Monday 27th December 2047
Operation Eradicate
My senses were overwhelmed as I flew a squadron of 200 fire-hawks through Italy. Now I knew Italy had fallen to the worst red zone in existence, but this was horrible. Green crystallised glaciers owned the floor below us. Rivers that once flowed with water, now were turned into a green crystal. It made me wonder if Earth could ever return to its former glory. Perhaps it can, but not in my lifetime.
"Archangel do you copy?" My radio buzzed down my ears through my helmet.
"This is Archangel standing by, what's the situation Hawk 5?" I replied quickly as possible. My heavy breath could be heard through the radio.
"Situation is normal Archangel. But you on the other hand, you don't sound too good. I can hear your breathing." Hawk 5 came back quicker then I did. A moment pasted by were only my breathing could be heard over the sound of the aircraft.
"Yeah I'm fine, keep an eye on your radar, something keeps flashing on and then disappears." I said suppressing a gruesome thought.
"Copy that Archangel, standing by."
All fall silent after that. No one dared to talk, not even a whisper as we flew deeper into the red zone. Even the weather changed from the heavy rain we had to a down pour. Each one of the drops echoed throughout my cock-pit, and reminded me of how Earth used to be. Lightning now roared through the sky. But it irked me. This was because the lightning wasn't the usual blue. Instead it was green. Tiberium had more then a effect on this planet. Nevertheless I let the moment pass before continuing on with the mission.
"Fighter pilots prepare to give support to the bombers." I said down my radio calmly as I watched ahead of me for any enemy movement. None so far.
Alarms began to blare in the cock-pit each one with a different tone. Eyeing each of the aircraft instruments carefully I got the information I needed.
"Fighter squadron on my mark, engage hostile targets northwest of out position. Ready? Mark!" I called before gently banking left and allowed the aircraft to gain some altitude. "Bombers resume your course, increase your airspeed." With that said, I led a squadron of 100 planes to counter the large enemy force on our radars. This enemy force actually dotted my radar with a wall of red. Down the radio I heard many men gulp at the large enemy force. Just like them, I gulped as well. I may be a ace pilot but is no excuse. For I can still be shot down if I'm not careful.
My ears rung with the loud drone of the engines roaring at the sky; Sweat ran down my face in swift waves and began to irritate my skin. My nose finally betraying me and fell to the scent of Tiberium. Minding you it smelt horrible. In my line sight, a dark black cloud with green flashes, crawled over the horizon. My blood boiled in my mouth and gave me metallic taste that stained my tongue. Nevertheless I pulled down the black HUD visor over my helmet's standard visor. I recoiled as without warning red squares dotted my vision.
"All fighters engage hostile air targets, I'll engage the leader." I called to the rest of the squadron. Just as I did the Fire-hawk located the target leader above the rest, and dotted it on my HUD. Without wasting another second, I pulled back on the joystick. I felt the gravitational pull focus on my lower back as made the aircraft do a steady climb. After a minute or two, I had my Fire-hawk lined up with the enemy leader and my missile lock on was droning loudly into my ears. My thumb pushed that red button that sat on top of the joystick, then a loud hiss filled the cock-pit as I watched one of the rattlesnake missiles slither its way to its target. I was at the edge of my seat watching both the radar and the missile's glow. But when the enemy aircraft banked and avoided my missile, I slumped back into my seat in a defeated manner. While doing so, I looked carefully at the enemy. It was a fire-hawk. Noticing that it was going to do a flyby, I pulled the throttle back and banked hard left. I felt the g force tug and pull both me and the aircraft, never paying much attention to it, I was close to flanking the Fire-hawk but when I did, I almost wish I didn't.
Liquid blue tiberium oozed down its wings and into the wing dip and formed a small enough puddle, that slowly dripped off. Blood was splattered up the aircraft's nose and body which gave it a rusty look.
"To all allied aircraft, by warned hostiles are GDI, if they still show red. Pop 'em!" I called down the radio. No reply. So I took it as they understood and were on it. As I was too focused on engaging the leader.
"Hostile aircraft, identify yourself!" I said hoping it would respond. Now I wished it didn't, as a crooked voice came back.
"You shouldn't of come here... Winters. Now you will truly understand GDI's... Lies. Prepare to die Winters!" It said slowly and stalled at least twice during his speech. Truly I was mortified. But I didn't have time to waste. I pushed my throttle fully forward just as the enemy back flipped over my before steadying on my six. 'Shit' I thought to myself as warning sirens indicted a missile lock on attempt. In return I started with what I call basic, I banked my plane while gently pulling back the joystick, causing the missile lock to reattempt lock on. Something which I wasn't going to let happen. Besides I needed to keep him distracted. Without wasting more time I pulled the stick back further and applied the air brake for a brief two seconds. My vision blurred a little however I remained focused, and just as planned I was behind him. Keeping an eye on the enemy fighter, I risked a quick glance at the instruments and quickly looked at the targeting computer. A large green circle circled the computerised enemy and slowly got smaller and smaller, as well as gradually changing colour from green, yellow, orange finally then red.