10th Fleet, D.L.V Origin, Command Bridge, Mediterranean Sea.
The Command Bridge of the Origin was bustling with activity after reviving orders to move into the Mediterranean and to the balkans to join the fight against the Mandate. They were still far away from the area of Operations which they were ordered too. The orders received by D.H.C or Donnish Head Command which was given to by the head of government Harolds Veraski and the head of state who had the council of 120 vote for. If there was a decision there was a Council vote and someone to bring it up in the first place.
The Captain of the D.L.V origins, Fleet Captain Charles Oren was recently promoted to his position 4 months ago during the U.D.S incident when the original Captain was killed by a Cruise Missile strike which had a direct hit on the bridge. Charles Oren was the only one avaliable to be sent for replacement and had to wait while the Carrier was undergoing repairs and refits. While heowas new he did know what he was doing. The crew as of now have respect for him. But respect doesent matter when cruise missiles can just hit you from miles away and end Oren's 4 month long promotion to captain.
Charles Oren was observing the Mediterranean that they were now in. Binoculars were useless as they could get the hit on them before the carrier could even turn on the missile defences. Instead of binoculars the Radar was scanning the seas around them for any air and sea contacts. As he was waiting for further orders as they got closer to the balkans. It seemed to be a regular 'Go there and wait a while before further orders' kind of thing like it was usually around the seas of Donner Land when the Origins was patrolling around before the U.D.S incident and before the Mandate started this war. This war was becoming boring quickly.
"We have 12 radar contacts! Mach 1.44, SU-24 Fencers Are inbound!" Oren turned around and quickly walked over to the person inbound still holding a cup of coffee in his hands. "Turn on air defences, tell the rest of fleet. Red alert!" He raised the cup of coffee to his lips and drank the rest before placing it down. "If those fencers have anti ship missiles we will get more then a scratch! ETA on their arrival?" He said while looking towards the direction of the enemy arrival. "Only a few minutes away sir." The man looked up from his screen briefly as he said it.
Below the deck Gregan was running through the hallways trying to get up to above the deck as the red lights were shining brightly in his eyes and the alarm noise blared in his ears. He began running up a set of stairs holding onto his flight helmet and in his G-Suit. As he got above deck he was met with a heavy wind and rain falling on him. The grey and dark sky above had the thundering noise of not lighting but jet engines. He knew that they only had a few minutes left to take off. Behind him as he ran across the wet ground were his 3 pilots that he was in command of, George was among them along with Fredericks and Jerin. The flight crew around their F-15 Eagles began to disperse as they neared closer to them. The aircraft were already hooked up to the catapult system, refueled and armed.
Gregan and his flight were climbing into their aircraft and switching the systems inside the cockpit as the thundering sound grew closer.
"Derango flight lead to all Derango flights, beginning take off." Gregan gave a thumbs up to the flight crew on the deck and the man outside the cockpit in the light rain raised his hand and as he was about to drop his hand crouched down. The F-15 was pushed away accelerating to take off speed as the jet engines roared. Gregan was pushed into his seats as the aircraft flew off the carrier and gained speed and altitude. Already he could see the Fencers coming in from his HUD marked by green squares. The text marking them as SU-24's and the distance in metric below that.
The 3 other aircraft in Derango flight had taken off and had formed up behind Gregan after they were launched from the catapult. "This is Origin to Derango flight. We're getting more aircraft up and prepared to help but it will take a while, hold tight" The voice from the carrier told them as they ascended through the clouds. Water began to form on the cockpit glass as they went through but as they got above the clouds it went away. "Copy Origin, we're waiting for your command to engage." Gregan said as the Su-24 Fencers got closer and closer to them about to make a fly by.
"Confirmed hostile forces, engage Derango flight."
Derango shook his head at how far these aircraft must have went to come and engage the carrier. "Derango flight split and engage! These are hostile!" Gregan ordered as the SU-24's screamed past them at the speed of sound. "This is Derango 1-2, I'm on his tail!" Gregan heard as he began turning his aircraft around chasing the SU-24's. He looked to his upper right as Derango 1-2, George, fired a missile at one of them. The missile streaked right into the fencer before it could turn and fire off flares. A bright explosion followed by black smokey streaks of what was left of a fencer. "Derango 1-2, he's down!"
"Nice shot number two! Wait up, ones on your tail!" Gregan tried to pull up before the fencer could fire on George. But as Gregan got into range a white trail flew from the fencer and a explosion and falling shrapnel signaled the end of Derango 1-2. "1-2 this is lead!" Gregan yelled into his radio as he fired a missile into the fencer that shot 1-2 ddown. "Fox 2!" The Fencers wing exploded and the pilot bailed out as the aircraft tumbled back to earth burning from where it's wing was.
"1-3 to Origin, Derango 1-2 has been shot down. He's not responding." Jerin said as the carriers AA fire began to target the now retreating fencers and more allied aircraft took off. "Origin to Derango flight, copy that. Come in for landing, they seem to be retreating. A rescue helicopter will be sent out." Gregan sighed and tore off his breath mask. He couldn't belive that a Derango has been shot down infront of his face. He could've saved him, he was too late how ever. Gregan atleast had the satisfaction of avenging his friend George that is if he was killed. Jerin or Fredericks never saw a chute open. The reality of it all settled in quickly.
"Derango flight, let's land." Gregan tried to remain calm. His anger was slowly boiling inside of him.
As they descended below the clouds they were met by a unwelcome aight. A column of smoke rose from the side of the ship as they began to try and land. Metal scrap prices and fire was floating on the water as they saw some bodies still bobbing up and down. One of the SU-24's must have let a missile loose and it got past the defences.
It was then as Derango flight began to land that they knew this war would last. Their home had been hit, fellow comrades now lay in the water burning and slowly sinking into the water. Gregans view on the war changed that day as he got out of the F-15 as it was being lowered back into the Carriers hangar. Derango flight was personally committed to the war effort now. The fire on the ship was slowly gotten rid of and the dead bodies were removed from the water. But unlike the bodies in the water, the image of Derango 1-2 exploding stayed in his head.