Chapter 32
Bill's fighter fell in behind the two battered transports. "Is everyone in there?" He asked.
Fuzzy sounded exultant. "That's affirmative, leader! All members of the strike team made it back alive and we rescued our pilots- along with the computer core and a little friend they picked up. A couple of 'em need medical treatment, but Perry's dealing with it."
"All right Husky Twelve, keep your head about you, we've still got a starfighter situation to handle. Gus, what's the status?"
"A squad of six will be on you in one minute, coming on faster than the transports. Two other squadrons have also launched from other bases, but they won't catch up for quite a while." Replied the kangaroo.
"What kind of a while?"
"A while long enough not to cause us any trouble before we warp." With that, Gus' fighter burst into the valley, flying low and fast, catching up with Bill's formation.
Bill set the last phase of the plan into action.
"All right everyone, let's make a break for it. When those fighters come after us, I'll offload all of my missiles into their formation. I want Fara to polish off any that survive. The rest of you, stay close to the transports."
Bill's and Fara's fighters turned and sped away to face the oncoming threat. The transports by this stage had dropped shield and laser power and had directed most of their generators' energy into the engines. Both were now speeding towards the warp point as fast as the fighters.
"Fara, come up behind me. Lock onto all fighters, but don't fire until my missiles hit or miss, got it?" Bill said.
"OK. Missiles armed."
Soon they came, six enemy fighters, all brimming with weaponry and their pilots fueled by vengeance.
Neither vengeance nor firepower could help them though, against Bill's more advanced avionics systems. He locked onto each enemy fighter and fired six missiles before the enemy could get into firing range. The six streaks closed with the enemy fighters at terrifying speed, the fire consuming most of them without their pilots even having a chance to cringe.
Only two managed to evade Bill's missiles, and they were promptly dispatched by Fara.
The two Kodiak fighters then went spaceward, putting maximum power into the engines.
Macbeth, site of their worst strategic loss, site of their greatest personal victory, was being left behind them.
"All ships report." Bill said.
"Husky Five, I'm fine."
"Fang Leader, A-OK."
"Demon Leader here, just peachy."
"Bulldog Leader, I'm in top shape."
"Starfox Five here, No problems."
"Husky Four here, Only me and Terry on board. Must be crowded over there, huh Fuzzy?"
"You're missing the party Benny. All personnel accounted for. Everyone's alive and the intel package has been retrieved. We did it!"
"Excellent, well done group! We came through without losing anyone. That's how we gotta operate more often!" Bill checked the gravity indicator, unable to keep from smiling any longer. "All right, we're far away enough from Macbeth to warp. Everyone, warp on five. Let's go home."
An automated countdown started on Bill's HUD. The sensors reported multiple starfighters closing in on his group, but they were too late. His team would get clean away.
A moment later, his ship and his strike force left Macbeth space, having completed another mission.
And for once it had gone to plan.