DEMONS OF THE SKY- Chapter 3- NARROW MARGIN

[GeneralVonWolfen]

Mid-battle
07:43
Over Bullet Bay


“CAPTAIN!”
I look to the left. My god, a missile was locked on to the Captain’s plane!
“Gaaah…son of a…”
He swerved, again and again. But then, Razor cut in front of the missile! SHE was taking the missile for him!

“I’m sorry, Captain. Maybe next…what the hell?”
The Captain cut behind Nagase and took the missile BACK!
“Captain! What in god’s name are you doing!?
The missile impacted. Thankfully, the missile had only taken a small chunk out of the Captains wing. But still, he couldn’t get back to base like that.

“Taking one for the team. Hey! Save the waterworks! I’m not injured. These planes are replaceable, not me. I’m just gonna bail out here. Get a rescue chopper out here as quickly as possible.”

We were sent out to destroy any remains of the fighter jets we had downed a day ago. The Air Force we downed them from wouldn’t be happy if they found out we had shot down an innocent recon plane. We had destroyed the plane wreckage, but another rouge plane had locked on to the Captain and had fired. I shot him down, but the missile, as you can see above, had taken down the Captain.

“FIREDOG! Return to base immediately!” said the AWACS.
“But the rescue chopper isn’t here yet.” Said Razor.
“Leave that to the rescue team! Go supersonic back to base!”

We all hit it. When the AWACS authorized supersonic travel, the situation was desperate.



DEMONS OF THE SKY- Chapter 3- Narrow Margin



Sep. 27
11:45 A.M
Glint Island HQ: Crew Quarters: Wing 4, Door 67

“This is the room…or cell…I had been assigned too.”
I was recording myself on a camera after I had been grounded by the base Commander. I had disobeyed the AWACS’s orders, on part by the Captain, and had splashed several fighter planes without permission to engage. The Captain was pardoned by the Commander, the only reason being that he’s the only LIVE squadron leader on Glint Island right now. Plus, he is the ONLY pilot that doesn’t waver his wings on take-off. (It’s called Glint Island for a reason-the sand around here is so high in silicon that it shines like a mini sun at certain angles. If you want to walk the beech, wear a set of UV goggles.)

+A half hour later…+

“Yes sir…I understand…what!? Are you sure? ….Alright, I’ll tell him.”
Colonel Hamilton was speaking to the Commander via my phone line. He seemed stressed at almost all times, but now…he seemed to ripple the air with stress.
Colonel Hamilton…unlike his superior, the base Commander who locked me in here, he’s been very reasonable with me. He even got my camera back. He once told me, if his uncle wasn’t a soldier, he would have liked to have a job like mine.

He hung up my quarter’s phone. He tapped if a few times before turning to me.
“Well, we don’t have any reason to hold you anymore. In fact, the Commander wants you to be sitting alert at all times.”
“What do you mean?”
What he said next almost made me go into cardiac arrest.

“North Americaa just declared war.”

My stomach lurched. What? They were our allies in the war 15 years ago!

“They’ve launched an offensive simultaneously, too. Our naval port at Chaos Cape is being bombed right now. God blasted, that’s a civilian port, too. The Commander want’s you airborne. Now!”

He put back on his blue Colonel hat before slamming the door-my door-behind him.
I put on my flight suit and helmet and sprint to my plane. How could this be? First a recon plane, then the Captain, now war? In 24 hours!? And…worst of all…

There were only three of us now. Me, Nagase and Tommy.
God, I hate this job.

14:33 hours
Bullet Bay

We were in 3 plane formation, 2 clicks southwest of Bullet Bay. The AWACS came over the radio.
“Due to pressing circumstances, I’ll be issuing an emergency in-flight briefing.”

A computer representation of Bullet Bay popped up in my helmet screen. It showed us and several North Americaan flight formations closing in on Bullet Bay. A computerized voice issued in my helmet.

“Out naval port at Bullet Bay reports that several North Americaan aircraft have launched a surprise attack on the port. The situation there is critical, with widespread panic. Ships from the 3rd Royal Navy Fleet docked at the port are currently under attack and taking heavy losses. Hurry to Bullet Bay and provide air support for all ships attempting to escape the bay, military and civilian.”

Among these ships is the aircraft carrier Kestrel. It is the flagship of the 3rd Navy Fleet and a critical combat asset. You must protect the Kestrel at all costs.”

The briefing closed. We were on our own.

“Thunder to Firedog. Razor, you lead the formation.”
Nagase pulled to the left.
“Negative. Blaze, you take the lead. I’ll fly on your wing.”
“Second Lieutenant Nagase, follow your orders! And who the hell is Blaze?”
“No. Blaze is leading. I’ll protect his 6 o’ clock. And I’m not going to lose another flight lead.”

I glance down at my radar. A plane was coming up on our 6. Fast. In a solid white plane! Captain Snow!?
“QUIT SCREWING AROUND! This is war! The enemy is all over and their gonna eat you alive!”
Captain Snow was the only strike pilot on Glint Island and also the only ACE besides…the Captain. Our Captain…
“Er…I’d better take the trail position today, thanks.” Cut in Chopper.
“This is Captain Snow, callsign Swordsman. Engaging next enemy formation. Give me a position.”
“Cleared to engage!”

Here we go…start the chaos. At least 5 different radio messages all came in at once.
“This is the AA cruiser Excalibur, the ship blocking us up ahead. MOVE. OUT. OF. THE WAY! We can’t use our SPY radar!”
“The tanker next to us just exploded! Where’s the fireboat? It’s spreading to our ship! Help us!”
“Nobody saw them coming?”

An unfamiliar voice came over the radio. Our radios have been upgraded since the war 15 years ago, so now we can not only pick up several radio messages at the same time, it can also pick up the enemies voice.

“Their ships are just sitting at anchor. This is like target practice.”
Sick bastards…I locked on to one. Fire, smoke, and debris fall to the earth a few seconds later.
“Enemy reinforcements detected. Heads up and get ready.” Said an enemy pilot.
Still more panic on the docks…

“The fireboat got caught in the explosion! Two…no, three ships are burning now!”
“We are undermanned, undersupplied and unable to return fire!”
“This is not a drill…” said the port captain.
“Oh, thanks for the head up, you IDIOT!”

I tuned in back to the enemy.
“Your target is the carrier Kestrel and the large ships around it. Don’t let them escape the port. Sink them all!”
I don’t think so, I thought as I shot down the same pilot who gave the commands just a second ago.
Suddenly, a calm voice issued over the radio. A friendly navy man’s voice!

“It’s time for our aegis ship to live up to its name.” said a voice.

A destroyer inched its way into the harbor. It began firing on several enemy planes. The SS King was in the battle! The SS King was a well-built steel machine, designed for situations just as so: multiple planes, little space.
“Thanks everyone. We request your support as we make our way out of the port!” said the SS King.

“Blaze, this is Razor. Have you located the carrier Kestrel?”
“Yup…still in one piece.”
The port captain’s voice came over the radio again.
“This is the port captain. All vessels, evacuate the port immediately! Ships closest to the exit first!”

“I don’t care if we take hull damage. We’re clearing out of here as quickly as we can.” Said a Royal Sailor.
“Escape the port and take evasive action. No mistakes!” said…well, somebody. I stopped paying attention after the 3rd squad.
“This is the aircraft carrier Kestrel. We are approaching the port exit.”
“Roger, Kestrel. All craft, the Kestrel takes top priority. That barge over there, move it! I know you want out of there, but clear a path! That thing is valuable!”
A few minutes of fighting later, and we were in the clear. Hypothetically speaking-the entire gulf was in flames. The air around a 5 mile radius was covered in a thick black smog.

“The carriers in open water. Bon voyage, guys!” said Chopper.
“All friendly aircraft, protect the Kestrel for us!”
“What do you think we’re doing!? Taking a coffee break?” yelled Chopper.
“This is Swordsman. On my way. That’s our ship.”
“Negative! This is AWACS Thunder. Captain Snow, you are not permitted to enter air-to-sea combat at this time. Return to your vector and continue the fight.”
“But that’s my carrier!” he whined.
“Firedog, you provide cover.”
“Damnit, you pigheaded…all right. I’m counting on you, Firedog. Don’t lose our ship.”
“AWACS, bogey dope! Give me a target!” I said.
“Bogeys inbound from vector 280…it’s no use, there’s too many of them!”
“I don’t think so.” Said someone on the SS King. Suddenly, the SS King fired a small missile.
“Is that thing supposed to take out an entire plane squad?” quipped Chopper.
What happened next shut him up all on his own. The missile separated mid-air!
BKOOOOOooommm…..all enemy planes in a 3 mile radius were destroyed.
“Holy…how the…when…HUH!?” stammered Chopper.
Unfortunately, an enemy plane smashed into the SS King. Not much damage, but still…here comes more panic.

“I’m abandoning ship! We’re sitting ducks over here!”
“Come back here, you coward!”
“Is he trying to kill us? What kind of Captain is that?”
“Hurry up and drop the lifeboats!”
“What are you doing? Hurry up and get out of here!”
“This is it. It’s over!”
“Man, this is the worst day of my life…”
“Calm down! Just calm down!”
“Enemy anti-ship missiles launched! Begin Phalanx fire!” BZURRRRRRRRRRP!
“NO! STOP! YOUR FIRING ON THE DOCKS!”
“Enemy planes at 3 o clock!”
“Three o clock from WHO!? You’re not helping us here!”

And it was all going so well.
“Wait…those people floating in the waves.” Said Nagase.

I looked.

I shouldn’t have. When that enemy plane crashed and engulfed the water in flames, there were people floating right there. I could see their faces…so many of them. Somebody stop this…I can’t take it anymore.

“Kid…did you see that?” said Chopper.
I didn’t answer. I couldn't.

“This is the aircraft carrier Kestrel. We have broken through to open waters. Friendly waters, at that. Mission accomplished everyone. Good job.”
I could barely hear him. How did he not notice all those people?
The Razgriz…has shown itself. That much is clear. And now we have to fight it…
God help us all.

[GeneralVonWolfen]

Comment and leave suggestions as wanted. This is a good story, no?

[AcHOIM]

You don't need to make seperate threads for different chapters. Please edit your previous thread or we will probably end up with 24 threads of different chapters.

[GeneralVonWolfen]

(09-04-2012 12:37 PM)AcHOIM Wrote:  You don't need to make seperate threads for different chapters. Please edit your previous thread or we will probably end up with 24 threads of different chapters.

What are you talking about? This is a linear story. That thread that was titled "Preview" was a typo. It is actually Chapter 1, as you see now. Speaking of which, how do you like the story?

[GeneralVonWolfen]

Ahem.
What?
Oh, nothing.

[Jking(laugh)]

Its a nice story. Can't wait for chapter 4 . But why not make one thread for all your stories? It would be easier for people to read that way.

~Jking

[GeneralVonWolfen]

(10-04-2012 08:21 AM)Jking(laugh) Wrote:  Its a nice story. Can't wait for chapter 4 . But why not make one thread for all your stories? It would be easier for people to read that way.

~Jking

All the other stories are long dead. Don't bother them.

[GeneralVonWolfen]

(10-04-2012 08:21 AM)Jking(laugh) Wrote:  Its a nice story. Can't wait for chapter 4 . But why not make one thread for all your stories? It would be easier for people to read that way.

~Jking

P.S Chapter 4 is out. HURRY!