Equestrian Air Guard

Chapter Four

Desperate offense, equally desperate Defense

After getting a decent night of rest, Dash awoke early to preform her morning run. Much like before she had done it alone, but honestly Maggie didn’t mind as it was beneficial to her. As she got back, she quickly got rid of her clothes and raced to the shower. There she saw Ellen already toweling herself off.

“What time did you wake up?” Maggie asked.

“Oh, good morning Maggie,” Ellen answered with bright red cheeks, “I’ve been up for about ten minutes. I’m sorry is that too early?”

“No, no its fine just…interesting.” Maggie sighed as she walked over to her hamper, “You showered already?”

Ellen nodded, “It’s just I don’t like being exposed in front of strangers.”

Dash laughed, “Why you think we might judge.”

“More like bad past experience.” Ellen answered turning her back to Dash, “See you at breakfast?”

Dash nodded as she pulled off her towel, “Yea, we’re table five remember that.”

Ellen nodded keeping her back to Maggie as she walked out. Then, as Dash was about to walk into the shower, Alice walked in, robe tied around her and towel carrying her shampoo and soap. She looked like she had a very rough night of sleep. “Morning Maggie,” Alice said her voice soft.

“Hey, you okay?” Dash asked walking to her favorite shower head.

“Long night….” Alice answered softly.

“That’s an understatement,” Tasha’s voice came through. She had walked in behind Alice and was already walking into the shower while Alice was getting her robe off, “I heard you crying, you want to take a personal day?”

“No,” Alice answered swiftly walking up towards her shower, “I didn’t expect it to hit me so hard.”

“Good morning everyone,” Michelle said walking in.

“Morning,” was the return greeting from the trio.

“So Alice, you sure you don’t want to…” Tasha began again as she rubbed her loofa with soap.

“I’ll be fine Tasha….” Alice told her running shampoo through her hair.

“I want you to be sure of that.” Cassandra said.

Both Dash and Dust turned around to see Cassie resting on the entrance to the showers looking right at Alice. Alice thought about her answer for a few moments before saying anything. Even Maggie was concerned; Alice was her wingmate and if she wasn’t at 100% things could end in disaster.

“We didn’t part on the greatest of terms,” Alice finally answered before tilting her head back to wash the shampoo out, “I always wanted to apologize to him about what happened, but now it doesn’t look like we will.”

Cassandra nodded before grabbing her stuff and walking through the shower, “Wait a tick, we’re down somebody.”

“She woke up early and finished before I arrived.” Dash told Cassandra.

Cassie seemed a little shocked, “Huh, that right.”

“Yea, she’s just shy around strangers.” Dash explained.

“She did just join up yesterday.” Michelle said.

“Yea give her time, she’ll get used to us.” Alice told the group.

That seemed to quiet down the party as they continued their morning shower.

When Dash and company arrived at breakfast, they came upon a grim sight. Or at least that’s how Cassandra and Tasha saw the morning breakfast. The now eight were sitting at table five, ironically with General Johnson nowhere in sight, enjoying a hardy breakfast of steak and eggs.

“Steak and eggs,” Cassie whispered, “They got something big planned today.”

“Why do you say that?” Ellen asked.

“It’s an old wartime tradition. Before a big battle groups usually get steak and eggs for breakfast.” Jon explained after swallowing some eggs.

“You think they’re gonna send us up for something big?” Dash asked.

“It’s an extreme possibility; generally this type of meal is called ‘Last meal of the condemned.’” Alex finished.

That made Dash’s heart sink. As if this whole week hadn’t been bad enough, now things were getting worse. But no mission briefing was scheduled for today. At least, none that Dash knew of, “So what’s the deal?”

“Once we’re done, suit up and wait I guess.” Cassandra told her.

Dash nodded as she took a bite of her eggs.

“You know, I’m actually quite shocked.” Alice sighed, “After that invasion, Vertania hasn’t done anything else offensively. Most of our defensive tactics have put them on the defense. I figure they might actually try something soon.”

“Like what?” Alex asked, “They’re held up in Baltimare with no way to get out of that city thanks to our efforts. If those shape shifting Vertainian bastards even try to get out, they’ll have us to deal with.”

“Careful Alex,” Jon said softly, “You too Alice. Wishing for combat usually gets it.”

“Soarin, the voice of reason,” Alex described.

“Ever still we have to take this situation very carefully. Fillydelphia and Manehattan are still at risk of invasion if the Vertainians still have their naval force. Worse yet they might just use the Griffin Canal to pass through and hit us from the west.” Jon explained before taking a swig of his coffee.

“You seemed to have thought this over well,” Tasha accused.

“I’m surprised you haven’t, a good fighter always stays one step ahead of his enemy.” Jon continued.

“Alright,” Cassandra said, “I’ll accept a lot of things from you guys, but this grim talk I will not handle. Whatever the Vertainians should or should not do is not up to us, our job is to stop it whatever the cost, wherever the situation arises. Now finish your breakfast so we can get back to lounge to wait for orders.”

The final line made Dash and Michelle laugh at Tasha’s and Jon’s expense. Then she looked over at Ellen. She was just sitting there looking at her plate with a seemingly scared complexion.  “You know,” Dash whispered leaning closer, “The foods better if you eat it.”

Ellen didn’t turn to look at Dash, she just simply nodded.

Maggie put down her fork and turned to her, “What’s up.”

“What if they’re right, what if this is the last meal for the condemned?” Ellen asked back, her voice sounding very uneasy.

Maggie snorted, “It’s just a scary rumor they tell rookies to scare them.”

“But…” Ellen started.

“Derpy,” Maggie soothed, “Don’t worry about it. You’re with the best seven pilots in the EAG. You’re not dying today, and even if we do scramble, Lightning and I aren’t gonna let you burn.”

“You promise?” Ellen asked looking at Maggie.

“I promise.” Maggie assured, “Now finish your breakfast.”

Ellen seemed to perk up as she worked over her food.

As the clock ticked by past ten in the morning, the eight pilots of the Wonderbolts sat within the lounge waiting for combat orders to come through. Scuttlebutt had been running rampant around the base that the EAG brass was planning a massive attack to take back Baltimare with several key strokes. Other reports were circling that Equestrian Spies were uncovering more details on the Burst Missiles. But by ten past ten, Maggie sat on the couch gazing up at the ceiling praying that something would happen.

To say that she was bored was an understatement. By this time four days ago she was getting in the taxi to come to Greenhill, the day later taking off for the patrol mission, and the yesterday launching to attack route 171. Now she was sitting around doing nothing. In fact, none of the Wonderbolts were doing anything. Cassie sat on a recliner, her nose buried in a book she had finished and restarted over an hour ago. Jon and Tasha were playing cards. Alex was strumming a guitar trying to tune it. Alice was teaching Michelle something stupid that Maggie didn’t really care to ask. And Ellen was aimlessly flipping through channels.

Maggie was so unbelievably bored that she actually got excited when she heard someone walking towards the living room. It wasn’t the first time though, as people were walking through the Wonderbolts’ quarters to get to the ramp easier. This time however, it was the General who laughed, “Equestria’s valiant defenders at work.”

Ellen snapped to her feet while the rest of the pilots simply nodded. After a moment of awkwardness, Ellen sat back down. When she did, Cassandra slammed her book shut, “Blaze, please tell me there’s something happening.”

“I can’t answer that fully,” The General answered, “But what I can tell you is report to the briefing room, something big has come down.”

That got every pilots attention. The pilots all got up and began walking to the briefing room. With the addition of Ellen as Wonderbolt Eight, the seating arrangement was shifted a little bit. Maggie now sat with Michelle and Alice sat next to Ellen. That being said, the squadron formations had far from changed. Cassandra was still unsure about putting Alice in charge of Ellen, let alone splitting up the three rookies so early. Plus Michelle still was a second class lieutenant, only first classes and higher could become formation leaders. So Cassandra kept the formations the same and simply added Ellen to Maggie and Alice for the time being.

When the eight had sat down within the briefing room, the General began. “I know you all are anxious to drive the Changelings out of Baltimare, and honestly I can’t say I blame you. But for right now our forces are still diminished from losing the city, worse yet the EAG is down to ten combat ready squadrons. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the threats posed by the burst missiles and the MiG-41s is still high. I know those Sharks aren’t totally up to par with our Reapers, but in the right hands those machines are deadly. We’re still trying to figure out the location of the MiG-41’s primary base within Vertania as well as the launching mechanism for the Burst Missiles.

“So until we can locate both and/or develop a counter, Baltimare’s going to have to stay in Vertainian hands. Thanks to your efforts on route 171 and the Merchant Marines efforts, the forces are effectively held up in Baltimare giving our armies a chance to encircle them. But what I’ve called you all here for is something far more immediate and far more dangerous. At exactly 9:21am, satellites confirmed the launch of thirty Tu-160 Blackjack and fifteen Tu-22M Backfire bombers launching from bases across Vertania. Due to their erratic flight pattern we have no clue as to where they are going to. However they will reach Equestrian Soil within two hours.” General Johnson continued, “Most of the EAG remains on standby, however we have confirmed that if the bombers make a course that will put them on a path to Canterlot or Ponyville, we are to scramble immediately! Wonderbolts your orders are this: remain on Alert Five standby, wait for launch orders, and if they come knockout all bombers before they reach Canterlot, Dismissed.”

With a nod, all eight pilots got up and headed towards the changing room within the hanger. Alert Five Standby means that pilots were to wait within their aircraft for immediate launch. With the speed of Reapers, Canterlot was only two hours away at Mach 4 and the max speed any of those bombers could reach was Mach 2 at best. The Wonderbolts would have plenty of time to start up, take off, and race south to intercept the bombers long before they reached Canterlot. That is if the bombers even got that far. But with the heavy pounding the EAG had taken within the last two battles, the possibility of the bombers slipping through was high.

“Ten squadrons left,” Michelle sighed as she strapped on her G-suit, “I didn’t think the damage was that extensive.”

“Well we lost most of them over Baltimare to those damn Sharks and Burst missiles.” Alice told her.

“Still, only ten left, that’s far too little to mount a proper defense of Equestria.” Ellen agreed.

“Will everyone stop being so down?” Maggie asked, “Those bombers are gonna get what’s coming to them regardless of where they’re going. We may be down but we’re far from out.”

Cassie nodded, “Yea Kid’s right, we still got this no matter what we do.”

“That does beg the question though; Vertania’s still holding a good hand, why are they hedging their bets on this massive attack?” Alex asked.

“Desperation,” Jon answered, “Held up in Baltimare with no foreseeable exit, maybe a strike at our heart will soften us up and give them the opportunity they need.”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.” Tasha agreed.

As if right on cue, the red phone located right next to Cassandra’s locker rang. All eyes locked on her as she quickly answering it. She didn’t speak as she listened in for orders. After a moment of nail-biting silence, she hung up the phone. “Reports just came in from the Radar station at the coast: the bombers have made an easterly turn and are heading on air route 278.” She explained.

“Right to Canterlot,” Dash exclaimed.

“Exactly,” Cassie nodded grabbing her helmet, “Mount up Wonderbolts!”

Quickly the rest of the pilots grabbed their own helmets and ran out to their planes. The ground crews had already loaded in Reapers will a full complement of missiles. However instead of the Aim-75s being loaded under the planes bellies, they put the more powerful and longer ranged Aim-54 Phoenixes. The Aim-54 was much larger than the Aim-75s as they were designed to go much farther and carry a heavier payload. Because of this, Reapers could carry only Ten missiles in pairs of two. Their size also meant they were less maneuverable than the Stingers, making them a perfect weapon for downing bombers.

Once Dash climbed into her cockpit, Albert helped her buckle in before giving her the planes weight. After finishing the computations, she nodded her head and he patted her helmet as a sign of good luck. At that point, she began to start up her engines. By amazing coincidence, the rest of the Wonderbolts were doing the same. After starting up the plane’s engines and electronics, Rainbow waited her turn to do a radio check. When she found a space, she called it, “Wonderbolt Six Radio check, check, check boom?”

  “Pow, pow, bam Wonderbolt Six.” Spitfire returned.

“Wonderbolt Seven Checking in, chicken, chicken?” Lightning called in.

“Bawk, bawk, Wonderbolt Seven,” Spitfire returned.

“Wonderbolt Eight radio check.” Derpy called.

Silence followed for a minute.

“Can anyone hear me?” Derpy asked again.

“Oh we can Derpy, but its Wonderbolt Tradition to sell it.” Spitfire laughed.

“Huh?” she asked.

“Gotta say something corny with your call in Derpy,” Rainbow explained as she spotted Spitfire beginning to taxi, “Call it a catchphrase.”

“Oh….umm…..Ah hah, Wonderbolt Eight chiming, ding dong mail call!” Derpy said cheerfully.

“That’s new!” Soarin called.

Spitfire’s laughter could be heard. Rainbow was also laughing, she was sure everyone else was as well. Finally Spitfire answered, “Special Delivery Wonderbolt Eight.”

About thirty minutes later, the Wonderbolts were supersonic and racing towards the intercept point. Eagle Eye flew just several miles ahead and above them monitoring the area. “Wonderbolts this is Eagle Eye how you reading?” he called in.

“Loud and clear Eagle Eye,” Spitfire answered, “Wonderbolts are supersonic and racing into the battle zone.”

“I’ve confirmed your entrance to the battle zone! You now are under my command. Bombers on vector 278 confirmed, continue south to intercept at Rambling Rock ridge.” Eagle eye said, “Also guys just a quick note, today’s my birthday!”

“Oh awesome!” Derpy answered, “What do you want as a present?”

“A victory sure would be nice.” Eagle eye answered.

Spitfire laughed, “We’ll be sure to give it to you Eagle Eye.”

“Be forewarned Wonderbolts, the Twelfth Air wing has already worked over the bombers. They’re now down to thirty two bombers and around twenty defense aircraft. Those defenders are MiG-41s.” Eagle Eye informed.

“Roger that,” Spitfire said. Then she hooked up her mask to her helmet and called out, “Okay team masks on, we’re approaching Rambling Ridge.”

“Let’s do it,” Soarin said.

“For Equestria,” Rainbow cheered as she hooked up her own mask.

As the eight Wonderbolts broke through a puff of clouds, the bomber formation came into view. Sure enough, escorting the massive bombers were the Stealth MiG-41s Sharks that had gotten the best of the EAG at Baltimare. Rainbow’s complexion went icy as she stared it at them. These planes were making a mockery of the EAG despite their limitations to the mighty F-95s. Now it was time for some Revenge.

“Wonderbolts you are cleared to engage.” Eagle eye called.

“Roger Spitfire engaging.” Spitfire called.

“Soarin engaging!” Soarin said.

“Fleetfoot engaging,” Fleetfoot called out.

“Roger Fire Streak going hot,” Fire Streak said.

“Cloud Kicker going weapons free.” Cloud Kicker called out.

“Rainbow engaging.” Rainbow shouted.

“Lightning engaging.” Lightning said.

“Derpy engaging!” Derpy said. Rainbow was amazed at Derpy’s sudden intensity. It seemed this girl had a fighting spirit after all. Now it was time to see how tough it was. The eight Wonderbolts switched over to their Phoenix missiles. On her HMD, Rainbow could see the other eight target reticules target not only the bombers, but the fighters. Despite the MiGs being stealthy, the Reaper’s X-Radar got a lock onto them. it may not have been clean or clear, but it was enough. Each Wonderbolt locked up two missiles per plane, making sixteen locked targets. When her own two Phoenixes locked up, she pressed the launch button on the trigger.

“Wonderbolts Fox-three, fox Three!” Spitfire called out as all eight released their missiles at once.

The sixteen missiles detached from their eight mother planes and flew towards the approaching crafts. The contrails they left being looked like a tentacle monster reaching out towards its prey. After flying through the air for several moments, nine hit their marks. Six bombers and three Fighters went screaming towards Rambling Ridge below.

“What was that? Where did that attack come from!” a Vertainian pilot shouted.

“Contacts! We have enemy contacts bearing on an intercept course from the north.” A bomber pilot shouted.

“Wonderbolts, your primary target is those bombers. Knock out the fighters when you see a chance but don’t go chasing flies!” Eagle Eye shouted.

Twenty six bombers remained as the Wonderbolts sent another wave of missiles through the formation. The second wave took out four more planes leaving twenty two. By now the Wonderbolts had caught up to the planes and broke formation as they tore through the bomber group. Rainbow kept as much power in as she could as her Reaper blew through the bomber formation at near Mach four. The G’s pressed her into the seat as she pulled back on the stick to spin around.

When she did pull back, she lined up good tones on the lead two bombers and fired. The missiles just so happened to be targeting the last two Backfire’s, striking at the planes’ tail sections. After the explosion took hold, both planes nosed over in a screaming and out of control dive towards the ground. Just then the sound of an explosion caught Rainbow’s attention. She looked to the right to see a Blackjack burst into flames from one of Derpy’s missiles. Both Lightning and Derpy had stayed with Rainbow during the maneuver, and were taking shots at a pair of bombers right next to her.

Just as she turned her head back front, a MiG-41 raced by her noise flying towards Spitfire and her team, who were swooping in from the right. Rainbow snapped hard right, switching her weapons control to guns and pulling the joystick back to get her pipper in front of the MiG-41. The Changeling pilot spotted Rainbow on her tail and snapped left immediately. Rainbow chopped the throttle as she spun left, keeping on the MiGs tail.

The maneuvers the two planes were pulling created a ton of G-forces on the pilots. It was a tough ordeal. “These MiGs are tough, and their pilots are good.”  Rainbow grunted as she pulled through another turn.

“But we’re better!” Lightning shouted, “Fox Two!”

A Blue Jay raced by Rainbow’s canopy enroute to the MiG. The Vertainian spotted it and pitched up deploying flares. The maneuver put her right into Rainbow’s pipper. “In gun range! Firing!” She shouted pressing the trigger. .50 caliber bullets and 20 millimeter slugs flew from her Reaper’s nose and right through the Sharks wing.

“My plane’s full of holes!” The pilot shouted as her wing broke off, “Black five going down!”

Rainbow took a sigh of relief, “Thanks for the assist Lightning.”

“Anytime partner! You see Derpy; I lost sight of her as we pulled after the MiG!” Lightning called.

“I’m above you!” Derpy answered for Rainbow, “You two got a Shark on your tail hang tight I’ll knock it off.”

Rainbow turned around to see Derpy roll in on a MiG-41 that had slid in behind Lightning. Before the Vertainian could even see her, Derpy launched a Blue Jay into him detonating the aircraft. “Good shooting Derpy!” Rainbow said.

“Image vanishing from Radar, kill confirmed!” Eagle Eye said, “Wonderbolt Six through Eight rejoin the others, the bombers are twenty minutes out from Canterlot!”

The trio winged around, lighting their afterburners to reengage the bomber force. The five other Wonderbolts had done a good job knocking the strike force for a loop, downing eight of the Twenty remaining bombers. When Rainbow, Lightning, and Derpy locked on with their phoenixes, they wasted no time cutting loose with fire. All six hit their marks, bringing the total to six bombers left.

“Six bombers remaining! Continue with the assault down all Vertainian aircraft!” Eagle Eye commanded.

“Trying AWACS!” Fire Streak said as he shot up another Shark.

Rainbow and her team rolled in just as Soarin got good tones on two bombers with his last two Phoenixes. “Wonderbolt Two Fox Three!”

The missiles flew straight and true, slamming into two Blackjack bombers and destroying them. Rainbow got good tone on another bomber, but Derpy’s missile quickly flew by and right into the one she was targeting. So she switched to two fighters bearing in and plucked them off with the last of her phoenixes. Three bombers were now left.

“Fucking Wonderbolts!” shouted a Vertainian pilot, “They’ve knocked out our attack force!”

“Three bombers remaining, finish them up quickly Wonderbolts so we can go home!” Eagle Eye called out.

“Big Bird Seven,” said the Vertainian commander listening in on the combat, “You are aware of the backup target right?”

“Roger that, beginning attack run now.” Said one of the Blackjacks.

Just then Rainbow spotted one of the Tu-160’s banking left, changing course. “AWACS, Wonderbolt Six! A bomber’s changed course, new heading…” she started, “…265! That son of bitch is going right for Ponyville!”

Just as she relayed the command orders, the 160 lit its engines and rocketed away at supersonic speed. Not waiting for orders or commands, Rainbow pushed her throttle to maximum speed. Her blood was pumping hotter that it had ever; this Vertainian was targeting her home town! Well not her actual home town, but all of her friends were there. If anything happened to them, Rainbow would never forgive herself nor let the Vertainians live to tell about it. Her phoenix missiles all but spent, all she had were her Blue Jay short ranged missiles.

As her speed increased to Mach 3, the distance between her and the bomber had closed to where she got weapons lock. But so too had the distance between the bomber and Ponyville, as the town was now in sight. Rainbow could also see the bombers bomb bay doors open. Her vision tunneled as she drew to within optimal firing range. The roaring in her ears signifying missile lock grew louder and Rainbow began to scream a rage filled battle cry.

When the tone was good and loud, Rainbow fired. The missile flew from its rail, ignited its rocket, raced to Mach 5.7, and ripped through the starboard wing of the Tu-160. The plane caught fire as it spun towards the ground. Rainbow snapped back to reality as some of the bombs detonated within the bomber. Her first thought was whether or not the bomber would hit Ponyville. Thankfully it was going too fast. The burning bomber flew over Ponyville and impacted a mile outside the town.

Rainbow pulled back on the throttle as the Reaper returned to under the sound barrier. She encircled her kill to not only confirm it, but to admire the attack. Then she flew over the town making sure no one and nothing was hurt. When she sure it wasn’t, she looked for her squadron. Thankfully Derpy and Lightning were streaking in over the town. Then her hearing returned, alerting her to Eagle Eye trying to get her attention.

“Wonderbolt Six respond, how is Ponyville?!” he shouted.

“Eagle Eye this is Ponyville Mayor, we have visual on the downed bomber. Whose kill was that? Be sure to thank him!” The mayor responded.

“Will do,” Eagle eye responded easily.

“Spitfire to Rainbow do you copy?” Spitfire called in.

“Rainbow copies,” Rainbow answered leveling out at five thousand feet to allow Lightning and Derpy to form up.

“All bombers are taken out, regroup with us so we can go home.” Spitfire ordered.

“Roger that Wonderbolt One, inbound to regroup.” Rainbow sighed.

“And Derpy?” Spitfire asked.

“Yes Mam?” Derpy asked back.

“Good work out there today, seems like your walled eyes are a valued asset after all.” Spitfire said proudly.

Derpy giggled, “Thank you mam.”

“This is Captain General Shining Armor of the Royal Guard and Canterlot Command calling Wonderbolts do you hear me okay?” General Sparkle’s voice came through.

“Loud and clear Captain General.” Spitfire answered.

“We have a visual on the downed Vertainian bombers, fabulously done out there. The lives of everyone in Canterlot and Ponyville are in your debt tonight.” He told them.

Rainbow and her trio spotted the five Wonderbolts and climbed to link up with them. Spitfire waited until they formed up before she responded, “That’s very flattering of you sir, but unnecessary. It’s just our job.”

Rainbow relaxed in her seat over these words, they were right on all accounts and made her feel very good about herself. She looked around at her fellow pilots, and though she couldn’t see them through the face shield and oxygen mask, she knew they felt the same thing.

“Roger that Wonderbolts.” Shining armor answered.

Spitfire laughed, “Come on Bolts, let’s head back to base.”

Then the eight pilots banked shallowly the left to head home.