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Legendary Aces
Chapter 39: Vitoze Aerial Defense
-On the Brink-
-Voychek-
I am Lieutenant Colonel Voychek of the Estovakian Air Force. I arrived on a train to Gracemeria.
To my detriment, I sustained a leg injury in the early stages of the war, relegating me to ground duty. I am now working as an intelligence officer for the Air Force.
The ceiling has collapsed in the Central Station. From there, the city appears resigned to its fate beneath the Estovakian flag.
What a pitiful sight.
But at least there are no craters to mar the land. They are lucky in that sense.
I sat down at a table in the station, set my bag next to my chair, and propped my cane up against the bag.
I didn't realize my bag was in trouble until I heard my cane hit the ground.
"Go dance with the angels!" The child shouted as he ran off with my bag. There goes my spare clothing.
As I reached down to pick up my cane, another child came up and tried to take the case I had handcuffed to my wrist. They would not be so lucky with these documents.
What a miserable city this must be with their children in such a state.
When I visited the castle, it was empty. The fine works of art once displayed in this castle were completely gone before the occupation forces arrived. Even the ancient armor of the "Golden King," the collective heart and soul of the city's people, along with the crown have disappeared without a trace.
I must relay this unfortunate information back to "The Generals" in my country. They were quite fond of those antiquities.
-Briefing-
A large-scale formation of Estovakian bombers is heading towards Vitoze, a city here on the island of Khesed. The enemy's plotting to storm Campagna airport, where our military is stationed, to stamp us out and put an end to this thing.
Enemy bombers are approaching Vitoze from the north. Our advance team estimates they'll be above the city in about fifteen minutes. Air units are to cooperate with our radar facilities and resume operations.
An enemy takeover of Vitoze would mean the ultimate destruction of our country Emmeria, and of our Emmerian people. Intercept them at once!
-Shamrock-
As we walked to hangar, we discussed our planes briefly before Talisman told me that new planes were on the way. She was telling me that they were still F-15s, but very different from what we were flying now. And then she gave me a promise.
"Marcus," she said, "whatever happens today, we will win." She had a look that could pierce steel. "We will give them nothing today. We lost Gracemeria because I grew complacent. I did not have the proper equipment on hand. I should have had an X-03 at Gracemeria base, but I hadn't ordered one yet. I should have had the proper weapons, the proper tools for the job, but I didn't, and I blame only myself. I let my guard down." She lightly punched her open left hand with her right fist. "Not today or ever again."
"Right behind you," I said.
She looked over and smiled. "We got this."
-Talisman-
-Mission Start-
Brilliante Heights 36'13'27"N 26'30'35" E
0911hrs. 24 November 2015
"Garuda 1, you are cleared for takeoff."
I hit my throttle and rushed to get airborne. I didn't have a second to waste.
"Those bombers have passed through the mountains and are still on course for Vitoze," Ghost Eye reported.
"They're here..." Marcus said.
"Head back to the base if you need supplies. You can land there at any time."
"Roger that," I said. "Talisman to Shamrock, I'm coming up on your six."
"Roger. I'll follow your lead."
"Jeez, where do they get all their planes? There's gotta be a million up here."
"Garuda Team, the first formation of enemy bombers is on its way, bearing 330. Take them out," Ghost Eye reported.
"Roger, we'll cut them off." I banked to the left and headed toward my first targets with Marcus hot on my tail. I had to admit, it was nice having a wingman as good as him.
"Fight a good fight, troops. You're our only hope," Khesed Command said.
"This territory is all we've got left," Ghost Eye said. "Garuda Team, it's in your hands. Stay within range of the radar facilities. That should give you the upper hand in battle."
"I hate to sound arrogant, but I won't need the help," I said. "These planes stand between me and my goal. They're going down. Fox Three." I fired four AIM-120 missiles at once and took down an entire squadron in one swift move.
"Good shot, Garuda 1."
"Garuda Team, have you located the enemy bombers?" Avalanche asked.
"Yeah, we're coming up on them right now," I said. "There's only two bombers here, so I'm gonna save on ammo. Garuda 2, cover me for a moment."
"Roger."
I circled around behind the bombers and quickly gunned both of them down. An enemy fighter came up on my six, but Marcus shot it down long before it could get a lock on me.
"Splash two bombers," I said.
"More enemy bombers detected on radar, bearing 050. It looks like another formation," Ghost Eye reported.
"All planes head back to base once you're out of bombs," I heard an Estovakian pilot call over the radio.
"That's assuming they get a chance to use their bombs." I pushed my plane to the limit and rushed over to where the second wave of bombers were coming from. An enemy propaganda broadcast was picking up on my radio, but I couldn't worry about that. I ignored it and focused on my objective.
"More planes are showing up on radar, bearing 270. It's another bomber formation! Intercept!" Ghost Eye ordered.
"Jeez, how many do they have?" I asked rhetorically. I had the second wave in my sights. It was another wave of two, so I dispatched them with my last two AIM-120s and turned hard toward the third wave.
"Dammit! What a bunch of lies!" Marcus suddenly shouted over the radio.
"What's a bunch of lies?"
"The Estovakians..."
"Ignore them," I said. "I already tuned them out."
"I can't. Each lie pisses me off more."
"That's why you need to ignore it."
"More enemy bombers incoming," Ghost Eye reported. "Bearing 010. There's quite a few this time."
"Fox Three," Marcus called. He fired all six of his AIM-120s at an incoming flight. Only one of the six managed to evade his blitz attack. He took down five escort fighters in one move, but now both of us were down to AIM-9s.
"Garuda 2, you go after the two bombers, I'll cover you."
"Roger that, Garuda 1." He instantly had the attention of several fighters, having just taken out five enemies at once, but I didn't let any of them get to him. He gunned down the two bombers as I took down two more escorts. He joined me in a dogfight against the remaining three escort fighters, and with the help of Windhover we had them spiraling in a ball of flames, too.
"How about that Stovies! Don't be thinking you can get through here!" said Windhover.
"Ghost Eye, how many bombers are in the next wave?" I asked.
"You don't wanna know."
"Four?"
"Six."
"Is Estovakia trying to raze our entire country?" Marcus said.
"It's like they have an airborne bomber factory," I added.
We wasted no time intercepting the fourth wave of bombers, but we had trouble getting close to them.
"Dammit. There's too many fighters," I said. "This is Garuda 1, we need some allied support over here."
"Roger, Garuda, I'm on my way," Avalanche said.
"Windhover here, roger. I'm coming."
"More allied planes are on their way, too," Ghost Eye reported. "You should have no problem... wait, I'm picking up two high speed bogeys coming from the southeast, bearing 120. I don't know what they are but they are both coming in at over Mach 3!"
"Mach 3?" Avalanche said. "What the hell can go that fast? Are they Blackbirds?"
"Negative. They are not SR-71s."
"What now? Are they some sort of Estovakian super fighters?" I asked. "I'll head them off."
"No need, Princess." I immediately recognized the voice. A barrage of small missiles came out of nowhere and took out a large number of the escort fighters around formation of six bombers.
"Whoa..." Marcus said.
"Lily!"
"This is Lieutenant General Liliana Venturi of the Emmeria Air Force, call sign Seraph. Ghost Eye, I am sending IFF data, please transmit it to the allied fighters in the area."
"Roger that," Ghost Eye said.
"*Lieutenant General?*" Avalanche gasped. "What the..."
Lily had sent her IFF data directly to me, so I didn't have wait on Ghost Eye. "Is that Shadow with you?"
"Yes, Princess," Shadow confirmed. Her voice was quiet as usual. I could barely hear it over the radio, but I could tell it was her.
"Just sit back and relax, Princess. We'll finish them off for you," Lily said.
Both Lily and Shadow fired another barrage of missiles, this time decimating the enemy bombers. A few straggler escorts were all that remained, but they didn't last long. Avalanche circled around and finished them off.
"All enemy bombers and fighters have been eliminated," Avalanche reported. "We somehow plugged every last one of 'em."
"You can thank our unexpected guests for most of that last bit," I added.
"Enemy bomber formation is confirmed down. I have to say you handled things well," Ghost Eye said.
"Yeah, Avalanche, nice moves finishing off the last few after our guests took down the bombers."
"Heapin' all that praise on us has got me a little too red in the face to go back home," Avalanche said.
"Roger that, Avalanche. I'll just report you as gunned down and missing in action.
"Hahaha! That's pretty harsh, Ghost Eye," Marcus chimed in.
"All planes, it's time to get home now. Try and make it back for supper. We have quests to tend to, after all," Windhover said.
-Debriefing-
The enemy bombers have been intercepted. Enemy aircraft around the Khesed perimeter have been significantly weakened. Our forces have taken advantage of this opportunity to arrange a swift counterattack.
We expect the best from you.
-Talisman-
"It's nice to see you, Lily, Shadow," I said as I hugged the both of them. "I wasn't expecting a personal delivery like that."
"It's no problem, Princess," Lily said. "I wanted to come myself."
"Still callin' me 'Princess' huh?" I asked.
"Of course."
"Is there anything you can do for Kye? Can you get her out of Gracemeria?"
"Not yet," she said. "I want to, believe me, but there is too great a risk. It could set off a world war."
"I know. I hate knowing that she could be in trouble right now. What I wouldn't give to have her here."
"Princess, we will rescue her," Shadow muttered. "As soon as the opportunity comes, we will save her."
"Thanks."
"Also, we didn't come alone," Lily said. "We have a transport plane following behind us, escorted by your mother and aunt."
"Mom and Aunt Allison?"
"That's right. The transport is carrying the necessary munitions for the two F-15Ps that Shadow and I brought. Since we're returning on board the transport, we felt it necessary to bring extra escorts."
"That's a good move. There's no telling what Estovakia might try."
"I dare them to make a move on us," Lily said. "If they attack us, Paragon will have free reign to bring Estovakia down. The remaining four members of the Razgriz, as well as several members of the Mobius Squadron have all expressed interest in saving Princess Kye."
"Even the Mobius Squadron?"
"Pixy, too. Estovakia probably doesn't know this, but they are walking on thin ice. It if wasn't for their allies threatening to back them up if somebody helped Emmeria, I would have already ordered a full scale assault to take them down."
"We can't let this spread any further than Emmeria and Estovakia."
"I don't want it to, either, but if Princess Kye is killed because of this war, it will erupt worldwide. Pandora, Osea, Yuktobania, and our allies in IUN have all passed along word that if this gets out of hand, that they would fight alongside Emmeria."
"That won't be a good day for either side. Who knows how much it could escalate."
"Indeed. That is why you have to win this war. I will help where possible, of course. Development on another fighter jet that will outclass the X-03 Dragon is nearing completion. As soon as it is battle ready, you and your wingman will be the first to pilot it."
"Thanks, Lily," I said.
The transport carrying the weapons for the two F-15P fighters arrived at 1030 hours. Mom and Aunt Allison landed with the transport, so I was able to see them briefly, but all of them had to go as soon as the weapons were unloaded. Seeing Avalanche, Windhover, and Marcus's reactions to meeting the Demon Lord and the Grim Reaper was amusing.
They brought enough supplies for the F-15P to last for several missions.
The F-15P was very similar to the F-15E I had been flying until now. The only major difference was the addition of ADM compartments on the topside and thrust vectoring controls. With as many planes Estovakia had, I had a feeling the ADMs were going to come in handy.
Of course, while the ADM compartments and thrust vectors were the only *major* differences, they still upgraded everything else. The F-15P's performance was noticeably better than the F-15E. I was looking forward to field testing it myself.
-Melissa-
My daughter is alive somewhere in Gracemeria.
I left the refugee camp and slowly made my way toward Gracemeria. It took me days to get where I am now. Days of walking. But I know this road ends somewhere up ahead.
There was no need to think about how to cross the river. Didn't that soldier on the tank say they were going to destroy this bridge before the enemy came?
I start to feel as if things never go as they are said to. I was tired. I couldn't keep walking forever. Just as I kneeled down, a car pulled up behind me and honked its horn.