February 23rd, 2017, 1404 hours [2:04 PM]

"Papa Surf here...heard the call on all channels. Let me know if ya need me and Grasshopper, my Catalina has plenty of fight in her.", James replied.

"Darkstar to all planes...we have a mission to complete..."

"Hey Darkstar...do us all a favor and piss off...you useless bastard!", Kim added before Darkstar could finish his sentence.

"MEITZEN! Remind me to write you up for that remark!", Darkstar barked back.

"FOR WHAT?! Speaking the truth?! For being against you ABANDONING an ally?!" Kim fired back.

"Meitzen, you're digging yourself a bigger hole...you should be court martialed and stripped of your wings..." Darkstar replied.

"AWACS Darkstar...this is King Julius Armistead, leader of the nation of Kesalia and Commander and Chief of the Kesalian Forces....I am hereby relieving you of ALL further duties to the Royal Kesalian Air Force.", King Armistead said firmly.

"What?! Your highness, you can't do that!!", Darkstar protested.

"I just did. When you choose to abandon a fellow pilot like trash, I question your capabilities as an airman and a human being."

-----------------------/////////-----------------------/////////-----------------------/////////-----------------------

1407 hours [2:07 PM]

"Hmm...", Nathan thought to himself while hearing the whole discussion at the comm and searching for any signs of Juan...which was pretty difficult, considering that there were still some Ruvanian Navy ships around, as most of them were already destroyed by Kesalian F-18's and F-35's. "What's with Darkstar? This is suspicious... Co-pilot, take over."

"Yes, sir!".

Leaving the cabin, he went to instruct one of the W2S agents in charge of the surveillance equipment.

"Natalie, I want you to monitor Darkstar's communication lines, under the table. Look for any strange activities or unidentified transmissions. Keep me informed of anything you find!", he was firm in his orders.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Understood, sir.", the young lady complied.

"I'm going with my gut on this one...it never failed before, but I pray to be wrong now.", he thought to himself again.

-----------------------/////////-----------------------/////////-----------------------/////////-----------------------

1411 hours [2:11 PM]

"Papa Surf broadcasting on all channels, my Catalina and my crew are ready. No way in hell we're leaving Stutz to die out there! Let me know when you need me and Grasshopper.", James repeated.

Nathan went back to the cockpit and took over the aircraft's control again.

"Papa Surf, this is Nosey. We do request your assistance for the task, any help is useful...if King Julius is okay with it, that is; you guys are from Kesalian Forces, I can't just order you like that.", he requested both help from James and Elson as well as permission from the King.

"Aragord and Crickett are cleared to go, Nosey.", the King replied.

"Thank you, Your Highness. Okay boys, I need you two in sectors 243 and 389, sending the coordinates now. The foggy weather isn't helping, plus there are a lot of debris from the sunken Ruvanian ships. I can't ask more than you can provide, but I need your eyes wide open for anything!", he instructed both.

"Yessir! Hopefully my baby can make it off the ski jump." James replied and started the engines on his Catalina. He then threw the engines into full power, let off a big gulp and took off from the ski jump.

"Alright crew! You heard the man himself! Locke, mount the M134's and take position; Hudson, you're my co-pilot and Marie, you're my second gunner and rescue swimmer...let's do this good and let's do it right!", James ordered. "And Crickett, if anyone comes near me when I'm down on the water you blast 'em to kingdom come...I know I can trust you!"

"Copy that, Papa Surf! We'll find our friend, I'm sure of it. Grasshopper, taking off now!", Elson threw his Apache's engines into full power as well and took off from the Exxelsior.

-----------------------/////////-----------------------/////////-----------------------/////////-----------------------

1415 hours [2:15 PM]

Back to the Boomslangs, Izumi was losing her mind...

"He's gone...", she repeated that over and over and over...

"Izumi...Boomslang 1 here...return to base; I repeat, return to base. I don't need another one of my squadmates getting shot down...especially when in a severe emotional state...this is an order."

"He's gone...", she wasn't paying attention to Anthony.

"IZUMI! Pull it together, dammit! We don't know if Juan is alive or dead until we found out...James and Elson are going to go out there and find him, give them a chance!"

She shook her head and remembered to maintain control of her own emotions in complicated situations, finally coming back to her senses.

"...understood.", Her voice was still a bit shaky, though. "Boomslang 5, returning to base.", she headed South, back to the Exxelsior.

"Boomslangs, you're probably running bingo on fuel, I suggest you RTB to refuel and rearm. James, Elson and I will continue the search.", Nathan intervened with a valid suggestion.

"Roger that, Nosey...if you guys need top cover later on, then you know where to find us.", Anthony turned on the autopilot for the rest of the flight back and removed his oxygen mask. "Dammit! I hope that SOB is still alive..."

"Have a safe flight back, my friends.", Elson saluted the Boomslangs. "Alright Papa Surf, we gotta keep our eyes and ears sharp, look for his beacon signal as well!"

"Roger that, Grasshopper...Marie, do you have your gear ready for when we find him?", James said.

"Not military approved gear but good enough!", Marie replied with a wink.