Chapter 16

Interception, Part 2

Sicario

February 2, 432 AC

"Vanguard, you are on station," Argonaut said. "Stand by for your infight briefing."

"Copy that, Argonaut," Katrina said. The rest of her squadron shortly followed suit.

"As of yesterday, all civilian and military flights in or out of Cascadian airspace have been redirected to any airport or at the threat of a shootdown," Argonaut said, malice in his voice. "However, Cascadia has now stooped to recruit aid in the form of mercenaries and other PMC forces."

"Really?" Twister said with a laugh in his voice. "Just a few years ago, we were ridding the mercenaries in Oceania with these people. And now they are recruiting those people to fight in their war? Oh, man, they must be getting desperate."

"They must be," Katrina said. "Continue, Argonaut."

"Vanguard, you are to act as a border patrol force, eliminating any mercenary fighter group or PMC that dares to cross over into Cascadia, otherwise they might have a fighting chance," Argonaut ordered. Suddenly, a radar beep on Katrina's HUD told her that she had a couple of contacts.

"Vanguard, we have contact with a mercenary PMC trying to breach into Cascadian airspace. You are free to engage."

"Roger," Katrina said. "Requesting targeting bearing."

"Push 400 dead ahead, weapons free," Argonaut said. "Weapons free."

"Wilco," Katrina said, selecting her MLAAs. "Vanguard, we are free-range. Take these low lives out."

"Roger," Twister said. "These punks are no different than those in Oceania."

"Then treat them just the same," Katrina ordered, highlighting the first set of targets: A pair of F/C-15 Eagles that orbited a pair of C/T-17s and a quintet of Sk.30s. Completing the mix was a lone FC-8 escorted by a pair of F/D-14s. All planes had a mixed slate-gray and black woodland camo. Once the two Eagles were highlighted, she fired 2 MLAAs at them.

"Vanguard 1, Fox Three!" Argonaut called. Katrina's two MLAAs struck both of the Eagles, and they fell out of the sky in flames.

"Easy money," she said, using her AOA limiter to turn back and destroy an Sk.30 with her guns.

"No doubt," Peppermint said, strafing the C/T-17s with a gun pass. "These guys are no different than those chumps we fought years ago. Speaking of which, who are we dealing with?"

"Standby," Argonaut said, and Katrina heard typing as he combed through his records. In the meantime, she locked onto the C/T-17s and downed them with a pair of standard missiles.

"From what I could gather, you are currently engaged with a private security corporation called Maverick Incorporated. They specialize in aerial warfare among some of the periphery states." There was a moment of silence as Argonaut scrolled through. Katrina dodged a missile from one of the other Sk.30s. She then looped behind it using her AOA Limiter and totaled it with a gun burst. "There isn't anything regarding their previous deployments."

"Well, make this one their last," Katrina snarled, highlighting the FC-8 and its escorts and opening fire. Several MLAAs detached from her fighter and soared towards the mercenary planes. All three of them connected, and the two F/D-14s and the FC-8 shriveled up and fell to the ground in fiery wrecks.

"Argonaut, HVT down," she said, turning her attention to the remaining Sk.30s.

"Good work, Vanguard," Argonaut said, his dangerous leer in his voice returning. "Show that mercenary filth that they are not welcome in Cascadia."

"Roger," Katrina said, tightening her grip on the controls. "Vanguard, take on one of them separately. Don't stop until they are all down."

"Roger that, Comet," Twister said, peeling off to engage the nearest Sk.30. He easily destroyed it with a quick gun burst to the cockpit.

"Righto. Time to make the doughnuts," Peppermint said, picking his Sk.30 and pursuing it relentlessly. He eventually got a solid lock and destroyed it with a standard missile.

Katrina found the remaining Sk.30 and locked it up. She prepared to fire her standard missiles, but the aircraft was flying too erratically for her to get a clear shot. She waited as the two planes swerved this way and that, trying to get on each other's backs and shoot each other down. However, an opportunity arose when the mercenary pilot attempted to draw her towards the ground. Katrina seized this opportunity and gunned through the engines of the plane, causing it to spiral towards the ground in flames. The pilot didn't eject.

"Vanguard 1, splash one," Argonaut said. "That takes care of our mercenary problem. All aircraft, RTB."

X

"Good work, Vanguard," Mckay said, adjusting his glasses. "The mercenary intrusion along the southern region of the Freson Range has been kept to a minimum. However, we have a problem on our hands." He let out a sigh. "Earlier today, we detected another large PMC crossing the Freson Range. They engaged our border patrol squadrons, and they slipped through unscathed. To add to this disaster, they managed to destroy the Littoria-class battlecruiser, the Espadon."

"How?" Katrina cried. "How can such low lives challenge the will of the Federation?"

"Apparently, from what we were able to salvage from the last report from an AWACS stationed in the area, it seems like these mercs were the ones that we hired to recover the Meylix's cargo," Mckay said, sighing.

"Sicario? You mean those guys?" Twister said. "Damn mercs, always looking for their next paycheck so that they can keep shooting away at things."

"Which is why we got to cut off the main backbone of the Cascadian military soon," Mckay said. "But for now, get some rest and standby for your next sortie. Dismissed."

A/N: Just a short chapter while exams are picking up. Stay safe!