Stick With Trigger, And You'll Make It

Operation Eastern Wind

The blare of the intercom woke me up quickly. I will admit that the first thought in my mind was we were being attacked.
"Mage Squadron, Golem Squadron, report to the briefing room now. Repeat, Mage Squadron and Golem Squadron report to the briefing room," announced the briefing officer. I was fast to get changed out of my sweatpants and sports bra and into my flight suit, just knowing we finally had a mission. Running out of the barracks towards the briefing room, I could see the runway technicians fueling fighters and loading weapons. The door to the briefing room was opened by the briefing officer, and we all quickly filed inside. Unlike last time, everyone was quick to be quiet.
     "Erusea has made a declaration to the Osean Federation, and all countries on the Usean continent stationing the IUN peacekeeping force, that we are now at war," began the briefing officer. The Map of Usea on the screen was divided into a red and blue section, drawing up the battle lines the war had started. "Right after the declaration was made, surprise attacks began around the continent that have major damage to our armed forces," several red lines signifying Usean combat movements were traced on-screen and highlighted many aircraft movements. "Forces aligned with Erusea are currently appearing throughout Usea. The combination of these forces has overwhelmed the majority of the continent, and they are now encroaching on us in the East." The battle map swiftly showed all of the gains that Erusean forces had taken, and all currently engaged allied forces. "Additionally, the multi-national Space Elevator has been seized by the Erusean military." The map zoomed in on the western half of the continent, highlighting the space elevator's location. I was in utter shock at how much the Eruseans had taken in just a matter of days. "After the previous war, the space elevator became both a symbol of peace, and a valuable asset in the fight against growing energy concerns. Whoever has control of it will have enormous influence over the entire continent."
     "Jesus, to think an elevator can have that kinda power," I mumbled, to which Clown gave me the shushing gesture.
     "We cannot turn a blind eye to this critical situation. The Fort Grays Air Base Squadron has been entered into the order of battle to reclaim the elevator as an advance element," continued the briefing officer. The map switched to another area, and several target indicators were spread across the visualized part of the map. "First, you will attack all hostiles coming in the east of Scofield Plateau to stop any interference with the allied ground troops. The enemy has deployed several vehicles equipped with anti-air radar along the roads. You are to destroy them. They should not pose much of a threat." We're going on the offensive now, I like the sound of this. "However, there is a high likelihood that the attack will draw more enemy air support. If that happens, fight them off swiftly and establish air superiority."
     "Alright, when do we sortie?" Asked Knocker.
     "ASAP. Flight crews are currently preparing aircraft for your mission," answered the officer. "All pilots standby in the hangers for your take-off order." Everyone stood up to file out of the room and into the hangers. I saw Faun turn the corner with us and into the hanger, but I was sure that he wasn't sortieing.
     "Faun? What are you doing here?" I asked.
     "Just came to see y'all off before your mission," said Faun.
"Yeah, sounds like an easy mission," I said.
"Yeah," said Faun. I turned around and grabbed my helmet off the rack and started to get my flight gear all in order.
"So we're you just here to see me or...?" I called him out.
"Well, you've got me there. Had to at least see you in case you get shot down out there," said Faun.
"Don't worry, I plan on having that drink you offered when we get back," I told him, seeing him smile a little.
"Mage Squadron, aircraft preparations complete," announced the ground controller.
     "Sounds like I got a plane to catch," I joked.
     "Right, stay safe out there Trigger," said Faun. I nodded back to Faun and shot him a smile as I climbed into the cockpit of my F-16.
     "Mage Squadron, taxi to runway. You are cleared for take-off at your discretion," notified the ground control.
     "Roger that control," confirmed Clown. We both moved forward to the tarmac, and quickly took off heading towards Scofield Plateau. The flight from Fort Grays Island all the way to our target location was long, and we even had to refuel in air just before we reached the plateau.
     "Refueling complete. HQ we are currently  two miles outside of operation airspace," announced Knocker.
     "Roger that, good luck Golem and Mage." said HQ.
"Current target is on rails, but there's still military vehicles and anti-air weaponry," said Sky Keeper. "Destroy the target, but HQ has made it clear that no harm should come to civilians, and no damage is to be done to public facilities."
"But any aircraft shot down could land in civilian territory," brought up Brownie.
"No point arguing, that's how war is these days," dismissed Knocker.
     "Seriously?!" I mumbled to myself.
"Do you have visual on the anti-air radar vehicles? They should be close," said Sky Keeper. A handful of targeting boxes appeared on my HUD, and several marked with a red 'TGT' above them.
     "Roger, targets are within range," I confirmed. I soared out ahead of the others and used a singular missile to destroy the first radar. "Mage 2, enemy destroyed."
"Intercept! Fire the AA! Get the radar vehicles out of there!" Ordered an enemy ground unit. I flew past their initial air defenses, quickly locking onto the next radar vehicle. With the push of a button, the missile obliterated the vehicle.
"Ugh, it's poppin' off now Trigger, the war has officially begun," groaned Clown.
     "I know, let's try and just get it over with," I said, just as dismayed.
"Target destroyed, 5 to go," informed Sky Keeper. I swiftly moved on the next two radar vehicles, destroying one with another missile and the other with my gun.
"Get the fighters up there! Protect the radar vehicles!" Ordered another ground unit.
     "Anyone care to explain why I'm hearing the enemy?" I asked.
     "I'm using a comm jacker system to intercept their communications," explained Sky Keeper. I flew directly above telephone wires and over a hill, quickly locking on and destroying the next set of radar vehicles.
"3 targets to go, cleared to engage at your discretion," said Sky Keeper. "Enemy interceptors inbound, prepare to engage in 30 seconds." I saw a pair of AH-64 helicopters taking off near the next radar vehicle, as well as several targeting boxes appearing further ahead of us.
"Wilco, here they come," said Knocker.
"Take them down!" Ordered Clown. I burned past the helicopters, their gunfire narrowly missing my wing as I turned towards the last highlighted target.
"Ok recruits, pay to attention to who's on what side. The newest IFF is connected to our entire force via satellites. It's reliable so trust your radars," explained Knocker. That statement kind of threw me off. No one had almost gotten hit by friendly fire so it seemed very misplaced. I refocused as an alarm blared with a missile lock on my target.
     "Mage 2, Fox 2!" I called out. I pulled up quickly as the vehicle was ripped to pieces by my missile.
"That was the last radar vehicle, great work," praised Sky Keeper. I cheered in my head as I rolled my fighter out of the way of oncoming AA fire. I looked back as an enemy MiG-21 started chasing after me.
     "Bandit on my six!" I called out. Clown came straight to my aid, using his machine gun to drive the MiG off of my tail.
"Radar vehicles destroyed but the interceptor shows no signs of retreating, take it out!" Ordered Sky Keeper. "Continue with the mission." I formed up back on Clown's wing as we circled the enemy base. I looked down to the runway and saw a trio of C-17 transport planes.
"Have the rules of engagement changed?"I asked over my comms.
"Crush as many as you can," responded Sky Keeper. My HUD updated, all of the MiG-21's and several targets still on the ground were marked with red lettering.
"Alright Trigger, let's take out those transports," called out Clown.
"Enemy transports are taxiing," notified Brownie. I looked back at the runway and saw the first C-17 taking off. I broke off from Clown and dived down towards the runway. Just as the transport was getting airborne I fired two missiles with a burst of machine gun fire and the C-17 exploded before it could get past the tarmac. I looked back to check on Clown, noticing another enemy fighter turning to engage him.
"Mage 1, enemy on a vector towards you! I'll drive him away, you knock him down!" I called out.
"Understood," he confirmed. I quickly brought my nose to face the MiG-21, quickly attaining a lock-on.
"Missile inbound! Breaking! Breaking!" Panicked an enemy pilot as I fired a pair of missiles at him. The MiG did right as we wanted him to. He swung right fast, and used the clouds to evade my missiles.
"The clouds don't just affect your field of vision, they also mess with your HUD and radar," explained Knocker. What is Knocker on about? Everyone here knows that, we're not idiots. "The seekers can sometimes lose their lock-on to their targets too."
"Locked, it's chow time!" Exclaimed Clown. He fired his own pair of missiles, swiftly taking down the MiG.
"Golem 1, enemy will crash in a residential area!" Exclaimed Brownie.
"Just worry about staying alive for now," dismissed Knocker. While his comment felt heartless, we were in the middle of a fight, so I could excuse him on that point.
"The enemy's travelled a long way so they're trying to end this quickly," explained Clown.
"They're getting sloppy though," I said with a slight smirk. Brownie dived down over us in her F/A-18, her nose cannon destroying the fuel reserves on the base.
"Alright, this base is worth destroying," said Sky Keeper.
"Alright Trigger, let's take out those C-17's, I'll follow you in on a strafing run," announced Clown. We both turned back in line with the runway, right as the second transport was moving into take-off point.
"Guns guns guns!" I called out. Clown and I opened fire on the two transports, his blowing up swiftly, but mine continued to try and take off.
"Enemy transport destroyed, there's more," notified Clown.
"Five targets remaining," said Sky Keeper. I turned back around with Clown covering my wing, and found a quick lock target.
"Mage 2, Fox 2!" I announced. The singular missile struck the C-17 right above the cargo hold, but the explosion that came from the wreckage was much larger and violent.
"Huh?!" Exclaimed Clown as the blue fireball erupted from the C-17. I quickly pulled up before the explosion could damage my aircraft.
"Trigger, status report?" Asked Clown.
"This is Mage 2, all instruments functioning, and I've got plenty of control over my thrust," I confirmed.
"Good. All transports have been destroyed, but what we're they carrying?!" Questioned Clown.
"Three targets remaining," said Sky Keeper. I turned back to the three MiG targets still flying, ready to engage again. The MiG's split up, and each of us took after one. My gun growled as I opened fire on my MiG-21, cutting off its right wing.
"UAV's ready to launch. Away!" The comms jacker caught. I looked down at my radar, as five new contacts showed up on its bubbled surface.
"What happened?! Status report?!" Demanded Knocker.
"Multiple bogeys on radar, they're close," said Sky Keeper.
"Wait... they're being launched?!" Exclaimed Clown. The five targeting boxes appeared to the left of me, spiraling through the air before splitting off in a star pattern.
"Are we cleared to attack?" I asked.
"You're cleared to engage, they're probably hostile," chimed Sky Keeper. The targeting boxes were updated, and we all disengaged the retreating MiG's to focus on the new threat.
"Judging by the way they look and move, they've gotta be drones," groaned Clown. The new fighters were extremely agile, and I was having trouble maintaining a lock as I chased after one.
"We'll spotted Clown, no doubt about it. We're dealing with UAV's," confirmed Knocker. "But that doesn't change a thing, just think of them as somewhat clever decoys." Finally he said something useful on this mission.
"Jesus, just hold still!" I growled as I chased my contact.
"Take'em all down!" Ordered Knocker. Aye aye Captain Obvious. "These drones have great agility. All aircraft, you know what high-G turns are right? Use'em!" Jeez, it's like he thinks we've never fought in a dogfight before.
"On my target's tail. Sonuvabitch won't let me have a solid lock," I announced.
"HQ this is Golem 1, bandits are confirmed as UAV's," said Knocker. "Repeat, bandits are drones." There was a moment of silence as we continued chasing after these drones.
"Golem 1, that doesn't matter. Destroy all enemy fighters and get out," ordered HQ.
"It doesn't matter?!" Exclaimed Knocker.
"He's saying 'the war can change in an instant. Get over it'," paraphrased Clown.
"Yeah, I just wish they'd give us a bit more warning," groaned Knocker. I watched as the lock-on system continued to try and lock onto the drone, now listed as MQ-99 on my HUD, to no avail.
"You know what, Fuck this! Switching to my SASM's," I snapped. With a flick of the switch my lock-on system changed, and I had the drone dead to rights.
"Fox 3, Fox 3," announced Sky Keeper as I fired my SASM. The missile got within range of the target, but detonated right behind the turning drone. A second missile was all it took to bring the drone to the ground.
"Enemy UAV confirmed destroyed! Hell yeah!" Cheered Clown, but almost mutedly.
"Golem Squadron, you're not gonna let Mage get all the glory, are you?" Challenged Knocker. I swiftly found my next target, and fired a single SASM. The drone exploded in midair as the missile connected.
"Three enemies to go!" Announced Brownie.
"Golem 2, the enemy is reading you," warned Knocker.
"Understood!" Confirmed Brownie.
"Golem 2, I'll take care of that," I announced.
"I'm buying dinner for anyone who takes down an enemy!" Challenged Knocker.
"There is a bar I want to try," said Brownie
"You're doing good," praised Knocker. Brownie managed to get the drone flying in a predictable enough arc for me to open up with my gun, and I ripped that drone apart with a stream of bullets.
"Just two more," announced Clown.
"So drones don't feel G-force, huh?" Piped up Boggard.
"Holy shit Boggard, I forgot you were even here!" I joked. A blare brought me back to focus on the fourth MQ-99 overshooting past me. It didn't take long for my missiles to turn the flying robot into a falling scrap heap.
"One to go! Let's get through this without any casualties," said Sky Keeper. The last drone dived into the clouds, and I was right on its ass.
"Brownie, back me up in here," I asked. I looked back to see her F/A-18 form up on my wing. The targeting box was all I had to see where the drone was going. As I chased my target, a frost started forming on my jet canopy.
"Crap, the aircraft is icing up. I'm getting a warning," announced Brownie.
"Get out of the clouds and the ice'll melt," assured Knocker.
"Sorry Trigger, I'll have to watch your back with radar," she said before breaking off. I finally managed to get a lock on my target, but the missile I fired didn't connect or even detonate.
"Missile evaded," notified Sky Keeper.
"How the hell did I miss?! I had it by the balls!" I grumbled.
"Clouds are screwing with the accuracy," Clown reminded me. I gritted my teeth and punched the throttle forward. The ice continued forming on my canopy, but I knew this drone wasn't going to leave these clouds unless I shot it down, or it could get behind me. With the warning blaring in my ears I managed to get close to the targeting box, a reticle for my machine gun appearing with it. I line up my shot as the drone continued to zip through the clouds.
"Guns guns guns!" I announced, firing my machine gun. I couldn't even see the bullets in the sky, but I made out the bright glow of the drone exploding as my gun ripped it apart.
"Nice kill Trigger! Enemy aircraft confirmed down!" Cheered Brownie. I pulled straight up, and broke out of the clouds. The frost quickly melted away from my cockpit and I had clear vision once more.
"The skies are clear, nice job everyone. Mission complete, RTB," praised and ordered Sky Keeper. I clapped my hands a few times as I flicked on the autopilot. I tore off my breather mask and flicked up my visor. God it was so uncomfortable wearing those in dogfights, but the constant targeting info and the pure oxygen far outweighed my comfort in a fight.
"No casualties. We couldn't have done any better. Returning to base," confirmed Knocker.
"I don't know, maybe the bandits we took down caused civilian casualties?" Brownie brought up, concern drenching her voice.
"No point arguing, that's how war is these days," jabbed Clown. I could now tell I wasn't the only one still irked by Knockers earlier statement.
"You shoot, someone gets killed," Knocker bluntly explained. "The guys in charge take care of the rest." I'd never understand why Knocker was like this today, but no one really brought it up as we began the long flight back to Fort Grays Island.