Over the Pacific
Harm checked his radar and weapons systems. He looked in the overhead mirror at Bud, "Hey Bud, if we get into an engagement, I can handle everything up here, but I'll need you to help me keep an eye out for the Koreans and make sure none get on our six ok?"
"Yes sir."
"Thanks Bud." Harm wiped some sweat off his eyebrows and pulled down his visor. "Superman 1 to Superman 2."
"Superman 2."
"Keeter, I'll take the lead, combat spread. Admiral, make sure your mask is locked in place and help us watch our sixes sir."
"Roger Hammer." Keeter looked in his overhead mirror at the Admiral, "Tad bit bossy isn't he sir?"
The Admiral grinned, "Yeah, cocky little shit."
They both laughed at that as Keeter spread out into his combat position. Harm was carefully watching his radar as they came within 20 miles of the unknowns. What he saw surprised the hell out of him. "Keeter! It's NOT 4 aircraft! It's 8!" Harm switched back to the AWACS frequency, "The 4 unknowns have now become 8 Galaxy!"
"Roger Superman 1." The operator then contacted the Reagan, "Galaxy to McDonald. Superman 1 & 2 are intercepting 8 aircraft. Launch more aircraft or shall we call in the others already airborne for refueling before they head out to help?"
"McDonald to Galaxy. Direct already airborne aircraft to refuel and head to Superman 1 & 2 and we will launch the alert 5s. Either way, it'll be at least 20 minutes before they get help."
"Roger McDonald."
USS Reagan bridge
Mac and the others had just reached the bridge when they heard it was now 8 unknown aircraft that Harm, Bud, Keeter and the Admiral were headed after. All they could do was listen stunned and disbelieving.
Beth caught the Captain's attention. "Sir, if the airplanes attack the Raptors right away, they won't have 20 minutes. The fight will be over before the support even gets there!"
"I know Beth. You know who's up there. Harm's too damn stubborn to die and Keeter's just too stupid to give up. They'll be ok."
"What about Lt. Commander Roberts and Admiral Chegwidden?"
Captain Ingles face paled slightly, "Shit, I forgot they were up there too. Well at least they won't necessarily have to help, just watch their sixes. Harm and Keeter will take care of everything else." He then turned to Mac. "Well, it's at least a good thing you're already up here, we'll need your help with the ROEs."
"Sir, the Admiral, Commanders Roberts and Rabb all know them to a T. Plus Harm's flying, so it'll really be his judgement call and we know he won't fire unless absolutely necessary. I'm sure Harm is in the lead and Keeter has the Admiral in his back seat to keep him straight."
Ingles sighed slightly, "Well, at least it's them going after them instead of some trigger finger happy newbie."
Meanwhile...
Harm saw the unknowns dead ahead of them on the radar and could barely see specks in the sky marking their positions. "Heads up guys, head on pass. Get on their six immediately Keeter and we'll see how they wanna play after that."
"Roger."
30 seconds later, they passed the North Koreans head on. "Superman 1 to Galaxy. There's 4 North Korean Mig-29s and 4 Mig-23s."
"Roger Superman 1."
"Keeter, you stick to me. I don't know what they're wanting. We're gonna take one the 29s and see what they're game is."
"Roger Hammer." Keeter looked at the Admiral in the mirror. "Sir, we're in tail end Charlie position. I need you to watch our six for the other 7 airplanes we're not following."
Harm looked at Bud in his mirror, "Bud, watch out for the others."
As soon as the other 7 got in position behind them, they all locked onto Harm or Keeter.
"Superman 1 to Galaxy! They've locked onto us!"
"Roger Superman, help is on the way but it'll be about 18 minutes."
"Shit!" Harm cursed in the cockpit. "Roger Galaxy, ask them to hurry!" Harm looked at Bud again, "Bud hang on, it's gonna be close, but we'll make it."
"I know sir, or else Harriet will kill us both!"
Harm laughed but as soon as he did, he got a big surprise. "Keeter, they're shooting at us!"
"Roger Hammer!"
"Keeter, break up! We gotta take them on separately and see what we can do before they kill us."
"Roger, see ya Harm. Taking evasive maneuvers."
Harm groaned with the G's he pulled to get away from the missiles shot at him. "Superman 1 to Galaxy, they've engaged us. We're taking evasive maneuvers and engaging!"
"Roger Superman. Friendlies on their way."
10 Minutes later
Harm had managed to shoot down 2 Mig 23s and 2 Mig 29s. Keeter shot down the other 2 23s. Harm was following one 29 trying to get a missile lock and Keeter was on the other one. All of a sudden, Keeter yelled, "Harm, watch out!"
Harm had no time to react. The Mig he was following led him in front of the other one and as he passed by Keeter's Mig, that Mig shot bullets at Harm's jet. Harm saw a bunch of sparks as bullets entered the cockpit. He felt a searing pain in his left leg, both arms and back. Harm cursed loudly. "Bud, are you ok?"
"Yes sir. I didn't get hit, just some of the stuff back here. Are you ok sir? You took most of the bullets."
"Yeah I'm ok to make it back." Harm flexed his arm muscles feeling the searing pain. "Keeter, we're ok. Let's get these sons of bitches and then go home."
"Roger Hammer."
About 2 minutes later, they each got their last Migs.
"Superman 1 to Galaxy."
"Go ahead Superman 1."
"All bogies have been destroyed. My plane has been hit by bullets."
"Roger Superman. Head home."
"Roger Galaxy." Harm looked over at Keeter. "Come on Buddy, let's go home."
"Roger. You have the lead."
USS Reagan
Everyone in the bridge sighed after the tense dogfight was over. Beth grinned and turned to Captain Ingles. "Well sir, we now have two legal weenies that are Aces and an Admiral that has 3 kills."
The Captain grinned, "I'm sure that's what the Admiral had in mind when he came out here."
Everyone there laughed and were still laughing when after everyone else had landed, they saw the 2 Raptors come around to land.
"Keeter, since I've got battle damage, I want you to land first."
"Ok, see you on deck."
"Superman 1 to McDonald."
"Go ahead Hammer," said Captain Ingles picking up the mic.
"Sir, I've taken battle damage, so Keeter is going to land first."
"Roger. What's the extent of the damage?"
"Bullets sir. They came through the canopy. Commander Roberts is fine sir, but we'll still need the corpsman on deck."
Mac's face paled, knowing that he had to be hurting if he was calling for the corpsman. She felt bad because he'd once again gotten hurt and she didn't tell him good luck.
The Captain watched Mac for a few seconds. "Roger Harm. Are you ok to land son?"
"Yes sir. I'm good to land."
"Roger, see you on deck."
Later in sick bay
Mac sat in one of the visitor's chairs staring at the opposite wall. She kept seeing his near crash over and over in his head. After the last transmission to the bridge, Harm's pain became almost unbearable as his adrenaline ran down and fear began to sink it. He had a hard time controlling the plane and the very minute adjustments he had to make to keep the plane on the glide slope caused him more and more pain. Once he finally made it on the deck, she almost threw up at all of the blood in the cockpit and how pale his face was. They had to pull him out and carry him down here. Everyone followed him down here. The doctor had just come out to say that he was going to be fine, he'd just lost quite a bit of blood and that the only bullet left in Harm, he'd been able to pull out as it was near the surface and Harm had insisted. Harm had been shot twice in left arm. One grazed his arm and then grazed his leg before embedding itself in the cockpit floor. The other had been a through-through shot in his bicep, but it missed anything vital and didn't hit any bones. That bullet too embedded in the floor. He was shot once in right arm that went all the way through, but once again missed anything important. The bullet that directly hit his left leg went through his quad muscle and then down into the floor. The one that embedded in his back came close to his spinal cord and hit a bunch of vessels and veins in his back, but the ejection seat took most of the force and damage. She was grateful that was all he got, for there were many bullets all around where he'd been sitting. Bud had been very lucky too as not one came close to him except for maybe two that went into the computers sitting in front of him.
She looked up as Bud called her name and told her it was her turn to go see him. He looked so strange laying in the bed asleep. She didn't know why, but it always shocked her to see him like this given she'd seen him so many times in hospitals. Maybe it had to do with the fact everyone, including probably himself, that he was superman, invincible. Once again, today only proved that wasn't true.
She stayed with him for 20 minutes and then walked out of the Infirmary and headed to her room to get some sleep.
Harm had been awake. The only one that he allowed to know he was, was Beth and Skates, but he made them promise not to tell anyone else. He didn't want to do the debrief right then, he was in so much pain since he'd refused any pain medicine. He'd laid there and wondered what was going through Mac's mind as she sat beside him, holding his hand, watching him as he "slept". He didn't know and given their argument earlier, he probably didn't want to know, so he just kept letting her believe he was asleep.
When she finally did leave, he sat up knowing she was the last to visit him and figured it was safe. He heard her say something about going to her to sleep. He got up and pulled on the flight suit Beth had brought him and his boots before going out to talk to the corpsman to see when he could be released. He wanted out of there badly. He really didn't want to do the debrief, he was so tired, but knew it needed to be done and figured it'd be best if Mac wasn't there to hear everything.