|
Post by Evangeline on May 23, 2007 19:58:34 GMT -5
Claudette and Chastity became aware of other fast jets on their radar, still miles away, and requested ID. They had not received any signals indicating nationality, so the decision of whether or not to engage was still a thorny matter.
|
|
|
Post by fierano on May 24, 2007 10:05:03 GMT -5
((Stuck. X.=.x Don't know who's going to react...))
|
|
|
Post by Tracker89 on May 24, 2007 11:16:19 GMT -5
Fletcher slowly moved out after Nerina, his pace showing that he was in a less than stellar mood.
Although most of it came from the shame of allowing himself and Nerina to be duped by a group of Third World gangsters, he was also worried about the effect this would have on his crew. They've always interpreted his cold and harsh attitude as a sign of professionalism and efficiency, but after this blunder, he was sure that they considered him nothing more than an incompetent power-nut sailing in his father's wake...
-----------------------------------------
Tanya was thinking less about glory and more about risk and profitability. Attacking the relatively helpless trawlers was definitely smarter than trying to take on the fleet and its impenetrable wall of anti-air defenses...but now that two fighters were coming their way, far from the safety of the ships, she began to reconsider.
They were still considerably more dangerous than the trawlers...but the rewards were most likely enormous.
If we do this right, we might actually afford to have a full payload of weapons and fuel for everyone!
"<Let's go after the birds.>" She radioed cryptically.
|
|
|
Post by fierano on May 24, 2007 12:22:17 GMT -5
"Da. <I do enjoy a clear blue sky,>" came Alek's coded reply, as he armed his missiles.
Mikhail felt the need to add... "<Those birds are mirages though, watch your intakes.>" Stealth was always tricky to catch...
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on May 24, 2007 19:43:33 GMT -5
The two F-35 women became aware of bogeys trailing them a few minutes later. To their senses, it was obvious. However, they were both quite young, and it would be toss-up between youth and skill and old age and treachery. They banked sharply off to get some distance and some time to study the potential targets a little more.
Caleb waited for Nerina and Fletcher to return to formation. They were fortunate to be more embarrassed than hurt.
|
|
|
Post by ebonyviper on May 24, 2007 19:52:19 GMT -5
Nerina quietly took up her formation, feeling just a little bit embarrassed by the mishap, but she wasn't going to say anything. Now all she wanted to do now was get to their destination as quickly as possible before she was involved in any more misadventures.
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on May 24, 2007 20:52:31 GMT -5
"Maintain course." Caleb's first officer relayed orders. "We will reach the AO at about 1600 hours."
|
|
|
Post by Tracker89 on May 25, 2007 11:52:50 GMT -5
Upon hearing the orders, Fletcher's emotions subsided and his training took over again. He returned to his previous position in the fleet, ordered his crew to return to their regular posts, and prepared to set off.
On the helipad, Janet reviewed the few photos of the fleet she had quickly snapped from the air. She was relaxed, but on the back of her mind, that sub still bothered her...
----------------------------------------------------
"<I also heard the gulls around here are very nimble...I hope my camera is fast enough to catch them.>" Ivan noted in reply, as he concentrated on his radar. The fighters were there, but their exact location was difficult to pinpoint. Both he and the MiG next to him prepared their own weapons.
Meanwhile, Tanya's thoughts wandered to her father, who had voluntarily fought under the North Vietnamese flag against American fighters many decades ago.
Time to finish what he started...
|
|
|
Post by fierano on May 25, 2007 21:56:50 GMT -5
"<Best to let the birds squawk first for the most detail. Then you can take all the pictures you want,>" Alek replied, keeping a very close track on his radar. He'd try to let them fire first, as he adjusted his course toward the conflict zone.
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on May 26, 2007 0:06:43 GMT -5
"They're playing games." Chastity muttered over the radio to her older cousin. "They don't honestly think they can take us on, do they?"
"Don't take'em for granted, Juice." Claudette harrumphed, addressing Chastity by her nickname. "They may have some years on'em and be as subtle as bricks, but they're very experienced bricks."
"I could send them a little Hallmark right now." Chastity waggled with impatience. "When you care enough to send the very best, y'know?"
"I get it, girl, loud and clear." Claudette snorted. "Just haul back and wait, OK? Last thing we need is a misunderstanding and the JAGs on our case."
The two separated, the better to expand their range of detection and compare notes. They hoped to get the bogeys between them.
|
|
|
Post by Tracker89 on May 27, 2007 11:18:34 GMT -5
Tanya noticed a change in the radar signal, but was unable to tell exactly what was going on. Even at a distance of a few miles, it was too unclear.
I knew these knew fighter breeds were stealthy, but this is unbelievable!
This wasn't the first time the MiG found herself unable to rely on her radar, so she chose to ignore it and rely on her two keen eyes. Squinting a bit, she could barely make out two specks in the distance, the distance between them widening.
"<It's always impressive how seabirds surround their prey before coming in for the kill....>"
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on May 27, 2007 17:45:00 GMT -5
<<< Ah, forgot this one for a bit. Gonna be slow in all my RP's for tonight, on account of the Sunday Deadline Doom.>>>
The F-35's engaged their afterburners and swept towards the interlopers on a course putting the sun behind them - an old dogfighter's trick, learned in turn from the hunting tactics of falcons. Despite their new-generation capabilities and constantly updating avionics, they were taught not to slight the age-old skills if they still had use.
Caleb watched as Nerina and Fletcher rejoined formation. What feelings he had about those under him were generally masked, but secretly he was relieved that there would be no casualties there.
|
|
|
Post by fierano on May 28, 2007 8:53:24 GMT -5
((Eh, I got college already. D:))
Alek squinted as he watched the approaching aircraft disappear "into" the sun. He adjusted his gaze so he could watch just to the side from the direction they entered.
"<We must've disturbed their habitat. Get ready in case the birds think we're statues.>"
====
"And in regional news, abnormal surges in tide were reported across the western coast of Palawan Island in the Philippines earlier today. While nowhere near in magnitude to the tidal waves of 2004, aerial surveys report what appeared to be a wide "bowl" or "trough" forming at the source of the waves. Local residents also report seeing faint glimmers or shines consistent with an extremely large aircraft..."
|
|
|
Post by Tracker89 on May 29, 2007 13:25:10 GMT -5
Although Tanya lost track of the fighters after they flew into the sun, their manuever confirmed that these were the planes they were looking for, and relieved her fear of being blown out of the sky without knowing what hit her. "<Break formation and spread out, their trick won't work if we take them from different angles.>" She said, dropping the not-so-subtle bird-watching ploy now that both sides were alerted to the other's. --------------------------- Fletcher had only been sailing for a few minutes before he got a call from his engine room. "Sir, your turbines have shown abnormally high temperature readings since we've left the cove, did those mines hit anything?" "Negative. I don't feel anything, and no one else has reported anything abnormal." Fletcher replied, knowing the real reason for the spike in engine heat. "Roger that. Anyways, the temperature seems to be levelling off now. Sorry to disturb you, Captain." ------------------------------------------ "In other news, sightings of a US Navy carrier group in the Straits of Malacca have coincided with reports along the Indonesian coast of the sounds of naval weapons fire and aircraft engines. Navy representatives have refused to mention any details on the matter, but have confirmed that operations are ongoing in the area with the permission of local authorities." ((Maybe we should have the ships dock at a port to rest? Would be good for some social situations...all the military protocol so far has restricted character interaction. Not to mention that it would be realistic if the fleet has been sailing non-stop from the USA. How does Port Klang sound?))
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on May 29, 2007 13:41:16 GMT -5
The F-35's noted the bogeys breaking formation. Wanna play? They accelerrated and went into manuveurs designed to confuse the opposing aircraft. Their Red/Blue exercises had been geared towards exactly that. Claudette cast a wary eye on the interlopers, who were just now becoming visible. It would have been easy to stand off and fire from over the horizon, but they had wanted to confirm identity before possibly provoking an international incident.
Caleb's communications officer transmitted orders to his counterparts in the rest of the fleet. They would be making port by nightfall.
|
|