Disclaimer: I don't own ace combat
September 10th 2019
New Arrows air base
East Usea
7:30am
The Strider and Cyclops squadron gathered in the briefing room as Avril stepped in with Wiseman and the Brigadier general. Clements took his place next to the screen with Wiseman on the other side. David north was already on the line.
"The Erusean military is gathering its remaining naval forces at Anchorhead bay. Apparently they are even bringing in ships from the mothballed fleet. This is probably to reinforce their naval power in preparation for the showdown in Farbanti. We've received intel that the Alicorn will also be joining them." Howard began.
"Form which source, there's a possibility the Alicorn's former crew have been tasked with sabotage." David inquired knowing that the brigadier's source was wrong before.
"North the idea of human sources must be handled with discretion. Your job is to analyse the enemy's weaponry. From now on speak only when authorised. I don't hear a response." Clements didn't like how David was overstepping his bounds.
"May I be authorised to speak first sir?" if David was in the room he'd given Clements a death glare.
"When we're done. I'll be talking to your superiors. Here is the mission. LRSSG is to raid Anchorhead. Carry out airstrikes on Anchor bay to the north and Dakiouk bay to the south inflicting all the possible damage. If we can strip the port of its naval functions. We can also prevent the submarine from joining forces." Wiseman could see why they'll be attacking the port since the Ran fleet poses a threat to the osean forces.
Wiseman glanced at the map "The area around Anchorhead is Erusean territory."
"Shit." Trigger knew just from the map they ran the risk running into the erusean drones. Wiseman having looked back at the map could see what Trigger was worried about.
"Is there some problem you have Trigger?" Howard seemed oblivious about what was making Trigger anxious.
"Yes sir." Trigger responded, Laura knew that her brother held anti-uav sentiment.
"What is it?" Howard couldn't see what was worrying Three Strikes. Avril couldn't believe how stupid Howard was to not see it.
"Don't you see its too close to the arsenal bird air defence range for my liking and I would expect drones in a place like Anchorhead. God I hate drones especially those blasted MQ-101s or the likely MQ-99s." Trigger's fists were clenched as he remembered all the times he'd deal with drones.
"Don't you mean the Wasps and Vogel Captain Hansen?" Long Caster interrupted much to Trigger's surprise.
"Yeah them."Trigger's lack of subtly to everyone about his displeasure at the uavs was understandable since anti-UAV and AI sentiment was at an all time high among the osean military personnel but Trigger hated them the most out of all the LRSSG given he had faced the eruseans uavs more times than anyone else on the team. "I just hate them they are one of the biggest mistakes we made."
Wiseman sighed knowing that Trigger's hatred of drones was justified "To delay hostile detection you will sortie in small numbers and make your way in at super low altitudes."
Jeager didn't think he'd be going on this sortie "Small sortie huh? who's going?"
"Count, Lanza, Huxian, Serpentina and Trigger." Wiseman's announcement confirmed what he suspected "Four aircraft from strider squadron and Serpentina will be deployed."
"Woah alright I got this." Lanza felt excited that he'd be deploying on such a vital raid.
"To cover our lack of numbers, we're giving you plenty of opportunities to resupply. Look here." the map showed the ports with three blue lines one in the north, south and east. "We've set up multiple return lines. Make full use of them to resupply and change armaments. Also note that the enemy will not be able to mount a defence immediately after detecting you. Use this window to destroy high threat targets. That should make things easier for you."
"I don't why but I'm getting the feeling of deja vu with this raid." Trigger felt like he's done this before but couldn't place when or where.
The members of the LRSSG drifted into thought about how they'd destroy the ships but Avril decided to speak up "I let you guys know we modified your eagles to have the same capabilities that Trigger's bird already had." Avril and the team had spent the two days after sighthound modifying the LRSSG eagles to do ground attack.
Howard didn't like the idea of modifying the LRSSG's aircraft cause to him they should be do the job despite the equipment lacking the ability to do the op.
"Thank you Scrap Queen I knew I could trust you." Avril leaned back into her chair feeling pleased with herself.
Wiseman looked her way smiling but Howard wanted to continue the briefing. "It should also raise the survival rate."
"Survival rate huh?" Count mused wondering what he meant by that.
"The element of surprise and resupplying are the key. Beyond that. I just need a couple of pilots who will stick to my orders. We don't need an ace to succeed, you got anything to say?" no-one spoke up "Good."
"Oh its so clear you do. I solved one problem that your ace strike team had and we have the person who erusea fears more than anyone." Howard scowled making a mental note to have a word with Avril's superiors and to have her silenced.
"On Tyler a few days before I was called here we captured an Erusean solider who told me an interesting rumour." everyone turned to her "In the Erusean military Three Strikes in the sky is a sign of an ill omen."
"Brigadier general." David began wanting to give the LRSSG info on the captain of the Alicorn.
"That is all." Howard planned to end the briefing but Wiseman had other ideas.
"David go on." he told him knowing that what David had to share was important.
"Let me share the career of Matias Torres, the captain of the submarine Alicorn, does anyone know how his people hailed him?" David had slipped back into his quiz show persona.
"A bit unfair to provide us with next to no hints, don't ya think?" Skald questioned not liking this quiz one bit.
"Fair enough. The hero of Comberth harbour is the answer. He was the captain of the battleship tanager at the time of the 1st continental war, it led the Aegir fleet the so called invincible armada. But when the fleet was destroyed at Comberth harbour, so was his ship." The military record of Matias Torres flashed on screen.
"Yet he's the hero?" Skald asked the analyst.
"He was able to bring most of his crew home with accurate damage control and precise evacuation orders. Then there is the accident with the Alicorn, many believe that if they stay with him, they'll live." Count turned to look at Trigger who rolled his eyes.
"You know that don't ya Trigger, i mean stick with Trigger and you'll make it." Count said with a light chuckle.
"Transfer from surface to underwater is unusual. However considering his skill and reputation, along with the fact that the Alicorn is no ordinary submarine, it all makes sense." David commented when Wiseman took over.
"It will be a difficult mission to carry out with five aircraft, still I'd like to add one more to the mission conditions." Wiseman could see that Trigger wasn't going to like what he said next.
"What you want to make it even harder?" Count asked not liking what Wiseman was going to say next.
"I want a 100% survival rate for the sortie. Any other number will be considered a failure!" Trigger groaned getting up from his seat.
"Goddammit Wiseman now I have more to worry about than just the ships, AA defences and air defence fighters and now getting everyone home alive. I have a hunch those filthy bats will be showing up." Trigger sometimes hated the fact that I'm the one who has to get everyone home alive.
New arrows hanger no.2
8:45am
Trigger, Avril and Laura walked into the hanger "So Trigger what do you need?" the ground crews were loading up the eagles with their standard load out plus two mark 84 munitions.
"Well first I need to know what jet I'll be taking on this mission." they stopped in front a jet.
"Well since your eagle is still grounded you'll be taking this." Trigger turned his attention from Avril to the two seater two tone marine blue Super Viper Zero.
"I'll need my pulse lasers and four ASM-2 anti-ship missiles and ASM-3 cruise missiles." Trigger told her as ground crews went to go and get the ordinance.
He turned to his sister ″So you said this viper zero belong to captain Naomi?″ Avril didn't know who this Naomi was.
"Naomi use to fly out from here with the super kai upgrade program flight testing till 6 months ago when she took the job as a test pilot for the ASF-X Shinden 2 project and as a thank you to the guys here for looking after her plane she gave it to them as a reserve aircraft if one of the LRSSG became unserviceable.″ Laura explained as they went to get suited up.
Wiseman stepped aboard the E-767 while Howard elected to remain at the base.
Over the ocean
13:00pm
The five jets flew towards Anchorhead when Trigger noticed a small erusean fleet ahead miles away "Long caster gonna sink those ships before they can raise the alarm." Trigger and Laura locked up the ships fired their ASM-2s one after the other. All four of Trigger's ASM-2s hit the Dystomia while Laura's two ASM-2s tore into the Metis sending both to the bottom.
"Trigger just sunk a battleship." Count commented but Trigger sighed rolling his eyes.
"A battlecruiser actually Count battleships are much bigger and more heavily armed than a battlecruiser. I've seen a Montana class battleship and let me say its more intimidating than that battlecruiser" Trigger had seen a battleship at the Oured maritime museum when he was younger.
"Trigger good call." Wiseman said as Trigger and Laura started back to resupply. "Strider hold position while Strider 1 and Serpentina resupply?"
An hour later
The two Super Viper Zeros and three Eagles approached Anchorhead with the port in sight "I can almost touch the water." Count commented seeing the spray being kicked up by their engines. "Hey guys wanna a contest of Kill scores?" Long Caster you keep score."
"I'm in." Lanza sounded quite eager to play this game."
"I'm game." Huxian liked the sound of that although she already bet that Trigger would get most of them.
Huxian could see ahead of her that Trigger and his sister were lower than them at what she thought was 50 feet.
"Altitude restriction lifted, begin op and let mayhem begin." Wiseman said knowing that where Three Strikes goes destruction tends to follow.
"The food at this party's served buffet style. pick whatever dish you like before the host mounts a resistance!" Long caster told the five pilots but Trigger carefully scanned his HUD seeing multiple ships in port. Avril quietly chuckled at the food joke.
"Wilco I'll eat their hearts out!" Huxain said turning towards the destroyer Emounia. Trigger couldn't help but be a little disturbed by Huxian's response but brushed it aside.
"Emergency five bogeys eta two minutes." Fiona smashed her fist onto the buttons and alarms and air raid sirens sounded. "General quarters, general quarters all hands man your battle-stations.
"Sorry boss but the juicy targets are all mine." Count responded as Trigger selected his first meal of the day.
"Oh are they Captain Count well then let the chaos begin." Trigger mused over the radio as his finger pressed the fire button on his yoke.
"I think for breakfast I'll take two aegis waitress." An ASM-3 dropped from Trigger's jet, the motor ignited when suddenly the missile nosed up skimming the surface of the sea with the 2nd not far behind.
"And what will your drink be sir?" Avril giggled to herself as she watched the ASM-3 streaked across the water followed by the second ASM-3 striking the aegis ships Thalassa and Ceto splitting them in half "No drink please my breakfast has just arrived."
"Whoa Trigger! don't you dare get the juicy stuff before I do." Count was caught completely by surprise that Trigger sank 2 ships so quickly.
"They're hitting us with long-ranged missiles! we can't return fire!" one of the man about the Ceto cried out as he fell into the water.
The two Aegis vessels quickly sank into the harbour.
Trigger streaked into the harbour pulling into a climbing turn as he looked at what was there. "Brigadier General Clements, about Three strikes... Are you sure we'll get a positive result this time!"
"Yes Lieutenant General Shepard. Operation Dominoes is going as planned." Trigger wondered to himself just what they meant by that.
Count observed Trigger's pass over the harbour expecting him to use his cluster bombs on the ships but he didn't "What are you doing Trigger? Give' em all the special weaponry you got don't be shy!" Count dropped the first of his unguided munitions on the Aphaia causing severe damage.
"Erusean destroyer Aphaia sunk. Gobble up all the high value targets! forget about your manners!" Long Caster was imaging a buffet but was sad that he wasn't able to eat at it.
"Never had any of those to begin with!" Huxian said as she spotted the destroyer Emounia starting to move letting her iron bomb fall which destroyed the ship.
"Why has the enemy taken so little damage? You could drop a bomb blind and hit something." Howard expected Trigger to start bombing immediately but instead he rolled inverted diving down then pulled out at 50 feet.
"Scott must have done a quick recon of the port and is devising his attack plans my brother can methodical sometimes." Laura mused as Wiseman already knew what Trigger was up to.
Serpentina fired off her third ASM-2 at the onshore aegis and its cwis which rendered the eight aa guns around the burning aegis ashore completely useless.
"AA defense system was destroyed before it could activated! This will make things easier." Long Caster noted as Laura turned around to go and change her weapons.
"Should have brought my air to ground missiles." Count groaned hating having aim his bomb which was difficult since he'd never had to do it before.
"You can't carry air to ground missiles on an Eagle Count oh wait you can just need a target designator." Avril commented as Trigger noticed a cruiser near his sister.
"Should've bought anti-ship missiles by the truckload." Lanza groaned as he made his way to the south port.
"A bomb would work fine. you'll wipe them out with one hit. Huxian had seen the mark 84 one shot the destroyer easily.
Laura had turned around to rearm but spotted a ship trying to escape the port which fired off a SAM but Laura easily decoyed it with chaff.
She launched both of her GCS-1 munitions that glided down to the remaining Slava class cruiser impacting the hull blowing a large hole in the hull "Missile cruiser Tetis has been sunk."
"Its the enemy's guided bombs. This is pretty one sided." one of the erusean aa gunners watched the ship beginning to sink.
"Mayday mayday this is gr marine cruiser Tetis we've been hit by guided munitions and abandoning ship."
"Sis what the hell that wasn't an erusean ship shit!" Trigger and everyone else was caught of guard that a general resources ship was there.
"What the hell if Trigger doesn't botch up its his sister I guess it runs in the family." Howard groaned as Laura punched it for the resupply line.
"They fired surface to air missiles at me." Laura didn't want to be sent to a penal unit.
Long caster who watched what happened "Confirmed there was a missile launch from the ship at Serpentina Brigadier general." Laura turned towards the bay selecting her ASM-2s.
Trigger having come around descended till he was Twenty-five feet from the water, he could hear the GPWS ringing but ignored it as his jet flew under the bridge. "Trigger you're crazy." Avril looked up to see the underside of the bridge pass over the canopy and inches from the tail.
He and Serpentina quickly eyed one of the cruisers the Enyo.
Serpentina locked onto the Enyo's vls and fired her remaining asm-2s which destroyed the launchers "They're trying to destroy the fleet with anti-ship missiles." the Enyo's captain when he spotted another viper zero closing fast. "All hands abandon ship Three Strikes is heading our way.
He pulled up climbing quickly "Bombs away." his first cluster bomb left the viper zero striking the cruiser Enyo then came around to put a burst of laser fire it to the ship sinking it instantly.
"They're using laser weaponry!" Flora ducked under her desk as Trigger came by shattering the glass.
Trigger scanned the sky looking for more targets when a radio call came in. "This is Major Joseph Archer requesting air strike on the helicopters carrying our targets! Targets are rear vice admiral Samuel Prin, Captain Dirk Tarnat, fleet commander Gleb Aimazov, Captain Alonso Tarrago and Vice Commander Tam Van Ly sending co-ordinates!"
Trigger spotted five Erusean navy transport helicopters. "Wilco Tucker Zero-Four will assist."Trigger pulled a sharp turn dropping his second and third cluster bombs on the five helicopters the raining munitions destroying all five helicopters which erupted into a raging inferno leaving no chance for survivors.
"That was a UGB but it was really accurate." Flora who had pulled herself up from under her desk could only watch in horror as the ospreys burned.
"Targets confirmed down all five in one air strike good shooting Three strikes." Joseph watched as the osprey continued burning. Joseph and his men were sure none of their targets could have survived.
"So how does these men's deaths help our efforts?" Trigger asked the Major.
"With rear admiral Samuel Prin gone. Erusea's naval strategy will lose its edge, the loss of Captains Dirk Tarnat and Alonso Tarrago means the Cruiser Enyo and Aegis vessel Thalassa will not bother anyone. with the death of fleet commander Gelb Almazov it will take a long time to rebuild the fleet without him. in a decade vice commander of the 7th destroyer squadron Tam Van Ly will be in charge of the Erusean navy well would have been actually."
"Lanza has the southern port all to himself. I don't think he can do it all alone." Huxian called sounding concerned about her teammate.
"Trigger let's go." Count called altering course but as Trigger began to turn he quickly dropped his fourth cluster bomb on the cruiser Eirene which capsized.
"Cruiser Eirene has listed beyond the point of recovery." the crew of the Eirene jumped into the water which was covered in oil from the destroyed ships.
"That's a lot of ships lost we're going to make a fortune once the war is over." one of the docksman said as the Eirene slipped beneath the water.
"Buy stock in salvage companies while you can." another docksman ducking as Laura re-entered the airspace armed for air to air. Trigger quietly mused to himself to do that once they got back.
"Just merciless." Lanza commented which give Laura a good idea what she had missed while on her way back.
"Don't you think you're going a bit too hard Trigger?" Count was amazed that in only four cluster bomb drops Trigger had destroyed four ships already.
Lanza who had seen the explosions from the southern ports "Trigger's turned the shipyard into a scrapyard!" he couldn't help but feel impressed that Trigger had done all that in an unfamiliar aircraft.
"I'd call it a ship graveyard actually!" Count commented as he watched Trigger bring the jet around going near mach 1.
Trigger raced to Dakiouk bay spotting the destroyer Calypso and quickly dropped his fifth cluster bomb on the Dakiouk aegis ashore followed by the sixth on the destroyer Calypso.
"Lieutenant general Shepard, we have a status report 50% of the enemy forces have been neutralized. That's mostly the work of three strikes." Howard hated to admit it but Trigger was taking names and dishing out destruction.
"You suggested an operation that doesn't rely on our ace pilots, you won't have many on board unless you can convince them we don't need Three Strikes." Shepard could tell just from the general that they were going to need some swaying if Howard wanted to convince them.
"Yes sir." He knew that he could only watch what was going on.
"That aircraft evaded all that anti-air fire you've got to be kidding me!" The erusean aa gunners could only watch as their shots missed Three Strikes.
Trigger quickly spotted two container ships and charged towards them "Not today you piece of scrap!" Trigger without any hesitating released his seventh and eighth cluster bomb onto the cargo ships destroying the crates.
"Trigger pull up!" Avril cried out as Trigger looked up to see a crane in his path.
He pulled back hard just clearing it "Phew thanks for warning me." The Scrap Queen breathed a sigh of relief that she'd prevented Trigger's target fixation form nearly killing them both.
Trigger brought the Super Viper Zero round again then popped his airbrakes whilst firing a burst of pulse laser fire that tore the tail rotor off the first Apache which spiralled into the other three and exploded turning the four helicopters into scrap metal.
"Came in for a picnic, found ourselves in a marathon." Lanza dropped his first unguided munition on the cruiser Eris. Lanza watched Trigger turn around heading for the return line so he could resupply.
"Good cruiser Eris has been sunk! Nice work Lanza!" Long caster liked that everyone was pulling their weight but having seen that Trigger had gobbled up most of the juicy targets.
"I thought you said this was going to be a walk in the park?" Count had expected the mission would be easy as he dropped his second unguided munition on a group of air defence tanks.
"You take walks to well walk. but a picnic you got to eat!" Long caster jumped in but Count groaned.
"I already know which you prefer my friend."
Trigger was passing the hill "Trigger movement on the hill." Avril called out as Trigger's gaze turned to scan the hill.
An advanced SAM battery crew Glasir-2 was watching from the hill as explosions came from the port "Target enemy aircraft Fire all missiles." the crewman inside pressed the button sending a volley of hawk missiles towards Trigger who popped his chaff and came around seeing the battery.
"Shit he saw us everyone out!" the men inside ran for their lives as Trigger fired a burst of lasers and cannon fire then climbed away.
Trigger spotted the four remaining Apaches firing his AAM-3s which destroyed two of the four Apaches which collided with the other two. "Our Helicopters are all gone! So this is what the Snowbirds can do."
"So time to rearm see you shortly." Trigger added some pair and began his egress.
"This is Shepard seems Three Strikes is showing a stellar performance. Osea has much need of him. That is the unanimous conclusion of those in this room Brigadier General. certainly not the result I'd predicted."
Trigger was happy that the higher ups realised that they had much need of him but why they had to watch this raid to prove that still eluded him.
"Did they expect anything less from Three Strikes I mean give him the right tools and he'll break anything." Avril chuckled but Trigger scowled knowing she was right.
"Good we've reduced enough of the enemy forces. Job well done." Wiseman seeing clear skies at least for the moment any way as Long caster's gaze was drawn to four jets closing fast.
"Four MIG-31s approaching! they're fast, these guys are interceptors! bearing 310 altitude 2000!" Long caster called as the foxhounds entered the combat zone. The foxhounds appeared on the HUD as hostile. Count and the other Strider pilots were at a loss on how to beat these jets.
"Look for the three strikes on the tail pass it on!." Hirotti 4 could see the destruction in the ports "This is Hrotti. we'll buy time till until our rear catches up!"
One of the port controllers watched the jets coming in expected to see long range missiles flying but didn't see any "Stay back you're not equipped for air to air!"
"We've still got our cannons! Engaging!" Hirotti 1 added power as the others followed.
"The MIG-31s not firing any missiles." Count said having seen the belly and wings of the foxhounds as they flew by. He turned onto the foxhound six but they were faster than his eagle. The four Hirotti Foxhounds broke formation when Hirotti 3 pulled a 180.
"Must have scrambled without changing weaponry." Long caster commented knowing that was the only logical explanation for what Count had seen.
"Shame Three Strikes had to resupply since he'd know its weakness." Laura having seen the foxhounds on radar and had faced her brother in a mock dogfight years ago when he was flying the foxhound and already knew what to do.
"Just how does Trigger know the drawback of the foxhounds?" Count asked Laura who rolled her eyes but wasn't surprised since Count clearly hadn't been told.
"Duh Trigger flew Foxhounds for 2 years and has the most hours on the interceptor when compared to the other planes he's flown in his career so far." Laura fired a burst of pulse laser fire at hirotti 4 who never saw the lasers coming which exploded the right engine but the pilot and the wso bailed out as the foxhound broke up in mid air. "Splash one Foxhound."
"So Boss got any tips on how to beat MIG-31s?" Count asked eagerly hoping Trigger had some good advice and wouldn't leave him out to dry.
"Well your planes are more manoeuvrable than the foxhound use that to your advantage!" Trigger noticed that one of the foxhounds Hirotti 3 had turned around and was trying to flee but Trigger easily caught up to him "Hirotti 3 you are charged with cowardice in the face of the enemy sentence is death!"
Trigger easily lined up the shot and unleashed both laser and cannon which hits Hirotti 3 who crashes into a hill but Trigger couldn't see any ejection. "What a coward!"
Huxian was hot on Hirotti 1 who was pulling a near 5g turn but Huxian's eagle was easily keeping up. "Fox three!" she called shooting an AMRAAM at the foxhound which went up its tailpipe and destroyed the back end of the airplane but the 2 crew bailed out.
Trigger crossed the return making his way to the nearest friendly base. After landing ground crew raced to remove the racks for the cluster munitions and install the AAM-4s and quick manoeuvre AAM-5 and AAM-3 along with an external fuel tank.
As soon as Trigger had taken off Laura touched down and changed her weapons to quick manoeuvre AAM-5 and the hyper velocity sparrows.
The two vipers were airborne within minutes but both felt that there were more to come.
Back at Anchorhead
The two viper zeroes were seconds from entering the airspace when Long caster came over the radio "Bandits coming from the northwest! they're in large numbers! eight Su-37 Terminators declared hostile!"
"Terminators aren't they what ultra flankers?" Avril questioned having never seen one before when she noticed them at their 10o clock position.
"Think of the old flanker-b but on steroids and that's a terminator." Trigger quickly turned into the terminators selecting his lasers.
Flora reached for her radio looking at her radar "Five fighters have incoming at super low altitude bearing 015! we have a report three strikes is among them. We have no further intel. Sorry, we couldn't protect the port."
"Roger that. Leave the rest to us! Ask squadron, Egil squadron cleared to engage! Hirotti brought us time don't waste it!" Egil 1 scanned the sky. The Su-37s broke formation into groups of 2.
Trigger quickly got on Egil 3's six and started firing his lasers which tore the right tail of the yuke built jet sending it into a flat spin as the pilot punched out.
Lanza meanwhile hot on the heels of Hirotti 2 but was having trouble getting a shot. "Foxhounds are annoying to fight." Trigger could feel for Lanza since the foxhound was not easy to dogfight with or against.
The two jets approached the hills but Lanza quickly dropped his second unguided munition taking out a group of aa guns.
Lanza's sidewinder growled in his ears. He pressed the button firing two. The first one was decoyed by flares but the second one set both engines alight and the foxhound crashed into the hill scattering into little bits.
Count dropped his last unguided munition onto container unaware that the contents were already airborne. "All Foxhounds have been splashed." Long Caster reported as hirotti 2 disappeared from Count's radar.
"You can't stop us with just cannons." Count scoffed laughing slightly but Huxian hated that laugh.
Flora leaned against the wall, the world was crashing down around her as a call from HQ came in "Five aircraft destroyed the entire port? You must be hallucinating!" the commander said as the port controller was just wanting this nightmare to end.
"Its not a hallucination! its a nightmare!" Flora screamed sounding very distressed "This was my first day on the job." She slipped out the door.
Unbeknownst to her the entire call was on an open channel and Trigger had heard every single word. he felt a pang of guilt that just his presence had caused this much distress. "Wiseman, Long caster, Laura is this what my presence does to people?"
Wiseman, Long caster and Laura didn't know what to say. They were all shocked that Trigger's presence had done this.
"We'll discuss that later Trigger right carry on with the op!"
"Wilco!" Trigger didn't want to believe that this was what he could do but thought maybe he should consider peaceful retirement after this war.
Trigger didn't have long to contemplate as Long Caster's voice came in "New hostile group on radar eight F-15J eagles cleared to engage."
"Nor, Gram squadron cleared to engage!" the F-15Js broke to engage the osean jets.
Miles away from the port
The Alicorn was positioned 750 miles from Anchorhead with its 600m rail cannon ready to fire. Matias stepped onto the bridge as one of the crew radioed "Marker drone has reached the target!"
"Captain we're starting the guided fire artillery drill!" the command duty officer called over the intercom as Torres took his seat.
"Command duty officer...what do you think would turn a drill into a real war? You don't see it do you? it's imagination! So use your imagination my fellow submariners! A single shell will save ten million lives!
"Begin drill! Ready for anti-air combat!" The cdo order as a shell was loaded into the cannon loader.
"Valkyrie, this is Quarkman. Packaged eggs are ready and waiting, count two. Torres smiled evilly at the news that he had two neutron bombs waiting for him.
"Two worth a million lives each… He said but Quarkman has something else to share.
"Also there is a rumour going round in the military. Three Strikes in the sky is a sign of an ill omen." His tone should grave but Torres just scoffed getting up from his seat."He may end up throwing a wrench into our plans but I have no doubt the plan to save ten million lives will lead Erusea to true victory."
"Stop thinking so small it's salvation on a far grander scale." Matias felt his temper rising.
The cdo who had seemed lost on what had just been said. "Three strikes… he lacks the drive. Imagine you're just about to be killed. Why am I about to be killed, you ask. Because they wanted to steal from you, to torment you, to burn you, to cut you apart. It was for your sins, your actions, and your vengeance! There has to be a reason! Three strikes has none of that. I do."
The command duty officer quietly watched as Torres walked over to the fire control panel.His gaze turned to the cdo who felt nervous"Don't you see, command duty officer? You don't do you? Commence fire."
Back at Anchorhead
Long caster was watching the radar seeing that the number of enemy forces were dwindling. He knew the fight would be over soon when a UAV appeared on his radar "Additional uav on radar!"
Huxian and Trigger both felt uneasy since the Erusean military was capable of sending more than just a lone drone "Warning incoming high speed projectile!" Huxian was preparing for an easy kill on Egil 2 when an unexpected voice burst over the frequency.
"Its terminal guidance get away from the UAV!" David shouted frantically Huxian fired her AMRAAM taking out Egil 2 then banked hard trying to put some distance between her and the UAV.
The AMRAAM obliterated the Su-37 but the pilot didn't eject.
"Contact imminent" Long caster could only watch as the drone blip disappeared from his scope The explosion rocked her eagle and shrapnel pierced her number 1 engine which spewed fire. But Ask 1 and 2 who were tailing Huxian were caught in the blast and destroyed.
"Ahh" Her head hit the back of her seat "Shit I'm hit." Huxian radioed as she shut down her left engine. Alarms rattled through the cockpit.
"More on the way!" Long caster's radar showed more uavs coming in.
"What in the world…." Huxian had already started towards the return line.
"Fire incoming! Distance 50,000! its altering its heading!" Long Caster could watch in horror as it closed on Trigger's position.
"….Trigger get away from it." Huxian cried out but Trigger already had a plan in his mind ready.
"Trigger you better have a plan!?" Avril cried frantically knowing this might be it for her. She wasn't ready to die yet.
"Distance 30,000! Contact imminent!" Long Caster called as Trigger put his plan into motion. He pulled hard right peeling off the centreline tank as the drone was engulfed in an explosion which consumed the drop tank. Trigger nosed down dropping to 1500 feet. The shockwave threw the Super Viper Zero onto its side but Trigger kept it form rolling too far.
Count watched the explosion consume Egil 1, Garm 1 and 4 along with Nor 1 and 3.
"Friendly lost where are the shells coming from?" Garm 3 called as he saw Garm 1 and 4 spiral down in flames.
"Call off the anti-air bombardment!" Egil 4 called out unaware that the Eruseans weren't the ones firing.
"Friendlies are getting caught in the blast." Nor 4 cried as he formed up with Nor 2.
"I'm gonna close on Three Strikes nor 2 stay with me." Nor 4 called over his radio as Trigger pulled into the vertical then half looped followed by a dive and another half loop "How does a manned aircraft fly like that."
"Trigger, Avril you hanging in there?" Count asked as Avril groaned knowing it was pointless to keep quiet now.
Trigger quickly rolled his jet onto Nor 4 and filled his jet with laser shots. "If its my time, all the more honourable at the hands of Three Strikes." the F-15J broke up and disappeared into the clouds.
Nor 2 broke hard but the viper zero easily caught up and Trigger pump his lasers into his eagle but Nor 2 punched out. Trigger knew he was likely not going to survive.
"Damm Count you idiot you blew my cover." Trigger rolled over diving for the deck firing his laser on Ask 3 who punched out as the terminator crashed into the docks.
"Just fine Count my plan worked!" he responded know fuel would now be his biggest concern in a little while. "Huxian RTB that's an order." Trigger knew Huxian needed to get out of the fight.
"Picture it! Salvation, the death of a million is a necessity!" Torres called with a slight evil laugh confirming what Trigger already knew that Torres was insane.
"They are shooting from beyond the horizon. That's why they need the UAV for terminal guidance!" David's tone was grim.
Wiseman knew Huxian was in no fit state to continue fighting "Huxian head back I want that 100% survival rate!"
"Dammit, you're telling me to leave my teammates behind?" Huxian didn't want to leave her teammates behind when there were still enemy fighters in the airspace.
Huxian hated the fact that she was having to retreat cause she wanted to stay and fight."Roger that. I'm pulling out!"
"Lanza escort her to the Usean & Erusean border then tank and get back here." Trigger ordered.
"Wilco boss." Lanza responded forming up with Huxian.
"Three Strikes is performing well above our expectations…" Howard sounded not happy at all that the generals were impressed by Trigger but one of the generals wasn't happy.
Ask 4 was hot on the heels of a UAV when it barrel rolled and pulled a kubit and fired "Damm it I hate dro-" Ask 4 exploded in mid-air. During all this Trigger had slipped onto the drone's tail and torn it to bits with his lasers.
A loud bang reverberated through the air "Projectile guidance terminated! Shell exploded in the distance. Must be a fail safe. All aircraft follow Trigger's example if you can!" Long caster and the other AWACS crew worked to track the shells.
"Bingo looks like our ace found the key to stopping this bombardment." Lanza knew in his heart that he would get out of this alive if Trigger was with them.
Egil 4 was on the deck at near mach 1 with a UAV hot on his heels but Egil 3 closed quickly and fired his adders but the drone outmanoeuvred adders then unloaded its missiles into Egil 4 who crashed into the water.
Eqil 3 started climbing when a missile struck his plane's right engine. He looked over to see Count behind him firing his 20mm cannon which cut into the terminator's airframe. Egil 3 bugged out as his jet broke into two and crashed into the ground.
Gram 2 and Gram 3 formed up intending to retreat "Garm 2 look out!" Garm 3 spotted something but it was too late." the SLAV collided with the F-15J and exploded tearing Garm 2's eagle apart.
Count jumped on Garm 3's distraction firing a missile that stuck the belly turning the eagle into a fireball "And there goes the last Erusean fighter so Long caster who won?"
"And the pilot with the most kills is Trigger." Trigger couldn't resist wanting to gloat.
"As if there was any doubt." Trigger snickered as Count groaned seeing something he should have seen when Trigger and he first met.
"Damm it Trigger you are way out of my league." Count brought his around forming up with the viper zeroes.
Wiseman came back over the frequency "Well done! we've managed to hit the Erusean navy's fleet and command structure pretty hard."
Lanza let out a light cackle "That was definitely a free lunch if there ever was one!"
"Mission complete Return to Base! Withdraw from the operation airspace You completed the mission, but its not done until you return home."
Long Caster scanned his radar when two blips entered his radar "Warning two bogeys inbound bearing 090..."
"We tried to be heroes too we really tried!" a female voice that all except Count recognised from six days earlier.
"Two Su-47 Berkuts its those bats again declared hostile cleared to engage." Long caster updated the strider squadron's huds with the Berkuts.
"Lanza missile break!" Count spotted a missile heading for Lanza.
A triangular missile streaked towards Lanza who heard the missile alert and banked hard but the missile struck the eagle's right elevator as Trigger, Serpentina streaked by with Count but Trigger knew Lanza would need cover to get out of the airspace "Lanza."
Long Caster's radio call sent Trigger immediately into action "Strider 3 is hit!"
The two Berkuts came into radar range "Good now we have less goons to deal with! Do it Scream!"
"Woo-hoo!" Scream cheered as the two Su-47s of Mimic squadron entered the airspace as Trigger and Serpentina turned to engage the Mimics.
"It's those dammed bats just like you suspected Trigger!" Count hated the fact that Trigger's hunch was right.
"Engage to let Strider 3 escape! We're calling off the withdrawal!" Wiseman knew that a retreat was impossible unless those berkuts were shot down.
Rage armed all his weapons locked onto the viper zero with his first and second hyper velocity alamos and ripple fired both but Trigger snapped rolled inverted pulling a spilt s.
Lanza quickly told them what had just happened leaving everyone on the AWACS blind-sided "Long Caster what's happening answer me!" Trigger wanted to know just what they were dealing with.
"It may be the enemy's missiles have stealth capabilities!" Long Caster stopped both Trigger and Avril dead in their tracks.
"Wait what? Long Caster did you just say stealth missiles that's impossible!" Trigger's mind quickly formulated a plan.
"Their missiles may hit you immediately after your missile alert goes off!" Long Caster's AWACS operators worked furiously to track the Berkuts.
"Well I guess not any more Scott!" Laura responded sounding equally surprised.
"Count escort Lanza out of here, me and Laura will deal with the Mimics. Avril you keep your head on a swivel call them out if you see them." Trigger wanted Lanza out of harm's way so the berkuts couldn't attack Strider 3.
Trigger's jet came around with Rage passing in front of him, he selected his cannon firing a brief burst hitting Rage's Berkut punching holes in the fuel tank and external weapons bay.
"Calling out to unidentified aircraft! Cease combat immediately and withdraw!" the Brigadier General spoke out trying to get the mimic to stand down.
Count who was out over the bay with Lanza couldn't believe what Clements was doing "What the…" Lanza couldn't believe what he was hearing either.
"Brigadier General Clements is radioing enemy aircraft on osean channels!" Long Caster and Wiseman looked at each other as it dawned on both men that they had a traitor on tape.
"I repeat withdraw!" Howard demanded wanting the mimics to cease fire and break off.
"No chance! Don't want anyone thinking we screwed up. Three strikes is going down along with Serpentina!" Rage selected his stealth missiles and fired his first and second but Trigger dropped chaff and the stealth missiles missed.
"Yeah and we get double pay if Trigger's backseater dies with him too." Trigger growled broke formation charging at Rage while Scream shot down a pair of SLUAVs that had entered the airspace with her first and second archer missiles.
"You god dammed idiots! You can go to hell together!" Howard's frustration seemed to overrule his common sense he would have realised that he just possibly outed himself. "You siblings can go to hell together!" Howard growled in frustration.
"You call me an idiot again I'll kill you!" Scream responded hating being called an idiot. She switched to her two hyper velocity alamos and fired them at Serpentina who barrel rolled then rolled inverted "You little bitch."
Scream spotted a SLUAV closing on Rage who used his third stealth missile to down it "So not only do we have to down Three Strikes but avoid someone else's fire as well."
Scream felt an explosion go off behind her "Who the hell is firing those missiles?"
"Strider 1 shoot them down!" Howard ordered seeming unaware of Jason's presence.
"Gladly." He pressed a button sending an AAM-4B towards Rage who activated his ECM as his Berkut's right wingtip was torn off.
Laura locked on with her first hyper velocity sparrow but Scream's ECM decoyed the seeker "The bats seemed to have enhanced their ECM capabilities. Dirty tricks aren't all they got both clearly are ace material!"
"Well of course we help your force take back our employer's base." Scream commented thinking back to operation dice when a shriek of a missile alert as Laura's second sparrow launched but Scream deployed chaff and banked hard losing the lock when Laura's first AAM-5 missile struck part of her right tail damaging the rudder.
"Projectile launched! 10 seconds to contact!" Trigger heard a missile alert as Rage's last stealth missile was fired at Trigger who nosed forward below the clouds.
"This is great I get to chat with the man I'm about to kill. fox two." Scream called as the SLUAV exploded but her final stealth missile missed Trigger and hit the water.
Trigger pulled hard firing his laser but Rage's Berkut was ahead of the shots "That was close." he prepared to come around when a SLUAV appeared but Rage quickly dispatched it with an archer while Trigger had dispatched another with his first AAM-5.
"Your PMC, aren't you? that's why you've got connections with the Osean military." Trigger wanted answers from these two pilots. He was hot on Rage's tail firing a second AAM-4b but it was decoyed by the ECM system.
Scream selected her two her high power archers firing her first but Serpentina ducked inside the clouds "Damm I missed."
"Firing." she fired her second high power archer but Serpentina deployed her flares and one them collided with the missile destroying it.
Trigger looked over his weapons seeing he had two AAM-3 and 4Bs with a single AAM-5 "Trigger break bandit 8 o clock." Avril spotted Rage who fired his 30mm cannon but Trigger barrel rolled as Scream joined him as Rage's second archer left the weapons bay but Trigger dove into the clouds and the missile lost him.
"Haven't killed outside of a job in such a long time." Rage spoke looking over what he had left knowing they'd expend too much ammo thanks to the drones.
Trigger flew over Anchor hill descending towards the city as Rage fired his first high powered archer but Trigger ducked feet from the road as the archer's seeker lost its lock in all the ground clutter and struck a building
Trigger's muscles ached as his fatigue increased when he heard something he wasn't expecting "Scream fire MIRVS."
Each fired their first MIRV "Can you go crazy outside of the job Scream?" Rage asked his sister as they watched the MIRVS close in on Trigger.
"As long as I got you and a strong man to subdue!" Scream giggled as Trigger flew through the city with MIRVS exploding on the side of buildings.
Rage rolled over choosing his second high power archer and opened fire. The archer streaked towards him but Trigger quickly barrel rolled then popped another set of flares decoying the Archer.
"Well you heard us, Three Strikes. We're hear to take you down." Rage spoke his voice laced with venom but Trigger banked hard right turning towards the bay but Trigger snap pulled the jet into a climbing turn locking onto Rage with his second AAM-5 and launched the missile. It climbed towards Rage who put his ecm system at max jamming the missile.
Avril could see how the clouds were building up indicating that a storm was coming but unbeknownst to the Mimics Avril had installed a piece of software that helped improve the seeker's lock in clouds.
Serpentina shot her second hyper velocity sparrow at Scream but Rage's ECM pod overwhelmed the missile's seeker as well.
The bats closed on Trigger and fired their second MIRVS but the close proximity of the viper zero to the water caused the MIRVS to hit the water.
"I wonder when they'll realise." Avril asked herself careful not to blab over the radio when Count's voice came over it.
"Trigger change frequency They're eavesdropping on us as we speak." Trigger changed frequency. "Trigger!..right, now its just the three of us on the line. Those dammed bats are probably looking for a chance to pincer you so Lanza and I once you say will ripple fire our AMRAAMs if one breaks formation you take em down! They seem to have a crush on you. So let me work my charm."
Scream closed on Serpentina who'd lost sight of Trigger trying to get a lead for her cannon. But she couldn't so reformed with Rage.
"Scream we've been had." Rage realised as he to a horrifying conclusion that the two viper zeroes were stalling till our ammo was depleted.
"Now fire!" Trigger called and missile alerts filled the bats cockpits as eight AMRAAMs streaked their way into the harbour. "Shit Mimic 2 break."
The bats broke formation as Serpentina reached the apex of her loop.
She rolled over descending onto Scream's tail who chopped the power and rolled inverted till she was canopy to canopy with Serpentina.
"Scream we only have our cannons now." Rage felt that their time was running out.
The sudden realisation distracted Scream who added some power rolling right in front of Serpentina in perfect position for a laser cannon kill but Rage closed in fast to stop Serpentina with his 30mm cannon.
Unfortunately for Rage Trigger pounced firing AAM-4B no.3 "Fox three." the AAM-4B tracked towards Rage striking the back of his Berkut while Scream climbed vertically reaching her apex just as Trigger's missile hit.
"Splash 1 Berkut." Trigger called as the Berkut dropped towards the water.
"You did it Trigger!" Count cried having heard the splash call.
"Rage." Scream shouted as she heard and saw the explosion.
"You idiot, stay focused! Kill them al..." Rage rolled inverted and slammed his ejector jettisoning himself form the Berkut as it disintegrated in mid air. Scream seeing the explosion and not her brother in a parachute.
She felt her world crashing down around her. "Arrh I told you not to call me an idiot!"
"There's only 1 left Scott we'll run her down together but the death blow will come from you brother." Serpentina felt a swell of hope that they could win.
"No I can't do this alone! He was real smart, you know?! I can't do anything not on my own! Noo, I don't want to live kill me!.." Scream climbed into the vertical but Trigger fired another burst of cannon fire damaging the fuel tanks. The voice in the Berkut descended into burst of maniacal laughter.
The voice in the solo Berkut sounded like she was losing it "No. Just kill me Three strikes! Three strikes." Rage who could hear all of what scream was saying, he worried that his sister would in her psychotic episode would crash her plane and kill herself.
"I'll kill you just like you did my brother." she said but it was clear to the two Osean pilots and even Rage that Scream was having a massive breakdown.
"Rage don't leave me alone, you can't leave me like this." she screeched as theSuper Viper Zeroes closed in firing their lasers raking over the fuselage making more dents but as they pulled out Scream fired her cannon but in her distressed state missed until her gun was all but empty.
"I'm going to see Rage I can't live without him." Scream was so broken that she considered to herself to put her jet into a dive and slam it straight into the ground. "No Rage." Scream could hear the missile alerts and reached for her ECM control turning it all the way down.
"You want to kill me, right? C'mon then I'm all yours kill me." she said as Trigger positioned himself and lobbed his fourth AAM-4B with destroyed more of her left wing.
Scream's cockpit alarms blared as Trigger raked her jet with bullets with one puncturing her fuel tank. "I know Rage's going to heaven, so I'll be all alone again in hell. I'll be waiting for you down there, Three Strikes."
Rage having gotten aboard the boat tuned the radio having heard Scream's transmission.
Laura spotted a chute in the water. "Scream I see a chute I think Rage made it out."
"Sis I ain't going to heaven today. Now eject that's an order Mimic 2!" Rage said as Scream punched out of her Berkut as the missile Trigger fired struck the crippled jet sending it down in flames. The Berkut crashed into the bay sinking quickly.
She landed in the water as he watched her hit the water and carefully moved the boat to pick her up.
"Three strikes, Serpentina we will meet again." Rage spoke as Scream sat down in the cabin.
"And we shall be waiting, you and Rage are skilled opponents." Trigger acknowledged as he and his sister turned for home.
"So we've not seen the last of them huh?" Avril was quiet as the jet left the airspace. While Rage steered the missile boat out of the harbour.
"Yes, the problem has been eliminated for now." Howard was a little angry that Mimic survived. "Now leave the ao and return to base."
One of the AWACS operators who was listening to the Erusean frequency let an incoming transmission "Meet us at the drop-off point. Three Strikes has removed all the straggler Eursean forces. That did make for a good sideshow."
Wiseman clenched his fists as he realised that they'd be had "I hate being played Long Caster." Long Caster himself wasn't happy either knowing that the debrief would get ugly.
Outside the harbour
The missile boat powered out the harbour as Scream looked out the window seeing the storm "Can you believe it Rage we lost to Three Strikes in a conversion trainer."
Rage wanted to say something but didn't when a new voice came on "I wouldn't worry about that Mimic after all you proved the new technology we provided worked so we can mass produced the missile and look at this way you get the new felon stealth fighters."
Rage listened for where they'd regroup and turned the boat towards the north.
New arrows air base
18:00pm
"So where is Trigger and Serpentina Count?" Jaeger asked as he stepped out onto the tarmac. He saw the two damaged Eagle. One had puncture holes in engine no.1 and the other had heavy right elevator damage.
"Well they must be on the way back." Count mused as Huxian stepped outside and she was not happy. "So that Brigadier general sounds very cocky but he talks a big game, I think he's afraid of being out-shined."
"Let me tell you something, men who talk a big game but push themselves too hard tend to die before their time. The Strider 1 before Trigger was the same kind of guy. Count and him have a lot in common including the annoying cocky ass laughter." Huxian scoffed as the winds blew across the airfield.
"We have nothing in common. And if you think the new Strider 1 gonna be replaced so soon! you're wrong." Count scoffed as the low rumble of jets echoed in the distance.
The Super Viper Zeroes came into view touching down minutes later "So Trigger I must say you finally managed to bring a jet back without a scratch." Avril flt happy that she didn't have to fix up another of Trigger's messes.
New Arrows hangar no.4
18:20pm
Parking the aircraft into the hangar, the canopy opened as Trigger and Avril stepped out, exhausted from the flight, mentally and physically.
Dropping down onto the floor, he straightened up and stretched his aching muscles, Avril following suit.
"There's no denying it now. There has to be the spy." Trigger grunted out to Avril.
"You think so?" She asked, steadying herself on her good leg.
"You're spot on."
A snarling voice turned their heads towards Huxian, who had stormed into the hangar to join them.
"Its that fucking Brigadier General. He even ordered to have you killed." She told them.
"What?!" Trigger exclaimed. "How do you know?"
"I overheard that son of a bitch. Come on." Turning on her heels she walked out the hangar doors, Trigger and Avril following closely.
New Arrows briefing room no.3
18:25pm
Howard was being held by two officers as the rest of the squadron surrounded him. The trio from the hangar arrived shortly after.
"You traitorous bastard!" Huxian moved forward, her fist raised. Before it could hit, she was immediately subdued by Skald.
"Huxian, calm down! Stand down! Sit!" Wiseman ordered her, as she stopped her struggling against her wingman, her eyes still burning with fury as she stared down the General. But his attention was not on her.
Howard sneered at Trigger who was clenching his fists. "Why target me?"
"Is it not clear enough?" He scoffed. "Osea depends too much on you. I wanted to show to her that we don't need a pilot such as you. Someone as skilled as you, what would happen if you defected? Joined the enemy? Went against us? It's better if we solve this problem before it even becomes one!"
Noticing Avril standing behind Trigger, he continued, "Of course, it meant we had to take her out of the picture as well."
Glancing back at Avril who looked surprised, he turned back to face Howard, barely hiding the seething rage in his voice as he muttered, "Excuse me?"
"With her still alive, she boosts your chances of survival greatly with her mechanical prowess, thus making it more difficult for us and showing Osea more easily how much this country needs you. We couldn't have that, so I opted to have her eliminated as well. Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak, since she was in your plane." Howard smirked at him.
Trigger, already furious that he had tried to have him killed, but Avril as well? The rage inside him had reached boiling point now.
"You slimy son of a bitch, I'll fucking kill you for trying to harm her!" Trigger lunged forward, pulling his gun out of his holster. Before he could even raise it, he was immediately held back by Wiseman.
Trigger banged his knee on a table sending a glass of cola dropping to the floor.
"Shit my cola!" Skald groaned as cola and glass shards slipped onto the floor as everyone stopped.
"Strider 1, stand down, damnit! First Huxian, and then you. Calm down!" Wiseman barked at him, holding Trigger's hand back but he pulled away from him, taking aim at Howard and pulling the hammer back.
"Trigger, no!" A soft hand on his arm pulled at him, the voice and the touch grabbing his attention away. Turning his head around, he noticed Avril had grabbed on to his arm, with her standing beside him. Just looking into her eyes was enough to cool his anger down, making him hesitate on pulling the trigger.
"He's already done for, Leave it." She told him.
"Avril, this bastard wanted me killed to prove something. But he even went as far to want to kill you." He growled at her. But Avril wasn't having any of it.
"Strider 1, you will stand down." She angrily told him staring him down, knowing if he will listen to anyone, it was her.
Her look alone was enough to make Trigger lower his gun. Avril removed her grip from his arm and moved it to his hand, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze as his own hand loosened around the handgrip, letting her take the gun from him. She handed it over to Laura, and threw Howard a dirty look.
"Besides, a court martial is enough for him." She spat at him.
The group sat down "The fleet at Anchorhead was eliminated and we've prevented the submarine from joining forces. The unidentified aircraft were shot down too. The mission was a complete success." Howard spoke but Huxian didn't think it was a success.
"Complete success my ass!" Huxian's voice was littered with venom. Trigger kept his revolver as his hip as Count stood up looking just as unhappy at Howard as Cynthia was.
"Brigadier general, it sure seemed like to me like the bats knew you pretty damn well." Count mused having over heard most the radio chatter.
"You seem to be confused. Report for a medical check. we'll decide if you are fit for service based on the examination." Howard scoffed which to Trigger was like Howard was trying to impute that Count was making things up but even he could see the exhaustion that was running across Count's face.
Eagle was also being restrained by Tailor with his leash but was barking and snarling at Howard "Eagle sit you bad dog." the Malmute responded to her owner's command whining.
Huxian tried to punch Howard only for Wiseman and Skald to hold her back "Cut it." Wiseman called having just about had enough of what was going on but was still trying to process the whole situation.
"That's enough!" Jaeger said raising his voice, Trigger knew was something that only happened if people were acting like dumbasses.
"Get the mp!" Howard called as Laura moved for the phone when new voice came in.
"He's right get the mp!" the unknown voice said having entered the room. A tall black-brown haired man who none of the LRSSG other than Wiseman recognised.
"Vice chairman Edwards of the Joint Chiefs of Staff!" Howard recognised him immediately having no idea why he was at the base.
"Before we continue Trigger, explain why you took a non-qualified person as your back seater?" Jason wasn't surprised in fact he had expected this recalling that his old friend and mother of Three Strikes had pulled something similar.
"Well Sir we really didn't have much choice since we had no weapon system officers on the team so we had to improvise." Trigger explained knowing he'll get in trouble for it."
Jason sighed to himself "You know Three Strikes I'm not surprised really."
Jason pulled up a chair "Now then back to the de-brief, The Alicorn slipped into Anchorhead after the mission was completed, using the confusion for cover but during the operation the Erusean military sent two strike packages to sink the Alicorn but all were lost."
The pilots of Strider stopped in their tracks upon hearing this slow to realise what was going on.
"It resupplied quickly and escaped unharmed. Their goal was not join forces. It was to resupply using the window we created by chasing away the Erusean forces." he told them as they all felt angry as it was slow to dawned on them all that they'd been played.
Trigger instantly felt like an idiot as he realised what happened "Dammit we were played fuck." Trigger swore feeling angry at being used.
"Exactly Three Strikes we did their bidding, albeit unknowingly. But the problem runs deeper than our lack of tactical acumen. Analyst North, explain for us."
"Of the crew caught in the submarine accident 330 men made it back alive. Of them 300 are still on the sub today. Our intel has led us to believe that some or all of the thirty men you left the sub are now working as agents for the Alicorn." North told them as they looked at Howard quickly coming to the conclusion that he was the spy.
"Sabotage, espionage, cyber propaganda, dissemination of false intel." Alex listed as David caught his breath.
"Brigadier general, do you recognise the name Edgar Saxon or Zul, as he use to go by? He is a former member of the Alicorn's crew. And your source of intel." he told him as Huxian struggled to contain her anger and to break free of her squadmates hold.
"You are a fool Brigadier General Clements. Not only that the radio communications during the mission this afternoon suggest you are a traitor." Jason bluntly told them as it dawned on Howard that he had been outed.
Howard felt trapped all his exits where blocked and he had people pissed at him and a snarling angry dog ready to bite his head off and a medium barrelled anaconda revolver being pointed at him "Sir if you check with Lieutenant General Shepard, you'll understand that this is all a misunderstanding." he said trying to weasel his way out of this but Jason was having none of it.
"The Lieutenant General claims you were responsible for handling all aspects of the mission." Jason was about to order the mps be called but waited cause he felt Clements had something much worse coming.
Eagle's growling returned. "Oh Brigadier General Clements you shouldn't have tried to kill Avril." Trigger looked back at Avril who was smiling evilly.
"Oh yeah and why is that?" Brigadier General Clements looked lost as Trigger smirked while Avril stepped up to him.
"Yeah I ain't military." She reached for a wrench that she had picked up from the hangar.
"What?" The Brigadier General's jaw dropped as he realised that he had put himself in more hot water.
"I'm a civilian mechanic that your penal system sent to spare cause I was good enough to have rebuilt a Starfighter and if someone wants to direct me to an attorney I'd like to press charges against Clements for trying to kill me." Both the Brigadier General and Vice Chairmen were caught by surprise.
"I think it should be taken into account that your idea to destroy the Ran fleet at Anchorhead was a good idea militarily."
"Now let me say that again. Get the mp, Trigger arrest Brigadier General Clemens." he said sounding just as miffed as Huxian was.
"No need." Huxian hit Howard with a knockout punch who fell to the floor unconscious "Piece of shit."
The mps came into the room, Trigger simply pointed to the floor and the mps cuffed the former brigadier general unceremoniously picking him up off the floor to take him to the medical bay.
New Arrows lounge
22:00pm
"TOP OSEAN GENERAL CHARGED WITH TREASON."
The news headline on the TV read out. Avril leaned back into her chair and stretched her leg, looking down at it before turning towards Trigger, who was hunched over a table, facing away from her.
"Still thinking about it?" Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts as he straightened up.
"Oh. Yeah, just... thinking." He told her distractedly.
"You got pretty heated back there, Trigger." She asked him after a few seconds.
"I know."
"But you became furious when he said he wanted me killed as well." Avril told him, a hint of nervousness creeping into her voice. 'Why the hell do I care about that?' She thought to herself.
Meanwhile Trigger was having an internal battle of his known. His insides churned as he went back to the scene; he had lost it completely on hearing what Howard had said about Avril. 'Why?' He thought to himself, the voice in his head identical to Avril's until he realised she was actually asking him, staring at him intently.
Avril mentally slapped herself for blurting that question out. 'What is wrong with me, why the hell do I want to know why he was angry for me?' She asked herself, agitated at herself but expectedly waiting for his answer. Was it excitement she was feeling? No. It must be nervousness, she told herself.
Her voice had managed to jump start his brain, as he quickly racked his head for an answer. He sighed and turned to face her. "Look, I just got angry that I got you roped up in trouble. You became a target because of me and I guess I feel kind of responsible and guilty." He spoke weakly.
Avril nodded, exhaling deeply and letting the nervousness out of her system along with it. "R-right. I understand. Thank you." She told him, looking down as she felt her face flush.
Neither spoke to each other as the room somehow became increasingly awkward with each passing minute, until she got up.
"Right." She said again. "I should get to bed, you know. Long day today. You can get me a list of what you need for your plane tomorrow in the morning."
"Of course." Trigger dismissed her, turning his head away as she opened the door.
"Hey."
Turning to see Avril holding the door open, her lips slightly curved upwards as she continued, "Good night... dumbass."
Trigger returner her smile. "Good night, Scrap Queen."
A/n
I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter and thank you to k-nack 7 for his help with the chapter