3.
Wardog Squadron

The next day Drake was proudly flying in front of his squad in his new F-15. The others were flying in MiGs, and were a little resentful.
"So tell me again, Dragon," Yunisaki, callsign Little Wing, asked, "why you get a new plane and we're stuck with these?"
"Because Little, my old plane is damaged. Relax, you guys just have to shoot down any planes that try to trash our boats." The mission was simple, along with every squad in the air force they had to protect the three carriers Kestrel, Buzzard, and Vulture. So far the escort mission had been a bore, nothing had happened yet. Drake flipped his plane over and watched upside-down as the three carriers slowly merged into a loose convoy.
"All squadrons this is Thunderhead, your mission is complete, you may return to your bases now. If you need to refuel please hold for the tanker aircraft." Drake dropped through a split-S, turning around towards his base. His squadron turned around and reformed into a right echelon formation.
"Everybody's leaving, can we go yet?" some joker from Wardog squadron asked over the radio.
"Wardog I told you to wait for the tanker aircraft." Drake snickered away from his mike at the antics of Wardog and Thunderhead.
"Come on Wildcat, lets AB it back to base."
"Why's that Dragon?" Jordan Steelbache, nicknamed Big Wing, questioned.
"Because Big, its pizza night, and I'm starving." That statement was met with laughter and amens from Drakes wingmen. They all advanced their throttles to the stops and turned on the after burners. Despite the effect of the cancellers in his helmet Drake still made out the combined sonic boom as they all rocketed past mach 1.
"Wait, all units return to your stations, the carriers are under attack," suddenly blared in his ears.
"Big, Little, come with me, everyone else, hightail it back to base," Drake exclaimed faster than he could think. The three whipped around and flew back to Eaglin Strait. Once there Drake could see a fierce battle going on. Up above he spotted another plane, apparently trying to stay out of harm.
"Is that an E-767?" Little asked spotting it too.
"I think it is. Come on Little, we're gonna bag us a 767." Both of them rose to engage the plane as Big dropped to shoot down the Harriers that were harassing the fleet. As he passed through 7000 feet Drake came level with the enemy plane. He slowly sped up till he had a missile lock-on, then quickly popped two off and gave a quick burst from his machine gun. The 767 blew up and went down.
"Yeeha, great shot Drake!" Exclaimed Little.
"Thanks Izumi. Lets go…"
"Area sanitized, all enemy planes confirmed destroyed," Thunderhead cut him off.
"Thank you Dunderhead," Drake said sardonically.
"Wait, incoming ballistic missile!" Drake started and looked down in time to see a gigantic explosion annihilate a carrier and several planes, including Big's.
"Jooorrrdaaaan!" Little yelled as Drake watched the burning piece of metal that used to be Big's plane splash into the ocean. The Vulture sank into the waves also and Drake was stunned. He never knew the Yukes had such powerful weaponry in their arsenal.
"Another missile approaching, get above 5000 feet before it hits," Thunderhead roared.
"Are they sure it's 5000 feet?" another member of Wardog squadron asked.
"Yes Archer, I'm sure," the leader responded. Thunderhead started counting down.
"5... 4... 3... 2... Impact, now!" Another ballistic missile detonated underneath Drake and he watched in horror as the Buzzard was blasted and sunk. He breathed so hard he had to put on his oxygen mask to keep from hyperventilating. He then became aware that he was leaving the area and corrected his course.
"All surviving units, report," Thunderhead said haltingly.
"This is Swordsman, I managed to stay alive. Looks like the Wardog squadron manage to make it out too," Captain Snow from the Kestrel replied."
"Dragon here, my wingman from Wildcat squad and myself are still flying."
"Uh, oh, looks like I'm out of fuel," one guy in Wardog said.
"I'm out too Chopper," the leader said.
"We couldn't get a tanker aircraft out to you Wardog. Wildcat, would you mind escorting Wardog to Heirlark?"
"Will do Thunderhead. Wardog, this is Wildcat One, callsign Dragon. Can I get you names?"
"This is Wardog One, callsign Blaze. Pleasure to meet you."
"Wardog Two here, my name's Edge."
"You have a very lovely voice miss Edge."
"Thank you Dragon."
"This is Wardog three, otherwise know as Chopper."
"And I'm Wardog Four, Archer."
"I'm honored to meet you all. Form up behind me and my wing." Drake and Izumi proceeded north in right echelon while Wardog followed behind in four fingers.
"Tower to approaching aircraft, identify. Drake? Is that you?"
"it's me Joe. We lost Jordan, but we've got guests."
"Oh really, who?"
"Wardog squadron from Sand Island. We need clearance to land."
"Granted. They'll need to see commander Zeag when they get on the ground."
"Wilco."