Emergency Sortie 2

June 4th, 1995 22:00 Local time.
Valais AFB
Range - N/A
Difficulty - N/A
Payout - N/A

Enemy Forces:
???

Friendly Forces:
1x ST-21 (Avalanche)
1x MiG-29M (Cavalier)
1x XF8U-3 (GhostRider)
1x Super Phantom (Cleansweep)

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The mood in the O'club is somber, much more so than usual. 7 nukes. The topic on everyone's mind, discussed in quiet, whispered conversation as if speaking of it aloud and matter of factly would make it more 'real' than it already was. The question on everyone's mind, however, is why? Why drop 7 nukes on your own territory? On your own troops? You may never know, and that thought tugs at your mind, knowing these are the people in charge of countries.

[18:49] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki ducks in. Hoping to avoid the depressing bar conversation, he heads over to the arcade machines. He grabs his bag of quarters, some local pale ale, and goes to work on the pinball machine.
06[18:52] * Cavalier_2-3 is currently reading the most recent newspaper that has arrived in the airbase, while sipping on a mug of coffee, having taken up a table next to the pool tables and the arcade machines, currently observing the activity of the bar while reading the newest...news. Yes.
[18:54] <Avalanche_1-1> "Come on, Gabe, you gotta keep your head out of the papers. Shit's depressing."
06[18:55] * Cavalier_2-3 looks back at Avalanche "Undeniably, but not thinking about it isn't going to make it away, Yuki. This stuff's big." He takes a slow sip from his mug as he observes Avalanche.
[18:58] <Avalanche_1-1> "Tell me about it!" Yuki quickly jerks the machine to the right, shoving the ball into the bonus reel lane. "That shockwave sent me for a loop! But we're already doing our part. At least we signed up for the right team. Imagine being paid by the Belkans right now."
[19:00] <Cavalier_2-3> "Were the Belkans even recruiting mercenaries? I thought they were all about their own airforce. Hell, isn't that what propelled them onwards in the first place?" Cavalier proceeds to set his mug down onto the table, flipping a page on the newspaper.

[19:02] <Avalanche_1-1> "Honestly, didn't pay attention. Mom and dad sure as hell weren't letting me sign up for the Belkans, so it didn't really matter." Yuki quickly shoots the plunger twice, releasing the multiballs.
[19:03] <Cavalier_2-3> "So you went into combat with Belka without knowing about their - might I add - quite legendary airforce. Great job, Yuki. Remind me to never let you apply for an AWACS position, if you ever have that genius idea." Cavalier_2-3 lets out a dry chuckle as he continues flipping through the pages.
[19:10] <Avalanche_1-1> "Fighting isn't about who wins. It's about who's right. Besides, the mountain gods keep a close eye on me so I wasn't too worried." Yuki curses as he loses the ball to the right side flipper slot. "And hey, I've done a decent job sizing them up so far."
[19:10] <Cavalier_2-3> "*We've* done a decent job." states as a matter of factly, finishing up his cup of joe as he sets the paper down "I mean...say what you will. On cold, hard facts, we've...lost comparatively little people then many other detachments."
[19:14] <Avalanche_1-1> "Oh, I just meant in response to being AWACS. No, you guys are solid wingmen. It's weird not having one officially, but you're pretty much mine, and I haven't gone down yet, so I'd say you've done a pretty good job."
[19:15] <Cavalier_2-3> "Yeah, Clover got in a bit of a mess, with Frostbite retiring and everyone else sort of...quitting. Sans Drider." Cavalier sighs, letting his eyes wander over towards the pool table, blinking a few times as he stares at it for several seconds.

[19:16] <GhostRider_3-2> "Everyone's lost someone," comes a groggy voice from a booth in the back. Amy sits up and rubs the circles out from her eyes, fixing her hair and her hat both. "Just a matter of how many of them you take out to compensate for it, I reckon." She stares at the other two pilots, her expression showing a lack of real sleep in recent days. "You guys look like hell."
[19:18] <Avalanche_1-1> "Eh, Drider quit, he just quit living at the same time." Yuki knees the table suddenly, managing to keep the ball in the bonus area. "Hey, we don't all have attendants keeping us looking pretty, you know?"
06[19:19] * Cavalier_2-3 winces and shakes his head, letting his eyes over towards the newcoming Amy, blinking a couple times "...Do I? Huh. Well, damn. You're not doing much better either, lad- I mean. Yes."
[19:19] <Cleansweep_3-3> With a creak of the door, an onrush of sudden light shone into the dark confines of the hive of scum and villainy that was the O'Club, the taut form of the belkan noble stepping into the door frame with a smug smile, one hand leisurely stroking his moustache. "Hail, common folk. One of the worthies am I, carrying my flight, the poor fools, to victory and glory." the disgraced noble stepped inside, further gracing the inhabitants with his radiant figure "Name's Konrad Vogler, you may shake my hand later, now I require a drink."

[19:21] <GhostRider_3-2> Amy just chuckles at Yuki and Gabe's banter, leaning back in her seat. And then the guest of honor shows up. Amy claps her hands once and laughs. Oh, if this isn't just perfect. "Howdy there, Konrad, nice of you to join us common folk."
06[19:21] * Cavalier_2-3 punctuates the noble's entrance with a simple, completely deadpan "Oh god, what the fuck."
[19:24] <Avalanche_1-1> "So, where you from?" Yuki intones cautiously.
[19:24] <GhostRider_3-2> Amy snorts at the question and its obvious answer, but allows it to be answered anyway.
[19:27] <Avalanche_1-1> "Well, Konrad that is."
06[19:28] * Cavalier_2-3 looks left and right for a moment, blinking a few times "Uh. Was that...did I miss something? Or...? No? Alright."
[19:29] <Cleansweep_3-3> "Why, from the golden plains of Belka, naturally." The noble helped himself to an old-fashioned mug of beer, taking a generous swig - just enough for his natural manliness to be further accentuated - before turning to the other man, teeth bared in a compassionate smile "Truly, no better place to be from, till fire starts raining from the sky of course."
[19:30] <GhostRider_3-2> "Vogler here's on my flight. He's a hoot. Ain'tcha, Konrad?"
[19:31] <Cleansweep_3-3> "So are you, if you actually manage to HIT something instead of being degraded to bait while a MAN must save you, woman." the noble replied snidely towards Ghostrider.
06[19:31] * Cavalier_2-3 tries sipping on his mug, stopping for a moment and staring at it, realizing that it is, infact, empty - afterwards awkwardly setting it down, letting his eyes wander over towards GR "...He's...something."
[19:33] <GhostRider_3-2> Amy laughs and slaps her knee. "See? I'm tellin' ya. Keep on keepin' on, you crazy bastard." From her jacket, she procures herself a flask of whiskey and takes a long draw from it. "We've met, right? Ghost Rider, Amy Rogers. I'm number 2 on Apogee these days." She says at Gabe.

[19:34] <Cavalier_2-3> "Yeah - we've met briefly a couple weeks ago...Apogee, huh. How're the folks over there been doing? It's my old flight."
06[19:35] * Cavalier_2-3 stops and catches himself, realizing that he infact, completely forgot to introduce himself. "Uh - Gabriel - Gabe. Lennart. Cavalier."
[19:36] <GhostRider_3-2> "Well, I ain't seen the boss in ages, for starters. Not sure what she's been up to." Amy pales a little, though it doesn't show well in the lighting of the bar. She just smiles and takes another drink. "Other than that, it's just me, the Baron here, and a couple of greenhorns who probably never flew a jet before. They got talent, though. I'm proud of 'em."
06[19:37] * Cavalier_2-3 gives her a nod "I've taken a couple of peeks on the reports. You folks did good work over near Sudentor."
[19:37] <Cleansweep_3-3> "They have taken to me quite well. Additional body-armor is always welcome!"
[19:38] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki takes a moment before his third round to turn around and introduces himself. "Yuki Yashihara, Clover's one and only!" Noticing the flask, he flashes his own. "And thanks, although you look like the kind of person who's used to taking care of themselves."
[19:45] <GhostRider_3-2> "That's me. Taking care of myself." And only herself. She doesn't say that out loud, though. "Not sure how the hell I ended up here, but it's a hell of a ride so far."

6[19:48] * Cavalier_2-3 sighs and folds up his newspaper, pushing it aside on his table as he observes Konrad and Amy for a moment, only managing a faint shrug.
[19:51] <Avalanche_1-1> "Yeah, it's not for everyone. How's it been so far?"
[19:53] <GhostRider_3-2> "Can't complain. Haven't lost anyone yet." She shrugs and looks out toward the window. "Cash flow's kinda thin, but the planes are solid enough."
[19:53] <GhostRider_3-2> "I'd give a kidney to get back behind the controls of a heli, though. It just ain't the same flying a bottle rocket into a fight."
[19:55] <Avalanche_1-1> "I mean, I like not getting broadsided, but I get what you mean. That's how they pulled me into flying planes."
06[19:55] * Cavalier_2-3 shoots Yuki a curious look "Wait, whaddya mean?"
[19:58] <Avalanche_1-1> "Well, I got a reputation for not getting killed and knowing the mountain well, so they had me go to learn how to fly the rescue chopper. Did only a season of rescues though before they put me in a plane last Spring."
[19:59] <Cavalier_2-3> "Oh. Shit. That sounds kind of scummy."
[19:59] <Avalanche_1-1> "What it comes down to is knowing how to push a chopper without crashing into a rock face or triggering another slide." Yuki feverishly works the bumpers, eyeing the high score table
[20:01] <GhostRider_3-2> "Rescue, huh? That's good work. I was mostly cargo and troop transport, but I did some other work too. Never did rescue, though, unless it was a combat extraction."
[20:03] <Avalanche_1-1> "Yeah, and that's after they had me do artillery school a year before that." Yuki spells out his name on the score table, good enough for 7th. "My first combat action was a few months ago with Basilisk. I mean, we did mock dogfights, but nothing like this."

A sudden wailing siren cuts through the friendly atmosphere of the bar, shattering the stillness of the night. The siren howls its mournful note, growing to reach a pitch and then dopplering off, before rising once again. Activity on the base comes to a sudden crashing halt, as everyone who was present relives the last time this siren made its presence known. A short chattering burst of light calibre cannon fire is followed by another, and then another, before being silenced with an explosion that knocks bottles to the floor.

06[20:04] * Cavalier_2-3 jumps up in his chair "What the *FUCK*!?", nearly stumbling off to the side towards the floor
[20:04] <Cleansweep_3-3> "Hmm." The belkan noble intoned "Just when I finished my beer. To battle, lads!" Standing up, Vogler rushes outside, towards the hangar.
06[20:06] * Cavalier_2-3 stays on his chair, watching as Vogler gleefulyl walks towards the hangar "I...what?"
[20:07] <GhostRider_3-2> Amy lays her hat on the table and jumps up to follow. "Looks like we got us a fight to get to. C'mon fellas, they're gonna want us by the planes and ready to go!"

Outside, confusion reigns as people rush around in the dark. Traces from static AA positions reach into the sky, searching for unknown assailants. You see a trail of an unknown jet as it lights its afterburners high above you. A shout catches your attention, and a nearby mechanic points upwards. Descending from the skies, you see a train of black parachutes barely visible against the backdrop of the stars. The paratroopers apparently unmindful of the risk of the high winds in the mountains.

06[20:11] * Cavalier_2-3 steadies himself up, grunting as he rushes over towards the hangar behind the two members of Apogee, still a bit staggered and lost due to the sudden attack.

Small arms fire erupts from the few guards currently on duty, as they attempt to deal with the Belkan paratroopers descending from the skies. A heavy droning sound fills your ears, and you turn just in time to see a heavy cargo aircraft thunder over a ridge, less than a hundred feet over the runway. The rear ramp is open, and a large parachute emerges from the back, pulling out a pallet behind it. The Light tank lands on the middle of the runway, skittering for another fifty feet across the tarmac before coming to a halt.

[20:12] <GhostRider_3-2> Amy pulls out her gun and takes a few careful shots at the incoming paratroopers, until she notices the tank landing on the runway, at which point she just stops. "I... Ah... Ah, hell-!"
06[20:13] * Cavalier_2-3 yells out "Okay, *MAYBE* we really, really should NOT be heading over to grab our planes right now." - Cavalier then proceeds to simply duck for the nearest piece of cover he can even find, being completely unarmed.
[20:15] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki quickly empties a clip from his sidearm into the skies. "Well, shit, hopefully the guards can cover. I'll radio the tower to see if we even have time to send a retaliatory force."
[20:15] <Cleansweep_3-3> "This is most unkind, fellow countrymen!" Vogler calls with a maximum of indignation towards the enemy tank before ducking into cover "My riches! My bills! They will be so hard to fulfill if the planes take damage!!"
[20:15] <Cavalier_2-3> "Are you really worried about your bills right now when we're being shot at by a goddamn tank!? What the hell is wrong with you!? And how is Yuki so calm, again!?"

Ustian guard forces impotently bounce rifle rounds off the heavy armored plating, as the first of the black parachute troops land, moving towards the hangars. One of them runs forward a few steps, and then hurls a demolition charge into the Hangar that once belonged to Galm team. A few seconds later, Cipher's collection of extra aircraft along with all the fuel and ammo goes up in a massive earthshaking explosion. Shrapnel from the hangar rains down on the tarmac.

[20:18] <GhostRider_3-2> "They're targeting the hangars!" Amy scrambles into cover with the others, popping up just enough to try and takes some shots at the unknown intruders. "Get to Basilisk's hangar, we have to keep them out!" Amy points to the hangar closest to the bar as she shouts."
[20:19] <Cavalier_2-3> "Keep them out with what, harsh word and sticks!? What the hell is everyone's pro - oh *god* damnit why does this always happen to me!?" - Cavalier proceeds to awkwardly run over alongside Amy, stumbling over a piece of concrete and nearly falling.
[20:20] <GhostRider_3-2> Amy pauses long enough to grab his arm and steady him, while taking a few more shots to cover him. "Keep goin'! Get a gun from one of the guards! We can't let them take out the fighters!"
06[20:21] * Cavalier_2-3 continues running along, looking around for anything that he can use as a sidearm or, infact, weapon. At least he's legitimately fast as he sprints along.

A nearby Ustian goes down in a shower of gore, rifle falling from nerveless fingers as he falls like a puppet with its strings cut.

[20:22] <Cleansweep_3-3> "I am here to make my riches by flying planes, not to do grunt-work on the ground!" protested the belkan noble, trying to maintain some form of composure even as he ducks into cover.
[20:23] <Cavalier_2-3> "Oh my god what the *FUCK!?"-  Cavalier stops for a moment, before grabbing at the slung rifle, spending a couple of precious seconds to acutally move it off the sling , fiddling with it "I've never fired this!"
[20:25] <Avalanche_1-1> "Look at it this way, Cleansweep, if you get shot you don't have to pay any bills!" Yuki checks the guard for a pulse, before peeling off his first aid kit and other gear. "If anyone gets hit, yell to me. Gabriel, have you ever shot a handgun?" Yuki sweeps for paratroopers towards his hangar. "If you touch my fucking girls I swear to the mountain gods I will fistfuck you to death!"
[20:25] <GhostRider_3-2> "Point it at the bad guys and don't let it knock you over, son," Amy shouts as she finally reaches the hangar, covering the others' approach as they fall in with her. "Someone get the doors closed! We ain't getting these birds in the air anyway, no reason to give 'em a clean shot!"
06[20:27] * Cavalier_2-3 raises his rifle towards the blurry incoming foot soldiers, holding his finger onto the trigger. It seems he's not learned a lot of trigger discipline, as the gun swiftly angles upwards after a couple shots, before he finally decides to stop firing, still rushing "I haven't fired a gun in years!"
[20:28] <GhostRider_3-2> "Remind me to get you onto the range after this is all over, kid!"
06[20:28] * Cavalier_2-3 yells out a properly punctuated "Fucking Oseans!" as he finally nears the hangar, stumbling and occasionally diving into cover, not being hit, more likely, more due to sheer luck then skill.
[20:32] <Avalanche_1-1> "See the butt? Keep that in the slot of your shoulder, not against the shoulder itself." Yuki slides in after the group, sweeping again for any followers. "Anyone hit?"
[20:37] <Cavalier_2-3> "No... no  I'm. I'm okay. I think." - Cavalier taps himself down, taking a quick glance at his rifle, afore locating it's butt.
[20:38] <GhostRider_3-2> Amy does a quick check on herself, "Nah, I'm fine."

"We need to get these planes in the air, or they'll die on the ground!" A man runs up, firing a burst from his hip in the general direction of Belka. An Ustian security team moves up behind him, moving from cover to cover and taking careful shots at the paratroopers still vulnerable in the air.

06[20:39] * Cavalier_2-3 looks around for a moment, before spotting his plane "Amy - "
[20:40] <Cavalier_2-3> "Look, if you guys don't have one for this, just fly my damn Crusader, alright? Now let's get these things in the air before I change my mind!"
[20:40] <Cleansweep_3-3> "I agree. We require brave knaves that would protect the pilots from punishment as they scale their steeds to do battle!"
06[20:40] * Cavalier_2-3 then proceeds to bolt over towards his Mig-29, attaining a newfound sense of purpose - aerial combat.
[20:40] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki wipes 55 degrees, and whispers "Don't worry, I'll take out some more of the bastards for you." He then shouts to the others. "Hey, there's a super phantom here if you think you can get it up there." He then runs over to the Tomcat and leaps in.
[20:41] <Cleansweep_3-3> To his F-105G goes the belkan noble, to collect on the bounties flying in the air.
[20:43] <GhostRider_3-2> "You sure? Ah, hell, alright! Let's go, let's go!" Amy holsters her gun and heads for the Crusader, swinging herself into the cockpit as the crew hastens to get it ready. She spends a few moments familiarizing herself with the controls before putting her helmet on and getting it started up.
[20:46] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki quickly explains over the radio to Ghost Rider. "And be careful with the missiles- the ones strapped to that thing are worth more than your Belkan friend's entire plane."
[20:46] <Avalanche_1-1> "Sascha is pretty protective of her plane."
[20:47] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki quickly flips the switches, and sticking his head out to the secuirty team and hollers "Hey, anyone wanna ride shotgun?"

One of the men hands off his rifle to a member of the groundcrew. "I'm a radar technician, should be similiar enough, right?" He asks, making to climb into the second seat.

The ground crew hurry to strap what weapons they can to the planes, even as the engines are being started up. A serious breach of protocol that could see everyone in the hangar dead at the slightest misstep. Of course, at this point, the same could be said of any inaction.

[20:52] <Cavalier_2-3> "God, thank fuck I didn't get hit back on the last op - alright! This is Cavalier, all systems seems to check out - I'm good for take-off!"
[20:52] <Avalanche_1-1> "No problem, she's got a pretty good radar on her. We need all the eyes in the sky we can get after getting blindsided like this."
[20:53] <GhostRider_3-2> Amy gives a sheepish thumbs up to the scrambling workers, knowing she's in someone else's plane. "I'll be sure to bring it back in one piece, chief. I'm all set here, let's get off the ground!"
[20:54] <Cavalier_2-3> "The girl's got me through fire from Excalibur, Ghost Rider. You'll make it." Notably - that would be spotted as the right side of the craft lacks any sort of painting at all, instead revealing the bare metal of the plane itself, that slowly fades into the other, painted side.

The doors wheel open as Cav maneuvers to the open door under his own power, the heat of the engines washing over the rest of the planes and the crew, not enough to burn, but definitely uncomfortable. Turning Left towards the runway, the Light Tank stands in the way, the crew climbing in and starting it up. The engine rumbles to life, and the turret starts to slew towards Cav's MiG-29.

[20:55] <Cavalier_2-3> "OH FUCK- OKAY_"
[20:59] <Cavalier_2-3> "Oh god - oh go-" Cavalier catches himself. He realizes that he is, in fact, flying a war machine. A war machine with really, really big guns. As he notices his cannons are, indeed, clear to fire, he yells out through the radio "Everyone! Cover your ears!" - the practiced gunman then proceeds to open fire with the twin cannons of his Mig-29M, blasting them towards the enemy tank.

The roar of the internal cannon combined with the gunpod is deafening in the confines of the hangar, where it cruelly reverberates around in the gigantic echo chamber. The crew of the tank, however, suffers a much worse fate. From this range, and this angle, the rounds have enough power to chew into the armor of the tank. By the time he lets off the trigger, the light vehicle is literally shot full of holes, resembling a piece of Ustian cheese. The barrel slumps, the hydraulic lines keeping it in line with the hangar cut and smoke trickles from the new ventilation holes.

06[21:03] * Cavalier_2-3 yells out "Runway clear! Let's get up on the sky, *now*!"
[21:04] <GhostRider_3-2> "WHAT?" Amy shakes her head, waiting for her hearing to clear back out.
[21:04] <Avalanche_1-1> "Tower, this is Avalanche. Cavalier took care of the light tank for you guys, over." Yuki checks that it's clear to taxi, and moves out of the hangar before gunning it down the runway.

There's no response from the tower.

06[21:06] * Cavalier_2-3 starts his engines, starting to  blaze through the runway, narrowly avoided the blasted tank as he disregards a lot of safety procedures to get his Mig-29 on the air ASAP. The natural recklessness of the pilot seems to serve him, as he finally surges towards the sky.
[21:06] <Cleansweep_3-3> "Lazy bastards, after all the work and monetary property we had to expend too!"
[21:07] <Cavalier_2-3> "This is Cavalier - I'm airborne!"
[21:08] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki, after realizing the tower is silent, gets back on the public band. "All allied forces, this is Avalanche, looks like I'll be your eyes in the sky tonight. The light tank on the runway has been destroyed. I'll let you guys know if there's anymore visitors, over!" Yuki guns the engine, taking off into the sky.
[21:09] <GhostRider_3-2> Despite the unfamiliar plane, Ghost Rider manages to rocket the Crusader down the crowded runway and into the air. "God, but this thing's got a kick to it! Holy hell!"

Cav's RHAW set doesn't even give him a warning before the missile explodes just behind him, the proximity to the ground possibly interfering with the warhead's fuzing. The launching aircraft, an F-4, blows past at much higher speed, the twin J79 engines buffeting the MiG-29 in their wake.

[21:12] <Cavalier_2-3> "This is Cavalier! I'm not slightly *less* airborne. They got planes in the air! Damnit!" - Cavalier helpfully informs his allies as his craft rocks unsteadily for a short fashion, but manages to take the blow without fumbling too much.
[21:13] <Avalanche_1-1> "Allied forces, this is Avalanche, we have an enemy F-4 spotted visually, probably more, keep your heads down, over."

"Ah, got a picture here." The Radar tech, the impromptu backseater, informs Yuki in the ST-21. "Looks like... two to three zoomies providing top cover, a couple to suppress defences, and three transports."

[21:17] <Cleansweep_3-3> Not to be outdone by mere commoners, the belkan noble follows suit, kicking his engine into gear even in the unfamiliar craft, before taking off with grandiose splendor. "To victory!"
06[21:18] * Cavalier_2-3 grunts in frustration, looking at his radar, scanning for targets "Okay, okay. Come on, work..."
[21:19] <Avalanche_1-1> "Okay, they probably already dropped their payload from the transports, so let's help our boys out and take out those defence suppression aircraft!"
[21:20] <Avalanche_1-1> "We also have two or three covering up top and three transports."
06[21:25] * Cavalier_2-3 immediately jerks his aircraft upwards to continue gaining altitude, rapidly targeting one of the aircraft highlighted by Avalanche "Right - Cavalier, Fox Two!" , letting lose two R-73's at the supporting craft.

The F-4G Kicks out a trail of flares as it tosses releases an anti radiation missile towards the Base radar, annihilating it. The Two missiles Cav launched are suckered in by the flares, allowing the wild weasel to escape unscathed.

[21:32] <Cavalier_2-3> "Damnit - Avalanche? You read? I think they just wiped out the base's radar systems."
[21:32] <Avalanche_1-1> "Yeah, tower's dead, and the public channel is dead. I've been relaying to anyone listening myself."
06[21:33] * Cavalier_2-3 stops for a moment, thinking, before speaking in a dry, dreadful tone "...So you're the AWACS. Oh, heavens."
[21:38] <Avalanche_1-1> "Cav, next time, add in how'd I'd be terrible at dating a supermodel and at being a rockstar!"
[21:39] <Cavalier_2-3> "You'd be terrible at crashing your plane so fucking far into the ground, you come out in Yuktobania. Now let's do this."
[21:50] <Avalanche_1-1> "Avalanche, Fox Two!"  as Yuki pings the Wild Weasel, hurling two missiles after it.

Once again, the F-4G evades the twin heatseeking missiles with apparent ease, dumping more flares as he does so.

06[21:52] * Cavalier_2-3 comes in on the radio, awkwardly "Okay. So maybe that guy's a bit of a badass. Should we try cleaning up the small fry first?"
[21:53] <Avalanche_1-1> "Yeah, head after the F-4E, it's ECM is weaker."
[21:53] <Avalanche_1-1> "But we need to keep pressure off our anti air."
[21:54] <Cavalier_2-3> "I could try harassing him with cannons, maybe?"
[22:02] <GhostRider_3-2> "I'm on him!" Ghost Rider rockets after the F-4E, launching two missiles after it and trying to close distance with her ridiculously fast jet.

Packets of chaff erupt from behind the F-4E as it pulls a hard 8g turn in an attempt to evade the two missiles. The pilot manages it, but when attempting to roll using the wing control surfaces, he manages to put the plane into a flat spin.

[22:08] <Cleansweep_3-3> "Let me test out this toy of a commoner..." Konrad spoke over the intercom without apparent reason as he let loose two of the plane's missiles.

The two missiles fly towards the stricken plane, which rotates around in time for one of the occupants to spot the incoming missiles. As the F-4E explodes in a fireball, victim of the Super Phantom, the pilot and back seater join the multitude of parachutes still raining over the base. Their high visibility white chutes making them stand out perhaps more than they'd wish.

[22:11] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki sighs, looking at his radar and the still blooming parachutes in the sky. "Me and Cav'll take the the transports. Cleansweep, Ghostrider, you finish up down here. We're short on time. That sound good to you guys?"
[22:11] <Cavalier_2-3> "Hey! Nice teamwork there, Apogee!" Cavalier cheers over the radio, looking over at the remaining targets "And - got it, Yuki. Targeting transports now."
[22:11] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki then relays the downed phantom across the radio.
[22:11] <Cleansweep_3-3> "Hohoh, as expected of me!" commented the belkan noble as he stroked his moustache.
06[22:12] * Cavalier_2-3 looks down at his radio, blasting on his afterburners as he goes after the enemy transports, attempting to target them.
[22:14] <Cleansweep_3-3> "Leave the enemy Ace to me, fate shall decide the outcome of our struggle!"
[22:15] <GhostRider_3-2> "Go get 'em tiger, I'll back you up," Amy chuckles, bringing her plane about and up and turning up the afterburners to shoot after the enemy ace.

The two remaining F-4Es swoop in to avenge their compadre, each releasing a single dogfight sparrow at their intended targets, GhostRider and Avalanche.

[22:33] <GhostRider_3-2> Ghost Rider's RWR wails in response to the incoming missiles, and she quickly pulls the control stick to the side to dodge, even as the plane continues accelerating into the sky. As if to spite its rival plane model, the Crusader deftly avoids the incoming attack.
[22:34] <Avalanche_1-1> As Yuki's RWR goes berserk, he immediately drifts left, gracefully rolling out of the way of the trailing Sparrow.

The lead F-4G and its wingman swing around once again, this time head on towards you. A brace of cluster bombs completely annihilates the hangar where Nadir kept its planes.

[22:41] <Cavalier_2-3> "Avalanche, I'm not packing a lot of ammunition. Should I dump everything I have on those transports now?"
[22:43] <GhostRider_3-2> "Hey fellas, I'd sure appreciate it if you saved some shots for these four fighters we gotta deal with here!"
[22:44] <Cavalier_2-3> "Damnit - Understood, Ghost Rider. I'll save some ammo. Fox One!" Cavalier pipes up as he fires off two R-77's at the cruising transports dropping paratroopers at Valais.

The fully laden transport is struck by the twin missiles just as it begins a run. One entire wing is sheared off by the explosion, the fuselage cracking in half from the induced stress as it goes into a spin, spilling out men and fire from the rear.

[22:45] <Cavalier_2-3> "First transport, eliminated! Two more to go!"
[22:45] <Avalanche_1-1> "Avalanche to allied forces, bandit transport destroyed, over."
[22:46] <Avalanche_1-1> "There's still two F-4E's and one F-4G airborne for the Belkan forces. The F-4G has advanced electronic countermeasures, but we'll keep them tied up so you guys can let em' have it, over."
[22:47] <Avalanche_1-1> "2 F-4G's that is, over."
[22:54] <Avalanche_1-1> "Avalanche, Fox One, Fox Three!"

The two transports both suffer hits, but with the majority of their engines still working, they keep on trucking, still in the air.

[22:56] <Avalanche_1-1> "This is Avalanche, two remaining transports heavily damaged, someone take them down."
[22:58] <GhostRider_3-2> Ghost Rider glances around at the enemy fighters, all rather drastically outclassing herself in terms of firepower. "... On it, boss!" She points her nose toward the transports and starts climbing after them.
6[22:59] * Cavalier_2-3 changes his bearings somewhat, wildly looking around the cockpit for a second "How...how did they get in this deep? Specially after the nukes..."
[23:02] <GhostRider_3-2> Closing in on the one transport, Amy narrows her eyes at the open hatch and fires the two remaining missiles at it. There's a moment of sharp, shuddering memory as she sees the transport plane from this angle, so similar to the one she always flew, but she quickly turns her attention to the other one and continues to close.

The missiles fly past the decoys, knocking the second of three transports from the skies.

06[23:04] * Cavalier_2-3 snaps out of his brief moment of wondering, piping up as he sees the sequence of hits "Good hits, Ghost Rider! I might just let you keep that old girl!"
[23:11] <Cleansweep_3-3> "Now, let's speed this up a bit, payday can't come fast enough." Vogler commented as he let lose his remaining Sidewinders on the enemy F-4Es, one for each.

Both phantoms nearly run right into the two AIM-9Ms that the Super Phantom spits out at them. Both attempt evasive action, but from this short range it's too little, too late. Both planes emerge from the Fireballs unsteady and trailing black and grey smoke. Reducing speed and altitude, they turn north, leaving the combat area.

[23:13] <Cleansweep_3-3> "Don't make me carry the day again, lads! Pull your weight a little!"
[23:15] <Avalanche_1-4> "Well, it's not everyday someone lets you fly their super phantom. And you look like me, so you'd better keep up the pace, I have a reputation to uphold!" Yuki jokes
[23:16] <Cavalier_2-3> "That's two confirmed neutralizations for Apogee 3! ...You know, that was my number back when I flew with them." Cavalier remarks, shrugging to himself.
[23:16] <Avalanche_1-1> "Avalanche to allied forces, two more phantoms and a transport down. Enemy forces are down to a crippled transport and two F-4G's, thanks to Cleansweep. Give em hell down there! Over!"
[23:17] <Cleansweep_3-3> "Feh, the knaves can rejoice, we must carry the terrible responsibility of independence!"

With the attack obviously a failure, the two F-4Gs turn and head north, moving low and fast and spreading out.

06[23:20] * Cavalier_2-3 blinks a couple times as he notices the retreat, leaning in onto his radio to speak "Avalanche...they're retreating. What do we do with this transport?"
[23:20] <Avalanche_1-1> "The transport isn't retreating yet."
[23:21] <Cavalier_2-3> "Want me to get on comms, or are you handling this one?"

The transport slowly begins banking to the north, one of its engines trailing smoke as it unsteadily attempts to maneuver.

[23:22] <Avalanche_1-1> "Avalanche to allied forces, enemy F-4G's are retreating, only one damaged Transport remaining in the air space. Great job down there! If anyone is still on the radio, status reports are welcomed, over."

There's a crackling, then a voice comes on the radio. "This is Lieutenant Murray, we say your fireworks display from down here. Good work." He states. "The remaining Belkan forces are surrendering now that they don't have any air support, you guys really saved the day."

[23:24] <Avalanche_1-1> "Belkan transport, this is Avalanche, your escorts are fleeing. Are you lining up another attack or retreating?"

There's a pause, before the response comes. "We're leaving." Comes the clipped tones. "We'll cede you the battleground, this time."

06[23:26] * Cavalier_2-3 lets out a brief sigh of relief "...Jeez. That was way too close."
[23:26] <GhostRider_3-2> Amy has her hand hovering over her trigger for a moment longer as she still follows the transport, toying with the idea of taking the shot anyway before slowly letting off the gas. "Looks like they're buggin out, boss."
[23:28] <Avalanche_1-1> Yuki sternly intones into the radio, "Then you're free to leave the airspace. Hopefully that engine can drag that thing back to base. Hope everything's fine back home."
[23:28] <Avalanche_1-1> "Avalacnhe to all units, stand down, the transport is retreating the airspace, I repeat, all remaining enemy aircraft are retreating the airspace!"
06[23:29] * Cavalier_2-3 lays back on his seat, sucking in a sharp breath "...Alright. So...uh. That was some sharp flying there, Apogee." - as he says this, Gabriel relaxes his hold on the flight stick.
[23:30] <GhostRider_3-2> "Thanks for the loaner, Basilisk," Amy chimes in cheerily, her drawl back to its normal chummy tone. "Let's get back on solid ground and check the damage."
[23:30] <Avalanche_1-1> "And thanks lieutenant, but it's the ground forces that got us up there. If it wasn't for the guys on the ground being so fast and level headed, we would have been lit up by that tank trying to load out planes."
[23:31] <Avalanche_1-1> "And that's to all of you guys down there."

"I'll pass along your thanks." The lieutenant says. "The runway should be clear now, land when you're ready."

06[23:33] * Cavalier_2-3 does a quick check on his craft, afore piping up again "I've suffered some minor damage to my tail. Should be fine, though. I hope."
[23:34] <Avalanche_1-1> "I'm going to circle around and take in some visuals to relay, and wait until the bogeys are off radar. You guys can land without me, they don't charge me for fuel."
[23:35] <Cavalier_2-3> "Gotcha, Avalanche. I'm heading down now."
06[23:35] * Cavalier_2-3 circles his MIG-29M around, slowly gliding towards the runway as he attempts steadying his craft in a clean landing.
06[23:38] * Cavalier_2-3 touches his craft down - and then immediately runs into trouble. His back-left landing gear suddenly collapses on it's own, damaged by the otherwise superficial missile strike he suffered. The craft angles awkwardly and grins a wind along the ground, Cavalier yelling out in radar "Oh *COME* the fuck on! NO NO NO-" The Mig-29 continues going, gradually losing speed as the wing is grinded down somewhat, the Mig-29 forced into a sudden sharp turn by the change of weight, nearly crashing into the Basilisk radar. "ARGH-!"
06[23:39] * Cavalier_2-3 stays quiet for a moment, as the craft comes to it's screeching halt, before piping up, in a completely deadpan fashion "Landing Successful."
[23:39] <Cavalier_2-3> "Any further commentary will be met with a metal pipe to the head."

The assembled technicians and maintenance crew give Cavalier a round of applause as the cockpit opens up.

[23:41] <Cavalier_2-3> "Yes. I am amazing."
06[23:42] * Cavalier_2-3 shimmies the craft inside the hangar, afterwards hopping off from it, giving the technicians a deadpan shrug.
[23:42] <GhostRider_3-2> The Crusader comes in shortly after the runway is clear, and touches down without incident. She pops up and gives a low whistle at the wrecked MiG, but says nothing further. "Hey, drinks on me, buddy. Thanks again for the loner."
06[23:43] * Cavalier_2-3 slumps his shoulders "Yeah, you're welcome. And I'll definitely need a drink after this."
[23:47] <Avalanche_1-1> Seeing the last of the enemy craft disappear off of radar, Avalanche gives the all clear over the radio, and gives information on any fires, damage, or remaining troops. "Alright, skies clear, Avalanche coming in to land." He easily slows the plane and lowers it onto the runway, then lazily taxis over to the hangar. He turns around to his impromptu WSO. "See, I told you you'd be safer up in the air."
[23:53] <GhostRider_3-2> "Let's all get drunk," Amy cheers as she slings an arm over Gabe's shoulder and drags him toward the bar.