"Courage is fear holding on a minute longer." - Thomas Fuller
27th September – 0500 hours, Main Maintenance Hangar, Minella AFB.
Major Blackovitz looked at the empty spaces in the main hangar. It was 5 o'clock in the morning the last of the stars were slowing disappearing from the skies as the sun came up.
They had a lost of good men and woman he thought stopping in front at their own squadron's reserved maintenance space. They had been lucky, only lt. Hilton had to eject and was now recovering from mild injuries to his legs at the base's infirmary. And Kruger's Phantom wouldn't see any action any time soon. The mechanics had counted 23 impacts in only his fuselage, it was a wonder the plane had made it back to base.
The 33rd and 102nd on the other hand weren't so lucky. The 33rd lost their CO (Command Officer) and FO (First Officer) in their first run. It had been thanks to the reinforcements of the RNV Yuriko that they hadn't been totally wiped out.
He smiled, remembering the small victory party yesterday at their own barracks, it had been a long since he had seen Robert McKenzy.
And he still knew to party, Robert, along with his Navy squadron had been welcome guests even though they had to depart quickly, the Yuriko was sailing back to the mainland to defend the capital. It also made clear that the situation was still grim if command ordered the Yuriko battlegroup to the capital.
They had stopped the first wave but the war was far from over he knew that but with some luck it would take time before Yuktobania would try again.
Coming to a stop next to his F16, a red picture of a F15 had been added to his kill list, he climbed into the nimble fighter. He had flown many fighters but the F16 Block 50 was one of the best planes he had flown in, small and agile in dogfight situation while still capable to give ground support when needed. A capable fighter he thought as he looked at the HUD and other instruments before turning his head to his right at the other fighters of his squadron. Kruger's Phantom II was perhaps not the best and newest fighter in the Nilenian Arsenal but it had shown a remarkable resilience in soaking up damage looking at numerous holes, a real survivor. Kruger had been really lucky to fly the old war veteran.
Next to the proud veteran stood his other two fighters; the Mirages 2000. Even though he wanted to have a full F16 squadron, or perhaps a pair of F18 Hornets they had performed well, killing a B52 and taking down several F15's.
Lt. Frost and captain Grafton, his only senior officer, had proven that the Mirage was a good choice after all.
Looking at his left Deveraux's F16 glimmered as the sun reflected on it. Another rookie that had done well even though she still had to learn she had survived. All of his rookies had survived!
27th September – 0630 hours, Barracks 12th Fighter Squadron, Minella AFB.
Janet Deveraux scrambled through the corridor of the barracks dragging her helmet and still pulling her flightsuit on.
Her head pounded, she shouldn't have had drunken so much yesterday she thought regretfully stumbling into the cantina. Looking around she was glad to see that she wasn't the only one who looked terrible. Kruger and Frost also looked quite flushed as they munched on their breakfast while captain Grafton, being his own canny self, was grinning broadly as he looked at their sleepy faces.
"Ah lieutenant!" He yelled smiling as he notices her, the disapproving and pained expressions on Kruger and Frost faces made it clear that they also had a hangover. "A fine isn't it!"
"Could you please speak slightly softer sir." Kruger mumbled as she sat down at the table after she had taken a plate and got something to eat. The captain's smile even widened at this remark. "That's what you get when you drink past you're limit." He said cheerfully receiving a sour look from Kruger.
"So lt. Deveraux what did you think of your actual first combat flight." He continued cheerfully ignoring Kruger's sour looking face. She looked up from her cereals and into the now serious looking captain, Frost and Kruger also looked up waiting for her to answer.
"I really don't know sir." She whispered looking at her spoon splashing it softly in the bowl of cereals in front of her. She had been scared, really scared to die up there.
The captain smiled reassuringly putting down his cup of coffee. "Don't worry kid, if you weren't scared you wouldn't have been human." Was she so easily to read she thought as she looked at the serious looking Captain's. Kruger was sniggering but was silenced by a stump of Frost.
"What was that good for?" Kruger said looking angry, rubbing his side.
"It isn't funny." Frost mumbled looking blankly at something far away.
"Frost is right." Captain Grafton silenced the hot tempered Kruger who was ready to give a remark back.
"And if I remember correctly you really sounded frightened when you were under attack by those F15's." He added which made Kruger turn back to his food.
"Everybody is scared when going in a war zone. As long as you don't let it consume you and follow orders you'll be fine." Grafton said looking briefly at her before emptying his cup and standing up.
"All right I'll see you kids in 30 minutes." And with that left.
27th September – 0630 hours, Molnesk Airbase, South Yuktobania
Major Steiner looked sad at the new fighter pilots that had joined his squadron. Inexperienced children who had just finished flight academy where apparently enough to guard the South or at least Command thought that. Most senior and experienced pilots had been send to the Osean Front.
Sipping his drink he had heard about the failed attack on Minella Airbase. They shouldn't have underestimated the Nilenian Defence Forces, they were defending there homeland for that matter. A old class mate had been in the assault and had called him about the disastrous assault. He had sound bitter something that worried him slightly. There had been more voices not being happy about the current situation.
"Sir?" A shaking voice woke him up from his depressing thoughts. Looking up he saw the worried face of one of his new pilots, Katherine Kamavic, he remembered reading about her from the transfer reports.
"What is it lieutenant." He said mentioning the young pilot to take a chair. Sitting down in front of him she cleared her throat, apparently gathering up her courage. Was he that frightening Steiner thought with a grin.
"Sir I've got a question I wanted to ask you." She said softly looking at him for a sign to continue.
He smiled; "By all means lieutenant fire away."
"Did you ever question orders." She blathered out before clapping her hands for her mouth, apparently shocked she had actually asked him.
"A good question lieutenant." He said with a frown. "Planning to break some rules I should be aware off?"
"No, no sir, off course not! But there have been so many questions about us attacking neighbouring countries… I was just wondering what you thought about this."
Looking at the ceiling he pondered about her question, was that also why his old class mate had sounded so bitter?
Turning his attention back at the still waiting pilot he looked at her with friendly reassuring smile.
"Command will have his reasons lieutenant, I have heard that Nilenia is supplying Osea with warships and equipment so perhaps that is the reason." He almost felt disgusted that he was clinging to such a meagre excuse but he was a man of duty. "I don't like that reason as well." He quickly added seeing the less then convinced face of the lieutenant.
"But one word of advice lieutenant." He looked around before bending over getting closer to her. "Don't mention this again in public… I could have been a member from Internal Security."
She looked shocked the Internal Security Agency was the Secret Police of Yuktobania.
"Don't worry I am not." He said leaning back. "But please don't mention this again in public… you never know."
She nodded: "Yes sir."
Looking at his watch he whistled softly, already 6:45. "Time to get back in the air lieutenant, we've got a sortie planned." Standing up he whistled loudly to get the attention off his squadron. "All right people on to the planes, we've got a job to do!"
