Aces

Chapter 2: Rookies

"Alright ladies today's training mission will determine your spot in the flying raiders if you succeed you will be assigned to a squadron and given advanced weapons training. But if you fail you'll be scrubbing the barracks from top to bottom I hope we're clear. So remember stay alert and always watch your six check your radar and equipment and always communicate with your wingman when you're in trouble we don't need any heroes out there this isn't Ace Combat, watch your sectors good luck gentleman, dismissed."

(All in sync) "Sir yes, yes sir"

"Awe yeahhh here we go ima make squadron ace."

"Keep dreaming billy, yesterday you barely passed the carrier landing mission."

"But I did pass it didn't I?"

"Barely passed it"

"Well that's landing wait until you see me dogfight you worry about your strengths and weaknesses and I'll worry about mine, we straight?"

"Whatever you say."

"Ok listen up pilots today's training will test your skills and we will see if you qualify to even be considered an ace, the teams will consist of red and blue with 8 on each team, you will all be split into four teams two red and two blue with 4 planes on each team, the training ends when one team has been completely shot down.

The rules are simple don't leave the training area, if you fly below one thousand feet you are disqualify and are to RTB (return to base) immediately. Any questions?"

"Just one sir what team will you be flying on.?"

"I will be on blue team billy and don't worry I'll make sure you're the first one that I shoot down."

Everyone in the briefing room simultaneously says "ooooooh"

"Yes sir I'll make sure to look out for myself."

"Billy you're already failing, It's not about looking out for yourself it's about looking out for the team you watch your wing mans six as he will watch yours, alright pilots take to the skies."

"Yes sir!"

"Damn billy you got some balls to talk to the captain like that."

"Yeah well I'm going to be the one that shoots his ass down just watch."

ANNOUNCER: blue team you are cleared for takeoff on runway 3.

"Solid copy tower taking off now."

ANNOUNCER: red team cleared to takeoff on runway 2, blue team's awaiting your arrival good luck boys."

"Copy that tower and we don't need luck we have skill, red team taking off."

"Alright listen up red team this is where we split, reds 2-4 you're with me, reds 5-8 you are to head east to get an angle on the enemy red 5 that's your squadron."

"Roger that red leader my squadron, reds 5-8 heading east for interception."

"Red team listen close we are gonna win this today make sure you have a solid lock on your target before firing, don't freeze up stay focused and we will get through this."

"Red 2 solid copy"

"Red 3 solid copy"

"Red 4 solid copy"

"Alright team let's do climb to 30,000 and watch for bogeys."

"Keep a direct heading don't change course."

"Copy that red leader."

My first training flight, I have to admit I'm pretty nervous this will determine if we have what it takes to become real fighter pilots and fight along side the real aces during the invasion.

My squadron is ready I'm relying on them and they're relying on me to pull them through this. I won't let them down.

"Red leader this is red 5 reading two bogeys north of your position."

"Copy that red 5 we see them keep an eye out for more we'll engage these two these two."

"Solid copy red leader"

"Red 3 and 4 break and head south keep an eye out for more, red 2 you're with me we'll engage these two in front of us."

"Reds 3 and 4 copy that heading south we'll keep an eye out."

"Red 2 copies I'm on your six."

"Max thrust red 2 let's get them."

"Red leader I have missile lock, firing AMRAAM!"

"Copy red 2 I have tone, I've got good lock firing!!"

This was of course a training mission so the missiles we were firing were nothing but blanks that pre-exploded once they got close to a target, that simulated a hit.

"Miss red leader missile is no good"

"HIT! I've got a hit red 2 splash 1 target."

"Nice hit red leader I left"

"SHIT HES GOT A LOCK ON ME!"

"BEEAK RED 2 ILL TRY TO SPOOF IT WATCH FOR MORE BOGEYS."

"Copy red leader breaking left I've got your back."