Chp. 9: Gunship!

May 11, 1995

Osean Forward Arming and Refueling Point, North Sapin

"Sir, wait."

Vitelli stopped as he turned to leave the tent and saw Captain Weathers hurry over. The man rendered a quick salute before he rattled off what he had to say.

"Colonel, G-2 just passed along a message. Part of the 10th Panzers have started moving towards Solis Ortus and have requested we divert some of our helos to help the 28th Infantry Division push them northwest."

"Did General Stout have anything to say about this?" The Colonel asked.

"G-2 says that Wing 6 will take care of CAS for Solis Ortus. Since we're doing our turnaround, we're in position to hit first with fresh crews and birds."

"What about 28th's aviation guys?"

"Just said they're already occupied."

Fresh was a bit of a stretch, but Vitelli got the message. He nodded and told Weathers to let Stout know they were on it. He hurried over to his maintenance section; Captain Griggs was already handing over the latest on availability.

"Okay, we can move some attention away from the Chinooks to make sure our remaining 18 Apaches are kept ready. Minus the eight I'm taking out. Get four of our Blackhawks fixed up with stub wings and Hellfires in case things go pear-shaped." He said.

The Colonel looked to some of the radio operators and asked that they get in contact with 28th infantry and find out who they were supporting and where. He hurried outside to the troop carrier Humvee his flight had piled into and whistled as loud as he could.

"Change of mission, Archers! We're heading a shorter distance to help 28th Infantry bust up some tanks. Ops says they're trying to make a run for our guys in Solis Ortus. We'll get further info after we're airborne. Until further notice we form up and move as briefed. Hooah, fellow rotorheads?" He explained.

"Hooah!" The seven other crews whooped.

The Humvee zipped off to a field packed with the Task Force's helos, hooking around most of them to a row of Apaches. Vitelli leapt from the back of the Humvee as soon as it was still and hurried to his bird.

"Kyball, we're on a much shorter timetable now so start getting her ready to go!" He warned as he approached.

His bird, nicknamed "Martha" after his wife, was dirty from her last round of maintenance, but she had a fresh load of ordnance and newly-applied tick marks on one of the sponsons. Hudd immediately went to the weapons to give them a once-over while Vitelli hurriedly checked the helicopter itself. He came around to the right side of the machine and up into the cockpit. The machine's Crew Chief, Staff Sergeant Kyball, hurried up to make sure both pilot and gunner were strapped in tight. Vitelli pulled down his hatch and started up the engine and electrical systems as soon as the ground crew was out of the way. He ran the RPMs up until they could get the blades spinning. He started calling the other helicopters in his force, going back and forth until all eight machines had a clear understanding of one-another.

"Tumbleweed ATC this is Archer 1-1, request immediate clearance for departure to execute emergency orders by Eagle 6, how copy?" He radioed as he pulled down his NVGs.

"Archer 1-1 you're cleared for immediate departure. Winds current south-southwest at 2 knots. Archer 1-1 be advised, Eagle 6 has dispatched two Kilo-Whiskeys to support your mission. Callsign is Asp 3. Good hunting." A controller radioed from a makeshift control tower.

Vitelli set the throttle control to the appropriate setting for takeoff, and carefully pulled back on his cyclic stick. The Apache rose from the ground until Vitelli commanded otherwise, then pitched forward and began its journey northwards. He checked his right side and saw his wingman, First Lieutenant Phil Gallager, falling into formation flawlessly. The Apaches spread out a bit into a cross-shaped formation and picked up speed heading towards Solis Ortus.

"Fastball this is Archer 1, checking in and requesting some directions to proceed as fragged." Vitelli radioed.

"Archer 1, Fastball, contact Harpy 6 on Button 4. Picture currently shows brigade-sized force moving north along the sides of the highway. Two additional Belkan battalions are screening east." One of the senior crewmen aboard an E-8A J-STARS outlined.

"Copy Fastball."

Ahead, the hills slowly started to rise as farmland gave way to forest. Vitelli kept on their current heading for a few minutes before he keyed the radio again.

"Harpy 6 this is Archer 1, Harpy 6 come in. This is Archer 1….break, Asp 3 come in. This is Archer 1. Come in Asp 3, come in Harpy 6."

"Archer 1 this is Asp 3-1, we're moving parallel to your flightpath, heading for a significant piece of terrain. Will get back to you as soon as we have something noteworthy. Can provide visual acquisition or rockets." A female voice radioed over the beat of rotorblades.

"Stick to visual for now, Asp. No need for you to stick it out too far."

Imperfect masses of white smoke and the flash of tracers appeared in the distance as they closed ordered his flanks to split and bracket the Belkan forces heading east. They went over a large, flat-topped hill that dropped down into a less dense part of the woods and eventually into more farmland. Vitelli started picking out all the places he could hide his Apache, looking for lighter patches of green through the haze of his NVGs. He also noted a few structures to the east, barns probably. Hudd centered the Apache's primary sights on a particularly intense exchange of green (Belkan) and red (Osean) tracers while his pilot kept them at treetop level.

"Colonel, got a lot of shooting at our eleven o'clock, about 9 klicks out. Looks like that might be a good place to start."

"Gotcha, I see it...Harpy 6 this is Archer 1 do you read me? Come in, Harpy 6." Vitelli replied breathlessly.

"Archer 1 this is Harpy 6, my forward elements have made contact with a Belkan armored force of unknown size. Request immediate close air support." The head honcho on the ground replied at last.

"Copy Harpy 6, request relay to those elements' Actual."

"Copy, ah...that'll be Buffalo 6 you'll wanna contact."

"Archer copies all."

Vitelli glanced to the right and followed the red tracers to their source before he keyed his radio again. He lowered the helicopter behind some trees as he spoke.

"Archer 1-2, we're gonna start with all that shooting at my eleven, seven klicks out. Standby while I get Buffalo 6 on the horn."

"Gotcha Lead." Gallager replied enthusiastically.

"Archer 1-5, take your fourship and head west. Asp, request you focus on giving 1-5 and his fourship targets, how copy?"

"Copy Archer."

"Buffalo 6 this is Archer 1, flight of four Apaches on call with the standard load. We'll be making our runs southwest to northeast. Ready for tasking."

"Archer 1 my scouts report contact on the left flank and armor moving to assist them. I've got my own tanks moving to reinforce but I need you to thin out those Belkan Leos."

"Roger, we've already got eyes on. Archer 1-2, take the armor on the right."

Vitelli rose up once more and stabilized a couple dozen feet above the trees. Hudd centered his sights on a platoon of Leopards moving through a thinner part of the woods. He chose the lead one, lazed it and fired.

"Archer 1-1, Rifle." He announced.

Archer 1-2 shot off a Hellfire seconds after. Hudd zoomed out to better track where friendlies were. He spotted a trio of Bradleys and a fourth set ablaze, but now there were a pair of Leopard 2s in much the same state. The two Apaches descended again, then Archer 1-2 went up first. He fired off a shot, ehdl, then Vitelli ascended. Hudd picked a second tank and fired another Hellfire.

"Archer 1-1 this is Buffalo 3-1, we're currently moving to attack the Belkans' flank with Buffalo 4. Check fire to the East." A new voice spoke up.

"Copy Buffalo 3-1, break, Archer 1-3 be advised that Archer 1-1 and 1-2 are shifting to our next firing position." The Colonel replied.

He ascended and hurried towards the crest of a nearby hill. A flash caught his attention; off to the right he saw a second one as an explosion broke the scenery. Then more.

"Incoming, incoming. Enemy arty!" Someone called.

Vitelli swung the Apache to the right and slid behind the hill, rising up as soon as Gallager was next to him. Hudd checked to see where Buffalo's tanks were before he picked out another Leopard 2 further back. Vitelli focused on the falling rounds for a second while his gunner made another "rifle call". This time, though, Vitelli and his wingman remained up as they tried to see if they might spot muzzle flashes.

"Asp, are you able to sight that artillery? Gun flashes, anything?" He radioed.

"Standby Archer."

"Hudd, refocus on the remaining Leos. Save the Hydras and guns for soft-skinned targets."

"Gotcha Skipper!"

Vitelli took control of the helo's Stingers and let Hudd fire off a few more missiles. He checked to his left as they did, searching for Belkan troops trying to flank them. Archer 1-5 and his group hadn't spotted any getting close. Buffalo's tanks had gotten close enough now that they could take over, leaving them to find more targets for their remaining four missiles.

"Harpy 6 this is Archer 1-1, requesting targets." He asked.

"Archer 1-1 my main force is pushing the attack on Buffalo's right flank. Request you move to engage targets behind enemy positions. Counterbattery is looking for those guns." His counterpart replied.

"Roger, Archer switching to attacking rear-echelon targets. Pass along arty coordinates as soon as you can."

Vitelli moved forward and banked left while Hudd watched over two-dozen M1s and M2s moving across the plains towards just as many Leopards, 113s and Marders. A friendly battery of M109s reported they had rounds on the way, so Hudd turned the Apache's nose-mounted sensors west. He spotted vehicles hurrying down the road.

"Skipper, got lots of vehicles moving down the highway, about ten klicks out. Got eyes on a pair of Shilkas just off the road and a platoon of infantry and their PCs securing both sides. Asp, this is Archer 1-1 do you have eyes on anything else of note near the highway."

"Archer, Asp also has eyes on two pairs of ZSUs at Heading 345 near the highway. Watch for a pair of hills just east of the highway at 345." The same female confirmed.

Despite the guns, Vitelli and Gallager ascended a couple hundred feet to avoid being easy prey for shoulder-launched missiles and Panzerfausts. He swung his helicopter towards the nearest threat, ordering Gallager to stay on his wing. Hudd acquired and fired at one of the Shilkas while the helicopter strafed to the right.

"Archer 1-3, what's your position with 1-4?" Vitelli asked.

"We're moving to engage those Shilkas at 345." Captain Joe Santez replied.

Vitelli looked off into the distance and saw an explosion. Hudd confirmed it was the Shilka they'd engaged. The two Apaches banked left and turned south before they reversed and came back to the north.

"Fastball this is Archer 1-1, ah, do you have any fast air oncall to help soften up defenses along the highway?" He asked.

"Copy Archer, I have two F-16s on standby, callsign Mage 4." The J-STARS answered almost immediately.

"Need them to suppress air defenses in the vicinity of the highway."

"Roger, standby."

In the meantime, Vitelli ordered his helios back down amongst the trees and hills while they got things sorted out. The remaining AA guns were transmitting in their direction, searching for the helicopters. The Colonel rested a thumb next to the countermeasures switch on his control stick while they made a plan. His flight's second half settled into place behind a hill nearby.

"Archer 1-1, disregard my last. Mage is being retasked to intercept enemy aircraft elsewhere. Will try to find you someone else; ETA unknown." Fastball apologized.

Vitelli growled and looked at his map. He considered the terrain ahead for a few seconds before he came to the inevitable conclusion. Fuck it, he thought, we'll take 'em ourselves with Hellfires.

"All Archer 1 aircraft, seek out any AAA from your current position and give 'em a Hellfire. After that 2, 3 and 4? Close in and attack targets on the highway with rockets and guns. Make two runs each. Harpy 6, be advised that fast air is delayed. I'm chopping my second fourship to support your guys and find that arty."

Without waiting for an answer, Vitelli ascended so Hudd could have a clear view of the highway. He spotted a ZSU and lined it up for an attack. Despite the distance, the Shilka still fired in the direction. The Colonel's jaw tightened as rounds fell earthward until they fell well short of his aircraft.

"Archer 1-1, Rifle." Hudd reported.

"Archer 1-2, Rifle." Gallager's gunner echoed.

Following the attack by his other two aircraft, Vitelli moved forward while Hudd switched to their Hydras. He looked in every direction possible as they approached the highway in search of targets to find, waiting for the guy who might have the Golden BB. As they approached, small muzzle flashes broke through the forest. Then came a big gun, 30mm at least but with no radar guidance. He ordered Gallager to break off and make an attack straight up the road as more big guns started swatting at the incoming helicopters.

"Hudd, I've got a hunch those are Marders, but stroke my ego a minute will ya?" He asked.

"Got at least four, sir. Must've left the main group on the highway. Lots of infantry scurrying around in the woods ahead of 'em." Hudd confirmed.

"Alright, hang on."

He went further left, then put the aircraft through a tailslide so the nose was on the line of infantry. He hit the gas and weaved the helicopter back and forth. As he came back towards the Belkans, Hudd salvoed off a dozen rockets into their positions. He switched to the gun and fired a burst at one of the Marders while it maneuvered to avoid the attack run. He pulled hard left and swept over the highway, just as Gallager was coming in to attack some supply trucks. Vitelli looked left to see if he'd hit anything and saw a ZSU rolling off the highway.

"Zeus, Zeus! My seven!" He radioed before he deployed countermeasures and broke to the right.

The ZSU let loose a long burst, spraying bullets back and forth at the two helicopters as they hurried away and sank behind a hill on the west side of the road. A second moved ahead of its comrade to fire at them as they fled. Vitelli dove down and went around a hill with his wingman close behind.

"Archer 1-1, I've been hit. Repeat, I've been hit." Gallager warned.

"How bad, 1-2?" Vitelli demanded.

"Still have control...engine's giving me shit. Might have a hole or two in me. Probably leaking something!"

"Alright, head towards Asp and then cut across the highway to reach 28th Infantry's AO. Set her down as soon as possible, how copy?"

"Archer 1-2 copies all."

"Asp 3 copies all."

"I've got that Zeus, Archer 1-1. Archer 1-4, get the other guy." Archer 1-3 reported. Vitelli started peeking around the hill when Santez added something else.

"And if you can, 1-2, don't get moving until we knock out those guns."

"No promises, 1-3."

Vitelli came around a few seconds after Santez and his wingman zapped the ZSUs with a pair of Hellfires and closed in to salvo more rockets onto the Belkan vehicles and troops below. Vitelli followed up just behind them; Hudd gunned a line of transport trucks trying to scurry past the fight. He also fired on a platoon of Leopard 2s moving into the woods, generally ignoring the tracers from their machine guns. Flashes of light caught his pilot's attention.

"Archer 1-1, RPGs at your nine!" Santez radioed.

"Copy I see 'em." Vitelli replied.

He broke hard right and swung the tail away from the incoming rockets. As he whipped back, Hudd put a burst in the general direction of the launches. Vitelli whipped right again and prepared to come around the near end of the hill he'd hidden behind when he caught a glimpse of twinkling in the distance. The radio crackled to life with an unsettling exchange.

"Asp 3-1, incoming from behind! Watch ou-"

"Zimmer?! Asp 3-2 report. I say again, rep-"

"Hudd, check Asp's position." Vitelli ordered.

The gunner swivelled his sights towards the commotion and spotted a menacing shape flying just above the treetops. Long, somehow both ugly and aerodynamic, and overall big. Big, with two wings carrying an army's worth of ordnance.

"Archer 1-1 has Hinds! 250!" Hudd called.

A fourship of Mi-35 Hinds appeared from where Asp had been hiding, and where Archer 1-2 had been going. One of the Belkan helos pointed itself at Gallager's helicopter and opened fire with its chin-mounted machine gun. Gallager broke to the right, his gunner engaging with their Apache's cannon.

"Archer 1-2 get outta there, you're in no condition to fight." Vitelli ordered.

"Copy 1-1, buggin' out!" Gallager replied without a fight.

Vitelli popped off a swarm of flares and went right of his wingman while he went left at full speed. He growled as his Stingers were slow to get a good lock on the incoming helicopters. For a minute he was stuck trying to snake backwards as the Hinds leapt on him. Trying to get out of the way while Archers 1-3 and 1-4 came to help. Contrary to what the fast movers might've thought, being able to move in all directions had drawbacks. As the Stingers kept lollygagging, Hudd was getting very temperamental.

"Motherfuckers!" He snarled as he let the chaingun go wild.

"Can it, Hudd! Harpy 6, my number two is heading your way with serious damage. Need a place for him to land ASAP." Vitelli snapped.

"Gotcha, Archer 1-1! Tell Archer 1-2 to head south-southeast and contact Mule 3. Repeat, contact Mule 3." Harpy explained.

Hudd reacquired the nearest Hind as Vitelli pulled hard left to avoid a barrage of rockets from another. He racked the front end with a long burst until the enemy helicopter nosed down. Santez and his wingman appeared from the north as the two furthest bandits tried to overtake Vitelli and get behind him, turning behind those two. The big Hinds split, but were unable to turn as fast.

"Archer 1-3, Fox 2." Santez called.

Vitelli ducked behind one of the hills as one of the Hinds took a Stinger in the side and the other dumped enough flares in time to avoid the same fate. He looked to the left and, as expected, one of the Belkan helicopters rushed by at full speed. Vitelli started forward in earnest again when he saw a flash to his right. The Apache's systems started blaring as a Panzerfaust raced up to intercept him. He hit the gas, dumped flares out of habit and turned into the attack. The rocket raced past so close the crew might've been able to read the label on the warhead. Hudd searched for the point of origin until Vitelli turned away to pursue the Hind. The Belkan had gunners in the troop compartment, who were quick to bring their HK21s into the fight. Not that it would help them, Vitelli thought with a sneer. He kept the Apache steady, then fired a Stinger as soon as he had a tone.

"Archer 1-1, Fox 2." He called.

Almost immediately, Vitelli broke off and left the missile to its job. He told Hudd to switch back to the rockets so they could make another run against Belkan forces on the highway. He took the helicopter south while 1-3 and 1-4 chased off the remaining Hind.

"Fastball, do you have any new CAS for us?" He radioed.

"Copy Archer we've got four A-6s inbound, callsign Thunder 3, and four new F-16s inbound, callsign Geist 2. We're gonna have Thunder make a straight run down the highway and dump some CBUs on the enemy's lead elements. Suggest you move your guys east of the highway." J-STARS replied.

"Copy, east of the make one more run, search for threats to fast air. Belkans got anymore Hinds coming our way?"

"Standby...Roger, our Sentry has two fourships. Intermittent contacts, low to the ground coming from 270 and 244."

"Gotcha, break, Harpy 6 be advised we've got more Hinds coming in low and fast."

"Roger Archer 1-1."

Vitelli swung the Apache around and kept the throttles at maximum while he raced up the road ahead of the incoming aircraft. His gunner spotted a platoon of Leopard 2s leaving the road and passing through some gaps in the trees. Vitelli raised altitude a little, then tilted the nose forward a smidge. As Hudd salvoed a dozen Hydras, Vitelli spotted another flash on the left. He thumbed the countermeasures and turned into the attack just as a second light emerged from the ground. They turned towards the Apache, revealing themselves to be SAMs. SA-18s, likely. Vitelli felt the entire airframe shake as the first missile impacted somewhere along the spine, by the engine exhausts. Merifully, the second went for the flares. The entire world was thrown into chaos as alarms and warning lights came on, all trying to warn the pilot before the others did.

"Fuck!...Archer 1-1's been hit, Archer 1-1's been hit! Archer 1-1's been hit! Harpy, contact...Buffalo 3 and tell 'em to make room for a second helicopter." Vitelli barked as he wrestled with the controls.

"Copy Archer. If you can't make it, head east. Some of my guys can form a perimeter for ya!" Harpy replied.

Vitelli thanked him as he forced the AH-64 to turn right and move towards friendly lines. According to the lights, the tail rotor had taken damage alongside the left engine. As it turned, the helicopter started to go upside down before it dipped into the death spiral so many of its kind were prone to. Vitelli fought to get the nose up; it worked for a few seconds but again he was spinning downwards. Accepting they wouldn't make it to friendly lines, he started transmitting his location. The ground rushed up to meet them with sudden clarity; The Colonel clenched his teeth hard but forced his eyes to stay open until the last second. Hudde seemed to be falling to the Gs piling on the two of them.

"Alright, we're goin' in hard. Hang onto somethin', Hudd!" Vitelli said, raising his voice at the end.

It was the last transmission he managed to send before he and his gunner joined nearly six tons of aircraft in smashing against the ground. Vitelli never felt a thing.