The Endless Fight

Sand Island

September 25, 2010

1326hrs.

It's only been a day sine the first encounter and we've been running drill after drill trying to squeeze out any maneuvering and experience we can gather to give us an edge in the air. Though today, we've got an unusual package arrived today. Three F-20 Tigersharks arrived here on Sand Island and all were marked with our fighter numbers. Perrault even made an effort to get outside of his office to yell at the three pilots that landed but they shown him a form that said that the OADF ordered these three planes for Sand Island. He "walked", or I would like to call waddled, away grumbling and both Kei and I shared a small snicker as I remarked about how he walked.

"You think he waddled here?" She asked and I smirked.

"More like rolled most of the way."

She shook slightly and placed her hand over her mouth as we all went over to the fighters to check them out and Chopper tagged along. I ran my hand over the smooth platting on the plane and looked at the 016 painted on the nose before climbing into the cockpit. The set up was basically the same as our older F-5e Tiger's but with the new single engine design added a 60% increase in power. Grabbing the stick, I could feel the power that was behind this aircraft and I smirked when I found a small letter tucked away in the seat.

"Here's an early present Renton.

Love,

Your Grandfather." I folded the letter and looked on as the three pilots here took away our of F-5E's and our new F-20's were dragged into the hangers for Pops to get to work on them. They might not be any Su-37's or F-22's, but they're better than what we currently have. Bartlett told us to start reading up on what's different with our new planes before Pops said they were read for flight. The next few days we had were up in the sky, familiarizing ourselves with our new planes and I liked how our planes could go much faster now and we needed all the advantages we could get if we were to survive this.

September 27, 2010

0700hrs.

"Hey mommy? When is lunch?" I asked. I could barely see over the counter at what my mother was making and she glanced over her shoulder and smiled.

"It will be done in just a moment honey~" She said and I smiled.

"Do you know where daddy is?"

"You know he's off on base. He has some important business to do." She said when a large explosion shook the house outside followed by hard knocking. My sister ran into the room to check on us and I saw my older brother run towards the front door when gunshots rang out. My mother shot my sister a sad look and she nodded as they heard the shooters start to break down the front door. My sister picked me up and shoved me inside one of the closets.

"Renton, do not make any noise and do not leave this place if those men are still her." She was close to tears as she kissed my fore head. "Remember that mommy, your brother, and myself still love you." She closed the closet doors but I could still see through a small crack when I heard the crunch of the door finally coming down. My sister was about to round the corner when one of the armed gunman came around the corner, slashing his knife through her neck. Blood splattered across the cabinet and through the little slit, splashing my face before he pulled out his pistol and shot her three times. I felt her body thump against the cabinet and I was silenced with shock. I could hear my mother trying to fight back before multiple gun shots silenced her. The sounds of firing kept on going for what felt like an eternity when they finally stopped. Everything was dead silent when I heard them start to talk.

"This is Delta Squadron, we've cleared out the home but no sign of the father."

"Come on, lets blow this place and move onto the next houses." I peaked out and saw one of them placing a bomb in the center of the building and left. I waited a second in shock before opening the door. I looked into my sister to see that she was pail and her eyes stared aimlessly at the ground as the blood started to pool. I looked towards the kitchen to see my mothers legs and a large pool of blood surrounding her body and all i wanted to do was get out of there. I started to walk towards the door before I went out on an all out sprint. I ran past my brother, who laid dead at the front of the door, when the bomb detonated. The shockwave sent my flying through the air when I felt a burning piece of shrapnel imbed itself into my back. I let out a scream as the piece of wood started to burn my skin and I lay motionless knowing that I was going to die when three men approached me.

I woke up instantly as I felt something, or someone, nudge me awake and I grabbed at it immediately and applied pressure. I had a scowl on my face when I heard what sounded like a whimper and everything came back to me. I let go of Kei's wrist and she pulled back and just looked at me as she rubbed her wrist.

"Renton... What was that?" She gave me a worried look and I laid back down, resting my arm over my eyes.

"Old wounds that I wish I had forgotten."

"... It was that day, wasn't it." I nodded my head before sliding out of my bed. "Well I was about to wake up anyways. Might as well start my morning work out now." Kei left the room to go take her shower as I pulled on my sweat pants and work out shirt to go on my run. The fresh air helped me clear my mind of the dream and it also gave me something to concentrate on. Pops as usual was all ready working on our planes and sometimes I just wonder how early he gets up as I jogged by. The sky was practically clear with a few scattered clouds here and there and it looked like a nice day for flying. Finishing up my run, I went down to the workout room that was here on base and started on my weight lifting routine but yesterdays events still weighed heavily on my mind.

'Why did those unknown aircraft shoot at us? Is there another side to that skirmish we're missing?' I kept on pondering that thought through lifting, the shower I took after that, and even through breakfast. After breakfast, I went down to work on my plane with Pops and he just saw right through me as I tried to conceal my concern with work.

"The attack still on your mind Renton?" I looked up from my work and at Pops who had his usual soft smile on. "You don't have to say anything. Everyone on base has been thinking about these attacks for a while since the threat of war is still lingering in the air. And I'm not surprised that you, one of the people that are going to need to be in the air if there is a war, are still thinking about it."

"I've only been here for four days and I've all ready been thrown into battle against unknown targets who might be a nation that we're going to war with."

"Well just relax a bit will you? All this stress won't do you any good in a battle if it makes you second guess yourself or make you hesitate. And don't worry much about the planes, I will take tune them up to the best of my abilities." I smirked knowing that Pop's was aboard with us even with the threat of war when Chopper ran over to me.

"Kid! Base Command has picked something up on radar! Bartlett wants us in the briefing room ASAP!" More mechanics started to roll in with weapons to mount our aircraft. I followed Chopper quickly and as we took our seats, the briefing started.

A ship of unknown origin has been detected approaching the Sand Island coastline. We've confirmed that this ship has launched numerous unmanned aerial vehicles probable used for reconnaissance. the UAC will likely return to the launch ship for retrieval after completing their spy operations. You are to halt this operation by intercepting and destroying these recon drones before they can be recovered by the ship. However, do no attack the ship until further orders are transmitted.

September 27, 2010

1133hrs.

As we took off, I couldn't help this uneasy feeling, like something bad was going to happen today, but I shook it off. The mission comes first. We formed up together and started to head on an intercept rout on the enemy recon planes.

"Wardog, this is Thunderhead. Unmanned recon drones returning to spy vessel. Shoot them down before they get back to the ship."

"Sure thing. You got that, gang?"

"Roger that." Kei and Chopper didn't respond but I knew they heard it.

"Remember, do not shoot the ship." Bartlett called over the radio to us all.

"This is Edge, roger."

"Chopper, roger."

"Blaze here, roger that." I looked at my radar and the UAV's had started to pop onto my radar.

"All right then, Wardog! Disperse and engage the enemy!" Bartlett commanded and I was one step ahead of him as I hit my afterburners, speeding past the three. I spotted the first two planes and I lined up my guns before sending a burst into one. The things wing ripped off as the 20mm shells impacted on target before I rolled over sending another volley into it, sending it down as well. "How you doing, Kid? Pretty easy, huh?"

"Like shooting fish in a barrel."

"Hey, why not have a little competition on kill scores!" Chopper suggested and I smirked.

"Well you two better cause I've got two... Never mind, mark that three kills so far." Shooting down my fourth one, I could see both Kei and Chopper closing on me quickly before I gunned the afterburners again to get the last four.

"I'll keep watch out here. You guys go play with those toys." Bartlett teased as I shot my fifth one down.

"Other recon crafts have probably reached the mainland, too." Kei added.

"I sure hope not."

"Ditto." I shot my sixth one down when Chopper started to whine over the radio.

"Come on Kid, save some for the rest of us!"

"Fine... I'll leave these last two to yourself and Kei is she wants to." I looked to my right as Chopper zoomed by me gunning down the seventh recon drone.

"I'm glad there aren't any live people in these things. Aren't you?" He asked.

"Yeah, I don't like the thought of taking another persons life without a cause."

"So we can just shoot 'em down and not worry about it." He added as he finished off the last recon drone when Thunderhead cried out a warning.

"Warning! Multiple bogeys inbound, closing fast." He reported.

"Same attack axis as before?" Bartlett asked.

"280. Same vector as last time!" Thunderhead confirmed and I could hear him sigh.

"Geez, how many planes they got lined up at the border?" He said rhetorically. "We've only got four on our side... We'd better abort. This way!" He banked around back towards Sand Island and we all turned to follow. "Think you can stick to my tail?"

"I think so."

"Good." We kept on flying and I formed up with him when I noticed something was missing.

"Hey, where's Chopper?" I checked my radar and I mentally sighed as I saw he was trailing behind us, but the four MiG-21's.

"I can't make it. They're running me down!" Chopper called out.

"Oh, you're takin' the trail position today, Rock n' Roller? Hold on, I'll clear your six o'clock for you."

"Damnit, why'd I have to draw the short stray today?"

"Everyone else, quick gawkin' and start shootin'!" He ordered as I turned to follow before locking up one of Chopper's pursuers.

"Fox 3." I launched the missile and it left it's railing before rocketing ahead onto the locked target. The idiot of a pilot just kept on flying straight as he tried to lock Chopper and he flew right into my missile.

"Captain Bartlett!" Thunderhead cried out in anger.

"Enemy fire confirmed. Turning to engage. Edge, engaging."

"Heartbreak 1, engaging."The other started to disperse out of confusion as one of their squad mates went down and I quickly latched onto one as Chopper banked around to cover my six.

"Break right, bandit on the Captain's tail. I'm on it." Kei called I chased my target down lining up a shot with my missile before getting a solid tone of a lock. I sent my side winder away and it buried itself into the tale pipe of the enemy fighter but I grimaced as a thought occurred. "He Captain... The way these pilots fly... Are these... fresh green pilots?"

I looked around spotting his plane as himself and Kei finished off the other two fighters and the radio went silent for a second before her responded with a low, "Yes." Another flight of enemies flew in, this time with a flight of two MiG-21's and two MiG-29's. My heart sank slightly knowing that the MiG-29 could easily out perform our F-20A Tigersharks in the right hands but the way they handled their planes was a dead give away that they all were green pilots. I banked around into a turn as I got in position behind one of the MiG-21's before firing a missile again. He banked hard left as I fired the missile, but the tracking system was overloaded and it lost its lock trashing the shot. I banked into him with a High-G turn to pull enough lead before unloading a volley with my cannons. The shells shredded the plane apart before the thing exploded. I was about to turn back into the combat when a hail of tracers flew past my canopy. I banked hard left as I heard a tone of my emergency alarm when it started beeping. I looked back to see a missile close on me quickly and I banked around to the left to try and break it's lock. As I pulled around, I turned around to see one of the MiG-29's on my tail before it blew up into a fire ball.

"Got that bandit off your six, Blaze." Kei swung around into formation with myself as we chased down the last MiG and Thunderhead called in saying the radar was clean.

"Picture clear. All hostile aircraft are destroyed... Warning still in effect. Keep your heads on a swivel." I looked around the sky for anymore enemy aircraft when I remembered the ship bellow us.

"Watch out, Nagase! They're down bellow us, too!" I turned to see a missile fire off from the ship and it turned towards the closest target towards the ship.

"Edge, break hard! Enemy SAM is locked onto you!" I watched her as she tried to shake the missile to no avail when the Captain flew in between the two giving the missile a new lock on himself. He flew away from her and tried to shake the missile, but the F-4 couldn't pinch it just right before it exploded on his right wing.

"Captain!" He was trailing smoke from his wing tip while it lost altitude, and it favored leaning to the right instead of flat.

"Hey! Save the waterworks." He yelled. "I'm just gonna bail out here. We can replace these things. What really matters is gettin' the crew back alive. Make a call to scramble Search and Rescue copter and my reserve plane, okay?" He bailed out a few moments later and I watched as his F-4 Phantom drop into the sea when Thunderhead butted in again.

"Warning! Warning! Wardog Squadron, return to base immediately!"

"Negative, I'm not leaving him!" I yelled as I circled above

"And the rescue helicopter isn't here yet." Kei added.

"Leave that to the rescue team!" He yelled and I couldn't help but watch him float down towards the ocean when the memory of that dream came back to me.

"You can't protect them all."

"Refuel and rearm at the base, and get back in the air immediately! The enemy has declared war on us!"

"But-" I was about to argue when the Captain cut me off.

"Kid, shut it! I'll be fine but if there's a war going on, then you're going to need to fight it! I'm sure that the SAR chopper will get here quickly so get going! That's an order!"

"... Yes sir..." We all returned back towards base in silence to refuel and rearm. Fuel trucks and ammo racks were waiting us in out parking area and the team quickly went to work to prepare us for anything. It also happened that a new modification for the F-20's came in so that we could have an extra set of bombs or SAAM's. I had both Kei's and Chopper's planes loaded up with four bombs each and myself with SAAM's before we took off again. Thunderhead set us on a heading towards naval base St. Hewlett and from what he's heard, all their ships are getting attacked while they sit at anchor.

St. Hewlett Naval Base

September 27, 2010

1433hrs.

The flight was long and we all remained silent, though we all shared the same thought as we thought of our Captain. Chopper tried to start up a conversation during the flight but Kei and myself just staid quiet. I think kei might be beating herself over the head saying that she shot down the Captain and after this mission I'm going to see what's going on. I can't stop thinking about what might happen to him or if the SAR team made it to him in time or- Renton... Stop, there's a mission at hand and you need to focus. The silence was finally broken as we were a few miles out of the port and Thunderhead came back on to give us our briefing.

"Due to pressing circumstances, I'll be issuing an emergence in-flight briefing."

"Our naval base at St. Hewlett reports that Yuktobanian aircraft have launched a surprise attack on the port. The situation there is critical while widespread panic. Ships from the 3rd Osean Naval Fleet docked at the port are currently under attack and taking heavy losses. Hurry to Port St. Hewlett and provide air cover for out naval vessels attempting to escape the bay. Amon these ships is the aircraft carrier Kestrel. It is the flagship of the 3rd Naval Fleet and a critical combat asset. You must protect the Kestrel at all costs." With the briefing over, Thunderhead took over again.

"Thunderhead to Wardog. Edge, you lead the formation."

"Negative." She rolled to the side and fell back towards my right side. "You take the lead, Blaze. I'll fly on your wing."

"Second Lieutenant Nagase, follow your orders." Thunderhead commanded as I pulled ahead to take the leading position and Kei was quick to argue.

"No. Blaze is leading. I'll protect his six o'clock. And I'm not gonna lose another flight lead." As she finished her sentence, an F-14 rocketed past us with full afterburner.

"Quit screwing around. This is war! The enemy's all over and they're gonna eat you alive!"

"Aaahh... I'd better stick to the trail position, thanks." Chopper added clearing up our formation problems when that same pilot came back on the radio.

"This is Captain Snow, callsign Swordsman. Engaging next enemy formation. Give me a position." He commanded when a sailor interrupted him before he received his orders.

"This is the AA cruiser Excalibur. The ship blocking us up ahead, you've got to move away! We can't use our SPY radar!" I gripped the flight stick as I took a breath to focus myself before applying the afterburners to get the port.

"Cleared to engage!" Thunderhead said as I spotted a target 15,000 meters out.

"Blaze, engaging."

"Edge, engaging."

"Chopper, engaging."

"I'll cover your six. All right, Blaze?" Kei asked.

"Roger, but watch your six as well."

"Roger that."

I closed the distance on the enemy aircraft and I got a good look at the aircraft and it surprised me.

'A-6's? Jeez, these guys are just sitting ducks in these.' I thought as I severed the wing off one of the planes before Kei jumped the second one.

"Splash two targets." I saw Chopper pick up the third fighters as well and chased it down before splashing it as well as it made its attack run on the carrier.

"The tanker next to us just exploded!" A sailor bellow shouted. "Where's the fireboat? It's spreading to our ship! Help us!"

"Nobody saw them coming!?" Another one yelled.

"Their ships are just sitting at anchor. This is like target practice." I heard on of the enemy Yukes say over the radio. I looked up to see a flight of enemy fighters flying top cover dive down onto us and we broke formation.

"Looks like you're a great use of targeting as well." I growled as I pulled a high-g turn into one of the enemies before letting a cannon burst stream out, ripping off his vertical stabilizer and wing. Another one latched itself onto my tail but didn't stay there long as Nagase came streaking in filling his plane full of holes and sent him spiraling into the ocean below. Chopper down another plane with cannon fire as I did too.

"Nice going Blaze. By the way Captain, do you know how to give your commands?"

"Yeah, I do Chopper. I want you to cover the norther sector of this airspace. I trust your flying skills to stay alive and make sure they think twice about coming from that direction again. Edge, I want you in the souther sector protecting that area as well. I don't want any enemy planes getting within range of that carrier. I've got the wester sector covered so join me when you've cleared your area." I ordered. "And I'm not the Captain..." I added quietly.

"But Blaze-"

"I'll be fine Edge, go protect your sector." I said calmly as I took on my own sector and I saw two A-6's flying fast and hugging the ocean trying to get as close to the carrier as they could. Rolling my plane over, I dove onto them and aligned my sights one of their wings before sending another volley into it. The wing clipped off cleanly and I rolled over to shoot at the second target. I pulled the trigger again and Is aw my tracers arc out into one of the wing mounted missiles, blowing it to smithereens. Small chunks of metal bounced off my canopy and plane as I pulled up before I spotted another squadron on my radar.

"The fireboat just got caught in the explosion! Two-... No, three ships are burning now!" One of the sailors yelled out.

"This is not a drill!" Another one called.

"Well no duh you idiot!... And thanks for the heads-up as well while I'm at it!"

I chuckled lowly when I spotted a new formation coming in and I rolled over to engage. I noticed that Captain Snow started to follow on my tail some what since there was a lack of any fighters in the area when the enemy came over the radio again.

"Your target is the enemy aircraft carrier and the large surface combatants surrounding it." Another squadron called out and that formation came into view.

"Don't let them escape the port. Sink them all." I gunned my engines after the new formation and both Kei and Chopper dove down from their position onto the new formation, taking them out quickly before they got anywhere near the carrier.

"Thanks, everyone. We request your cover until we break out of the port!" One of the Osean sailors called out.

"Blaze, this is Edge. Have you located the carrier Kestrel?"

"I see it. It's about mid-port and moving quickly towards the port... Well, as quickly as a carrier can go."

'Yeah, it's in the middle of the port and looks all right... Though I wish it was just about 10 knots faster..."

"This is the Port Captain. All vessels, leave port immediately! Ships nearest to the exit first!" Another formation popped up on radar and I looked in their direction.

"Chopper, Edge, give them hell!" They banked left and dove on the formation of A-6's destroying them in seconds.

'Jeez, from how they fly and how quickly they take out targets... People would almost assume that we're old pilots instead of just some nuggets.' I thought.

"Escape the port and take evasive action. No mistakes!" Another ship said.

"This is the aircraft carrier Kestrel. Approaching port exit." The Kestrel's radio operator reported.

"Roger, Kestrel." The Port Captain acknowledged. "The Kestrel takes top priority! That barge over there, move it! I know you want outta here, but open up a path! That carrier's valuable!" We took out another formation just leaving a few straggler planes around the skies.

"This Kestrel is in open waters! Bon voyage, guys!"

"All friendly aircraft, protect the Kestrel for us!" The Port Captain ordered us all when Swordsman came on.

"This is Swordsman, on my way. That's our ship." He reported. Kei, Chopper, and myself defensively circled around the Kestrel and I could see Swordsman bank his F-14 around and started to fly towards us when Thunderhead intercepted him.

"Negatie. This is AWACS Thunderhead. Swordsman, remain in the Eastern Sector. Protect our territory and continue battle!"

"But that's my carrier!"

"Wardog, provide cover for the Kestrel." He ordered but we were way ahead of him.

"All ready there... And protect it from what exactly? There's no other enemy planes in the sky at the moment."

"Just do it. We don't know how many enemy aircraft are inbound to the port."

"Damnit, you pigheaded... All right., I'm counting on you Wardog. Don't lose out ship!" Snow called out at us.

"Wouldn't dream of it Captain Snow."

"Bogeys inbound from 280! It's no use, there's too many of them!" Thunderhead called out and I saw three more formations coming in to attack.

"A flight, engage the enemy ships. B flight, attack and destroy the gulf port facilities. C flight, fly top cover. Establish air superiority. You got that?"

"Roger, commencing attack." The Yuke squadrons answered while they split up for their own missions.

"Well thanks for telling us your plan you idiots!" We broke formation to engage the three flights and A flight was the first one to go for no ship is going to touch our carrier. C flight tried to take us down while we were engaging their anti-ship aircraft but we dealt with them quickly. One of them latched onto my tail and there was this one move I've always wanted to try out. I cut my throttle and pulled back the stick giving full right rudder before I barrel rolled over the enemy aircraft and got onto his tail.

"What the- This squadron is good..." He said as I just filled his tailpipe with cannon shells, forcing him to bail out. With the flight flying top cover killed, we went after the last squadron when we finally got a good look at the port.

"The entire gulf is in flames!" Nagase yelled and it did look like it was all on fire.

"Man, what happened here? This is worse than even I imagined."

"The other ships are finally starting to move. Get out of the gulf, fast!" Nagase whispered when I spotted a lone A-6 going in low on the carrier. I engaged the afterburners as I dove on him. Lining up the piper, I sent a volley into him when Kei took notice to something.

"Those... Those are people floating in the waves." I looked in horror as the plane I just shot down, blanked the people in the water in fire. I couldn't look. I'm the one that's trying to protect people here... But here I am, just sending more people to a pointless death. The remaining ships quickly made it out of the port and we formed up again over the carrier.

"Kid, did you see that?" I couldn't talk... I was in to much shock and guilt stricken to answer him. "Say something Kid."

"We're out of the gulf, but stay alert." One of the ships in the fleet said.

"The carrier's entering the ocean. C'mon, whoever's out there, help us out. Get that bucket of bolts out of here." Chopper said quietly.

"This is the Captain of the aircraft carrier Kestrel. My congratulations to all ships that managed to escape. As Captain, I will not form a provisional battle fleet. The enemy's build a blockade with their fleet in front of us. We have to break thought this and escape to safer waters. Good luck, everyone. All friendly aircraft, your support is requested."

"I'm there." Captain Snow said as he returned to the skies above the Kestrel.

"So is Wardog Squadron."

"Blaze, this is Thunderhead. Are you clear on the mission objective?"

"Yeah..."

"Roger. Begin at once."

"Range to blockade line confirmed at four miles." The Kestrel's radio operator reported.

"Wardog, weapons check!"

"This is Edge, still got all my bombs but I only have my guns left."

"Chopper here, guns and bombs as well."

"Blaze here, got my four SAAM's and my gun as well... All right then, Chopper and Edge, I want you to pair up and and take on the frigates in front of the fleet. I got the incoming enemy planes."

"Roger." They both said.

"All right, Wardog, break formation!" The engaged their own afterburners and went high when I spotted a Mirage 2000 coming in to strafe our ships. I quickly got behind him and sent him down in between two of our destroyers.

"Blaze, this is Thunderhead, three heavy bombers incoming packing heavy anti ship missiles. Marking them as priority targets."

"Roger." I quickly picked up the first one and I was in range for my first SAAM. I got a lock and fired. It quickly disappeared into the distance before I could see a violent explosion marking a kill. I banked around and saw the other two coming in quickly. I locked both of them up and sent two more SAAM's down at them sending them down as well. I banked around to join Chopper and Kei in their attack on the frigates. I saw Chopper and Kei diving on one of the frigates before pulling up and I saw a fountain of water before a large explosion rip one of the frigates in two.

"Whoa! Nagase, what ever you just hit, lets keep hitting them there!" Chopper said and he wasn't kidding. No way a medium sized bomb could do that much damage to a single ship and I followed them to the next one and that one went up into flames as well.

"Great effect on target!" I called out as it started to sink before the engaged the third frigate, sending them to a watery grave. "All right, engage the destroyer!" Both Kei and Chopper dropper their last bombs on it and it went up into a fire ball, but it just wasn't sinking.

"The smoke's blocking my view ahead. I'm cutting in." Snow added as he flew in, taking out a few F-4's that were coming in to provide air support.

"Two bombs aren't enough to sink that thing!?" Chopper yelled as he circled around the Destroyer strafing it again.

"Our fighters are providing great top cover. We can do this!" One of the Osean ships yelled out to motivate everyone else.

"Wait, Chopper, Edge, pull back... I have an idea..." I went in low and armed my last SAAM before lining up my shot. "Fox 3." I let that SAAM missile at the last minute and I pulled as AA gun fire strafed my wing. My hears skipped a beat as I felt the rounds impact my aircraft before a large explosion rocked my plane around. I struggled to stay in control.

"Blaze!" Kei quickly flew to my wing tip to check on the damage and my plane seemed to favor leaving to the right instead of level flight.

"How's the damage?"

"Some large holes in your wing but nothing that will be enough to bail out." I sighed in relief then I thought of what Pops might say.

"Oh god... I hope Pops's quite friendly towards damaging his aircraft..." The silence that followed only made it worse thinking of what Pops might do when Thunderhead called that his radar was clear of any targets and Chopper said the Kestrel broke through.

"It broke through! That's on tough boat man! Yeah!" I loosened up and sank back into my seat in relief as Chopper came back into formation. "So, Kid, does it feel good to be the flight lead?"

"I'd rather have our Captain back flying as flight lead... But it felt good. Now I know why it feels so good getting the squad back alive." I smiled.

"I know what you mean."

"This is the Captain of the aircraft carrier Kestrel. Our fleet has successfully escaped to safe waters. My thanks to our brave of the sea... And in the air." I smiled under my oxygen mask as the area was sanitized and we were permitted to RTB. I can't wait to see the Captain again since they mush have plucked him out of the ocean. All the way back home, everyone seemed to be alive but... There was this one small feeling that I had all the way back to Sand Island that kept me silent the whole way.

"Hey Kid!" I rocked my plane slightly as Chopper surprised me. "Jeez, you all right? You've been quiet the whole flight now. What's on your mind?"

"Oh... Sorry, I was just still taking in how well I filled in the role of flight lead... Though nothing can replace our own Captain." I lied but I tried to sound as sincere as I could. I looked at each of them through the cockpits but when I met eye to eye with Kei, I could tell that she saw right through it all.

"This is Tower to Wardog squadron, you are cleared to land." We got permission to land and we all eagerly taxied our planes to see if the Captain had returned. We were greeted by Pops and the mechanics.

"Jesus Blaze! What mess did you run into!?" He ran his hands over my wing and then over the large holes in the metal skin.

"Uuuuhhh... A destroyer's AA guns clipped me when I was making a run on it..." I said sheepishly when I remembered why we had come here so energetic. "Hey, has Bartlett returned?" He hesitated for a second and I knew he hadn't.

"When the rescue chopper reached where Bartlett had landed, all that was left was his parachute and the fleeing unknown vessel... I'm sorry Renton." I let my head hang low as I took in the new information before taking off my helmet and got myself away as far away as I could go from the planes. I passed by both Chopper and Kei and they asked what was wrong, but I kept on going until I reached the beach. It took a second for the dread to fully hit me and I pressed my back against one of the palm trees before I turned around and punched it with all my might.

'If I staid behind, maybe he wouldn't have been captured.' I thought. 'Maybe if I staid, he would still be with us and lead us through battle... Though he would be disappointed in me... If I hadn't left him, then what would have happened with Kei, Chopper and the 3rd Osean Naval Fleet? I can't stand knowing that if I didn't go, Kei or Chopper could have gotten shot down... Or even have the Kestrel sink because of a selfish action...' I slunk down the tree I had just punched and looked at the vast ocean when Kei sat down next to me in the shade. We both staid silent as we listened to the waves crash against the edge of the beach when she finally broke the silence.

"Pops filled both Chopper and myself in about what happened to our Captain. I know that we all were going to greave over the capture of him, but I didn't expect you to be hit so hard. Tell me, what's really going on?" I remained silent as I collected my thoughts before starting.

"Well... It's this war. My family has been through a lot with different wars starting all the way back in the Belkan war. I just don't want to it keep on continuing like it is right now. I hate this war, and I don't want to to go on for much longer..." I got up from where I was sitting and was about to leave when I decided to tell her. "And my mothers last name was Bartlett as well..." I let that piece of information sink into her as I left and I knew it hit her when she gasped. I needed to lie down and rest a bit cause todays flying really has taken a ton of energy out of me. Only when I reached the entrance to the barracks was when the wave of tiredness hit and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it back to my room. Managing to make my way to the door, I could hear Chopper blasting his music down the hall way before I entered my room and passed out on the couch inside.

September 27, 2010

1946 hrs.

Hours must have passed since I passed out and I only awoke to Kei shaking me awake.

"Come on Renton, wake up!"

"No... Five more minutes Mom..." I said sleepily when an explosion shook the whole building, and caused me to fall off the couch. "AAHH! Ok, I'm awake! I'm awake!"

"Jesus, how can you sleep through that air raid siren!?" She yelled at me as she dragged me to my feet. I could only shrug sheepishly before she dragged me out of the room and towards out planes. I didn't need to change into my flight suit since I never bothered to change out of it and we jumped into our aircraft.

"Chopper, I've got Kid." I heard her say over the radio as she pulled ahead in her jet to taxi off.

"The hell you did! Where the hell have you been!?"

"I uuhhh... Was sleeping through it?" I said and I could imagine Chopper face palming at the moment when the Base Control Tower came over the radio.

"Scramble the jets!" He yelled and I finally got a good look at the battle above. All available jets were in the sky but most of the pilots here were fresh nuggets that has very little flight experience, let alone dogfighting skills.

"Air warning! Enemy bombers inbound. Scramble and engage!"

"Damnit all!"

"What's the matter Chopper?"

"The turbine won't start up!"

"Tower, this is Edge. Permission to take off?"

"Permission granted! Keep the skies clear enough to get the rest up!"

"Roger that. Edge, taking off." I watched her take off down the runway while Chopper still struggled to start his plane up.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon!" He said when his engines started to wind to life and in time as well cause an ally plane was just shot down and crashed into two more F-5E's parked 8 meters away. "Whoa!" We started to move finally and we both taxied our way onto the tarmac.

"The Captains spare plane is still in the hanger." Kei said as she passed over us, shooting down an enemy fighter.

"Forget it." Pops radioed in. "Once you're airborne, get as much altitude as you can, fast. Don't let the enemy bounce you from above. All right! First enemy waves passed by!"

"Blaze, scramble! Emergency launch! Hurry!" He didn't need to give me a command for I was all ready part way down the runway with full afterburners. I pulled the stick up and gained as much altitude when two enemy fighters tried to bounce me as I took off. I locked the one directly in front of me and sent a missile directly into his cockpit before I banked around and gunned down his wingman.

"Control tower to Wardog, intercept the bombers. Don't let them attack the runway!"

"You herd him everyone! Disperse and engage the bombers and enemy fighters at your own discretion!"

"Roger, Edge engaging."

"Chopper, engaging!"

"Blaze engaging!" I spotted a TND-GR1 and locked onto his tail when Pops came over the radio.

"I see you managed to make it up there Blaze."

"Oh, you really didn't have that much faith that I would make it up here?"

"Oh, I have more faith in you than you think son. Is your plane holding up all right?"

"Even after having the wing shot up, it feels like it did when we I first got it!" I unloaded a barrage of 20mm shells into his wing sending him down before I spotted one of the B-1 bombers.

"Good! Glad to hear it. Looks like keeping it in good shape has paid off!... And having a great mechanic to fix them up. You better protect this place so that we can use this place cause I don't want to be shipped to another air force base in need for another mechanic thank you very much."

"Don't worry, we'll keep the place safe." I pulled back the stick to climb onto his tail before unloading yet another load into the underside of the bomber. I must have hit something special because as I passed back, an explosion ripped his plane apart and violently shook my own. Kei and Chopper had chosen their own sector to protect by their own and were dealing with their threats when I noticed a small blip at the edge of my radar.

"Who the hell is that on the radar?"

"This is Wardog Leader, Lieutenant Colonel Ford. Approaching Sand Island. What's your current status?"

"Can't you guess what's going on by all this radio chatter?" I asked through clenched teeth as I was pulling a high-G turn to gain lead onto a target before slicing his cockpit from the rest of his plane.

"This is base Control. We are under air attack. Repeat, we are under air attack!"

"I trust you can hold the runway until we arrive?" Ford asked.

"Like hell I am! I ain't going to let them take my home away from me!"

"RIght... Protect it at all costs." Ford said just as I downed another plane.

"This is Chopper, Kid, have you picked off your target?"

"And there goes another one." I said.

"Well there's more bombers incoming. They want to destroy the base itself!" He said when I noticed some movement on the ground.

"Pop's is taking off." Kei said quietly when I noticed some more movement on the ground.

"Look at the hanger!" Chopper called out. "Who the hell pulled that out!?"

"This is Grimm. I was in the hanger helping out the mechanics. I'm taking off!" He said.

"The hell you are! You're not even out of replacement pilot training yet! Aren't there any other spare pilots around?"

"I didn't see any."

"There's no time. Be careful, Grumm. I'll cover you."

"I'll try." His voice seemed a bit shaky but he was determined making it even easier to like him.

"Kid, Grimm's coming up. I'm not sure if he can handle this. Are we just gonna watch."

"Oh suurree we're going to watch... Hell no we aren't! He's going to need to pull through this even if he has second thoughts on it and we're going to provide the best top cover we can until he gets up into the air!" I commanded before getting a "Roger," from both Kei and Chopper. A new flight of F-16's started to come in to strafe Grimm just as he took off but I locked up a target causing them to scramble, breaking formation.

"Control systems are okay." Grim said as he made his checks.

"Do not allow them to get any more planes airborne." One of the Yuke pilots said.

"Mind if I make some room for him to come up here?" I said sarcastically shooting down one of the targets.

"Oil pressure... No problems. Engine sounds great. Thank you mechanics."

"Another one's taking off now... Grr, I can't shake this guy off my tai-" That Yukes transmission was cut short has his plane was filled with multiple cannons shots causing it to explode. Both Kei and Chopper finished up the last two F-16's when I noticed another pair of TND-GR1's were coming in.

"Fuel check. This ought to be enough. "Ejection system okay. This is Grimm, I'm about to take off. Can you see me from up there?" He asked and I rocked my wing tips back and forth.

"I see you nice and clear."

"Roger. I'm at takeoff position on the runway. Engines full power." I say the end of his plane light up as he applied the afterburners when the two TND-GR1's started to dive on his position.

"The enemy is taking off. Destroy them before they can get up he-" His transmission was cut short as I severed that pilots cockpit from the rest of his plane before rolling onto his wing mans tail sending him down into the ocean as well.

"Damn, nice going Kid!" Chopper called.

"Like hell am I going to let you guys get shot down!" I said as I pulled up hard to gain altitude again.

"I'm airborne!" Grimm announced and he kept on climbing.

"Grimm! Get over here and cover my six!"

"Roger!"

"Nice thinking Chopper," Kei said, "Teams of two will help keep our tails clear along with spreading our combat area."

"This is Airman First Class Grimm. Control tower and all aircraft, I'll be joining the Wardog Squadron." He announced to everyone.

"This is the control tower. Roger that. Blaze, take care of them for us!"

"Roger that!" I said as we all split into our groups to take on the last bombers and stray fighters that were flying over head when I called for a weapons check.

"This is Archer, still got lots of gun but one missile left."

"Chopper here, I only got my guns left."

"Edge here, same here like Chopper, only got my guns but with very few rounds."

"Blaze, I got two SAAM's and about two good bursts left of cannon rounds. This will be close if they come in force."

"Yeah..."

"This is Wardog Leader. Sand Island, I'm out of fuel. Request clearance to land." Ford's voice broadcasted and I couldn't belive what he said.

"Negative, Lieutenant Colonel Ford! You can't land! We're under attack!"

"Well, then all friendly aircraft, cover me while I land."

"What are you, insane!?" Chopper blurted out.

"Second Lieutenant Davenport, is that you?" Ford asked and I knew some repercussion was coming after that.

"Yes, sir."

"I'll make sure to write you up after I la-" I heard a small explosion just as his transmission was cut when I also noticed his radar signature fell off the map

"The Lieutenant Colonel is trailing fire! The Lieutenant Colonel has been shot down!" Chopper reported when another wave of bombers and escorts appeared on radar.

"Third wave closing fast!" Nagase called out.

"Grimm, you and Chopper go up and take care of those enemy fighters! Kei, cover my six while I use my last two SAAM's."

"Roger." They said in unison just as they broke off to engage their own targets. I watched Grimm as he flew right behind Chopper and it looked like was having a real breeze flying with Chopper. He still needed more training if we're going to keep flying sorties at this rate, but he looks promising and I think he will become a great pilot. Turning my attention back to the two bomber's, I locked one up with a SAAM and fired. I kept the radar ring around the target as the missile flew when my missile warning came on causing me to roll right, breaking the lock. The missile flew past me when Nagase broke left to engage the enemy. I just had enough time to pull my planes radar guidance ring back over the target making the missile jump up and to the left smacking right into the center of the bomber destroying it. The second bomber broke his approach and started to circle around just as I locked it up.

"Fox 3." I said before pressing the trigger. I watched as the SAAM missile left it's rail and the rocket lit up causing it to sail out a few feet in front of my plane before it sputtered out and started to fall to the ground harmlessly. "Shit! It was a dud!"

"Blaze! This is Edge! I'm out of cannon rounds and an enemy pilot is coming your way!" I looked around in my seat spotting the incoming plane and I banked around just as he got onto my tail. I rocked my plane left and right but he staid glued to it before I pulled a barrel roll over his own plane positioning myself right behind him.

"God, I love pulling that maneuver off!" I said cheerfully as I pulled the trigger filling his engine full of shells sending him down when another one latched onto me.

"Chopper! What's you end of the situation like!?" I called to him as I pulled my plane into a high-g left turn evading the stream of tracers that few past my canopy.

"I'm out of cannon rounds as well and Grimm here is just finishing up the targets... Head up Nagase! Enemy plane has latched onto your tail!"

"Hey Kei, you know that game of chicken?"

"Yeah... Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I smirked as I spotted her and she with me, and we both banked towards each other in a head on.

"You break right on my go. You ready?"

"Well I know these guys aren't." She teased as the distance between each other grew closer.

"Blaze! You're going to crash at this rate!" Grimm cried out but I ignored him for I needed to concentrate so we won't screw up.

"Now!" I saw her break hard right and myself hard left and I heard the fulfilling sound of an explosion behind us.

"Targets confirmed down! Nice going Blaze!" Grimm called when we all formed up to take down the last bomber who just had started his attack run. I flew up and aimed for his wing before pulling the trigger and the hail of tracers was enlightening before I heard the click of my guns going dry. I saw that the bombers wings was severely damaged since it started to favor leaning to one side but it kept on flying.

"Shit... i'm out of bullets." I said as I pulled back. Grimm pulled ahead of me as well before he started to unload with his guns as well. I could see parts of the plane start to fly off of the bomber when he all of a suddenly stopped shooting. "Grimm, why did you stop shooting? Are you out of bullets all ready?"

"Negative Blaze! My guns are jammed!" The bomber was closing in on our runway and the situation was getting dire. "Though I have one idea to take it down since I'm in an F-5E..." He started to climb high than the bomber and closed the distance before he was literally on top of the thing.

"Is he really..." Kei started as we all watched and I did not believe what I was about to see.

"Kid, is Grimm going to-" He was cut off as we saw a small object fall from his plane before he pulled up sharply, and it impacted the bomber, causing a brilliant explosion.

"I think he just did Chopper."

"He just bombed... A bomber." I could hear the astonishment in Kei's voice and I smirked knowing that grim will become an excellent pilot.

"Control tower to all aircraft. All bombers confirmed Destroyed. Thanks for protecting our base, everyone!" The control Tower announced when Grimm pulled up next to my plane.

"Was my fling all right?" He asked and I couldn't help but laugh. "W-What? Was it something I said?" He seemed confused and I was liking this guy all ready.

"Your flying is all right? Grimm, you looked fantastic up there! Though that bombing the bomber act was a bit reckless, you did great. I think you'll be great as Choppers wing man."

"Thank you. It was because of your support." He said cheerfully. A modest and nice guy as well. He will make an excellent addition to the battlefield.

"Come on, let's get a welcoming party going!" One of the ground crews said over the radio and a party did sound like a good thing after what we had accomplished. But, I'm not sure about the other, but I'm going to hit my bed... That's if I am going to make it back to my room. Once we had landed our planes, we were swarmed by a mob of ground workers congratulating us on our victory in the sky and I saw that Grimm's plane was getting swarmed the most. We all were practically yanked out of our cockpits from the ground crew and we all were carrier to the party they've set up. Chopper and Grimm looked like they both were having a great time with all the attention and I could see that Kei was a bit shy by it all with myself. Though the party was great and man, did the ground crew on base know how to party. Half way through, I sort of slinked away from it all the partying before collapsing on the crew rooms floor form exhaustion.

"Oh come on Kid, all ready exhausted from the party?" Chopper asked as he walked into the room as well with a drink in his hands. I rolled on my back and reached my arms back to stretch.

"Not really... Just tiered from the flying." Chopper scoffed when Kei walked in as well followed by Grimm.

"Out of everyone here, I thought you would be the least tiered." Chopper teased and I just laid there.

"I've been going my hardest all day... And there has been... Things on my mind." A heavier atmosphere fell onto the four of us and I reached my hands up to be pulled up by Kei and Chopper.

"I know what you're talking about Kid... I mean, first Bartlett being shot down... And now the Lieutenant Colonel... What are we gonna do now since we got no squadron leader?" We all stayed silent for some time before a yawn from me broke the silence.

"I don't know about you guys... But I'm about to pass out from exhaustion... Grimm, enjoy your fame for today. You earned it... Now as for you Kei, can you make sure I actually make it to our dorm before I decide to pass out right now?"

"Sure thing." She got under my arm for support as I sort of slunk back to out dorm and I somehow managed to make it into my bunk.

"Hey, Renton."

"Hm?"

"You lead the squadron well. I think Bartlett would approve of you being the next squadron leader... If he was here still..." Her voice was almost a whisper as she said her few last words but I shook my head.

"No... He's still out there. He's to much of a hard ass to just be taken like that... First POW of the war though..." I laid back down as my eyes felt heavier. I could hear the smooth even breathing of Kei as she slipped into her own slumber and I smiled.

' "It's getting the crew back alive. That's what counts." That's what he said and lived by. If I am going to become this squadrons leader... Then my own squad mates comes first over me. I won't let any of them get shot down.' I frowned and scowled as I'm brought back to my real goal. 'And I will get this war over with to return the skies back to its peace.'