February 18th, 13:00 Hours (1:00PM)
Anthony was laying down in the crew lounge sofa and gazing at the ceiling. Soon he heard a familiar voice enter the room.
"My son...man it's been so long! I missed ya kid." Ricardo said with a smile. Anthony got up from the sofa and gave him a big hug.
Juan saw Anthony and his Ricardo and decided not to disturb them and ruin the moment. He went to check the hangars again. And there was Elson, along with James.
"Hey guys. Thanks a lot for the help back there. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have achieved success.", he gave them a brofist.
"I've heard about the Ruvanians' superfighter...is it really what some pilots claimed? Mach 5, so maneuverable that makes the mighty F-22 look like a WWI biplane?", Elson asked.
"It was. It is. Actually...for the first time in my life...I felt scared. They had the upper hand in the fight all along. If they wanted, we wouldn't be here right now. Guess that's why I lost sanity for a moment...and tried to take that bitch down."
"Who, Lieutenant?", James questioned.
"Ved'ma, the woman Voodoo knew before the war."
Elson sighed and sit in a chair. Feet over the table, a coke in his hand. "Man...a woman with a broken heart is more dangerous than a nuclear warhead ready to blow up. Mr. Martinez better keep his eyes open. She almost shot down Boomslang 2, right?"
"Indeed.", James replied. "Her bird took quite a hit, it was almost in DBR condition."
"We'll need something else to deal with those pesky fighters. Something better...faster, more powerful...as much as my R-2E is a better bird than average...it's still too conventional. We need something out-of-the-box, new.", Juan stared at random jets taking off. Cargo models, fighters, bombers...there was a lot of movement at Courtlyn International Airport now that it became an emergency base for the WePAC forces.
As their chat went on Anthony and Ricardo appeared.
"Mind if we join guys?" Ricardo asked
"Sir...it's an honor to meet you. Wyvernian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Juan Stutz, at your service.", Juan reaches his hand out to shake.
Ricardo shakes Juan's hand and then pats him on the shoulder, "Thank you very much for participating in my rescue...it truly is an honor to meet you as well. I wanted to meet my son's girlfriend as well but it seems that she's in the sickbay."
"*sigh* I just asked her out on a date not too long ago...but i'm not sure how that'll play out now." Anthony said with a shrug.
"Oh, don't worry about it. Kim's a tough girl. Besides, I can't miss you two lovebirds' marriage, after the war!", Juan chuckles. "I wanna be the best man, eh!", he pat Anthony's back.
Anthony laughed "Sure you can man! When this war is over I won't mind taking a flight to Wyvernia."
Ricardo walked around James' and Elson's aircraft.
"My god i've never seen a Catalina with so much firepower...and an AH-64A Apache? She may be old but she sure is capable as proven when you rescued me Grasshopper."
"Yessir!", Elson saluted him. "She's old and temperamental, but still got some tricks up her sleeve, more than enough to bring tears to the enemy's troops!", he chuckled.
"Elson, why don't you let the rest of the team have a look at your Apache? No offense, but...she needs some love, I think.", Juan commented.
"Hell no! I'm the only one who takes care of my bird, Lieutenant. Ever since I nearly crashed during trining flight, back in my rookie days, no one but myself touches them. It was because of a faulty rear rotor, badly installed; damn blades went loose and flying around, almost killed people on the ground too! I was lucky to put the chopper on its feet before it started spinning like crazy, even though the landing skids and tail were ruined. So because of that...I have a little trouble trusting other people's work.", the mechanic explained.
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"Whoa, man...that was quite serious, I see! Sorry about my words."
"I'm not offended, my friend; just became a bit overly cautious. But it's fine.", he calmed Juan.
"Damn buddy...that's quite a fuck up for the mechanic..I remember when my F-4 ate a crew chiefs hat because he wasn't aware of his surroundings...also that Catalina caught my eye too." Ricardo replied.
"Yeah man...she's seen some serious action...my late co-pilot referred to her as a bath tub but she still pulled through." James said
"Well, that's the most well-armed bath tub in the continent, that's for sure!", Juan joked.
"Hey guys I gotta go for a bit." Anthony said
"Take care!" Juan and the others replied
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18:00 Hours (6:00PM):
The group were relaxing in the rec room when Kim walked in.
"Hey guys! What did I miss so far?"
"Heeeeey! The Vixen Queen is back! With all due respect, of course.", Juan winked before patting Kim's back. "Good to see you safe and sound, Kim! Little Voodoo here couldn't stop walking around the room out of concern...right boys?", he chuckled.
"Totally! This man's hopeless!", Elson added, laughing.
"Well that's how a proper boyfriend should be!" She said with a wink
Anthony walked up and hugged Kim from behind "Man oh man i'm glad you're okay!"
"Wooooooow, lovebirds are go!", Juan joked again. "Actually...Kim...would you be so kind to introduce me to the girls of your old squadron? Even though we're all part of the same team now...we still haven't met properly, you know...and I saw quite a lot of cuties and...well...hopefully the war won't last forever, and a man eventually ends up hanging his flight suit...if you know what I mean.", he winked.
"Oi, I'm interested too, plus there's plenty of them for both of us!", Elson pushed Juan, laughing. "Pleeeease...", Juan made a sad-puppy-like face, bringing heavy laugh and tears from everyone in the room.
Kim laughed "Sure guys...Vixen six and Ten are still alive and available..they're the blonde and the brunette! Plus unlike me they're not tatted up" Anthony chuckled and replied "Wooow lovebirds are go, really bro? And Kimmy don't get rid of those tattoos...or that mowhawk."
"Hooyah! HIGH-FIVE!", Juan cheered along with Elson. "Last one pays the drinks!", then ran out to his locker to get himself ready.
Unfortunately...the intercomm requested everyone's presence at the airport's improvised war room.
"Oh, sod it! Looks like we'll have to leave the introductions for later! Let's go, guys.", he walked out of the building, somewhat sad and annoyed.
"Duty calls my brothers!" Anthony said
"Oh well...back to the old grind...James managed to source me an F-16C Block 50 so i'm not planeless thankfully!" Kim replied.
"Block 50, huh...hey, Anthony, isn't your bird based on it?", Juan asked.
"Yes it is! Albeit with some mods." Anthony said
"And guys...when this war is over...Let's all get together someday." Anthony said with a warm smile.
Kim then hugged Anthony "And i'll be sure to hook you and Elson up with Vixen six and ten..but beware they are quite the handfull sometimes!" Kim said to Juan.
"It means a lot to me, Kim. Thank you very much. Now...", he clenches his fist. "Let's prepare to put an end to this war!"
"Right on my brother! Let us do this.." Anthony gave Juan a bro fist and headed to the war room.
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21:30 Hours (9:30PM)
General Celuchu walked into the briefing room to begin the briefing for the next mission.
"Greetings pilots, with the past success over the course of this war we have managed to cripple the Ruvanian war machine but we are not out of the woods yet. The Ruvanian navy is steaming towards the coast to provide additional supplies and reinforcements to the occupying troops. it looks like we will have to face them head on. This is the biggest battle yet and we will be sending EVERYTHING we've got to meet these bastards. The Boomslang leaders will be transferred to the HMKS Excelsior and will tasked with leading the first wave of naval and land based fighters while Aragord and Crickett will provide rescue operations for downed pilots..., get some much needed rest and prepare yourselves...this is the big one!"
"You are all hereby dismissed...Except for Cleroux, Stutz and Meitzen. I would like to have a word with you three.."
*Anthony waved to James* "good luck buddy!"
When the rest of the pilots vacated the room Celuchu dropped a very shocking surprise on the three pilots.
"You three are some of the best pilots i've ever seen in my 30+ years of serving this beautiful country. Your dedication and passion is beyond admirable Kesalia,Prosperia and Wyvernia...your countries must be honored to have you in their ranks...but enough of my babbling...there's a special guest who would like to speak to you three before you get going."
*Celuchu leaves the room and afterwards the man himself walks in*
The three pilots look in awe and salute...king Julius Armistead..the king of Kesalia himself has arrived dawning a flight suit.
*The king looks at the pilots and lets off a warm smile*
"I have heard many wonderful things about you three pilots. While I may be the leader of this country I have always believed that a proper king would fight alongside his soldiers...after all i was once a fighter pilot for the air force. I want you three to fly along with me. *chuckle* I guess we can call ourselves the four knights of the round table!"
"Make that Five Julius!" Ricardo said as he walked in with his flight suit and helmet.
Julius stared at Ricardo wide eyed
"My friend...It has been too long! It's so great to see you once more!"
"Likewise Julius...My son and his comrades are the ones to thank for saving my ass though.."
In the hard times of war comrades were lost and many suffered but even in battle hope can be restored and friends and family can be reunited...This war will be over soon and we will all be able to go back to our homes and most importantly back to our loved ones...