Blazblade – I wanted it to be different, everyone gives Trigger a voice, gives him a love interest or makes him talk. In Ace Combat 7 Trigger is the silent protagonist that is elite and unkillable. I wanted to mix that up and make it clear that no-one is safe.

Back Flying

Characters

Count (Spare 2) – Su-33 Flanker-D

Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (Spare 3) – F16C

Jake "Hangman" Seresin (Spare 4) – F16C

Full Band (Spare 6) – F/A-18F Super Hornet

High Roller (Spare 7) – F16C Fighting Falcon

Champ (Spare 8) – MiG29A Fulcrum

Natasha "Phoenix" Trace (Spare 9) - F-4E II

Robert "Bob" Floyd (Spare 9) WSO - F-4E II

Reuben "Payback" Fitch (Spare 10) - F-4E II

Mickey "Fanboy" Garcia (Spare 10) WSO - F-4E II

Tabloid (Spare 11) – Mirage 2000-S

Colonel D. McKinsey, Commander of 444th Air Base, Commander Spare Squadron

Avril "Scrap Queen" Mead, Squadron Mechanic

Bandog, AWACS

Solitary had been horrible but after twenty-four hours they were all released and shown to their normal cells each of them was about twice as large as the solitary cell, they had more comfortable beds and lacked a toilet beside the head rest. Instead, there was multiple toilets at the end of the corridor along with communal showers. Although they had not included Phoenix in the conversation the others had decided that they would watch her back home this would not be an issue but this was completely new to them. Each of them showered and put on new flight suits, they were not as good as the ones they had in the US Navy but they were better than the court wear. Before joining the general population of the base finding that they were free to walk around the base when not called to work, they also found out from one of the guards that they would be flying planes again, and that would include flying again. One of the guards had suggested they may want to head to the hanger and tell the Scrap Queen they needed planes.

Entering the hanger, they found a maze of parts of planes from F4s to MiG-29s there were pieces of dozens of different aircraft. In the middle of the hanger beside a low table which was covered in tools and parts there they found a short woman, she had short dark hair, wearing work trousers, a white vest top. "Scrap Queen?" Rooster asked, while they had been stripped of their rank, he still felt responsible for them.

"Only my friends call me that" she almost spat turning to look at them. "To you I'm Avril Mead head technician." She said crossing her arms across her chest the look on her face making it clear she wasn't kidding; they had obviously fallen for a guard's idea of a joke.

"Uhhh" Rooster stumbled surprised at her reaction. He always thought he put his best foot forwards, right now it felt like his foot was in mouth.

"New blood?" She asked they nodded "pilots?" Again, they nodded "mute?" She asked obviously showing her impatience.

"We're all pilots, we're Dagger Flight US Navy, these two specializing in WSO." Rooster said pointing at Bob and Fanboy. "I've piloted T-38 Talons, T-45 Goshawks and F/A-18s with a single flight as a WSO in an F-14A, that was different. I've also simmed with an F-35C." He answered on the back foot hoping his flight credentials would at least put him in better standing.

"Same minus the F-14 part" Hangman said after Rooster had finished, he had enjoyed watching Rooster squirm a bit under the Scrap Queen's icy glare, Rooster always ended up on top it was nice to see Maverick's golden boy slip up. The others took less joy in Rooster's unease each answered the same until they got to Bob.

"I've piloted T-38s, T-45s, F-18s, back seated F-18s, left seater on a B-2, and I've simmed pilot on an F-117, F-22 and F-35C." Bob said with more embarrassment than anything else seeing the reactions from the other pilots and the impressed look from the other pilots, he shrugged his shoulders in embarrassment, "fly in a B-2 and it opens doors."

"Nice, well I don't have any spare B-2s" he said looking at Bob wondering about the dark-haired man with glasses, he seemed like he was the least assuming of all of them, he had the smallest ego but perhaps had the greatest potential. "The T-38 isn't a combat fighter but we have got plenty F16Cs and I've got two F-4 Enhanced models."

"F4s, they are still in service here?" Phoenix asked in the US Navy the F-4 had been completely replaced by the F/A-18. Many other nations around the globe still fielded them but they were hardly a first-tier aircraft.

"With the Common Cockpit Module (CCM), it'll just be like any other fighter you'll just have to get used to the different flight characteristics, if I get any more F-18s I'll fix them up for you." Avril Mead explained, none of them knew what the CCM was but it sounded interesting. "Ready for some flight testing?" Mead asked looking at them, the pilots exchanged surprised looks but nodded "then let's go, follow me." She invited them with a wave limping through the hanger towards a second hanger "oh don't mind the bum leg." She said noticing their looks "I hurt it flying my F-104 I was shot out of her at the start of the war for flying into a warzone in an unauthorised aircraft."

"You had an F-104?" Payback asked surprised

"I rebuilt her from scratch" Mead explained "and because of my ability to rebuild her they decided to put me to work." She said "I get to work off my "crimes" just like everyone else."

"We're not criminals, we just flew through a storm." Phoenix protested to Mead looked at her looking confused. She looked at her with an interested look, she was not exactly a criminal herself but had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"It's a long story" Hangman explained "I'll tell you, but can we fly some planes first?" He asked liking the idea of being able to fly again.

They were led into the next hanger inside there were several aircraft including a pair of F-16Cs and 2 F-4s. Both Rooster and Hangman moved over to their silver and blue camouflage painted F-16s the craft were smaller than F-18s they were used to but they looked like they were in good condition. On the wing tips was a sidewinder missile which was standard for the design but under the wings there was something else.

"What is this?" Rooster asked grabbing the weapon which was as long as the aircraft's wing, it was shaped like a cylinder with a pointed end, he could see more than a dozen missiles sticking out of the launcher. "It looks like a UB-32 Rocket Launcher but bigger." He said looking it over.

"I don't know what a UB-32 is, but that's a Standard Universal Missile (SUM) Launcher, with fifty-one missiles." Mead explained moving over to the launcher kneeling down beside the pilot "they are your primary weapon, are capable of assaulting ground and aerial targets. It works because behind each missile is a lockbox which shields the ones behind it when each launches it is like a magazine on a rifle. They are guided by radar; you fire and forget them."

"There can't be a lot of room for fuel and a warhead?" Hangman asked looking at her surprised by the number of missiles and their capabilities but guessed they were significantly shorter ranged than the AIM-120s they were used to.

"They have a range of about five kilometres." She said the pilots looked like they had been hit by a brick, the AIMs had the better part of thirty-kilometres in range. "Enough to knock out most ground targets with a hit, destroy them with two. Same with aircraft, if you hit an enemy target, it'll cause your target a world of hurt a second hit will likely knock a wing off your target or rip it in two." She explained the weapons were less powerful than an AIM-120 or Sidewinder but still with the number of shots they had available a pilot could afford to take more shots during a fight. "Your plane's second slot has bigger missiles they can be air-to-ground or air-to-air type weapons, they are generally more powerful, longer ranged, or capable of doing something special. The current layout has twelve 4AAMs, 4 under each wing and four centrally."

"4AAMs?" Phoenix asked looking at the F-16's weapons under the wings. These were more like an AIM-120 in size but they looked different almost modular.

"Your aircraft will designate four targets, when the missile fires it launches sub munitions which will target all four targeted aircraft and do their best to destroy all four, they have about an eight-to-ten-kilometre range, but you cannot carry as many."

"Cool" Rooster remarked impressed looking at Hangman both nodded and began heading for the cockpits as Mead showed the other four pilots over to the two waiting F-4s.

"These have the same SUM Launcher, you'll find that on about 90% of the planes we operate, you'll be in theatre a lot longer due to the number of munitions you can carry." Mead explained as they approached despite the age of the design, they looked in very good condition. "Like the Falcon you have twelve missiles under your wings and body but they of a different type they are SASMs. Which are Short-Ranged Aerial Suppression Missiles. They have proximity sensors in them that will explode if the missile is going to miss and send a hail of shrapnel in an enemy's path."

"Not bad for an antique." Bob commented as Phoenix began to climb into their cockpit.

"Holy shit!" She exclaimed looking into the cockpit but before she could speak more Mead spoke up.

"Antique?" She asked confused the F-4 was not as advanced as other designs employed by the nations but it was still a lethal design in the right hands. "These were built last year; they've got the best in them that we can build even if I have had to borrow a part or two." She commented Avril hated being here but she knew how planes worked.

"Bob, look at this cockpit!" Phoenix said climbing in the front seat as Bob climbed up, he saw instead of switches and dials a glass cockpit like the any of the modern aircraft he had ever been in.

"All of the fighter aircraft built on the cockpit have a CCM. Because various corporations build different types of aircraft it was agreed by the corporations to adopt common controls makes for easy training, weapon integration and repair. Although the aircraft will operate differently based on their size, engine power and aerodynamics but the controls interface is essentially the same whether you're in an F-16, a MiG or any other model of aircraft." Mead explained, "it simplifies training and means that a pilot will probably end up in a few models during their career, now you want to try and fly them?"

"Hell yes!" Rooster said beginning the startup process finding the controls very intuitive. When he started the systems up they displayed similar instruments that he was used to he took a few minutes to get accustomed to what he was seeing but he wanted to fly. The other pilots reacted similarly climbing into their planes each of them taking some time and familiarising themselves with the new fighters, basic principles were the same as most other planes but all their displays were purely digital.

"Scrap Queen to Tower, I have four heading up for a test flight. Spares Three, Four, Nine and Ten." She said over the radio.

"They are cleared to taxi; I hope they don't bring you back scrap after their first flight." Tower replied "pilots you are still prisoners of this penal unit. You have a maximum range around the base of five miles, go beyond that and you will be shot down. There is no safe haven for you within the fuel range you can reach." The tower warned, "should you believe, you can survive in the brush you are wrong."

"I'm taking bets one of them doesn't come back" someone else said over the radio as Rooster led the four jets out onto the runway.

"Scrap Queen's trusting them it seems" another responded as first the two F-16s and then the two F-4s roared down the runway and quickly took to the skies.

"Rooster to Dagger flight, let's show them follow me." Rooster said levelling out the F-16 as Hangman and then the two F-4s moved up into formation. He found the plane a little twitchier than he was used to, it was a pure fighter unlike the fighter-bomber that the F/A-18 was, it had a lot more bite than he was used to. "Diamond formation" he commanded behind him Hangman took up a position on his left while Phoenix's F-4 moved up onto his right wing while Payback's F-4 took up the rear position of the group as they flew around the Air Base. Despite the age of the designs all four planes flew beautifully Rooster kept the speed low and made no sudden movements allowing all the pilots to get used to their new aircraft.

"Nice formation flying" Bandog their AWACs noted, they had not been aware that the AWACs was airborne "now we get to see if you can fight?" He warned "we have incoming bombers with fighter escort from the east."

"This is the tower all unit's scramble! Scramble! Put on a show for them." The tower ordered from the voice it sounded like Colonel McKinsey.

"Let's go Dagger" Rooster said leading the flight still in its precise diamond formation arcing around the airbase towards the east maintaining their positions and speed as a pair of TU-65 Bombers came in low over the extended part of the base bombing the fake airfield which the penal base was alongside. Behind it two MiG-21s came in firing rockets a line of F/A-18s which were parked on the tarmac. They were all old designs built by Russia, their home's, America, old rival where Dagger Flight was from if they were attacking these aircraft they would have been involved in a serious, probably world, war. "Hangman stay with me, Phoenix you're lead of flight two, we go right you go left." He ordered "let's show them what we were told, we don't leave our wingmen just like Maverick taught us."

"I'm taking bets on which one of them goes down first" A pilot called out as another F-16 Fighting Falcon took off "High Roller airborne."

"High Roller, you're just jealous you couldn't fly like that." The next pilot called out as a Su-33 Flanker took off, it was a hodge podge squadron that none of Dagger could have ever expected to have been part of.

"Shut it, Count!"

"Listen up, I'm taking command, make way Tower clear me to launch next." As a MiG-29A skipped the launch queue cutting across the gravel below to make the runway. "Champ airborne, all of you form up on me, new guys you included."

"Jesus what a bunch of amateurs" Phoenix commented from her position above as they approached the bombers. "Rooster, we're with you."

"Affirmative, keep your head in the game Phoenix, Dagger ripple fire the bombers, let's knock them down in one volley and fire!" Rooster ordered he hesitated for a moment realising what was in his world a Russian made bomber. He said looking at the huge round nosed four engine driven behemoth, he could not believe what he had landed in and what he was seeing. As the range closed, he pulled the main firing triggers anticipating the missiles to all launch in one volley but nothing happened "oh shit! I've got a bent bird, no fire, no fire!" He called out

"Same here! No weapons" Hangman said as they continued to close on the lead TU-65, the MiG21s had already passed them strafing the base below and the bombers only had rear defence guns.

"Break high and right!" Rooster called out pulling back on the control stick, he saw Hangman follow him executing the perfect escape manoeuvre. Bullets filled the air from the lead TU-65 but none of them connected with the two aircraft.

"We've got nothing either, Jesus Christ!" Payback shouted angrily as the two F-4s suffered same issues.

"High and left!" Phoenix called out and the two Phantoms pulled up and away from the incoming bombers who continued to pound the base below. Behind them two more Tu-65 bombers escorted by F-15J Eagles came in unlike the ground-attack MiG-21s the two Eagles went after Phoenix and Payback's Phantoms. A newer more agile fighter the only thing they had going for them was their speed.

"Tower, this is Rooster, we have four bent birds. We are unable to fire! Requesting immediate runway access for our planes!" Rooster communicated with the ground base bringing the pair of Falcons around towards the runway but instead of gaining a landing request the truth behind their troubles was explained.

"Negative Rooster, your birds are not bent, your combat systems are disabled convicts do not get to use weapons without my express permission and that I haven't given." Colonel McKinsey explained "now put on a show for our visitors."

"Damnit we shouldn't be here!" Rooster shouted angrily into the comms but he did not get an answer. Above he could see Phoenix and Payback dodging their planes to avoid the chasing Eagles "hell with this, Hangman, if we can't shoot these guys, we can at least have a bit of fun with them." He thought looking up at the two Eagles there was just enough space between them.

"Eh?" He asked seeing Rooster's plane pitch upwards he matched the turn slipping in behind the Falcon. Seeing the Eagles above firing machine gun fire both Phantoms were using barrel rolls to avoid the fire.

"Good morning aviators this is your Captain speaking" Rooster said with a laugh remembering the words that Maverick had used to introduce himself to the group before kicking their collected ass in mock air-to-air combat using only guns. Thinking of a brighter moment Rooster kicked in the afterburner pulling the aircraft into a steep climb. "Phoenix, we need those Eagles to keep on the same course, we're going to burn them."

"Make it quick we are barely holding up here. Payback's got cannon damage nothing critical." She said moving the plane from left to right but trying to keep the same course and keep the other two planes with them.

"Affirmative, we're there" Rooster said flew his knifed between the two Eagles on full afterburner, moments later Hangman's fighter followed suit, the turbulence caused by the speeding fighters knocked both Eagles off their course long enough for the two Phantoms to break contact the two fighters splitting in different directions giving the pursuing Eagles more work to do.

Below a pair of MiG-21s bore down on the penal air base's control tower firing their cannons and rockets as they approached. "What the hell is going on? How the hell did they get so close? Are you trying to get me killed?" The pilots could hear McKinsey speaking over the radio and then the line went abruptly quiet. Below they could see several rockets had directly hit the control tower and it was on fire.

"Colonel please respond" Bandog called as the pilots continued to circle and avoid fire from incoming fighters "Colonel McKinsey?" He asked again but all there that returned was static. "Right on my authority weapons free, I repeat all fighters you are weapons free kill them all."

"Dagger, let's get to work" Rooster ordered with Hangman staying on his wing and the two Phantoms sticking together "Hangman, we're going after the fighters. Phoenix, Payback, go after the bombers don't let them through."