Ace Combat: Ashes of War (IC/Closed)

by **Dayganistan** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 2:42 pm

1st Lt. Takhmina "Voron" Abduloeva
November 27th, 2015 // Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

Takhmina's Fitter continued to streak over the snow covered landscape, rapidly approaching the target area. Radar was continuing to spike her aircraft, indicating the anti air threat had yet to be dealt with. The S-300s had yet to launch at her again, but it was still worrying. This was still an extremely risky strategy but it was the best they had if their SEAD aircraft had yet to deal with the anti air threat. If they flew in at high altitudes they would be easy targets for S-300s. At low altitudes they would be easy targets for gun based air defence, but high speeds at least lowered their hit probability even with radar. A fighter was more likely to survive a few hits from a 23mm cannon to at the very least allow the pilot to retreat behind friendly lines before ditching than it was a missile the size of a telephone pole.

Mooncalf: << Assassin 2, confirming second kill on enemy SAM. Moving to clear Alpha Sector of remaining anti-air. >>

Their SEAD craft had started getting to work, confirming kills on two of the hostile S-300 batteries. A competent enemy would shut off their radars if they knew there were hostile aircraft with anti radiation missiles in the area and the Estovakians did just that. Within about a minute of the report of the second SAM being destroyed, the radar warning receiver in the Fitter's cockpit finally shut up. Takhmina pulled her aircraft into a climb, levelling out at around 2000 meters above ground before reducing engine power to cruise at a slower speed. At this altitude, she could see much further than trying to avoid radar lock at treetop level. She could see the tracer fire being exchanged between Emmerian and Estovakian positions along the banks of the river, the red and green streaks of light almost giving the appearance of a science fiction battle with laser blasters raging down below. Across the river, she could see the muzzle reports of 152mm and 203mm howitzers. No matter how much you tried to dig in a howitzer or hide it under camouflage netting, you couldn't hide the muzzle blast. Takhmina flicked the switch to power up the Klen-P laser designator integrated with her aircraft, preparing to select targets to snipe with her Kh-25 laser guided missiles, Yuktobanian equivalents to the Osean Maverick most of the Emmerian Phantoms assigned to this operation were carrying.

Sirin: << Enforcer 1-4. Pushing for target. >>

She watched the Draken push at a higher speed, attracting anti air fire from hostile Shilkas. They would have a harder time hitting friendly aircraft without their radar, but with multiple guns firing in interlocking fields of fire, the chance of shells hitting a friendly aircraft was still there. She moved her targeting reticle, the only true HUD element in such an old aircraft, towards one of the sources of tracer fire which in turn pointed her laser designator at that location. She pushed a button to lock the laser to that location and pressed the weapons release button on the stick.

Voron: <<Enforcer 1, rifle.>>

The Kh-25 fell off of its launch rail before igniting its rocket motor, accelerating to almost two times the speed of sound. All Takhmina could do was watch the smoke trail and rocket motor until it impacted several seconds later in a ball of orange and black. She would have to turn off her laser designator to let it cool down before coming around for another strike. Meanwhile on the ground at the Estovakian positions, the missile struck one of the Shilkas on the side of its turret. The shaped charge jet of molten metal easily penetrated the relatively thin armour and struck the ammunition feed, starting an ammunition fire. The Estovakian crew tried to escape but it would be no use as the 23mm anti aircraft shells began to cook off and detonate, spewing shrapnel and incendiary material through the crew compartment. The entire vehicle was soon engulfed in fire which spread through its gun position igniting wooden ammunition crates, some empty and some full of ammunition. A smoke column rose from the gun position which Takhmina could see from her cockpit.

Voron: <<Confirmed destruction of hostile Shilka, Coming around for a second attack run.>>

She banked the aircraft to the right and pulled on the stick hard to turn back away from the enemy position, flying away for a few seconds before turning back around to repeat the process. With one of the Shilkas down at their AA network around the objective slightly less effective, she decided she would use her second Kh-25 against one of the howitzers. It would take long before she spotted a large muzzle blast and a particularly large olive drab gun barrel contrasted against the white, snowy background. The main portion of the self propelled gun carrier, at least from this distance, appeared to be sheltered in a dug in gun pit. She put her targeting reticle on the lower part of the gun assembly, a larger area where the recoil buffer and cannon breach were located, and pressed her weapons release button the let another Kh-25 streak from her aircrat

Voron: <<Enforcer 1, rifle.>>

Within seconds the missile again found its mark and exploded in another quick flash of orange and black. When the explosion cleared, Takhmina could no longer see the gun barrel. The explosion damaged the weapon mount that the gun simply slumped down, the kinetic force of the gun hitting the top of the gun carrier itself causing damage to the gun barrel which would make it inoperable.

Voron: <<One howitzer destroyed. Guided missiles expended. Pulling back to set up for rocket and gun runs.>>

She once again turned her aircraft away from the Estovakian position, considering her options to approach for a run with rockets.

by **Tayner** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 9:01 pm

Captain Samuel 'Merlin' Daniel
November 27th, 2015 // Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

The Battle had begun. Assassin was taking up air cover on Objective Alpha, with SEAD and ECM cover. The initial wave of Surface to Air missiles had been countered by Mooncalf's SEAD, and now it was time for the pilots of Assassin to start pounding the ground. Even with SEAD, the ZSUs reported in their AO were still capable of dumb firing their cannons, and while that still made them inaccurate, they were still dangerous. All it would take to shoot Dan down would be a well placed burst. However, Dan just had to be fast and not stick around too long. The Estovakian T-72s were already making their push against the Emmerian lines who were dug in and intent on holding their side of the bridge.

Merlin: << I'm going in for those tanks. >>

Dan dove, and acquired a lock on the lead T-72 of the formation, waiting until the infared seeking warhead of the AGM-65 got a clear picture of the tank. He fired the missile, watching as it flew off his rail and across the battlespace before impacting it's target, a sucessful kill. He called out his second shot, once again, engauging another tank. By now their formation was expanding, trying to make it more difficult for aircraft to get multiple kills. Once again a Maverick left his rail, and impacted another tank. By now a Shilka covering the tank's push had singled out Dan, and tracers began to dance around him as he broke off, knowing he had overstayed his welcome. Dan bobed and weaved as he fled back behind friendly lines, and further from the AA gun. Eventually Dan would be in the clear, far enough away that manual targeting would be too inaccurate to bother wasting the amunition.

Merlin: << Scratch two tanks, keep up the pressure Assassin, I don't want those tanks getting across that feild. >>

by **Herador** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 11:04 pm

2nd Lt's James "Bones" Gorman & Neisha "Dirty" Deeds
Assassin 5
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria
27 November, 2015

James watched the missile streak out from Mooncalf and Vigil's Fitter and detonate far off in the distance, Neisha cheered and gave several choice expletives when the secondary explosive followed closely afterward as the SAM sites remaining missiles detonated.

Mooncalf: << Assassin 2, confirming second kill on enemy SAM. Moving to clear Alpha Sector of remaining anti-air. >>

Dirty: <<Shit-hot shooting Assassin 2, blew the fucker into oblivion!>>

Under his mask, James was grinning. He was used to fighting in bush wars flying second-rate planes for third-rate warlords, but this? It felt like, for once, they were doing the right thing. "We owe those two a drink."

"Marcy doesn't drink James." Neisha corrected him dryly.

James shrugged to himself. "We'll get her some of that really expensive mineral water or something." Readjusting himself and getting Hector back on course he started to flip the weapon releases safety flap in anticipation. "Ready to go hunting Neesh?"

"Thought you'd never ask."

Merlin: << I'm going in for those tanks. >>

"Bossman's going for tanks." Neisha pointed out. "Let's give him some cover, nail out some of those SPAAG's, and give everyone else some wiggle room."

James was inclined to agree. Pulling up, he put Hector in a search pattern and the pair began to hunt for tracers. With Assassin and Enforcer in the air over the Alpha AO and the SAMs put in their place by Marcy and Benjamin, the AA was working double-time to try and swat the Emmerian CAS from the sky. Neisha spotted their first victim off Hector's nine and James wrestled the old plane into position. PGM's might have been new territory for him, but good old dumb bombs were something he was very familiar with. Bringing the wings in, James set them on course for the datalink point on his HUD.

"Bomb run computer is operating, course is locked in from my end." Neisha called out. "Let Hector do his thing and focus on not getting us schwacked."

Sure enough, the solution had appeared on his central radar display along with the terrain data from Hector's Terrain Radar. "We're in, dump countermeasures on my mark." Neisha replied with an affirmative and the pair held on tight as the distance rapidly closed. James kept Hector as low as possible, hoping the terrain would hinder the AA from getting a bead on them before they could drop the bomb. As they approached, tracers began to fly off their left, the ECM was doing it's job. "Chaff." The order was as cool as could be as the cloud deployed behind them off the right wing, causing the tracers to pull even further off target. Gripping the stick even tighter, the computer finally gave the signal and James thumbed his radio stud.

Bones: <<Assassin 5, pickle.>>

Hector barely rumbled when the 500-pounder fell off, its ballistics carrying it forward. Pulling up and away, James waited for dirty to give the result call.

"Torched the shitheads!"

Bones: <<Assassin 5, AA killed.>>

Leveling out, Dirty highlighted another position from the datalinks feed. "Another probably AA, going for it?" James grunted and affirmative. "Copy, the solution should be on your display."

Repeating the process, James lined up for another run though this time the rounds came even closer than before.

"James, don't you dare get me fuckin' ki-"

Bones: <<Assassin 5, pickle.>>

With another clean pull, James banked harder than before to avoid any last bits of spite from the SPAAG's crew and was afforded a view of his kill for it. Astonished by the ensuing fireball, he wondered aloud, "They can't have been dumb enough to keep all their ammo that close right?"

Dirty: <<Assassin 5, SPAAG Torched.>>

"Quit gawking, you know I hate talking to controllers." His WSO grumbled from the back.

by **Vacif** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 11:16 pm

OPERATION COMBINE
2nd Lieutenant Ciara “Tricky” Sharp
Vitoze, Emmeria // November 27, 2015

She’d transferred in not even two days ago, barely had the time to learn people’s names and here she was flying her first actual combat mission. To say things were a bit turbulent and wild for the relatively young pilot was an understatement. What was also an understatement was saying how pretty the natural beauty of the snow covered plateau was. Too bad she was flying a heavily armed jet into a war zone or else she would have liked to loiter around and take some pictures. It reminded her of her days stunting and touring. In the far distance, Mount Marcelo. Now that was a mountain that she’d love to scale.

AWACS Ghost Eye: <<Ghost Eye to all aircraft. Update from our ground forces, a large Estovakian releif force has reinforced the north side of the river. Rough estimates gauge between one to two dozen additional armoured targets. Still no air superiority fighters. Mission parameters themselves have not changed. Combat engineers and staff from noiw overrun air bases have cleared a stretch of Highway 44, 40 kilometers south of the area of operations in case you need to refuel or re-arm, they don't have a wide selection so don't expect to make any radical changes to your loadout. This isn't going to be a quick fight, so buckle down. We'll be patching ground comms through as needed, and connecting Datalink for ground targets>>

Tricky scrunched her nose up in doubt, she wasn’t about to jinx herself by saying anything out loud though.

“Don’t say it.” McMann said sternly.

“I didn’t even do anything.”

“Yeah but you thought about it.”

“Well in other news, awful thoughtful for Command to set up a refueling point for us. Hopefully we won’t need it.” Tricky said, trying to maybe distract fate from not cursing her with something unexpected. “You’re gonna have some fun today McMann, cheer up will ya?”

“Awful morbid definition of fun don’t you think?” McMann smirked.

Sciabola: <<Eagle One, Eagle Flight. Float, drop your bags and fence in your systems. Three, Four, take Angels Ten, 10 klicks from AO and cap. Priority are Grisons in AO. Inform when complete then engage freely. Two, split with me and hold outside of AO. We'll engage once those Grisons are out.>>

Tricky grimaced hearing the Captain speak. Honestly it wasn’t anything against the man himself, if it were any other Captain she’d do the same thing but she stomached her dislike for authority figures and fought her youthful rebellious streak from a bygone age. She climbed her Phantom to 10 000 meters as ordered and carried on as ordered. The Man himself tapped his finger against his station as he searched for the 2K22s they were ordered to hit.

AWACS Ghost Eye: <<Hard spikes! Break break!>>

Their RWR didn’t start screaming which was nice but Tricky did see some of the other planes break formation to avoid being removed from existence. She was sorry to say she was only vaguely aware of who these other pilots were, with the exception of course being her flight leader.

Sciabola: <<Missile defeated. Turning cold and extending. Three, four, stay frosty and engage targets. Two, rejoin on me.>>

Alas the Captain continued to live, a good thing to be sure. Tricky didn’t feel the need to make a snarky comment, pissing off her Captain on her first mission. They didn’t have that kind of working relationship yet. Instead she talked to her WSO. She could hear the weapon’s suite chirping, telling The Man all sorts of information. McMann was quick to acquire his target.

“You got that Grison yet?”

“Yeah, lased, weapon away.” He said coolly.

Tricky: << Eagle Four, Rifle. >>

The Maverick sailed through the air and arced towards its target. She was closer than optimal but still well outside of the Tunguska’s gun range. Despite the grand distance, the 2K22 fired off its 30mm cannon in one final act of defiance, to their credit the fire was ‘relatively’ close to the aircraft but not nearly close enough to do damage. “Annnd he’s gone. Kill confirmed.”

“I’ve got eyes on our next Grison.” Tricky spoke up, alerting her WSO. “Light him up and take him down.”

“He’s lit, taking the shot.”

Tricky: << Eagle Four, Rifle. >>

Much like the first, the Maverick was able to hit its target from well outside of the Grison’s gun range. The 2K22 tried to drive into the trees, in an attempt either get away from the oncoming threat or to perhaps try to break the weapon’s tracking, but was struck down all the same.

Tricky: << Eagle Four, scratch two Grisons. >>

by **Sapim** » Tue Jul 06, 2021 6:08 am

November 27, 2015
0730 Hours - Local Time
2nd Lt. Helena "Bono" Martiz
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

I felt the heavy saab much heavier than before was the weaponry against ground targets, I looked towards the ground seeing the movement of the Estovakian army, they were superiorly advanced as my plane kept beeping warning that I was already being detected and that they had me in their sights.

<<Enforcer One to all Enforcer callsigns. Our primary target is the Estovakian artillery unit located behind the lines at Objective Alpha. Intel reports 2S7 and 2S19 self propelled howitzers with the 2S7s being our primary objective. However, I want the 2S19s destroyed as well, they could potentially fire laser guided shells at our ground troops. Drop to the deck and ingress at high speed in order to penetrate their S-300 network. Assassin has one aircraft fitted for SEAD to help cover both of our flights from SAM threats.>>

After Enforcer one spoke, the plane's missile alert started beeping wildly in all directions due to their radars having already detected us.

I immediately started doing Sapinish-style evasive maneuvers used during my academic days.

after dodging the missiles and continuing with the original course that is the Estovakian artillery, I start to make engagement maneuvers against the ground targets, changing the radar to air-ground mode to locate the artillery, but it was easier to locate them without the use of radar since artillery fire left tracks signaling their location.

Bono: <<Enforcer 1-6 Target in crosshairs preparing to shoot.>>

With her target in the crosshairs she switches her weaponry from missiles to rockets and pulls the trigger.

Bono: <<Rockets!, Rockets!>>

Sending 3 rockets 135mm to two 2S7 that were coming to hit caused a big fireball that she blinds due to the smoke from that fireball started to raise her draken upwards when she looks on the radar saw that the artillery were no longer showing that they no longer exist.

upon realizing it, she communicates on the radio.

Bono: <<Two TGT destroyed continuing the mission>>

by **Hastur** » Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:28 am

MISSION 02: OPERATION COMBINE
First Lieutenant Miriam “Rattler” Lochte
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria // November 27, 2015

Mooncalf and vigil got to work. Rattler holding in front as their anti-radiation missile whizzed past towards its aim. Miriam followed as the rocket descended toward where the S-300 missile had previously clambered high to clip wings. The large Kh-25MP floated smoothly, guiding itself onto the platform, twisting it into a broad whiff of smoke. One down, three more to go.

The radar lock warning was nevertheless shrieking out in two divergent tones. She had hoped that with one of the AA platforms wiped out, the rest would call it a day under the imminent threat of death, but like a dog with a bone, the one locking her was unwilling to give up just yet. Seconds seemed like minutes, time trying to make her rethink her decision. But Miriam stood on station, not wanting to break off to leave the SEAD planes to be exposed just yet. A tense sense of trepidation filled up in her chest as she stuck around for the next warning, going against what would have been the shrewd thing to do.

Mooncalf: << Magnum. >>

With that, the console spat a new contact. A white contrail, hungry for action, on her low, close left rising to meet her plane in the sky as gained momentum.

Rattler: << Shit! Missile 11 clock! Going evasive! >>

Miriam aggressively dove to build up energy and began aggressive turns. Without the chaff, surviving this would be challenging. She weaved right and left, producing whatever moves she could to spoil the projectile’s vitality as it tried to climb. Miriam struggled to breathe, heart racing, vision going hazy as gravity started taking its tariff as she continued to perform the escaping manoeuvres.

Soon enough, the radar lock warning stopped its alternating two tone hoots. Miriam turning to detect the missile overshooting, and thus ultimately trashing into a sharp heave of smoke. Mooncalf and Vigils missile had hit its mark, disabling its tracking. The other SAM sites on the data-link fell mute, no longer broadcasting themselves. Miriam took a protracted whisper of relief, reassured that the bird hunters on the ground had taken the message to heart. Assassin could finally start dedicating themselves to their actual target. The Estovakian armour section in Alpha.

Rattler << Thanks, assassin 2. That got a bit too close for comfort. >>

Merlin: << I’m going in for those tanks. >>

Lead had made his move, being assisted by Assassin 5, holding a search pattern. The flight pulling a dive as they sought the destruction of the tanks, who were attempting to cross the field.

Rattler: << Copy. Assassin 3 following you in. Good hunting Assassin 2. >>

Miriam exited her defensive posture of the SEAD plane, beginning a decent down to join the others. Moving into the search pattern alongside Assassin 5. Her targeting pod gave a distinct indication of the battleground. The clear picture on the terminal showed burning white tanks moving across a grey field, the signatures of SPAAGs not far away in support. It would be easy pickings once someone fully dealt the radar less AA, their dumb fired machine guns still being a significant enough threat.

Dan started his attack, his opening move being AGM-65s. The infrared splashing two tanks. The enemy quickly returning with their fearsome 23 mm auto-cannon fire, tracers dancing around his craft as he zigzagged his path to safety. Leaving only a frustrating result of no hits for the hostiles, and a pleasing result for Miriam. Gorman and Deeds counter move was rapid, promptly taking advantage of their lapse in concentration, unleashing two of their dumb bombs right on aim. Two of the three SPAAGs that had engaged Dan had become nothing more than twisted metal as they got snared in the explosion. The lone SPAAG left still continued to fire, seeking to strike the whirlwind that just wreaked havoc in their lines as it banked hard.

Miriam, observing, joined the one sided waltz. Speedily produced a latch on the lone surviving AA gun as it performed their coda. Letting one of her six AGM-65 missiles drop from the rack and down towards the target.

Rattler: << Rifle. >>

Miriam stated, watching as the heat seeking projectile homed in on the engine, slamming into the body of the collective thorn in their sides. On the terminal, the white-hot vehicle turned to a large blob for a split second. A short explosion echoing ground side as the SPAAG fired its last cluster skyward. A short stack of smoke confirming the kill. With that, the armour below would have little time to stop them.

Rattler: << Last known SPAAG destroyed. Looks like we have got some loiter time boys and girls. Best make the most of it. >>

Miriam slowed down, speed no longer being as fundamental. She wanted to take out as many targets as available before they could accomplish any damage to ground targets. Miriam leading the airplane into a position to flag the hostile armour still maintaining its push. The first target being the farthest along, right at the edge. The T72 attempting to bring itself to any some sort of security quickly as their air defence dried up. A tell-tale ping from the terminal went off, and she let loose.

Rattler: << Rifle. >>

The AGM missile slammed into the side of the tank with ease, the lumbering vehicle having next to no chance at dodging. A brief flash on the monitor as a vast explosion kicked off. The turret propelled skyward, landing a mere few feet away as the tank fell to a hasty standstill, smoke billowing from the wreck.

“Damn.” Miriam mumbled, hesitating for a second before continuing with the mission, seized the next lock on the target. The fifth vehicle in the column.

Rattler: << Rifle. >>

The next missile continued towards its target, striking true into the rear side of the T-72. A much more subdued flash occurred, the tank coming to a sudden halt. Small blips climbing up and out of the wreak began making a run for whatever cover they could. No doubt terrified at the hell being rained down upon them with near impunity. Miriam attempted to seize a lock on the last vehicle in the column, but failed, flying right over the target as he continued to get out of dodge. Now past the bulk of the column and unable to get a lock because of the angle, made the turn to reengage. Using the laser to designate targets with the Damocles for other strike aircraft.

Rattler << marking targets of opportunity while I get into position for the next attack! Feel free to take advantage Dirty! >>

by **Kassaran** » Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:56 am

Capt. Romolo "Sciabola" Beninati, Eagle One
27 November, 2015 // Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

As Sciabola's Phantom climbed back into the sky, moving further and further from the hot zone, he kept an eye on his own RWR and sensors. In the back, the WSO was reading off reports from across the ongoing operation. It seemed as though the Mercenari flight had been able to push their low-level approach well, shrugging off the first series of missiles inbound on their formation and quickly regrouping to engage. Already, several artillery pieces and a SAM had been knocked out of commission. Across the rest of the Plateau, things were progressing according to plan and the enemy was seemingly at the mercy of the skies which now rained down anger and spite. As he nursed the Phantom in a wide, ascending turn to his left, he caught sight of the two glinting specks that were his 3 & 4 reaching their assigned position and beginning their attack runs.

A streak of smoke, accompanied by the report of Eagle 4, gave him all the information he'd needed to know. Watching as a second later, another Maverick dropped loose, he smiled as both missiles reached their targets successfully. The WSO, keeping their targeting pod fixed on the Tunguska's and Shilkas now beginning to run for cover, he painted one that had begun to move into concealment, the tall trees it had found becoming an excellent way to break up its thermal signature from his wingmates in their high position. If only the weather had been worse, then the Tunguska might have stood a chance as he put his reticle on the target and gave the order for his WSO to keep it lit up.

Sciabola: <<Eagle Three, Eagle One, Grison on my lase. See if you can lock it. I'll try to keep it painted until handoff. Check net and confirm.>>

Meanwhile, Rondine had been keeping track of the second Grison as it had begun to raise it's guns and a streak of smoke came off of it and climbed into the sky.

Rondine: <<SAM, SAM, SAM. I think it's SACLOS, keep at least Angels Five and you should be good.>>

The smoke streak dissipated after a kilometer or two in flight, the single, futile gesture likely the sign of a panicking and upset crew, more than any sort of actual dangerous threat. They'd been given some of the information on older SAM systems and SPAA the Stovies had obtained in the wake of their civil war. If there was any chance these Grisons stood, it was in pushing their birds higher into the engagement envelope of the S-300. Either they hadn't been told their S-300 system was down, or it was likely about to re-engage. He'd not determined which had been hit by their SEAD birds and if he had to guess, neither had Sciabola.

Rondine: <<One, this is Two. What luck for SEAD working SAM in Alpha? We're getting pushed to medium altitude.>>

Sciabola turned his head slightly over his shoulder, looking at the nearby shape of Rondine's bird, frowning for a moment as he heard the man's concerns. He knew the S-300 was a valid concern for many of the pilots right now, but with the RWR not reporting anything in terms of the Gauntlets powering back up, he couldn't devote energy to that thought. Shaking his helmeted head, he keyed back a response as his eyes dropped back to his instruments and then back towards the battlefield where more columns of smoke were rising into the sky. He'd be able to turn hot towards the AO momentarily if the operation continued to go as planned.

Sciabola: <<No clue, Gauntlets in AO cycled to cold and they're blind. Focus on your job, they'll do theirs. Three, One. What luck?>>

by **Herador** » Tue Jul 06, 2021 11:25 am

2nd Lt's James "Bones" Gorman & Neisha "Dirty" Deeds
Assassin 5
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria
27 November, 2015

Rattler << marking targets of opportunity while I get into position for the next attack! Feel free to take advantage Dirty! >>

Neisha started to work her consoles, bringing up the target. In the front seat, James shifted with excitement. They both had missed this.

Dirty: <<Copy Rattler, date received, lining up for a run now.>>

Another course came up on the screen in front of James, who had to start wrestling the plane onto its new path. "We have to get some altitude, eyes on the RWR for me Neesh?"

"Already ahead of you."

The target was a T-72 out in the open, just sitting there. James almost felt sorry, the crew were hull down behind a hill so Warlock couldn't get a good bead on them, but they were perfectly exposed for a strike.

Bones: <<Assassin 5, Paveway.>>

The guided bomb detached with a thunk and tension released when Neisha confirmed the kill.

Bones: <<Tally one T-72 for Assassin 5.>>

by **The Oshian Federation** » Tue Jul 06, 2021 12:08 pm

2LT Henrietta "Limaf" Middleton
27.Nov.2015
Sipli, Emmeria

Being all the way up at thirty thousand feet, well above the cloud layers and with not a single sound around her other than the hum of the engines was truly one of life's smaller blessings, Annette thought as they came in high over the snow-draped battlefield of Sipli. A Stovie Grumble regiment were dozing ahead of them, along with a smattering of shorter-ranged colleagues. The thought that it was probably time to switch from the night watch passed the thought of Henrietta Middleton but her shrieking radar warner swiftly pushed that out of her mind. Work was calling.

Fortunately for her and Eagle Four, the radar warning was but momentary. Evidently the Flap Lids operated by the enemy had found more immediate threats than a pair of Phantoms descending into the battlefield.
Unlike Eagle Four however, Annette stopped her descent at 20,000 feet and pulled into a gentle left back to let Penvesie running the Litening pod in her back to observe the battlefield. It was also then that they noticed Eagle Four descending further down towards the river and into the range of the shit the Stovies were bound to throw at them. Muttering something like "Very eager that one... they'll be dead by dinner..." in an exaggerated French accent, Annette got on the horn with flight lead: <<Eagle One, Eagle Three calling. Four has split from me and descended into SHORADS range. I will engage them as they come in support.>>
She had six Laser Mavericks, and six IIR ones onboard, well enough to make a SHORADS detachment or even a reinforced tank company reconsider their options. Now it was up to her and Penvensie to make the most of them and to ensure Eagle Four didn't become yet another battle statistic.

As if Eagle Four was reading her mind they swept up the first two Tunguskas, and Eagle One, probably responding to her call lazed the final two, and so without further ado. <<Eagle One, Three has your laze. Sending.>> Four Laser Mavericks leapt into action against the Tunguskas, two for each. Four supersonic AGM's were four pretty significant infrared signatures and the Tunguskas shot one down each, normally that would've saved their arses but there was a follow-on in this case. Over four hundred pounds of shape charged explosives later and the two final Grisons were reduced to scrap metal.
<<Eagle One. Three has killed two Grisons. Will now engage the tank company with what I got.>>
<<Eagle Three to Four. Do reform on my starboard side at the soonest and help me engage the T-72's.>>

by **The United Remnants of America** » Tue Jul 06, 2021 12:41 pm

Second Lieutenant Tobias "Frosty" McLeod

Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

11/27/2015 - 11:03

The Thud had been the subject of constant repair work since Frosty had made a decent enough landing at Campagna Airport. Almost three days of work later, and a docking of his pay for the maintenance, and the Dad's Thunderchief was finally back in flying condition, and was supposedly able to carry out missions again, though Tobias was skeptical of that fact. Didn't repair work usually take longer, especially when at a base that just suffered an attack?

Wulf and Jyri had given him an earful when they'd finally landed after the sortie a few days ago. They'd told him how he had to be safer, that he couldn't do the things Aiden had done back in the old days. "Those tricks worked for him, until they didn't," Wulf had said, "Don't walk in his footsteps because you'll find the same cliff to fall off of."

Frosty adjusted the mask covering his face, feeling uncomfortable just remembering the conversation. He hated when Wulf and Jyri brought up Dad. He was so great, and he did all these amazing things, but you can't do those things, because it's too dangerous. What would Dad think if you died?

"He'd think I'd died a bad ass," Tobias mumbled to himself.

<<Enforcer One to all Enforcer callsigns. Our primary target is the Estovakian artillery unit located behind the lines at Objective Alpha. Intel reports 2S7 and 2S19 self propelled howitzers with the 2S7s being our primary objective. However, I want the 2S19s destroyed as well, they could potentially fire laser guided shells at our ground troops. Drop to the deck and ingress at high speed in order to penetrate their S-300 network. Assassin has one aircraft fitted for SEAD to help cover both of our flights from SAM threats.>>

<<Enforcer-1, Enforcer-4. Understood, moving to run in low on Alpha.>>

Frosty broke off from his flight and lowered altitude as he angled his Thud for Alpha sector. He slowed off a little to let everyone else have their fun, since he knew this kind of "fly low and kill everything on the ground" was his kind of operation and he didn't want to deprive everyone else of all the fun.

By the time he'd prepared for his run, though, all the anti-air in Alpha had been effectively dealt with. A shame. Frosty grinned to himself. No proper anti-air anymore meant he could take his time and make this a little fun.

Frosty popped up enough to eye Alpha. He spotted a few dots bunching up. From here, they looked like tanks. His grin grew into a smile.

"Guess someone forgot what proper distancing was."

Frosty's Thud lowered back down and he opened up the thrust. He jetted over top the treeline, angling towards the collection of armored vehicles he'd decided he would destroy. The first thing he did was arm one of his Bullpups and set it off the rails.

<<Enforcer-4, Rifle.>>

Bullpups were fun little weapons, requiring time and risk to set up, but they were so fulfilling to properly use because it made you feel like a genius. Frosty watched the vapor trail of the Bullpup lance out from directly underneath his Thud, off the centerline pylon. As he watched the vapor trail, his hand went out to his radio controller, and he began to slowly dial the Bullpup in with slight adjustments to its trajectory. He was eyeballing it, but as the Bullpup was right in front of the trio of tanks, he sent a radio command to have the Bullpup nose down hard and watched the air-to-ground missile bloom in an explosion directly between the trio of tanks.

<<Enforcer-4, Paveway.>>

As Frosty quickly approached and passed over the site where his Bullpup had impacted, he'd opened up his bomb bay doors and felt the release of a pair of 500-pound bombs fall from his bay. Even as he moved away from the site, he could just barely make out the crump sound of the bombs detonating. A quick twist in his seat to glance back revealed craters, as well as a trio of tank hulks that seemed to be in various states of destruction. Frosty began to slow and climb out of his run.

<<Enforcer Lead, Enforcer-4. Shack three tanks. Will maneuver for a second pass at Alpha.>>

Second Lieutenant Wulf "Sserpent" Hetzenauer

Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

11/27/2015 - 11:03

The entire hull shuddered as the remains of a group of advancing infantry were cut to ribbons. Even from here, Wulf could see the pink mist floating to the ground. Turns out 7.62 firing at 2,000 rounds a minute could kill people.

<<Sicario-1, this is Sicario-2. Confirming the destruction of an infantry unit. How are you doing over there, buddy?>>

"Hey, do you see that?"

Wulf looked up at Jyri, who was staring to his right.

"Was ist das?"

Jyri looked back at Wulf, his lips forming a thin line at hearing Wulf speak in his native language, but proceeded to match him. Their years together had made Jyri just as fluent, "Das. Ist das ein panzer?"

Wulf sat up a little straighter to follow Jyri's gaze. There it was on the treeline, what appeared to be an armored vehicle with some troops around it. Wulf blinked to focus his eyes. "Nein, das ist ein stoßen."

The two shared a chuckle at their in-joke, referring to BMPs as "bumps" in Wulf's native language. Wulf switched back to the standard language and changed his radio channel to the rest of his crew's,

"Rush, Montes, spot that BMP and dismounts?"

"Yes, sir."

"Si, Wulf."

"Good. Keep the ammo coming until they're gone."All crew hang on, I'm going to be making a little turn."

He waited a beat for the affirmations to roll in before he took a gentle banking turn, circling around until his guns were laid on the treeline.

Then he pulled the trigger.

The Spooky shuddered again and Wulf watched with satisfaction as the trio of miniguns on his gunship began walking tracers into the packed infantry and the BMP. He watched the treeline turn into a mist of pulped lumber and people, he held the fire for a good 15 seconds before letting up and seeing the damage. Wulf frowned.

The infantry were gone, but the BMP was still sitting there, albeit motionless. Well, that proved a bet he'd had that lots of bullets could kill an armored vehicle. He'd really need to look into getting bigger guns for this old plane.

Then the BMP's canon began turning and aiming up.

"Scheisse. Everyone hold on. I'm going to make a move."

As Wulf began to maneuver the Spooky, the BMP started firing out with its 30mm autocannon. The incoming fire lasted only a second or so, maybe a dozen rounds or so before the BMP ceased.

"Everyone alive? Any hits?"

The crew reported back everything was fine. Wulf looked at Jyri, who shrugged and broke out into a smile, "What? They aren't going to dick around trying to kill us, we can't kill them."

"Ja, I guess so. Wohl, just keep an eye out for something we can kill, ja?"

Jyri nodded, "Aye, maybe something softer."

<<Hallo, Razorback? Serpent. We have armor in Charlie, and I cannot do anything about it. Can we get some assistance in dealing with this?>>

"Hey, Wulf, look, more troops pushing, 1,200 yards at 1 o'clock."

"Ja, all crew hold on, prepare for fire.,,"

by **Anowa** » Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:23 pm

1st Lt. Victoria "Abel" Cain & 2nd Lt. Martin "Wiseass" Greene
November 27th, 2015 // Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

Drifter: <<Lion Flight, Lion 1. If Y'all need to, use that landing strip they told us about to load up air to ground if you are able to both air to air and air to ground, We can't afford to just pull CAP with this many targets.>>

Wiseass: <<Gee, that would've been nice knowledge to have before I had to make a city sized turn. I might as well stay as is Cap.>>

It was the last remark before the man split his pencil off following Red's lead. The man felt like making a comment, but decided otherwise. He had no real room to talk, flying a F-104, no matter how upgraded.

Abel moved in behind Drifter for a run on Charlie's air defense. Her flight lead promptly demolished two Shilkas, right before her own run, they dropped from contact as all across the board Radars were turned off. The silhouettes were still visible through the trees in some spots, so a salvo of two missiles flew forth and slammed into the side of the vehicle. Causing a detonation and subsequent cookoff of munitions. Throttle went to max as the aircraft peeled out of range of the tracers whipping around her.

Abel: <<Lion-2 splash one times Triple A. Turning for another run.>>

Turning around, she spotted a few muzzle reports from cannons and a few AT launchers from Charlie, and her brow furrowed. She didn't see anything explode, but she saw a few of their vehicles grind to a halt, disabled.

She saw similar in the distance, and her reaction there was one of shock at first. Multiple plumes of destroyed vehicles trying to cross the bridge. Some vehicles were pinned in place from wrecks in front and behind, others just straight up couldn't move at all. Then came the anger.

Her eyes darted around for the location of the other flight, only seeing it by having to actually crane her neck upwards to find the formation of 4 Phantoms, only managing to catch the tail of one ascending up there.

She clicked her radio on, and with what sounded like a barely restrained fury in her voice, she reported what she saw to the squadron lead.

Abel: <<Lion-1, Lion-2. Eagle flight is ten clicks off the deck and watching Bravo get pummeled.>>

From this distance, she saw the burning hulk of a vehicle with more antennae on it than usual. It was Quox's command vehicle, meaning Bravo's operation had lost their commander, and datalink capacity.

by **Kassaran** » Tue Jul 06, 2021 2:48 pm

Capt. Romolo "Sciabola" Beninati, Eagle One
27 November, 2015 // Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

As the Phantom climbed higher into the sky, Sciabola turned his head to look towards their AO. Already, Quox had begun their push and he frowned. The primary close air support mission hadn't begun. He'd seen plenty of the other sectors begin to be completed, but his eyes tracked the explosions on the bridge. In a moment as his Phantom began to turn in, he watched the feed of information to his targeting computer disappear. Their datalink, and likely the entire command vehicle, had gone down. He grimaced. He still hadn't been able to bring his own birds to bear and Eagle was slow to react as it was. If they were going to get targets lazed, they'd need to close to within a kilometer or so of the deck and drop bombs from that altitude. There wouldn't be much time, but he could do it and likely so could his pilots with some effort.

Sciabola: <<Griffin Lead, this is Eagle One, turning in hot. Quox just took heavy losses. Bridge is blocked. Engaging enemy positions now.>>

As the bird struggled and shrugged through the air, the nose beginning to dip dangerously, his airspeed began to pick up and the Phantom screamed out of the skies. A kilometer behind him, Rondine's jet also began to drop out of the sky, dangerously increasing in speed as the wings began to groan and creak.

Sciabola: <<Rondine, take left side, I'll take right. Paffuto, cue up the first on the racks and get me a lock.>>

A short moment later, he could see the bomb seeker head tracking the laser targeting pod's pointed stare into the woodline around the bridge. Small ramparts indicated by rises in the terrain gave him a point to look and within a moment, he had crossed into 6km of his target and could see the T-72 hiding in its lair. It had practically been an ambush, the armored column of Quox having been engaged and destroyed at near point-blank range by the combined fire of the dozen or so armored vehicles that had once been present. The guidance package on the JDAM indicated with a happy tone it was where it needed to be, and his thumb triggered its release a moment later, less than two and a half kilometers from the target, a series of tracers beginning to rise from the canopies of the forest present.

Sciabola: <<Eagle One, Pickle.>>

Turning to the side and up, he felt the G's begin to lay on, watching the strain flex his wings, but altogether do nothing more. Any harder a turn and he'd of lost the plane. His eyes scanned the AO as he checked to see the effect of his bomb. His WSO was already speaking in his ear as he saw the smoke rising from the site of where one of the T-72's had been. In the distance, his eyes caught sight of a second column of smoke, Rondine's target having gone up in flames.

Rondine: <<Eagle Two, Pickle and splash.>>

Sciabola nodded as he pulled up and around in a lazy circle, his eyes tracking the ongoing battle on the ground as Quox had been ground to a halt.

Sciabola: <<One, turning in. Eyes on target. Painting and Pickle.>>

As his Phantom slowly put it's nose back on the target, he watched the next seeker head on his second JDAM cue in and lock onto the tank in question. The vehicle, having sensed some sort of imminent demise, quickly began to reverse. A Laser-guided JDAM was not something to be raced when dropped from a jet flying near twice the speed of sound. Even as the wings protested the strain of the maneuver as Sciabola pulled up and away, he realized he was too low on energy to go for another pass without setting up again and looked towards Rondine who had begun to do the same.

Rondine: <<Two, Pickle... WSO reads a kill.>>

Sciabola nodded as he slowly began to reset higher in the skies over the battle, seeing the glint of something on the horizon and his eyes narrowed. Frogfoots. He'd not seen them prior.

Sciabola: <<One is eyes on bandits, Frogfoots off my nose, about six klicks off the nose and approaching fast. Two, defend. Three and Four, engage and blow-through. Get them turning. I'm moving to reengage the tanks.>>

With that, Sciabola rolled the Phantom and began to once again climb up into the sky as his eyes watched the inbound flight of Frogfoots begin to set up for an attack run. Frowning as he rotated in his seat, he noticed they'd not taken note of him and he turned his attention back towards the Bridge and Bravo. By now, the T-72's that could had begun to hide once more in the ramparts they'd dug before the battle, hiding within the woodline.

by **Rupudska** » Tue Jul 06, 2021 3:28 pm

2nd Lt. Sonja Cosic "Mudfish"
27 November, 2015 // Sipli Plateau, Republic of Emmeria // Scattered Clouds

This was madness.

This battle was so one-sided, it wasn't a battle, it was a damned circus. And Mudfish, and everyone else flying Cold War relics, were the clowns.

To be fair, were it not for the Stovie air power, it wouldn't be too bad. Challenger 2s against T-72s? If anything, that was a fight that leaned towards Emmeria. But the Stovies had Frogfoots, and they were no doubt loaded to bear for tankbusting. And even one Frogfoot could bust a lot of tanks.

Mudfish's Harrier could carry a decent amount of bombs, but not many that could crack open a T-72. It could also only carry two Sidewinders, and she was making damn sure to save them for the Frogfoots if she could catch one. The two Paveway IIs that she was carrying would make great bridge busters, but the Emmerians needed the bridge unbusted.

There was little she could do but her best.

Same as it ever fuckin' was.

S-300s were dangerous targets to a lot of aircraft, but mostly at range. Close up, they had... a little, trouble taking care of predators. Normally there would be a great deal of close-range anti-air protecting them, but by the time her plane had caught up with the rest of Enforcer in Area Alpha (engine trouble, mostly), it was either all somewhere else, or what little there had been in Alpha had been taken care of.

<<Enforcer Two to Assassin, requesting laser on targets - Grumbles.>>

The click of a microphone was her answer. She smiled.

<<Enforcer Two, Paveway!>>

Riding a laser beam to the target, the Paveway detached from its pylon and arced down to the earth. A few seconds later, there was one fewer S-300 in the world, erased by just under 90 kilograms of tritonal.

<<Enforcer Two to Assassin, shift, the other Grumble.>>

The spot illuminated by the laser moved to the other S-300. After another call of Paveway, another bomb left her Harrier, and destroyed another S-300.

by **Vacif** » Tue Jul 06, 2021 11:33 pm

OPERATION COMBINE
2nd Lieutenant Bernard “Witness” Leavit
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria // November 27, 2015

Merlin: << Scratch two tanks, keep up the pressure Assassin, I don't want those tanks getting across that feild. >>

Witness had been relatively quiet for the majority of the fight now, the rest of Assassin and Enforcer had slain much of the enemy force in Alpha and claimed aerial supremacy in the opening assault. Following up with Merlin’s attack, Witness acquired another T-72 with his Tiger-2. Two of the three tank platoons at Alpha had already been wiped out, as had the majority of the AA. All that was left were a few artillery units and a tank platoon that was about to be under strength. At this point it was pretty much free reign for the air units to do as they pleased.

Witness: << Assassin Six, Rifle. >>

Just like the eight T-72s before it, the T-72B was reduced to scrap by the blast of the Maverick. The remaining T-72 Platoon had nowhere to hide, nowhere to run. Witness almost felt bad for them but that was simply the nature of war. Witness continued on his path at about Angels four until he could acquire a new target in the form of the last two Malkas.

Witness: << Scratch one tank. Got eyes on Malkas, engaging. >>

They’d done the smart thing and began to reposition after losing so many of their comrades. Four of their fellow Malkas were gone, as were the majority of their armoured and anti air assets. The heavy artillery units were making their way post haste from their position inside of Marlara but to no avail, as no matter how fast they moved, they wouldn’t be able to escape Witness.

<< Rockets, rockets. >>

The CRV-7s barked to life, the 70mm rockets for a lack of better words rocketed towards their target. Witness wasn’t exactly sure how many it would take to kill a Malka but he imagined better safe than sorry. A trio of CRV-7s struck the first Malka, tearing the artillery gun on wheels to shreds. Witness overshot the second Malka but was able to quickly remanouver back on target. Witness was just glad he was flying the Tiger-II and not something worse. Another three CRV-7s were discharged and brought its target to a dead stop.

<< Assassin Six, scratch two Malkas. >>

OPERATION COMBINE
2nd Lieutenant Ciara “Tricky” Sharp
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria // November 27, 2015

<<Eagle Three to Four. Do reform on my starboard side at the soonest and help me engage the T-72's.>>

Tricky: << Wilco Eagle Three, forming up on you. >>

Tricky formed back on to Three and maintained her distance as ordered but from her view of the battle space she could see friendly signatures disappearing at the same rate as hostiles. A pit started to form in her gut. “McMann, see those T-72s behind the hill?”

“Seen. I’ve got my lase.”

Tricky: << Eagle Four, Rifle. >>

“He’s toast!” Announced The Man. The AGM soared down to earth and struck the T-72’s top armour. The tank erupted violently, the turret flying off and embedding itself into the ground fifteen meters away.

“I’ve got eyes on our next target, lasi-what the hell?” Questioned McMann.

“We just lost the Data link.” Whispered Tricky. “McMann, waste that fucker!”

Tricky: << Eagle Four, Rifle! >>

The AGM-65 slammed into the ground a meter beside the T-72. The tank had seen its platoon mate get shredded and was quick to relocate. Either by luck or by fate the last of the combat capable T-72s had dodged a proverbial bullet and a literal missile.

“Missed, he’s still moving.” Grunted McMann.

Sciabola: <<One is eyes on bandits, Frogfoots off my nose, about six klicks off the nose and approaching fast. Two, defend. Three and Four, engage and blow-through. Get them turning. I'm moving to reengage the tanks.>>

Tricky: << Eagle Four copies, moving to engage. >>

Tricky re-orientated her plane to face the Frogfoots. She only had a pair of AIM-7s and so did Eagle Three. If they were going to take these Frogfoots here and now they couldn’t afford to miss. Pointing the nose of the Phantom at the first Frogfoot she saw, McMann began the lock on process. The soft spike didn’t seem to phase the Frogfoot as they continued their course.

Tricky: << Eagle Four, Fox One! >>

Once the Frogfoot received a hard spike, it began to bob and weave. The Frogfoot pilot was experienced, they had at least a few years of combat experience over her and the majority of the Emmerian air force, however in this instance the pilot knew they were outmatched. He was flying defensive in a CAS plane against a target who was above them with a lock on. “We’ve got him.” McMann said contently.

The Frogfoot took the AIM-7 straight to the rear of the fuselage. The Frogfoot's engine began to smoke and sputter. The plane began to lose altitude rapidly. A moment later the canopy exploded and the pilot seat ejected.

Tricky: << Eagle Four, scratch one Frogfoot! >>

by **Tayner** » Wed Jul 07, 2021 10:44 am

Captain Samuel 'Merlin' Daniel
November 27th, 2015 // Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

Abel: <<Lion-1, Lion-2. Eagle flight is ten clicks off the deck and watching Bravo get pummeled.>>

Merlin: << Are you fucking kidding me? >>

Dan let his frustration out, something he rarely did. They had air supeiority, why was it that Eagle was afaid to get down and dirty with the enemy AA was beyond him. The boys on Objective Bravo were depending on them and they had let them down. Fuck this. He thought. I'll be having words with Sciabola after this. If the center of the lines broke, the entire operation would fall apart.

Merlin: << Alright, Enforcer, remain on Alpha and clean up, Assassin, we're moving to pick up the slack. Anyone with air to air, get rid of those Frogfoots and Hinds before they finish off our guys. Everyone else, identify enemy ground targets and engauge them with extreme prejudice. Be careful, I do not want any blue on blue. >>

The jets of Assassin flight would break their engaugements and make for Bavo, where shit had gone sideways. The command vehicle had been destroyed, Data Link in that sector was gone. Just like the old days. Dan thought, going in low and checking his radar, looking for a target. It didn't take long for one to appear, the signature of a Frogfoot. Not long after Dan was able to make it out with visuals.

Merlin: << I'm going for the enemy Frogfoot, 11 'o clock low. >>

And so the dance began. The Su-25s weren't notably manuverable, and the F-5 was more than capable of keeping pace and staying behind it. And chase it Dan did, the F-5 turning and weaving and bobing step for step with the Frogfoot as they began to evade his attempts at a lock, but all it did was serve to buy time, and eventually Dan was able to get a lock and fire a sidewinder. The Frogfoot dumped flares and went lower to gain speed to get away, but it was predictable, and Dan had his path in his sights. 20mm cannon rounds tore all through the fusalage of the Frogfoot, the engines puffing black smoke before outright combusting into an inferno. As Dan flew by, he saw the parachute of the pilot.

Merlin: << Scratch one Frogfoot, going low to hunt Hinds. >>

by **The Oshian Federation** » Wed Jul 07, 2021 12:10 pm

2LT Henrietta "Limaf" Middleton
27.Nov.2015
Sipli, Emmeria

As far as Annette was concerned, their duty wasn't to do one versus ones against Tunguskas and Shilkas and Iglas down at the altitude where all the advantage lay with the latter instead of themselves. Thus she had positioned Eagle Three and Four in overwatch at 20,000 feet, well beyond the range of even the most modern MANPADS in existence, and where the Phantoms would have a commanding view to deploy their PGM's from a position of comfort. This became even more true as the heavy SAM presence in Sipli got wiped out. And it was from this comfortable position that Annette and Pevensie went to the next part of their work today, dispensing 250 pound shaped charges into Stovie T-72's. With a simple, almost annoyed call of <<Eagle Three, Rifles One to Six.>> six Mavericks left their racks on the Phantoms and descended onto whatever targets they found, be it Shilkas or T-72's.
Seconds later, the last fully operational T-72 on the Bravo Sector found death descending into its turret at supersonic speeds, while three more around it brew up spectacularly, their turrets leaping a dozen feet into the air. The two final missiles found the same Shilka and turned it into a heap of unrecognisable, heavily scorched metal.
Sighing as the enemy tank company died beneath them, Annette noted flight lead telling them to engage the Frogfoots that had arrived in their sector, ostensibly to replace the Stovie tank company that was suffering. Switching the computer back to air-to-air the twenty-something newly graduated second lieutenant let off two <<Eagle Three, Fox One.>>'s against her new targets.
These new targets however, proved to be at least better trained than the last bunch of Reds she had faced over Vitoze, with one notching left and the other right, breaking her locks in the midst of the clutter of the forests and burning vehicles and friendly fighters beneath them. Unamused, she reported back up the chain of command and decided to do something else other than tangling with both Frogfoots and SHORADS in the mud all at once.
<<Eagle Three to One, the Frogfoots broke my locks. Friendly fighters is now also interfering down there. I will now engage the Hinds with my Laser Mavericks instead. I estimate enemy SHORADS to be mostly MANPADS now but there are still three Shilkas alive.>>

by **Hastur** » Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:24 pm

MISSION 02: OPERATION COMBINE
First Lieutenant Miriam “Rattler” Lochte
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria // November 27, 2015

Merlin: << Alright, Enforcer, remain on Alpha and clean up, Assassin, we're moving to pick up the slack. Anyone with air to air, get rid of those Frogfoots and Hinds before they finish off our guys. Everyone else, identify enemy ground targets and engauge them with extreme prejudice. Be careful, I do not want any blue on blue. >>

The new information did not bode well for the mission. The assaulting force in bravo currently being brutally thrashed by a toxic cocktail of Hind D’s and frog foots. A scenario made much worse by the smoke stacks breezing skyward from the bridge. Miriam flinched, stretching the stick sideward to separate off from her pre-planned attacking shift, quickly settle back into formation with the flight as they pushed aggressively into bravo.

They were doing the right thing, at least. The force in alpha looked to be throughly beat already. They no longer required the kicking that the hostiles at bravo so throughly deserved.

Rattler: << Wilco. Lets bail them out before it gets worse. >>

Their entrance into bravo gave a better sign of the problems at hand. The slain unit’s command vehicle for Quox was a smouldering wreck on the other side of the bridge, leaving the ground forces without their data-link. The bridge itself being populated by clusters of dots, armoured vehicles stuck in a dreadful kill zone by their own wreaks, blockaded in and effectively fish in a barrel of air attacks. It was about to get worse if they failed in their mission to pick up that slack, the cocktail of hate closing in for fire missions, hungry for seconds after their previous attack.

Rattler: << Christ. It’s awful down there! What the hell happened?>>

Concern lingered in her expression, but the character of the frog foot strike aircraft.

Merlin: << I’m going for the enemy Frog foot, 11 ‘o’clock low. >>

Rattler << Copy. Following you in! >>

Miriam began their part of the disco, slipping in to the chase of hostile strike craft. The enemy bird, while claws sharp, wouldn’t be a considerable match against them, so long as they didn’t get into a turning battle. Another hostile, however, captured her ire. Two Mi-24D were conducting a curve to face the bridge, fluttering in the air as they picked up momentum, opening stage east. If they got any closer, they’d reap chaos on the defenseless tanks with a rocket barrage.

Rattler: << Assassin 3, Separating off. I gotta engage these hinds before they get in range of the bridge. Good luck Merlin! >>

Miriam pulled off, keeping their attitude level. Setting her weaponry to guns as she tracked their movements from above and afar, beginning her attack vector, approaching from the west. The slow-moving birds were an easy target for guns, Miriam knowing fine well she’d need the missiles for any SU-25’s that still roamed free in the skies above after the Captain’s attack.

Rattler << Guns, Guns, Guns! >>

Miriam depressed the trigger as her plane cruised above the bridge. The plane rattled wildly as tracers darted forward towards the target from above. Round pierced the top fuselage of the lead chopper, rotor wings coming apart as the engine burst into flames. The cadaver of the machine slashing into the stream below. Seeing the threat more clearly now, the second helicopter attempted to break, but Miriam repositioned, depressing the trigger again. The mirage 3’s claws tearing the tip of its rear tail off. The hind entering an uncontrollable spin earthbound, crashing hard into the dirt on the friendly side of the battleground, survivors unlikely.

Her antics had not gone unnoticed by the enemy. Tracer fire emerged from the hostile side, rapid fire from the distance.

Rattler: << Taking SPAAG fire! Egressing fast! >>

Stress was clear in her voice, now unable to maintain the current position. Miriam pulled a hard break right, rounds narrowly missing as she began moving alongside the bridge at a low attitude as she forced her way out of the kill envelope, the mixture of wrecked and still active tanks much clearer now at close range. At this level, she’d have a hard time manoeuvring in a fight, Miriam activating the booster to get whatever speed she could before pulling skyward to regain altitude.

<<Eagle Three to One, the Frog foots broke my locks. Friendly fighters are now also interfering down there. I will now engage the Hinds with my Laser Mavericks instead. I estimate enemy SHORADS to be mostly MANPADS now but there are still three Shilkas alive.>>

Stressed, hatred boiled along with the G force from the move. An expression of disgust lingered on Miriam face as one of eagle flight accused them of obstructing, as if the situation was remotely controlled. Lives had been because of inadequacies and the situation was going sour, and the sole thing they had to report about the support they were being given was that. Clear of the AA fire, Miriam began finding her wind back towards the line, resolve of proceeding to safeguard the bridge from hostile raiders, anger billowing as the sight of the destroyed challengers lingered. Once the communications cleared, Miriam decided to address the problem, regardless of appropriate communication rules.

Rattler: << Eagle 3, this is Assassin 3, do your goddamn job next time and we damn well won’t have to “interfere” you bumbling moron! Assassin 1, I’m going to continue to defend the bridge!” >>

Miriam spat, her tone firery as she progressed back, now firmly on course.

“Amateurs!”

by **Kassaran** » Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:21 pm

Capt. Romolo "Sciabola" Beninati, Eagle One
27 November, 2015 // Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

Things had gone from bad, to worse, and not just due to the ingress of attackers and attack helicopters. The airspace was quickly growing cluttered and in no small part due to the arrival of the Mercenari under Assassin. His frown only grew as he heard the bickering begin, frustrations had begun to boil over as his flight had begun to get stuck into the action, watching as they both began to peel to engage the incoming fixed and rotary wing assets and leaving a field of smoldering and burning tanks behind them. As his Phantom finished it's wide climbing turn, regaining the energy he'd needed to reengage over Bravo, he watched as one of Assassin ran the gauntlet down the river and destroyed two of the Hinds, peeling off as the forest exploded into tracer fire around them. As they pulled away, they issued their angry response to his number three.

Rattler: <<Eagle 3, this is Assassin 3, do your goddamn job next time and we damn well won't have to "interfere" you bumbling moron! Assassin 1, I'm going to continue to defend the bridge!>>

As his Phantom began to nose over, taking up an approach on the bridge again, his WSO called out a series of thermal signatures hiding in the small stands of trees with trenchworks spiderwebbing from them. Infantry formations beginning to reconsolidate after having lost their armored support and trying to determine if they had the power to continue engaging. He resolved to not let them have the time to reorganize as he began to laze the space central to their network. While he couldn't see it through the concealment they'd adopted, he'd studied Estovakian trenchwork in their civil war and knew they organized around their command elements for better communications. Taking a moment as he approached, he keyed his mic.

Sciabola <<Eagle flight, this is Eagle One. Disregard Assassin callsigns, rotate to auxiliary comms frequency and continue engagement. Assassin One, Eagle One, thanks for the assistance. Eagle Flight callsigns will hop channels to avoid radio clutter since Assassin is adopting ours. Would appreciate remaining Frogfoots and Hinds being engaged. Eagle One, out.>>

There was no need for the bickering to continue. IT'd only serve to frustrate the pilots, and frustrated pilots wouldn't operate well. They'd make mistakes. Get overcommitted. His eyes followed the rising shape of Rattler with streams of AAA chasing them as they turned. Even as they slotted into position, he knew they'd be crossing again into the hot zone and they'd not given enough time for the Shilka's to lose their track. SPAA didn't exist to shoot down aircraft initially, but simply to dissuade them from using easy approaches. Watching his FLIR screen for the targeting pods he had, he watched as infantry began to pool near the edge of the treeline, obviously attempting to set up and employ whatever weapon systems they'd brought along.

"Paffuto, cue up the nearest Shilka to my laze, once we get pickle, guide it as far along as you need to then slew to it so I can knock it out. We need to cover Assassin as they begin their approach."

A quick response as the man began to work the targeting systems from behind, he watched as the bombing indicator reached the appointed time and distance to release and he felt the shrug of the aircraft as the JDAM fell away.

Sciabola: <<Eagle One, Pickle.>>

In his ear, he could hear as Rondine, whom had been paying attention to the woodline as well, declared pickle, but didn't track his read as his mind quickly began counting seconds until the JDAM reached it's terminal guidance point where it's ballistic properties roughly equaled it's own guidance instructions.

"Now Paffuto, now!"

Watching the targeting pod's vision rapidly shift, he saw the Shilka sitting under a thin camouflage net in a meadow. It was a nice little break in the trees, probably was a lovely spot to go on a picnic in the countryside of Sipli during the summer. Now, it was about to be home to a smoldering wreck and blast crater as he rolled his Phantom and lazed the Shilka, seeing his targeting indicator light up instantly and he dropped the second JDAM as he came out over the treeline.

Sciabola: <<Eagle One, Pickle.>>

Moving quickly and breaking back towards the friendly side of the river, he waited for the sound of the bomb. A muffled thud and tremor through his airframe told him all he needed to know regarding the Shilka, but Rondine called it out a moment later.

Rondine: <<Good kill, I'm three-for-three here. Breaking to engage Hinds in the open. Pickle.>>

Sciabola's mind wandered, trying to understand, before Paffuto informed him that Rondine had only gotten off one JDAM on his approach. Guess he'd seen the Hinds as the bigger threat. His helmeted head turning side to side, he caught sight of the bomb-laden Phantom about a kilometer above the battlefield, rolling out of a low approach and tried to find the Hinds, only to notice they were a pair of specks which quickly were caught in an eruption of dirt and flame. He'd bombed them.

Sciabola: <<Good effect, standby...>>

The targeting pod slewed towards where the Hinds had been caught out by the 500lb JDAM and noted the flaming wreck of one helicopter scattered across what might have once been an orchard. A shame. What a waste of perfectly good land, but his eyes caught another Hind spinning wildly, it's anti-torque tail rotor in fragments and the entire tail boom appearing to be hanging on by a few struts... until it suddenly wasn't. The Hind began to pitch forward, but the pilots managed to bring the aircraft in for a crash landing, no explosion erupting from the wreck, but still a large amount of dirt sprayed up in a wave as the main rotor tilled the dirt.

Sciabola: <<That's two. Break and engage infantry. Aim for the center of their trenchworks. They make them like spiderwebs if battle reports from their civil war were any sign. I doubt they've broken much with what works.>>

The other pilot gave a quick acknowledgement before peeling away, the Phantom cutting into the air sharply and leaving behind vapor trails off of its wings as Sciabola winced at the maneuver. Rondine had always had a better feel for his airframe, but it didn't mean bad maintenance couldn't affect the outcome of those maneuvers. He trusted the numbers too much, while Sciabola appreciated experience and practice overall. There was comfort in knowing the odds of something succeeding, rather than simply trusting the specifications. As his Phantom peeled back into the air, he heard his RWR begin to report a passive spike and his eyes tried to search the screen before suddenly the tone changed and he pulled inverted.

Sciabola: <<Eagle One defending. Got something on my six, Three or Four, swat this fly!>>

He heard the soft report of flares and chaff pumping out from his aircraft as he continued to maneuver. The airframe groaned and he grimaced in his seat as he slowly nosed towards the ground, gaining speed and seeing the river begin to approach up ahead. Aiming for it, he heard the RWR drop its intense tone as the missile fired against him overshot, but it was still buzzing, telling him the enemy aircraft was still on his six. Dropping as low as he felt comfortable, he peeled over friendly airspace and began to weave back and forth, dropping chaff and flares every couple moments as he tried to evade his attacker.

by **Dayganistan** » Wed Jul 07, 2021 6:29 pm

1st Lt. Takhmina "Voron" Abduloeva
November 27th, 2015 // Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

The Estovakian forces at Alpha were starting to fall to the mercenaries. Attack run after attack run from both Assassin and Enforcer had eliminated their AA in the area, destroyed the priority howitzers, and put a huge dent in the Estovakian armored forces. Surprisingly, as Estovakian reinforcements arrived they didn't come to Alpha which was at risk of falling to the enemy. A force of Estovakian tanks supported by Frogfoots, or the "Grach" as Takhmina would have known the type as from Yuktobanian service, had arrived and put an absolute beating on the Emmerian ground forces. She could hear panicked calls for support from ground forces on the radio as Emmerian crewmen and mechanized infantrymen would have no doubt been trying to bail out of their burning Challenger 2s and Freccia IFVs. She considered directing Enforcer away to support Bravo before the voice of Assassin 1 came over her radio.

Merlin: << Alright, Enforcer, remain on Alpha and clean up, Assassin, we're moving to pick up the slack. Anyone with air to air, get rid of those Frogfoots and Hinds before they finish off our guys. Everyone else, identify enemy ground targets and engauge them with extreme prejudice. Be careful, I do not want any blue on blue. >>

Takhmina was setting up for her rocket run on Alpha. With the Estovakian 2S7s destroyed she had been initially planning to go after the 2S19s. However, with Assassin pulling off the threat of Estovakian T-72s remained. Instead of setting up for a run on the remaining howitzers she decided the best course of action would be to hunt down and engage the final remaining tanks in the area. She wouldn't have to look long until she spotted a muzzle blast along the bank of the river, the red tracer of a HEAT round streaking towards the Emmerian positions on the opposite bank. At the source of the muzzle blast she spotted three rectangular olive green shapes, Estovakian T-72s in a line formation with about 200 meters of separation between each tank. They were dug in behind earthen ramparts which could protect them from fire from the front and sides, but if Takhmina attacked from the right angle she could fire her HEAT rockets through the roof armor of the tanks. She pulled banked right, flying away from the formation of enemy tanks before pulling her Fitter into an Immelmann turn in order to quickly gain altitude and revers direction to be able to fire lengthwise along the formation of Estovakian tanks. She would have to dive at a steep angle in order to hit the top armor of the tanks. She was sure she could eliminate two tanks, but wasn't quite sure if she would be able to get the third. She lined up her targeting reticle on the first tank, keeping her throttle low to avoid picking up too much speed and pressed her weapon release button.

Voron: <<Rockets.>>

A pair of S-8 rockets fired, one from each of her rocket pods. She placed them on the fuselage pylons in order to hopefully improve their accuracy. The first two rockets fell just short of the first tank. She fired two sets of two rockets with the next press of the weapon release button. The first set was far, the second short again. She fired another two rockets and scored a hit on the first tank, impacting at just the right angle for the shaped charge to hit the notoriously unprotected carousel autoloaders found in Yuktobanian tanks. The force of the detonation of the T-72's ammo caused its turret to fly off of the tank. She started to line up on the second tank. She quickly engaged and disengaged her aircraft's airbrake to drop some speed and buy more time to strike the target. She repeated her process of trying to bracket the tank with rocket fire. The first two rockets went long but she would only need to fire a second barrage of two rockets to hit. She fired another barrage of four rockets at the tank to ensure a kill, firing on it at a less optimal angle. The first two rockets would cause an engine fire, while the second barrage of four would kill the gunner start another ammunition fire when the shaped charges penetrated. By now she was having to start to pull up and wasn't confident she could hit the third and final T-72. Her targeting reticle lined up with the final tank's position and she fired four rockets at the position. Her rockets would impact harmlessly into the earthen rampart and she decided to pull out of her attack run rather than risk crashing lining up another shot.

Voron: <<Two T-72s destroyed. One remains. Someone destroy that last tank and we'll support the gunships at Charlie, Bravo has enough people on it.>>

by **Herador** » Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:43 pm

2nd Lt's James "Bones" Gorman & Neisha "Dirty" Deeds
Assassin 5
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria
27 November, 2015

Abel: <<Lion-1, Lion-2. Eagle flight is ten clicks off the deck and watching Bravo get pummeled.>>

Both of the pilots stopped their chatter about lining up their next kill and just paused for a moment, perplexed by what they had just heard. Leveling out over an area that could charitably be called safe if the datalink was to be believed, James and Neisha looked downriver and saw smoke trailing into the sky from Quox's side.

"What the fuck is happening over there?" Neisha muttered, more to herself than anyone, as the high spirits of Hector's crew slowly drained away.

Merlin: << Alright, Enforcer, remain on Alpha and clean up, Assassin, we're moving to pick up the slack. Anyone with air to air, get rid of those Frogfoots and Hinds before they finish off our guys. Everyone else, identify enemy ground targets and engauge them with extreme prejudice. Be careful, I do not want any blue on blue. >>

"Here we go." Dan grunted, dragging his lumbering plane over to it's new course."Feel like going Frog hunting Neesh?"

"Hell to the yes," Her grin was audible as lights played across James' display showing Neisha was hard at work setting them up for an air-to-air pass. "Looks like the data signal Quox was sending went dark, gotta do this the old fashioned way. Swing across to our side of the river to give Hector a good angle on Bravo."

"Right away Ma'am." Ignoring Neisha's no doubt expletive ladened comeback, James complied and gave Neisha her good look.

"Fast mover on our 3, their approach has them coming around to make another pass at Quox."

"Sounds good."

"Marking him on HUD."

A brief moment passed and a blip appeared right where Neisha described. "Got him, buckle up Neesh."

Bones: <<Assassin 1, Assassin 5, eyes on a Frog, we're going after him.>>

Keeping his arc wide, James swept the wings in and pushed the throttle hard, he was going to get the bastard and his shot was going to be as perfect as it could be to do it. His long loop wasn't so much of a problem as he had thought, realizing that if the Frogfoot was going flat out, it was still vastly slower than them. Neisha must have caught on too as she started chiding him.

"Keep this up and we're going to overshoot him, you might want to give me more than a few seconds to line up a shot."

Was she kidding? Probably, but it didn't matter to James, who only responded by pushing his throttle forward a tiny amount. There were still SPAAG's and who knew what else out here, and even with the Sky Shadow and countermeasures, he knew his plan was reckless.

"I count two SPAAGs." Neisha called out from the back. "Not targeting us though. Wish we still had the Datalink."

"Just keep eyes out and finger on countermeasures for now Neesh, I'll call out when the range closes." Her only reply was an affirmative grunt of acknowledgment, clearly way ahead of him. The AA fire must have been focused elsewhere or outright ignoring the Tornado tearing through their airspace, much to both pilots surprise, as the pair finally closed range on the Frogfoot.

"Keep it steady James." Neisha said, voice calm as she worked. "Just keep him off our nose."

James had only slowed down a fraction and was still closing, but if it bothered Neisha she didn't say so. Flipping the safety switch on and off again, James scowled as the SU-25 began to attempt an evasion. "Work fast Neesh, he knows we're on him."

"Just keep us pointed at it! It's a fuckin' Frogfoot, how hard can it be?" She was stressed and her tone had a sharp edge to it. "A few more seconds."

The Su-25 had pulled right as hard as it could and begun a dive, but even with whatever speed it could gain, Hector was still faster.

"Tracking." Neisha said, finally "Sidewinder armed. Get him for the tankers." The sentimentality from his WSO surprised James for a moment, but only just.

Bones: <<Assassin 1, Fox 2>>

The Sidewinder didn't have far to go, it was closing fast, it had to be a sure thing. James yelled in frustration when the Su-25 dumped flares and pulled hard left. It had to have been hell on both Frogfoot and pilot, but it had evaded.

Bones: <<Assassin 1, missile trashed.>>

He tried to keep his anger off the line but he knew anyone listening had to have heard it. Neither of the pair liked screwing up, and they certainly didn't like doing it in front of people, which made their next decision obvious. "Going for guns, hold on." Neisha tried to object, she had another shot almost lined up. Nah, James figured, too close now, almost in range. His turning circle was wide and in a dogfight with any respectable fighter he'd lose a turning fight every time, but the Frogfoot wasn't a fighter and this was Hector's show now. The distance kept closing and every maneuver the Su-25 tried was easily matched by James. Finally, he had the range to engage. The Frogfoot had tried to lose Hector in another turn, but now that James had range he pulled hard, harder than before. The G's pressed into both of them as Hector's nose slowly pulled ahead of the Frogfoot, inch by inch as James throttled down to keep behind his quarry until finally, he had him.

Bones: <<Assassin 1, guns, gun, guns!>>

A long dual burst of 27mm HEHC flew out and tore into the Su-25. James kept the trigger down, he knew his rounds weren't AP and the Frogfoot was tough, but was eventually rewarded when his burst ignited something in the rear of the plane, its engines began to belch smoke and flame. In the seconds before the pair passed the crippled bird, the Frogfoot's pilot ejected.

Bones: <<Assassin 1, tally us one Frogfoot.>>

Behind him, Neisha had broken from her trance-like work state and begun to act like herself again, calling out obscenities at their ejected foe. James pulled them around again and made for friendly lines. Their short diversion had been fun, and no doubt profitable, but Quox still needed support, and Hector had a lot of hate left to give to the Stovie tanks.

by **Tayner** » Wed Jul 07, 2021 10:00 pm

Captain Samuel 'Merlin' Daniel
November 27th, 2015 // Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

<<Eagle Three to One, the Frog foots broke my locks. Friendly fighters are now also interfering down there. I will now engage the Hinds with my Laser Mavericks instead. I estimate enemy SHORADS to be mostly MANPADS now but there are still three Shilkas alive.>>

Rattler: << Eagle 3, this is Assassin 3, do your goddamn job next time and we damn well won’t have to “interfere” you bumbling moron! Assassin 1, I’m going to continue to defend the bridge!” >>

Merlin: << Rattler, stow that shit. >>

Dan knew she wasn't wrong as he came around for another run at the enemy. Her tact left something to be desired however. Another thing I'm going to have to deal with when we gat home. It'd be a fiasco, people bitching at everyone, but Dan would still defend his pilots, especially when they were right.

Sciabola <<Eagle flight, this is Eagle One. Disregard Assassin callsigns, rotate to auxiliary comms frequency and continue engagement. Assassin One, Eagle One, thanks for the assistance. Eagle Flight callsigns will hop channels to avoid radio clutter since Assassin is adopting ours. Would appreciate remaining Frogfoots and Hinds being engaged. Eagle One, out.>>

Did this motherfucker just go out while on station? Are you fucking kidding me? The miltary bearing of this pilot was incredably lacking to say the least. If Dan were younger he'd probably meet him on the tarmac when they landed and knock a few of his teeth out. He sighed, and cleared his mind. That's not gonna happen and you're going to calm the fuck down before you do something stupid and get fucking shot down. He angrily thought to himself as he let it go for now.

Bones: <<Assassin 1, Assassin 5, eyes on a Frog, we're going after him.>>

Merlin: << Aye, going in to hit some Hinds. >>

Dan acknoledged as Bones made their move to get into the fray, as he had finally come back around to get himself back into the fight. He flew low, getting close to the deck as he could. The open feilds of Sipli were ideal for this, and Dan knew if he flew low enough, the AA guns wouldn't be able to catch him on radar. He also knew this was ideal height for enemy helicopters to make ther attack runs, and targets did make themselves apparent. A set of two Hinds, flying in a pair, were in Dan's sights. He made sure to check his backdrop, ensuring there were no friendly assets behind his intended target.

Merlin: << Guns, guns guns! >>

He hit his guns as he zoomed past, tearing into the first one's engines before tilting the nose of his aircraft and watching tracers fly into the tail rotor of the second before peppering down the side of the craft. He watched as the fitst one fell into a firey decent, and the second began to spin.

Bones: <<Assassin 1, tally us one Frogfoot.>>

Merlin: << Good kill, tally two more hinds. >>

He once again pulled back, going full burn back behind friendly lines before picking up altitude, staying under the radar for enemy AA while he was in the thick of it, but allowing himself to get more energy as he laid in wait for his next oppertunity.

by **Kyraina** » Thu Jul 08, 2021 1:55 am

Capt Spyro "Drifter" Beretta, Lion 1
27 November, 2015 // Zone Charlie, Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

Abel: <<Lion-1, Lion-2. Eagle flight is ten clicks off the deck and watching Bravo get pummeled.>>

Drifter was about to get on comms to tell Eagle flight to pull their heads out of their asses when a voice crackled over the radio.

Sciabola: <<Griffin Lead, this is Eagle One, turning in hot. Quox just took heavy losses. Bridge is blocked. Engaging enemy positions now.>>

"A proposito di Dio Maledetto tempo. Frigging man needs to pull his head out of his ass."

Again Drifter was about to come over comms when Merlin broke over comms, telling assassin flight to go to Bravo Zone and help clear the air of Frogfoots and Hinds. When things started to go to hell from a point of teamwork.

Limaf: <<Eagle Three to One, the Frogfoots broke my locks. Friendly fighters is now also interfering down there. I will now engage the Hinds with my Laser Mavericks instead. I estimate enemy SHORADS to be mostly MANPADS now but there are still three Shilkas alive.>>

Rattler: << Eagle 3, this is Assassin 3, do your goddamn job next time and we damn well won’t have to “interfere” you bumbling moron! Assassin 1, I’m going to continue to defend the bridge!” >>

Drifter: Assassin 3, Lion 1. You better lock down your attitude. Why don't you do your job that your flight lead assign you and let their flight lead and/or squadron commander worry about their job.

Eagle 3, Lion 1. Use your gun on those Hinds, don't waste mavs on them.>>

About the same time Drifter had gotten on comms, so had Merlin, who had told Rattler to stow it, and then a even blunder had happened.

Sciabola <<Eagle flight, this is Eagle One. Disregard Assassin callsigns, rotate to auxiliary comms frequency and continue engagement. Assassin One, Eagle One, thanks for the assistance. Eagle Flight callsigns will hop channels to avoid radio clutter since Assassin is adopting ours. Would appreciate remaining Frogfoots and Hinds being engaged. Eagle One, out.>>

Drifter: <<Eagle Flight, Griffin Lead, Disregard that order. I will not have y'all isolate yourselfs from the rest of allied task force, and I'm not gonna have people jump channels to tried to coordinate with y'all, we will fail if we have to take extra steps to coordinate. Griffin Lead out.>>

Drifter hadn't realized that during that whole ordeal, his flight path had gone back into shilkas range, and had even slown down, when tracers started flying over the Cockpit of the F-8 and the hull vibrated with impacts from those old weapons systems. Smoke was seen coming out of the engine but it was still operational for now. Drifter pulled up and away from the gun system and ended up taking a hand as he leveled out flight to punch the canopy several times. With a sharp and constant pain in His left hand, Drifter tried to regain control of his temper.

Drifter: <<Lion 2, Lion 1. Hitman is assisting Eagle, let's take out the rest of those SPAAGs for the gunships to move in. Lion 3-6 Y'all keep watch in the sky. If more enemy Air to Air show up, Y'all free to Engage with your wingman. Remember Lion 3 is with 5 and 4 is with 6.>>

Drifter turned around and headed towards the tracers had came from, and started another dive bombing run.
'
Drifter: <<Lion 1 Pickle, Lion 1 Pickle.

Another bomb flew off the rack and impacted somehow into the turret of one of Shilkas. Drifter pulled out of the dive, gained altitude, and found a new target, and started to dive towards it, when the 4 remaining Shilkas turned their radar on, turned their cannons towards Drifter and opened fire. The F-8 was shaken with rounds impacting the hull, but Drifter kept it steady and released 2 more bombs.

The two bombs came off the racks, The first bomb slammed into the side of one shilka and detonated, opening up the Hull of the Shilka, and the second bomb slammed into the engine bay, detonated but the fuel being spilt out of a burning apc, and let a few near by trees.

Dark Gray smoke could be seen trailing The Crusader.

1st Lt. Tyler "Razorback" Bradford, Scairio 1
27 November, 2015 // Zone Charlie, Sipli Plateau, Emmeria

<<Hallo, Razorback? Serpent. We have armor in Charlie, and I cannot do anything about it. Can we get some assistance in dealing with this?>>

Knight: <<Copy that Serpent. We got your back. We are moving back in to engage. Just call for me, Razorback got his hands full flying this big bastard and dodging AAA fire. Knight Out>>

Razorback spotted the lone BMP-2 and both men in the cockpit when the BMP turned its turret towards the Stinger, but Razorback had already gotten the AC-119K into a pylon turn, got the gunsight on the bmp, and pressed the trigger to fire all six guns of the AC-119K, and a sound like no other ripped over charlie zone as the 2 vulcan cannons spoiled up and fired, along with the miniguns. While the 7.62 rounds from the Miniguns bounced off the armor of the BMP, the 20mm APDS rounds did not have the same problem, even ripping through the fuel tanks installed in the rear doors, spilling fuel every where, where the tracers from the Miniguns lighting the fuel. The BMP detonated and the turret went flying went sky high.

Knight: <<Serpent, Knight. We took out the Bump. We don't have much 20mm ammo, so we are gonna need some heavy hitters over here.>.

They had spotted a few infantry formations and started to a pylon turn over the nearest of the formations, sighted and pulled the trigger, after just a couple seconds the formation and surrounding vegetation was just gone, a mix of red mist, and destroyed trees and bushes. He repeated the process a couple more times, eliminating two more infantry formations.

Knight: Hitman Lead. Scairio One, We need some fast movers over here, we have alot of Bumps and what appear to be tanks, we don't have the ordnance necessary to take them out.>>

by **Hastur** » Thu Jul 08, 2021 10:15 am

MISSION 02: OPERATION COMBINE
First Lieutenant Miriam “Rattler” Lochte
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria // November 27, 2015

Twisting back around from effectively outside of the ZSU-23’s kill zone, the headphones within her helmet humming with action, being slapped with a scolding burst for her actions by the two officers, one after the other.

Merlin: << Rattler, stow that shit. >>

Drifter: << Assassin 3, Lion 1. You better lock down your attitude. Why don't you do your job that your flight lead assign you and let their flight lead and/or squadron commander worry about their job. >>

“Oh, sit on it!” frustration welling in her voice as she simmered within her jet, flying precisely above the bridge from the south. She recognized what she had declared was wrong. A very unprofessional break in a consistently professional veneer. But in the state of the situation below, she was discovering it to be arduous to contain it. Miriam arrogantly holding the situation personally as smoke bundled up from the kill zone. This loss would no doubt affect them later in the war, she thought it should have been avoided.

Sciabola <<Eagle flight, this is Eagle One. Disregard Assassin callsigns, rotate to auxiliary comms frequency and continue engagement. Assassin One, Eagle One, thanks for the assistance. Eagle Flight callsigns will hop channels to avoid radio clutter since Assassin is adopting ours. Would appreciate remaining Frogfoots and Hinds being engaged. Eagle One, out.>>

“What a piece of work!” The bitterness and frustration reaching an upsurge as the declared message came over. He was cutting them off. They would have no way to contact each other now without frequency hopping. Something what would prohibit them greatly in the now filled skies above. Miriam held her tongue, fixating on protecting the bridge, drawing eyes on two low approaching helicopters bearing northeast as they forced their approach through the complicated airspace.

Rattler: << Assassin 3, Engaging two Hinds. >>

Bitter, Miriam manoeuvred the bird yet again for a gun run, the mirage 3 reflecting the movement of its prey as they stalked their own on the bridge. The first MI-24 in lead broke hard right, the hind seeing the predator looming in the sky, the second in the list, however, was too slow.

Rattler:<< Guns! Guns! Guns! >>

With Miriam’s command, the hissing fire of the machine guns quickly tore through the side of the rotary beast, the helicopter crew slowly seeking to bring her deliberately as vitality drained from it. The beast making a hard landing belly first into the sodden ground below. The second attempted to run, using whatever cover it could to put distance between Miriam and themselves, but they also found no luck. Turning sharply, the mirage’s sights aligned.

Miriam << Guns! Guns! Guns! >>

The large calibre rounds hit home against the flying tank. Tracer fire igniting the engines as they erupted into a cluster of flames. Pilots unable to command the helicopter, it writhed downward, landing nose first into the ground, the momentum flipping it as it did, landing upside down as it twisted frantically, burning violently. with both targets’ dead, Miriam looped around, heading back over the bridge to continue to protect it to the best of their ability.

Rattler: <<Scratch two hinds.>>

by **Vacif** » Thu Jul 08, 2021 12:27 pm

OPERATION COMBINE
2nd Lieutenant Ciara “Tricky” Sharp
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria // November 27, 2015

Tricky was surprised that Assassin had arrived on scene as fast as they did. Suddenly the airspace felt a lot more lively and crowded. Luckily however with reinforcements came more weapons to deal with the Hinds. As fast as they came in, it looked like the Estovakians had been smitten as missile smoke trailers and dark black smoke bellowed from the ground. However with the arrival of friends came some tension. Communications etiquette faltered if for a moment before being swiftly corrected.

Sciabola <<Eagle flight, this is Eagle One. Disregard Assassin callsigns, rotate to auxiliary comms frequency and continue engagement. Assassin One, Eagle One, thanks for the assistance. Eagle Flight callsigns will hop channels to avoid radio clutter since Assassin is adopting ours. Would appreciate remaining Frogfoots and Hinds being engaged. Eagle One, out.>>

Tricky glanced at the battle and back to her HUD as she switched her frequency. Her second channel was still set to that shared net with the others so she could still hear the AWACS and the others if they needed help. Things sure had picked up in a short amount of time. But just as fast as the chaos had come, it was sorted just as fast.

Tricky: << Uhhm, Eagle Four Copies. Switching nets. >>

Drifter: <<Eagle Flight, Griffin Lead, Disregard that order. I will not have y'all isolate yourselfs from the rest of allied task force, and I'm not gonna have people jump channels to tried to coordinate with y'all, we will fail if we have to take extra steps to coordinate. Griffin Lead out.>>

Annnd just like that she flicked her frequency again. With Lion taking on the SPAAGs and Assassin bodying the Hinds, the only target really left was the infantry until the Frog Foot appeared again. She'd heard nasty stories of pilots firing guided bombs into trees to cause massive shrapnel damage to the infantry, which she might have to do if she spent all of her 20mm. That said she had to wonder if the cost of killing some infantry with a Maverick would be worth the cost. She however did not have the time to ponder that.

Sciabola: <<Eagle One defending. Got something on my six, Three or Four, swat this fly!>>

Springing into action, Eagle Four moved to assist her flight leader. Picking up his IFF, Tricky saw the Aggressor. It was the missing Frog Foot. She began to dive on the SU-25 and begin her attack. Having seen the arrival of the two new Phantoms, the Su-25TM began to go defensive. She would not let this enemy get away again. Having observed the two Assassins and Eagle Three engage their Su-25s, Ciara felt confident in their chances of taking on her second fast mover. Same as before, The Man began to paint his target, giving his target a soft spike. The old pilot would not be so easily scared into taking early maneuver actions. The old dog tried his same tricks, going low and flying through things that would break the lock but McMann was much more calm than he was earlier now. He waited as they got closer.

Tricky: << Eagle Four. Fox Two.

Tricky's heart fluttered for a moment as she held her breath to see if the missile would do its job. The missile was away, the target dumped his counter measures as he flew by the forest but it was enough as the Sparrow slammed into his wing, crippling the aircraft. So close to the ground, his options were eject or try pulling up and potentially slamming into the forest. The Stovie pilot opted for the former and ejected. Its canopy rocketing high into the sky followed by their ejector seat. Tricky and The Man cheered but their celebration was cut short.

Tricky: << Eagle Four, scratch one Su-Twe- "We've been locked on! Go evasive!" Shi-!>>

Alarms blared as the Phantom began to pull up and back towards the friendly side of the river. She'd gotten tunnel visioned and took the Frogfoot's bait. She'd been lured towards the forest where their infantry were, which was likely being watched over by their Shilkas. She'd lost about a kilometer and a half of altitude and was now in range of the Iglas and Shilkas. Luckily for her however the Shilkas appeared to have a different problems. The newly arrived Assassin and Lion flights. Unluckily there were now a pair of Iglas launched and tracking her Phantom. She gunned it hard, hitting a few more Gs than and The Man were use to, their limbs heavy but with the help of their flares, the Iglas wavered and detonated harmlessly. Tricky breathed a sight of relief as they decelerated and maneuvered back into position over friendly skies.

Tricky: << Eagle Four, scratch one Su-25TM. >>

OPERATION COMBINE
2nd Lieutenant Bernard “Witness” Leavit
Sipli Plateau, Emmeria // November 27, 2015

Things looked decidedly grim for their friends on the ground. There were almost as many burning wrecks on their side as there were on the enemy's. Luckily however the amount of friendly air units had practically increased two-fold. And with numbers came results. By the time Assassin Six flew into the combat zone, all that really remained were the infantry entrenched in the forests. He didn't imagine the infantry would be dealing a lot of armoured casualties but he could see a trail coming from the forest, probably either Spigots or Spandrels. Either way they were a threat.

Witness: << Assassin Six, engaging hostile infantry. Guns guns guns. >>

The Stovies did well to entrench and camouflage themselves but they couldn't hide from his thermals. Witness tapped the trigger. Once. Twice. Three times. Streams of angry red 20mm HEI rounds tore into the network of trenches and foxholes in the forest. Infantry had already dug in anticipating the attack but were still thrown into a world of pain. Someone down there was probably wishing for warmth, and now they were probably wishing for nothing at all. With the Shilkas dealing with Lion or already dead, Witness had all of one Igla to deal with as he flew back to friendly lines to line up another attack. A threat still and he wasn't going to pretend it wasn't. But compared to the threat of multiple dedicated AA platforms he'd take it. He dumped his flares and banked left back to the rest of Assassin.

After a minute or two of repositioning, Witness came in for another attack but this time a little different to change things up.

Witness: <<Assassin Six, Rifle. >>

An AGM-65 was hurled from its rack towards a thicket of trees. An age old tactic but still a useful one. The missile tore through the trees and detonated, large splinters and chunks of coniferous trees exploded into the foxholes and trenches of the dug in infantry before they were treated to a second helping of high explosive-incendiary.

by **Langenia** » Thu Jul 08, 2021 3:39 pm

2nd Lieutenant Jose "Spectre" Villanueva

Enforcer flight continued to fly towards it target. This included Enforcer 7, none other than 2nd Lieutenant Jose "Spectre" Villanueva. As they flew, they began to receive fire from Estovakian ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled anti-air guns. At least they weren't S-300 SAM batteries. Fortunately, Assassin flight aircraft were taking care of that. He decided to focus on the task at hand. Villanueva noticed Enforcer 1 "Voron" returning fire at the Stovie batteries with Kh-25s. Soon, the Shiikas had been dealt with, and they had arrived over the target zone. He decided to prepare to fire. He began pointing his laser designator at a 2S19 Msta self-propelled artillery gun and prepared a Kh-25, one of the two he had. He fired.

Spectre: <<Enforcer 7, rifle.>>

The Kh-25 fell and then started flying in direction of its target. Villanueva watched, making sure it would hit the Stovie gun. It did. The missile exploded, striking the Msta, triggering a flame and a ball of fire. He called out the kill.

Spectre: <<Confirming destruction of enemy Msta.>>

Encouraged by this successful hit, he decided to try again. He prepared to fire, tracking another Estovakian Msta gun, waited, and fired again. The Kh-25 fell and started flying in direction of its target. Again, the same thing happened. The missile struck the hostile battery, causing a ball of fire to erupt from the self-propelled artillery gun. Villanueva smiled. This was just like flying in combat back home.

Spectre: <<Enforcer 7, rifle.>>

Spectre: <<Confirming destruction of enemy Msta.>>

Soon, however, the priority 2S7 Malka guns had been destroyed by other Enforcer flight pilots. But that didn't mean Enforcer 7 had nothing to do. Sicario flight needed help dealing with a Stovie T-72. He had used up his Kh-25 air-to-ground missiles, but still had his bombs, rockets, and the ammo in his cannon. He peeled off and headed in direction of Sicario flight, towards Charlie sector.

Spectre: <<Sicario flight, this is Enforcer 7. I'll handle the T-72.>>

He readied the rockets and began using his laser designator to track the still-active enemy T-72 main battle tank. He fired four of the S-8 rockets in quick succession from one of the rocket pods on the Su-17.

Spectre: <<Enforcer 7, ripple.>>

The rockets hit the tank's turret, causing it to explode in a hail of metal and fire. His adrenaline was really pumping now. He was back in combat for the first time in a while, behind the stick of a strike aircraft. He called out the kill.

Spectre: <<Confirming destruction of enemy T-72.>>

Ace Combat: Ashes of War (IC/Closed)

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