A/N – Sorry if I've confused the dear reader with the characters. Up to this point, I've introduced the main players in their own 'feature spot light'. Yes, maybe there are a lot, but when you have 16+ important characters, it can be difficult to pick one as a favorite. They have their personalities and quirks and it's a lot of fun for me to explore them. But it's mostly action from now on so just enjoy.
Katina Squadrons
Chapter 9 – The Real Thing
"Not bad, One Flight," Bill said as the four members of One Flight climbed out of the simulators.
"We all made it that time," Keeve commented.
"And accomplished the mission," Daphne added.
Bill handed them data chips, "You know what to do with these. Dismissed."
As the three pilots left the room, Peter walked in.
"So Bill, how are things going?"
"Much better," he smiled, "It's been a long week, but each pilot, and flight, has improved just about all aspects of flying and teamwork."
"That live-fire training was a great idea. And a lot of fun as well," the jackal said.
Bill nodded, "It was actually Keeve's suggestion, as his previous squadron had no simulators to use."
"So Commander, what do you say we have a little competition? You and me, five minutes in the sims, auto restart, loser buys winner a drink."
Bill grinned, "You're on."
The sim started in Sector Z. The red auras cast a ruddy glow into Bill's cockpit. He spied Peter on his radar display.
"Five minutes start now," Peter said.
Bill barrel rolled as green lasers flashed his way. He watched as the red blip drew closer and pulled into a hard turnaround. The maneuver put him behind Bulldog's commander.
"Nice move, Red 1."
"I would move your ship instead of your mouth, Bulldog 1," Bill quipped, drawing an amused bark from Peter.
Bill chased Peter's ship in a hard horizontal arc. The jackal glanced at his display and slowly started reducing speed. The decrease was smooth and Bill was suddenly forced to evade collision. He arced to Peter's starboard wing. A loud beeping warned of target lock, but the greyhound was too close to the other Arwing to evade successfully.
The bomb slammed into Bill's aft engine.
His screen blanked momentarily, "That was pretty gutsy Bulldog 1."
"Yeah, but successful anyway," the jackal laughed.
When Bill returned to the battlefield, he was at an advantage with Peter's jet at 52% shields and his at full power. They took turns chasing each other around the arena until Bill fired the finishing shot and reduced Peter's ship to scrap.
"Tied one for one," Peter said.
They U-turned at opposite corners and faced each other.
"This is one mad game of chicken," Bill grinned.
"Yeah, but it'll be the tie breaker, there's fifteen seconds left," Peter commented.
Green lasers poured from cannons when they spotted each other in their crosshairs. It was a test of brute strength and cunning. The seconds ticked down like their shield strength and the last moment, one screen blanked before the other.
"Well, Peter, looks like you owe me a drink," Bill said as he hopped out of the simulator.
"You put almost all your engine power into the shields," the jackal said rather than questioned.
A nod confirmed it and he added, "I noticed when I had overshot the pre-computed center, but it was too late by then. Good move."
The strategy had boosted power to the shields while keeping the lasers at full power. Manipulating power usage was a skill necessary to advanced pilots.
"I took a little power from engines too, but they went to the lasers. I figured I'd try to outshoot you," Peter smirked.
"So when will you buy me that drink," Bill asked.
Red alert lights flashed, signaling an attack.
"It'll have to be later," Peter said, "I thought they weren't going to start landing transports till next week!"
"Let's go find out."
"Zima Squadron and Bud Squadron, hang back and await orders to move in," Arbor Squadron's leader, Major Cane (or perhaps 'Captain Morgan') said. The lizard was also the air commander of the three units.
"Arbors, break into flights and move to predetermined attack positions," he added.
"No activity yet, sir," Arbor 3 said.
"Radar tower spotted," Arbor 6 shouted.
"Get rid of it," Major Cane said.
An explosion lit the darkened terrain as red laser demolished the tower. The target base appeared in the distance, shadowed on two sides opposite the setting sun.
"Two and Three flights, stay back and cover the troop transports. Once they've landed, call in Zima and Bud Squadrons, we'll draw out all the enemy pilots and destroy them. On my mark, go," Cane said.
"One enemy squadron is confirmed, but eight ships are standing by, two clicks from the base. Four more are heading this way fast. They took out the radars and com towers," Keeve said quickly.
Bill and Peter exchanged looks.
Deanna Kulli zipped up her flight suit, "They looked like Invader Is on long distance scanners, but the radar went out before we could be sure."
By then, all the pilots had arrived to the hanger.
"One Flight and Bulldogs will go first, Three Flight will assist if necessary," Bill said, "Let's do it."
Eight pilots jumped into their cockpits and readied their jets. One by one, the fighters launched into the dusk, uncertain of what they were facing.
The two troop carriers landed quietly in the forested regions near Tagger Air Base. Two units of twenty soldiers disembarked by hover craft and set off towards the base.
Sgt Major Tomatz spoke quietly into the encoded comlinks, "Looks like we came in unnoticed, keep your guard up, they may have short range scanners at the tree line. Scatter out and await further orders."
The eight hover carts stopped at fifteen meter intervals along the tree line. A unit reported that the short range scanners had been successfully scrambled. Tomatz nodded. Now they waited for the flyboys to draw the enemy pilots away.
"Red 1," Keeve said with static, "I believe these are Invader IIs."
"Agreed, 2. Still, eight of us should be enough to take on twelve."
"Bulldog 4, square up, we're taking this one," Deanna Kulli said.
The two moved in synchronized loops and curves, chasing a newly trained pilot. His frantic movements eventually put him in the line of Deanna's fire. The smaller ship flung out of control and Bulldog 4, Chase Halloway, finished him with a green laser blast.
"I'm hit!" Haydri Chatookah shouted.
"Bulldog 2, report damage," Peter said, silently cursing as the enemy pilot he pursued evaded every shot.
"Shields down to 80%, no exterior damage," the dolphin said.
"Stay close, 2, let's try and catch this loser," Peter said.
Bill switched through the channels used to communicate with the base. He could not contact them.
"Can anyone contact the base?" He asked.
A few moments of silence were answered with negatives.
"Red 4," Bill called, "Return to the base and report the lack of communication."
"Eight fighters at 270 and 90, moving in fast," Deanna said quickly.
"Negate that order, Red 4, stay close to 3. We'll have to do without com support." This is about to get hot.