"Alright, everyone. Now that your planes are all in working order, you've got a mission lined up," Vita announced to the pilots huddled into the ready room.
"Almost all of our planes," Marine 4 remarked.
"Yeah, what the hell is taking the mechanics so long to get Crimson's planes in working order?" Blizzard 6 asked.
"The only mechanics we have on hand at the moment are civilian contractors. Your planes are all similar enough to what they're used to working on, but Crimson's advanced aircraft are beyond even their expertise. They're doing what they can. They just need a little more time," Vita explained.
"Sure, would be nice to have some Peacekeepers up there with us," Duncan remarked. "Where'd Steel piss off to, anyway?"
"They're off covering as much ground as they can at the moment. They're spread thin as it is. Now, without further ado, you've got a mission, so listen up," Vita said before turning his attention to the briefing software. "In the days since the Cascadians made landfall, they have made leaps and bounds into Magadan, and it is time that this comes to an end. Two days ago, our forward reconnaissance units reported that a contingent from the invading force- likely the ones that Lieutenant Finch went up against last week- have pulled out from Magadan. It seems that they're intent on putting as much pressure on our forces in Cascadia as possible while we're preoccupied here."
"So, in other words, Cascadia is screwed?" Aqua 2 asked.
"This whole situation does have an aspect of sucky-ness to it," Storm 3 agreed.
Vita loudly and deliberately cleared his throat, silencing the conversation. "With the sudden withdrawal of Cascadian forces, we've taken this as our moment to retaliate," he continued. "Yesterday, K-9 and our ground forces, with the assistance of a bomber squadron from Victoria, were able to force the Cascadians out of Tseliadan- completing Phase 1 of our directive. Phase 2 is where you all come in today. With Tseliadan clear, we now have a secure air corridor to finally reinforce ourselves with units from the core states. However, the route is not without its dangers. We expect that once the Cascadians get wind of our plan, they will try everything in the power to intercept. That is where you all come in. Your mission today is to escort our reinforcements into Magadan and protect them from all from harm."
Avery felt her heart racing. They were finally getting actual reinforcements. Now they actually had a chance at defending Magadan, and more importantly, it meant she was another step closer to getting back home- to Presidia and her squadron. The thought alone of getting able to see everyone again put a smile on her face that she couldn't even try to hide. Although it soon faded after reminding herself that she wasn't going to get to see Cutter again- that no matter what changed, he was still dead.
"Do we have any idea what specifically we should be expecting as far as resistance?" Aqua 2 asked.
"We can't say for certain, but in all likelihood, you should expect mercenary fighters to be trying to intercept," Vita explained. "Additionally, it's within the realm of possibility that they try to set up some last-minute anti-air defenses, so be on the lookout for that as well."
"Are they all coming here?" Avery asked, pausing for a moment to look around the tiny ready room. "To be honest, I don't know if we can fit many more people here- let alone all the reinforcements for Magadan."
Vita shook his head. "No, they'll all be dispatched to reinforce the various Federation Air Force bases around the country. We just need you to guide them past the danger zone so they can do that. Any other questions?"
The pilots all looked around at each other before shaking their heads.
"Good. Then get to your planes. Dismissed."
Avery led the way, making a short trip out from the command building and onto the tarmac. She briefly spotted Crimson Squadron, standing next to the mechanics working on their planes. The three SK.37s seemed to be in a lot better shape than before. With any luck they'd be combat ready and able to provide assistance soon. For now, though, Avery and the others were on their own. She climbed up into her cockpit and began flicking switches and knobs as her aircraft hummed to life. One by one, they all taxied onto the one runway and took off into the sky, waiting for everyone to get airborne before turning toward their objective.
"Man… it's crazy to think that the six of us plus Crimson are the only ones that made it out of the Beiring Strait- or the tail end of it, at least," Blizzard 6 said, breaking the silence that had set in as they flew idly.
Avery looked over her shoulders, observing the planes behind her. An F/C-16 leading two F/C-15s, an M/G-29, an SK.27, and an F/E-18. From a distance, they would probably be mistaken as a mercenary squadron. And they were all following her. She wasn't quite sure how or why it happened, but it did. Perhaps it was just that she was the only one out of all of them that had seen combat here in Magadan. She liked to think that was all there was to it, but couldn't help but wonder if there was some other reason.
"Not all of us, a few other people got out. They just went the other way while they still had the chance," Duncan replied. Avery couldn't help but smile to herself at the thought that he cared enough to remember her ramblings to him.
"Tch, those lucky bastards," Storm 3 scoffed. "They should be glad they didn't get roped up into all this shit."
"Then again, they have to worry about running into the Crown again," Marine 4 pointed out.
"Hey, speaking of which, has anyone else noticed that Crimson 1 seems to be a bit… preoccupied with the Crown?" Avery asked. "The other day I heard him just muttering to himself about the Crown and how he needed to stop him."
"Ah, he's losing it," Blizzard 6 said dismissively. "The stress of being the top Peacekeeper in the country is finally getting to him. I think the fact that he actually lost to a mercenary of all people finally pushed him over the edge."
"I mean, to be fair, the guy's got a lot of people looking up to him. That kinda stress would weigh on anyone," Aqua 2 pointed out. "I sure as hell know I wouldn't wanna be in that position."
"All aircraft, focus up," Vita chimed in. "Allied aircraft are approaching for bearing 300. Link up with them and begin escort."
"Copy that, Vita," Avery replied before switching channels. "Attention incoming Federation aircraft; this is the flight approaching you from your southeast," she announced. "We're inbound to provide escort."
"This is Bronze 1, we copy. Glad to see we ain't goin' into this mess completely by ourselves," one of the fighters replied. "Although, with any luck, we won't even need you along and it'll be smooth sailing to the air base."
"Dammit, now you've done it," another pilot complained. "You just had to go ahead and jinx it, didn't you?"
"Ah, give it a rest, will ya, Salty?" Bronze 1 teased him. "We'll be fine."
The six survivors of the Beiring Strait finally got a visual on the reinforcements. Dozens of transport aircraft, bombers, airships, and fighters all flying in formation. Avery couldn't help but smile. With all of these forces coming into Magadan, they would have no problem defending this place from the rebels. And that mean that, with any luck, that she would finally get the go-ahead to return home. It was all coming together.
"AWACS Vita to ALCON, be advised, you've got inbound mercenaries from the south- bearing 210. Escort flight, intercept before they could get close!"
"See! What'd I tell you?" Salty said. "All because you had to go running your mouth."
"Don't worry, we'll take care of it. That's what we're here for," Avery assured them, turning to face the bandits with the others following behind her. "Locksmith 6, engaging."
"Wait, Locksmith?" Salty asked before laughing. "No goddamn way, I can't believe my old outfit made it out here! Where's Sheperd and the others?"
Avery nodded to herself as she put the pieces together. By some twist of fate, she found herself flying the same skies as her predecessor in Locksmith Squadron. It almost made her smile until she had to answer his question. "I'm all you've got. The others are… they're all over the place."
Salty seemed unphased by her answer. "Well, at least this means I'll get to see if my replacement is up to my standards," he teased her. "So go on, let's see what you've got."
Avery flipped her master arm on, readying her MLAAs as the bandits appeared on her radar. It was a non-uniform flight formation- definitely mercenaries, but there weren't very many of them. With any luck, they were just a patrol that got unlucky. Avery fired a missile the second they came within range, forcing the mercs on the defensive as she and the others pushed the attack. The unfortunate F/C-15 on the receiving end of her missile broke off hard, dumping chaff as they pulled away. But the MLAA was persistent, and it didn't ease up until it found its target.
Her wingmen found similar success with the attacks they made, and with five bandits down, the mercs were sufficiently on the back foot. Despite being outnumbered and outmatched, however, they were relentless. As soon as an F/E-18 had an angle on Avery, they dumped off two MLAA in her direction. She immediately cut back on the throttle and pulled to the right, waiting until she was fully settled into the notch before popping chaff to distract the missiles enough to miss. With her tail clear, Avery inverted and pulled down, looping toward the ground and curving back up to chase after the merc that shot at her. They were too busy chasing after Storm 3 to notice the STDM she fired at their tail, and by the time they realized it, it was already too late.
"Looks like that was the last of 'em," Duncan observed as the six aircraft all regrouped with each other.
"Vita, all bandits in the area have been splashed," Avery informed him. "You got any more surprises on the long range?"
"It looks like you've got more mercenaries inbound from due east, and some anti-air defenses being set up at 060," Vita replied. "Neutralize both threats ASAP."
"Shit. We're gonna need to split up to hit both of them in time," Aqua 2 realized as they all assessed the situation on their radars.
"Nonsense. We can go ahead and pitch in," Bronze 1 chimed in. "You guys deal with that AA. Leave the bandits to us. Come on boys, lets earn our paychecks. Bronze, engaging."
"Coral, engaging."
"Opal, engaging."
Avery turned toward the anti-air defenses and the others followed after her. In truth, she had hoped that she wouldn't have to do any more air to ground after the last mission, but if it was what needed to be done, then she would do it- even if all she had at her disposal for ground targets was machine guns. Slowly but surely, the ground targets began appearing on her HUD- AA guns, SAMs, and to her surprise, even a few flak guns. She gently pushed her nose down and began to dive, lining herself up with enough of the defenses to take out a good chunk in a single pass. Tracers shot up from the ground, and flak lit up the sky. It took quick reflexes and steady hands for Avery to guide herself to the targets unscathed, and once she did, her finger held down on the trigger. A torrent of gunfire spewed out from her nose, lighting up one target after another until she finally pulled back up.
Most of the flak guns went silent after her pass, but a good number of the SAMs were still online, and to them, Avery was an easy target. Her RWR sprung to life, beeping incessantly to warn her about the two missiles that had been fired at her from below. Fortunately, Blizzard 6 took out the other SAMs behind her, so it was just the two missiles she had to worry about. Her right hand stayed glued to the stick to keep maneuvering while her left moved to deploy flares. She pulled straight up into the air, climbing higher and higher until finally pulling away and angling herself ever-so-slightly downward to pick up more energy. The missiles sailed clean past her, leaving her in the perfect position to join up with Marine 4 to make one last pass over the remaining AA defenses.
"All anti-air has been neutralized," Avery reported. "How are you guys holding up over there?"
"Heh, we're having a blast!" Bronze 1 replied. "It's been ages since I've had a fight this good."
"Well, damn, if it's that good, then what are we doing missing out on it?" Aqua 2 asked.
"It looks like you'll need all the help you can get. We've got another wave of fighters inbound," Vita announced to the group.
"These damn mercs are persistent, I'll give 'em that," Opal 3 said with a grunt as she chased after one while evading another.
"Just keep pushing. They can only throw so many fighters at us," Salty insisted.
"Don't worry, we're on our way," Avery assured them as she led the others toward the growing furball. "We'll link up and drive these assholes back for good."
She readied her remaining MLAAs as the bandits came within range. Her wingmen all opened fire as soon as they had a lock, but she held off for just a moment. The F/D-14 she was locked onto was almost out of energy as they chased after Salty. Despite how relentlessly they chased after the Federation pilot, they just couldn't get a clean shot off. And the moment they lost their speed, Avery opened fire. Despite the merc's best efforts to drop chaff, they just didn't have the speed to get away and found themselves on the receiving end of Avery's missiles.
A radar lock warning began to sound off in her cockpit, but it was quickly silenced when one of the Opal Squadron pilots knocked out an SK.27 in the distance. Avery couldn't help but smile. She missed this feeling- this sense of cohesion and togetherness that truly made her feel like part of the Federation. In truth, she hadn't felt it fully since they retook Presidia, but now that it was back, she felt like nothing could get in her way.
She fired off another STDM, just barely catching an F/C-16 and shearing their wing off. To her surprise, the merc pilot managed to hold it steady, but when Duncan came in to finish them off, they didn't stand a chance. The Federation pilots had the mercs on the back foot, and they kept pushing every advantage they had. Avery locked up two F/E-18s and fired off a double volley. One missile found its mark with ease, but the other just barely missed as the merc evaded gracefully. Unfortunately for them, however, it put them in the perfect position for Salty to catch them with his gun. Before long, all that remained was a single SK.27 that didn't stand a chance against two dozen Federation fighters encircling them and dragging them down to the ground.
"ALCON, be advised, I've got bandits on the long range, but they're all turning away," Vita informed the group. "Looks like they've been called off."
Coral 1 scoffed. "Serves the dogs right if they think they can mess with us!"
"We've barely been in Magadan more than 30 minutes and we've already got 'em running scared," Bronze 1 sneered. "This'll be over in a flash."
"There you go jinxing us again," Salty replied with a sigh.
"Alright, everyone, we've officially passed the intercept corridor," Opal 1 announced. "You all know your stations, so continue on your designated bearings and sound off once you land," he instructed. "Escorts, you can switch off. Thanks a million for showing us a good time."
Avery responded with a light chuckle. "It was nothing. Just go ahead and show the rebels who they're messing with." It was all coming together in her mind, and now, regardless of what happened next, she was decided; one way or another, she was finally going to be leaving Cascadia, and soon.