The Demon Lord aligned himself up with his target. He closed one eye in order to make his aim more accurate and took a silent breath before striking. His shot was perfect. The small white pool ball was sent hurtling across the table at great speed before smashing into a solid red and almost pocketing it.
"Nice shot." His wingman gave him a pat on the back as Cipher stepped away from the pool table to allow the Crow Team to take their turn.
"So how many did you bag in the Round Table?" Ryan asked the now famous pilot.
"Fourteen." Cipher replied without pausing to think. The operation had been on the front of the mercenary's mind for the past few days and he could not only remember how many he'd claimed but also the conversations that had occurred. And one was stuck in his mind. Yet that wasn't the only thing he was thinking of. During the mission, he'd felt an unusual calm settle over him, like he belonged there in the Round Table. Like whenever he flew in the conflicted skies, he was at home. "And what about you?"
"Me? I claim six kills." The ex-ISAF pilot answered as he lined up for his turn. "I saw an interesting engagement."
"Go on." Cipher was intrigued.
"It was when you and that other squadron were dealing with the reinforcements." Ryan's shot was poor, and the white rebounded off the side and into a pocket. "There was this Belkan aircraft, a Fishbed if I remember correctly."
"Yeah, a MiG-21." Crow Two said. Cipher had learnt that his name was Alex Hicks.
"So this MiG overshoots us and just ignores us all." Ryan continued while Foulke pocketed the ball Cipher had set up. "And as you do, we went to intercept while P.J finished off this other Belkan. Then out of nowhere, an Osean F-14A Tomcat appears and engages."
"Sounds like a one-sided battle to me." Cipher said.
"Well that's what we thought, but this MiG pilot was obviously a top guy, he's giving the Osean a run for his money while we loiter around and watch just in case." Hicks explained. "Then all of a sudden, another aircraft joins in."
"I think it was an F-15 type or something." P.J added. "It looked like one but with canards and thrust vectoring."
"Well he comes diving in and the two pilots have no chance." Ryan laughed. "This guy just pops them both off with a few missiles then turns to have a go at us. Luckily, we were ready and this guy goes down."
"Not without a fight, mind you." Hicks butted in.
Cipher finished off the game by potting three more reds then the black. "A Belkan engaging another Belkan? That sounds interesting."
"So you're an ace pilot, a decent blackjack player and now an excellent pool player!" Ryan picked up his beer with a laugh. "It was nice playing with you. Guess we'll see you around." And with that, the other mercenary team left the pilot room leaving Cipher and Foulke alone.
The flight lead broke the comfortable silence. "So what was happening, just as you thought?"
Foulke looked confused until he realised that Cipher was on about during the previous mission. "Oh that? That was just some prediction I made with Wizard One, it was nothing massive."
"What prediction?" Cipher looked over.
Foulke sighed. "Don't you see? This war is all about power and resources. And B7R is a prime example of both. Those who control it get the resources within it and also air supremacy over the area. Belka wanted it at first, now the Allied Forces have it. It's just one big argument over who gets what. The very thing that caused Belka to start the war is the very thing the Allied Forces are now pushing to get themselves. We're back where we started, except now we're on the aggressive side."
"So you're suggesting we change sides?" Cipher challenged.
"I'm not saying that at all!" Foulke replied. "I'm just saying that maybe our reason to fight is gone."
"Larry," Cipher fired the cue ball down the length of the table and caught the rebound. "My reason to fight is to see this war to the end, and to see Ustio victorious, as much as I hate it. This war won't end until one side gives up." He looked his wingman in the eye and Foulke returned the stare, ice blue against dark amber. "What's your reason to fight?"
Foulke remained silent. Just as he was about to speak, an NCO popped her head round the door, her long auburn hair pulled back neatly into a bun. Both mercenaries broke off the staring contest as she spoke. "Cipher, Pixy, you're wanted in the briefing room in fifteen minutes."
Cipher nodded and the corporal left. He glanced at Foulke as they made their way out the door and across the flight line to the small room where the briefings were conducted. The sunset bathed the fighters in various shades of orange and gold, while their tall shadows battled for rule of the ground. Cipher admired every F-18 Hornet, F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt he passed. Yes, he had admitted himself that he was a plane geek. Did he care? Nope.
They entered the room, where Crow and four pilots from Fenrir sat. When they entered, the lights dimmed and the officer began his brief along with the usual Hammer and Axe briefing programme. "The Belkan forces are beginning to take flight." He announced. "The industrial city of Hoffnung is crucial to the enemy's industrial strategy and head of its war productions. The Allied Forces have decided that all Belkan war production must be stopped to expedite the end of the war, and has requested our participation in this operation."
"The operation will primarily involve the bombing of ground facilities by the Allied Forces bombers. Your mission is to support those bombers and attack enemy facilities. We have achieved near total air supremacy over the target area, but don't let your guard down: there may still be sporadic resistance." He warned.
Cipher stood, taking control of the situation from here. "Okay, seeing as you're all flying the F-16, which can carry air-to-ground guided weapons, I need you guys to take care of the anti-air components of the Belkan army for us, as neither myself or Foulke can carry such weapons."
Henderson nodded. "Sure thing, you and Foulke going to maintain the air supremacy?"
"We'll do our best." Foulke answered from his position at the back of the room. "More likely we'll be bored shitless because the Oseans have maintained the near total air supremacy for almost two days."
"Right then, let's roll out." Cipher led the way out the door and headed to his F-15C Eagle, his wingman not far behind. He armed his plane with his usual air to air load out and Foulke did the same. When he was happy, he began to taxi and took off with a roar of afterburner with Foulke, Crow Team and Fenrir Squadron not far behind. They formed up and headed for the city, and the key to the rapid end of the war.
Cipher decided there and then that he hated long flights. Anything where he was required to refuel his bird in the air was now classed to him as 'too long'.
"Galm Two to all craft, I see a burning city up ahead." The horizon was orange with the light of flames, standing out greatly against the dark night.
"That must mean the bombing has started." P.J said.
Thanks for the BFO. Cipher thought as he picked out the radar signatures of six B-52 bombers nearby, showing the ID signals of Osea. "Let's move." The Demon Lord said as he banked towards them, with Foulke trailing. The seven Falcons continued on their own courses.
"Begin the operation. Protect the allied bomber squadron." AWACS Eagle Eye said. The two F-15C Eagles were soon over the outskirts of the city where flames burned everywhere. Even where there were no factories present, the area wasn't spared from the rain of death the huge bombers created.
"I thought this was a precision bombing mission?" Foulke questioned quietly.
"They're just tossing bombs all over the place…" Cipher was stunned.
As if on cue, the lead bomber radio operator sent out a message to all in his squadron. "To all bombers, remove Belka's capability to counterattack. Priority is placed on destruction over accuracy."
"Drop 'em all." A second said.
"Turn it to ashes!" Another ordered. "That's not enough, drop more bombs!"
Cipher couldn't describe the feelings of anger he felt at that point. He would say he saw red but the saying would fit poorly in with the current situation, where even the sky burned with orange. He resisted the urge to shoot down the lumbering B-52 squadron and instead focussed his anger into diving and attacking a battery of four Belkan SAM launchers. He strafed one with guns before pulling away and loosening flares to evade the missiles fired at him. As he turned to attack again, two long range air-to-ground missiles fired from Crow Team eliminated two more, while the last was taken out by Foulke using the same tactic as his flight lead.
Without further ado, he headed for the main city, where the main fires burned. The Belkan industrial city was based along a major river, and the majority of the factories were situated along the banks of it. Numerous AA weapons littered the city, desperately trying to push back the Allied bomber squadron with little success. Sirens could be heard from Cipher's cockpit.
Foulke was right, there was little that the air superiority fighter pilots could do at this stage apart from occasionally strafe an AA gun or SAM here and there and watch the city burn.
"A tomahawk just hit the city…" P.J said in disbelief. "Are these guys serious?!"
That was just the first. As he circled the burning industrial city, Cipher counted another four on his radar bearing down on targets throughout the city. Something clicked in the back of his mind. Hoffnung was Belkan for hope. The destruction of the city would mean the loss of all hope for the Belkans. Literally.
"This is unbelievable." Cipher muttered as he listened to the radio calls of the factories and soldiers down below... "The Allied Forces should know better than this."
"Put out that fire before it reaches our facilities!"
"What are you doing?! This isn't even a weapons factory!"
"Damn Allied Forces. Shoot them down! Come on! Come on!"
"Attention Allied fighters, our tank unit is advancing to sector two but some Belkan planes are giving us trouble." A tank commander said. "Take down those planes for us!"
"Galm Team roger, moving to intercept." Cipher growled. He banked hard, drawing sharp contrails in the dark sky as he turned back in the direction he had just come from, switching to his AIM-120 missiles. Foulke was on his tail, just keeping up with the angered Demon Lord. The pair of Belkan F-15E Strike Eagles appeared on his HUD, beginning an attack run and dropping guided bombs towards the Allied Forces tanks. Three were destroyed as Cipher engaged.
"Galm One, Fox Three!" Two AMRAAMs were sent towards the attacker aircraft, but only one connected with the target. He overshot the other at high speed, banking away as Foulke engaged a second later and dispatched the lone Strike Eagle with a sidewinder shot.
"Mercenaries? Well, we appreciate the help. We'll be moving on." The commander thanked them as they turned back towards the inferno.
"This is Crow Two, something strange is going on." Hicks sounded uncertain. "The number of burning areas just suddenly increased."
"Inform all units," A Belkan army commander said, sounding stressed and panicky. "This is an order from Operation HQ, abandon Hoffnung! However, don't retreat until all facilities are destroyed. Leave them nothing! That is all!"
"The Belkans are setting fire to their own factories..." Ryan observed.
The bombers were nearing the end of the city, leaving a trail of fire behind them. Factories, bridges, skyscrapers and houses burned. But soon, small pockets of flame and destruction appeared ahead of the bombers where the retreating army set fire to their own facilities.
"Burn down the entire city! Set fire to the buildings on your way out!"
"All facilities in the main sector have been destroyed! Damn those Allied Forces!"
"I can't pinpoint the enemy or allied positions, what am I supposed to do?!"
"Even Hoffnung is falling, what has become of our mighty air force?"
Cipher switched off his intercepted communications line, not wanting to listen to the desperate cries and orders from the retreating Belkan Army. He'd promised himself to see this war to the end, and to see Ustio victorious. Well right now, he was considering breaking that promise.
"The city's going up in flames!" P.J exclaimed.
"Learn to accept it kid, this is war." Foulke muttered as he formed up on Cipher's wing.
"You expect me to believe that arson and indiscriminate bombing is war?!"
"There's no mercy in war." Cipher replied. "It's a collision of powers."
"Even war has a set of rules to follow!"
Cipher sighed and gave up with the heated debate. Although he admitted to himself that the young pilot was right, and that the Allied Forces were wrong to send in the squadron of bombers to flatten the city. Nevertheless, he remained in formation with the bomber squadron as they poured fire into the burning city below.
"Belkan fighters on radar." The bomber lead reported. "Galm Team engage!"
"Galm Team roger." Cipher spied the incoming Belkan fighters on his own radar coming in pairs. "Six...no eight bandits on radar and closing fast. "Crow, Fenrir, you take the northern fighters. Galm Two and I can get the rest." The other pilots complied and the Galm Team broke off, climbing to meet the enemy planes. Cipher identified them as F/A-18 Hornet fighters, nothing they couldn't handle. "Galm Two, cleared to engage."
"Pixy roger." Foulke replied as he broke off to deal with another pair, leaving Cipher with the pair at his twelve.
"Galm One fox three!" His last two AMRAAM missiles detached from underneath his fuselage and cut through the air to intercept their targets. Again, only one was successful, with Cipher turning hard onto the surviving Hornet after overshooting it and shredding it with gunfire.
"This is Bussard Seven, I'm hit I'm hit!" the pilot cried before ejecting.
"Galm One splash two, Galm Two sitrep?" The Demon Lord asked his wingman.
"I can dodge this one…" Foulke answered as he pulled a high-g turn to evade a missile. Cipher engaged his afterburners to quickly head to within sidewinder range of the enemy Hornet where he fired and shot him down with one.
"I've detected an unknown craft on radar." AWACS Eagle Eye warned. Cipher had forgotten he was up there. "The blip is barely visible, it may be a stealth."
"Two o'clock high…" Cipher picked up two of the incoming craft coming head on. "F-35C Lightnings."
"Roger that, I'm engaging." Foulke swooped past him and began to dance with one of the fighters, leaving the other for Cipher who climbed and banked hard to get onto the tail of it. The single-engined stealth fighter was expecting the move, and in an attempt to shake him, dived. But Cipher was quick, and adjusted his flight path so he came out of the manoeuvre behind the jet and used his gun to send the delicate aircraft tumbling to the city below.
"They'll pay for what they've done to Belka…" A Belkan pilot growled.
Cipher visually confirmed that Foulke had successfully dealt with his F-35C target before searching for another. He knew the radar was useless against stealth aircraft unless they were firing missiles at something. And as if on cue, his missile warning system came to life, and in response he threw flares out the back of his plane and pulled a hard bank. Two AIM-9 Sidewinders passed through the space where he was just seconds ago, followed by the two Lightning fighters responsible for the shots.
"This is Crow Two, I've bagged a bandit!" Hicks whooped. Ignoring the other pilot, the Demon Lord continued his wide bank to return on his original heading before spying out the pair of Belkan planes banking together at his three o'clock, preparing to attack once more.
"I'll burn them to the ground!" Another Belkan F-35 pilot angrily muttered.
Cipher banked with Foulke on his wing and tried to get onto their tails. Their Eagles were more manoeuvrable than the Lightnings, enabling the mercenaries to quickly finish off the attackers with sidewinders.
"Mayday mayday!" A bomber cried. "I've taken a hit! Going down!"
"Release all bombs before you get shot down!" The bomber lead ordered.
Reluctantly, Cipher turned hard and rocketed off to come to the bomber squadron's aid. He swooped in behind another pair of F-35C Lightning II fighters and destroyed one with a Sidewinder, Foulke taking the second in a similar fashion.
"Crow One, status?" He called the other mercenary team to hear how they were doing.
"Skies are clear here." Ryan replied. "AWACS, how are we looking?"
"Galm Team, two more craft at your twelve o'clock low." Eagle Eye replied.
Cipher tilted his nose down and sure enough, two Belkan aircraft showed up on his HUD, flying in formation. Except these aircraft weren't fighters, but B-2A Spirit stealth bombers. Nevertheless, he engaged without mercy, firing an AIM-9 Sidewinder and 20mm cannon rounds into each of the planes, watching as they tumbled to the city below.
"Down all Belkan fighters." AWACS Eagle Eye confirmed.
"Ignore the civilians! Our priority is withdrawing the troops out of the area." A Belkan Army Commander ordered his men,
"Abandon Block D," Another spoke seconds later. "Join up with 5th Company from Block C."
"Don't leave anything behind for the Allied Forces!"
Two B-52 bombers from the Allied Forces continued to fly over the city as the others retreated. "Mission objective fulfilled. All units, return to base."
Cipher and Foulke banked away from the battle. But as they did, Cipher's jet flew low, skimming the tops of the skyscrapers as the city burned.
"Damn them all!" He muttered angrily before climbing with afterburners to catch up with Foulke.
"Nobody knew why we were fighting anymore." Solo Wing Pixy explained after telling the story of the battle over Hoffnung. "All I felt at that point was sadness for the world. That's why I…"