The Skies Above

A (Not So) Normal Strike Mission

Chapter Two
A (Not So) Normal Strike Mission

THE PERSIAN GULF
FIVE KLICKS FROM EISENHOWER
14:36
01/07/11

With the Hornet away from the ship, it was time for them to commence their mission. Their mission: strike a critical Iraqi concrete production facility. Said plant was producing concrete for last ditch fortifications in Iraq, thus making it a critical target for airstrikes.

Sydney: Alright Pip, coming up on waypoint one in ten seconds. On my mark, turn heading one-three-zero.... Mark.

Pip: Wilco.

The Hornet shifted into a gentle thirty degree bank, quickly coming onto the designated heading. They'd just come off the BRC, and the ships of Carrier Strike Group Two were fading out of view when one of the ships, the destroyer USS Truxtun, fired two Tomahawk cruise missiles towards Iraq, towards unknown targets. Pip let out a whistle, watching the BGM-109Cs fly away from the fleet at a high speed.

Pip: Watching a Tomahawk being let loose never gets old. How far until our next waypoint?

Sydney: Uhm... Should be around sixteen klicks from here.

It took some time for Sydney to respond because he was trying to find their current location. The armaments they had on the aircraft for this flight was a very uncommon ten 1,000 pound GBU-32s, two AIM-9X Sidewinders, a centerline 480 gallon fuel tank, a left-shoulder mounted AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR targeting pod, a single right-shoulder mounted AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, and 412 20mm rounds for the M61A1 Vulcan cannon. The aircraft, for what it's built for, was fairly sluggish with the sheer amount of weight on board as expected.

Pip: Another long flight?

Sydney: Yep, should be around six hours and around six or seven hundred klicks.

Pip: Well, get comfy back there.

Sydney: Oh I will Pip. Even if I enjoy my job, long flights like this suck.

Pip chuckled, taking his view away from the HUD for a few moments to look over his instruments. Everything looked great, and he wondered about what the Plane Captain said back on the boat. If the instruments go crazy, then they're screwed. The Super Hornet runs on a fly-by-wire control system, and if the system goes, then they don't have a choice but eject.

Pip: Yeah, I can agree there man... Have you thought about what our Plane Captain said? About our avionics?

Sydney: ... I have actually. Kinda spooky if you ask me, losing our avionics means us bailing out. Fun, huh?

Pip: Let's just hope that doesn't happen.

Sydney: Don't jinx it you fucking dult!

Pip burst out laughing, though kept it under control. The aircraft does have an autopilot, but Pip preferred if he hand flies the aircraft until they get to their designated altitude. Said altitude is angels fifteen, as the production facility doesn't have any air defences of any kind.

Sydney: Just so you know, we're feet dry in about two or so hours.

Pip: Great. Time to play the waiting game.

Around two hours later...

THREE KLICKS FROM THE IRAQI COAST
ANGELS FIFTEEN
16:38
01/07/11

The crew of two in the Hornet were beginning to get ready for potential combat, or evasion of hostile SAM's. If either happens, they're ready, even if their radar is cold for the time being.