Dark Wings

Chapter 1

   I stood up from my bunk after what seemed like a short night and looked at the clock. It was only 4am, I shook my head and walked towards the door as the alarm siren blared on the compound. I was annoyed with a drill at this time of night after having been on duty until midnight. As I walked into the Squadron Ready Room, I'm greeted by the smiling faces of the members of Bandit Squadron, My Squadron.

There was my number 2, 1st Lieutenant Andrew "Shades" Hawthorne, a 28-year-old veteran that had been with me since flight school. Then Bandit-3, 1st Lieutenant Winter "Aurora" Bridger, a 25-year-old level headed strategist who brought laughter to the team. Then there is Bandit-4, 2nd Lieutenant Dan "Preacher" Smith, a 23-year-old hot headed rookie fresh out of flight school. Finally, Bandit-5, 2nd Lieutenant Annabeth "Angel" Thompson, a 21-year-old greenhorn on her first tour of duty.

As we greeted each other the members of Phoenix Squadron also pile into the Ready Room followed closely by the Base Commander. When I see him, I quickly bark out, "Officer on Deck!" the room popped to attention as the Colonel walked around to the front of the room. "At Ease, listen up pilots. At 0345 hours this morning our air defense corridor was breached by four unidentified air craft that are flying in standard escort formation. We believe it may be a Heavy Bomber under fighter escort.

We have attempted to hail them several times and have gotten no response. Bandit Squadron you are to intercept these aircraft and assess the situation. If possible, force them to land if not do whatever is necessary to defend yourself and force the aircraft out of the airspace. You have permission to shoot the aircraft down if they violate the hundred-mile perimeter around this air base, they are currently 300 miles and closing. Phoenix Squadron you will provide back up for Bandit Squadron to be on the safe side. We have no intel and we have been losing contact with bases along the coast.

Now get out there and intercept those aircraft," he pauses for a second before speaking again, "Mute, I am counting on you to show the rookies how it is done up there. God's Speed, Dismissed." We all stood and ran out to the hangers and scrambled into our F-22 Raptors and taxied out onto the runway. The tower clears up for takeoff and we scream into the sky at full speed before forming up and heading out to intercept the aircraft. I brought us up to 35000 feet and moved in towards the incoming aircraft. As we close to within 50 miles I get on the radio, "Bandit Squadron, Bandit-1 I want you and Phoenix Squadron to stay high in the sun where these aircraft blind to your presence. Take up position behind them and line up shots just in case and keep weapons ready unless I tell you otherwise." They all responded "Wilco."

I looked down at my sensors and studied them to see what the aircraft where. "Attention all aircraft this is Bandit-1. Sensors show the aircraft as an Erusean 747 with an escort of three Erusean F/A-18s. Be careful, I will move for the intercept." I moved up from the back of the formation and move up next to the 747 with a rose on the tail, however I keep my weapons on safe trusting my squadron to protect me. I close my mask and breathe steadying my nerves tuning my radio to the international general aviation channel and cleared my throat.

I keyed up my mic and looked over towards the cockpit of the 747 as I match its' speed. "Attention, Unidentified Erusean Aircraft under escort bearing 180°, this is Osean Air Defense Force Squadron Leader off your starboard wing. You are in restricted Osean Military Airspace. You are ordered to identify yourself and then turn left to heading 270° and land at Osean Air Base Silvat. Non-compliance will be met with a use of force. You have 30 seconds to respond."

I lean forward in my jump seat as I look into the cockpit as the pilots seem to be deep in discussion and don't seem to acknowledge my presence. After the 30 seconds elapse with no response, I flick my Master Arm switch to the ON position and shoot a burst of machine gun fire past the cockpit but far enough away to only be warning shots. I key up my mic again, "Attention Unidentified Erusean Aircraft under escort bearing 180°, this is Osean Air Defense Force Squadron Leader off your starboard wing. You are in restricted Osean Military Airspace. You are ordered to identify yourself and then turn left to heading 270° and land at Osean Air Base Silvat. This is your final warning. Noncompliance will result in use of lethal force. You have 30 seconds to comply."