The Skies Above

Scramble, Scramble, Scramble!

Chapter Six
Scramble, Scramble, Scramble!

UNITED CANARY REPUBLIC
RIVER'S DAWN AIR FORCE BASE
PILOT GEAR ROOM
08:10 AM
1/2/17

The situation was desperate, to say the least. Both the new Air Force pilots and others from around the bases fighter squadrons were given the scramble order. Now, it's a rush to get their aircraft into the sky to defend their home.

The room is quiet, only the rustling of gear being heard. With the former naval aviators, they had their G-suits, life preservers, vests, and JHMCS helmets all ready to go.

Ben: C'mon Markus, we've gotta go!

Markus: I know!

With all their gear secured, along with the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle from their new squadron, Ben and Markus followed that other crew to the flight line. They're at a full sprint at this point, and every single fighter aircraft is going up, over a hundred in total.

Two minutes later...

Eventually, the crew of Fighting-202 found their Super Hornet. Nothing changed, other than the position of it, under a solid rain/sun cover, right next to the F-15 crew they followed out.

They met with the new Crew Chief of their aircraft. Pre-flight checks had been completed right after the scramble signal had been given. With the flight line being very active, they had to yell at each other to hear one another. Speaking of an active flight line, an F-16C passed behind them from the 78th Fighter Squadron, armed with four AIM-120D AMRAAMs and two AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles.

An air raid was about to occur.

With the shake of a hand to paw, the Crew Chief began to brief them on their aircrafts state.

Crew Chief: Good morning, sirs! Pre-flight checks are finished and everything's good! Get going, they're gonna need you up there!

A salute was giving to the pilot and WSO, climbing up the ladder to the aircraft and strapping in. The canopy came down upon the crew of the aircraft, a thumbs up giving from the aircraft handler, as well as the hand signal to start up the aircraft.

In front of them, another F-16C passed them, also from the 78th Fighter Squadron. Bring his head down into the canopy, Ben started the APU for the aircraft, bringing the right General Electric F414 to life. Pressures and RPMs looked good. Starting the second engine, all good as well.

Sydney: Looking good back here, bro. Go ahead and signal for taxi.

Pip: Good copy, standby.

Looking down at his radio, Pip tuned the channel over to River's Dawn Ground for taxi clearance. 118.09 is the channel for, and a button press later, he was live on the channel.

Pip: River's Dawn Ground, Fighting-202, requesting scramble clearance on runway zero-nine, over. Hey, read out what the ATIS has to say about the conditions.

Looking in the mirror at the back of the aircraft, Sydney gave a thumbs up. A few channel changes for the rear radio, and he was receiving the ATIS information needed.

RD Ground: Fighting-202, River's Dawn Ground, scramble request received. Taxi via Delta, Mike, Lima three for runway zero-nine. Contact tower on 118.7.

Pip: Taxi via Delta, Mike, Lima three for runway zero-nine. Contact tower on 118.7, Fighting-202.

A few moment of silence later, Pip gave the signal that they're ready for the chalks under the aircraft to be removed.