Project Wingpony

by BusterBuizel

Operation 2: Eviction Notice

Previous Chapter

PRIVATE CONTRACTOR DETAIL : SKY BUSTER

PRIVATE MILITARY AGENCY : EQUESTRIAN SECURITY (ESEC)
SQUADRON : STRIKER TEAM
SQUADRON NUMBER : 2
TAC NAME : ALBATROSS

5 AE, JANUARY 23RD

STATUS: ACTIVE

Broken. Black nothingness enveloped me in my slumber. Numbness…

“Sky! Sky! Heads up, we gotta go,” Dash. Calling me?

“I’m up, I’m up. Geez, why’d you have to wake me up this early?”

“We’re finally evacuating Ponyville. Cloudsdale is here to take on the refugees,” Dash picked me up from the mattress and wrapped herself around me. Yet something was off with her tone of voice. A subtle undertone of somber as she dragged me out of bed, “Come on, let’s go. We got nothing left here.”

“The once proud breadbasket of Equestria, burned to cinders. Not even the Everfree forest was spared. How did they even rally enough resources to kick us while we’re down?” I slowly trotted over to the exit doors and looked all around me.

Our current living arrangement was equally in shambles. Most of the airbase got hit by scattered missiles and fragments. We were reduced to living in the same hangar my plane was stored with nothing but tents and sleeping bags for almost two weeks. Most of the town caught fire and left the vast majority of us homeless. I got up and trotted to the exit. The dirt runway was lined with transport choppers and military personnel all lining ponies up to be boarded. In the distance Cloudsdale hovered over the old ruins of Canterlot, like a buzzard circling a corpse.

“You gonna be okay there buddy?”

“No, no I’m not. It’s not fair… We weren’t the ones to destroy the world. It’s a never ending cycle of hatred. Everyone blames us as a nation for the Infinite Eclipse. It wasn’t our fault and we didn’t ask for this.”

“Bud, he was my son too… I know you and how-“

“How I beat myself up over these things? Those novels aren’t the only things you can read. If only we took them out of school for the day. If only-”

“STOP! You’re making it worse! Not only for you but for me too.”

“WELL WHAT THE FUCK COULD WE HAVE DONE?!” With regret pooling inside my heart I looked at Dash as her eyes started to drip. Behind her my commotion caught the attention of Pash and the kids, not to mention the various hangar staff that all looked at me in my outburst, “Faust Mother dammit… Dash. I’m sorry…”

Rainbow looked away for a brief moment to the side. My broken heart sank deep as I could only hazard a guess to what she was thinking. She stepped forward with a piercing gaze as she eyed me down like a piece of meat.

“Well if you were really sorry then you shouldn’t have done it! That’s what you always tell our kids right?! Don’t you think I’M hurt too?! DON’T CROSS ME SKY BUSTER! So help me I WILL turn you into an earth pony and rip your fucking last wing off!”

“BREAK IT UP! STOP! THE TWO OF YOU STOP!” Pash flew in between the both of us as I was about ready to break down. She put a hoof to both of our chests as our children also pleaded at our feet, “You’re not helping anything by fighting! Look under you! To our children! Do you think this is fair to them?! Do you think this is fair to Jet?!”

“Mama, daddy, stop fighting please!” Cloudy was tugging at my tail while the others crowded around. I slumped down and began to break. I wasn’t myself and I knew that. What could I do?

=====================================================================

CONTRACT DETAILS
UEK-01
EQUESTRIAN SECURITY

ASSIGNED TEAM : STRIKER MERCENARY SQUADRON

CLIENT : UNITED EQUESTRIAN KINGDOM

EVICTION NOTICE
TASK:

-ESCORT CLOUDSDALE TO PRINCESSIA

-RETREAT AND REGROUP WITH REMAINING EQUESTRIAN FORCES

=====================================================================

“Well, this is it. We’re packing up shop and flying west, retreating to Princessia. Ever since the Infinite Eclipse our new de facto capital has been the seat of power for our recovering nation, as I’m sure you’re all aware. Besides, it has some of the best seafood on the coast and ample commendations for the refugees. I’m Lieutenant Vapor Trail and I’ll be your contact for the Equestrian Air Force along with my superior, Brigadier General Spitfire. Go ahead General.”

“Thank you Vapor. As of now Cloudsdale and a flight of transports are ferrying both soldiers and refugees to regroup with our main forces stationed in Princessia. We’ve managed to hire several mercenary companies to assist in the evacuation and fly top cover for our extraction from Ponyville. I’m sure you’ve all heard the news but the Crystal Empire has fallen along with several of our northern territories. Reports indicate that the Changeling Kingdom, Stalliongrad, and the Kingdom of Oleania have launched simultaneous attacks against Equestria and its allies. They’ve taken to calling this alliance the United Races Coalition. First and foremost, we have to evacuate the civilians to safety. Striker Squadron, listen up. You’ll be pulling shifts in the long flight ahead to preserve fuel and ammo with the other fighters. We’ve detected scattered enemy air patrols en route so intercept them as needed. You are also to make contact with a few other mercenary squadrons that will rendezvous with us in the air. I don’t have to tell you much knowing both of your skills out there. Crash? Cluster?”

I looked up to Spitfire and gave a slightly annoyed puff, “You know that’s not my nickname anymore right? I went freelance. My callsign’s Albatross now.”

“You’re still the same old Clusterfuck to me,” Spitfire retorted sarcastically, “Just get out there and make sure Cloudsdale gets to Princessia alright? Dismissed!”

=====================================================================

A brisk clear sky and low hanging clouds surrounded the mountain range below us in scattered formations. The massive flying city loomed to our front with many aircraft flying off to the sides. Memories of peaceful days long gone filled my head as I gazed at the city of clouds. Bygone nostalgia of my childhood and summers passed in summer flight camp. Days like that inspired me to become a pilot when I saw my first fighter jet zoom over me at an airshow. I wonder how many foals down there are doing the same?

<> Dash came in over the radio rather bluntly. There was still a hint of bitterness in her voice. I don’t blame her, it was my fault after all. But I had to focus...

<> I gave it my best shot. I almost stammered my words because my head wasn’t in the right place.

A slightly gruff yet confident voice glided into my ears as the pilot on the other end flashed his IFF, <>>

I gave them a confirmation alert and a swift reply, <>

<>

<> I gave a little bit of a chuckle after my joke, <>

<>

<>

<> the Wedgetail AWACS radio officer ironically and bluntly stated. It was good to hear that soothing voice once more from the former radio DJ. The last time I saw Sicario they were still stationed on the EMS Fairview. Galaxy radioed back out to the rest of his flight, <>

<> An all too familiar mare’s voice asked me. Her tone carried herself soft on the ears, kinda cute honestly. I flipped my radio channel to her frequency and replied.

<>

<>

<> another feminine voice shoehorned herself into the conversation. She was a lot more mellow in tone, less perky, by the book..

<> Dash finally broke her silence. I could tell there was a smidge of excitement in her voice.

<> Galaxy reported in. An all too comforting rush of adrenaline snapped me back to a laser focus. All I needed to hear next were those three magic words, <>

<>

<>

Prez, Comic, Diplomat, and the rest of the mercenaries around me all gave out their engagement calls as we flipped our noses to the enemies. I opted to roll off the top: punch full afterburner as I buried the stick in my gut and half looped to level out. I eased up on my throttle and set my master arm with weapons primed. The radar display off to the right of my instrument panel showed eight planes. In the edge of my vision an F-14D was off to my right with Monarch and Prez in the back seat. I glanced at Monarch and pointed a hoof to my eyes then at him with a friendly glare. I gave him one final wink as we both knew what was about to happen.

<> Prez wasn’t looking forward to it. Monarch and I were gonna see who could down the most planes.

<> I smiled as I locked on to my first target, <>

<>

We both shot out our missiles at the incoming enemy flight. We took the initiative as the others joined into our volley of missiles a little late.

<> I smiled once more and continued to climb off to the right as low beeps came from my warning receiver. A few of them were still tracking me on radar but I was still at ease.

<>

<> Hitman Two, Diplomat, asked his flight lead.

<>

<> Galaxy radioed in with a slight snicker, <>

<> my ears perked up as Comic got into formation with Monarch and I.

I felt rather cocky as a gave an amused huff, <>

<> even Dash got in on the action. We all readied our next missile volley as the Changeling planes approached, <>

<> Galaxy called out to track all of our missiles. We all broke off in different directions to tackle the remaining fighters as they closed in. A flurry of explosions lit up the skies as four enemy planes trailed smoke into the ground below, <>

<> I got distracted as a shadow casted over my cockpit. I looked up at the Tomcat flying above me as Prez and Monarch flew inverted while the earth pony mare in the backseat stuck her tongue out and mocked me. With my one good wing I curled in all my feathers except the middle to flip them a bird.

<>

I didn’t even let him finish his report as I let loose another missile, <>

A few seconds passed before the missile impacted. My heart pounded as I was certain that I was going to miss.

<>

<> I kept climbing to gain height advantage over the battlefield. Once again, like a shorebird, I zigged and zagged my plane back and forth to scan the ground underneath. My tactic paid off as I saw a flight of stealth bombers intruding in at treetop level, <>

Three affirmative beeps chirped through our headsets, <>

<> The massive glow of the incoming missiles streaked towards Cloudsdale off in the distance. Dash and I both instantly knew what was coming.

<>

<>

Streaks of white smoke tipped with brilliant, glowing, orange trailed from the missiles. I rolled my plane over and pounced right behind the trail of smoke. A good ring in my ears and the icon on my screen confirmed the lock. I fired. Following the usual callout I noticed something was off. My missile failed to launch and just fell from the rack, a dud!

<> the engines of my thirty three roared with fury as I closed the distance. The gunsight piper appeared as I closed in enough to rip into it with my cannons. That cruise missile started to tumble as I clipped its wings with several explosive shells, <>

<>

<> Dash had two jets right on her tail as I flicked my eyes over to her direction. She didn’t notice the other diving in on her. I approached side on and readied my multi-lock missiles.

One of my vympels flew out from the rails and swerved ahead of the target diving in on Dash. The impact tore a rough chunk off both the tailfin and elevator and sent our enemy into a violent tailspin. My other missile, however, failed to even launch. It was stuck on my jet.

<> I tried to eject the malfunctioning ordinance by slamming my hoof to the button repeatedly. No luck, <>

<> Dash pulled her MiG up hard as she bled speed. At the same time her engines glowed with full afterburner as her plane somersaulted in an extremely tight loop as the enemy shot past. I circled just above her as the enemy plane shot past.

<> I didn’t even bother with my missiles as I closed the distance. A full burst from my cannon ripped into the wings of the fighter. There wasn’t time to confirm the kill, I moved on to the next missile, <>

Missed… In my dive I overshot the last cruise missile as the others were mopped up. I shot my head around and saw Monarch come in for the kill. His effortless flying struck me with awe as a clean five to ten shot burst put enough holes into the missile to bring it down. Without a hint of turbulence he rolled over and sped down to an escaping stealth bomber. A missile shot forth from his rails and snapped the B-2 in half with a brilliant explosion. Must have been an AIM-54 with that much payload detonated. Another plane dove in to attack him. I throttled up to gain height and turned into the fight to chase the jet off Monarch’s tail. Like a madmare possessed I saw him, Monarch, flip his plane in a post stall maneuver to launch a sidewinder backwards towards his pursuing enemy. I wasn’t even halfway done with the lock.

<>

<> I unclipped my oxygen mask to give my jaw some room to hit the floor.

<> Diplomat chimed in as he saw the both of us flying above the smoking wreck of the enemy bomber, <>

<>

<> Galaxy fed us the data for our radars and I noted that I was the closest to make the intercept. With little choice I had to go for another gun kill as my missiles were left faulty and in disrepair.

<> Another burst shot forth before a loud click rang to my side. The cruise missile was peppered with shells and spiraled to the ground in a plume of thick smoke as my guns finally ran out of ammo, <>

<>

<> I closed in for approach as the anti-air guns and SAM batteries of the city started to open up as more planes started to vector in.

Galaxy stuck close to the city as more enemy fighters came in to try and secure the airspace, <>

With a steady approach my plane touched the tarmac and slowed to taxi. I made my way over to the apron as the ground crews rolled over the racks of missiles, <>

<>

I popped open my canopy and looked around to see the crew hastily bolt the munitions on my jet. A few Tunguskas and Avenger Humvees rolled out from the motor pools and took defensive positions around my plane as the skies filled with fire, smoke, and contrails from friendly and enemy craft that screamed overhead. The heavy autocannons of the anti-air tanks flooded the air as return fire impacted the ground around us. A massive explosion to the rear of my plane almost threw me out of the cockpit as one of the Tunguskas cooked off.

<>

<> I frantically radioed out as the remaining AA vehicles escorted me along the flight line.

<>

I muted my microphone and punched into full afterburner as more planes started to strafe the runway. My heart pounded furiously as I let out a scream with missiles and gunfire whizzing way too close to my cockpit. In my back mirrors I could see an enemy hornet lined up for a kill. I shot my head back towards it before a missile slammed its left wing. I breathed a sigh of relief as I activated my mic.

<>

<>

Galaxy buzzed in with a mission update, <>

==============================================================
- - - CAUTION - - -
/// AERIAL AEGIS DESTROYER DRAGONFLY | CHANGELING AIR FORCE ///
==============================================================

<> a stern female’s voice was fed into my earpiece. It was the captain of the enemy airship that just crested over the mountains, <>

<>

<> I formed up with Diplomat as his plane was the closest from my take off. The rest of our flights were still busy with the other fighters as Dip and I climbed up to pounce on the enemy airship, <>

<>

<>

Eight missiles streaked towards the airship from above as we both turned away and out of range of the CIWS. Several impacts onto the hull and turrets of the airship caused a slight jink of the massive craft. While many of our missiles were shot down by point defenses, three managed to get through.

<> the enemy captain ordered her crew as Galaxy intercepted their radios. The skies around the airship lit up with streams of rotary cannon fire and smoke trails of missiles shot forth from the massive aerial fortress. One of those missiles rang in my ears as my warning alarms went berserk.

<>

<> Hitman One intersected my flight path at just the right moment to snap the enemy missiles back onto them. In a daring show of airmanship Monarch flipped his plane a full 180 degrees on the vertical and unloaded his guns into the missile that chased after him. Prez gave a cheer as they leveled back out and formed up on my right, <>

I chuckled with a sigh of relief as I glanced at Monarch in the front seat. He unclipped his oxygen mask for a split second to shoot me a smile and a subtle nod. I caught a glimpse of his snow white coat underneath all his flight gear, <>

<> Galaxy gave his orders as we all lined up at high altitude about five angels above the enemy airship. Our formation readied all missiles, <>

<>

<>

<>

<>

<>

A swarm of radar guided missiles erupted from our planes as we broke off and climbed away. I could see the swarm on my multi-function display trail towards the airship. I kept inverted and watched as the majority of the missiles made it through the defenses of the ship and slammed into multiple turrets, radomes, and launch ports. The massive beast trailed smoke like a bleeding animal run down by wolves.

<>

<> I levelled out from my invert and dove right towards the Anura head on, my hoof wrapped around the stick tight as I readied to launch my last missile.

<> Galaxy linked his targeting data to my jet as a single circle appeared on my HUD. A solid lock, a button pushed, trail of smoke, fire... and dust…

The airship finally started to list in death. It rolled over like a dying animal as it crashed into the ground below. The gnarled and burnt wreckage started a forest fire which only added to the soot and cinder of the burning air.

<> I snapped out of my trance and shot back to reality. Nothing but the hum of my plane followed by the silence that contrasted the constant warning alarms just seconds ago.

<> Dip congratulated me, <>

<>

<> Comic was visibly displeased as we all formed back up wing to wing.

<>

<> Dip winked to Comic.

<> Comic unclipped her oxygen mask and lifted her visor to look at me, <>

I spaced out a little as a deep sinking feeling settled in my gut, <>

<> Galaxy alerted all of us as he joined our formation.

Another voice chimed into the radio. It was Contrail, my friend in Nimbus, <>

<> I shut my radio off and sighed deeply, trying to focus, I still had to land this bird. Easy enough, but to be honest I didn’t want to land. Not right now. I flipped the radio back on and let the others know, <>

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