/ACEG/ RPG Session 6 (Gelnikos)

Mission 4 (1)
April 24th, 1995
Futuro Canal
Range - Medium
Difficulty - Hard
Payout - 250,000 + bounties

Operation Gelnikos



[18:51] <Val> Another day, another sortie. Offensive Campaign No. 4104. This won't be just any sortie. Besides Clover and Basilisk, you can see Galm Team lifting into the sky, heavy with Air to Ground ordnance. Behind you, already in their planes and ready to take off is Apogee and Nadir flights. Behind them, just pulling out from the hangar is the three F-16Cs of Crow team. On their own little section of the runway, you can see the crew and parajumpers of Valkyrie team, sitting around their SH-60, ready to spring into action in case Frostbite goes down again. In fact, the only familiar face not getting ready to sortie is your AWACS.

[18:57] <Frostbite_1-1> Come on, Gerald thought to himself trying to get his aircraft ready for takeoff. He had not quite recovered from the last mission and it was showing. "The rest of you go ahead while I try to get this thing ready."
[19:01] <Frostbite_1-1> "Oh. Never mind." Gerald said as he figured out what was wrong. "Frostbite taking off!"
[19:02] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki braced himself for another mission, and taxied over to the runway, getting a feel for the new set of wings. "This is Clover 2, Avalanche, taking off!"
[19:05] <Drider_1-3> Finally cleared with the medical team Dave found himself back in the cockpit, following suit as his flight's number two lifted off. A little anxious to be down a member, he chased the doubt from his mind to focus on the task at hand. "This is Clover 3, lifting off."
[19:12] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha pulls her plane onto the runway, checking all her instruments and getting her mind calm and focused on the task ahead. "Alright, Basilisk, let's get the job done. Shame Bay's repairs weren't done yet but we can't wait anymore. Basilisk Lead, taking off."
[19:13] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Copy that, flight lead." Ivan looks at a photo on his instrument panel. "Watch over me one more time, comrade" Ivan says to the photo. It is a photo of his former wingman who he lost in the cold war. "Basilisk-2 taking off."
[19:14] <Patchwork_2-3> "Roger, lead. Basilisk Three, taking off." Patch accelerates as he heads down the runway.

[19:17] <Val> With each flight missing one of their members, it takes less time for you to form up and head towards the Futuro canal. The long flight allows plenty of time for idle chitchat as well as more serious strategic talks.

[19:25] <Frostbite_1-1> "Clover what do you think we should take care of first, the jammers or the anti-air guns?"
[19:27] <Avalanche_1-2> "The jammers are gonna prevent us from getting a solid lock on the AA in the first place, not to mention the other installations. Path's anti-radiation stuff won't do too well either."
[19:28] <Avalanche_1-2> "Plus we're expecting a welcoming party. Someone's going to have to be ready for that."
[19:28] <Drider_1-3> "Jammers will certainly give us a better picture of what we're dealing with. I agree."
[19:30] <Frostbite_1-1> "True. We'll be in trouble if we try to deal with anything else with those jammers still up."
[19:31] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Then my team will focus on the right bank and take out those AA guns."
[19:31] <Drider_1-3> "What are the odds that the jammers will have some sort of escort?"
[19:33] <Frostbite_1-1> "They'll most likely have a anti-air gun or SAM nearby. Bombs would be the best choice in that case."
[19:33] <Drider_1-3> "Wonderful, I sure am glad I brought nothing but bombs..."
[19:37] <Drider_1-3> "Shame AWACS won't be with us, we could really use any advantage at this point."
[19:47] <BabaYaga_2-1> "For now, let's stick together, Clover. We work fast, work smart, and we all fly home in one piece this time."
[19:48] <Frostbite_1-1> "Roger that Basilisk lead. Let's take them out one group at a time."
[19:49] <Avalanche_1-2> "Got two bandits on radar, high and long!"
[19:54] <Avalanche_1-2> "You guys want to engage or avoid? Frosty?"
[20:00] <Patchwork_2-3> "Leads, we have three search radars operating and undoubtedly detecting us."
[20:02] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki sighs, finally getting a response after a long period of silence. He starts fiddling with the radar, prepping to lock on the bandits.
[20:07] <Frostbite_1-1> "Let's get them Clover."
[20:11] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Look alive, boys. Patchwork, keep that ECM ready - Eagleclaw, wait til you get in close enough for lock, then engage. Save your SARHs for pursuit, I don't want any more unnecessary risks."

[20:11] <Val> Aside from Avalanche's attempt to lock on to the bandits, everyone else continues to close in on the as yet unaware pair of bandits.

[20:12] <Avalanche_1-4_> "Shit, I'm not able to tag em. Gonna have to get used to the new radar setup."
[20:12] <Patchwork_2-3> "SAMS are tracking us. I have one locked directly on me."
[20:22] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Stay on your toes but stay with us. Hopefully we can take these guys out fast and duck back down below radar."
[20:23] <BabaYaga_2-1> "If it gets too hot, break off and go low, we need you in one piece to take out those ground units."

[20:23] <Val> As you close, the rest of you suddenly pick up the Radar emanations of the two fighters, and those with long enough radar can spot them moving towards you.

[20:39] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki manages to get a lock, and looses a Sparrow, bearing down on the controls to try and keep his plane in a straight line.
[20:41] <Patchwork_2-3> "RWR has a missile heading straight for me. On the bright side, not seeing any targeting the rest of you. Yet."
[20:43] <Avalanche_1-2> "Two more bandits flying in above the left bank, low this time! Watch out for the ground attack guys!"
[20:47] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Get ready to evade, Patch, stay sharp."
[21:01] <Patchwork_2-3> Patchwork grits his teeth, pulling up on the stick, the SAM missile barely missing him, flying harmlessly above him. "Du doch nicht. Missile evaded."
[21:02] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Nice one, Patch, looks like I'll have a worthwhile dance partner after all."
[21:03] <Frostbite_1-1> Gerald turns his aircraft just barely evading the missile fired at him from below. "Missile evaded."
[21:05] <Patchwork_2-3> Patchwork carefully descends, slowing his Weasel to fit deftly back into the formation of allied planes. "Duly noted lead, I'll keep that in mind once this is over."
[21:07] <Frostbite_1-1> Gerald had failed to get a lock on the first target, but the second one would not be so lucky. "Fox One." Gerald said as the Skyflash launched towards the target.
[21:18] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha hones in on the other target, and releases a missile at the fighter as soon as she hears the lock-on tone ring out. "Fox two!"

[21:22] <Val> The missile streaks in toward the small fighter, and despite its impressive maneuverability, the missile hits, crippling the target.

[21:28] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Good hit, flight lead. Try not to clear them all out without the rest of us." Ivan accelerates to match Sascha's speed and get in formation off her wing.
[21:31] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki manages to keep his plane straight enough to keep his missile on target, even as he spots his squad members dodging missiles around him.

[21:30] <Val> Only a few heartbeats later, the Sparrow missile launched by Avalanche slams into the F-20 already crippled by Sascha, finishing off the target.

[21:36] <Drider_1-3> "Clover, I'm going in up close and personal," says Drider as he pushes his craft to top speed.
[21:38] <Avalanche_1-2> "Hey, save some for me!"
[21:48] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Damn it! Got too far ahead... I've got two incoming, taking evasive maneuvers!" Sascha pulls the controls to her plane back as far as she can go, twisting to the side in a corckscrew just as two missiles sing past her. Just as she's about to level out though, the plane starts shaking, and an alarm starts blaring. "Damn! I stalled out! Cover me!" She fights with the controls, trying to get
[21:48] <BabaYaga_2-1> the thrust to push the plane back out of its fall, but it proves impossible to angle the plane into a manageable angle.
[21:50] <Frostbite_1-1> "Damn." Gerald said. As he was getting closer to the target his targeting circle was getting smaller. Eventually he lost his lock on the target and his Skyflash failed to hit.
[21:55] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Ivan looks left at his wingman and notices the stall. "Dammit! Sascha are you okay? Focus on regaining control I'll deal with this other bandit for you. Ok I have a lock. Fox two!" Ivan fires his missile towards the enemy.

[21:55] <Val> Too slow to react, the remaining F-20 is hit with a missile. The plane tumbles from the sky. Moments later a white chute appears just before the plane slams into the water.

[21:57] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha grits her teeth and pushes her nose down, accelerating the plane as much as she dares. Luckily, this gives her enough speed to regain the wind under her wings, recovering from the stall. "Ha," she says, with only the barest hint of a shake in her voice. "Nothing to worry about. Let's get back to work."
[21:57] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Good to have you back, kid. I got good effect on target. He bailed out. Finally getting back in this twisted game."
[22:00] <Patchwork_2-3> "Stop distracting lead with such inane chatter, two-two. Good work on your recovery, lead."
[22:01] <Avalanche_1-2> "Bandit locked, Sparrow heading out!" Yuki yells, bringing his plane over to line up with his radar with the two new targets that he picked up at long range and low altitude.
[22:03] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha spots the parachute as she pulls her plane back around. "Confirmed, Eagleclaw, splashdown on enemy plane. Not bad, old man, but if you don't keep your head on straight you'll end up joining them down there."
[22:05] <Patchwork_2-3> "Incoming SAM lock on me. No other locks detected. Keep on your toes regardless."
[22:12] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki leans back a little bit in the seat, having drawn back the throttle, as he keeps 55 degrees' nose pointed on track.

[22:15] <Val> The Sleek Su-27 puts it nose towards your flight, and then launches a volley of 4 medium range missiles, before breaking off and heading east.

[22:22] <Patchwork_2-3> Patch accelerates to maximum and raises altitude, figuring if he is going to dodge two missiles or be hit by any, it is better to avoid damaging the allied aircraft around him.
[22:25] <Drider_1-3> Spying the bandit who unleashed a hail of missiles at his fellow pilots, Drider is overcome with the urge to test his skills on this opponent.
[22:26] <Drider_1-3> Lining up his target he sets the sparrow free, on a course straight for the Flanker.

[22:28] <Val> The second Su-27, following the lead of his wingman, spits out a volley of missiles. Not needing to guide the ARH missiles with its onboard radar, it begins turning away almost immediately and running, relatively safe in the cover of the jammers and ground defenses.

[22:36] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha's RWR starts wailing at her as she starts to chase the enemy interceptors, and she pulls her plane over to the side to duck past an in coming missile. "Damn it, those SAMs are still active. And so are the jammers, I bet. They're running to ground, boys. We're going to have to go in after them."
[22:40] <BabaYaga_2-1> She brings her plane down lower, hoping to get below range of the enemy SAMs.
[22:44] <Frostbite_1-1> Gerald's RWR goes off as a missile launched from each Su-27 comes towards him. "Incoming missiles, evading!" Gerald says as he turns his AJS-37. He gets around one. Come on. I just need to get around this one. Gerald thinks as the second one comes towards him. His plane turns, the missle get closer, and at the last second he manages to get by that one as well.
[22:50] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Damn I have one coming in too. These guys just don't let up. Evading." Ivan easily evades the enemy missile. Looking down at his old wingman photo Ivan says, "Not yet, comrade. I'm not dead yet. The Belkans will have to give me better opponents for us to meet again."
[22:52] <Drider_1-3> "Took them long enough to notice me..." muses Dave as his RWR informs him of incoming danger. "Fucking cowards," he continues as he lazily rolls out of the missile's path, "Think you can run from The Collider?"
[22:54] <BabaYaga_2-1> The other two missiles from the enemy flanker whiz past Baba Yaga as she continues her chase.
[23:08] <Patchwork_2-3> Patchworks EF-4C attempts to dodge the salvo of various missiles launched at it, the SAM shot however all but cripples the plane, exploding violently and without mercy. The Flanker missiles rush past the damaged plane in a plume of smoke, utterly uneffective.

[21:19] <Val> With contemptuous ease, the two Su-27s neatly evade your missiles with the precision of an acrobatic team, disdaining even the use of flares and chaff. Still low, and with their missiles spent for now, they hit the burners and raise twin plumes of water as they cross the channel to the other bank.

[21:43] <Avalanche_1-2> Switching focus to ground targets, Yuki drops his plane into missile range. Easily picking out the two jammers on the left bank, he looses two missiles as he sweeps past.

[21:44] <Val> The two missiles manage to fight past heavy electronic jamming to strike home. Both structures erupt in a gout of flame as the missiles hit. The interference on your scope decreases noticeably.

[22:14] <Patchwork_2-3> Patchwork cuts his speed as he drops low, a rack of bombs tumbling from his aircraft toward the enemy emplacement below. "Two-Three, dropping munitions."

[22:20] <Val> The tail retarding device deploy, slowing the flight of the bombs and stabilizing them as they hurl towards the cluster of targets below. The three bombs hit, nicely spaced, and when the dirt clears the five targets are no more.

[22:42] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Good shot, Patchwork! Confirmed, five targets down!" Sascha's enthusiasm over the enemy's crippled A2A capabilities transmits clearly over the radio. "Not done yet, though, let's clear out the rest!"
[22:45] <Patchwork_2-3> "Understood lead-" Patchwork's message is rather drowned out after this point by violent damage to his craft, the EF-4C looking like it should not be anywhere near the air, or ground at this point.
[22:48] <Drider_1-3> With the large transport ship in the bullseye, Dave squeezes off a volley from his mounted gun, saving precious missiles for bigger fish.

[22:49] <Val> The rounds ricochet off the deck, creating sparks and cutting down a few of the civilian crewmembers, but doing no appreciable damage to the large ship.


[22:53] <Avalanche_1-2> "Drider, what the fuck was that, focus on the mission targets!"
[22:54] <Drider_1-3> "Yes Sir."
[22:52] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha sees the smoke plumes as the radio crackles. "Patch! Basilisk 3, respond, are you still airworthy?"
[22:55] <Patchwork_2-3> "I got this far lead, might as well make a proper showing of it and keep going. Besides, seems like as of late I always am a minute late or a missile short, always running back to base when things get ugly."
[23:00] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Patchwork, so help me god if you get shot down here I'm going to make sure Valkyrie makes you ride on the bottom of the heli. Be smart, be careful. If those interceptors come back, you break off. Understood? I'm trusting you on this."
[23:04] <Patchwork_2-3> "Spoilsport. And here I was, preparing for my blaze of glory. But that was my agenda, bomb the enemy targets and leave if things get messier. Acknowledged, lead"
[23:13] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Hold tight with that Osean junk you're flying. Let me show you kids what a glorious Yuke aircraft can do." Ivan begins to lower his altitude setting up for a gunrun on an enemy AA. "Heh watch this." Lowering his throttle his wings extend enhancing his stability as he strafes the enemy AA guns blazing.

[23:15] <Val> Both AA guns return a blaze of fire, with 8 barrels blazing to Ivan's one. However, the crews end up filling the air in front of him with lead, applying too much lead to actually hit his slow flying plane. In return, 20mm shells punch through one of the AA guns, knocking it out of the fight.

[23:16] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Pulling up and increasing throttle Ivan's wings retract again. "Looks like I can still dance after all."
[23:17] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha gives Patchwork's aircraft one last concerned look before moving back into the fight, slowing her aircraft to take a shot at the remaining SAM on the left bank.

[23:19] <Val> Under the engagement envelope of the Surface to Air missile, you have pretty much free reign to mercilessly pound the fragile launcher and radar with 20mm cannon shells, leaving burning, broken ruin behind.

[23:20] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki circles around, spotting a pair of pristine tanks all alone. He aims his aircraft, dropping all three snake eyes directly onto them.

[23:21] <Val> Between the three 500lb bombs, the two tanks are left mangled and combat ineffective as the F-4E flies overhead, unmolested.

[23:22] <BabaYaga_2-1> "SAM down. Let's keep it moving, men. Maybe if we're quick we can clean up and go home before our friends come back."
[23:22] <Avalanche_1-2> "To the other side of the river, Clover!"
[23:23] <Avalanche_1-2> "Where the hell is Frostbite?"

[18:58] <Val> With the entirety of the Left Bank sanitized of mission critical targets, you turn your attention towards the only remaining source of mission critical targets remaining, the Right Bank. The solitary Surface to Air missile battery remaining reminds you of its presence, your RWR chirping as the radar energies wash over your planes.

[19:13] <Avalanche_1-2> After finally hearing Frostbite come in on the radio, Yuki gets orders to take out the other bank's SAM site. He swiftly rolls his aircraft over to the other bank, picking up the SAM launcher and an AA gun, and loosing a pair of missiles. "Yuki, fox two!"

[19:14] <Val> Both missiles lock on and fly true, leaping from the wings of the F-4 and homing in on their targets. The RWR goes silent as the SAM site is destroyed, and despite the fierce hail of counterfire, one of the AA guns is destroyed as well.

[19:30] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki shrugs off the light AA damage to his aircraft. "Both flankers still on radar, retreating north!"
[19:47] <BabaYaga_2-1> "I'm moving in to sweep the AA batteries on the right bank," Sascha calls over the radio, and pulls her plane over to follow after Clover. She takes the other side of the AA line, locking onto two and firing away at them. "Fox two, fox two!"

[19:48] <Val> It must be a frustrating feeling, for the crews in those AA emplacements as their death literally hurls towards them from the skies. Unable to move, or effectively defend themselves, their only consolation must be in the streams of defiant tracer fire they hurl upwards at their attackers. Both targets cease fire after the missiles strike.

[19:55] <BabaYaga_2-1> The AA fire peppers Sascha's plane, sending a shudder through the craft. "Damn! They hit harder than I thought they would. I'm still airworthy but I'm not sure I can risk another ground run. The rest is on you guys. I'm heading back up to safe altitude and standing by." She pulls her plane sharply to the side and raises her nose skyward to safety from the cannonfire.
[20:06] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Your plane isn't looking too good, little girl. Play it safe. We can take our time so don't take any risks. I'll take out that lone AA emplacement." Ivan lowers his alitude and as he pulls back on the throttle his wings extend. With the AA in his sights he goes to pull the trigger but not before having a bit of a flashback. The sight of Sascha's damaged plane brings him to the grim reality
[20:06] <Eagleclaw_2-2> of war and what could happen if he hesitates for only a second. Looking at the photo of his wingman on his dash he panics as he pulls the trigger causing him to miss the AA entirely. "Damn not again" he yells. "I can't let the past interfere anymore." Ivan snaps out of it in time to evade the incoming enemy AA fire. He radios back "I don't know what happened there, flight lead. I'll try
[20:06] <Eagleclaw_2-2> circling around again."
[20:11] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Keep your head on straight, Eagleclaw. The job's almost done, we can't afford to lose our cool now. We literally can't. I still need to get Crow flight their money."
[20:12] <Patchwork_2-3> "Just wait till they start sending the debt collectors for your plane, lead."
[20:13] <Avalanche_1-4> "this is Avalanche, going for a bombing run on the tanks." Drifting overhead, he releases his second cluster of snake eyes, rendering the ranks useless.
[20:14] <Drider_1-3> "Nice shot Yuki, save some for me..."
[20:16] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Not sure they'd want it in this state, Patch. All the more reason to get this over with fast."
[20:19] <Patchwork_2-3> The EF-4C drops in both speed and altitude, dropping a rack of five hundred pound bombs on the enemy guns below, the aircraft shaking violently as the weight is dropped. "Patchwork, dropping bombs."
[20:24] <Patchwork_2-3> The EF-4C is lit up by the AA even as it bombs the land below. "Well, looks like I'll be leaving this esteemed company. It was good knowing you a-" His plane explodes in a rather unspectacular fireball of shrapnel, flaming jet fuel, and cooked off bombs.

[20:27] <Val> The Victory for the AA guns is short lived, as the three bombs destroy two of the three AA guns complicit in the destruction of the Phantom. Hardly a fair trade for the loss of your friend and his enigmatic WSO.

[20:25] <Avalanche_1-2> "I've lost Patch on radar, he's down!" Yuki shouts over the radio.
[20:33] <BabaYaga_2-1> The burst of flames catches Sascha's eyes just as she turns to look in response to the radio message. She's frozen for a moment, until the tilting of her plane pulls her back to reality. Then it hits her. "PATCH! Magpie, talk to me! Eagleclaw, Avalanche, anyone, did you see chutes?!" She scans the skies, finding no sign of a chute. "... You..." Her hands tighten on the controls of her jet,
[20:33] <BabaYaga_2-1> and her teeth grind. "FUCKING BASTARD! I trusted you! I told you..." She curses through heavy breaths as she struggles to pull herself together.
[20:35] <Avalanche_1-2> "Baba, this isn't your fault! He was the one flying his plane, but you're still flying yours!
[20:36] <Avalanche_1-2> "If we take the channel, then it'll be easier for rescue teams to move in after him. We have to keep going."
[20:39] <Drider_1-3> "All we can do now is focus on the mission... and waste every belkan sonofabitch that gets in our way."
[20:41] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Seeing the fireball Ivan says to himself, "Why...why didn't you just go home you crazy, Belkan?"
[20:41] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Ivan radios back, "No eyes on chutes, flight lead. Let's not lose sight of the mission. Patch helped us out a great deal. We can't let him down by failing now."
[20:43] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Блядь!" Sascha punches the nearest side of the plane that isn't filled with equipment. After a moment her voice comes back over the radio, low and cold. "Only one target left. Make it fast."

[20:54] <Avalanche_1-2> "Hey, my WSO just spotted both flankers, they're making a second run at us!"
[20:56] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Affirmative, Avalanche. Hey, Sascha, we're not out of this yet." Ivan gets his plane in formation with Sascha. "We really need to stick together. Our flight is really underpowered right about now. Judging by the shape of your aircraft you should probably hang back. I'm okay to dance."
[20:56] <Drider_1-3> "Finally, knew they'd be back sooner or later."
[21:07] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha exhales slowly, eyeing her radar, not really expecting to be able to see them yet. "I know. But I'm not about to just sit here and ignore the fact that if not for these men, our comrade would still be flying." It's not entirely true - the SAM from earlier was the one who got the hit. But whether or not they actually shot him, they were accessory to his death. "I'm going with you.
[21:07] <BabaYaga_2-1> That's an order. Let's go." She pushes her throttle forward, and aims her plane north, where the flankers were last seen going. "Avalanche. Got a direction on those planes? North?"
[21:09] <Drider_1-3> His mind somewhere else, Dave fails to lock on to the lone AA gun, he snaps back to attention when his aircraft is rocked by incoming fire.
[21:09] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Pushing on his throttle to catch up his wings retract. "Dammit Sascha! Don't blindly rush into battle! One mistake you'll end up like Patch!"
[21:11] <Avalanche_1-2> "Roger, bandits to the North. "
[21:12] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Trying to plead with Sascha over the radio Ivan says, "Sascha there's only one target left. We take out the target we can bug out! I know you're upset but we are outmatched by their jets. Even I of all people realize this is a battle we can't win! You need to make the right decision flight lead."

[21:19] <Val> Your radio crackles as a voice comes over an unecrypted frequency, broadcasted in the clear. "This is Scythe 1. I wish to know the names of my opponents before we cut you down." The cold, clipped, and matter of fact tones combined with the guttural Belkan accent leaves the impression that there is little chance that any outcome but this one will come about.

[21:20] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki swings the plane around, pointing it off into the horizon and bringing the planes speed to a crawl. Locking on, he fires a sparrow, once again locking onto the Flanker.
[21:22] <BabaYaga_2-1> "I was going to let them go. But they came back." She pauses. "We need to clear our exit. I'm not backing down from this, Ivan." She eyes her radio as she hears an unfamiliar voice chime in. She flips her radio over to the unencrypted frequency and responds. "This is Basilisk 1. You're outnumbered, and I'm in a bad mood. Stand down or I swear you'll regret coming back."
[21:23] <Frostbite_1-1> "Moving to the targets." Gerald says as he launches his plane towards the two Belkan Su-27s in front of him.

[21:23] <Val> "Basilisk...Basilisk 1. Never heard of you." The voice states. "Although your name will live on in my kill record. Die well, pilot." Scythe 1 concludes.

[21:24] <Avalanche_1-2> "Avalanche. Tough talk from someone who just let their allies get blasted. We'll see who wins out."
[21:25] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Cut the chatter everyone. There's no need to give them our life stories. They are just trying to psych us out. Get your head in the game. Sascha if you are sure I'll be right behind you supporting."

[21:26] <Val> "There were six of you before, you are not one to speak about failing to protect allies." A second, female, voice cuts in. Presumably Scythe 2.

[21:31] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha growls. "This was your choice. Remember that." She grips her controls tightly and continues to close distance, maintaining speed and waiting for the planes to fall into range.

[21:32] <Val> On your radar scope you see the two planes split from their neat 2 ship formation, one going into a climb a that displays the excellent power and thrust to weight of your adversary, while the other drops lower.

[21:33] <Avalanche_1-2> "A fighter's job is to protect the people on the ground that depend on them. He did his." Yuki smirks, annoyed from the casual superiority. "We'll see what praises they sing of you."
[21:33] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Trying to calm down his flight lead Ivan says, "I will follow you, flight lead. Just keep your head cool. We are outmatched and to survive we must fly our best. Concentrate and don't let your emotions get the better of you."
[21:38] <BabaYaga_2-1> "They've done us the favor of splitting up, Eagleclaw," she says, regaining enough composure to address her wingman by his callsign. "Might as well make the best of it."
[21:40] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Relieved to hear a change in her tone Ivan gets a bit of a confidence boost knowing his flight lead will be able to get through this with a level head. "Roger that Basilisk-1. Following your lead. Just make the call."

[21:52] <Val> On the deck, the Su-27 banks left, rolling into a displacement roll that takes him safely out of the path of Yuki's Sparrow missile, which then proceeds to plunge to the surface.

[22:04] <Drider_1-3> Eager to reengage the Flankers Dave targets the one designated as lead, and lets loose his last sparrow, his implement of rage streaking towards Scythe 1.
[22:07] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha does much the same, augering toward the lead plane, lined up prettily in her EO pod's screen so she gets a good look at her opponent. As soon as she hears the lock, she fires her SARH and pulls back the throttle, making sure to keep her nose facing her enemy.
[22:11] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Following Sascha lead Ivan goes after the target with her. While still out of standard missile range Ivan gets a lock in an attempt to scare off the enemy. "You wanted to talk to us comrade now I'm talking. Hear that sound? Hope you like it because that is the last song you will dance to."

[22:17] <Val> The Su-27 on the deck rolls 90 degrees, exposing the multiple missiles still hanging on its fuselage, launching One each at Drider and Eagleclaw. The RWR temporarily goes silent as the Su-27 breaks lock, executing hard 90 degree turn. It's not quiet for long, the radars on the missiles quickly find their targets right where the plane told them they would be, bombarding you with radar energy and homing in for the kill.
[22:18] <Val> At the peak of its Arc, Scythe Two noses over, using gravity to give a energy assist it fires two missiles 'downhill' at Frostbite, keeping nose on target and letting the two missiles blaze the way.
[22:27] <Val> The 90 degree turn keeps the Su-27 moving low on the deck at high speed, and the AIM-7E2 sparrows are simply unable to cope with the sudden and rapid shift as Scythe 1 flirts with the G limit of the airframe. One missile detonates outside of range, while the other plunges to earth, target lost.

[22:40] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Missile incoming! Ok, comrade, let's dance." Ivan breaks his lock, lowers his throttle to get more maneuverability out of his MiG, and attempts to evade. "Come on! Dammit!" The missile wizzes by barely skimming the fuselage and exploding off the side of the plane. "Impact! I'm okay though doing better than you anyway, Basilisk-1."
[22:48] <Drider_1-3> "Wow is that all you've got?" Dave yanks on the stick as he flips off the off target missile. The F-16 begins plummeting out of the sky. "It's colliding time motherfuckers."
[22:53] <Frostbite_1-1> Gerald spots the two missiles coming right at him. He pulls left to evade the first one but that just puts him close enough to the second one for it to hit his aircraft hard.
[22:54] <Frostbite_1-1> The damage was severe but his AJS-37 was still flying...if you could call it that.
[23:15] <BabaYaga_2-1> Every second that passes is one that Sascha regrets her decision to ignore Ivan's advice. There's a very good chance they won't make it out of this. "Careful, Eagle, these guys are good." It's an understatement. They vastly outclass them. But Sascha pushes on, because if she's going out, she's going out spitting and cussing and fighting. She pulls her plane behind the enemy fighter and pulls
[23:15] <BabaYaga_2-1> the trigger the moment she hears the tone.
[23:15] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Fox two!"

[23:18] <Val> The twin engine jet snaps back the other way and makes another sharp turn, dodging yet another missile.

[23:20] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Damn he evaded! They really are better than they look. Ok I have a lock. Fox two" Ivan fires his missile hoping he can hit his enemy.

[23:20] <Val> Tightening the turn, Scythe 1 once again proves why he has earned the ace title as the large fighter elegantly maneuvers out of the way of Ivan's missile.
[23:25] <Val> Now heading back the way it originally was, the Su-27 begins to climb, tossing an IR missile off boresight at the tumbling Drider.
[23:29] <Val> Scythe 2 thunders past Frostbite's crippled plane, gaining speed and energy as she heads towards the two planes pursuing her flight lead.

[23:40] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Keep the other one off us, Clover, we've got this guy!" Sascha manages to sound slightly more confident than she actually is, which... isn't much.
[23:42] <Drider_1-3> "Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck -over."
[23:52] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki sees his allies dropping and decides to make a call. "Alright, you've proven yourselves, and this isn't going to do anything. I request, on behalf of clover and basilisk, to"
[23:53] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki, gritting, gets out "admit the fight is yours and ask to leave the airspace."

[23:54] <Val> There's a silence for a few moments, before Scythe One comes back on the radio. "Eject your ordnance," He grunts, straining against heavy G forces, still maneuvering with two planes on his six. "And lower your landing gear." He manages.

[23:59] <Avalanche_1-2> "Clover, Basilisk, you guys agree to the terms? I don't want us going half and half."
[23:59] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha whips her head around, face red under her mask. "Are you-!?" She fumes, staring at her radar and the dot representing her quarry, which could still absolutely be the end of her should her shots miss. But the chances aren't good enough. Even if she takes out the lead plane, the remaining plane could still have enough ordinance to take them out. She glances toward Eagleclaw's plane.
[23:59] <BabaYaga_2-1> They're both heavily damaged. One more hit could end either of them. "God damn it." She pulls back on the thrust. "Eagleclaw, we're disengaging. Fall back and eject your ordinance. Lower your gear. We've lost this one."
[00:00] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "What?! You really think they'll let us go after the damage we've caused? They're filthy Belkans! How can you trust them?"
[00:01] <BabaYaga_2-1> "That's /enough/! I've had enough of this. We're leaving. That's an order."
[00:03] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "We should have never rushed in after them. Now we are in this mess." Ivan disengages, lowers his gear, but hesitates before ejecting his ordinance. "...this won't end well..."

[00:05] <Val> "You've made a good call." Comes the voice of Scythe 1 over the radio. The Su-27 also throttles back, briefing coming alongside your much smaller F-16A. "You have proven yourself to be worthy opponents. I'll remember the name Basilisk." He declares. "When next we meet, perhaps it will be a more fair fight." As you look over, the Belkan pilot tosses you a salute before rolling off and heading north, his wingman descending to join him.

[00:15] <Drider_1-3> "Clover, Basilisk, I'm not backing down, not while there's still fight in me, stay alive long enough to kill these fucking bastards, this is Drider, signing ou-"
[00:11] <Val> Almost forgotten, drider and his plummeting F-16A Block 15 continue blazing their path through the clouds, on a one way trip to the ground. Stubborn to the end, the pilot wrestles with the stick and rudders to the last minute, locked into a deep stall, inverted and with the nose pointing towards the ground at roughly a 50 degree angle. Thoughts of ejecting never even enter his mind as the ground looms ever closer. In the end, Drider would be to be the most consistent among them, living up to his nickname of 'collider' and going out the same way he came in.

[00:15] <Avalanche_1-2> Yuki just holds his head and sighs. "Drider, why the fuck did you have to be like that?" He knew full well Drider didn't fail to eject due to an equipment malfunction. "We'd already gotten them off of you..." He composes himself, reminded by the long flight back to base, and of the conversations he was going to have to have there.