Chapter 2: Open War
September 27, 2010 1101hrs Sand Island
We scrambled to take off because we had reports of enemy UAV's performing recon on Sand Island. They were returning to a spy vessel to the south-west of the island and we were ordered not to destroy the ship. I thought if that ship was part of the recon operation, it should be destroyed as well.
"Wardog, this is Thunderhead. Unmanned recon drones retuning to spy vessel. Shoot them down be for they get back to the ship."
I didn't waste any time waiting for the captain to give the order to disperse. I applied full throttle and flew past the others.
"Show me what you got, Kid," said Captain Bartlett.
"Wait for me Blaze" said Lightning.
I closed in on the first pair of UAV's and gave each of them a short burst with my guns. They were pretty easy to shoot down.
"Guess this is a good time to have a little completion of kill scores," said Chopper.
"I like that idea" said Lightning.
"Well I'm already two ahead of you," I replied.
Chopper, Lightning and I continued to shoot down the remaining drones and I beat him by three kills. Suddenly, Thunderhead called out four high speed bogies inbound from vector 280. Who the hell were these guys? Captain Bartlett ordered us to abort and Chopper, Lightning and I turned to rejoin on him and Edge. Chopper was falling behind and was being fired at.
"I can't make it. They're running me down," said Chopper.
"Oh you're taking the Trail position today Rock 'n' Roller? Hold on, I'll clear your six o' clock for you, everyone else quit gawkin' and start shooting!"
Thunderhead was trying to get us to hold fire but Captain Bartlett and Edge were already filling planes with lead. I wasted no time finding a target. They were flying MiG-21BIS's again, this would be easy. I latched onto a MiG that was tailing Chopper and launch a missile. He didn't see me coming because he didn't try moving out of the way. The enemy formation scattered and I gave chase to another MiG. The only reason I was able to shoot him down because he was flying in a straight line.
It was strange, today I wasn't thinking back to that day when I was eight. Every time I saw the enemy pilots, all I could see were those eyes, but it was like I knew it wasn't the guy I wanted dead. I only thing I could think about was to try and help my squad as best as I could.
I latched on to a MiG- 29A and I filled his engines with lead.
"Captain, I got a flight of ten enemies approaching from the north," said Edge.
I joined on Edge's wing and Lightning joined on my wing and we flew towards the ten enemy planes. We got within visual range and saw that they were MiG-29A's. They were only slightly superior then the F-20's we were flying. This was going to be tricky. Our only advantage was our numbers and I would have to find some way to make full use of it.
"Lightning, I'm going in wait for me to give you a good angle," I said
"What are you doing," she asked.
"He's going to chase one of them, assuming he out maneuvers me; he needs me to cover him." said Lightning.
I pushed ahead and the enemy formation scattered. I latched onto a MiG that was diving and followed him out of his dive into a series of poorly executed maneuvers. These guys were as green as they came. These pilots had very little combat training, which meant that they shouldn't have been a problem to shoot down. Sure enough, they all bit the dust within a matter of minutes.
I saw Lightning fill another MiG full of lead and I launched a missile into another. Chopper and Edge were finishing off their enemies as well.
"Picture clear, all hostile aircraft are destroyed," said Thunderhead. "Wait, warnings still in effect keep your head on a swivel."
"Watch out Nagase, they're down below us too," said Captain Bartlett
I watched as the recon ship launched a missile towards Kei. She tried banking hard right but the missile kept pace with her easily. I then saw Captain Bartlett fly his plane between the missile and Kei. He was going to take the hit for her. I watched as the missile impacted off of his right wing and lose all control in it.
"Captain," cried Kei.
"Hey, save the water works. I'm just gonna bail out here. We can replace these things; it's getting the crew back alive that counts. Make a call to scramble the search and rescue copter and my reserve plane ok?"
We made the call for the chopper and wanted to stay on station until it arrived, but Thunderhead told us to rearm and refuel back at base.
"The enemy has declared war on us," said Thunderhead.
1200hrs Sand Island
As the ground crews were refueling our planes, I popped my canopy to ask if we were really at war. One of the guys said it was true and that scuttlebutt says that it was Yuktobania. Why would the Yukes attack us? Was it them who attacked us on the 23rd? I couldn't dwell on it for long because Thunderhead ordered us to fly towards Port St. Hewlett. It was the longest hour of silent flight I've ever experienced.
We arrived thirty miles outside of the harbor when Thunderhead gave us a paraphrased mission briefing. Our orders were simple; provide CAS for all ships of the 3rd Osean Naval Fleet but to focus on the aircraft carrier, Kestrel.
"Thunderhead to Wardog, Edge you lead the formation"
"Negative. You take the lead, Blaze. I'll fly on your wing"
"2nd lieutenants Nagase, follow your orders"
"No, Blaze is leading. I'll protect his six o' clock and I'm not going to lose another flight lead"
"Quit screwing around. This is war, the enemy is all over and they're gonna eat you alive," said a voice over the radio. I looked behind us to see an F-14 closing on us fast and fly ahead of us.
"Aaah…. I'd better stick to the trail position, thanks," said Chopper
"This is Captain Snow, call sign Swordsman. Engaging next enemy formation, give me a position"
I was nervous about taking command of the squad. I was responsible for keeping Edge, Chopper and Lightning alive while providing CAS for our fleet while they escaped the port. Thunderhead cleared us to engage and I pushed the throttle forward. I could see A-6's attacking the port facilities and enemy F-5's providing top cover.
"Don't worry Blaze, we'll handle this" said Lightning.
"I'll cover your six, alright Blaze," said Edge.
"Alright, try not to get separated from me. Chopper and Lightning, there are plenty of other allied aircraft in the air, find one and fly as their wingman. Edge, we're going after those attackers first, understood?" I said.
They all acknowledged and we went to work. I flew to the west to engage the next enemy formation of A-6's. They were coming in fast from low altitude. They were headed straight for the Kestrel. I dove down after them with Edge right behind me. We closed in behind them and shot them down before they got within range. There were two more enemy formations approaching from the north and the south.
Our allies were being stretched too thin to cover the entire area. Radio traffic was too chaotic to effectively organize everyone. Orders were getting mixed up with useless chatter and the enemy was getting through our defenses. I just wanted to tell everyone to shut the hell up, but I couldn't. I could only continue the operation as best as I could.
"Hey, Kid, the enemy is too spread out. We might be stretching ourselves too thin if we disperse but I don't see any other options," said Chopper.
"I know, Chopper. Head to the northern sector and shoot down any attackers you see. I want you to scare the shit out of them so they don't come from that way again and take Lightning with you" I said.
"Alright kid, I'll give 'em hell"
"Time to send some bastards to hell!" shouted Lightning.
"Edge, I need you to break off and cover the southern sector and show those guys what you can do," I said.
"But Blaze, I…"
"Don't argue with me woman! I'll be alright, now get over there and don't let any of those enemy planes get through. You can do it,"
I could tell she didn't want to go but I saw her break off and head south. I was covering the port exit and saw more A-6's inbound towards the fleet. I closed in on them and shot them down using my guns. I had a feeling I would need my missiles for later. Some were civilians who were out for boat rides today and others were sailors whose ships were already sunk. I prepared for the next enemy wave.
I kept providing cover for the ships until I noticed there were only two left A-6's left coming in from high altitude from my ten o' clock. I turn into them and gave my F-20 every bit of power it had. I was in gun range when they saw me because they split up. I didn't have enough time to line up a shot on him with my guns so I shot one of them down with a missile.
"Lightning, take out that last A-6"
The last A-6 was already lined up for a shot on the ships and took it. The pilot started to come around for another pass and Lightning was about to shoot him down when I noticed the people in the water. If he shot him down then those people down below would die. If he didn't shoot him down then the already damaged ships would be in critical condition. He had to make a choice, and he chose to shoot him down before he fired. Edge, Chopper and, Lightning were starting to form up on me when they saw the plane crash into the water.
"Those… Those people floating in the waves," gasped Kei.
"No…" whispered Lightning.
Lightning had more peoples deaths on his hands than anyone else should, and with those people just floating there helplessly, I could never forgive myself. I ordered him to shot him down.
"Blaze, it's not your fault. I did it and I did what I had to. To save the ship, I sacrificed those people" said Lightning, despair in his voice.
"Kid did you see that?" asked Chopper
"Yeah, I did"
"So you saw it too, that sea"
The fleet was moving into open waters and the Yukes set up a blockade up ahead. I ordered Chopper and Edge to ready all weapons and focus on the ships blocking the fleet's path. I ordered Lightning to help deal with any anti-ship aircraft.
I saw four incoming nimrods. I fired a missile at each one and filled them full of lead.
Lightning did the same.
"Kid I just fired my last missile into a destroyer, it didn't have that good of an effect on it," said Chopper
"Alright listen, get over here and support Captain Snow while I take care of the enemy ships," I said
I noticed an enemy F-14D Super Tomcat flying towards me. I gave my F-20 full throttle and turned and engaged him. We played a game of chicken and broke at the last minute with a barrel roll and I quickly did a high-g turn and got him in my sights. I fired some bullets and I hit him. He started trailing smoke.
"Good shot Kid" said Chopper.
I locked onto him and fired a missile and he went down in flames and crashed into an enemy missile boat.
I smiled.
"Zipang has been shot down!" I heard the enemy say over the radio.
I turned back to the battle and when back to taking out the blockade.
There were three more ships left in the blockade and plenty of enemy fighters providing top cover. I gained altitude to dive on the destroyer that Chopper tried bombing. I was at four thousand feet when I started to dive at an eighty degree angle on the ship. My speed was well over Mach one when I released my bomb onto the destroyed. The explosion practically tore the ship in half when I looked back as I pulled out of the dive. All that was left were the two frigates and I only had three bombs left and one missile left. I had to use what my squad and I had left.
"Wardog, I need a weapons check," I said
"This is Edge I have only have my guns left"
"Chopper here, I got four missiles left kid"
"Lightning here, I got four missiles remaining as well"
"Edge, I need you to perform some strafing runs on the bridges of the two frigates. This will throw the ships' crew into chaos and it'll give the fleet some time to make their move," I said.
"Hey, Wardog leader, take your useless wingman with you, he's just getting in my way," said Swordsman.
"Fine, Chopper and Lightning, I want you to cover me and Edge while we're taking care of these ships"
Edge approached the ships head on at low altitude. I saw the ships bridge light from the explosion Edge caused from her strafing run. I moved into position to attack the rear of the ship and fired two missiles at it. One of them hit the cruise missile launch tubes and blew the ship apart. I knew where I should hit the next ship.
I sank the final Frigate and cleared the way for the fleet. I could hear cheering over the radio and I could only think about all the people that died during the escape. I was glad the fleet made it out alright but I didn't think it was enough to cheer about. The fleet was going to be part of our counter attack and it would escalate the war. Chopper broke my train of thought by asking me if it felt good to be the flight lead.
"I could get used to telling you guys what to do," I joked.
"Don't let the power go to your head, Kid" said Lightning.
"I see. Good, I'm glad to hear it" said Chopper.
"Alright guys form up on me and let's get back to Sand Island," I said.
"One two three four," counted Chopper. "One two three four planes, count 'em up man, we're all back safe. I can't wait to tell the captain once they pluck him outta the ocean"
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