The Stage of Apocalypse

The Stage of Apocalypse
Operation ravage

June 2nd, 1995
Sudentor
Range - Medium
Difficulty - Medium
Payout - Medium

There are still pockets of resistance holed up in the industrial city of Sudentor. Although fleeing, the Belkan army continues to fight back and are using the Waldreich Mountains as a final line of defence in an attempt to prevent our army from reaching northern Belka. A formation of bombers has been detected, and Galm team has been tasked to intercept. Belkans have responded by dispatching several high speed Interceptors as additional escorts. Basilisk Team must intercept and shoot down these reinforcements before they can stop Galm Team. that is all.

Enemy Forces:
9x BM-335
Unknown Escorts
Unknown Interceptors

Friendly Forces:
2x F-15C

1x ST-21 (Avalanche)
1x ST-21 (BabaYaga)
1x Su-27S (EagleClaw)
1x MiG-29M (Cavalier)


=======================================================================================================================================

There's no time for dawdling. Every moment on the ground and not in the air is another second that the interceptors close on Galm team. As it is, you'll have to flog your planes for everything they're worth if you want to head off the high speed interceptors before they reach their targets. You can only try.

[19:18] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki passes the super phantom this time, barreling towards the prototype tomcat. He hops in, new paintjob freshly finished, as he checks out the "0% Survivability" painted below the cockpit. He signals to his WSO, and they prepare to taxi.
[19:21] <BabaYaga_2-1> Taro is already in the back of Sascha's Super Tomcat as she climbs in quickly. She yanks her helmet down over her head and starts the pre-flight checks as Avalanche heads down to the runway, and is quickly following after him. "Watch your fuel tanks on this one, everybody. We're in a hurry but this needs to be a two-way trip."
[19:24] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "It'll be fine. Without Viktor's extra dead weight I'll do better on fuel."
06[19:25] * Cavalier_2-3 rushes in alongside his flight lead - he passes by his old, prototype crusader, giving it a lingering glance as he remembers it's inherent speed - however, he continues onwards, climbing into the cockpit of his Mig-29 instead, bereft of any RIO's.
[19:27] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Remind me to ask you where you picked up that old bat and why in the world you decided it was worth putting up with his opinions about the motherland's glory days. He cornered me for a good hour the other day and he didn't let me go until I told him I had to go punch an Osean in the face."
[19:29] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Play nice with the new girl on the base, Sascha." Ivan takes his new Su-27S down the runway and takes off.
06[19:29] * Cavalier_2-3 briefly scans his craft's airframe from the cockpit, flipping through it's systems while his flight chatters. He speaks bluntly "2-3, Ready for takeoff.", as his Mig-29 blazes along the runway behind Ivan's.

In the air, you form up and head due north. The terrain fades away from you as you climb, seeking the most efficient cruising altitude. From up here, the land blurs together. You're only aware that you've passed into Belkan territory when your GPS informs you of the fact. You match pace with the top speed of the slowest plane, Cavalier's MiG-29M, as you thunder through the skies.

06[19:35] * Cavalier_2-3 mumbles towards the radio as he shakes his head, steadying his craft as it reaches it's maximum speed "...This is as fast as I can take her. It's no good."
[19:36] <BabaYaga_2-1> The land is beautiful from above, as always, even rocketing along at this speed. Sascha spares a glance to admire it for only a moment before returning her attention to the sky and her instruments. "We'll make it in time, Cavalier, don't worry," she comments, missing the point entirely.
[19:36] <Avalanche_1-1> "Dude, you gotta upgrade your skis there buddy."
[19:36] <Avalanche_1-1> "Plane, I meant plane"
[19:37] <Cavalier_2-3> "I'll handle it after this. The damndable Crusader carried too little ordnance to be of use to this."
[19:37] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "What do you mean? MiG? Finest plane in the glorious skies of the motherland!"
06[19:38] * Cavalier_2-3 is, for once, not even paying attention to the ground, instead keeping his eyes almost flat on his radar.
[19:45] <BabaYaga_2-1> Taro pipes up behind Sascha, and she quickly relays the information over the radio. "We're picking up some big readings on the radar, still a long ways out, but there's... How many? 8? We've got eight large objects on the radar, moving high and fast, Mach 2 at least."
[19:46] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Must be the bombers Galm team was sent to take down."
[19:47] <Cavalier_2-3> "2-1. Can we pick up Galm Team aswell?"
[19:48] <BabaYaga_2-1> Baba Yaga turns to her RIO and checks. "No, not yet. Looks like we got here first. Be on the lookout for the interceptors. Leave the bombers to Galm."
[19:49] <Avalanche_1-1> "Who knows with them"
6[19:50] * Cavalier_2-3 mumbles, with an acrid tone to his voice as he tries locating anything else on his radar. "Fashionably late, are we..."
[19:54] <BabaYaga_2-1> "No reason to wonder about it now. Just be glad we have some time to clear the skies."
[20:00] <Cavalier_2-3> "2-1. Do we know where from which direction these interceptors should be coming from?"
[20:02] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Assume they'll be coming from the same direction as the bombers. So keep your eyes north. In the meantime we'll keep closing in, try to better our odds of getting in between them and the bombers."
[20:04] <Avalanche_1-1> "Yeah, maybe if we buy Galm some breathing room, they'll talk to us for once."
06[20:14] * Cavalier_2-3 pipes up again, double checking his radar, as he is STILL out of radar range of the bombers "Are we sure these aren't fake signals? ECM Fuckery? They've done this in the past."
[20:17] <BabaYaga_2-1> "It's... possible. But our intel should be good." She glances over her shoulder at her RIO, who shakes his head. "I wonder about us being the first ones here, though."
[20:17] <Cavalier_2-3> "That's what's bugging me. Something stinks. The eagles should be faster then what we're flying."
[20:18] <Cavalier_2-3> "Has Galm been intercepted already...?"

Your Radar homing and warning detector sets begin wailing as they pick up the brace of incoming missiles launched from the high speed interceptors to your north east.

[20:19] <Cavalier_2-3> "Eagl - missiles incoming!"
[20:20] <BabaYaga_2-1> "We don't know where they were being called in from-" Sascha stops as her RIO informs her of additional contacts. "Eyes up, people, we've got 9 readings incoming, massive-" And then her RWR starts wailing and she's drowned out.
06[20:20] * Cavalier_2-3 starts to turn his craft, giving a hard tug onto his flightstick. "Break! Break!"
[20:24] <Avalanche_1-1> "I don't know what kind of bombers those are, Baba!"
[20:26] <BabaYaga_2-1> "But they're not the ones... How did they-!?" Sascha pales. "They're not bombers! Fuck! I was wrong, it's the interceptors! Evasive maneuvers, prepare to engage!"

[20:39] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki spots the missiles from far off, and despite their advanced guidance, gracefully dodges in a high arc above them. "Missiles cleared!"
06[20:42] * Cavalier_2-3 in contrast with Yuki, maneuvers his craft rather...roughly. He turns and twists on the flight stick, forcing it at an odd angle. His craft jams upwards suddenly at a breakneck speed, and then dives directly diagonally right afterwards. The missiles whiz past Gabriel's crazed maneuvering, as he manages to steady his craft afore a stall. And nearly loses conciousness due to his straining of his aircraft and his own biology.
[20:46] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Damn! Two missiles?!" Ivan purposefully puts his plane into a stall and using the risky maneuver to dodge the two incoming missiles. "Come on regain control dammit!" Age hasn't hindered Ivan's skill as he easily recovers his aircraft.
[20:50] <BabaYaga_2-1> BabaYaga pulls at her control stick to the side quickly, trying to avoid the incoming fire without stalling out. Chaff fires from the plane as it spins, straining to avoid the missiles. Taro shouts something to her, but it's too late. The chaff only redirects one missile, while the other is only moved enough to erupt right below the plane, rather than directly into it. The explosion is more than enough to rock the plane front to back, like a car that just ran over a mine. For a brief moment, the engines stall out, and the radio cuts out. The super tomcat sways back and forth like a paper plane as it swaggers toward the ground, but eventually it begins to level out again, and the engines cut back in. The plane is trailing smoke and barely airborne, but it remains in the air. After a moment of wobbling uneasily, the plane starts making a slow, limping turn back toward Valais. A coughing voice comes over the radio as its intermittent feed returns. "Basi... 1... amaged... forc... to base... rry... I can't..."

06[20:52] * Cavalier_2-3 glances towards the point of impact after he regains his consciousness, proper, gritting his teeth as he flies his craft back towards his allies "God...damnit. Get home safe, 2-1."
[20:54] <Eagleclaw_2-2> After his maneuver Ivan's attention is brought over to Sascha's plane. He sees the whole things. "Shit what happened?!" Ivan is silent and holds his breath while he waits for his flight lead to respond. When her broken message transmits he finally exhales. "Fly safe, kid, we'll take care of the rest. We'll check on you when we get back."
06[20:55] * Cavalier_2-3 switches on his targeting systems, furrowing his eyebrows. "Eagleclaw. I'm right behind you. Let's make them pay."
[20:55] <Avalanche_1-1> "She's too angry at you to die, Basilisk 2. I wouldn't worry. A scorned woman is more powerful than death itself."
[20:57] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Ivan tries to hide his concern with a small laugh at that comment. "Y-you're right she'll be fine, Avalanche. Okay flight form up. Cavalier, we're going to get our revenge but we're not going to get ahead of ourselves and make a mistake right?"
[20:58] <Cavalier_2-3> "Correct, 2-2. I'm ready to fire."
[21:00] <Cavalier_2-3> "...I think They're going to try to cut through us and get to Galm."
[21:02] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "It might not be too difficult for them too considering how many there are but dammit we're going to try and hold them off. Do what you can, team."
[21:02] <Cavalier_2-3> "Bleeding speed and preparing for close-ranged assault."
[21:08] <Avalanche_1-1> "Alright, this is Avalanche, fox three!"
[21:09] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki easily picks out 4 of the enemy planes and sends phoenixes at each

The Interceptors continue barreling down their course, heedless of the missiles charging towards them, mindful of a higher purpose. By the time the smoke clears, only five of the large interceptors are still steaming towards you. As each of the Phoenix missiles finds their mark.

06[21:14] * Cavalier_2-3 quickly glacnes down his radar panel, as he hurriedly targets four of the remaining five interceptors with his own R-77 missiles. He calls out - "Cavalier, Fox-Three!", and lets loose the four missiles towards the enemy aircraft.

For two of the MiG-31s, it's enough that they simply change their heading slighly, their immense speed and this closing rate proving to be too much for the missiles seeking them. Another two aren't so fortunate, and go down trailing flames.

[21:18] <Cavalier_2-3> "Three bandits left!"
[21:18] <Cavalier_2-3> "Everyone, brace for counter-attack!"
[21:21] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Good kills, everyone. Basilisk-1 would be damn proud of your performance. Try to save some for me."

Undaunted, the three remaining interceptors continue their high speed run, attempting to blow past you before you can respond.

[21:25] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Three on three. We can take them. Don't let these damn Belkans pass."
06[21:25] * Cavalier_2-3 keeps his craft steady, hand gripping onto the flight speed forcefully, ready to dodge at any second "...Where the hell's the counter-attack? Are they just throwing themselves at us?"
[21:26] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Good point Basilisk-3. Something's up. Keep your eyes open for anything. Belkans are notorious for using dirty tricks in battle."
[21:28] <Avalanche_1-1> "Hey, I'm not a liar, but when it comes down to a fight I don't give up ground I don't have to. If they wanted to retreat there's a public channel."
[21:34] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "They're coming in fast! Stay alert!" Ivan gets a lock on one of the incoming MiGs. "This one is mine! Fox 2 fox 2" Ivan fires two missiles at the incoming high speed MiG.

Both of the missile fail to track due to the high speed and rapid closure of the MiG-31.

[21:37] <Eagleclaw_2-2> A few Yuktobanian curses fly inside the cabin of the Su-27S. "Let's just ignore that... Finish these guys off already."
[21:41] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki targets the last three and announces "This is Avalanche, fox three!" Before loosing another salvo

Two of the MiG-31s are outright destroyed by the massive Phoenix missiles which have a top speed of more than twice that of the Interceptor. The final surviving MiG-31 manages to dodge one of the slower AMRAAMs, before being crippled by the other.

[21:44] <Cavalier_2-3> "Solid clean-up, Avalanche! One target...left?" Cavalier arches one eyebrow as he watches the Mig-31 limp by. "...Is that thing even airworthy?"

"You bastards." A heavy voice says over an open radio, panting for breath. "You don't know what you've done." The voice gasps out, "We could have stopped it..." The channel goes silent as the only MiG-31 that wasn't outright destroyed begins a slow roll, losing altitude, the pilot apparently no longer conscious."

[21:46] <Cavalier_2-3> "...Stopped what? The hell are you on about?" Cavalier continues watching the craft head downwards "Enemy Aircraft - Respond."

As you watch the burning plane, tumble through the air, it actually begins to slow down. With the massive engines no longer propelling it at breakneck speed, the air resistance is enough to slow the plane. Unfortunately for the pilot, the air resistance at this speed induces enough stress into the airframe that it nearly splits nearly in half.

[21:48] <Avalanche_1-1> "Well, maybe the fools will learn what a public channel is."
[21:49] <Avalanche_1-1> "If I learned anything from Excalibur..."
6[21:50] * Cavalier_2-3 continues watching the aircraft start to tear itself, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the pilot's either unconscious or dead at this point "God damn idiots - Enemy Aircraft! Respond! Avalanche, we got anything else on radar?"
[21:57] <Avalanche_1-1> "There's only five radar contacts left from earlier, of the 9. Looks like Galm's doing their part."
[21:58] <Avalanche_1-1> "Galm, this is Avalanche, interceptors have been taken out."

"Roger th-" Facing north, your vision is whited out by and intense blast of light, followed seconds later by a massive shockwave. Controls are wrenched from your hands as your plane is buffeted by massive over pressure. Cockpit electronics short out, sparking and your radar scope is nothing but a hash of static, while your RWR blares at the top of its lungs.

[22:02] <Cavalier_2-3> "Should w-" Cavalier is swiftly cut short as he's slammed against the left of his cockpit, flightstick forcefully bring wrenched to the left as well, his Mig-29 breaking into an uncontrolled spin.
[22:05] <Avalanche_1-1> The blast wrenches the plane, but Yuki's reaction allows him to swing the plane back under control.
[22:05] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Ah!" Ivan is knocked back. The intense light is so intense that Ivan needs to shield his eyes even through the tinted visor of his helmet. He blindly grabs for the controls. "Pull it together dammit!" Ivan regains controls but it wasn't easy. "What just happened?! Is everyone still in the air?!"
06[22:07] * Cavalier_2-3 craft seems to be pointed directly downwards, gradually losing altitude - there is no response from Basilisk 3.
[22:09] <Avalanche_1-1> "This is Yuki, still up with you. No response from Cavalier..."
[22:10] <BabaYaga_2-1> At the edge of the operation zone, BabaYaga's already crippled tomcat is rocked once again by the powerful blast. The pilot of the bruised and beaten plane is starting to resemble her machine as she's rocked about the cockpit, her unconscious RIO still silent behind her. If her radio was working before, though, it's a goner now, as are most of her electronics, leaving her no way to question just what the hell just happened.
06[22:11] * Cavalier_2-3 continues pummeling downwards for a few seconds - luckily, however, Gabriel lets out a weak groan as he recovers from the small concussion he's suffered by hitting his cockpit - partially cracking his visor. He looks around for a fraction of a second, before lunging out and grabbing at his flight stick, decreasing thrust and pulling up until his plane stabilizes. Right afterwards, he throws his thrust up, sucessfully defeating the stall "I - I'm here! What the fuck just happened!?"
[22:11] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Damn! Can you spot him? I have no visual!"
[22:12] <Avalanche_1-1> "A massive explosion that just hit us with a shockwave."

By the time your vision clears, you're able to spot the 7 mushroom clouds on the horizon, raising into the shockingly blue skies.

[22:13] <Avalanche_1-1> "God dammit... did they... just nuke themselves?"
06[22:13] * Cavalier_2-3 shakes his head, ignoring the thumming on his cranium for the time being "Damnit - eletronics are on the fritz...where's Galm-...oh." Cavalier quickly shuts up from his panicked stammering as he spots the forming clouds.
[22:15] <Avalanche_1-1> "Galm, this is Avalanche, we're still airborne, you guys up there?"

There's no response but crackling static over your radio, as in cockpit alarms continue to wail for attention.

06[22:17] * Cavalier_2-3 looks towards the ground for a brief moment where he had last spotted the Mig-31 going down "..Could've...stopped..." he then proceeds to yell through the radio, despite the fact that the enemy pilot has long crashed and burned. "...You Belkan *IMBECILE*! Why didn't you tell us!?"
[22:18] <Avalanche_1-1> "Because we would have had to let galm get butchered."
[22:19] <Cavalier_2-3> "The could've just told Galm! God da-" he cuts himself off, fully aware that yelling and venting through the radio will, in fact, not un-explode the nukes, simply focusing on his surroundings, wary of any incoming attack, due to his eletronics still going crazy.
[22:23] <Avalanche_1-1> "You think Pixy would believe that? I wouldn't have believed it myself."
[22:24] <Cavalier_2-3> "Worth a damn shot, at the very least..."
[22:25] <Cavalier_2-3> "What do we do? Eagleclaw?"
06[22:25] * Cavalier_2-3 glances over towards Ivan's craft, hands firmly grasping onto his flight stick.
[22:27] <BabaYaga_2-1> The clouds against that unnaturally blue sky reflect against Basilisk Lead's visor as she looks into the distance, her chest hollow and her mind running in quick, brief circles as she tries to process what just happened. Visions of the Excalibur weapon disintegrating allied planes right in front of her return, and for a brief moment her shock and fear are replaced by unmitigated rage. That fury quickly drains out, though, in the face of this unbelievable tragedy, and the hopeless sensation of being unable to do anything about it, especially as her plane continues trailing smoke on its way back to base. There's nothing more she can do, if there was ever anything she could have done to stop this, anything ANY of them could have done. Only history will know for sure.

[22:28] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "We need to get our instruments back online. We need to get on the comms with someone who knows what the hell just happened."
[22:30] <Avalanche_1-1> "We know what happened, and the why won't come for a while. Our CO's don't exactly worry about our safety, but they would have mentioned this."
[22:31] <Avalanche_1-1> "And seven nuclear detonations at once doesn't strike me as an accident."
[22:31] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Ivan finds it is no use attempting to get comms with anyone outside the flight. "This is useless. Flight we are RTB. Fly safe. Keep your eyes open." With his instruments still offline Ivan turns his plane around and carefully flies back the way he came.
[22:31] <Cavalier_2-3> "You think this was...planned? What the hell? "I mean, Hoffnung was...still..."
06[22:33] * Cavalier_2-3 lets out a low groan - still not knowing what to properly say or do in this situation, avoiding to look at the still-growing mushroom clouds. He turns his craft over towards Basilisk 2, forming up on his wing, not willing to properly process what happened just yet, keeping his eyes forwards in a blank expression, speaking in a careful, measured tone.
[22:34] <Cavalier_2-3> "Alright. Understood,  Basilisk 2." - he then proceeds to jettison towards Valais, very much willing to leave the seven explosions behind.
[22:39] <Avalanche_1-1> "Look at those clouds. Were any there before the explosion? 1 nuke might be an accident. 7 is not."
[22:47] <BabaYaga_2-1> Far ahead of the other planes, Sascha is able to make it back to Valais first. Unable to call in her approach, the workers on the strip are nonetheless able to identify her by the smoke still trailing from her engines. Her instruments are half-functional at best and her extended wings look like they're barely holding on. At this point, the pilot is flying more by feel than anything else. The landing gear manage to extend properly, though, and despite everything, Baba Yaga manages to bring her craft down to the ground with only a slight bump on contact. Enough to send a jolt of pain up her leg, but she arrives intact. Almost immediately upon her plane reaching the hangar, an emergency crew rushes out to stabilize the plane and pull its crew out for medical treatment. Taro is carted off to the emergency ward while Sascha manages to hobble a few steps before getting carried the rest of the way on a stretcher.

6[22:50] * Cavalier_2-3 brings his craft down several moments after Baba Yaga does. It's an out of order landing - but nonetheless, a well-performed one. Confident enough in flying his craft without relying on electronics, Cavalier touches down with absolutely no issue, easing his untouched Mig-29 into the Basilisk Hangar once more.
[22:50] <Cavalier_2-3> Upon landing, he would make sure to head towards the medical bay, to ensure the safety of his CO and her RIO.
[22:53] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Ivan stays mostly silent on his flight back to base trying to comprehend what just happened. He easily lands the plane as he has taken no damage. After parking his plane in the hangar he briefly stares off into the horizon before quickly rushing over to the medical bay following the others.
[22:54] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki easily glides his ST-21 down to land, waiting for Baba's squadmates to before approaching. He takes some time to catch his breath before debriefing with his WSO and heading towards the medical bay.
[23:01] <BabaYaga_2-1> Battered around by her rough ride, her left leg struck by wayward shrapnel, Sascha has been better. She's busy cursing hoarsely in Yuktobanian at the person treating her leg wound, striking the bed furiously in lieu of the medical professional. Unlike the last time she was here, there's at least enough medics to spare, but no reason to be on their bad side. Her head is bruised and her  protests lose wind fast, but she still can't bring herself to look at the others right away. When the medic is finished removing the shrapnel and treating her leg as best as possible for the time being, the others are begrudgingly allowed in, on the condition of not exacerbating things. For her part, Sascha is busy pulling her pillow over her face like a mortified teenager.
[23:03] <Eagleclaw_2-2> Ivan walks over lifts up the pillow from Sascha's face. "How many times are you in the medical bay now, kid?" Ivan drops the pillow back in her face before she can answer.
06[23:03] * Cavalier_2-3 remains silent - at least for now as he allowed in, shooting an awkward glance at Ivan, seemingly preferring the loud, aged Yuke to announce their arrival, it seems. He also tactically avoids looking at Sasha's leg - the top of his left brow appears to have a small gash on it, but it's nothing serious.

[23:08] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Only two, damn it. Don't you talk to me about getting myself injured, old man," she grumbles from below the pillow. She's still for a moment before composing herself and pulling the pillow away. "Doesn't look like I'll be dancing again too soon." There's a faint, sardonic grin on her face for a moment before she puts a hand back on her forehead. "I'm... sorry. I can't believe I didn't realize something so obvious. At that speed, I should have known..."
[23:09] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki walks in after giving them a minute. "Don't worry, I took a bunch of the bastards out for you."
[23:10] <Cavalier_2-3> "Well, gee. I helped, y'know."
[23:10] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Ah there's the fire. That's how I know you'll be okay." Ivan looks at the wound. "Don't worry about it. You'll be kicking my ass on the dance floor in no time." Ivan turns and looks at the others. "Yeah we went all out on those bandits. You should have seen these guys fight. Some good stuff."
06[23:10] * Cavalier_2-3 shakes his head, resting his hand onto his hips.
[23:11] <Cavalier_2-3> "And...uh. Don't sweat it, Sascha. Happens to the best of us."
[23:14] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha's silent for a moment. Not having been privy to the enemy pilot's final transmissions, she's still in the dark about what the goal of the interceptors actually was. The results remain unchanged, though. She stares at the nearest window at the sky, her face pale even in the light. "... Is this what it's come to? They're really willing to go this far?"
06[23:15] * Cavalier_2-3 folds his arms, furrowing his brow into a graver expression, rapid-firing his answer "After Hoffnung? Doesn't surprise me."

[23:15] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "Hoffnung wasn't on this large a scale though."
[23:16] <Cavalier_2-3> "Doesn't matter. The oseans were burning everthing alive. Civillians included. You corner an animal - it gets desperate. People are no different."
[23:17] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Hoffnung wasn't perpetrated by them against their own PEOPLE! I..." Sascha's hands start shaking. An image of a folded Yuktobanian flag flashes at the back of her hand. "How can anyone just... just throw a life away, let alone that many? How many people lived in those mountains? I can't-" she interrupts herself with a fit of coughs, and she lies back in the bed to try and calm down. "I just don't understand."
[23:19] <Avalanche_1-1> "Not a lot, that's why they did it."
[23:19] <Avalanche_1-1> "Coming from someone that lives in the mountains."
06[23:20] * Cavalier_2-3 opens his mouth to continue, before noticing Sascha's more agitated state. He catches himself, briefly looking away and clearing his throat. "...Sacrifice them to halt our advance on other cities? It's...cold, but...fuck's sake. This is crazy and unjustifiable eitherway."
[23:22] <Avalanche_1-1> "The people in the cities make the decisions, not the ones in the mountains."
[23:26] <BabaYaga_2-1> Sascha just shakes her head, looking more tired now. "I have a bad feeling that this won't be the end of things. If their objective was to tell us they'll go to any lengths, we need to be prepared to see them follow through on that promise." She sighs, glancing up at Gabe. "Cav, go get that cut looked at. I need some rest. Let me know later if we find out any more, alright?"

[23:28] <Avalanche_1-1> "It's one of desperation. They have no lengths left. If they had a chance to nuke us, they would have."
06[23:28] * Cavalier_2-3 looks at Sascha blankly with a rather confused expression, slowly arching one eyebrow, afore blinking a few times and feeling up his own cut "...Oh. Huh. - Alright, Flight Lead. I'll...keep an ear out." - he shoots a lingering glance at Ivan, afore letting himself away from the bed "Get better soon, eh?"
[23:29] <BabaYaga_2-1> "Thanks, Cav. Make sure to get some rest yourself."
06[23:30] * Cavalier_2-3 holds up a hand in a farewell fashion as he walks away towards one of the medical cabinets. To soon wince and grumble as he treats his rather superficial brow cut.
[23:31] <Eagleclaw_2-2> "I'll see you on the dancefloor, kid. Heal up." Ivan smiles at Sascha and walks out after Cav.

Despite the horrors of the the day, the near loss of your flight lead, and the untold thousands who are surely dead from the devastating nuclear attack, you gain some small solace in the fact that once again, every plane that went up came back down. For basilisk at least. Several hours pass, and it's only when you're finally about to turn in, exhausted from the days events, that you get word that both members of Galm team, Cipher and Pixy, never returned to base, presumed lost in the explosions.