Obligatory Disclaimer - I own nothing and all characters mentioned are fictitious and not meant to represent any one person in the modern world, nor their viewpoints. This story does not reflect the morals and opinions of the Department of Defense, and all branches therein.
Chapter 3 – Welcome to Allenfort, we got cookies
When Reale got aboard the rescue helicopter, he noticed several things at once, there were four individuals in the cargo hold, 2 marines, and 2 doctors. He noticed that the marines were...apprehensive to the young Captains' presence and it seemed to him as if they were on their last nerves, due to what, he had no idea. The doctors, meanwhile, looked like complete opposites of each other, one was young, too young in Reale's eyes, while the other looked like he retired 20 years ago. The doctors had a warmer look about them, and Reale needed to be checked anyway so he went over to them.
With the helicopter being, well, loud, he couldn't really get a conversation going outside of answering basic questions with a nod or shake of his head, most of which revolved around his ability to do basic movements and if he was in any pain. One reaction struck Reale as odd, he was asked to write on a small whiteboard what the date was, and when he wrote down 'Feb. 24, 2023' the doctors looked at each other when they read it and had a worried expression plastered on their faces. The older doctor went into the cockpit with the whiteboard and Reale was left with silence, apprehensive marines, and a 'doctor' who looked like he just saw a really bad Hollywood film and was about ready to run from the theater.
Inside the cockpit, the elder doctor got into contact with Sky Eye so he could send his report to Allenfort. "Sky Eye here, how's the pilot doctor?" The doctor quickly explained his impromptu examination ending with the memory test, "So, wait, he says it's 20 years in the future? Wait one, I'll get Colonel Brey on the radio." The pilots in the helicopter, who could hear the conversation adopted the doctors' worried look and willed their bird to get back to base quickly, they've all heard the stories of memory-crazy pilots who knocked out their rescue team and killed them all. Colonel Brey was finally connected and listened to what the doctor had to say. "All right, we don't want to start any trouble with this guy, and I'm having my guys try to find out where he is from that flag you described but we've got no luck so far. I recommend you cease your questions and just let him rest, Brey out." With that, the doctor put down the headset and went back into the crew compartment.
When the doctor returned, he seemed more relaxed, he signaled to Reale to lie down and get some rest, however, Reale was already rested and opted to listen to some music. Unfortunately, his earbuds and phone made the whole cabin tense up and the marines looked about ready to kill him. 'It's as if they haven't seen a phone before, what is with these guys? Whatever, maybe if I ignore them, they won't kill me, maybe Applefaerth spewed some story about me to these guys and that's it.' He turned his music up loud and closed his eyes, wishing the ride to end quickly so he could get away from whatever tension was in the room.
Up high in the sky, Sky Eye was watching his radar, Allenfort was only about 70 miles away, and while he should feel relieved at returning home, his thoughts kept wandering to his charges below, and the rescue team below them. Erusean attempts to break through Allenfort had been increasing as of late, and Sky Eye knew that unless they stopped them here, North Point would have to surrender or face B-2 bombers day and night until the only thing left was rubble. He was more focused on getting the chopper back safely than anything, it was right in the typical altitude of where those damn Su-27s would come from, and it makes for a perfect target. He had a premonition then, and signaled to his nuggets below him, "Sky Eye here, Marker, Toaster, descend to Angels 10 and be on the lookout for any hostile contacts."
Almost three minutes after the two descended radar pinged, and immediately Salvatore went into action, first, he alerted the rescue chopper and the nuggets, "Warning! We've got a 5-ship formation coming in from due West, radar pings them as Flankers. No response on the IFF, Rescue 1, descend to lower altitude, Marker, Toaster, cleared to engage when in range. Stick close to one another." He then sent an emergency signal to Allenfort.
"Allenfort this is Sky Eye, we've got incoming hostiles near our position, we need reinforcements immediately or we're going to lose our cargo and our nuggets!" the ATC at Allenfort gave Salvatore the worst response imaginable, "We can't, our pilots are on an emergency scramble to St. Ark, the only thing we can offer you is our AA coverage, but that's if you get in range." Salvatore cursed to himself, there was no way they could outrun the enemy planes, and the chopper had no chance if on its own. "All right pilots, you two are the only ones able to stop them, stay close and help each other, don't let them get the chopper. Viper 9, Halo 2, cleared to engage."
Inside of his Tomcat, Kai was shaking his nerves out, willing himself to be ready for the dogfight. He checked his payload, like Toaster he had 2 Sidewinders and 2 ASRAAMs plus a full gun. The Bandits were at 30 miles now, heading dead on towards him, he called out to Toaster, "Buddy, we've got to take care of these guys, I say we target them with Sidewinders first then try to gun them down." Toaster was of a different opinion, but they didn't have time to argue they were within range now so he locked on with his sidewinders and, using Sky Eye's battle-tactical-network, he targeted 2 of the Flankers, while Kai targeted 2 others. At the 21-mile mark, he called out, "Halo 2 Fox 2!" Not to be outdone, Kai said the same, and 4 missiles shot out for their targets quickly reaching Mach 2 and continuing to speed up. The lead Flanker broke then, and his comrades followed, all heading in different directions. 3 weren't lucky and the sidewinders all hit their mark, completely destroying the unlucky planes, and killing their pilots. Sky Eye called out then "That's two kills for Toaster, one for Marker, Well done!"
Inside the rescue helicopter, Reale was still listening to music, he assumed the descent was because of the fact he was almost back home. His relaxed state changed immediately when he heard in quick succession 'Boom, Boom, Boom' from outside. Adrenaline started pumping into his veins and he shot up and ran to the leftmost window trying to find where the combat was. He startled the marines who yelled quickly and raised their rifles slightly, Reale ignored them, he got a fix now and was watching what was happening high above him. Though the helicopter blades were distorting the view, he could tell that those two pilots who found him in the ocean were still alive involved in a hair with what looked like more Russians to him. 'Did the world go mad when I went down or something?' Whatever the case was, he knew he was completely useless, so he just watched, making comments instinctually on the pilots' maneuvers.
Back up in the dogfight, Toaster was trailing one of the 27s in his Mig, trying to get the piper dead on the plane to knock it out of the fight. Kai, meanwhile, was trying to get his opponent off of him, he already had to deal with two missiles that he only just deflected with a steep dive with low engine power to jink the infrared. He was rolling left now trying to gain advantage for a high-G climb, "There!" He shouted out, the enemy plane beginning a Pitchback, or basically a pitch turn, to the left. Kai took advantage and began his rolling climb, before sharply turning and diving for the defenseless Flanker, firing his gun right into the central fuselage, resulting in a massive explosion. "Viper 9 Splash One" he called out to Sky Eye and turned to help Toaster finish the last one.
Sky Eye sent over a sitrep to the two nuggets 'No, fighter pilots.' "Sky Eye here, the rescue chopper is within range of allied AA coverage, well done pilots, finish that fight and RTB." Toaster at that exact moment received a perfect opportunity, the Flanker was slowing down and was almost in range of his gun. Just as he was about to open fire, the enemy plane rose sharply, almost hovering for a few seconds, enough time for Tobias to speed past, before righting itself and speeding for his now exposed tail. Toaster called out to Kai, "He's behind me I need support NOW!" The last word was yelled out as cannon fire erupted over the cockpit and Toaster dove for cover. Kai was about 3 miles back at that point and lined up his ASRAAM calling out "Fox 2" over the radio. Toaster leveled off then with the Flanker trying to get in range for the perfect gun kill, before he could get in range the missile impacted between the 27s engines and exploded, flipping the plane end over end before exploding. "Thanks for the save Marker, I owe you a beer when we get back." Before Kai could respond Sky Eye radioed over "Great work Marker, that's 3 kills to your name, you two are cleared to RTB."
The chopper soon landed at Allenfort, with Kai and Toaster coming in for their landings as well, Sky Eye had to stay in the air and head to St. Ark to aid the other squadrons engaged in combat over there. As the helicopter spooled down Johann could see everyone relax, though he suspected it was more because he wouldn't be able to do anything rather than being safe from enemy fire given the strange reactions he was getting from them. Before he could leave the chopper, the marines came over and saluted, to which he replied in kind, the taller one spoke first. "Sir, my name is Sergeant Ramirez, with me is my counterpart, Corporal Getty. We need to ask you a few questions before you can exit the chopper, why don't you sit down." Reale agreed and sat down on the opposite side of the marines, Getty standing and keeping his rifle ready, the Sergeant sitting down in kind. The two pilots and the doctors made to exit the chopper then and Reale made sure to thank them for the rescue before returning his focus to Ramirez. "All right sir, let's start this off easily, what's your name?" Johann smirked, "I'm Captain Johann 'Florida Man' Reale, of the USAF."
The Sergeant's eyes lit up for a moment then before settling back down, "Well sir, this is awkward but as you are not a member of ISAF, we are going to have to have to detain you, will you submit willingly?" Johann resisted the urge then to shift his crossed arms to his holster, but he knew better than to get into a gunfight in not only such a confined place but into a fight with a marine. Instead, he tried to use reasoning, "ISAF? As in the International Security Assistance Force? You do realize you work for the American government, right? Hell, without the United States Air Force, you would have been decimated the moment you made contact with the Taliban." Corporal Getty spoke then before anyone else, "I'm sorry sir but I have no idea what you are talking about, we are a part of the Independent State Allied Forces, not whatever you just said. Additionally, we are currently engaged in war and as such we must detain you to ensure security." The Sergeant then added some humor to alleviate the tension, "As you no doubt saw a few minutes ago." The compartment was silent then for a minute or so before Johann spoke up again, "So, you have never heard of the United States, and I have never heard of your version of ISAF...damn, that storm either knocked me out and this is some freak dream, or you really are telling the truth. Fine, I'll accept detainment, however, I will not surrender my weapon to anyone, it is my family's legacy. Furthermore, I am requesting to speak with a JAG as soon as possible, now can we leave?"
"Very well, sir, that is acceptable, so long as you don't stray from us, you may keep your weapon, welcome to Allenfort Air Base." Ramirez replied, and the trio stepped out of the chopper, Johann in front and between the marines. The first thing he noticed was the change in everyone around him, they all stared at him like he was some strange alien, 'well to be fair we ain't in Kansas no more. Plus given that these people are engaged in a war, they probably think I'm an enemy, I'll either come to damn you Horace, or thank you for this opportunity to show American might.' Reale straightened himself then, determined to show he was not nervous nor afraid of anyone around him, he kept his hands at his side, past his holster. He then noticed the two planes coming in to land, and he asked the Sergeant, "Is it alright if I meet the pilots, I want to thank them for keeping us safe back there?" With a motion of agreement, the trio moved to the hangar the planes were headed to. The Tomcat stopped first, and the pilot inside quickly hopped out, a grin plastered on his face. Reale and the marines jogged to catch up with the pilot, Johann shouting 'Hey!' to get his attention.
Kai turned around at the noise and studied the trio of men coming up to him. He could see the marines were trying not to look like they were out of place on the airfield, but his attention was more focused on the young pilot between them. When they caught up to him the pilot spoke first, "That was some fine dogfighting there Lt. May I know the name of the man who not only protected us but saved the life of his wingman?" At that moment Toaster hopped out of his Mig and ran over to Kai, grabbing him in a bear hug and laughing, "Come on man Let's get a beer, I can't wait to see the looks on our flight leads faces when we tell them what happened...who's that guy?"
Kai was finally able to get a word in, "Well buddy, that guy right there is the pilot we performed overwatch for and subsequently saved from those Erusean bandits earlier. Sir, my name is Kai, and this is my buddy Tobias, though we call him Toaster, who're you?"
"Oh, I'm Johann, nice to meet you two. I just wanted to thank you both for your efforts, especially with that last fighter, that Cobra maneuver is a tough bitch to beat but with you two up there you made it look like a piece of cake." Before the conversation could continue, Ramirez spoke up, "Sir, we really need to get you to the intelligence officer so we can sort this out, I'm sure you can talk more later." With that, the men turned and headed for the detention center, which Kai thought was odd, but he had to get debriefed, so he put it out of his mind.