France VS NATO, Chap 5 (Yellow Tide)
(5 km's off USS Wasp, vector 90)
Yellow 1 took one more look at his radar screen before turning on his radio on the select channel: "1 to Aquila flight we've only got a small window too pull this off! I'm counting on you all...no, that entire fleet down there is counting on you all! We've never failed before and we won't today! Everyone engage!"
(90 km's off USS Wasp, vector 130)
A single Yellow SU-37 with the numbers 024 marked under its cockpit was flying low at Mach 1.7. Inside it's cockpit it's pilot was staring at the 7 little dots that were directly in front of his path…:"Roger 1! Engaging!"
90 km's off USS Wasp, vector 350))
Another Solitaire SU-37 with a Yellow camo was also flying Low at Mach 1.7. Its Pilot Yellow 83 could barely hide the excitement in his voice as he responded to his leader's speech: "This Yellow 83, Roger 1, I'm engaging! Let's send those Frenchies down to the bottom of the Sea!"
(240 km's off USS Wasp, vector 240)
The Pilot of the 4th and last Yellow SU-37 was also flying low at Mach 1.7. Its pilot was staring nervously at his radar detection reader which was starting to show some hits: "This 5 here. Copy that 1! Let's do this and go home."
(70 km's off USS Wasp, vector 240)
Mouette 2 watched the missile attack via his radar and was surprised that none of the missile's had reached there target…'Damn' thought Mouette 2, 'I would've swore that the last missile was gonna hit Wasp…anyways that was just the beginning…
(200 km's off USS Wasp, vector 240)
(Awacs "Sea Owl")
The Operator responsible for tracking the missiles cringed as the last missile went off the scope without hitting Wasp, 'okay' thought the operator, 'time for plan B': "Sea Owl to all planes! Requin squad's missile attack has only managed to deal light damage to Wasp! I repeat the missile attack has failed to achieve a direct hit on Wasp!" Then the raid Commander who'd heard all that the controller had said sent him a message through The computer network on the Awacs... "Stand by all planes I'm receiving new orders From the raid commander...Okay everyone listen carefully...Piranha squad is to switch to plan B! I repeat Piranha squad is to switch to plan B! Espadon and Mouette squads are too proceed as planed, over."
(80 km's off USS Wasp, vector 130)
A flight of 7 Super Etendards each carrying 2
Exocets were flying low towards the cargos when the Message from Sea
Owl reached them…: "This Piranha 1 roger Sea Owl changing
course to target Wasp…" The 7 planes all made a slight course
adjustment and started to lock there Exocet's on WASP. "Piranha
1 to all Piranhas
Prepare to launch missiles on Wasp in 20
seconds!" Piranha 1 stared at his on-board clock as the launch
time approached…15 seconds…10 seconds…5 seconds…4 seconds…3
seconds…2 seconds…Suddenly as everyone was peeled to their clocks
all the missile threat receivers in each plane came on as one…Piranha
1 was the first to react with a hard turn to the left to avoid the
threat…a threat which was further punctuated with 6
explosions…Piranha 1's first instinct was to look at his radar to
see what had happened…it's screen was blank…The first thing to
hit Piranha 1 was shock. His entire squad had been downed, the men he
had worked with and had befriended over the past 5 years were all
gone in a split of a second…the 2nd thing to hit him was the noise
from his threat receiver as that unknown enemy targeted him
again…Instinctively Piranha 1 sent his plane into a barrel role to
evade the radar-lock. As the world spun in its axis Piranha 1 cringed
as the G's pushed him into back into his seat. 'Damn' thought Piranha
1… 'Ok im gonna stabilize myself upside down and then I'll go into
an upside-down looping and hopefully catch that "Fils de pute"
unawares'…but it was to late, as the Entendard stabilized itself
from its roll Piranha 1 was suddenly met with the sight of SU-37 In a
grey/yellow camo that was rocketing straight at him with its 30mm
canon blazing…That was the last thing Piranha 1 saw as his Etendard
took 10 rounds into the cockpit and Blew up seconds later…
Yellow 24 stabilized his plane as he saw the last Etendard trail fire and blow up…Yellow 24 smirked…He'd used 6 of his 8 missiles and some 30 rounds of canon fire and the result was that an entire enemy squad was destroyed and with it the threat too USS Wasp. 'So I've made Ace in a single engagement…' though 24 as he turned around to get to the predesignated assembly point.
(200 km's off USS Wasp, vector 240)
(Awacs "Sea Owl")
The radar operator who's was assigned to watch over Piranha squad suddenly sat upright in his chair as 6 of the 7 Piranha planes suddenly disapered off his scope: "Sir you better come see this!"
The raid commander got up from his chair in the back of the plane and walked up to the radar operator: "This better be good Lieutenant."
"Sir" said the operator in a shaky voice, "6 of the blips…" he was cut off by a little beep from his computer as the last blip disapered to..."Scratch that…all of Piranha squad just disapered off my scope…It has to be a malfunction or something…"
The Raid Commander had
silently watched everything and the realization hit him first: "Check
for any IFF response from Piranha Squad!"
"Yes Sir!"
Blurted out the operator who was a bit shocked from his commander's
sudden outburst, "checking…No IFF response either? Maybe it
malfunctioned too?"
1. "You fool!" shouted the
Commander, "You can't have a double failure with our systems
it's just not possible. There's only one more explanation and that's
that Piranha squad got bounced by enemy aircraft, and were shoot down
before they could launch there missiles!" The Commander paused
catch his breath… "Send a warning to all remaining squads and
tell them to stay on
2. guard for enemy fighter's!"
A shout came from a controller across the aircraft: "Sir I got a single bogie inbound towards us from vector 240. He's 15 km's away and closing fast."
The Raid Commander shouted to the nearest controller: "Check for any IFF response!"
The controller was staring at his screen and was typing furiously on his keyboard: "Checking for any IFF response…Damn its negative! Reclassifying Bogey 1 as Bandit 1. Repeat Bogey 1 is now bandit 1."
The Raid commander cringed: "We've got a hostile plane inbound at us!...Quick where is Requins Squad!"
Another Controller responded: "Requins squad is currently RTB...The'll be pasing by us in 30 seconds."
The raid commander let
out a sigh of relief: "Good they should still have there
Magic
Air to air missiles. Tell them to intercept the bandit and
splash him down asap!"
"Yes sir!" responded the controller. He then got on the select radio channel and sent the new orders to Requins squad.
(235 miles off USS Wasp, vector 90)
Requin squadron was flying in a V formation towards the Awacs at Mach 0.7. "Roger Sea Owl." Said Requin 1, "Okay listen requins, some sneaky basatrd managed to slip through the Sea Owl's coverage and is goining after it. Are new orders are to splash the bandit! Okay everyone?" All the squad then responded in chorus of rogers as All the Etendards wen't to max speed and rocketed towards the lone badit at Mach 1.3.
40 seconds later Requin
squad with the help of sea Owl had aquired the Bandit on there radar.
"Thanks Sea Owl we've aquired the target on our radar…proceeding
to intercept." Requin 1 punched some buttons on his computer and
the seeker heads of his 2 Magic's came on line and started too lock
on the target. "Requin 1 to all planes activate your magic's,
one shoot per plane…" Requin 1 took a look at his hud and sure
enough a small green square showed up were the bandit suposedly
was…'damn' thought Requin 1 'that sneaky bastard is flying through
clouds, visual identification is immposible'. "Requin 1 to all
Requins, The enemy is flying through clouds so visible identification
is not possible I repeat visible identification is not possible, were
gonna have to rely on radar and our heat seakers to splash the
bandit…Also were only firing 1 magic each, we gotta economise our
missile in case another threat comes by, everbody got
that?".
Requin 1 pushed some buttons on his weapons display for the launch of
single magic while all the rest of Requins squad were respondeding
with "rogers".Requin checked one more time and saw that he
was locked onto the target, Requin 1's hand tightened around his
flight-stick as he started the count: "1…2…3!" In the
cockits of the 6 Etendards six-men silmultaneously pressed one button
each and under the left wing of each Etendard a single "Magic"
turned on its liquid fuel engine and leapt of the pylon and rocketed
towards the wall of clouds directly in front of the planes… Requin
1 watched his planes go for the bandit on his radar display: 'comon'
thought Requin 1, 'get the basatrd' On Requin 1's radar screen the
Magics were displayed as little fast's blips that were quickly eating
up the distance between themselves and the lone large blip that
represented the bandit. 'that's strange.' thought Requin 1, 'He
should of detected the missile's by now, so why isn't he doing any
evasive maneuvers?'
(235 miles off USS Wasp, vector 240)
(In the cloud front)
The "Magics" penetrated the clouds in a wide semi-circle. Inside the cockpit of the Yellow SU-37, Yellow 5 stared nervously at his radar display…'okay' thought Yellow 5, '6 missile's…looks like this day is gonna start with a bang.' Yellow 5 armed his chaff and flare switchs and waited…When the Magics were 700 meters away Yellow 5 twisted his flight stick hard to the left while simultaneously fliping both his chaff and flare switches, the result was a spectacular display of light and countermeasures. The first Magic got confused by the chaff and blew up between the flares,the resulting explosion briefly raised the heat temperature by some 800d/c. The other Magics heat-seeker heads noted this and went after the explosion…the last 5 Magics blew up next to the rising fire-ball…"
(235 miles off USS Wasp, vector 240)
(Outside the cloud front)
Requin 1 watched all the missiles hit the enemy blip and shouted: "Yeah splash 1!"
"This is Awacs Sea Owl. Good job Requins. Our radar confirms the kill boys!…and Requin 1 it was your missile that hit the enemy plane first…" said the awacs controller with a smirk.
The Joy in Requin 1's voice was manifest: "Thanks Sea Owl! Hear that boys I'm gonna get to paint a fighter under my cockpit……" It was at that moment that a single missile came through the clouds and blew Requin 1's Etendard to pieces…
The rest of the squad saw what had happened to their leader and started jinking their planes while launching flares…It was a futile effort the incoming missile's were all radar guided…they flew past the flares and the sky turned white for a split second as it was filled with 5 explosions...The Yellow SU-37 flew by at mach 2.2 down vector 240 oblivious to the 6 burning wreckages that were falling towards the ground…
(200 km's off USS Wasp, vector 240)
(Awacs "Sea Owl")
"What was that? What happened?" Cried out the raid commander as he stared at a radar console over the back of his controllers.
We've lost the signals from Requins squad!" cried out the IFF controller."
"I confirm that!" shouted another.
All the time the radar controller was starring quietly at his scope…He then suddenly shouted: "Enemy incoming!...It's…Him! The same guy the Requins supposedly splashed!" The entire awacs turned quiet as the anxiety on the people's faces turned to fear…
(200 km's off USS Wasp, vector 240)
The SU-37 came through the clouds at 60
degree angle. Sea Owl had just turned off its radar and was diving to
escape…but it was useless…The SU-37 ate up the distance in less
than 20 seconds and fired off two heat-seekers. They both impacted on
the left wing and blew it off the E-707. the ex-airliner went into a
barrel role and fell.
The last time yellow 5 saw it was as it
plummeted down through the clouds…
80 km's off USS Wasp, vector 350))
7 Super Etendards were flying in a tight V formation towards the NATO fleet's cargos. Espadon 1 was getting nervous…He'd lost Sea Owl's signal, that could only mean one thing…but nevertheless he had his orders and Mouettes squad's jamming to their west reassured him: "Espadon 1 to the rest of Espadons squad, were approaching maximum missile launch range, no nead to come in closer. Okay everyone arm your Exocets!"…
Yellow 83 smirked as he watched his radar signature scope… The radar signals from the enemy squadron had changed… that could only mean that they were arming there missiles… He flipped a switch and pushed his missile launch button…
Espadon 1 was about to launch his first Exocet when his missile warning alarm came on. 'Damn' thought Espadon 1, 'Im to heavy to manoveor! I Gotta launch those exocet's fast!'. He pushed his missile launch button and pulled his flight stick hard to gain altitude…While doing that Espadon 1 twisted his neck and tried to spot the missile, he saw it fly by past him. "What the?" said the now confused Espadon 1. He never had time realize what happened next…The radar guided SAAM flew under the Etendard formation and tracked the Exocet. The Exocet was 50 meters under the formation and was free falling to the altitude of 20 meters before it would turn on its rocket engine…It never would. The missile hit the Exocet from behind and set off the exocet's 250 kg high explosives warhead. Missile fragments riped through the Etendard formation and the result was 7 wreckages and seven bodies that fell towards the sea.
(100 km's of USS WASP, vector 240)
The 6 Rafales of mouettes squad were flying right above some clouds performing there jamming task. Mouette 2 saw Espadon squad go off the scope and his throat tightened. First the Piranhas, then the Requins, then Sea Owl and now the Espadons. Something was out there and it had already taken out everyone except them…Mouette 2 started to shake as he started to feel the fear creep into him…Mouette 2 was brought out of his thoughts by there flight lead. "This is Mouette 1 to Mouette squad the raid has failed. I repeat all our Etendards have been shoot down, There isn't any more reasons for us to hang around here, lets go…" Mouette 1 never got to finish his sentence as a volley of 4 missiles came through the cloud cover and blotted half of the squad out of the sky.
Mouette 2 pulled hard on his flight-stick to put some distance between him and the unknown danger from the clouds. Following him was mouette 4. Mouette 2's The radio came alive just as he and 4 stabilized there planes 400 meters above the clouds: "Hey "gamin" !" said Mouette 4, "Did you see what happened?"
Mouette 2 keyed his mic: "Yeah I did "blanco". 4 frickin missiles came through the clouds and took out 1, 3, and 5!"
The shock in Mouette 4's face was manifest: "Merde! They took out the captain…"
He was cut-off by a cry on the radio: "This is 6! He's on my tale I can't shake him!"
Mouette 2 cringed: "6 give me your position were gonna clear your 6 o'clock!"
Mouette 6 came on the radio again: "6 here! 2 I'm 400 meters below you at your…" Suddenly the sound of metal tearing filled the radio, "Ahhhh! doggy poo! I've been hit! Losing control! Ah god! Ive got holes in my Wing! Its catching Fire!"
Mouette was 2 visibly tense now: "Eject 6! Come'on eject!"
Mouette 6 was still shouting: "Canopy's Stuck!…"The sound of an explosion and flames drowned out 6 voice for a moment, "Ahhhhhhhh! I'm burning! Ahhhhhhh! It burns!...the sound of another explosion filled the radio and then all that was left was static.
Mouette 2 punched a panel in his cockpit: "Merde!"
Mouette 4 came on the radio again this time with a sober voice: "Look at your 4 o'clock low "gamin""
Mouette titlted his rafale a bit to the left and saw what had to be what was left of Mouette 6's plane falling through the sky in a shower of flames…: "Damn…" Silence filled the channel until Mouette 2 keyed his mike and in an outburst of anger shouted: "Let's get that "Fils de Pute" Blanco!"
Mouette 4 responded with the same angry tone:
"Yeah lets get him!"
Mouette 2 keyed his mike: "Okay
Blanco we'll come in side by side and splash him like we used to back
in the academie! Got it?"
Mouette 4 responded: "Roger "gamin"! I've got a vusual on the enemy fighter he's trying to leave the area at your 5 o'colck! Lets do this!"
Mouette 2's hands tightened around his controls: "Okay blanco at 5." Blanco responded with a roger and Mouette 2 continued with the countdown: "1…2…3…4…5!" Both Rafales turned on the after burners and rocketed side by side After the retreating fighter…
As they got in closer the enemy plane finally became visible: "Blanco that's a Yellow with the Luftwaffe emblem!" Said Mouette 2.
"Leave it to our eternal nemesis's to spoil the party!" Said Mouette 4 with disgust in his voice.
The Rafales caught up with the Yellow and broke formation when the Yellow barrel rolled away to the left. Mouette 2 tried to follow the Yellow while Mouette 4 broke off to the far-left to try to flank the Yellow.
Mouette was angry now. The SU-37 was obviously piloted by an expert and he was barely manging to stay on its tale: "Merde! Blanco that litte bastard is too good! You gotta flank him when he's not paying attention!... I'll distract him with some cannon fire, flank him when I say Go!" Mouette 4 responded with a roger and Mouette 2 waited for Mouette 4 to get closer before opening fire. Meanwhile he was having a hard time keeping up. That Yellow was forcing him to go through some high G's to keep up: "Unhhhhh!" cried Mouette 2 as he was forced into a high G Dive to keep up with the Yellow. Finally Mouette 2 saw Mouette 4 coming in…: "Allright, ready… GO!" Mouette 2 pulled hard on his trigger as the 20mm canon shells flew out and arced towards the SU-37. The Tracers went wide and weren't even close to the SU-37, but the trick had the desired effect. The Yellow did an hard turn to the left to move away from the tracers but ended up right in the middle Mouette 4's line of fire…
Mouette 2 couldn't keep up with the extreme turn and lost his place on the Yellow's tail. But Mouette was ectastic. He'd forced the the Yellow into Mouette 4's path…now all he had to do was watch.
Mouette
4 was coming in at high speed and the Yellow's right turn made him
exposed to his missiles: "Mange de la Merde Fils de Pute!"
Shouted mouette 4 as he pushed his missile launch button. 2 Magics
leapt of there pylons and went after the vulnerable SU-37's
backside... Suddenly the SU-37 tipped vertically at 80 degrees 'It's
too late to pull up punk!' thought Mouette 4. But the SU-37 didn't
and Mouette 4's eyes were wide open in shock as the SU-37 lost most
of its speed causing the 2 missiles to over shoot and blow up
harmlessly 130 meters away from the SU-37. Mouette 4 was brought out
of his trance when he was forced to pull up hard to avoid getting hit
by the SU-37 that was coming his way: "Ahhhhhh doggy poo! That
dirty Kraut want's to play kamikaze now…" He was cut off by a
cry on the radio channel
"Blanco He's on your tail!"
Mouette 4 never managed to acknpwledge the warning as a heat-seaker
missile struck his Rafale's backside…
Mouette 2's stomach clenched: "Noooooooo! Blanco!" Mouette 2 felt sick...He started having flashbacks about Blanco: The day he'd met Blanco for the first time at the Academie de l'air, The day Blanco saved him from jumping over that bridge, There first combat exercise when him and Blanco had won against there instructors…
Mouette 2 snapped out of his trance when the missile alarm started beeping. He turned hard but it was no use. The missile caught-up and went up his nimber 2 engine. The back of his Rafale instantly caught fire and Mouette 2 started losing control as his plane went into a dive towards the Ocean… Mouette 2 just sat there thinking about Blanco as his Master alarm and electronic noises and lights went off all around him... The altimeter started flashing his rapidly dwindling altitude… 'Blanco is gone…' thought mouette 2, his altimeter flashed 15000 ft, 'I've got no one now', 13424 ft, 'That ' Fils de Pute Yellow in his ducking SU-37 took away blanco!' 9834 ft, 'He took away all my friends and comrades!' 7654 ft, And now he's gonna take away my life, 4653 ft, 'I can't let him have that!', 2134 ft...And as everything started falling apart all around him, Mouette 2 came to a Conclusion: "I'm gonna live and Kill you Yellow! Whatever it takes I'll kill you for all of my friends and comrades that perished today!" 483 ft. Mouette 2 pulled his eject curtain too cover his face as his canopy detached itself from his plane. Mouette 2 then clenched his teeth as he was forced out of his plane at some 15G's...
The Last thing Mouette 2 saw before blacking out on
that day was the Enemy Pilot saluting him and the yellow number 001
under the SU-37
Cockpit...
----------------------------------------------
Translations:
fils
de Pute-son of a bich
Mange de la merde-eat doggy
poo
gamin-kid
PS: not for the faintharted...