|
Post by Tracker89 on May 22, 2007 18:12:09 GMT -5
"Yes, that is true...but still, we're lucky that we're only trapped. Imagine if the pirates had placed the mines under us instead of behind us. Next time, we should sweep any bottlenecks before entering an area." Fletcher said.
|
|
|
Post by ebonyviper on May 22, 2007 18:35:34 GMT -5
Nerina shuddered. If the mines were trapped beneath them, they would be goners for sure. She didn't want to think of that, but knew it was one of several possibilities that might go wrong.
"Yes, you're right, Sir," she said, "and we're lucky enough that neither of us had gotten hurt if one of those mines exploded. I'm glad none did, though."
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on May 22, 2007 18:47:17 GMT -5
Tobias flew along the river where he'd seen the trawlers go. He was limited in what he could actually do at this time, but he was going to throw a good scare into them and make sure they didn't come back. Then, he turned to see what he could do about those mines...
|
|
|
Post by fierano on May 23, 2007 8:30:19 GMT -5
"Da. Let's take off then, hopefully I can get these blasted missiles off of my wings on the way," Alek replied, gesturing with the R-60 "Aphids" under his wings as he moved for the takeoff hooks. He didn't seem to care if the old missiles hit anything, as long as he could at least fire them on lock-on. He trusted his cannon a lot more, even though he probably couldn't recall how many of the 150 rounds it used were still left.
|
|
|
Post by Tracker89 on May 23, 2007 12:10:39 GMT -5
"Well, Lieutenant, the Sea Gods spared us this time...but from now on, we must take care of ourselves." Fletcher said. Meanwhile, several members of his crew began gathering near his stern, trying to see the mines directly behind him.
He let out a defeated sigh...to successfully trick, trap, and evade two of the US Navy's most well-trained and well-equipped vessels would probably be considered an unforgettable victory among those rag-tag pirates.
--------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, Janet was on her way back to the fleet, taking a quick shortcut over land. In the distant, she noticed the stationary group of ships, and was puzzled to see Fletcher and Nerina sitting still inside a nearby Cove. She then saw the trawlers hastily sailing down the river.
"This is Lt. Com. Archer...could someone tell me what's going on?"
--------------------------------------
Tanya and Ivan would wait for Alek to take off before immediately going after him. They too had barely enough weapons for more than a few sorties, and knew that if this job didn't net them enough money to properly restock, they were good as done.
They dreaded returning to those rusting, barely intact hangars sitting right outside Kiev...
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on May 23, 2007 13:16:12 GMT -5
"They're bottled up with mines at the mouth of the cove. Those trawlers put one over on them." The ops room officer responded to Janet with something of a they-are-young-and-stupid tone.
In the meantime, Tobias acknowledged Janet with a wave of the wings as he continued to reconnoiter the area, transmitting a visual feed to the ops room guys who would relay the most salient bits to Caleb.
|
|
|
Post by Tracker89 on May 23, 2007 14:47:36 GMT -5
Janet frowned a bit in disappointment...she had expected that Fletcher would make up for his cold, harsh attitude with some professionalism. Of course, after what had nearly happened to him during the fire control exercise while training, maybe she set her expectations too high...
She waved back at Tobias with one of her pylons, then looked back at the trawlers. "I still have some fuel left...should I go after'em?"
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on May 23, 2007 15:28:58 GMT -5
"The local government will scream bloody murder if we actually fire on them. It's not nice, but that's the way it is." Tobias warned. "It'll do to keep them away."
He hailed Nerina and Fletcher and told them to get as far back as they possibly could. He had a plan brewing.
|
|
|
Post by ebonyviper on May 23, 2007 15:32:35 GMT -5
Nerina acknowledged Tobias's message and backed up to a safe distance, hoping that Fletcher was doing the same. She could hear that familar I-HAVE-A-PLAN tone in the jet's voice and wondered what he was going to do.
|
|
|
Post by Tracker89 on May 23, 2007 17:41:20 GMT -5
After making sure that the pirates hadn't set any other traps in the cove, Fletcher moved as far away from the mines as his cruiser length permited.
----------------------------------------
Janet sighed...politics always made things difficult at the worst times.
"Roger that...looks like I'm landing."
She approached the cove, but stopped when she heard Tobias' plan. She decided to wait until everything cleared up before trying to land.
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on May 23, 2007 18:34:58 GMT -5
Tobias went a little higher to study the situation. From this height, he could see to the bottom of the cove and there didn't appear to anything else there. Then, he descended until he was just above the water, and accelerrated until he was at his maximum speed. He cut directly through the mouth of the cove, right across the mines with inches to spare, relying on his speed to get him clear before they were triggered.
His gamble worked. The mines went up in thunderous booms and sprays of water, enough to wet the hulls of the destroyers and create waves.
|
|
|
Post by ebonyviper on May 23, 2007 18:41:48 GMT -5
Heh, he's either crazy, brilliant, or both, Nerina thought in reference to Tobias as the waves caused by the exploded mines slapped against her hull. But she knew that she and Fletcher were no longer trapped now.
|
|
|
Post by Tracker89 on May 23, 2007 18:54:19 GMT -5
Fletcher winced when he heard the explosions, although the waves that gently hit the Tico-class' hull a second later were almost relaxing. The crewmen gathered on his stern probably thought otherwise, as a good amount of water spilled over the deck and soaked them. He looked at Nerina.
"You move out first, Lieutenant."
--------------------------------------------
Janet spent several seconds hovering, in awe at the feat that Tobias had just performed.
Just when you think those fixed-wings can't get any crazier!
Once she got a hold of herself, she descended to land on Fletcher's helipad.
((Nice post count, Ebony.))
|
|
|
Post by ebonyviper on May 23, 2007 19:03:11 GMT -5
(((((OOC: Thanks. ^_^ And now my first 10,000th post ever!)))))
"Yes sir," Nerina and propelled herself forward, weaving through the now-clear passageway and finally finding herself once again on open water and return to the fleet.
|
|
|
Post by fierano on May 23, 2007 19:54:23 GMT -5
As soon as they were in flight formation, Mikhail radioed his squadron...in Russian.
<<"We've got numerous valuable targets among the enemy trawlers, but if you're feeling risky, there's some reward for the Americans too.">> <<"Let's see what their formations are.">> replied Alek. <<"Be careful out there, it looks like the Navy's made their move.">>
The Fullback was tempted to go for the easier trawlers, but he dreaded looking like some kind of "hero." If anything, he just wanted to hit something that wasn't friendly, if only to get him in a fighting mood. At least he didn't have to deal with the unnecessary (peer) pressure he had back in the old Air Force.
He was, however, briefly "distracted" by a daydream of what might have been, rising to the ranks of soldier heroes such as Vasily Zaitsev and mingling with the higher-ups of the Party. Somehow he felt that there was still honor...at least then.
|
|