Session 02. Operation Emergent Dawn - Easy.

14[20:14] <Valetni> In two loose, ragged formations you rumble across the sky towards the battlespace. From up here, the ground blurs into one featureless patchwork of greens and yellows, as yet unscarred by the flames of war.
14[20:14] <Valetni> “Clover Flight, Basilisk Flight, this is AWACS Spirit Guide. I look forward to working with you.” A cheerful woman’s voice breaks in over your radios.
14[20:14] <Valetni> “I have an updated sit-rep for you. Enemy interceptor’s confirmed to be MiG-23 Floggers. Watch out, those are variable geometry fighters, they’re more maneuverable than they look at slow speed.” Spirit Guide advises with concern in her voice.

[20:16] <Drider_1-2> "Thanks for the warning AWACS, we'll show them who owns these skies."
[20:17] <Frostbite_1-3>"Drider how should we proceed?"
[20:18] <Avalanche_1-4___> "My best option to engage is a joust. It's probably best if I engage the interceptors before focusing on ground targets."
[20:19] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Ivan concerned about his flight lead's absence from the radio chatter turns on his radio. "What's the matter Basilisk-1? Nervous?"
[20:19] <Drider_1-2> "My thoughts exactly, Frostbite, we need to clear the way for Avalanche."
[20:20] <Bayshiftermobile> Quentin smiles a bit before saying "Kind of. Just a little rush, ya know."
[20:21] <Patchwork_2-4> Magpie lets out a croaking laugh. "Let us return these knaves to the clay they sprung from, yes? Less interceptors mean more room for bombing!"
[20:22] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Good to hear from you. Being nervous is natural but don't let it get in the way of your decisionmaking. If you hesitate to make a decision for just a second you can lose any entire flight."
[20:23] <BabaYaga_2-2> "As long as he doesn't get too far ahead of us, he should be fine. Watch your thrust, Basilisk 1, that Phantom's faster than it looks. And don't worry, we'll do fine. Just watch your six and stay in the air. We're here to cover you."
[20:23] <Patchwork_2-4> "I must agree with Two-Three. Fly with your heart and your guts and you will do fine. Fear is natural, embrace it."
[20:23] <Frostbite_1-3> "Remember to keep a high altitude if you plan on engaging the fighters near any anti-air."
[20:24] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Hey Basilisk-2 don't lose sight of your wingman. Don't try anything reckless. I'll be in the back cover Basilisk-4."
[20:24] <Bayshiftermobile> "Roger that. Anyways, good to see you as our 4th Patchwork, hope to see us all perform well. Let's do this"

[20:25] <Avalanche_1-4___> "Bandits coming in at 12"
[20:26] <Patchwork_2-4> "We have contacts at our twelve, flight."
[20:26] <Drider_1-2> "Alright clover keep ypur eyes peeled and follow my lead."
[20:26] <Bayshiftermobile> "Got them on radar"
[20:26] <Frostbite_1-3> "How many contacts Avalanche?"
[20:28] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Roger, lead. Going weapons hot."
[20:28] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Slowly pulling back on the stick Ivan radios his wingman, "Hey, Patchwork, let's pull up a bit take them from above."
[20:29] <Bayshiftermobile> "Basilisk 1 to Clover Flight, can't make them out, got faint signatures"
[20:29] <Avalanche_1-4> "I've got at least two, maybe more"
[20:30] <Drider_1-2> "Let's not fight over targets, Bailisk, we'll each take one"
[20:30] <Frostbite_1-3> "Roger that Drider."
[20:30] <Patchwork_2-4> "Acknowledged Eagleclaw, engaging on your lead."
[20:31] <Bayshiftermobile> "Roger that"
[20:31] <Avalanche_1-4> "I meant on radar, not that I'm engaging."
[20:32] <Patchwork_2-4> "Bets on what the bogies might be?" There is a faint jangling of coin, and more of Magpie's croaking laugh after he says this.
[20:32] <Avalanche_1-4> "AIWACS said MiG 23's, right?"
[20:33] <Avalanche_1-4> "I'd bet on that"

[20:33] <Drider_1-2> "Clover team, let's kill that second contact, follow my lead."
[20:33] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Migs, huh. I know how to deal with them," Ivan says confidently.
[20:34] <Frostbite_1-3> "Roger that Drider, preparing to engage."
[20:36] <Avalanche_1-4> "dropping in with drider. Should I increase to joust speed?"
[20:36] <Patchwork_2-4> "I wonder how a Snakeye from above would treat a Flogger?"
[20:37] <BabaYaga_2-2> "On your wing, lead. Keep your eyes open and get ready to break if they engage."
[20:37] <Drider_1-2> "Eagleclaw, let's show this guy we mean business, one missile from each of us should do the trick."
[20:38] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Copy that, Drider. Just waiting for tone."
[20:38] <Frostbite_1-3> "Drider we have only so many missiles, we should take our chance on the pass."
[20:38] <Frostbite_1-3> "Rockets, however..."
[20:39] <Drider_1-2> "Yeah, good luck with that."
[20:39] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Eagleclaw increasing speed to engage. Patchwork keep up if you can."
[20:40] <Avalanche_1-4> "Engaging, increasing speed."
[20:40] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Just gotta get a bit closer."
[20:40] <Drider_1-2> "Take a shot if you get tone, Avalanche"
[20:41] <Patchwork_2-4> "Confirming targets on radar still, increasing speed to match Eagleclaw for support, both armed and emotional."
[20:42] <Bayshiftermobile> "Be careful pilots..."
[20:43] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Don't worry flight lead. I'm very careful. I'm not Sascha."
[20:44] <Patchwork_2-4> "I have yet to have enough fun to allow myself to die yet, worry not!"
[20:44] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Patchwork when you get tone go for it."
[20:44] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Says the one charging ahead! Worry less about me and more about yourself, old man.
[20:45] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "I'll show you what an old man can do, little girl. Watch and learn."

[20:46] <Patchwork_2-4> "Patchwork, sending loving regards to the bogie." With a roar, Patchwork fires a missile, a faint bit of croaking laughter coming through the radio as he does.
[20:46] <Bayshiftermobile> "Clover, Basilisk flight, engage!"
[20:47] <Avalanche_1-4> "Avalanche, Fox Two!"
[20:47] <Avalanche_1-4> I fire my missile
[20:47] <Avalanche_1-4> with uh, resolve
[20:47] <Drider_1-2> "Good shot Avalanche, he'll never see it coming."
[20:48] <Patchwork_2-4> "Even if he sees it coming, he will probably soil himself!"
[20:48] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Don't underestimate your enemy. These aren't amateurs we're dealing with."
[20:49] <Drider_1-2> "Keep an eye out for additional contacts."
[20:49] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Keep watching your radar, lead," Sascha comments while pointedly ignoring Ivan's comment, "We need to find the ground targets to clear out any anti-air fire while they're busy engaging. They couldn't have gotten this far with just two planes."

[20:49] <Valetni> In the distance, amid blue skies, you see a flash of black and orange, connected by a control of white from your flight to the lead MiG-23. One target blinks off the radar.
[20:50] <Valetni> "That's a confirmed kill for avalanche!" Spirit Guide excitedly informs you.

[20:51] <Drider_1-2> "Nicely done Avalanche, you've earned yourself a drink when we get back."
[20:51] <Patchwork_2-4> "Nicely done Avalanche, you can buy us all a drink when we get back."
[20:51] <Frostbite_1-3> "We still have one left. Take him out."

[20:52] <Valetni> The other MiG-23 kicks out a line of flares, and violently jinks out of the way of the missile, ending up at a right angle to the incoming MiG-21s.

[20:52] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Don't let them hog all the glory, old man."
[20:52] <Bayshiftermobile> "Nice one, got no contact on armored column yet, continue to engage the remaining mig"
[20:52] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Patience, Sascha. Give me time."
[20:53] <Drider_1-2> "This guy might actually have time to shit his flightsuit..."

[20:54] <Avalanche_1-4> "He had to kill his speed to dodge that last shot. Broadside him!"
[20:55] <Patchwork_2-4> "Enjoy your duty, but try not to toy with the enemy too much. A beast backed into a corner might reveal fangs."
[20:56] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Patchwork I need to get a bit closer for tone. Try not to take all the kills."

[20:58] <Bayshiftermobile> Quentin lost control of his radio for a moment. Fiddling with it, he got it working again."Slight radio malfunction, it's back on"
[20:58] <Drider_1-2> "Let's light this guy up, Frostbite"
[20:58] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Stay with us flight lead. I'm trying to get a bit closer for tone. Remember that I am flying a classic."
[20:58] <Patchwork_2-4> "I'll keep you covered, Eagleclaw. Bad goes to worse I should warn you that in the event I need to shoot you out of your cockpit in some bizarre scenario, that I only have bombs and missiles."
[21:00] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Don't worry, I'm more than willing to take that chance."
[21:01] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "You're breaking up, Sascha. Say again?"
[21:02] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Eyes on the bogey, Basilisk 3. One fight at a time."
[21:04] <Patchwork_2-4> "You two are adorable. You will have interesting children after this conflict is over, I suspect."

[21:04] <Eagleclaw_2-3> With his finger on the trigger, "Okay I got this. Firing guns."
[21:10] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "See, little girl? Engaging from this distance is useless. Understand?"
[21:11] <Avalanche_1-4> "I don't"
[21:11] <Frostbite_1-3> Seeing the opportunity in front of him, Frostbite fires his guns at the enemy fighter.
[21:12] <BabaYaga_2-2> "I understand you're a crap shot old man, nothing more. Try to actually hit him before he gets any shots off."
[21:14] <Drider_1-2> Narrowing his eyes as the bogey enters the reticle, Drider pulls the trigger.

14[21:16] <Valetni> The remaining MiG-23 lights its afterburner, wings tight against its body, dropping low as it attempts to egress the area at low altitude and blend into the ground clutter.

[21:17] <Drider_1-2> "Anyone got eyes on him? Don't let him get away!"
[21:17] <Patchwork_2-4> "It dropped quite low. Should I drop a bomb perhaps?"

14[21:17] <Valetni> "I've lost him, you guys will need to get a visual on him." Spirit Guide says with no small amount of frustration.

[21:18] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "You're crazy if you think that'll work, Patchwork."
[21:18] <Avalanche_1-4> "I'll try and keep an eye on him"
[21:19] <Frostbite_1-3> "That plane is no longer a factor. We should keep lookout for others targets Drider."
[21:19] <Bayshiftermobile> "Don't see him,"
[21:19] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Keep an eye to your radar, lead, don't let him sneak up on you. I'll keep watch too, but you've got better radar than me."
[21:19] <Drider_1-2> "All right Frostbite, let's get back to Avalanche"
[21:20] <Frostbite_1-3> "Roger that."
[21:22] <Patchwork_2-4> "To be fair, Belkan aerial training makes a point to teach you to use every weapon at your disposal to eliminate targets. So I suppose I am not crazy, just Belkan." Croaking laughter as usual can be faintly heard for a moment.
[21:22] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Hey Sascha why don't you pursue that MiG with me while Bay and Patch bomb the targets. I'll teach you to fly."

14[21:23] <Valetni> "This is Sabretooth, we are under heavy attack. Multiple tanks advancing on our position, request urgent support over." A plaintive voice breaks in, young and just on the verge of panicing. "The Captain's dead and we can't hold them much longer, we're out of AT weapons."

[21:23] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "The F-4s have enough missiles to deal with any close targets."
[21:24] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha glances over at the lead plane warily, reluctant to leave her wingman. "It's your call, lead. Should I break off and engage?"
[21:24] <Drider_1-2> "Sabretooth, this is Clover Flight, we're en route, hang in there buddy."

14[21:25] <Valetni> An explosion cuts through the channel, leaving you with nothing but ambient noise for a few seconds, men shouting, the rattle of machine guns. "They have a whole depot there, I don't care if you need to get a Humvee, drive there and get them, we're dying here!" You hear the same voice shouting to someone in the background.

[21:25] <Bayshiftermobile> Quentin quickly thinks about it "Go ahead, I'm headed in with patchwork"
[21:26] <Avalanche_1-4> "I'll try and keep an eye on my radar for if that MiG 23 appears again"
[21:26] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha hesitates a moment, but nods. "Roger, lead. Go support Sabertooth, we'll handle the interceptor. Clover flight, they're in your care!"
[21:26] <Patchwork_2-4> "Sabertooth, if you can hear us - help is on the way. Explosive help. Suggesting you duck and cover, yes?"
[21:27] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Patch go with flight lead. Don't scare him too much he's just a kid."
[21:29] <Patchwork_2-4> "You would have to have Lead tell me to pull away from this one, Eagle. An excuse to both bomb targets, and protect allies - the best of both worlds!"
[21:32] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Alright get it in gear," Ivan says as he begins to lower altitude to chase the escaping MiG.
[21:33] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha breaks out of formation and kicks her afterburners into full burn to chase after the enemy plane. The ride's rough - the plane's not exactly pristine - but it holds. Not that it seems to be doing any good. "He's pulling away!"
[21:34] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Don't fly too low, Sascha. Don't want to mail your remains back home to the motherland."
[21:37] <Patchwork_2-4> "Good hunting Two Two, Two Three."
[21:37] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Remind me to tell you how much clearance it takes to fly a crop duster through an open barn, after you're done talking to me about flying too low. Keep focused. Basilisk 1 and 4, keep safe."
[21:38] <Bayshiftermobile> "Same goes to you two, watch out"

[21:39] <Valetni> The rest of the flights, minus BabaYaga and Eagleclaw, point their noses to the northwest, heading towards the Ground targets.
[21:41] <Valetni> "I've got something else on radar!" Spirit guide exclaims. "It looks like a ground attack aircraft of some kind. It's coming in low and slow right for Sabretooth!"

[21:41] <Avalanche_1-4> "I'm speeding up to engage."
[21:42] <Drider_1-2> "Frostbite and I can handle this avalanche, you worry about the ground targets."
[21:42] <Patchwork_2-4> "Hoffnung, friends. Keep it in your hearts, and let your bombs rain on the enemy."
[21:43] <Avalanche_1-4> "alright, focusing on ground targets."
[21:44] <Frostbite_1-3> "Let's go Drider."

[21:44] <Valetni> Finally you get close enough top get a good visual on forces engaged. Sabretooth appears to be little more than a mechanized infantry platoon, the debris of burning APCs litter the field as the dismounted infantry puts up what little resistance they can.
[21:46] <Valetni> The Belkan forces are grouped into several distinct units. 3 tanks and a SPAAG are closest to you, in a rough diamond formation with the SPAAG in the rear. North of them three more tanks advance in a chevron formation. Further North of them is a mirror image of the first formation. To the west is a final formation, presumably the command formation, of 3 tanks and a SAM.

[21:47] <Patchwork_2-4> "I will approach the SAM, unless anyone has issues with that. And by that, I mean unless Lead tells me not to engage the target."
[21:48] <Avalanche_1-4> "I'll hit the closest targets"
[21:48] <Bayshiftermobile> "No, I agree, engage the SAM, I will take the SPAAG of the second formation"
[21:48] <Frostbite_1-3> "Get rid of that anti-air Avalance."
[21:49] <Avalanche_1-4> "Alright, moving in to engage"
[21:50] <Drider_1-2> "You have my blessing, Avalanche."
[21:50] <Patchwork_2-4> "Drider, Frostbite - any luck on your end?"
[21:51] <Drider_1-2> "We're gonna take out this attacker before it can do any more damage."
[21:52] <Frostbite_1-3> "Right, moving to engage."
[21:52] <Patchwork_2-4> "Clip the wings of that vulture, make it bleed and burn."



Meanwhile...
[21:38] <@Valetni> The two of you thunder along at highspeed, redlining your engines as you try and keep up with a plane that literally replaced the ones you are flying.
[21:39] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Keep on him. We can do it."
[21:41] <BabaYaga_2-2> "This is foolish. These heaps will explode before we catch up to him, Eagleclaw." Despite her words, she's pushing her plane as fast as it'll go, hands holding the controls in a white knuckle grip.

[21:42] <@Valetni> Ahead of you, the MiG-23 cuts out its afterburners once it has opened up enough distance from the two of you. Perhaps more confident of the odds, the pilot hauls back on the stick and then rolling out. The two of you are now heading for a head on pass at short range.

[21:42] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "You don't know what we used to make these 'heaps' do in the old days. We used what we had and we made it work. So if you're a true ace then make it work!"
[21:44] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Now's our chance. Use your gun and send lead straight out. He'll cross through our fire destroying his canopy."
[21:46] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha rolls her eyes heavily at the "old days" remark, but tries to think of a way to make it work all the same. "Well, speed isn't something we have, so we need to work with something else. Maybe-" She's interrupted by the enemy plane about-facing, and immediately her finger hovers over the trigger. Faced with an encoming enemy, she's all business. "Roger that. Weapons hot."
[21:47] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Fire!" Ivan pulls the trigger.
[21:47] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Guns firing!" Sascha does the same.

[21:49] <@Valetni> The MiG-23s nose erupts in flame as a stream of tracers fly past BabaYaga's cockpit without finding their mark.

[21:50] <Eagleclaw_2-3> With his finger on the trigger Ivan gets flashbacks. All shots missing he lets go of the trigger. He remains silent and begins to slow down flying erratically.

[21:54] <@Valetni> As you pass, the MiG-23 trails a thin stream of of grey smoke from the right side of its fuselage where BabaYaga stitched a line of shells.
[21:55] <@Valetni> As you watch, the large wings swing forward, suddenly providing it with a great deal of lift as it bleeds speed and attempts to bring its nose around for another pass.

[21:56] <BabaYaga_2-2> "I got him," Sascha exclaims, just before the delayed reaction of just barely avoiding a hit herself sets in and sends a cold shudder down her spine. As her plane screams past the other, she turns to check for damage and notices her ally breaking off. "Basilisk 3, are you hit? Ivan! He's still in the air, stay focused!" As she shouts this, she pulls back the thrust and tries to get her
[21:56] <BabaYaga_2-2> plane to turn about for another pass, praying she can make it without stalling out.
[21:57] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Ivan still out of it remains silent and doesn't get into formation for another pass. His flight pattern still seems strange.
[21:59] <BabaYaga_2-2> "IVAN!" Sascha curses in Yuktobanian, and goes for a broad turn past the enemy plane. She'll never manage a direct approach but she can at least draw his attention and get him flying after her and away from the other plane. "Come and get me, bastard! Let's see how you move!"
[22:00] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Ivan sits there silent. Remembering the past he just realized what a horrible decision breaking off from the group was. All so he can prove he stills has what it takes and get a kill. He put two lives in danger just to prove himself. "Uhh.. yeah," he finally answers.

[22:01] <@Valetni> The MiG-23 goes for the easy target, trying to line up on Eagleclaw. The sole remaining missile on the plane leaps towards Basilisk 3 before it turns to pursue the small plane that flashed in front of it.

[22:02] <BabaYaga_2-2> "BASILISK 3, BREAK!"
[22:03] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Shit! Evading!"

14[22:03] <@Valetni> Your threat warning receiver blares at you as it detects the incoming missile.

[22:07] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "It's no good! I can't evade!"

14[22:08] <@Valetni> The missile tucks in close under the right wing before exploding only a few feet away, peppering that entire side of the fuselage with shrapnel. Warning lights immediately start going off.

[22:09] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "I'm hi-" The radio cuts to static.
[22:10] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Shaking the stick Ivan tries to regain control.
[22:11] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Basilisk 3! Ivan! Respond, damn it!" Nothing. "SHIT!" Sascha punches the thrust to full, trying to take the enemy plane low to the ground in an effort to shake him enough to get room for another turn. It's a desperate act, but it's all she's got.
[22:12] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Ivan unable to get his radio back online regains control and turns the MiG around. "Alright this one is for all my comrades. I have one shot. If I miss I'll join you all soon," Ivan says to himself.
[22:27] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Ivan takes a deep breath, levels his plane, and tries to get tone on the enemy MiG. Still radio silent.
[22:28] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha banks and twists, taking the other MiG in a winding path to try and fool him into a feint. The plane shakes, but her hands are steady. Finally, she breaks sharply to the side and pulls the thrust back just enough to watch the enemy plane shoot off in the wrong direction, and she immediately pushes it back up to put some distance between herself and the enemy.

[22:30] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Ivan gets missile lock. Closing his eyes he sees those familiar faces again. He fires off two missiles.
[22:35] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Taking a deep breath Ivan opens his eyes to see the fireball of the MiG crash to the ground. He proceeds to get his radio back online.
[22:36] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Static comes over the radio followed by a familiar voice, "I'm not dead yet, little girl."
[22:40] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Ivan!" Sascha shouts incredulously, watching her former pursuer crash and burn. She's almost too stunned for words, before a string of them come out in quick succession. Most of them are in Yuktobanian and are generally unfit for polite company, but finally she says "You owe me a goddamned drink after that, old man! I thought you'd had a damn heart attack in the air."
[22:41] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Are you even old enough for that, young lady? Yeah sorry for the scare I don't know what happened there. My mind went somewhere else. Lost myself for a bit."

[22:43] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha's radio is quite for a while, but finally she pops back in. "Your plane looks like even more of a heap than it was before. You should probably go ahead back to base - you're in no shape to stay in the fight."
[22:45] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Oh I've had worse." Ivan feels the maneuverability of his plane has decreased significantly and it is much harder to hold level. "But maybe you might be right. These interceptors had us outclassed. It was hard enough taking them on. Taking them on with damage like this is suicide."
[22:53] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Agreed. the way back should be clear. I'll form back up with the others in the meantime. Think you can make it to base alone?"
[22:55] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "I'll be fine. Inform flight lead of my situation. Be careful up there and don't make any short sighted decisions. Don't get ahead of yourself and plan out every move before you make it. Basilisk-3 RTB." Ivan turns his crippled jet around and flies off into the distance.
[22:59] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha allows herself one last glance at the wounded plane before turning the other way to join up with the rest of her flight.


Back at the main event...
14[22:10] <Valetni> "Eagleclaw's been hit!" Spirit Guide all but shouts over the radio.

[22:11] <Patchwork_2-4> "Can he still fly, Spirit Guide? If so we shall worry about him later."
[22:11] <Drider_1-2> "Damn! Is he gonna make it?"
[22:12] <Bayshiftermobile> "Hope he does, he's a combat vet, right"
[22:12] <Patchwork_2-4> "Focus Drider! You and Avalanche have the lives of those men on the line, annihilate your target and worry about the rest later, yes?"
[22:13] <Drider_1-2> "Roger, make sure he gets back in one piece, you hear me?"
[22:14] <Frostbite_1-3> "Drider focus on the enemy in front of us. We can't do anything for Eagleclaw now."
[22:15] <Drider_1-2> "I'm focused Frostbite, just concerned for my fellow flight."
[22:17] <Patchwork_2-4> "Eagle would probably chew you out for worrying in the heart of battle."
[22:23] <Avalanche_1-4> "SPAAG and a tank are down, trashed the other two shots."
[22:24] <Drider_1-2> "50/50, pretty good odds I guess."
[22:25] <Frostbite_1-3> "Good job on taking out that SPAAG."

14[22:25] <Valetni> A triple staccato of explosions follow in the wake of the F-4C as it screams along at treetop level. Behind Avalanche the SPAAG and a single tank explode in the fireball of a 500lb bomb.

[22:27] <Bayshiftermobile> "Good kill, 1 SPAAG and SAM left,"
[22:52] <Patchwork_2-4> "Bombs away. Do not expect any survivors."

14[22:56] <Valetni> A trio of expertly placed bombs erupt evenly between the four parked vehicles, destroying them all.

[22:59] <Patchwork_2-4> "Three tanks, one SAM down. Think we can eliminate the tanks advancing toward Sabertooth?"
[23:03] <Avalanche_1-4> "yeah, I'll get them on the turn around"
[23:10] <Frostbite_1-3> "Lock are target. Fox 2! Fox 2!"
[23:12] <Drider_1-2> "It looks good Frostbite!"

14[23:13] <Valetni> Two missiles leap our from under Clover-3s plane, streaking towards the unsuspecting ground attack aircraft. The pilot barely has time to pop flares, ineffective as they are, before the missiles crash into his plane, sending it plummeting to the ground in an expanding fireball of metal, avgas, and pilot.

[23:14] <Avalanche_1-4> "Nice kill!"
[23:15] <Frostbite_1-3> "Enemy aircraft down. Let's finish up the rest of them."
[23:15] <Drider_1-2> *Whistles* "Beautifully done, Frostbite, let's wrap this up."
[23:16] <Bayshiftermobile> "Whooee got one"
[23:23] <Avalanche_1-4> "Three tank formation destroyed. Just two left to mop up!"
[23:23] <Avalanche_1-4> "Sabretooth, how do thinks look on the ground?"

14[23:24] <Valetni> "Ah, your bombing is very effective." The same voice says. "Very much appreciated, we'll have these belkan bastards on the run!"

[23:25] <Patchwork_2-4> "Sabertooth, do you have wounded that would require a medivac, if possible? We might not be able to do so ourselves, but we could possibly speed up the process."

14[23:28] <Valetni> "We are in contact with the supply depot, we'll have our wounded treated there. Appreciate your concern."

[23:31] <Patchwork_2-4> "Not a problem Sabertooth. We watch out for each other on the battlefield, yes? May your wounded recuperate well and quickly, and your journeys be safe."

14[23:32] <Valetni> "Roger that. Good luck up there guys." Sabretooth says.
14[23:33] <Valetni> "Alright!" Spirit Guide crackles onto the radio. "Mission complete, and all planes in the Air!" She continues with some enthusiasm. "You guys head back to base for debrief, Spirit Out."

[23:35] <Drider_1-2> "All right clovers, mission accomplished. I don't want to see anyone screw up a landing, you hear?"
[23:36] <Frostbite_1-3> "Roger that Drider. Good work on those ground targets Avalanche."
[23:37] <Avalanche_1-4> "Roger. Returning to base. Thanks guys."
[23:40] <Bayshiftermobile> Quentin looks back at his path if bombs with an exhausted sigh "Basilisk, great work today guys, let's rtb for debrief". He knew he should've been there for Eagleclaw, but all is good for the moment. Just glad they all made it out alive.
[23:49] <Patchwork_2-4> "Affirmative, Lead. You did well."

[23:55] <Valetni> As Drider brings his plane in for a landing, a sudden gust of wind catches his plane as he prepares to flare. The MiG-21 suddenly stalls out and lands in a motion more vertical than horizontal. As the fuel tanks split and explode the ejection seat rides out just ahead of the fireball.

[23:49] <Drider_1-2> AAAAAAAAHHHHHGGGGGGG *static*
[23:52] <Avalanche_1-4> "Drider? Drider?! DRIDERRRR!"
[23:53] <Patchwork_2-4> "That was unexpected. Perhaps a bee got into his cockpit. Or he spilled coffee on his crotch?"
[23:54] <Frostbite_1-3> "Shit!" Gerald saw the smoke of his lead aircraft. That landing went all wrong and there was no way to tell if Drider was going to survive that crash.
[23:54] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha manages to form back up with her wing just as they're on approach to land. To avoid distraction, she only affords them a quick acknowledgement and a promise to explain later, then starts in on her approach. The landing goes off without a hitch, and she pulls her MiG to a stop at the hangar shortly after.

[23:56] <Bayshiftermobile> Quentin begins landing checks, lands well, but his eyes widen Avalanche_1-4 t the sight of drider's plane. Quentin lands successfuly, but gazes at the sight once out of his plane.
[23:57] <Patchwork_2-4> Magpie pulls off a textbook, if rushed landing at the sight of Drider's MiG going up in flames, bailing out of his plane and yelling to the flight crew and anyone in the area to get their asses over and assist. Leaving his WSO in the plane, of course.

[23:58] <Valetni> Emergency crews rush towards the burning plane, coating it and a liberal portion of the runway in fire retardant foam. An ambulance sets off, sirens blaring, towards the ejected pilot.

[23:59] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "This is Basikisk-3 coming in for a landing. Watch and learn kids." Ivan swoops in with his one wing and land flawlessly.
[00:00] <Avalanche_1-4> I rush over if I'm taxied
[00:02] <Drider_1-2> Dave watches in silent horror as his faithful MiG smoulders on the tarmac. His body is burned and bruised, but he crawls back to the wreckage.
[00:03] <Patchwork_2-4> Magpie is in a yelling match with the emergency crew, yelling at the top of his voice about clearing the tarmac before anyone else crashes into the MiG-21, hands waving about, gesturing and finally grabbing the collar of a nearby worker he seems to get it out of his system, running over to the ambulance with a slight limping lope, looking for Drider.
[00:03] <Drider_1-2> The heat is far too intense to get any closer, but he sees it, still in the shattered cockpit.
[00:05] <Patchwork_2-4> "Dri- Dave, the Hell are you doing over here?! You are going to burn up, let alone your injuries!"
[00:06] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha hurries over to the scene after everyone else. There's not much she can do, and emergency crews are already on site, so she keeps her distance to give them room to work. Meanwhile, she notices Basilisk 3's approach. The plane looks even worse than she thought, but it's still flying at least.
[00:06] <Drider_1-2> The only photograph of his father and him, taken back when he was just a child, when his home still belonged to Belka, is rapidly burning into ashes.

[00:07] <Patchwork_2-4> Magpie sighs, grabs a fire extinguisher from a nearby emergency worker and hoses the shit out of the cockpit, cripple running to try to grab the picture. Clearly his Guts in the skies are also on land. That or sheer, sentimental stupidity.
[00:07] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Ivan opens the canopy and quickly slides down the ladder. Making a grunt and grabbing for his back as his feet hit the ground. He looks over to the group and hurries over.
[00:09] <Drider_1-2> "Heh," he manages to whisper to Patchwork, "Don't tell Nero..." Overvome by physical and emotional pain, Dave looses conciousness.
[00:09] <Bayshiftermobile> Quentin rushes to the scene as well. "Any way I can help?"
[00:09] <Avalanche_1-4> i hug
[00:10] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Ivan catches up with Quentin and Sascha. "What the hell just happened? Is Drider okay? Anyone see it happen?"
[00:11] <BabaYaga_2-2> "We're better off staying back here. Let the emergency workers do their jobs." Sascha grimaces, pained by the sight of a plane in such a broken state, but knowing that crowding up would only make the job harder. "Looks like a landing malfunction. Rogue wind gust, probably. I'm not sure, but we'll have to wait until they do an investigation to know for sure."

[00:12] <Bayshiftermobile> Quentin turns and responds "yeah, he just lost conciousness. His plane is wrecked however" He then turns to the duo that chased the lone MIG. "Oh my God, almost forgot, you guys ok?"
[00:13] <Patchwork_2-4> Magpie limps out of the wrecked cockpit, on fire and looking just a bit in pain. He manages to get the picture or what might be left of it to Drider, before a helpful emergency crew member hoses him down with a fire extinguisher.
[00:14] <Eagleclaw_2-3> Ivan clears his throat and points at his severely damaged MiG. "Well we're alive. And this old man got me a kill."
[00:15] <Avalanche_1-4> "Yo buddy, still alive?"

[00:16] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "You should have heard it, Quentin. Sascha over here suddenly dropped the act and got really worried about me for a minute. Isn't that right?"
[00:18] <Avalanche_1-4> "Him? I'll believe it when I see it."
[00:19] <Patchwork_2-4> Magpie limps over to the other pilots, nodding to Eagle and Sascha respectfully. "Glad you both survived whatever trouble you go up to. And Clover - nice job saving those men out there. You did a lot more than just destroy some tanks and anti air, you saved families and lives. Admirable, yes?"
[00:19] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha punches Ivan in the arm and jabs a finger in his face. "That's for taking too goddamn long to take the shot." After a moment, she relaxes, and smiles at her flight leader. "Anyway! We got the kill, and the mission's a success." Her smile fades a bit as she glances over to the burning plane, but the pilot still seems to be alive, at least. "Mostly a success, I suppose."
[00:21] <Avalanche_1-4> "How were sabretooth's losses?"
[00:21] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "I hate to break it to you but expect more of what you see in the future. We're lucky this is all the damage we've take today."
[00:21] <Bayshiftermobile> Quentin sighs, yet again "I suppose too. Ah, and Magpie, thanks for filling in for our 4th member on such short notice, would've gone differently without you"
[00:22] <Patchwork_2-4> "It is nothing to worry about, you are honorable knights of the skies. I prefer the idea of working with you instead of against you."

[00:23] <Avalanche_1-4> Ketsuo bows
[00:23] <Avalanche_1-4> "And now we've had a taste of Belkan tactics."
[00:23] <Frostbite_1-3> Lucky bastard, Gerald thought to himself as he looked at Drider and back to what was his aircraft. He seen plenty of failed landings as a flight instructor, and more fatal injuries from lesser crashes. Sure it was quite a disaster, but considering everything that happened it seem the Drider was fit to be a member of Clover Squadron.
[00:24] <BabaYaga_2-2> "We'll definitely need to look into better equipment before our next sortie. We came too close against that MiG-23."
[00:25] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "You might be right about that. But what did I tell you? A true ace makes it work. He had us outclassed but we still managed to take him down."
[00:25] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "I'm gonna need a new plane anyway."
[00:26] <Eagleclaw_2-3> After Ivan says that a large piece of his aircraft falls off making a loud bang sound. "Uh yeah definitely need a new jet."
[00:26] <Patchwork_2-4> "Indeed, perhaps our lovely sounding AWACS can find us a capturable airbase to pilfer. Or a shipment of parts. Or- well hopefully you will let a filthy Belkan like myself fly along you long enough to figure out a plan."
[00:29] <BabaYaga_2-2> "Please. There's none of that here. You're one of us. Where you come from doesn't matter unless you make it matter," she says with a sidelong look at Ivan. "If you fly with us, you're one of us."
[00:30] <Patchwork_2-4> "Thank you, you are as kind as your flying skills are lovely."

[00:31] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "But the question does rise. Why did you leave Belka? Why would you abandon your home selling your alliegence to the highest bidder?"
[00:33] <Patchwork_2-4> I grew... disillusioned, one could say. There might not be honor in war, but there can and should at least be morality. Wiping out enemy troops trying to surrender, or who are in no way capable of fighting is not my way of being, yes?"

[00:35] <Eagleclaw_2-3> "Still I don't understand why someone would leave everything behind. Their home, their family..." Ivan glances over at Sascha. "I just don't understand."
[00:35] <Avalanche_1-4> "Because some things are more important than family."
[00:35] <Avalanche_1-4> "Sometimes you give up those things in the hope others don't have to."
[00:37] <BabaYaga_2-2> Sascha doesn't respond to Ivan's comment, though she does notice it. Instead, she turns to Quentin. "We should probably head for debriefing, get our mission report in. A lot happened and we need to let command know."
[00:41] <Patchwork_2-4> "Yes, and I still need to have a drink and prayer for the losses on both sides today, and a stiff drink. A visit to Drider possibly as well."
[00:42] <Bayshiftermobile> "I agree. Come on team, let's go. Good work" As he made his way towards the debriefing room, Quentin caught a brief glimpse of two F-15s landing against the sunset. Smiling, he thought to himself, yeah, these guys have my back.

[00:43] <Eagleclaw_2-3> End Session 02