Mighty Wings

Posted on Thu Feb 27th, 2020 @ 1:56am by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Lieutenant Commander Kthaara 'Leadfoot' Taavoro & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Post Captain Keyan Fardreamer & Colonel Anthony "Ironhide" Raynor & Jillian "Phoenix" Sullivan

Mission: Mission 16: Hoist the Colours
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 2200Hrs, December 11th, 2390

Had one been standing on a planets surface as the various fighters flew overhead, they would have heard a loud sonic boom before their eardrums shattered but of course, this was not a normal planet and since it had no atmosphere, nothing was heard other then eleven flashes of light as the various starfighters shot past.

Boomer chuckled. "Okay ladies.. here is how we do this... I'm going to hang up here with Phoenix, Firebird and Desert Fox, we'll do two on two drills, all you squadron commanders will take us all on two on two.

"Phoenix and Firebird is team one, Desert Fox and myself." Boomer added. "Mirage and Leadfoot will be up first.... then Sideswipe and Wicked Witch, then Camshaft and Jetfire, followed by Beatstick and Ironhide last, the goal is simple.... the last remaining person standing.. wins." Boomer grinned. "Any questions?"

Beatstick grumbled something inanely which Boomer chose to ignore, either the people present would perform or they would not. "Guys... begin.."

Phoenix opened up her team channel to speak only to Firebird, once she was sealed into her simulator's cockpit. "The arrogant pricks will come for me first, while the smarter ones will come ta you. So the name of this game is to identify their first target an' set it up as a trap against them."

Leadfoot opened up a secure comm channel to Mirage and said, "Alright kid, just keep your head cool and don't do anything rash. What we will do is an ambush. Hide behind one of the asteroids, and once they get into good missile lock range, open up with every bird you have, then we will charge in right behind the missiles, if nothing else it will confuse their sensors. We'll focus on Firebird first, and then once she is out, we will try and double team Phoenix."

Mirage simply nodded and said, "Yeah, will do." And then both waited for Boomers signal to begin.

Firebird nodded her head, now Rachael was in her element. "Confirmed Lead." she responded.

The expected beep came over the system. "Boomer to group. you are free to engage whenever you're ready folks.... and good hunting to you all.." Boomer then smiled. "May god go between you and harm in all the empty places you must walk.."

"Stay out of warhead range," Phoenix warned calmly to her wingman. "He's a bomber pilot. So the last thing we want is ta be in his torpedo range. An' if he does, save your torpedoes and fire full yield, continuous phasers at his launched warheads."

Firebird nodded her head. "Confirmed Lead." she replied quietly.

Leadfoot waited for several minutes, he had an idea of where Phoenix and Firebird where, but noticed that they where not going in after him and Mirage, so he got an idea. Their fighters had weak tractor beams so he said to Mirage, "hey, Mirage, use your tractor beam to shove a couple of asteroids in their direction, and I'll do the same, we will hide behind one, and follow the asteroids slowly, then once we are in missile range, we'll let loose and then run."

Mirage gave a simple nod, and the two of them sent four asteroids in their direction. The Leadfoot commented, "Hopefully they will give away their position by shooting at one of the asteroids and waste their ordinance."

Rachael raised an eyebrow as she watched the half dozen or so asteroids all starting to move in their direction. "Mmm... using the Rocks as Shields." she mused. "Interesting." she turned. "Lead, two. Permission to go and draw them out?" she inquired, knowing it wasn't a good idea.

"Negitive. They want you in missile range and I don't have enough phaser banks on this bird to shoot all of their volley down," Phoenix spoke, half-aware of Firebird, as she was watched her sensors. "We spend our ordnance, we're cooked."

Leadfoot gave mirage a signal, and she popped out, charging in to the edge of missile range, let loose her volley, and quickly retreated, while Leadfoot, waited until after she fired, then he went in, firing his ordinance as soon as he got a lock, and then opened up with all phasers on the first fighter contact he saw, with Mirage, circling behind him and firing as well.

Firebird spotted the first set of missiles coming in as she locked up Mirage before letting loose with her own volley of warheads then she fired a second set of missiles, this one was dumb fired and probably going to go to waste. she sighed before going evasive.

Phoenix chose to play a defensive tactic, in order to try and give Firebird some slack. So she very sloppily throttled down and banked back up with a full barrage of her own, aimed at Leadfoot's fighter.

Wukari watched as Firebird ended up being the first to go down from several missiles, while very shortly later Mirage got tagged by several missiles as well. Leadfoot fell shortly later from Phoenix's phasers and missiles, while Phoenix got tagged by several missiles herself. The fight itself was over in less than 15 seconds with all four combatants being taken out. Wukari shook her head saying, "didn't see that one coming, Leadfoot's better than I thought."

Firebird smiled as she yelled. "Holy crap... that was so cool!!"

Boomer raised an eyebrow. "Holy crap.. that guy can sure fly.... Second Wing is lucky to have him because I'd want him for my own wing.... Desert Fox... I'm jealous of you. I'll be honest.." he smiled. "Leadfoot is just dangerous.."

Wukari looked at the results and then mentioned, "yeah, you cannot have him Boomer."

Everyone watched the other two fights as Leadfoot and Mirage put up one hell of a fight.

The second match ended with Firebird and Phoenix started in the asteroid field and shortly into the fight Firebird made a rookie error and separated from Phoenix. Mirage went after Firebird, while Leadfoot ended up pursuing Phoenix, however a missile barrage from Firebird took out Leadfoot, with Mirage's missile barrage tagging Firebird, leaving the fight to Mirage and Phoenix. Though mirage was able to evade Phoenix for a short period, she was ultimately no match for Phoenix. The second match victory went to Phoenix

However the third match was unexpected. Leadfoot figured out that Phoenix was trying too hard to protect Firebird, and used that to their advantage. Firebird ended up being double teamed in an ambush, and went down quickly. Phoenix managed to exact revenge against Mirage, but Leadfoot managed to take her out in the process, leaving Leadfoot as the sole victor.

"Well fought," Phoenix complimented with a huge grin as she got out of the simulator for a brief stretch.

"Well fought sir." Firebird said to Leadfoot over the com system before she heard a message on her private channel with Phoenix, requesting she step outside.

She popped the hatch as she slowly climbed out, she landed hesitantly and then she seemed a little wobbly. "Oh wow.."

Phoenix came over, a smile on her face, she took the girl aside and pat her shoulder. "You're not an ace yet. But you'll be one soon enough, the way you fly."

"Thank you Phoenix, This has been a blast.... its the greatest thing I've ever done..." she paused a moment. "I wasn't sure of what I wanted..." she grinned. "I am now..." she grinned at the older woman. "Thanks for everything Phoenix."

"You earned the right to be my wingman. No need to thank me," Phoenix smiled at the girl.

Rachael grinned up at Phoenix. "Well its great..." she paused. "shall we head back in?"

Meanwhile Boomer smiled under his mask. "That was some impressive flying.. What do you think Desert Fox... about Firebird?"

Wukari's response was simple and short, "I think she has potential, but she need more work, more time taking on other pilots that actually think and not just against simulated enemies."

Boomer chuckled softly. "Agreed but.. she does have potential." he commented. "She's better then all the cadets we have and some of the younger pilots too... I can see that for sure.."

Wukari prepared herself mentally as her and Boomer took on Leadfoot and Mirage, and it was definitely a challenge

First match ended with Leadfoot and mirage winning with their missile barrages, but Wukari's barrage managed to claim Mirage. Leadfoot was the last victor standing. Second match ended in a draw filled with missiles, with all four combatants being taken out. Third match was a tough white knuckle victory with Wukari sacrificing herself to allow Boomer to win against Leadfoot and Mirage.

Next fighters was Sideswipe and Wicked with, whom, while competent pilots in their own right, they where no where near as successful as Leadfoot and Mirage, they lost all three times against Phoenix and Firebird, though they got Firebird once on one match, and Phoenix once in another. Against Wukari and Boomer, they also didn't win any matches, though again, they got Wukari one and Boomer once.

"Who's next, Boomer?" Phoenix asked while she ate on her apple and downed some water.

Boomer smiled. "Your hero and Jetfire." his response sounded amused. "Camshaft and Jetfire... you're up."

Phoenix face-palmed the comment.

Camshaft smiled. "Err Roger that... " he commented. "My chance to kill the Fleets Top Gun.... this is gonna be great."

Firebird sighed softly. "Not over the master channel please.." she said quietly on her private channel to Phoenix after she checked she had the setting right. "Lead, you got a plan for these two... because I do.... Camshaft I see going for you, we can use it against him... you let him chase you and I kill him with warheads....?" the teen commented. "Sound okay?"

"Power full to forward shields, and I'll draw him away from his wingman," Phoenix suggested with a smirk. Then she began to full-throttle toward the young man.

Firebird smiled as she did exactly what Phoenix suggested. "Willdo." she responded as she decided to go for a missile shot at long range, best to go for it that way.

On the main channel, Phoenix deliberately called Camshaft out. "Come and get me, Rookie." And with that, the CAG full-throttled and made a run to Camshaft with a very wicked bob and weave.

"Camshaft... No," Jetfire called out, for her knew Phoenix was toying with the young squadron leader.

Firebird dropped back but she kept Phoenix in her sights ahead of her as she gently took aim, a smile gracing her lips, before lighting off two of her missiles.

She watched as they smashed into the back of Camshaft's fighter, shattering his hopes before she quickly acquired the second target, then she locked him up and let loose one missile before she turned her guns on him, hitting him a few times before he too was turned into a fireball.

Rachael grinned under her mask. "Ding Dong, the Rookie is Dead." she said over the com system so everyone could hear her.

"Good shooting, Firebird," Phoenix praised for all to hear. "Now let's set up for round two."

"Willdo Lead." came the response.

This time, Firebird and Phoenix were inside the asteroid drift. "Lead, Two. I'm thinking Jack in the Box, make them split up then kill them one at a time."

"We'll spring the trap on your call. You got tha vantage, Firebird," Phoenix agreed.

"Confirmed... I have two targets...wait... they are broadcasting on standard IFF's..." Firebird sounded puzzled before she let out a sigh. "Even I know better then that..." she commented before switching to the open channel. "I know this is a great game... but don't think its time you changed your underpants?"

Camshaft's response was quick. "I'm going to put you out little girl.."

Firebird grinned as she quietly looked over the displays before her. "Little... aww Camshaft... I'm devastated.." she commented as she watched him break loose and separate from his Wingman who got annoyed over the com system.

Rachael smiled as she got a good lock and lit off one missile, it went straight and true into his side and blew Camshaft apart.

She turn rolled inverted as she dove away from the battle, to avoid Jetfire as he likewise exploded from a missile shot from Phoenix.

"Game Over!" Rachael called over the com system.

"Good call, Firebird," Phoenix praised very happily.

Rachael smiled widely, she was having a great time. "Lets get set up Phoenix..." suddenly they were outside the asteroid field. "Lead, two." Firebird commented. "They lost two of three... I think they'll be more conservative this time...." she commented. "I have a visual on one of them..."

"They'll try to be," Phoenix agreed.

"Want me to serve as Bait or do you want me to?" Firebird inquired.

"Nah. I'll be bait. I'll draw Camshaft out and you just blow 'em ta bits with warheads, once he comes to me," Phoenix snickered.

Phoenix then pulled out ahead and began to perform some nice loops in order to get Camshaft's attention.

"Easy, Rook," Jetfire told his wingman. "Phoenix never goes down easy."

"She's mine..." Camshaft commented as he turned and went for it.

Firebird observed his move. "Phoenix, you seem to have an admirer... I'm envious." she came right out with it. "Mind if I educate the brother?" the teen grinned under her mask.

"That what I want ya ta do," Phoenix laughed, as she kept tempting Camshaft to drive further into warhead range while she did an array of barrel rolls and loops to entertain the young pup.

Camshaft went for missiles as soon as he could see Phoenix putting on a display for him, as soon as he had a solid lock, he lit off two missiles when suddenly he vanished in an antimatter fireball as Firebird torched his starfighter with two of her own missiles, then she shot down both missiles he let loose on Phoenix.

Rachael turned as she found herself under the guns of Jetfire, she juked and turned to evade when she found herself exploding.

All that could be heard was the sound of Firebirds endless laughter as she clearly enjoyed herself, despite the fact that she was now dead.

And now it was squadron CO and XO of Ghost squaring off wither each other. It looked like a very intricate dance. Jetfire would try to draft Phoenix's plane, but would lose his rhythm the second Phoenix popped a sudden burnout or full-stop sequence that almost cooked him, if not for his own skill.

Phoenix was unpredictable and often taunted folks into a fight while Jetfire tended to be patient and wait for a mistake. In the end, Phoenix pulled some crazy-ass flip that nearly caused Jetfire to ram into her. If not for the fact that he dove.

It was too little too late, for his fighter was shot down the moment he dove. She had predicted him and already had a torpedo ready to lock on him.

"That was a really nice bit of flying, Jetfire," Phoenix complimented as she crawled out of the simulator.

"Thanks," Jetfire answered and wanted to kill Camshaft the moment he climbed out. "Next time you want to croon over your hero Rookie? I'll shoot you down."

Camshaft nodded. "I'm sorry..." he commented honestly as Boomer approached. "Camshaft a moment please." he commented and the two men walked off to the side, away from everyone else. "Cam, I'm gonna be blunt... you really messed up here, you're performance was very disappointing, I expect you to improve going forward... or I will terminate your flight status.... am I clear..?"

"Crystal Boomer."

"Good.... take five then go back to your bird.." and with that he turned and went off towards Phoenix who was having a moment with Firebird.
"Well Phoenix... I see why you love it so much..." Firebird was commenting. "Boomer. I didn't see you."

"Its alright Firebird. You flew really well..."

"Thanks Boomer. That means a great deal coming from you." Firebird smiled up at him.

"It actually felt good to fly against folks again," Phoenix admitted with a genuine smile.

Boomer looked at Phoenix. "Would you mind not tormenting the rookies... I just had to tear Camshaft a new one because of that."

"I'll ligh'n up on 'em," Phoenix laughed in kind. "We both know he can fly well though... Just is distracted too easily."

"Alright..." Boomer commented.