Chapter 10 - Lest history repeat itself

Mission Dossier: F/A-18 Hornet Fighter Jet

29th November, ****[details missing] 0855 hours GST

******[details missing] Airforce Base, Nevada, United States of America

Test flight of the new F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet in a combat simulation against F-16 Vipers.

Test will be operated by members of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, Group Designation: Bravo Romeo Oscar November India Echo Sierra.

F-18 pilots for this assignment are as follows:

Daniel "Hornet" Walters - Hotel 1
Rank: Captain (US Army)
Age: 24
DOB: 12/10/1986
Affiliation: 64th Aggressor Squadron, USAF
Previous Affiiations: 12th Airforce Division, USAF
Operation History: Operation Treasure Hunt, Operation Final Justice

Jimmy "Wedgetail" Larson - Hotel 2
Rank: Corporal (US Army)
DOB: 13/12/1991
Affiliation: 64th Aggressors Squadron
Previous Affiliations: 12th Airforce Division
Operation History: None

Ben "Vulture" Everett - Hotel 3
Rank: Staff Sergeant (US Paratroopers)
DOB: 09/11/1993
Affiliation: 64th Aggressors Squadron
Previous Affiliations: 9th Airborne Division
Operation History: Operation Final Justice

F-16 pilots are as follows:

Henry "Viper" King - Victor 1
Rank: Chief Master Sergeant
DOB: 02/06/1949
Affiliation: 64th Aggressors Squadron
Previous Affiliations: 2nd Airforce Division
Operation History: Vietnam War

A1C John "Falcon" Hornsby, - Victor 2
Rank: Airman 1st Class
DOB: 11/10/1984
Affiliation: 64th Aggressors Squadron
Previous Affiliations: 3rd Airforce Division
Operation History: None

Tom "Hawx" Clancy - Victor 3
Rank: Master Sergeant (US Paratroopers)
DOB: 14/12/1988
Affiliation: 64th Aggressors Squadron
Previous Affiliations: 9th Airborne Division
Operation History: Operation Final Justice, Operation Guardian Angel

This exercise will be monitored by:

Ronald "Texan" Fitzgerald
Rank: Major (US Army)
DOB: 25/12/1945
Affiliation: US Airforce Command
Previous Affiliations: US Marines: 1st Battalion US Army: 5th Group, 1st Battalion, Delta Company
Operation History: Vietnam War, Operation Last Call, Operation Black Gold, Operation Treasure Hunt, Operation Final Justice, Operation Silent Dawn, Operation Guardian Angel, Operation Desperate Union, Operation Blue Eagle

Pilots are to engage in a dogfight to see combat capabilities of F-18. As this is a training exercise, there will be NO live ammo used. The 2 teams will consist of the pilots mentioned above, with 3 F-18 pilots and 3 F-16 pilots. The dogfight will last 20 minutes, or when all of one team are eiminated.

The major cleared his throat. "Alright, you've all been briefed on this, but just in case some you lazy assholes didn't pay any attention, I'm only going to go through this ONCE. Team 1, Hornet, Vulture and Wedgetail, you're flying in the new F-18's. You'll be engaging in a dogfight against Viper, Falcon and Hawx in team 2 in F-16's."

Falcon interuppted and said "Aww yea, I'm gonna kick your asses!"

I retorted "In that old thing? ha, maybe if you had half a brain and a shitload of duct tape."

Everybody laughed. "Alright you two, settle down. Okay, wheels up in 5, so get off your asses and get going!" the Major continued." Oh, and Hawx, Vulture, if I find out you guys have loaded ANY live ammo, your tags are mine."

I rushed over to Jimmy, who was putting a cigar in his flightsuit. "Hey, Jimmy, you know you're gonna kill yourself smokin' those one day."

He chuckled. "Don't really care. so long as I come back alive from a flight, I have a reason to celebrate."

"Can't argue with ya there."

He pointed towards my jet." You customised yours already? they haven't even been approved for full scale use."

"Like you said, don't really care, besides, I ALWAYS put my favourite pony on my vehicles, car or other." Anyone could have recognised my jet in an instant. on either wing it has my favourite pony, Spitfire and the USAF 64th Aggressor Squadron emblem. I was quite happy with my customisation, and noone really seemed to mind. We all got into our jets, made sure everyone was ready, and took off. "Control this is Hotel-1, all units are in the air and ready to roll."

"Roger that Hotel-1, waiting for conformation from Victor-1, how copy?"

"Solid copy, wait out." A few minutes of being bored later, the call came in.

"Hotel-1, this is Control, Victor-1 has confirmed that they are in the air and ready to roll. Your are cleared to engage, happy hunting."

"Roger that Control. You heard the man, lets go give 'em a taste of our boots up their ass, Hooah!" But before any of us could arm our weapons, another call came in.

"Hotel-1 this is control, we're picking up multiple unknown bogies in your sector, closing fast. Please stand by."

"Think it's the other team?" Vulture asked.

"Don't think so, they wouldn't have radioed it in otherwise." Suddenly I saw them, coming over the horizon. "There they are!"

"Think it's our guys?" Jimmy asked. His question was answered when one of the fired a missile.

"Missile! Evasive maneuvers!" Vulture screamed. I was about to evade it when the missle past my right wing, missing it by less than a meter. I turned around, and saw it hit one of the Vipers. The jet exploded into a fireball. "Shit!" Vulture shouted "What the hell just happened?!"

Suddenly the radio burst on."Attention Hotel squad, switch to emergency frequency immediately, I repeat, switch to emergency frequency immediately."

"Control this is Hotel-1, what the fuck just happened?" I asked impatiently.

"This is control, Victor-1 is down, I repeat Victor-1 is down! Victor team is under fire and taking evasive maneuvers. Advise falling back to base, over."

"Negative, Control. We are also taking fire and will not make it to base, requesting reinforcements, how copy?"

"Solid copy Hotel-1, reinforcements are being scrambled to your position, hold tight."

Jimmy spoke up. "So what, we're just gonna sit here twiddling our thumbs?"

"Not if I can help it!" Vulture said as he barrel rolled behind one of the enemy jets and opened fire. Within seconds the enemy plane was shredded by Vulture's 20mm cannon.

"Vulture! I thought the major said no live ammo? I asked stupidly.

"Come on, you know I never listen to that crap! besides, this means I can have some fun now!" he said as he started chasing after one of the other jets. just then Jimmy pulled up to me.

"Hey Hornet, how you doing? stuck your head between your legs yet?"

"Haha! Not yet, but you might wanna hold out on insul- LOOK OUT!" I said as a missle flew right between us and clipped one of his wings. "Shit! you ok Jimmy?"

"Aaagh, I'm okay. My right wing's gone, I'm going down!"

"Nononononononononononono, SHIT JIMMY!" I screamed seconds before he exploded and hit the ground. "NOOOO!"

Vulture was very worried. "Hornet, what just happened?!"

I calmed myself to speak. "Hotel-2 is down, I repeat Hotel-2 is down." Dammit Jimmy! Why? Why did you have to die? after a few seconds I had decided to stop being sad and instead use this to fuel my anger. "If Jimmy's gone, then I'm going with him, and I'm taking one those motherfuckers with me!" I said furiously as I charged towards one of the enemy fighters.

"Hotel-1 this is Major Fitzgerald, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING? DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT ENGAGE! DANIEL YOU LISTEN TO ME, DAMMIT!"

"Sorry sir, but my mind's made up. Say goodbye to the 12th for me!" I said as I crashed into the other jet, taking his left wing off completely, but at the same time taking mine as well. As I plummeted towards the ground, I could here a faint but familiar voice calling my name.

"Hornet, Hornet! Hornet wake up dammit!" I woke up in cold sweat, with Spitfire standing next to me. "Are you okay Hornet?" she asked.

I looked around, seeing that I was in my room. "I'm... I'm fine Spitz, just a bad dream."

She looked unsatisfied with that answer."Are you sure? you don't look okay to me."

"Look, I appreciate the concern, but really I'm fi-" I said as Spitfire climbed into my bed. "Spitz, what are you doing?"

She smiled. "After your unpleasant sleep, I though some company might help. You don't mind do you?"

I blushed. "Of course not, just don't try anything silly please, I still want sleep."

"Oh you'll get sleep," She said kissing me "afterwards." I smirked. And I thought She'd never catch on.