cover you six. All right, Blaze?"

Blaze: "Yes."

Lexi: "Blaze, you take the lead. I'll go trail and follow."

U.S. Fleet: "The tanker next to us just exploded! Where's the fireboat? It's spreading to our ship! Help us!"

U.S. Fleet: "Nobody saw them coming?"

Russian Squadron: "Their ships are just sitting at anchor. This is like target practice."

Russian Squadron: "Enemy reinforcements detected. Heads up and get ready."

Clyde: "Captain, do you know how to give your commands?"

Blaze: "Yes."

Clyde: "Cool, I'm ready for 'em anytime, so just say the word."

U.S. Fleet: "The fireboat got caught in the explosion. Two…no, three ships are burning now."

U.S. Fleet: "…This is not a drill…"

U.S. Fleet: "Oh, thanks for the heads-up, you idiot!"

Blaze: "Got him!"

Russian Squadron: "Your target is the enemy aircraft carrier and the large surface combatants surrounding it."

Russian Squadron: "Don't let them escape the port. Sink them all."

Blaze: "Fox Two! Fox Two!"

Blaze: "Firing!"

Blaze: "He's down!"

U.S. Fleet: "Protect the Kestrel at all costs!"

U.S. Fleet: "It's time for our Aegis ship to live up to it's name."

U.S. Fleet: "Thanks, everyone. We request your cover until we break out of the port!"

Blaze: "I have you now!"

Lexi: "Blaze, this is Edge. Have you located the carrier Kestrel?"

Blaze: "Yes."

Lexi: "I've picked it up as well. Looks like it's still all right."

Blaze: "Fox Two!"

Blaze: "Goodnight."

Lexi: "The entire gulf is in flames."

Clyde: "Man, what happened here? This is worse than even I imagined."

Port Captain: "This is the Port Captain. All vessels, leave port immediately! Ships nearest to the exit first!"

Blaze: "Bingo!"

U.S. Fleet: "I don't care if we take hull damage. We're clearing out of here anyway we can."

U.S. Fleet: "Escape the port and take evasive action. No mistakes!"

Blaze: "Locked on!"

Blaze: "Bandit down!"

Kestrel: "This is the aircraft carrier Kestrel. Approaching port exit."

Port Captain: "Roger, Kestrel. The Kestrel takes top priority! That barge over there, move it! I know you want outta here, but open up a path! That carrier's valuable!"

Blaze: "Got a kill!"

U.S. Fleet: "The Kestrel is in open waters! Bon voyage guys!"

Port Captain: "All friendly aircraft, protect the Kestrel for us!"

Plucky: "This is Swordsman. On my way. That's our ship."

AWACS Thunderhead: "Negative! This is AWACS Thunderhead. Swordsman, remain in the Eastern Sector. Protect our territory and continue battle."

Plucky: "But that's my carrier!"

AWACS Thunderhead: "Wardog, provide cover for the Kestrel."

Blaze: "Wardog."

Plucky: "Darn it, you pigheaded…All right, I'm counting on you, Wardog. Don't lose our ship!"

Blaze: "Don't worry Plucky. We'll take care of it."

Blaze: "Blaze, Fox Two!"

Blaze: "I bagged one!"

U.S. Squadron: "AWACS, bogey dope! Give me a target!"

AWACS Thunderhead: "Bogeys inbound from vector 280...It's no use! There's too many of them!"

U.S. Squadron: "Get a hold of yourself! Your radar control is critical!"

U.S. Fleet: "I'm abandoning ship. We're sitting ducks over here."

U.S. Fleet: "Come back here! You coward!"

U.S. Fleet: "Is he trying to kill us? What kinda Captain is that?!"

U.S. Fleet: "Hurry up and drop the lifeboats!"

U.S. Fleet: "What're you doing?! Hurry up and get out of here!"

U.S. Fleet: "This is it. It's over!"

U.S. Fleet: "Man, this is the worst day of my life…"

Kestrel: "Range to bay exit, 3 miles."

Kestrel: "Missile impact 600 feet off port bow."

AWACS Thunderhead: "Wardog, this is Thunderhead. We need you to take care of the Kestrel."

Blaze: "Yes."

AWACS Thunderhead: "Good. We're counting on you, Wardog. Don't take your eyes off the Kestrel."

Blaze: "We won't."

Lexi: "The ships are finally starting to move. Get out of the gulf, fast!"

Russian Squadron: "A flight, engage the enemy ships. B flight, attack and destroy the gulf port facilities. C flight, fly top cover. Establish air superiority. You got that?"

Russian Squadron: "Roger. Commencing attack."

U.S. Fleet: "Enemy attack! Return fire!"

U.S. Fleet: "Calm down! Just calm down!"

U.S. Fleet: "Enemy anti-ship missiles launched! Begin Phalanx fire!"

U.S. Fleet: "No! Stop! You're firing on the docks!"

Lexi: "Those…those are people floating in the waves."

[Clyde POV: I shouldn't have looked. When that enemy plane crashed and covered the water in flames, there were people floating right there. I could see their faces…so many of them. Somebody stop this, I can't take it anymore.]

Blaze: "Whoa."

Clyde: "Kid, did you see that?"

Blaze: "Yes."

Clyde: "So, you saw it, too. That sea…"

Blaze: "Fox Two!"

Blaze: "Got him!"

U.S. Fleet: "We're out of the gulf, but stay alert."

Clyde: "The carrier's entering the ocean. C'mon, whoever's out there, help us out! Get that bucket of bolts out of here."

Blaze: "Fox Two!"

Andersen: "This is the Captain of the aircraft carrier Kestrel. My congratulations to all ships that managed to escape. As Captain, I will now form a provisional battle fleet. The enemy's built a blockade with their fleet in front of us. We have to break through this and escape to safer waters. Good luck, everyone. All friendly aircraft, your support is requested."

AWACS Thunderhead: "Blaze, this is Thunderhead. Are you clear on the mission objective?"

Blaze: "Yes."

AWACS Thunderhead: "Roger. Begin the mission at once."

Blaze: "Wardog."

Kestrel: "Range to blockade line confirmed at 4 miles."

Russian Fleet: "Their formation's centered around that carrier. Begin operations."

Russian Fleet: "This is the perfect chance to improve our battle record. Let's go."

Blaze: "Firing!"

Blaze: "Bandit destroyed!"

U.S. Squadron: "There's gotta be an enemy aircraft targeting the carrier from beyond the horizon."

U.S. Fleet: "We're gonna break through the middle of that fleet?"

U.S. Fleet: "Guess we'll have to accept the loss of a few ships."

U.S. Fleet: "Maintain fleet formation. We're gonna break right through."

Blaze: "Bombs away!"

Blaze: "Enemy vessel sunk!"

Plucky: "The smoke's blocking my view ahead. I'm cutting in."

Blaze: "I have you now!"

U.S. Fleet: "I'm not gonna let 'em sink us here!"

Blaze: "Got one doc!"

Blaze: "What's up doc?"

U.S. Fleet: "Missiles incoming from aft starboard! Two of them!"

Blaze: "Enemy vessel sunk!"

U.S. Squadron: "You've gotta fly faster! We're gonna get slaughtered!"

Blaze: "Here's something from Brooklyn!"

AWACS Thunderhead: "Blaze shot down a bandit."

AWACS Thunderhead: "Weapons release!"

AWACS Thunderhead: "Enemy vessel sunk."

U.S. Squadron: "Moving to fly cover for Captain Plucky Duck. Alpha 2, follow me!"

U.S. Fleet: "Bring all the wounded inside! We don't have time to treat them!"

Plucky: "Where did Delta 1 go? Delta 1, check in. Respond!"

AWACS Thunderhead: "Radar lock!"

Blaze: "Blaze, Fox Two!"

Blaze: "Firing!"

Kestrel: "Almost there! We're almost through the blockade!"

Russian Squadron: "I gotta admit, the enemy's got some great pilots."

U.S. Fleet: "Our fighters are providing great top cover. We can do this!"

U.S. Fleet: "This is what we've been trained for! We can do this!"

U.S. Fleet: "As long as we're still afloat, we have a fighting chance!"

Andersen: "Captain Plucky Duck, we entrust the sky above us to you."

Blaze: "Edge, Chopper. Cover, weapons safe."

Clyde: "It broke through! That's one tough boat, man! Yeah!"

Blaze: "Nice."

Clyde: "So, Kid, does it feel good to be the flight lead?"

Blaze: "Yes."

Clyde: "I see. Good, I'm glad to hear it."

Andersen: "This is the captain of the aircraft carrier Kestrel. Our fleet has successfully escaped to safe waters. My thanks to our brave warriors of the sea…and in the air."

Blaze: "Anytime, Captain."

Clyde: "One, two, three…One, two, three planes. Count 'em up man, we're all back safe. I can't wait to tell the Captain once they pluck him outta the ocean!"