E-II

Operation: Shutter Eye

Location: Rigley Air Base, Erusia

Time: 0600

A few days had passed since the bombing attack on Sand Island. Now, in the early hours of the morning, Blaze sat within the cockpit of an F-4 Phantom flying over the Erusian Mainland. In formation with him were three other F-4s. Flying just below them was a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, alongside an E-3 Sentry AWACS.

“Blaze, this is AWACS, call sign SkyEye. Until the end of this operation, you will be called Echo Lead. Your wingmen will be Echo 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Lower your altitude and prepare for refueling.”

Blaze brought his F-4 down and just behind the C-130 and lined up with the drogue to begin the refueling procedure.

“We’ll go over your objectives once more. Aside from carrying extra fuel for the operation, the C-130 is carrying two MQ-1 Predator UAV.s. Your purpose in this mission is to protect the C-130 Hercules, our E-3 Sentry, and the UAVs once they are launched. We are in restricted airspace, so if the enemy detects us, it is up to you and Echo Squadron to protect us. The purpose of this mission is to try and confirm that the TU-95’s that bombed Sand Island are in the same detachment bought by ISAF. Okay, we’re approaching Rigley Air Base. Try and stay close to the E-3 to avoid detection.”

Blaze detached from the drogue and reformed into the diamond formation with the other three F-4s.

“This is C-130, call sign Remote One; preparing to launch UAVs.”

“Conditions clear, launch when ready Remote One.”

Blaze watched through the cockpit as the two MQ-1s detached from the C-130 and rocketed downward to recon the airbase. Suddenly, enemy chatter sounded from the comm.

“Uhh…Command, this is Control Tower. We’re having some…uhhhh….radar problems.”

“This is Command, we’re checking into it.”

The comm. crackled between communications as Blaze kept an eye on the drones below. A warning light started shining in his cockpit before Sky Eye broke through on the channel.

“Echo Squadron, we have two confirmed Mirage 2000s on radar. So far they are blind but may have a visual if they get any closer. Be prepared for combat.”

“Patrol flight, we are having radar problems.” Command from the air base cut in. “Make…” Static cut off his voice for a moment, before the voice from the Control Tower cut in.

“Command! We just saw two drone aircraft! Uhh…uhh…we should do something about those!”

“Confirmed visual on two unidentified UAVs. Patrol Flight, engage and destroy those drones!”

“Echo Squadron, this is Sky Eye. We have to protect those drones. If they don’t make it back to dock with Remote One, all the data they’ve collected will be lost. You have permission to fire on anything endangering the UAVs.”

“Echo 3 and 4, stay with AWACS and Remote One. Echo 2, stay with me.”

Blaze broke out of formation and Echo 2 stayed just to the left of him as they approached the drones.

“This is Patrol Flight. We have confirmed visual on four F-4s flying with what looks like an AWACS craft and a C-130. Orders?”

“Patrol, engage the drones and destroy them. We will launch other fighters to assist in combat against the F-4s.”

“Echo Squadron,” AWACS began, “the drones are almost done. Two more passes should do it. Make sure they don’t get blown to bits!”

Blaze brought his F-4 behind the two Mirages and armed his M-61 Gatling Gun. He adjusted his flight path as did Echo 2, tryng to line up the enemy in his targeting reticule.

“They’re behind us! Dodge! Dodge! Dodge!” The enemy screamed.

Both Mirages stopped following the drones and juked to the left, trying to stay out of danger from the F-4s behind them.

“Lead, look below! More Mirages are getting airborne!” Echo 2 shouted.

Blaze continued to concentrate on the more direct threat in front of him. He pitched his plane to follow the Mirages, but both began a vertical climb. As he followed, Sky Eye came over the radio.

“Echo Squadron, multiple Mirage-2000s are now airborne and converging on us. We are withdrawing the drones with what they’ve already collected. Disengage and protect our aircraft as we withdraw from the area.

Both Blaze and his wingman preformed a downward Immelman turn and hit the afterburners to shoot ahead and rejoin Sky Eye and Remote One. They rejoined the larger planes just in time to see the UAVs returning to the C-130.

Six Mirage-2000s joined in formation behind the now regrouped F-4s and began firing their 30mm DEFA cannons.

All four F-4s broke off in separate directions to try and evade the fire from the pursuing Mirages.

“We are on the run now, Echos! You are not to fire on the enemy! We have already violated their airspace, let’s not add to that by commiting acts of aggression!” SkyEye shouted.

“This is Echo 3, I can’t shake him!”

Blaze brought his aircraft around and dove below Echo 3 and the Mirage behind him.

“Echos, you are no longer cleared to engage the enemy! Do not, I repeat, do NOT fire on them!”

“If we don’t Echo 3 is dead!” Echo 4 shouted back.

“Use evasive tactics and do NOT fire Echos!” SkyEye reconfirmed.

Blaze brought the Mirage into his cannon reticule and moved his thumb over the trigger. He was just about to fire when the Mirage quickly dove down and reversed course back towards Rigley. The other five followed their ally and flew away from the retreating Osea forces.

“All enemies no factor. Good job Echo Squadron; all aircraft and UAVs still intact. Back to St. Hewlett Naval Base.”

Back at St. Hewlett, Blaze sat in the conference room to receive his debriefing.

“All aircraft made it back with no damage and aside from the enemy attack; the mission was a complete success. Hopefully they did not identify us, though it is wholly possible that they did. In any case, the MQ-1s contents are being analyzed and if it is confirmed that the TU-95s you shot down were from that air base, we will most likely have a war between Osea and Erusia on our hands. You are dismissed for now, but you’ll be on standby for emergency operations. Keep alert.”

Abbreviations:

AO: Area of Operation

AWACS: Airborne Warning and Control System

UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

ISAF: International State Allied Forces