"Well Brownie, how does it feel to be a passenger princess?" I asked as we made our way over the ocean toward the space elevator. "Oh it's just wonderful. I get to enjoy the view, relax, and have wonderful conversations. I'm bored out of my mind."
"Wow, that hurts. I'm a wonderful conversationalist."
"Sure sure, so how are you feeling about this mission cuz I'm nervous as hell."
"Yeah same but we've got this." I said trying to keep some enthusiasm up, which was hard to do as is with our current mission. We had been assigned to infiltrate the air defense network of Gunther Bay and disable all the Anti-Air sites to allow our rescue teams to move in and rescue former president Harling. "So want to go over the plan again."
"Yeah we're about thirty minutes out from the start zone so lets recap."
"Alright once we hit the start zone we drop to under 200 feet and stay under the cloud cover." I said first.
"Then after we hit the second checkpoint we go radio silent with Skykeeper till we make it to the elevator."
"Yup then we hit the Anti-Air sites hard and fast before they have the chance to launch interceptors and wait for Sea Goblin and Golem to arrive."
"And after that we pull air superiority until it time to bounce and then we escort Sea Goblin out." Brownie said finishing off the mission plan while abridgeing it slightly.
"Yeah that about sums it up we're about to hit the start point let's get our game faces on."
"Copy that Trigger."
"Skykeeper This is Mage2. We just passed the start point making our way to 200 feet and we are looking to be on time for checkpoint 2." I said keying up the coms.
"Copy that Mage 2 once you hit checkpoint 2 you have approximately twenty mikes before Sea Goblin and Golem show up so have those air defenses down before then."
"Copy that Skykeeper, anything else we need to know?"
"Ah yes, just came in support from Gargoyle will be delayed. They are waiting for an additional flight of F-18s to join them."
"That's a bit sudden isn't it?" Brownie asked.
"Yes it is but the orders came down from Hq satellites so not much we can do, but anyway you're about to pass the checkpoint im imposing radio silence let the operation begin."
The mission was going good we had made it in undetected and destroyed the Anti-Air just in time for Sea Goblin and Golem to show up. Then things started to take a turn for the worse, it started with drones being launched from the nearby city. While not normally too big of an issue but with the amount of them and the fact Gargoyle still hasn't shown up no one was able to focus on Sea Goblin.
"Damnit Sea Goblin has been wiped out."
After that callout from Skykeeper it continued to go downhill, somehow Harling had gotten on another chopper but the second it got in the air the Arsenal Birds drones showed up and swarmed the area. The only silver lining was Gargoyle showing up with another unit I missed the callsign of and even that was short lived when Gargoyle turned and attacked the space elevator, compiling onto the already growing shit pile the operation was Harlings chopper got hit and turned around heading back to the elevator. I was trying my best to keep the drones off of Harling but the amount of drones and on of the extra craft was keeping right off my wing making it hard to maneuver, and also let me learn a few new curses from Brownie as she was tossed around from the sudden moves I was having to make. Then the unthinkable happened. I had gone guns on a drone when a missile from nowhere flew in and hit Harling causing the chopper to explode.
"Holy Fuck"
"What in the world?"
"Mother Goose 1 is down."
It didn't take long after the shock for people to start throwing blame and it took even less time for someone to blame me since I was the closest. After a few moments Skykeeper broke up the arguing and ordered everyone to RTB as the Arsenal Bird came into view on the horizon. The flight back was silent and tense with a few jabs at how it was clearly us that fired the missile from the new Golem that took Browines spot.
The second our bird stopped in front of our hanger we were practically yanked us out of the cockpit and hauled us to the base commander's office, the base commander was a slimy looking guy with gray hair Col. Howard Clemens.
"Well if it isn't the problem pilots in the flesh." he said as the door slammed shut behind us drawing a confused look from me and Brownie. "Yes three good planes destroyed between the two of you constantly ignoring your squadron leaders orders and constant abuse of IUN property by performing non-regulation maneuvers in multiple fighter craft on multiple sorties." as he continued I shared a look of shock and disbelief with Brownie. "And to top it off now the assasnation of former President Harling."
"What the hell I never fired a missile I was using guns on a drone, the gun cam will back that up and what with all that other bull-shit?"
"Yeah he even called out guns over coms which the AWACS was recording, hell the radar recording would show we never fired a missile." Brownie added just as pissed as I was.
"Ah yes unfortunately while trying to recover the data it was all corrupted by glitch when a computer unexpectedly restarted. So after interviewing multiple people and reviewing your files we have found the culprits and will be turning you over to Osea for triel."
"You son of bitch you just want to get a promotion." Brownie said about to jump over his desk and swing at him and I probably try to follow right behind her.
"No, I'm just doing my duty as an Osea in the IUN to bring Harling killers to justice." he said with that shit eating grin of his.
Before we could say anything else the door opened and we were yanked out of the room and brought to a C-130 where we were handcuffed and loaded up without any other words. The next month was nothing but constant bouncing around different locations but there was no trials. We did overhear that we were already considered guilty they just were trying to figure out what to do with us. That rumor proved to be true when July rolled around and we were dropped of on some Island right off the cost of Usea. The guards that met us on the runway led us through several barbwire fences and we could see several others milling about in the yards all wearing the same dull green flight suits like us. After we were brought into the base commander's office.
"So you're the new inmates, I'm Col McKinsey. I'm in charge of this penal unit. As of 0300 hours OADF has placed you two under my command." he stopped and gestured for the guards to leave the room. "But all that is just some sybolic bull-shit, your nothing but criminals, your names mean nothing from this point forward you shall answer to your tac names only."
"Yes sir"
"Good now against all my better judgment you two will continue work together as pilot and WSO, but you will be on separate sides of the cell blocks."
"So we're still able to fly?" Brownie asked
"To an extent yes, but remember this still a prison now get out the guards will show you to your rooms, and you have a briefing in a few hours."
We both turned to leave having learned to stay quiet the past month, it saves your jaw and face from being bruised from a hit from a gun butt. We walked out and before we could say anything we were separated and drag separate ways, I was thrown in a cell that already had a person in it.
"Well welcome to paradise my friend I'm Tabloid." the man in the cell said, reaching down to give me a hand up.
Remembering what McKinsey said I replied. "Thanks im Trigger."
"Ah so you're the new guy, the one that killed Harling?"
"Not this crap already there never been a trial and they never looked at the gun cams."
"Figures sound like you were a scrap-goat."
"So what's there to do till the briefing afterwhile."
As he sat down on his cot he threw me a book. "Read and nap for now and heads up the doors don't lock but there nowhere to run."
"Ah lovely." I said floping on the cot and opening the book that was just an old almanac. I figure it's better than nothing and settled in till time for the brief.
AN
To be Honest I didn't really like this mission in the game but it's still an important part of the main story so I just abridged it instead of skipping it altogether.