Ch 4
Things were now looking grim for the empire of Japan. Many of their ships were destroyed off Guadalcanal, and they lost hundreds of irreplaceable planes and pilots. But they still had the large base at Rabaul, and they could still inflict considerable damage on allied movements. If the allies wanted the whole south pacific and its islands, they had to neutralize Rabaul.
Henderson Field
April 1943
Henderson field was quiet. Only a few planes were sent on scouting missions. The fighting had shifted elsewhere, and the Enterprise plus her fleet were doing the bulk of the fighting. Henderson field was busy scouting Rabaul, as it was a threat to the incoming Bougainville campaign.
"Aang, your turn to fly recon over Rabaul. Just don't get into any hairy fights. We need all the pilots we can get." The base commander said.
In his trusty Corsair, Aang taxied down the runaway and headed to Rabaul.
Looking ahead, he saw Sokka approach him in his brand new F6F Hellcat. Aang waggled his wings, and Sokka responded in kind.
"Okay, Azula. I'm here alone. So come and get me." Aang muttered, waiting for his nemesis to arrive.
Speak of the devil, and it will arrive.
The blood-red Zero went past Aang, guns blazing. Aang turns around and pursues Azula to kill her. Increasing the speed, he approaches Azula and sees her in an upper left climb. Aang pursues only for Azula to tightly turn into him and fired her guns. Aang peels away in a high G turn and dives to the ground.
Azula follows, but her Zero is unable to keep up with the Corsair. Aang pulls up and continues the fight. Both pilots force their aircraft to the end of their limits, as they try and put their guns in a position for an easy kill.
But no blood would be shed this fight. Both pilots fired their guns at each other whenever an opportunity presented itself. Both pilots found themselves going head to head, and pulled their respective triggers.
Click.
Seizing an opportunity, Aang dove straight towards Rabaul and made one pass over the large Japanese base. Amidst the thick AA fire from the ground base and the warships in harbor, Aang managed to take as many pictures as he could.
Flying away from the enemy base, his radio crackled on.
"I have to admit. You're a damn good pilot." Azula said.
"Thanks, I guess." Aang said, wondering why his enemy was talking to him.
"Well, see you later." Azula said, as she broke from Aang and headed back to Rabaul.
Looking back at his nemesis, he deeply sighed and flew back to Henderson field.
Henderson Field
HQ
"So this is what you got?"
"All I got. I was in a dogfight that used up much of my fuel." Aang said.
"We'll send in a larger force next time. One recon, 4 escort."
Aang went over the gun camera footage, watching every time he shot at Azula. Azula was a damn good pilot. Despite flying an obsolete fighter, she evaded his shots, using her maneuverability to stay alive.
"I've got to get better." Aang said.
"Still fighting the red-bitch?" Sokka asked.
"Still am. And she is an incredible pilot. She outmaneuvered every shot I fired, and vice versa." Aang said.
"Looks you both found your equals." Sokka said.
"Yeah. Maybe." Aang said, as he looked over the dossier the Americans had on her. There wasn't much. Just a picture, and some info about her combat skills. Aang looked at the woman and wondered one thing.
In a different life, could we be friends?
Rabaul
"There's no way we could be friends… right?" Azula said to herself, as she went over the second encounter with that pilot. She had the intelligence department go over any information they had on American pilots. They had some intel, but not much. Azula grabbed a folder titled 'Gull-wing X' and opened it.
The folder showed the same man she fought twice. 5'11, hazel eyes. Short hair.
"I look forward to making you my prisoner, slave." Azula muttered.