Chapter 14

By the ship's clock, which was kept in time with Katina City, it was seven in the morning. Having had a good breakfast, Francine headed off to her next appointment, in the officer's lounge. She found the other three veterans of Husky Squadron talking quietly at one of the sets of couches. Bill was handing out datapads, no doubt on the upcoming attack.

"Hey, guys." She said, walking up to them. "Did I miss much?"

"No." Perry replied. "Take a seat, we need to sort this out."

Francine sat on the couch next to Bill. "Well, what is it?"

Bill gave her a datapad. "This is the last spy probe's recon data." He said. "The enemy fleet is moving towards Titania, leaving behind a solid defensive core of one carrier, two battleships and twenty-two frigates."

"They outnumber us." Francine said.

"Not impossibly, and from previous experience we should be able to beat that." Bill reached for his coffee. "Husky Squadron will cover Lightning squadron on a bombing run of the carrier, then we'll refuel after Bulldog's done with the tanker ship. Then we're back out and accompanying the Lightnings down to the surface where we'll hit surface-to-space hyper-batteries and run cover for our ground troops going in." He sipped some of the black coffee and set the mug down again.

"Lightning's awful green, sir." Wallace crossed his arms. "It's going to be hard to protect them."

Bill waved the comment aside. "That's why Husky's been given the job. All of their B-14's will be armed with Nova Bombs and minimal other weapons. Which means that they have to get in range and we have to get in close. We estimate it'll take 24 to 36 Nova Bombs to cripple that thing, so keep them safe. Go to the next page."

Francine pressed a small button on the side of her datapad, and the image changed to one displaying a battle plan.

"OK, One and Three flight go ahead of the bombers and clear a path through their fighter screen. One flight will engage fighters to keep them off the formation's tail. We'll be up against the heaviest odds, but we're counting on you all to hit the carrier quickly and get around to help us out. Three flight will stay ahead of the bomber formation and draw the carrier's fire, as well as nailing in the first hits. Two flight will liaise with the bombers and do whatever else is needed. Francine, I expect you to get in the killing blow."

Francine grinned. "It shouldn't be too hard. Every ship has a weak spot, even that monster."

"We'll be expecting up to 130 enemy fighters from their fleet, maybe as many as forty more from Macbeth itself." Bill drank more of his coffee. "We'll be right in the thick of it, but Striker, Nightwing and Demon squadrons will back us up by approaching with long-range missiles from above their carrier. They'll launch first and hopefully draw away some of the enemy fighters. Demon squadron will engage the fighters and Nightwing and Striker will return and re-arm. Demon will retire if the odds get too much, and if the enemy decides to give chase they'll be met by Bulldog, Fang and Heretic Squadrons in front of our fleet. Halberd and Comet squadrons from the escort carriers will be on hand to cover wherever they might be needed. The battleships of our fleet will go straight in at theirs, while our cruisers and destroyers will lay into their smaller ships. The Archangel will stay with the tenders and cargo ships, with the frigates as defence."

"And for the ground attack?" Asked Francine.

"All of us will just take orders as they come." Bill sighed. "And that's all we have to offer. The formal stuff's right on the back page of your datapads."

"This is dangerous as hell." Groaned Wally. "Big risk."

"Well, someone's gonna pull it off, and we're the one's with the best chance." Bill replied. "Just like the good ol' days, Wal."

"What, the best chance to get killed, because we're always in the worst situations?" Wally asked.

"Yeah, pretty much." Bill smiled grimly.

"Yep." Wally said, resignedly. "Just like the good ol' days."

The simulator shut down moments after the carrier had finally gone down. "Terry, that was great flying back there." Someone said. "Twelve kills!"

"Nothing, it was nothing. Seven set me up for half of them."

"Thanks, Eight, but you shot them in the end."

"Haha, we do that again and we'll be on Venom by dinnertime." Laughed Husky Six.

"OK everyone out of the sims." Lieutenant Bastion said.

Terry hopped out of the too-small simulator and stretched to his full height- which was a good one and a half feet taller than most of the other pilots. It was good to be healthy again. The lieutenant was waiting.

"That was good, but we let four bombers get destroyed. I'm sure we all know why."

"Yeah." Keeler sighed. "We spent too much time dodging and protecting ourselves and we couldn't protect the bombers."

Bastion nodded. "In a way, yes. But you especially set yourself up that way Keeler. You interposed your fighter between theirs and the bomber, as if you were a shield. The bombers are tougher than you are and what they need from you is your speed. You had some great shooting and provided good cover for the bombers on the way in. But after that you were screwed. Use the bombers. Separate from them a little to get a good shot on the incoming fighters- after all they'll be lining up on the bombers at that stage, not you."

"Yes ma'am." Said Keeler.

"You three are dismissed until the briefing at 1500. Remember, contact lines to the outside are closed until after the attack."

The three subordinate pilots nodded and saluted. Lieutenant Bastion moved off to confer with Commander Grey and Commander Warren.

"Well I fouled up a little then." Keeler said regretfully.

Terry shrugged. "Bah, forget it. You did it here, not in the battle." He said. "I'm gonna have a nap then head off to the game room."

"Yeah, I gotta nail Don for something."

Terry grinned. "What did he do to you this time?"

Matt glanced at the floor. "Well, I had just sat down at the bar last night and the bartender came up and gave me baby nutrients and a glass of milk 'compliments of Husky 3'"

Terry winced. As the youngest in the squadron, Matt was subject to this particular kind of prank.

"BABY NUTRIENTS!" Matt growled. "They keep baby nutrients on this ship!"

"Maybe Don brought them with him just to pull that on you. It'd be the sorta thing he'd do." Said Terry.

"Yeah… Hey, wasn't Blaze with us a second ago?" Matt looked around

Husky Seven had vanished from beside them.

Matt huffed. "Huh, didn't even tell us he was going anywhere."

Terry shrugged. Though he wished he could find out Blaze's problem, he had long ago decided to leave Blaze be. "Don't worry about him. So you wanted to get Don back for it, eh?" Terry stroked the lower half of his beak. "Well, that's something we've all wanted to do for a loooong time, and I have something I think might be able to help you…"