Chp. 10: The Sky Kid
November 27, 2015
Off the West Coast of Khesed
Sous-Lieutenant Stephen McCarthy had joined the ranks of the REAF in 2005 to earn his citizenship. He'd gone from handling cargo on a C-160 to a full-blown officer just last year. Before then, he'd been one of the "Ulysse Orphelins" from Usea. One of the many displaced by the impacts. His parents had given up everything to get him and his siblings and grandmother from Newfield Island to Khesed. He'd promised them all that he'd make sure they had a home in Emmeria. This war was simply an extension of that, and it kept his instincts sharp. He saw himself as an apex predator, searching for quarries as he scouted ahead for the rest of the strike force. There was also no other aircraft he would rather be doing it in than the Mirage 2000.
He and his wingman, fellow Sous-Lieutenant Arnaud Chappuis, banked back towards the coast as the lead pair of Mirages turned in the same direction. The way his plane seemed to glide back and forth was elegant. Like a ballet dancer. Still, the quiet this far from the frontlines gave Stephen a familiar mix of weariness and impatience.
"Baron this is Phantom we've got two surface contacts, looks like small craft. Chop two of your aircraft to investigate." The Sentry directing them spoke up.
"What direction, Phantom?" Captiane Marlon replied testily.
"Ah copy, uh…contacts are in formation at Heading 002, range 70 Kilometers. They're moving fast in a zig-zag pattern. Can confirm that they're small craft; probably Osas or Tarantuls. Visual ID is still being requested; they might be fishing boats."
"Understood…Barons 3 and 4, you're up."
"Baron 3 copies." Stephen replied readily.
"Baron 4 copies." Arnaud chimed in.
The two young pilots banked hard and swept towards the ocean. Stephen tried to figure out exactly what they would do when they came upon the contacts. Or why they were even that important. Fishing boats? Performing zig-zags? Were they trying to get unwanted attention? Or did the Navy really think the Stovies had a fleet in the area that fast.
"Phantom this is Baron 3, what do you want us to do once we get a visual on the craft?" He radioed.
"Standby, Baron 3."
Stephen looked towards Arnaud, who shrugged. He signaled back for the man to break and approach the contacts from high above while he stayed low. The other Mirage nosed up immediately and went screaming into the clouds. It got a smile from Stephen as the young man returned his attention to the boats. The only thing he had that could damage them were his twin DEFA 553s. He nosed up and rolled to get a better view of the area. He could see two shapes breaking the horizon.
"Baron 3 has a visual on contacts. Moving to ID." He piped up.
His RWR chirped as the ships had the same happen to them. They were definitely warships.
"Phantom, I've got two hits on my RWR. They're definitely surface combatants. What're your orders?" He asked.
Stephen nosed up and turned towards the coast once again. He rolled again as he increased speed and his frustration grew as the AWACS dithered on what to do. An older, more serious voice took over.
"Baron this is Phantom, do not engage. Return to original mission; we've detected a single bandit entering your area. Looks like another Bear. Heading 015, Range 130 Kilometers. Altitude is 7600. We're looking for escorts now."
A Tu-142 had dipped into the skies they were clearing half an hour ago, but it'd turned and ran the second it realized who was out there. Stephen made a run at the two ships for another second while Arnaud cut hard right. The former fell in behind the latter, leaving the surface combatants trying to chase them down. Immediately, Stephen felt his hackles rising. It was in a very tight pattern for a patrol plane. The RWR's tone faltered intermittently.
"Barons 3 and 4, are your radar or RWR getting fuzzy?" The AWACS spoke up immediately.
"Copy that Phantom, we're receiving interference." Stephen replied.
"Be advised, that Bear's probably an EW bird. Emerald, have two of your flight drop back to shadow it and cover one of Caster's aircraft. If he starts following, blast him out of the sky."
"Emerald copies all, Phantom. Break, Emeralds 5 and 6 you're up."
The massive strike package behind Stephen and Arnaud had just about every combat aircraft in the inventory. Rafales, 2000Ds, and some more Rafales with experimental modifications to act as jamming aircraft. All for six Mirage IVCEs bound for targets in northern Khesed. Stephen and his wingman went above the clouds and moved slowly inland until the three Rafales could split from the group. The Bear-H, a Belkan modification to make the Tu-142 into a versatile electronic platform, continued to assault the Emmeriams with wave after wave of electronic noise. The Rafale E fired back with its own jammers while the Mirages turned northwards once more.
"Barons 3 and 4, we're going to move north of you. Turn towards the coast as frequently as briefed." Marlon radioed.
By now the Tu-142 was moving south again, apparently ignorant of the Emmerians out in the open. As the three Rafales approached the coast, the electronic variant took to the radiowaves.
"Phantom be advised, Caster 2 has picked up a second jamming source. It's not on our scope, but there's definitely something else out there. Jammers are jumping too many frequencies for one source."
"Copy that Caster, maintain a bead on it. Phantom is shifting position to get a better view. All other aircraft, proceed with original mission until ordered otherwise."
Stephen felt himself becoming fraught with discomfort as things became increasingly fluid. Far more fluid than the morning had been over Sipili. Even then, he and his wingman continued to screen north. The tension in the air grew and grew until Phantom could see deeper inland.
"Baron and Emerald be advised, we're picking up a large formation to your southeast. Looks like bombers plus escorts. How many aircraft can you commit to intercept?"
"Lance will accompany Emeralds 1 and 2 to keep Hammerhead covered." The lead SEAD aircraft radioed.
"Emerald and Caster are moving to rejoin main formation. That Bear appears to be screening for the bombers." Emerald 5 radioed.
"Hammerhead, are you able to continue mission with remaining support?"
"Affirmative, Phantom. Hammerhead is proceeding as briefed." The lead bomber replied.
The big Mirages dropped towards the sea and hit the gas with the smaller 2000s hurrying to keep up. Stephen and Arnaud lit their afterburner and hurried over the coast. They had a lot of ground to cover, but Stephen wasn't about to let that stop him. He signaled to Arnaud to drop his wing tanks and did the same. He planned to squeeze his centerline dry before he ditched it.
"Barons 3 and 4, move low through the mountains and try to get behind the formation. Target EW aircraft first." "All aircraft, wait for my signal to turn on your radars." Marlon instructed.
Stephen clicked his mic twice and nosed down as the coast came into view. He signaled for his wingman to stay loose. The two Mirages raced across the short coastal plains and hills towards the mountains. Almost immediately, the RWR revealed multiple kinds of contacts above and below. A pair of S-300 batteries somewhere near the city of Pierell caught wind of the two jets, but Caster hung back and kept them from getting a good trail. The Mirage bombers penetrating Stovie airspace were also enough to redirect attention. Stephen didn't envy the bombers, but he'd seen the Mirage IV at its best. Outrunning threats was light exercise for him.
They slipped past some of the outer mountains and down just below the tops. Stephen selected the four Super 530s under the fuselage but kept the radar off. From what the RWRW was telling him, the formation was splitting up as the escorts were moving to block the incoming attack. The two Mirages plotted a way through a pair of JF-17s circling near the back of the group, close to one of the Bears. The unstealthy Mirages weren't exactly getting the drop on them, but the terrain was getting them close, one meter at a time. The high-altitude CAP, made up of Flankers, pushed towards Stephen and Arnaud. Marlon took that chance to give the order.
"All aircraft, execute."
Again, the aircraft were already known to the Stovies, but there was a certain psychological effect to be had when radars popped up in every direction. Baron's Mirages closed in from the north and the west, drawing a mixed force of Flankers and Thunders. When Stephen fired up his RDY radar, it immediately started trying to burn through the jamming. The RWR naturally changed up its tone as enemy radars all over the place noticed him. He pushed the throttles further forward and made one final mad dah for the nearest Bear. Arnaud ran interference against the Thunders as they tracked the two Mirages. Stephen was upon the Bear in a few seconds, and his radar had picked up the massive target. The Bear started pumping out chaff, covering the sky with the aluminum strips. Almost instinctively, Stephen switched to his cannons and jinked a few times to keep the Thunders off him. The Estovakian jets split despite the fact that Arnaud was tracking them both. Stephen nosed up and rolled in on the Tu-142 from above. The tail gunner lifted his twin 23s and tried to swat away the offending Emmerian. Stephen pulled the trigger and felt the subtle vibration as the DEFAs hammered away.
He rolled to the right, leaving the Tu-142 with holes dotting its gray fuselage and an engine billowing smoke. One of the JF-17s had swung around to follow him as its wingman now had Arnaud occupied. Stephen looked back and drew in a fresh breath as the Stovie was an instant away from radar lock. He dropped his centerline and went nearly vertical. The Gs that pressed against him were matched only by the surge of adrenaline that reached every corner of his body. The Mirage cut through the sky with ease and left the other jet in the dust. As he pulled from the climb, he dropped chaff and nosed over until the JF-17 was in his forward quarter. The Estovakian launched two PL-12s at him. He broke to the right, then snapped back to the left. His plane chided him for such punishment, but he was laser-focused on survival at this point. He was also trying to get turned around before the Thunder could get too close.
"Baron 4, where's that second bandit?" He breathed.
"Preoccupied with me. Be advised that those Flankers are getting closer." Arnaud replied.
"I'm aware."
His eyes dipped towards the RWR for a second as he nosed up again and traded all the speed he had for a better position. His body felt like it was going to collapse in on itself as he went through a gut-wrenching loop. The PL-12s streaked off into the distance on his right, but the JF-17 was still on him. He was inverted when it went vertical and fired a third PL-12. Stephen leveled out and escaped the view of the missile as it nosed up. He passed in front of the Thunder and rolled inverted. As he came down, two of the Flankers rolled into the fight, then broke off as two of Emerald's Rafales moved on from the other Tu-142.
"Merci, Emerald!" Stephen called.
They never answered, but he didn't expect them to. By now he was also circling above the JF-17 as it realized the Rafales weren't entering the fight. Stephen nosed down and spiraled towards the enemy aircraft. He made note of the Tu-142 as it continued south and decided to give the Thunder a quick death. He switched to his Magics and dove to gain some speed. As he drew close, he lit the afterburners and started to nose back up. His short-range missiles picked up the heat signature of the Estovakian as it too tried to get some momentum back to get some space.
"Baron 3, Fox 2." He reported.
He pulled away and spiraled back up to look for Arnaud and the Bear. He saw the latter making a beeline south and the former nearby, keeping the second JF-17 from getting to him. He broke towards his wingman and dove.
"Baron 4, I'm coming in from above to help. I'll try and trip him up with my guns." He proposed between deep breaths.
"Barons 3 and 4, shake those escorts as soon as you can. Priority is the bombers!" Marlon interjected.
Stephen grunted a reply as he looked for the other Thunder. There was a long streak of black smoke cutting up through the sky, leading to a damaged aircraft on one end. The Estovakian slipped into some clouds above the fight, and Stephen decided to let him go. He looked back at his wingman and the second JF-17 as they passed by in a rolling scissors. Again he traded speed for position and swooped down to fire his cannons. The Thunder broke away and Arnaud slowed and swung after the Stovie. Stephen leveled out and followed his wingman as the enemy jet tried to close ranks with the bigger Flankers.
"Baron 4, Fox 2." Arnaud objected.
Stephen looked towards the Su-27s as the missile raced towards the JF-17 and the flares it was dropping. Arnaud throttled back, adjusted his nose, and switched to his 530s. As he did, the JF-17 suddenly reversed away from its flares. The Magic picked up the bigger heat source and turned to follow. Arnaud still turned to get the Stovie in his radar's sights, but his first missile detonated just ahead of the Thunder's intakes.
Almost immediately, Stephen switched to his 530s and the two turned towards the center of the formation. The two Mirages lined up to perform a rolling scissors, this time to track both the Bear and two (of seven) H-6K Badgers.
"Baron 4, that Bear is mine." He declared.
Arnaud clicked his mic twice and swung around to trail Stephen. Baron 3 hit the gas to get a few more kilometers past max range and fired.
"Baron 3, Fox 1."
One of the Flankers passed by on the far right and Arnaud reacted immediately. Stephen tracked the bandit while his missile closed in on the helpless EW bird. It was going full speed by the time the Bear was able to overpower the Mirage's radar. By then, sheer momentum carried it the rest of the way. The Bear had no escape. Stephen caught a glimpse of its inner port engine coming apart as he turned away. He again saw it as it nosed down.
He turned towards the bombers with Arnaud in tow, where Marlon and Baron 2 were exiting the lower clouds for another attack. Stephen selected one of the H-6s, though his eyes noted a Flanker looming over his lead.
"Baron lead be advised, single bandit above you. He's waiting for you to come out of the clouds." He warned.
Marlon clicked his mic, and a second later a Magic shot out from the clouds around some nearby mountaintops. Stephen hit the gas while the Flanker was preoccupied and rolled in on two of the Badgers. His radar showed additional aircraft moving south and moving fast. Emerald was in pursuit, leaving the Mirages to handle the slower Badgers. Stephen targeted one and directed Arnaud to take the other. He looked in all directions as his radar zeroed in on the bomber.
"Baron 3, I've got two more Flankers closing in on us. Ten o'clock high." Arnaud radioed.
"We'll take care of them, Baron 4. Take down those bombers!" Marlon called.
Stephen and his wingman dipped towards the Stovies, then moved back as Marlon and his wingman hit the bigger jets with a right hook. The Badgers were in spitting distance now, and nothing could protect them.
"Baron 3, Fox 1." Stephen announced.
The missile streaked away while the H-6 deployed countermeasures and tried to turn. Stephen rested his finger against the trigger for his cannons and a pinkie near the selector switch as he followed the enemy bomber. The 530 detonated just aft of the cockpit, tossing hundreds of pieces of shrapnel into the engine intake. Stephen still closed and fired a quick burst at the cockpit area, then another at the tail. He pulled away from the crippled bomber and circled around to cover Arnaud as he finished off the other. The same Flanker from earlier appeared below the two of them and made itself known with a pair of PL-9s, one for each Mirage. Stephen dumped flares and dove to the right while Arnaud pulled away from his gun run against the second H-6. The missile meant for Baron 3 exploded out of sight, but he could feel the vibration from the shockwave. His eyes and ears instinctively tuned into the sight or sound of an alarm. The Gs had finally caused him an issue; his INS was starting to get buggy. He put it in the back of his mind and made sure everything else was okay.
He reversed and nosed up towards where he expected the Flanker to be. He saw the big jet banking towards him and stuck to his current path. The Flanker had no hope of getting his nose on the Emmerian, but Stephen was at an equal disadvantage. He leveled out and came back at the enemy jet while Arnaud chased the bandit from below. Stephen reversed towards the Stovie jet and banked into a spiraling ascent, eyes locked onto the Estovakian. Neither had a good position, but Stephen selected his Magics in anticipation. He glanced at his radar, but couldn't see Baron 1's aircraft. Marlon's Mirage had seemingly disappeared from radar without so much as a mayday call.
"Baron 1, Baron 2, can you hear me?" He asked as he and his wingman tried to box in the Flanker.
"Baron 2 still airborne, moving to attack a pair of Badgers. Lost contact with Baron 1; I think he went down low to pursue a bandit." His fellow Mirage pilot replied.
"Baron 1?" Stephen tried one more time.
Nothing, but by now the Flanker had dumped speed and was trying to flip earthwards to get a shot at the two Mirages. Stephen's jaw tightened in concentration as he nosed up and forced his Mirage into a position pointing at the Flanker. He went into full afterburner to avoid losing all his speed in the blink of an eye. The Flanker leapt at the chance and fired another PL-9.
"Baron 3, Fox 2." Stephen responded.
He broke away and let flares off almost continuously as he struggled to get into a better position. The Flanker was free to dive towards the ground and recover from its move while he yanked the stick back and tensed his body. His plane again screamed at him over the excessive Gs. Simultaneously, the PL-9 raced by just outside lethal range. He tried to turn his head, but could only see its detonation in his rearview mirrors.
"Over G…Over G…Over G…" The robotic voice replied again and again in a flat tone.
"Shut it, you gutless calculator!" He snapped in a second of frustration.
The Gs kept him pinned to his seat as he nosed over towards the Flanker. The Stovie was nosing up and the two passed one-another. Stephen throttled back hard and snapped left. The Flanker was just barely ahead of him, so he switched to his cannons and squeezed the trigger. The shots got close, but missed. The Flanker rolled with the Mirage as he passed behind. Stephen finally managed to get to a good spot, and launched his second Magic at the Su-27.
"Baron 3, Fox 2." He exhaled.
He switched to his cannons and stayed with the Flanker as the missile tore after it. Its wingman finally arrived, only for Arnaud to be waiting a kilometer away from his lead's fight.
"Baron 4, Fox 1 Fox 1." He called.
Stephen cleared the fight, leaving his Magic to catch up with the Flanker and detonate against its left wing. It'd been hit as it was nosing over to come after him again, and the forces of gravity added to the damage. Stephen was arcing over to finish the bandit with his cannons when it lost much of its left wing. He rolled upright and pulled away as the panicked pilot he came around, he saw Arnaud's prey trying to pick up where Stephen's had left off. He caught a glimpse of the two 530s as they were reaching for the sky above. Baron 4 was close behind and ready with his cannons, though. Stephen turned towards the Flanker to avoid its cannon, then reversed to bait the Flanker. Arnaud put a burst into the enemy jet as it moved to go after his lead. Stephen nosed up and roared away from the fight as Arnaud pulled a high yo-yo to get on the Flanker again. As the Estovakian tried to defend himself, Stephen was coming down from a tight loop to force him to multitask.
The Flanker banked left and then rolled up, despite its damage. Stephen rolled in the same direction and let off a burst of rounds. His eyes flashed towards his ammo count; he was just under halfway through his load. Arnaud fell in behind the Flanker as it reversed and pulled inside its turn for a few seconds. Long enough to fire again and land more hits. A few of these hit control surfaces. The Flanker pulled towards the ground and made a beeline for the nearest clouds. Arnaud rolled and dove on the Estovakian with Stephen in support. One more burst and the Flanker was trailing about a dozen lines of smoke. Arnaud leveled out and kept firing until the smoke was joined by fire. The two Mirages, assured of the kill, pulled away and headed for higher altitude. They took stock of the situation: the fighting had scattered, as had most of the bigger aircraft. Emerald was still chasingescorts and support aircraft.
"Barons 1 and 2, come in. Repeat, come in Baron 1, come in Baron 2…Phantom, do you have either Baron 1 or 2 on radar?" Stephen spoke up.
"Negative, been trying to raise them this whole time." The Sentry replied impatiently.
The AWACS went back to broadcasting calls for the two jets, but Stephen's instincts were quick. Baron 2 was gone now, too; that left EDC 3/4 with just four planes now if they'd gone down. There was little time to dwell on that, though; the H-6s were down, but four Tu-22Ms were moving south towards Misko. Stephen checked his fuel state and grumbled at himself for being caught up with the escorts and support.
"Phantom, Baron 3 is at bingo fuel. Requesting vector to a tanker…please alert all aircraft to the south that the Stovies got Backfires heading their way."