A/N: Ace Combat, now with more yuri. You been warned.
Chp. 14: Breakout
November 28, 2015
Vitoze Airport
"Oh you poor thing, you're so tense. When was the last time you let someone take care of you?"
The soft, motherly tone combined with the cascade of warm water and soft skin was almost too much for Joan. Maeva's bountiful bosom made for the best place to just let her worries melt away.
"Haven't had much time." She mumbled.
"A lovely girl like you needs to care for herself, sweetheart. It's a good thing I'm around to help with that."
Maeva lifted her lover's face so their gazes met and examined her a bit more closely. Her fingers very, very delicately appraised her features as Joan's face became the same color as a tomato.
"You have very lovely features. Nice cheekbones, big eyes, cute freckles. Things that should be looked after. Stress plays havoc on beauty." She mused.
Joan lifted her hands above her head, inviting the slightly shorter woman to feel her up as she pleased. Maeva admiringly appraised her biceps and shoulders, then ran her hands down her modest bust and to her abdomen.
"And a very fit build, too! I'm jealous." Maeva squealed.
Joan wanted to melt and escape down the drain, but she wanted to feel up Maeva even more. Before she could take the chance, a single digit ran between her abs, and Joan couldn't help but let out a trembling moan. Maeva cocked a brow, and her smile grew sly.
"Oh my, have I found one of my little admirer's erogenous zones?"
Joan bit back a protest as Maeva knelt down and kissed the exact spot a few times. She squirmed and tensed as Maeva teased and teased. Until she couldn't stand it anymore. She pulled the woman up and did the same. Maeva let out a surprised yelp, and Joan pinned her to the far side of the stall. Her lips ended up inches from her lover's when she caught herself. The two stared at each other for a long moment.
"Can I kiss you?" Joan blurted out.
Maeva, though still blushing, giggled and nodded. Joan closed her eyes and rested her hands on Maeva's hips, then one cupped her head. Maeva's wrapped around it as they shared a long, loving kiss. As she pulled away, Maeva rested her chin on her shoulder and squeezed Joan just a little.
"You're that infatuated with me, hmm?" She asked.
"Yeah…Maeva, I love you. I love you so much. I haven't needed someone so bad since Solomon…" Joan confessed.
Words started to fail her after that, but Maeva gave her a reassuring kiss and a tap on the nose.
"I love you too, Joan."
That got her perked up in an instant.
"I want to be with you, forever…every day I want to wake up with you in my arms. Get excited thinking about you while I'm at work. Get excited to come home and wrap my arms around you."
"I'm yours forever, my Joan. You are mine, and I am yours. I will always love you."
Joan felt herself gently pushed against the shower wall again. Maeva helped herself to another kiss, this one more passionate. Joan welcomed it and parted her lips, causing Maeva to moan loudly. Joan would pull away to kiss her cheeks, then help herself to handfuls of her chest.
"You're so soft, and so curvy. Warm…"
Another fluttering moan escaped her lips as Maeva's fingers ran below her waist. Joan was ready to experience bliss she hadn't felt in a long, long time…
In reality, Joan was wrapped up like a burrito inside the alert shack. A nearly endless stream of strike and CAS missions had finally been broken as the Estovakians settled along a line north of the river. At least, that's what they'd been told she thought grumpily. EDC 8/28 sat alert while EDC 8/42 got to go drop bombs for a while and EDC 2/17 patrolled the skies out of some airport to the northwest. Instead of Maeva's moans (and howls), she was greeted by the sound of an air raid alarm. She untangled an arm from the blankets and groped around for her helmet. Her other hand worked to get out of the layers of warmth, but perhaps she'd gotten a bit too snug. Before she spoke, she quickly made sure hadn't…had a reaction…to her dream. She also made sure the only one still present was her backseater. Marcus and Maeva must have been ready to go, because only her blonde compatriot was around. He was busy getting his flight suit on.
"Erwan! Little help, please?" She called sheepishly.
"Huh? Oh." Her WSO replied, suppressing a snort as he saw the scene.
He ended up unrolling the blanket around her, which sent her rolling off the cot and onto the shack's cold floor. Erwan couldn't help at least a second of laughter as she shook off the rest of the blankets and fought the urge to kick him in the dick. Instead she grabbed her helmet and ran to their Rafale in a nearby hangar. The ground crew said nothing as she ascended the boarding ladder and settled into her seat to gear up. Erwan did the same as the ground crew ran around to check the aircraft. Others got the ventilation system going as she fired up both engines. Her embarrassment had turned into a drive to get ready far faster than she'd been trained to.
"Garuda 1 requesting permission for takeoff. Garuda 2, you up?" She radioed.
"Garuda 2 is up. Will follow you." Marcus replied.
Thank the maker it hadn't been Maeva who'd replied, she thought.
"Garuda you're cleared for immediate scramble. Turn to 045 once airborne; maintain altitude of at 5500. Contact Skybolt once you're airborne." The control tower replied.
Joan let out a quick "copy" as she hurried across the tarmac towards the taxiway. Two Mirages that had been set up next to the main runway rocketed away from Terra Firma. She glanced towards the other hangar used by her squadron and caught the doors opening.
"Garuda 3 is taxiing to join Garudas 1 and 2." Jarre radioed.
"Garuda 4 is right behind you." Descours chimed in.
Joan slowed so Marcus could swing into position off her wing, then shoved the throttles all the way forward. The two Rafales took off in unison and ascended as fast as their engines would allow them. The Aster batteries just outside the airport fence launched salvos of missiles towards unseen targets. Somewhere to the northwest, Joan deduced. Still, they moved to the east as instructed.
"Skybolt this is Garuda 1, we're airborne and heading northeast of Vitoze. Requesting SITREP." She radioed.
"Garuda, Skybolt has detected a raid. Hostile aircraft approaching from multiple directions. Nearest group is at 310, Altitude 220, 200 Kilometers out." A Sentry high above to the south reported.
It was only now apparent to her that some fresh snow had come along. Water droplets streaked across her canopy as she turned and activated her radar. So far, the only other jets aloft seemed to be those two Mirages. Joan shifted to afterburner to catch up and close the distance.
"Skybolt, do we have an idea of the raid's size? We're gonna need more birds up." She radioed.
"We're getting everything we can. You should have more aircraft up soon. Callsigns Baron 3 and Requin 1." The AWACS replied.
"Copy, and the size?"
"We've got at least a dozen contacts."
Erwan activated the radar and Joan selected their radar-guided MICAs. The two targets were moving just shy of Mach 1, picking their way through the rougher terrain in that direction. The Asters split and slowed the pair.
"Garuda, relay from those SAM sites. Hard deck remains the same; they need a clear field of fire." The AWACS warned.
"Skybolt, be advised that Baron is closing in on those low-level contacts. Tell those SAMs to check their fire; we might have to get low."
Joan thought she recognized the voice coming from Baron, but it was little more than a passing thought.
"Copy Baron, copy Skybolt. Owl, got anything?" She spoke up.
"Yeah I got 'em." He said, laser-focused on his displays.
Joan did a headcount. Baron only had four birds, she noted, and those others were from EDC 3/8 going by their callsign. There were supposed to be some Rafale Bs from 8/42 who'd accidentally ended up at Vitoze.
"Talisman be advised, I'm looking at additional contacts now. Six bandits at 308, Altitude 7000 at 187 Kilometers. Must be the escorts; I'm guessing they're Flankers." Erwan interrupted.
"Select those contacts further out, we'll let the SAMs get the closer guys. Garuda 2, focus on those new contacts. Garudas 3 and 4…back us up." She decided.
"Copy, Garuda 1. Request that we be allowed to break and pursue initial contacts after we make those first shots." Jarre replied.
"Cleared to do so."
Joan signaled for Marcus to loosen their formation. She banked away and nosed up, going into afterburner as she got above the dawn clouds. It burned through most of her centerline tank, but it was worth it. The Flankers on the left of the formation peeled away to meet the two Rafales while the others kept going. Joan grabbed another thousand or so meters of altitude and finally let the external tank go. Erwan ran through the motions of selecting both targets for their missiles. The two Flankers spread out, and one of them nosed up to match Joan's altitude. She throttled back and started jinking before trying to get the Flanker from below. The Su-27 went down to negate that, so she went up again. The two pairs bobbed up and down, up and down. The Estovakians had the last up, but neither Joan nor Marcus cared for more than a second. She set her chaff to five-second intervals and swung away to break the Stovie's attempt to get a lock. As she came back, she got a radar lock.
"Garuda 1, Fox 3 Fox 3!" She barked.
The Flanker abandoned shooting back and Joan used the chance to get closer. Erwan checked behind them as she nosed up and rolled over. Ha, who has the high ground now? She thought. She came at the Estovakian from their right while Marcus split off to contain the other bandit. Two more Flankers committed to the fight and Erwan locked them up as well.
"Shoot 'em!" He urged.
"Garuda 1, Fox 3 Fox 3." She replied.
Each bandit got a single MICA this time. The second pair immediately broke away while the first drew closer. Joan put her nose back on her first quarry and fired once more. The Flanker brought its nose to bear to respond, even with three missiles on top of it. It launched a single PL-12 before it was hit in the left wing by the first salvo. By the time the third missile had arrived, the Stovie jet was one big fireball.
The second pair of Flankers had foregone trying to engage from long range and leapt on Garuda to avenge their comrades. Joan turned into the lead bandit as it did the same to her. She loosed a final MICA, an IR-guided model, before they slipped into dogfight range.
"Garuda 1, Fox 2." She declared.
The missile had a good track for a second, but lost it as the Rafale and Flanker got too close. For a second, though, Joan hoped it might explode just close enough to shake the big jet. She moved to get a better shot with her second MICA-IR. The Flanker passed by as it nosed up, marking its trail with countermeasures. Joan turned hers back to manual and slowed to slide into a better position. The two Flankers closed ranks to get the Rafales off them for a few seconds. Joan stayed above the fight so Marcus could keep on his opponent. She switched to her Magics and rolled down as the Flanker turned towards its comrades further away.
"All aircraft be advised, we're picking up additional contacts. Heading 002, 150 Kilometers and approaching. Altitude appears to be 1500. Looks like more escorts and at least one jamming aircraft."
"Baron 1 has detected more contacts at low level. Heading 004, 155 Kilometers out. Has anyone spotted the main force yet?"
"Main force appears to be in two groups. Bandits at 344 and 005, 250 Kilometers and closing…"
Joan only listened long enough to get the number and altitude. She was busy turning into the Flanker's attack as it dumped speed to try and get behind her. Its wingman was completely separated from it thanks to Marcus. She switched to her cannon for an instant and fired a dozen rounds as the Flanker passed by in front of her. With a loud breath, she pulled back on the stick and increased power. The Flanker came around as she slipped into the Stovie's blind spot. Joan rolled over and was coming down as the enemy pilot realized what was going on. The jet broke to the right and Joan went wings level just out of optimal position. She kept up her speed and focused on staying behind him.
"New bandits have increased speed." Erwan noted between glances to the left and right.
"Garuda, Baron's second half has linked up with Requin and are inbound to assist." Another familiar voice spoke up.
"Requin, you armed for air-to-air?" Joan asked as she and the Flanker began to go in circles.
"Armed and ready." The lead Rafale replied with gusto.
"Requin, we're vectoring you in the direction of the main strike force. Looks like a mix of Flankers and Fitters, about a dozen of 'em how copy?" AWACS replied.
By now Joan had enough energy to make another move. None too soon, either, as Marcus's opponent tried to take her down before its time was up. It appeared to her left with Garuda 2 in hot pursuit. She stuck to her original plan, but also trailed countermeasures. The Flanker made a single pass and fired a PL-9 at the Emmerian jet as she cut inside the other Flanker's turn. Joan nosed up and turned into the shot as it tracked her, then leveled out and ascended. She again moved towards the Flanker's last position and the PL-9 as it adjusted in response. Joan moved towards it again and went past it as it was maybe 1000 meters away. She rolled into a dive, looking for the first Flanker as the PL-9 went up and went ballistic. The first Flanker had taken the chance to seize the advantage and came at Joan as she was rolling over. She followed through and got under the Su-27 just before it launched a PL-9 at the empty sky ahead.
Joan reversed and used the last of the energy she could gamble with to get the bandit in her forward quarter. She dropped her thumb the second the Magic growled in her ear.
"Garuda 1, Fox 2." She declared.
That shot left her with three MICAs: two radar-guided and one IR. She stayed behind the Flanker and switched to her gun as her radar swept the skies to the north. More contacts, and these could only be the main force she surmised. She glanced back at her opponent as the Magic exploded just to the right of its cockpit. As she came around, Garuda 2 was descending to join her. He had about the same number of missiles left. The two exchanged a thumbs up before Joan keyed her radio.
"Skybolt, Garuda 1 has the eastern strike force on radar. Moving to engage."
"Copy, be advised two of the SAMs have gone offline to avoid enemy ARMs. Trying to raise a third, but they might've already been hit. Remaining SAMs are requesting you try and bait those strikers towards them." The Sentry replied.
"We'll do what we can, Skybolt."
The two Rafales ascended, where they found that Barons 3 and 4 had committed as well. Before them were eight contacts, one group moving faster than the other.
"Garuda, can you hook right, try and get around them?" Baron 3 asked.
"Copy, Requin?" Joan replied.
"Requin 1 and 2 will commit on the left." Requin 1 replied.
Additional friendly contacts appeared at the rightmost edge of Erwan's display.
"Friendlies at 156." He radioed, hoping to get them to say something.
"Skybolt, this is Faucon 1. We're inbound and have fuel for a few minutes. Requesting vector to nearest bandits." Pollini radioed.
"Copy Faucon, ah, are you armed?" The AWACS replied.
"We've got our cannons and a few Magics between us." Pollini snapped.
"Faucon, split your flight and send two aircraft to assist in taking on that second group. Most of the CAP is scattered but keep an eye out…and stay above 5500 to avoid friendly SAMs." Joan added.
"Copy."
That move had the remaining Estovakians a bit scattered. Without a proper cleansing by their SEAD aircraft, they still had several SAMs to contend with, too. The Emmerian jets forced their opponents to stay on a narrower path. Erwan selected the rear part of the formation as Baron targeted those ahead. Faucon came in high from almost directly behind. The Fitters split into twos and spread out to defend themselves. Joan signaled to Marcus that he was free to push, then immediately broke away to attack the further of the two.
The Flankers split up to fight back. Erwan incorporated the one that seemed to be heading towards them into his picture while Joan counted down the kilometers to max range.
"Don't think that Flanker has any long-range stuff on him." Erwan noted.
Joan grunted "good" in response and nosed down towards the Su-22s. They'd Ben deploying chaff and flares all over, but the old fighter-bombers couldn't fool their more advanced adversaries.
"Garuda 1, Fox 3 Fox 3." Joan reported.
With that, she immediately broke towards the Flanker. Those Fitters were dead to rights, and both sides knew it. Erwan watched as the scene played out how he imagined: the Fitters scattered and deployed countermeasures, but they were moving too slow and too low to get away from the missiles. He looked away as the fireballs lit the morning sky, then started checking behind the Rafale when he saw his screen had no new contacts. Joan selected her remaining MICA IR and went into afterburner. The Su-30 was coming hard left to get its nose on the Rafale. Through her IR, she could see that the jet carried nothing more than a pair of PL-9s and rocket pods. No bombs. That meant the raid had essentially failed. Though, unbeknownst to the Emmerians, the Stovies didn't need bombs on target to achieve what they wanted.