Broken Arrow: Military code phrase used when a ground force is about to be overrun and is facing imminent destruction. All available Allied aircraft within range are to provide air immediately.

Osean Navy Lieutenant John Wayne Cameron was not your typical build for a fighter pilot. He stood at 6'4" tall, dwarfing a good ninety percent of Osean pilots. His muscular 225 pound frame was also among his most distinguishing characteristics. His height, along with his swagger when he walked, earned him the call-sign "Duke" during training. The name stuck, and it grew on him. He flew with the IUN Peacekeeping Forces during the Lighthouse War, aboard the carrier Kestrel II, until she was sunk off Farbanti. From there, he was transferred to Port St. Hewlett in Osea. That was where he spent the next year and a half.

January 3rd, 2021

It was a routine air patrol assignment: Across Akerson Hill, over Sand Island, and back to St. Hewlett. Duke and his wing-man had just entered the Akerson Hill airspace when their warning alarms went off.

"Cyclone Squadron, this is AWACS, call-sign Black Sheep. Bogeys are inbound. One reconnaissance craft and two escorts, altitude 15,000. Turn to bearing 3-4-7 to intercept. Force them to land for identification."

Duke sighed and adjusted his oxygen mask, lowering his visor. "You up for this one, Droid?" He asked his wing-man.

"Just a walk in the park, Duke," Droid answered.

The two F-18s turned and climbed to the heading and altitude given to them by their AWACS.

"Black Sheep, this is Cyclone 1," Duke radioed. "I have radar contact - three bogeys, 150 miles and closing. Speed 700 knots."

"Roger, that's your bogey," Black Sheep replied.

It wasn't long after initial radar contact that warning alarms went off in both pilots' cockpits.

"Break! Missiles incoming! Launching flares!" Duke and Droid broke formation and deployed flares, looking around for the hostile aircraft. Duke made the first visual confirmation. "Droid, break right! He's heading for you!"

"Where?" Droid was starting to panic. "I don't see him!"

"You will!" Duke turned hard right and pulled in behind the hostile aircraft. He recognized the plane immediately. "J-11s! Hostile aircraft are J-11s! Black Sheep, requesting permission to fire!"

"Negative," Black Sheep responded. "Do not fire until fired upon."

"Goddamnit!" Duke gritted his teeth. "We were fired upon!"

"Duke, get this asshole off of me!" The enemy J-11 was glued to Droid's tail. From what Duke could see, he was lining up a firing solution. The other J-11 was, for the moment, staying high and out of the fight.

"Stay calm, Droid. I'm pulling in behind him." Duke pulled in behind the J-11 and immediately lined up a shot. Before he acquired a radar lock, however, the J-11 fired and Droid's plane exploded.

"Two is down! Repeat, Cyclone 2 is down! This is Cyclone 1 to Command, I am engaging the hostile aircraft! Cyclone 1, FOX 3!" Duke launched a missile at the J-11. The pilot, celebrating his kill, didn't notice the alert going off until it was too late. His plane exploded in a ball of fire as Duke turned and climbed to engage the other aircraft.

"Cyclone 1, what are you doing?" Black Sheep sounded displeased with the engagement.

"Defending myself," Duke snapped. "The son of a bitch killed my wing-man! St. Hewlett Base, this is Cyclone Lead. Scramble alert fighters!"

"Roger, Cyclone 1. Cyclone 3 and 4 are inbound."

"That's a relief." Duke engaged the second J-11 and fired a missile. The enemy pilot popped flares and dodged the missile, swooping in and opening fire on Duke. The missile lost track, but the guns connected with his starboard wing and tail fins. "Shit! Oh, that's a hit."

"Cyclone 1, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I can still fight."

Duke turned his plane after the final J-11, and that's when he felt the first vibration. He ignored it and pushed after the hostile aircraft, lining up a missile shot. The missile lost its track and the J-11 circled around to line up another shot. He performed a high-G turn and outmaneuvered the hostile craft when his plane started to vibrate again, this time worse than before. The J-11 got off another cannon burst and damaged Duke's plane even more. Duke was about to turn to engage again when he heard a friendly voice on the radio.

"Cyclops 1, thank the Good Lord above. Help is here."

"Oh, I'm glad to hear you, Preacher. Get glued to my wing. Jethro, you get after that recon plane and force him to land."

"Cyclone 3, roger."

"Cyclone 4, roger."

Jethro turned hard and sped toward the recon plane while Preacher glued himself to Duke's wing. The remaining J-11 pulled in behind Duke and Preacher, giving chase. They split formation, Duke going left and Preacher right. The enemy pilot turned after Duke and Preacher circled around behind them.

"Hey, Preacher, you got your shot lined up?" Duke's tone was calm, but impatient as he took another cannon burst. "Any time now."

"Lord, make my aim straight and true. May I shoot straighter than my enemy, who is trying to kill me. Cyclops 4, FOX 2." The J-11 exploded on impact as Duke turned away. "Your tail is clear, Cyclops 1."

"Hallelujah," Duke replied. "Jethro! You got that recon plane in sight?"

"Negative. He bailed out and went feet-wet. Seabees are on the way to him."

"Roger that. Let's go home." Duke's plane vibrated again, violently. "Shit. Guys, how bad is my plane?"

"Let me take a look." Jethro swung around and looked over Duke's plane. "Holy hell. Sir, you aren't going to be able to land that thing. I don't even know how you're still flying."

Warning alarms started ringing in Duke's helmet about a mile from the base. "Shit. Command, this is Cyclops 1. Plane is badly damaged, unable to land. I'm ejecting."

"Cyclops 1 acknowledged. We are standing by to pick up your homing beacon and deploying search and rescue."

Duke crossed himself and pulled the ejection handle. The canopy popped and the ejection seat soon followed, shooting Duke out of his damaged F-18, sending the aircraft to the earth below. His chute popped and he sailed to the deck as Jethro and Preacher landed safely.