CH.3

“We are Southeast of the carrier and directly on course,” Roy said over the intercom as we continued East a way from land and the carrier, “Hey Jean, you see any thing out there?”

“Well,” I said scanning the horizon, “I see ocean, a bird, and a giant floating margarita.”

“Yeah, I wish” said NUC. I looked over at him and his Copilot. Johnson, NUC’s Copilot, was a rookie. Never seen action and straight from the academy. “Hey, Johnny boy, you all right back there?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, just a little nervous,” he said with a hint of fear in his voice, “This is my first mission after all.”

“Yup I know how you feel. On my first mission I got shot down and had to be picked up,” Giggles said with a smile, “but don’t worry, this is a patrol mission, what could happen?” And I guess the phrase ‘what could happen’ is the ultimate jinks because at that moment Roy’s radar screen began screaming.

“All right Jean we got company,” Roy yelled, “I read five, repeat five targets.”

“Oh shit! All right you guys we’ve got company, Giggles! Call the carrier, tell them our position and situation!” I Yelled as I begun to adjust our course to meet the new threat.

“Already on it Jean, you two go in for the interception I’ll stay in range and get the message across!”

“Got it, NUC lets go.” I said as I started a left dive for the interception.

“Following.” He spat out as he in turn took a left dive to land right behind me. We traveled on for a minute as the radar dots continued to come closer.

Then at four thousand and fifty feet Roy yelled, “Their close now, look out.”

“Which side they coming on?” I asked as I booted up my weapon systems. The F-59 was the top of the notch fighter and it had seven different weapon systems; three of which were for dog fighting. The three systems were the short-distance missiles, the IR-missiles, and the advanced chain gun. “And how fast are they going?”

Looking at his radar screen Roy said, “They’ll be on our left and they’re going Mach one.”

“MACH ONE! And your sure they intercepting?” I asked as I checked my instruments to make sure that weapons had successfully booted up.

“Uh yeah, there headed right for us.” Roy said.

“NUC you hearing this?” I asked.

“Alright then, I think a change in speed is in order.”

“NO you don’t,” Roy yelled, “We are not going Mach!”

“And why not? They are, and they’re heading right for us. I’m taking it, you with me NUC?” I said as I started the calculations for mach one.

“I guess so,” he said with an uneasy tone, “You gonna be okay back there Johnson?”

“Yeah I guess, how long will we be at Mach one?” He asked as me and NUC accelerated to our new speed.

“We should only be in it for a second and then we’ll have to break off for the interception, that cool?” NUC yelled over his engines.

“Not like I have a choice in the matter, I don’t really like going Mach.”

“Well at the moment Jean is in charge and he’s choosing to go to Mach.”

“All right we’re coming to the targets,” I yelled as they rocketed by, “Holy shit, here comes their sound barrier.” I said while bracing myself. It hit us and my ears popped. Turning to intercept I saw the fighters had already turned to intercept us, “Holy shit they turned before the shock wave, how did they do that?”

“I have no idea, but that’s not that we should be worrying about right now, they’ve decelerated and will have missile lock in a few seconds.” Roy yelled as we continued our turn.

“Not on my watch, NUC break and let’s dogfight. They are hostile, I repeat they are hostile!”

“Got it Jean, breaking and moving in, I got the guy on the left.”

“And I got the guy on the right, go!” We both slowed and took some evasive maneuvering. NUC broke right and came at him with a turning dive. I broke left, pulled up, spun, and began to chase one of them. “I’ve got missile lock, firing.” The missile shot out from my plane and hammered the target. “Yeah hoo! Got one!”

“Look out Jean, you’ve got two on your tail!” NUC called in on the intercom.

“Got it, Roy! Where are they?” I said as I flipped the aircraft up and dove.

Turned in his seat Roy was looking, “Got one off to the left, coming up fast, and the other is…above us, jean he’s firing move!” Banking off hard to the left I gunned the throttle and continued on the dive. “He over shot we’re good he’s disengaged now our chance, Jean, get the greedy little bastard!”

Using rudder I swung to the right and engaged him. Following his poor maneuvering skills I got the lock. “Lock on, Firing two.” Pulling the trigger a second missile was away. Another hit. “Yeah! Scratch two. NUC where are ya?”

“Right behind ya, I got two as well, where’d three go?”

Checking the radar Roy said, “He’s not on my scopes, John, you got anything?”

“Yeah I don’t have him either.” Johnson replied

Wiping sweat from my brow I took a few deep breathes and relaxed. “Well that’s a good sign. But where did they some from? Did any of you guys catch the markings on those planes?”

“Yeah,” NUC announced, “They were Balarian.”

“Balarian?” Johnson asked, “What are they doing this far North? I’ve never heard, let alone seen, an engagement up here. It’s just irrational.”

“Well kid in war nothing is rational.” I answered. “Let’s finish up our sweep and head back to the carrier. I’m hungry.”

“Jean,” Roy said. “Your always hungry.” And we all shared a laugh.