The Razgriz Aces [Book 2]

Heartbreak One

Thanks to all my reviewers!  I just realized that I have four more missions (including this one) until the actual game part is finished… holy blonde cheerleader batman! (Supernatural quote, couldn’t resist, sorry).  Alright, read on.

Quote of the Chapter:
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”
~Napoleon Bonaparte
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Heartbreak One

Grimm 

It had been a while since I had seen Blaze so upbeat, so… cheerful.  It was hard not to be, even if you didn’t know Bartlett personally.  The guy had a rep in the military that would put Charlie Sheen to shame… okay, that might be a bit far-fetched but you get the idea.

Nagase was so ecstatic that she had been up since four in the morning.  It was six right now.  Blaze, Nagase, Snow, Genette, Cassie, and I were in the briefing room, waiting impatiently for the briefing to begin.

Finally, at six-fifteen, the briefing started.  All of us were fidgeting at the anticipation.

“Captain Bartlett has rescued Prime Minister Nikanor of Yuktobania.  He plans to attack an airfield in northeast Yuktobania, steal an airplane, and then escape with the Prime Minister.  First, go to the directed area and wait for contact from Captain Bartlett.  He’ll likely have you support him as he forces his way into the airfield.  More mission details will be supplied to you upon arriving at the local airspace.  Threat status in the area of operation is unclear, so prepare your flight for the possibility of threats from both the ground and the air.”

Operation: Crossroad
Location: Pobeda Peninsula
Date: 2010/12/22
Time: 2100 HRS

Blaze once again already had our planes picked out: the F-14A for her and Nagase and the F-14B for me and Snow.  It took us barely fifteen minutes for us to get set and take off… however, we had to wait until nine-forty-five to actually take off.  Since we were going to be taking a night flight, we got our rest.  It didn’t take us long.  None of us really got sleep on here because we were always so busy.  There was one day we had all been allowed to sleep in but only Blaze had taken advantage of it, sleeping in until eleven or something.  The rest of us had gotten up at eight or something.

However, once we were wide awake (thanks to lots of caffeine we had after we woke up), it hit us that we were going to be flying through the night.  Thankfully, there was going to be a mid-air refueling on the way there (how Andersen had pulled that off, I have no idea) so we didn’t have to worry too much about fuel and the Kestrel was going to meet up with us on the way back.  My worry was that we weren’t going to be able to stay awake.

I do believe at one point during the trip over to Yuktobania that Blaze and Nagase put their planes on autopilot and slept a little bit.  When we were nearing the operation area, Snow and I tried to wake them up but they were pretty heavy sleepers so we tried a different tactic.  I got behind Nagase and Snow got behind Blaze and we had our planes get a missile lock on them.

Blaze swore colorfully as she woke up and quickly took her plane off autopilot and pulled evasive maneuvers that I didn’t even know existed; Nagase did likewise except Blaze’s maneuvers were more psychotic.  No wonder no one was able to shoot her down.

“Son of a bitch,” Blaze mumbled. “That was not funny you two.”

I was trying not to laugh, and I could tell Snow was attempting to do the same.

“Sorry, you two, but neither of you were waking up by conventional means… and it’s not like we could poke you awake,” I said. “And I can’t believe Blaze just cussed.