The Start Of Something Great

The Hornet's

Gina's POV: Jan 17th 0803

As we entered the atmosphere, IMC Phantoms tailed us closely. We were trying to lead them away from the MCS Dawn and the Phoenix, giving our ships a better chance of surviving.

"This is Hornet Four. We're launching now," Ria's voice came through the radio as she descended to the planet's surface. Another crackle interrupted the transmission.

"This is Hornet Five, following your lead, Hornet Four."

More Hornet fighters swarmed around us, the skies filling with the sharp whine of engines and the distant rattle of gunfire. We were now over the main compound, and I could see Edvard, struggling to shake off a Phantom that was glued to his tail.

"I can't shake him!" Edvard's voice crackled in my earpiece, panic edging his tone.

"Copy that, Owl. I got him," I replied, locking my sights on the enemy Phantom. I banked sharply and pulled up behind the enemy fighter. My gun roared to life as a burst of rounds hit the engine, turning the Phantom into a fireball that fell out of the sky.

"Thanks, Curly," Edvard called, his tone lighter now as he split off, engaging more IMC fighters. I stayed in the fight, taking down enemy Phantoms one by one as the occasional fighter tried to tail us.

"Curly, you've got one on your six," Colby warned me over the comms. Gunfire erupted behind me, rounds bouncing off my armor.

I pushed the stick left, sending my Phantom vertical as I swung wide, narrowly dodging another burst of fire.

"Radar, get him off my ass!" I shouted, pulling hard on the stick.

Before I could react, a Hornet came through and obliterated the Phantom in a fireball.

"I got you, Curly," Colby's voice came through, upside down as he gave me a thumbs-up.

I flipped him off, and he just chuckled, breaking off to engage another fighter. "Quit showing off," I muttered, though it was hard to be mad at him.

"You know me, mam. Can't help myself," he teased, before peeling off to the right.

"Curly, this is Mouse. I've got Jay following me. We're ten clicks out," Mouse radioed.

"Copy that, Mouse," I replied, before turning my attention back to the IMC fighters. It wasn't over yet.

"This is Hornet Three to Shadow One," I called to the ODST, trying to check their status.

A moment of silence stretched before gunfire crackled through the comms, followed by Buck's familiar voice. "Send traffic, Hornet Three."

Explosions echoed in the background, and I couldn't help the worry that crept up my spine. "Hornet Four and Five are about eight clicks out. What's your status?"

More gunfire, followed by Buck's strained voice. "We're being delayed by a Titan and enemy pilot."

Just then, an enemy fighter locked onto Edvard, and I banked right, coming in behind the enemy Phantom. I pulled the trigger, sending rounds through the fighter's engine, turning it into a fireball that plummeted to the ground.

"Copy that, we'll buy you some time, Buck."

I banked left and took down another fighter, Colby behind me, ready for the next one.

"Curly, it doesn't seem like they're giving up easy," Colby said as we continued to clear the skies of IMC fighters.

"Copy that, Radar. Do you have any idea where these fighters are coming from?" I dodged another round, banking hard to the left to avoid incoming fire.

Before I could finish the thought, I dove toward the ground, trying to shake a fighter that was tailing me. The bullets ricocheted off my fighter, the ground rushing up too fast. At the last second, I pulled up, feeling the force of the climb.

Boom. An explosion erupted behind me as I heard Jack's voice over the comms.

"We're here now, Curly."

"Copy that, Jay. We need to buy the ODSTs some time."

I climbed back into the dogfight, just in time to see Edvard take down a fighter that had been following Colby.

"Thanks, Owl," Colby called out.

"No problem, Radar," Edvard replied, giving a thumbs-up as he passed.

For the next ten minutes, we fought tooth and nail to clear the skies, and then new orders came through.

"Hornet Three, Two, and One, you are to provide fire support for ground troops using blue smoke. Hornets Four and Five will commence the bombing run."

"Copy that, command, Hornet Three out."

I launched flares as a missile nearly collided with me. As I avoided it, Edvard came through the comms. "I got you, Curly."

We began our descent, now acting as ground support. "Mouse to Curly," Mouse radioed.

"Send traffic, Mouse."

There was a momentary silence before Mouse came back on. "We're doing our run now."

I spotted the blue smoke to our left—our target. "Copy that, Mouse. Be safe."

We dove in, strafing a group of IMC infantry. The air filled with red mist and dirt, and when it cleared, the area was nothing but a cloud of debris.

"Shit, they've got rocket troopers on the roof now," Colby warned.

"On my way now," I replied, banking right and heading toward the base. An enemy fighter shot past me, guns blazing.

"Shit, I'm hit! I don't have him on radar!" Colby's voice was strained as he tried to lose the fighter tailing him.

"I got him," Edvard radioed, locking onto the enemy fighter and taking it down.

Ahead, I saw the base, Jack and Ria's bombers in position to drop their payload.

"Deploying bombs," Ria called, just as multiple explosions shook the ground.

But before the bombs could finish their run, a rocket streaked from the roof and hit Ria's bomber.

"Shit! I'm hit, I'm hit, going down!" Ria's voice cracked as she issued a mayday. I watched helplessly as she crashed through the roof of the compound.

Another rocket fired, hitting Jack's bomber before she could release her payload.

"Mayday, mayday, mayday, I'm going down. Sending out SOS."

I could see her SOS on my radar, just as she hit the ground outside the base.

I banked left, trying to get back to Colby and Edvard. But when I finished my turn, two Hornet fighters exploded in fireballs, their wreckage crashing into the planet below.

"All fighters, RTB now!" Command's voice crackled through the comms, and I immediately pulled back on the stick, throttling up as I broke atmosphere.

"Command, I need a dropship sent to Jack's SOS," I called, knowing I couldn't do more for her in the air.

"We'll have the ODST look for her on their way out," came the response.

I sighed, pressing buttons to shut down my fighter as I landed in the hangar. The crew ran up to meet me, setting up a ladder so I could climb down.

Once on the ground, I unhooked my oxygen mask and pulled off my helmet, my curly hair falling into my face as I tried to shake off the weight of what had happened.

"Jack, you better survive."