MAY-18-2019
Fort Grays Airbase
"Holy shit that's insane Trigger how did you shrug that off." Footpad asked as we all stood around my poor F-16 the day after our last sortie.
"To be fair it didn't look so bad from inside the cockpit, and I didnt get a good look at it yesterday." I said with a grimace looking at the left wing which I originally thought was just missing the wing tip was actually sheared off almost to the first weapons rack. "And unfortunately they said my birds going to be scraped, evidently the force of the impact riped the wing and fucked the wing spars on both wings."
"Well I'm just glad you're ok. It's kinda our fault that guy got you if we had-."
"Nope the blame is all mine. I was chasing him and got a hit, and I thought he went down. I didn't confirm the kill." Knocker said cut Browine off.
"Now let's not go passing blame around, we all came back alive and just learned from our mistakes." Clown said, patting Knocker on the back. "On to other topics Trigger I just got word earlier about your replacement bird."
"Really I figured they would ground me for a sortie or two."
"Nope you're a good pilot and we need all we can get."
"Ok then so what's my new bird going to be then?"
"Welp they pulled it out of one of the spare hangers so it's not new, but it's a F-15J." He nodded at the hanger that was opening and said plane was being pulled out of. "Now they where up all night getting her ready to go so you can get some air time in, they also got your fancy emblem all painted up for you,"
"Well damn I didn't expect them to do that for me, and is it loaded with AIM-7s?"
"Yup me and Clown got a partial briefing this morning and our next sortie is going to be Air superiority so you'll get to use those sparrows for sure."
"Alright then let's go get suited up and start training." Clown said as he walked off toward the main base to get his own flight suit.
May-30-2019
Somewhere near Chopinburg Rainforest
"This is Mage 1. I just passed checkpoint Delta. Trigger . Do you see any of our boys yet?"
"Negative radars and visuals are clear." I said as I gave another look at the radar and sky. "And I'm still not getting anything on the AWACS channel."
"Yeah same here just keep trying, maybe the next checkpoint will be the one."
"Copy that Clown.'' It was the same conversation we have had for the last three checkpoints. Originally Mage and Golem were tasked to rendezvous with Gargoyle and Skeleton squadrons over the coast and then make our way toward Chopinburg Rainforest. Our job had been to secure the airspace over the forest to make way for the next ground push and something else they were keeping quiet about. It had been going well, the rendezvous was on time and the trip uneventful till it was time to hit the tanker. All the other squadrons had fueled up and Golem 4 had just disconnected and Clown was making his approach when the tanker waved him off. Apparently one of the pressure lines had blown and basically took out the fuel systems. Which led to me and Clown waiting on another tanker while everyone else went ahead, and thus our current problem they had went and now we couldn't catch back up.
"Mage 1 passing checkpoint Echo, I think I just got a radar contact, what about you Trigger."
"Yeah im seeing it, hey i've got a signal on the AWACS channel swapping now.'' Once I said that I flipped to the IUNs designated channel for any AWACS channel 5.
"This is Mage 1 entering airspace with Mage 2. Do you read us Skykeeper?"
"Affirmative Mage 1 y'all are just in time everyone else is engaged so you two need to get in there and tip the scales in our favor."
"Copy that Skykeeper, Mage 2 let's split up, use those sparrows at range and then keep hitting them hard and fast, don't give em a chance to lock you."
"Got it Clown let get hunting." I said slowing down as we broke through the cloud cover and Clown split off. Arming up the sparrows I worked on getting a lock on the two F-4Es that were pulling boom and zoom tactics and let loose with a pair of them. "Mage 2 Fox 3 Fox 3. "
"Confirmed two splashes for Mage 2." Came Skykeepers call as I watched two flashes appear.
The second I took out those two, the other phantom decided I was going to be his target and came at me Ignoring Clown at full burn. While the phantom in its prime was a great craft It had no chance against the Eagle. He blasted past launching to missles at me which I rolled away from and pulled a hard turn to get on his six, as he tried to turn back at my by pulling a split-s and ended up giving me the perfect shot with guns.`` "Mage 2 Guns, Guns." I called as rounds raked his fuselage and his bird started dropping from the sky.
"Mage 2 could you help get this guy off me?"
"Copy that Skeleten 3 im inbound." I said as I lined up another sparrow lock and let it fly keeping the F-16 in the targeting HUD. "Mage 2 splash one." as I finished my call out the others reported the other fighter being taken down.
"Good job all hostile craft down." Skykeeper reported.
Once we heard that we all made our way to form back up and keep a lookout for any stragglers." That's not all of them is it?" Skeleton 1 asked cutting into the brief silence voicing what i'm sure we were all feeling.
"I don't know the way we were briefed there should have been the entire central airforce here."
"Clowns right and I don't like this every- shit missile lock."
The second Knocker called out his lock everyone else started getting spiked as well. When I heard the tone from my alarm I noticed it wasn't just one but multiple locks."Mage 2 im spiked from multiple craft looks like the airforce is here."
"Shit it 's worse than that."
"How the hell can it be worse?" on the Gargoyles snapped off.
"All aircraft The Arsenal Bird Liberty has entered the airspace."
"What they got it working?"
"Fuck, all Golems lets form up."
"Copy that Knocker."
"All units new orders form command, you are to destroy the Arcenal Bird." Skykeeper said as we continued to dodge missiles, and watch the massive drone carrier approach us. Almost as if he timed it the second he said the new orders waves of drones started dropping from it.
"Let's do it, Trigger, keep your head calm and we'll make it."
"Copy that Clown I'm going to hit those main props."
"Got it, let's go."
The next ten minutes could be summed up as an utter shit show. It was clear we couldn't stop it at full strength and as the chaos went on we started to lose pilots, Skeleton squadron was utterly decimated and Gargoyle was down to only one craft without any damage. Clown and I had managed to go without any hits but it was close, and Brownie had taken a glancing blow that thankfully only took her tailhook. And it looked like no of us was going to get out when Skykeeper finally came in over coms again. "All aircraft fall back Hq has called of the mission."
"About goddamn time they should have called it before we lost Skeleton." I said as I popped the last of my flairs. "Damnit thats the last of my flares."
"Save it for the debrief Trigger, how are you looking on ammo?"
"I'm out of sparrows, half on guns and almost empty on Seekers Clown."
"Shit alright Knocker let's have Trigger and Bromine form up and escort the wounded craft out, and we can cover their exit."
"Yeah Golem 2 Mage 2 form up and escort the Gargoyles out."
"Copy that Knocker Mage 2 is forming up with Golem 2 for escort." I said as I moved to Brownies wing and helped clear a path for our exit. It wasn't hard but I was still down to just two seekers and one burst of guns left once we hit open airspace.
"Trigger im not wanting to be the one to jinx it but that was too easy wasn't It?"
"Yeah Brownie it was keep your eyes peeled they might hav- shit missile lock evade." I called out right as two missiles came flying out of nowhere and smacked the wounded Gargoyle birds out of the sky. "Shit Gargoyle 4 get out of here i'll hold him off, it's just one bird." I said as I found our opponent a black Su-30 with orange wing tips.
"Trigger he's on me good."
"I'm on my way Brownie brake right i'll have a clean shot."
"Copy breaking…..Now."
"Mage 2 Fox 2." I called as I launched one of my last missiles and to my horror he practically danced around the missile and launched a shot at Brownie that hit.
"Dammit I'm hit, I'm still in the air though."
"Brownie break off Gargoyle 4 got away now you need to."
"Shit fine im disengaging be careful he's good."
The second Brownie pulled away I moved in and got behind the Su-30 again and followed after him trying to get a lock. After a few minutes of maneuvering I finally got a solid lock and let my last missile fly. It flew true until he pulled a Kulbit and suddenly he was behind me, and my computer barely had time to alert me when I felt an impact and my whole body felt like it was going to rip out of the seat. I must have blacked out for a second because the next thing I knew I was a thousand feet lower and Brownie was panicking on the coms. " Shit Triggers down is there anyone that can help, he's just playing with me I cant get away,"
Realizing I had one shot I put the throttle to full and made way toward Su-30 and almost cursed at how slow it climbed. Not even giving a proper line up I went by instincts and let loose with all the ammo I had left in the guns and almost cheered as I saw the sparks on his plane. I did cheer when Instead of attacking again he just turned and left. "Yes he's retreating, can you make it back to base Brownie?"
"I'm fine just some rudder damage, but what about you?"
"Little sluggish on the controls but ill make it."
"Are you sure you're missing an engine?"
"Ah that's why that gauge is just spinning."
"Trigger!"
"Don't worry i can make it, let's just get home."
"Yeah you lead Trigger and I make sure you make it."