'Sink or swim.'

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Chapter 4, Time to Fight.

26th September -11:03 hours, Watchdog 5, Minella Airspace.

"This is Turtle Leader I'm going down! I'm going down!" AMirage 2000 was falling at the horizon, its left wing on fire as it plummited to the dark sea below.

"Captain... Captain!?" A panicking voice broke through the radio frequency before being cut off be a other voice which sounded much more in control.

"This is Turtle 2! Watch you're six Turtle 3! Enemy SU35 on your tail!"

"I can't shake him! I can't shake him!" The panicky voice yelled as the pilot recognised the dangerous possition he was in. Before any of his comrades could get to his fighter it exploded in a large ball of fire, the pilot didn't had time to eject. Only a loud scream echoed through the radio as the cockpit was momentarily engulfed by the flames before breaking apart.

As soon as the message faded it was replaced by many others messages and yells ranging from either panick and screams to orders and victory yells.

So this was what it was all about Michael thought as he manouvred his fighter to their rendezvous point. It wouldn't be long before they would be themselves at the front line.

Missiles, bullets and grenades cut through the crowded skies as fighters of both sides tried to get the upper hand in the conflict. The sky over Minella AFB was litterly clouded with fighters and bombers fighting for their very survical. In matter of minutes whole fighterwings and other suporting craft were destroyed. In most cases the burning and exploding frames of the fighter, bomber and ECM planes took their pilots with them to their grave.

And he would be going in that hell shortly, Michael thought as he felt his hart pounding faster. Surprisingly his feeling of impending doom had subsided. When scrambling towards his fighter only moments ago the feeling was very much present. But as soon as he had entered his fighter the feeling had faded just like it never was there to begin with!

This flight, their actual first 12th Squadron flight, he would be the wingman of captain Grafton, the second senior officer of their new squadron. And the same captain where he had argued with about what was the best fighter overal: the Mirage 2000 or the MIG 23 Flogger.

His dessignation in the squadron would Watchdog 5 (they hadn't got time to change callsigns) following Major Blackowitz F16 and the rest of 12th Squadron as they headed towards the combat zone and their first trail by fire.

Or so his crewchief had called it when they had a quick briefing on the ground before entering their waiting planes standing in a zig zag formation, ready and armed on the concrete of the taxi lane.

Major Blackovitz, the most senior of the gathered pilots, had simply smiled about that comment and had urged to watch their six and stick close to their wingmen.

All those thoughts sped through his mind as the six fighters of there (half) squadron lifted up towards the battle raging at 22000 feet. The squadron consisted out of two F16's piloted by Major Blackovitz and 2nd lieutenant Deveraux; Watchdog Lead and Watchdog 1. Two F4 Phantom; Watchdog 3 and four piloted by 2nd lieutenants Kruger and Hillton and finally his Mirage 2000; Watchdog Five and captain Grafton's Mirage: Watchdog Six.

He hadn't got much time to talk with the two other two 2nd lieutenants: Kruger and Hillton fresh from the Academy.

But the major had assured them all as long as they followed his and Captain Kenneth Grafton orders averything should go smoothly.

"This is AWACS 02 callsign Sky Watch, Watchdog flight lead do you receive me?"

A slightly stressed voice of a young female operator broke through.

"Receiving you loud and clear, Sky Watch." Major Blackovitz calm voice broke through the ether answering the operations officers message.

26th September - 11:04 hours, Watchdog Leader, Minella Airspace.

"You'll be under my direct control during this operation... report your current heading and ready status."

Direct to the point Major Pavol thought with a grunt. She couldn't be much older then the rest of his rookie squadron but tried to sound like a pro. He almost was planning to give a remark about her behaviour but thought against it. No need to squish her just yet... even if it got on his nerves. Let's hope she can take it the major pondered for a moment before replying.

"This is Major Blackovitz, Watchdog leader, to Sky Watch Control, status is okay. Currently heading towards the combat zone with full speed... estimated time of arrival 2 minutes."

"Copy Watchdog lead, enemy forces consist out of 3 dozen fighters and 14 B52 long range bombers." Did he hear her voice waver, or was it just his imagination.

"You're primary target are the bombers. If they get through the damage they could make to the base could be substantial." The young female operator continued, her voice now seemed to sound stronger. Perhaps she would do all right.

"Husky, Puma and Turtle squadrons will deal with the fighters so you can concentrate on the bombers."

"Roger that Sky Watch." The major replied looking with a worried expression at the rapidly closing cluster of enemy radar contacts on his radar screen. Even if, and that was a big IF, they were able to get a shot at the bombers it was perfectly clear they were severly shorthanded.

And shorthanded meant outgunned and outnumbered, a situation he really didn't want to put his new pilots, still fresh from the academy in.

He had smiled at the crewchief sarcastic joke of this being their trail of fire but deep down inside he knew that the old man had been right, even if the man hadn't meant it that way. Four of his six pilots were still rookies.

"Tallyho! Bandits at 10 o'clock." A message from their squadrons main frequency came through the radio. "Requesting clearance to break and attack." The calm voice of his only senior pilot, captain Grafton, continued.

Looking up he also noticed the silhouettes of a couple of B52 bombers who apparently had broken through the deffensive perimeter. The bombers might have broken through but they wouldn't last long.

"Roger that Watchdog 6 engage the enemy!"

"Watchdog 3 and 4 give them hand." The Major added as he saw the two Mirages breaking the formation and heading to the closest bomber."

"Roger sir, breaking of to assist Watchdog 5 and 6!" The young voice of wing leader Kruger crackled through the radio as they started to persue the farthest of the two bombers.

"Deveraux... follow me, we'll keep them covered in case someone is planning to crash the party."

"Yes Sir!" Deveraux yelled in excitement as she looked at him, her sun visor down obscuring her face from view, in her F16 that was flying in perfect formation next to Majors F16. Pushing the throtle they sped after the other four fighters.

--

"Watchdog 6, Fox 2."

"Watchdog 5, Fox 2."

Janet heard over the radio as she followed the Major, providing cover for Watchdog 5 and 6 as they engaged the B52 stratofortress.

The bomber was trying to make evasive manouvres but the two Sidewinder missiles fired by the two fighters didn't waver from their course and impacted head on, taking out 2 engines of the large plane. The bomber was losing speed and started to lose altitude fast.

"Target destroyed." The voice of Sky Watch reported.

"That's one for the killboard! Told you I -"

"Pipe it down Watchdog 5, several enemy fighters are moving to assist the remaining bomber!" The voice of Sky Watch cut in as allert lights began to flicker on her control panel.

"Deveraux enemy at your six! EVADE!"

Yanking the control stick backwards, making the F16 turn sharp to the left she saw the reflection of the enemy that was going after her, a F15 or maybe F14.

"They've got lock! They've got lock on me!" Deveraux heard Watchdog 4, one of the Phantom pilots yelled through the radio as she desperatly tried to evade here own nemesis. The allert lights were getting on her nerves as she banked her F16 to the right the G forces pushing her back in her ejection seat. The allert lights didn't stop flashing. The enemy pilot was just to good she thought as she felt sweat running down her cheek. A high peeping sound, indicating a lock on her craft was confirmed, didn't help as fear began to take over from reason. She was to young to die... She still wanted to do so much...

A sudden flash made her look back, the F15 that had lock on her was consumed by a fireball.

The Major's F16 shot past her dying nemesis. She felt her heart pounding slower she would live another day.

"That's one you own me lieutenant." The major said as he manouvred his F16 alongside hers.

She barley could make out a gratefull noise, her mouth was completely dry so she weakly waved at the major which he answered with a thumbs up sign.

Using her tongue to get some moister back to her dry lips she looked down at her radar and noticed that Watchdog 4 signature was gone... she had completly forgotten about her squadron when she was fighting for her very life. The others still seemed to be okay.

"Lieutenant Deveraux. Six bailed out but Watchdog 3 still needs our help, care to join me?" The major shook her out of her thoughts.

"Yes sir!" Time for some payback she thought with a grin arming her missiles!

--

When the missiles impacted in the large structure of the B52 Michael felt glad. His first kill, one he had to chare with the captain but his first kill none the less. Just as he heard the captain mentioning this, in a abnoxious way he was cut off by their operator: Sky Watch.

"Pipe it down Watchdog 5, several enemy fighters are moving to assist the remaining bomber!"

Four fighters had broken the defensive line and were heading to assist the remaining bomber.

"Damnit! Watchdog 5 follow me were going to assist them." And just as fast as he received the message the Captains Mirage sped away with full afterburners. He cursed silently under his breath, how could he forget his team members. Pushing the throtle forward he banked his to left and quickly followed Grafton as his Mirage descended to the remaining bomber. Looking briefly up, to see where the major and lt. Deveraux F16's were he noticed that they had their own problems to contend with as lt. Deveraux was spinning and turning her plane in evasives trying to get rid of a F15 that was tailing her. Shouldn't they help them out first? Just as he was planning to mention this to the captain he got his answer:

"The major will handle that lieutenant! He's a pro so don't worry about them! It's Kruger and Hilton who you should worry about!"

"Roger sir!" He acknowledged as he turned his focus back to the battle below him. Kruger and Hiltons Phantoms were desperatly trying to evade three F15 but their older jets just couldn't keep up with the more modern fighters. Selecting a sparrow missile Michael targetted the closest enemy fighter who was tailing Krugers fighter.

The enemy pilot apparently noticed him cause the F15 made a sharp turn trying to evade him leaving Kruger alone. Hilton on the other hand wasn't so lucky as he saw another F15 firing a missile at the Phantom.

"Ejecting!" He heard Hilton yell as the canopy of the Phantom was blasted of and Hilton ejected to safety.

And just in time, the impacting missile tore away the left wing making the fuel explode making the spinning aircraft turn into a fireball as it fell from the sky towards the blue sea below.

"Could use some help around here!" Lieutenant Kruger, flying the only remaining Phantom, yelled in fear as he dodged his large fighter to a sharp left turn losing one of the enemy F15's but didn't seem to get rid of the second. "Oh my god! This ain't fair! This ain't fair!" He continued to yell as the Phantom tried to stay out of the gunsight of the F15 Eagle.

"Calm down lieutenant Kruger! We're almost there." Captain Grafton barked through the radio as Michael locked on the first F15 and quickly launched one of his AMRAAM missiles witch impacted only a few seconds later. Michael noticed with some relieve that the pilot ejected to safety as a parachute deployed as the fighter burted into flames.

"Eat this and die!" The voice of the captain roared through the radio as Michael banked his own fighter away from the debris of the fighter he had just shot down. Looking up he saw Grafton's Mirage diving on the second F15 as it went after Kruger's Phantom. Grafton launched a AMRAAM missile at almost point blank range, pulling up at the last moment and so just avoiding a mid air collision.

What happened next looked just like something out of a movie. As Michael was pressed hard into his seat, still in the middle of his evasive move, he saw the missile as it seperated from the hardpoint of Grafton's plane, leaving a dark grey vapor trail as it headed to the F15 with supersonic speeds.

The F15 pilot didn't got a change to react as the missile impacted near the cockpit killing the pilot instantly as shrapnel from his fighter smashed the cockpit. Michael pictured himself in the boots of the enemy pilot, at least he died instantly he thought with a shudder.

"T-t-thanks sir." The voice of lt. Kruger stuttered gratefully as his Phantom came flying along side them.

Michael noticed that the old fighter took some hits as several large grenade holes ran from the left wing up into the fuselage exposing some of the interiour of the plane.

Just as he was planning to ask about how Kruger was doing two F16's, the Majors and Janet's, moved in visual view and the calm voice of the major broke the ether. How did the major stay so calm! Michael thought as he listened as the major asked the young lieutenant about his status. The Phantom's radar was destroyed along with several secondary systems but the fighter was still airworthy.

As they all started to turn back to the fight that was still on the voice of the young female AWACS operator almost yelled at them:

"This is Skywatch to all fighters, new contacts on the radar!!."

"Damn it was just going so good!"

Looking at his screen it was clear that they were gaining the upperhand but if those contact were... he didn't know if they could take more looking at the already slim numbers of friendly aircraft that were still flying.

"Reinforcements from the HMS Yuriko!" Michael felt his body relax as the almost cheering voice of the AWACS operators confirmed that the contacts were friendly.

---

"This is Colonel Robert McKenzy of the Yuriko... we've heard you Airforce guys needed some help."

The remaining enemy fighters and bombers started to disperse not having the firepower to deal with the aditional Nilenian air units. And only a few minutes later air of the area was again firmly in Nilenian hands.

"The Navy to the rescue isn't it Robert?" The major said with a grin as he followed Krugers damaged Phantom as it touched down on the landing strip.

"If it isn't old Black... still flying I see." The Colonel chuckled as the Rafale and Harriers grouped up with the remainder of the Minella force as they started to land.

"I hope you've got some cool beers stacked up down there."

"You own us that much seeing we've saved you're asses back there."

"We'll see what we can do... we'll see what we can do..." The major replied with a laugh, it was good to have some old comrades back Blackovitz thought as he started with his landing procedures.

A party was in order.