/ACEG/ RPG Session 4

14[19:17] <Valetni> "I have contacts on my radar, looks like two flights, eight planes." Spirit Guide says, and then falls silent. "Radar emissions says t-they're most likely F-14s."
14[19:17] <Valetni> "Current distance, 200."

[19:18] <Drider_1-4> "Basilisk leader, I'm the only clover here, what's our plan of attack?"
[19:21] <BabaYaga_2-1> "This is Basilisk 2. Basilisk lead, recommending you RTB, your plane won't stand a chance here. I'll handle the lead position in your absence." Sascha's gut twists, but it's the best shot they've got right now. "Basilisk 2, now Basilisk 1. Eagleclaw, you're on me, taking over as Basilisk 2. Understood?"
[19:23] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Copy that flight lead. Don't worry I'll teach you everything I know," Ivan says with a smug expression.
[19:24] <Drider_1-4> "I have a feeling we're going to be a bit short on ordnance, make those shots count..."

[19:25] <BabaYaga_2-1> "If you don't keep your head in the game, we'll all learn a very unpleasant lesson here." She tries to keep the worry from her voice, not managing it well. "Drider, how many missiles do you have?"
[19:25] <Drider_1-4> "Two sparrows, that's it..."
[19:26] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Eagleclaw, how about you?"
[19:27] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "1 missile. 1 R-23. I guess I got carried away on the ground targets."
[19:29] <BabaYaga_2-1> "I've got one missile and two sparrows," Sascha notes grimly. "This may not be a fight we can win. None of us are fast enough to outrun them, so escape isn't much of an option, either."
[19:29] <Drider_1-4> "Well if we go one missile per target, we might be able to even the odds enough to gunfight the rest..."
[19:32] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "First things first let me drop this ball and chain." Ivan drops his drop tank increasing his maneuvering. "Alright that feels much better."
06[19:32] * Drider_1-4 goes through various close-range manuevers in his mind, psyching himself up for the coming battle.
[19:33] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Ivan looks over at Drider's plane noticing his drop tank. "Hey, Drider, drop that tumor from your aircraft."
06[19:34] * Drider_1-4 drops his fuel tank, feeling the dead weight drop away towards Belkan soil.
[19:34] <Drider_1-4> "Maybe it will land on someone's house..."

14[19:34] <Valetni> "G-guys, if you want I might be able to figure out what the enemy is saying, maybe I can help you that way?" Spirit Guide suggests hesitantly.

[19:35] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha grimaces. "Were you two flying around with those the whole time? It's a wonder you didn't get shot down!" She rolls her eyes and grips her controls, trying to consider the team's options. "That'd be a great help, Spirit Guide. Anything you can do at this point can only do us good."

14[19:39] <Valetni> "Roger that, give me a second, I won't let you down!" Spirit Guide declares. A long silence follows before the radio crackles to life, a degraded signal of static.
14[19:41] <Valetni> Suddenly you hear the clipped, belkan accent of an older male. "This is Javelin 1, there's only three of them. We'll make this quick. Launch phoenixes from max range and then close while they evade. Do this by the numbers and we'll all make it home."
14[19:41] <Valetni> "Roger that Lead, you worry too much." A younger, female voice breaks in with a laugh. "Hey guys, don't take all of them, if I get two more I'll make ace today."
14[19:42] <Valetni> "Roger 3, you can have mine, I'm full from those MiGs earlier." Says a third voice.
14[19:43] <Valetni> "You might be full, but I'm nearly empty. I'm about twenty minutes to bingo." Complains yet another voice.
14[19:43] <Valetni> "Cut the Chatter," Commands the first voice, followed by a chorus of 'yes sirs,' and 'affirmatives'.
14[19:49] <Valetni> The voice of Spirit Guide pops back on. "Good news! I can vector in some allied mercenaries." Spirit Guide says excitedly. "They'll need to drop ordance and divert, but if you guys can hold out they can be there in 10 minutes." She explains.

[19:52] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha tries to push aside a seed of doubt that forms at the sound of cheerful voices, putting an unfortunately human face behind the enemy planes. Spirit Guide's voice catches her attention, and she immediately perks up. "Great! Put in the call, Spirit Guide! Drider, Eagleclaw, I hope you've been taking your ballet lessons. Sounds like we're going to have to dance with these fighters until help can make it here."
[19:53] <Drider_1-4> "Fine by me, I've been waiting for a chance to see what this bird can do!"
[19:53] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "You remember how we dance in the motherland. Let's do this, flight lead."
[20:02] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Roger that. All planes, follow me. We're going to try to prolong this as far as we can. Try to stay close, but above all else, survive!"
[20:02] <Drider_1-4> "Roger, accelerating."
[20:11] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "I'm behind you 100% Sascha. We'll get through this."

14[20:13] <Valetni> "They're Running, cowards!" Javelin 3's voice is relayed to you by the Diligent Spirit Guide, who is doing her best. "Going full burners, I'm making ace today, see if I don't."

[20:13] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha turns her plane to face away from the incoming enemies, and pushes the thrust to maximum. "Not a glorious way to win, but I'll take it" she mutters.
[20:14] <Drider_1-4> "I could do this all day"

14[20:15] <Valetni> "Wait for my signal!" Javeline lead complains.

[20:15] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Ivan pushes on the throttle slightly. "I won't go full burners so those little planes of yours can keep up okay?"
[20:16] <Drider_1-4> "I don't mean to be a pessimist, but that won't matter much to our friends behind us...

14[20:16] <Valetni> "They're coming for you, stay safe guys." Spirit Guide says worryingly lead. "Ah, the pilot is saying we'll need to start heading back ourselves, those F-14s have us on radar now." A small tremor is barely detectable in her voice.

[20:17] <Drider_1-4> "Stay safe, Spirit Guide."

14[20:17] <Valetni> Three blips appear on your radar, almost directly ahead at maximum range.

[20:17] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Don't worry so much. I'm well-acquainted with running away. AWACS, stay safe. We'll be fine. Just make sure the mercs know where to find us."
[20:17] <Drider_1-4> "Those blips ahead, are they friendly?"
[20:20] <BabaYaga_2-1> The blood drains from Sascha's face. "I don't think we can afford to count on that, Clover 4. All planes, prep weapon systems, just in case. Don't take any chances."

14[20:22] <Valetni> "I bet you're real glad to see us." An unfamiliar male voice breaks in over your radio, much clearer than the intercepts from Javelin flight. "This is Crow 1, hope you Basilisks brought your checkbook, this one's gonna cost ya."

[20:25] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Ha! You've got a deal, Crow flight. If we make it through this all clear, I'll buy you all a round on top of that.
[20:25] <BabaYaga_2-1> Consider it a bonus."
[20:27] <Drider_1-4> "Glad you made it, Crow Team, we've got some unhappy customers trying to send some Phoenixes our way."

14[20:27] <Valetni> "Roger that, Gonna hold you to it. We're gonna teach those turkey birds how to fly." The same voice responds.
14[20:28] <Valetni> "We're gonna have to make it quick though, 3's finally got himself a hot date and we don't want him to be late." Says a second voice with a laugh.

[20:30] <Drider_1-4> "Oh a laidies man huh? Glad to have you on board, Crow 3." says Drider mockingly.

14[20:30] <Valetni> "I have a good feeling about this, I think she might be the one." Crow 3 responds. "But this isn't really the time for that, let's take care of these F-14s first."

[20:31] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Alright, team, time to level this playing field." Sascha checks her radar to see if the rogue Javelin who broke formation has gotten any closer, close enough to be picked off alone.

14[20:34] <Valetni> "Ah, This is Javelin 4." Spirit Guide relays another intercept. "I'm losing fuel, and oil pressure is dropping, shutting down #2 engine." You hear the shrill beeping of the Master Warn light in the background. "I need to divert, hope you make ace Jav 3."

[20:39] <BabaYaga_2-1> "One more down, good. Crow flight, got any long-range ordinance on you?"

14[20:42] <Valetni> "AMRAAMs and AIMs" Is the reply from Crow 1.
14[20:43] <Valetni> "We're gonna bust em up, show em what happens when you let falcons in among the turkeys. Let's see how good those phoenixes work in a dog fight."

[20:44] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Roger that, Crow, we're leading one right to you. She's on us hard, so don't take too long, alright?"

14[20:46] <Valetni> "Hey now, we never keep a lady waiting." Crow 1 responds. "
14[20:46] <Valetni> "Satisfaction guaranteed, or your missiles back."
14[20:54] <Valetni> "Fox 3, Fox 3." Announces Javelin 3 Excitedly."

[20:56] <Drider_1-4> "Well, isn't someone a little eager." Drider muses
[20:57] <BabaYaga_2-1> "On your toes! We've got incoming! Watch your radar," shouts Sascha.

14[21:03] <Valetni> *Beep*...*Beep*...*Beep*...*Beep* Goes the radar warning receiver in the cockpit of Drider.

[21:11] <Drider_1-4> "She's locked on to me, evading..."
06[21:12] * Drider_1-4 puts his craft into a climb, rolling slightly to evade, while deploying countermeasures to ensure his safety.

14[21:13] <Valetni> "Damn." Javelin 3 curses.
14[21:13] <Valetni> "Good Dodge!" Cheers Spirit Guide.

[21:14] <Drider_1-4> "Someone want to ruin this nugget's day?" sighs Drider as he relaxes slightly

14[21:14] <Valetni> "Launching AMRAAMS, Fox 3." Says the voice of Crow 1.
14[21:15] <Valetni> Two missiles streak past your flight, heading towards your pursuers.
14[21:16] <Valetni> "They launched on me, evading." Javelin 3 says, voice tight.

06[21:16] * Drider_1-4 glances behind watching the missiles streak towards the target.

14[21:18] <Valetni> "Evading, Evading." Comes the strained voice of Javelin 3. "Dumping flares and chaff, there's one." Heavy breathing dominates the intercepted comms as Javelin 3 fights against heavy G forces. "I don't see it, I thin-." The line erupts into static.
14[21:20] <Valetni> "Javelin 3, respond. Javelin 3!" You hear Javelin lead cursing over the comms. "Fuck. Let's hope she made it out. Concentrate on sweeping the skies, we can't pick her up with enemy fighters in the area."

[21:20] <Drider_1-4> "That's sure to stir up the hornet's nest..."

14[21:21] <Valetni> "Crow 1, tally another one for me." Says crow 1 smugly. "Now it's even, one for each of us."

[21:21] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha flinches unconsciously as the radio goes dead. She's quiet for a moment, and only the sound of her breathing comes over the radio. It can't be helped, right? This is war. Finally, her voice comes through, and she manages to hide most of the uneasiness in her voice. "Good hit, Crow."
[21:24] <BabaYaga_2-1> As Basilisk and Clover catch up to Crow, Sascha guides their formation around to fall in line with Crow, flying parallel to them on approach to the enemy planes.
06[21:28] * Drider_1-4 briefly gazes at the smoke from the wrecked plane then forms up alongside Basilisk and Crow.
[21:28] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Watching the flaming wreck of the enemy plane, Ivan says to himself, "That's what happens when you get ahead of yourself and break off on your own."
[21:28] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Falling into formation Ivan radios Crow, "Good kill just try not to get them all. I don't know if I can afford it."

14[21:30] <Valetni> "This is all you can eat, Basilisk. You gotta be hungry." Replies Crow 2.
14[21:38] <Valetni> "Woah, that one almost got me." Crow 3 declares as a missile detonates in his exhaust, the explosion failing to grasp the escaping fighter.
14[21:38] <Valetni> "Watch yourself Crow 3, Shit! Crow 1 is hit." Says the voice of Crow 2.
14[21:39] <Valetni> "Just a little shook up, I'll pay em back." Crow 1 declares, a thin stream of white smoke trailing from the F-16. It seems to be having a hard time maintaining level flight.

[21:40] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha's radar starts wailing at her just in time for her to pull up as a missile streaks under her, exploding just out of range. "Damn, they're persistant."

14[21:43] <Valetni> "Jav 2, I'm hit. Going down." Comes yet another voice on the radio, cold as ice. "I'm on fire, shutting down engines... Ricky, get ready to blow the canopy, don't hit your head on the way out."
14[21:47] <Valetni> "Heh, ain't that a bitch. Ricky says canopy is jammed, no ejecting for us." Javelin 2 continues.
14[21:49] <Valetni> "I'll dead stick it, maybe try and land. Damn, I can't even tell what we're over... If we go down, and don't survive, make sure they bury us in Belkan soil. Good luck guys." There's a click as Javelin 2 turns off his radio.

[22:00] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha's hands tighten on her controls again as another plane's demise is broadcast over the radio. She makes a mental note to discuss the intelligence in canceling any future radio surveilance. "Another one down. I'm in range now, firing on the lead plane." The image of the plane in front of the others shows on her screen, and she arms her Sparrow missiles as she lines up the shot. The ordinance flies away clean, but the
[22:00] <BabaYaga_2-1>  reticle goes wide, and the lock is lost. The missile is trashed.

14[22:13] <Valetni> Another volley of AMRAAMs and Pheonix missiles leaps out from both sides, crossing the distance between the two flights in a macabre and dangerous game of chicken as both sides continue to bear in towards one another, finally entering into short range missile range.

[22:14] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha jukes up away from the incoming missile once again. Her heart is still pounding and the voices of the fallen pilots still echo in her head, but survival instinct drives her forward. There's no backing down now.
[22:18] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Missile! Evading!" Ivan barely evades the missile. The nearby explosion causes minor body damage.
[22:18] <Drider_1-4> "Not yet..." Drider tells himself as he weaves past more incoming fire.

14[22:18] <Valetni> "Oh my!" Says another female voice. "Seven here, that one was close..."

[22:19] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Close one. I'm okay. She might not be the best looking but she holds together when it counts."

14[22:19] <Valetni> "Eight's hit! No chutes!" Calls out another voice. "Shit goddamn, there was only supposed to be 3 of them."
14[22:20] <Valetni> "Keep it together." Javelin lead says.

[22:29] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Okay I've waited long enough. Basilisk 2 engaging." As the lock tone drones Ivan pulls the trigger. "Fox three!"

14[22:29] <Valetni> "Oh dear, they seem to be targeting me." Jav 7 reports over the radio. "They'll have to work a little harder to kill little old me. Oho, I'll have to return the favor." She continues.
[22:30] * Drider_1-4 decides he's close enough, "Fox 1" says Drider cooly, letting the sparrow loose.
14[22:32] <Valetni> "Oh no." Says Javelin 7.
14[22:33] <Valetni> "I think five just went down, Lead, I think it's time for us to pull out of here."
14[22:34] <Valetni> "Fuck, fuck fuck fuck fuck. God damnit these mercenaries." Is the response. "Javs, go for the deck, full burners! We're heading home!"


[22:37] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha lets out a tense breath as the other planes start their retreat. "They're pulling away. Looks like we made it. Thanks, Crows. We really owe you."

14[22:38] <Valetni> "They're breaking off. Let's give em a little encouragement." Says Crow 2, turning his plane to follow the retreating F-14s.
14[22:39] <Valetni> "Hey hey! They're retreating! That's not going to help anything, they've already lost." Crow 3 replies heatedly.

[22:40] <Drider_1-4> "What's the matter Crow 3, afraid of a little extra cash?" asks Drider in a mocking tone
[22:41] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Crow 2, be advised I'm not going to be paying you extra to chase them down. Our objective is to secure the area for the chopper. No need to overdo it."
[22:41] <BabaYaga_2-1> "That's enough! We're done here. Crow team, I'm not paying you for any extra work. We've got a chopper to escort."

14[22:44] <Valetni> "Crow 2, let's go home, I'm about set to fall out of the sky." Crow 1 interrupts.
14[22:46] <Valetni> "Fine, but one day you'll learn that the only way to stop the fighting is to kill the other guys until they give up for good. Mercy in war is nothing more than deferred cruelty." Crow 2 says, peeling off to join his formation.

[22:47] <BabaYaga_2-1> "We'll take that under advisement. Thanks again, Crow. Your check'll be in the mail. See me about that drink when you get a chance. Clover 4, Basilisk 2, on me. Frosty's going to be getting impatient about now."

14[22:53] <Valetni> "Good work guys! You all survived, that was tense, I was really worried for a minute." Spirit Guide says. "The chopper should be on scene shortly."

[22:56] <Drider_1-4> "Thanks for the help Spirit Guide, things might have gone a lot worse without it." replies Drider cheerfully.
06[23:02] * Drider_1-4 fires one last shot at the fleeing F-14's, not really caring whether it's a hit or miss.

14[23:16] <Valetni> You hang around only long enough to ensure that the Chopper finds Frostbite, alive and well, rounding up three belkan aviators in the process, before departing back to base.

[23:15] <BabaYaga_2-1> After rendezvousing with the helicopter and returning to base, Sascha brings her plane in for a smooth and steady landing. The morning sun is already glaring into her eyes, forcing her to bring down the visor on her helmet as she pulls her plane to a stop. Her hands are still shaking a bit. The voices of those pilots as they fell from the sky... She's seen combat before. She's fought before. It's just... different hearing
[23:15] <BabaYaga_2-1>  it so directly. It'll be hard to put away.
[23:27] <Drider_1-4> As he touches down without incident, Drider breathes a sigh of relief. As the adrenaline wears off he realizes how long he was in the air and how taxing combat can be.
[23:29] <BabaYaga_2-1> As soon as Drider's plane touches down, Sascha is already storming over toward him. When he exits his plane, she's already there, arm cocked back to deck him across the face.

[23:33] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Woah there," Ivan says as he grabs Sascha's fist. "Save that for the Belkans."
[23:34] <Drider_1-4> "Technically I AM Belkan, but yeah, save it please." retorts Drider, warily eyeing the angry Yuke.
[23:36] <Drider_1-4> "Any one of those fighters could have launched the missile that killed Frostbite, I look after my friends." he continues.
[23:36] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Backstabbing bastard, they were retreating! I'd owe you a sight more than a damn fist if you'd actually managed to hit them!" Sascha pulls her hand free and glares up at Drider, keeping her fists at her sides.
[23:38] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Our mission was already complete at that point, Drider. No use wasting ammo on retreating enemies. You'll just pay extra in the end."

[23:38] <Frostbite_1-1> Gerald ignored what was going on. Well it was more like he couldn't notice it. Right now he was focused on only one thing, getting back into the air. He walked by everyone going straight to his MiG-21M. It needed to be checked and armed for whatever was next.
[23:39] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Sascha, don't get so worked up. You are only repsponsible for yourself and your flight. If he wants to make his own mistakes then let him"
[23:39] <Drider_1-4> "It's my job to see that the enemy eats missiles, and I wanted to get the job done," replies Drider, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see how Frostbite's doing."
06[23:40] * Drider_1-4 walks away to see his flight lead

[23:41] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "It's your job to follow orders," Ivan mumbles. "Now, Sascha, let's report to the rest of our flight. You did good up there taking control of our flight."
[23:43] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha clenches and unclenches her fists slowly, then exhales. Once she's calmed down a bit, she shakes her head and turns back toward HQ. "... It's... bizarre. The feeling of reducing those pilots to paperwork. Is that all we are? A chore for some other pilot to suffer through when they get home after shooting us out of the air?"
[23:46] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Well... this is the future you chose. There's no glory up there only death. You romanticized flying so much you should have stayed home dusting crops. This is war. It isn't pretty. All you should worry about is keeping yourself and your wingman alive because the enemy won't think twice about you when they pull the trigger."
[23:46] <Bayshiftermobile> Quentin runs up to his squad, eager to see if they're ok, again. "Hey, Sascha, you ok? Ivan, how'd you guys handle them?"

[23:49] <BabaYaga_2-1> "You're right, Ivan, sorry. It's just, their voices-" She's cut off as Quentin runs up, and she quickly forces a smile. "Hey, boss. We managed it alright. Crow flight managed to show up just in time, saved our butts."
[23:49] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Ivan briefly pauses to let Sascha reflect on his words before turning to Quentin. "Yeah we owe them big time for their help."
[23:56] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki is very excited and giddy that everyone isn't kill
06[23:56] * Drider_1-4 scours the base for his flight lead, to report the results of his mission.

[23:57] <Drider_1-4> "Hey Yuki, you seen our flight lead?"
[23:57] <Avalanche_1-2> "No, I heard on radio they found his ass, though."
[23:58] <Drider_1-4> "Yeah we went toe to toe with a bunch of F-14's to cover the chopper, scary shit, but we got help from Crow."
[23:59] <Avalanche_1-2> "How'd they do?"
[00:00] <Bayshiftermobile> Quentin quickly replies "Don't call me boss for too long though. At this rate one of y'all are gonna replace me soon" He knows he needs to pull his weight. He realizes he's got the money. And he realizes it's time to step it up a bit.
[00:00] <Drider_1-4> "Oh man, Crow certainly showed us up big time, but I managed to splash a bandit and they turned tail and ran."
[00:01] <Drider_1-4> "So did they drag Frostbite off the chopper and straight to the hospital, I can't find the man for the life of me..."

[00:04] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Well, if it's any consolation, you'll always have a spot in my flight, Boss." Sascha grins wearily, and brushes her hair out of her face. "At any rate, it's morning, and I could use some sleep. I suggest you guys do the same."