AWD #245: Goin' Downtown
Goin' Downtown
Summary: A contingent from the Orion's air wing heads to Caprica to take out the Cylon-controlled puppet government.
Date: 08/09/2013 (OOC Date)
Related Logs: Air Briefing on the mission
Dropkickst Holtz Bennett Alejandro Kale Kelsey Maia Phin Ygraine 
Caprica
Some time in the wilderness. Later, downtown!
AWD #245

After arriving through one hell of a ride for two Raptors last night, the crews were put into armored personnel carriers and driven for more than an hour to another site. The Predators had been parked under some kind of synthetic netting on the side of the road, back in the woods. Beyond them was the camp. Tractor trailers, more APCs, and a whole lot of very scraggly looking Marines and private contractors — everyone armed to the teeth. The crews were allowed to circulate and talk to people, but most of them wouldn't have much to say about Caprica beyond what the aircrew already knew. A late dinner, their own tents to spend the night in, and a cold breakfast. The volunteer aircrews circulate through the early morning air, the chill evident. Like Piraeus, this part of Caprica is heading towards fall and its already feeling like it.

OOC Note: At this point I'm missing some beginning poses. A couple rounds of inaudible campfire banter, etc.

There's a solemn look in her eyes at the mention of getting the ECO home safe. "Yeah.." Inadvertently Maia looks towards Echo's tent before going back to the powdered eggs and coffee. Pausing with her spoon to her lips, she listens to her view on parenting and giving her all. With a look of respect, she nods. "You're daughter is amazing. I've only met her a few times, but… yeah." Shoveling another bite in, she chews thoughtfully almost laughing outright at the mention of the noises from the tent. "You know, I wasn't going to say anything about the sounds." Looking around surreptitiously, she grins. "Hope he was hot."

"Thanks. One day you'll have another go at it, Maia. Don't skip out. There were a lot of hard days when I was so sure I had made the worst mistake and my life was ruined." But Kelsey is smiling. "But being a mom is the best job ever. Not only do you get unconditional love to give and receive, you're a hero. Its a lot of long nights and a lot of hurt, but its all worth it. You'll be great at it if you ever decide to get away from flying." Her last gets a squintyfas. "Think Phin, without the mustache, three inches taller, a jawline that could smash diamonds. Rode that man for all he was worth." She winks and sips her coffee. For being twenty, Kelsey sure grew up fast and fell right into the life of a pilot.

The flap of Echo's tent opens right about at the point in the story where some dude with a smashing jawline was getting ridden hard. There Kale stands, glancing back to the inside of his tend, then to Mia and Kels. That moment of hesitation is over at the smell of coffee though, and Kale pulls out a pack of smokes, pulling one out and placing it between his lips and lighting it up, "That coffee better be better than it smells." he says, through lips wrapped around that newly lit cigarette, and he makes his way towards the folded table.

"Another go.. I don't know, I love piloting more than just about anything." But then an image of Alex floats into her mind, unbidden. "Besides, I just earned my cross qual for the Viper, I've got tons left to do." Though the mission is just what it is, and she knows the risks, Maia isn't choosing to focus only on that. When she describes the one whose world she rocked last night in the tent, she can't help but look impressed. "Dolly is hot in his own right, even with the mustache." That mustache that gets him so much ribbing. "Damn… I slept solo last night, but before that, I spent the night in the Viper berthing. The Whole. Entire. Night." Seeing movement, she watches Kale leave his tent and grins, figuring he heard Kels story she looks back at the younger pilot. "No one has ever broken in Echo, to my knowledge. Unless 'Shake did last night.." Those blue eyes flicker back to Kale. "Coffee is good, welcome to join us."

Kelsey glances to Echo and smirks. "Its not Leonese roast, but its alright. No sugar, no cream." Probably not a surprise. Looking back to Maia, Squire shrugs. "Me too. Just about anything. Family first. Its my motivation to make sure I come home. I wanna be there to threaten Melissa's first boyfriend if at all possible." Because these are the things some people look forward to. "Dolly's got them sculpted cheeks. I'm just not a fan of the stache. I just can't get myself there, ya know?" she chuckles. The mention of the Whole Night gets another grin. "Damn right, girl. Hope you walked away a little bow legged and crashed out with a big ol grin on your face." There's another look to Kale, though. "Maybe we should hook him up with someone from Tactical. They seem overstressed. I bet there's a lot of energy pent up there." Browwaggle.

Phin emerges from his tent just in time to hear about his sculpted cheekbones. And bow-leggedness. And everything else. "Coffee. Awesome," is all he says. He's brought along his blue-green 'Silverstars' ceramic mug, and he picks out a spot to wait until the pot's free, so he can pour himself some.

Taking a drag from the cigarette, Kale quriks a brow. Innuendo isn't his style before coffee it seems. He remains silent as he pours some coffee into a cup and takes a sip from it. "Broken me in? What am I, some kinda farm animal?" he takes another sip from his pretty standard issue looking metallic field mug and moves towards the table to free up the coffee line.

"Yeah.. poor guy. He'll come to pick her up and you'll be there sharpening a knife or cleaning your gun. I could just see it now." Maia rolls her eyes playfully, glad that the mood seems to have lightened. Finishing off the last few bites of her eggs, she drops the spoon with the rest and wraps her hands around her mug. "I think his 'stache is cute. Makes him look younger even than he did before." Brows lift and she grins. "I crashed hard, that's all I'm saying." A quick glance to Kale as she allows her gaze to roam over his frame, she nods. "Mmm… Hopefully not farm, but I'm fairly certain some wouldn't mind the animal part." Oh big talker Maia. Usually she's not so open but.. it's Sunday. Mission day. As Phin joins, she can't help but look at the cheekbones. "Yeah, sharp.. nice."

"Psh. Knife. I'm just going to point to a picture of a Predator and be like 'I know where you live and I can work a laser designator. Home by 10 or you'll never see her again.' Its pretty simple." Yep! Kelsey seems content with this idea. Sure, she once had to deal with a dad like that, but having to fill both roles? Better to play it safe. No need for Kelsey 2.0. Looking over to the men, Squire grins. "Whats the matter, Kale? Don't like being objectified? I hear some guys enjoy it." To Phin: "Hey. Come have a seat."

"Thanks. I grew them myself," Phin says with a slight grin to Maia, after he's obtained caffeine and joined the table. The comments about his mustache make his grin quirk, but he offers no defense of it. It does, somehow, make him look younger than even his boyish features manage most of the time. Despite the attempt at semi-humor, and attempt at smiling, there's a somber look in his blue eyes. "Y'know, I've never been to Caprica before."

"I get grumpy without my morning coffee." Kale replies with a smirk and sets the mug down on the table after another sip, then he takes a drag off his cigarette. Not just a drag, a long, slow inhale. The kind of drag you take when this might be your last cigarette ever. Better than sex? Probably not, but it looks like a close second to him. He takes up the coffee once more as he exhales a long cloud of smoke and sips once more, glancing to Maia, "We got a few minutes I figure if that'll do." He keeps a fairly deadpan look on his face with that.

Maia can't help but laugh at the visual she gets at the description from Kelsey. "Sounds effective. Bet he will have her home by six." The banter from Phin brings an amused smirk. "Well welcome to Caprica!" Relaxed in her seat, well as relaxed as she can get, she finishes off her coffee just in time to hear the comment from Kale and coughs. "A quickie huh? I'm game if you are." The words are just as deadpan, but her lips quirk involuntarily.

"Your roll in the sack is going to have to wait," comes a voice from behind Maia. Its Major Jankovic. He's wide awake and leading a small group of enlisted, all in combat uniforms and gear. The Major walks past the table and gestures for them to follow. Assuming they do, he walks over to a larger mess table and clears the guys and gals out. In the early morning air, the bite of the cold is still evident when the breeze makes its way down in the cool morning air. After a quiet drop off last night, the crews were driven to a camp an hour away under darkness and there they spent the night.

"Morning class," he says while a Gunnery Sergeant rolls out a map of the area and another of downtown on the table. "The time is currently zero eight hundred local. You all are here to bomb the swearing-in ceremony that begins in two hours from now. It goes until noon local, or so the plan goes." He looks around at all of them. "You all might have noticed we're a little understaffed his morning. That's because we have recon teams out all over the area reporting in. First, threats:"

"The Cylons have moved in Foxfire and Forge batteries all over downtown, roughly ringing the area for Forge systems. Foxfires seem to have been randomly strewn out the city. At oh-two-hundred this morning a Saber went active about seventy miles east of the city. The air defenses are lightest on the east side, but you'll have to contend with a Saber if you head out there. Raiders, as expected, are present. However they're lingering up at about ninety thousand feet. We think they're waiting on some kind of massed assault from space. Too bad for them."

And with a faintly resigned look on her face, Ygraine raises her hand. Gods, she hates Predators. Has she mentioned that lately? "Predator countermeasure systems only work on ground based assaults. Who's gonna be keepin' th'raiders from lockin' onto us?"

Phin downs the last half of his coffee in a gulp, taking the empty 'Silverstars' mug with him as they're led away by Major Jankovic. He listens to the brief silently. His expression tries for stoic, but his eyes don't really match that. He's just somber, maybe even a little grim. No questions from him.

"Weather:" Jankovic continues. "Scattered clouds at ten thousand. Winds aren't a factor. Looks clear into the afternoon. Its cold as hell up there, though, so you'll be putting out contrails above seven thousand. That means the Raiders will be, too. It'll help you spot 'em nice and easy if they dive on you."

"Armaments. You're each in a Predator we've checked out and flown to ensure all the systems are operational. They're full of gas and waiting. Each Predator has one rack of three bombs and another rack of two missiles. Your ejection seats are already armed. That leads me to our next point:"

"We've got ground crews waiting at Genesee if you can't make it back here. You'll return to land here if you can get here. We won't be here, but we will have a serious air defense party waiting for you in order to evac. Your back-up is at Genesee. If you have to eject in downtown? Run, but that place is central Badguyville. We can't get you there. If you have to punch somewhere outside town, get clear of your wreckage as fast as you can. We'll do our best to find you, but by that point Raiders will probably be down there so all extractions will have to be done with ground teams."

Noting the question from Ygraine, Janko looks over to her. "We've got some guys on the ground with shoulder-fired SAMs. They've been sneaking in over the last week. That's about all you've got for air cover. Speed and surprise are going to be your weapons. The mountains are your sanctuary."

Heat flares into her cheeks at the words of Jankovic. Of course, the one time Maia gets into teasing back, she gets all caught and stuff. Dammit! Rising when bid to do so, she glances between the others before following the Major to the recently cleared out table. Sitting, she's aware of being nameless and rankless now, no identifying anything on the flight suit she already wears. Hearing about the forges was expected, but the saber.. that brings a flinch. Her attention remains now on Janko but she says nothing yet.

Luckily Maia was the last one to talk, and while Kale was just about to call her bluff, that's not an option now and he falls silent. Coffee cup in one hand, and cigarette in the other, he just listens. A sip of coffee, a puff of smoke, he's about as close to a fly on the wall as he's gonna get here.

The Major takes a breath and he gestures to the map. "The Forge and Foxfire systems are mobile, though. No telling where they will be at. Go ahead and sounds out your plans. One other thing: We disassembled some SCAMP terminals and outfitted your PRreds with parts. Comms should be secure." A pause. "Alright, I've gotta get back to the post. I'll leave the Gunny here to answer questions. Take off is at your discretion. Good Luck, guys. Make it rain." There's a sharp nod to the group before he steps off. The Gunnery Sergeant steps up with a stack of binders, presumedly full of information to answer questions.

"We only need what, one or two solid bomb drops to accomplish our goal?" asks Ygraine thoughtfully. If we coordinate turns, then the rest can focus on dealing with the Foxfires and the Saber systems. We'd gotta really sync it though. Like the chorus girls in a Saturnalia review kickline."

Holtz has been mostly silent since the beginning of the trip to Caprica. The trend continues as he moves to follow Jankovic, a steely eye and a slight scowl following the resistance personnel as they exit the room before turning to focus on the map laid out on the table. He's got a still-steaming cup of tea in one hand, and a cigarette in the other. Last smoke before takeoff and all that. He grunts at the mention of troops with shoulder SAMs, not sounding terribly impressed. When the major leaves, he focuses on the map with a thoughtful scowl, lips twitching as he runs some ideas through his head.

Lieutenant Jorge 'Slider' Salvatore — one of the Ghosts' countermeasures officers — lurks somewhere near the back of the group, expression sullen as he digests what's been said by Jankovic. Guy looks like he's itching to stop yakking and get moving, by the look on his face.

Kelsey nods with Ygraine. "Yeah, if they're all clumped down here at Avery Park, we should only need a couple solid passes at the park to get the whole thing. But considering the flying… If the first two miss, they'll all scatter before we can bring in a second wave." She sighs, sipping her coffee. She looks to Holtz for his thoughts.

Leaning her forearms against the table, Maia looks between Kelsey and Ygraine then over to Kale. "I'm game for a pass over Avery then go after the Saber. I don't want to abandon Avery until it's down though." It's her only input so far, though she looks towards Holtz also, for ideas."

James Collins, or 'Old Man' as he's called, stands over by Phin and studies the maps laid out. Slender and greying of hair, the ECO doesn't say much. He listens to the others and skims fingers over his chin as he takes it all in.

Slider wanders over to take a look at the map while the others are jawing about how many passes to take. He shrugs at the commentary thus far and mumbles, "Or we, uh, fork our attack run and deal with the Sabers and Avery Hall at the same time maybe." He seems uncertain, and also looks to Holtz, as the senior officer here, for his input.

"Respectfully, I figure we need to get in and get out as quick as possible," Phin says. "We aren't here to do much more than blast and run, as I understand the mission." And he's not eager to linger. Though he does add, "I'll take whatever approach is advised and ordered."

"If we don't deal with th'saber system ya won't be able t'get within two clicks of Avery Hall before you're shot down." Milkshake points out to Centerfold. "We won't have time for more than maybe two attempts at a bomb run before th' people scatter like chickens in a coop with seed tossed down and it's unfeasible. And whoever takes those runs is gonna need preds at their back."

Scratching absently behind his ear, Slider frowns slightly at the comments from the others and mulls some more. "I ain't much of a tactician, sir," he confesses to Holtz. "You just point and I'll shoot."

Kelsey shakes her head. "I'm with Phin, personally. I think we oughtta hit the ceremony and run like hell. But like him, I'll fly the mission ordered without complaint." She sticks her hands into her pockets and looks back down at the map. Squire is probably already looking at how to approach this.

"Right. Our mission is to hit Avery Hall and end that swearing in of all the flunkies. The Saber is just.. dangerous." Maia nods to Ygraine to acknowledge her words. "But if people want to go for the saber too, I'm not going to leave them to do it alone. As it is, whatever I'm told to do is what I'll do."

Sipping at his coffee still, Kale just listens for now. He's not in charge, so these aren't his decision to make. So he just chimes in with, "I'm up for whatever, this is gonna get plenty hairy as it is." He then takes a final drag from his cigarette and drops it down and snuffs it out with his boot.

Holtz frowns. "Then don't miss," he says with a scowl in Kelsey's direction. After a moment's consideration, he leans down over the table, his finger slashing across the map. "Lieutenant McBride is correct. The Saber is not our priority target, and if we do this right, we can keep the damn thing's engagement envelope to a minimum." The slashing finger draws a line across the map leading into the city. "We'll take the western approach, I think. We'll still be in the Saber's range, but not as much and not for as long. Keep low and it'll have a devil of a time locking on to us… and you backseaters should be able to handle the Forges and Foxfires. I want our attention focused on Avery Hall, get as much ordnance on target as possible before they scatter."

"I don't think anyone's suggesting that anythin' but Avery Hall is our priority." Ygraine points out reasonably. She goes back to studing the map, looks like she's going to say something else, then resumes her thoughtful expression.

Phin also directs his attention to the map, blue eyes tracing the western route they'll be taking. He frowns, but frowning is his natural inclination at the moment. He nods a little to himself, keeping his eyes on it even as he still listens to the other officers.

'Old Man' Collins gives a nod to what Holtz says, "I think that's wise. Don't get distracted." His tenor is kept low, hands on his hips. His mouth is a thin line as he continues to study what's laid out where. The older Lieutenant glances to Dolly whom he'll be backseating for on this joy ride.

Squire hears the Tauran Captain and nods. "In the pickle barrel, sir." She gives him a confident nods. "Do we want to split up? Or come down separate routes?" She taps her chin, leaning a bit to look closer at the road names.

"I think th'harder we gotta make their defense systems work, th'better." Ygraine chimes in at that. "All comin' down th'same row, and ya may as well call it a duck shoot."

When Holtz begins, Maia watches where he indicates on the map, offering a nod to him about the Western approach. If all goes right and they only needed one pass to complete the mission, chances of survival were greatly increased. "I think grouped together we make a larger target, but then the odds are better having only those forges in the immediate area trying to decide which to target.." But then Ygraine chimes in so Maia lifts her shoulders in a brief shrug. "Up to you though Storm."

"So you'd rather disperse the flight, Lieutenant?" Holtz replies to Ygraine with a raised brow, shaking his head. "You're giving more of their defense systems a chance to engage a target, and you're hurting our ability to lend mutual support with our ECM systems. We don't need to be bunched in tight, but this mission is suicidal enough without splitting ourselves up and givin' them the chance to destroy us piecemeal. No, we'll take the same route. Staggered approach; a first section followed a second or two later by a second section. Close enough to lend support, but not so close that they can down us all with the shotgun approach, yeah?"

She's shot down, but that doesn't seem to bother Ygraine all that much. She's good at planning certain kinds of ops; clearly this isn't one of those. "Yes sir." she replies. No complaints here.

Phin raises his eyes from the map to pass a look between Holtz and Ygraine. Another short nod at the Major's reply, particularly about the staggered sections, like he's jotting these instructions down in his brain. He continues to stay quiet.

Slider looks to Ygraine for a long while, then back to Holtz. He seems uncertain about the major's command, but grunts his understanding regardless. He's ready, as ever, to get moving.

Kelsey nods, hearing the decision. "Sixth Avenue?" Kelsey suggests. "We hit Lincoln, pop up, and then dive in on the target. Its minimal exposure to that Saber. If we get out low and fast to the West, we should be able to make it count."

Either way, Maia says nothing, just knowing she was doing whatever was commanded of her. When the choice is made, she nods once, and continues to look down at the map. "Looks like a good choice."

Ygraine clearly has more on her mind, but keeps it to herself. She does however, cast a look at Maia dryly before returning her attention to the map.

Quietly, Kale just eyes the map from back over Maia's shoulder, hmming just a bit as he commits a few key streets to memory. He takes another idle sip of coffee, and waits for further instructions.

There's silence from Holtz as his eyes again bore into the map for a moment before responding. The route Kelsey had indicated had been his first thought as well, but better to be sure. Especially considering what's at stake. Finally, he nods. "Looks the best choice," he responds. "The key is keeping that Saber's engagement window as short as possible, yeah? Forges and Foxfires you backseaters should be able to handle. As soon as you drop your loads, bug the frak out the way you came." He straightens, looking around the group. "Any questions, or anything you want to get off your chest, do it now or hold your peace."

"Lower and faster, the better. So long as we clear powerlines and the like." 'Old Man' says low to Phin. He picks something out of his teeth and looks to Holtz to finalize the approach so they can get fly'n. Ah, and there is comes. The older Lieutenant's got nothing to add.

Squire shakes her head to Holtz but she looks to Ygraine and gives her a quiet, solemn smile. There's nothing else to say. She opens the helmet bag by her feet, stooping to take it out with the locking collar. The latter is pulled around her neck and secured in place.

Ygraine murmurs to Kelsey, "Suicide Squad taking off again." with a sidelong grin, though for some reason her gaze goes over to Kale. "Don't forget to sing out, Eco."

Kale glances to Ygraine, smirking just a bit, then offers her a nod, "You got it. Just gimme some background music, I'll keep us all entertained on the ride." And he finishes his coffee with that, looking to Maia, apparently indicating he's ready by finishing his coffee.

Phin snorts at Ygraine's name for her and Kelsey's crack team. It's not a particularly amused snort. To the older ECO he'll be flying with, he nods. "No worries, Lieutenant. I didn't come all this way to trip over power lines." He asks no questions.

After studying the map a moment longer, Maia sits up then stands. "I've got nothing further to say than it's an honor to fly with all of you." Catching the look from Echo, she gives him a grin. "Make it rain," she echoes the Major.

Slider blows a breath out his nose and rifles fingers through his short hair as the plan is finalised. "Let's rock and roll," he mumbles, grasping the ring that hangs from a chain next to his dogtags, and giving it a kiss. Then he prepares to fall into step after his much bigger pilot.

Holtz looks around and nods. "Right, then. Slider, you're with me. Everybody watch your asses out there. Any of you buys a plot out there, I'm comin' to kick your ass." It's said in a deadpan, probably the closest he's come to any sort of humor since the group of them left the Orion. The nub of his cigarette is extinguished, the last of his now-lukewarm tea swallowed.

Collins zips up his flight suit and smiles to Phin's not tripping comment. The older Lieutenant isn't smoking or drinking coffee, dressed in normal civie clothes beneath his flight suit in case he has to ditch it. The 'Old Man' looks read, "Let's go then." He puts a hand lightly to Phin's shoulder and starts to head for the Hanger if they are finished here. "Gods be with us all. Fly well."

Rising to her feet, Ygraine sidles up next to Phin on the way out, giving him a nudge-shove of her shoulder up against his before moving past him. "C'mon, Squire. Time don't wait for no man."

"Same to you, Storm," Phin says, managing a very slight grin at his squadron leader. He pushes himself up from his semi-slouched position at the table, taking a deep breath. Ygraine's shoulder nudge makes him turn. "Good luck," he says to the ECO. He starts to say something else, but leaves it at that. Time to be off.

Stepping away from the map, most of the camp is already packing up and getting ready to move out. Some of the tractor trailers are already running. They pass by the air defense tanks, though and the Marines are sitting atop. As the group passes they're silent but one by one, all of them lift salutes to the aircrews until after the crews have all passed. Continuing out to the road, the ground crews are already pulling off the netting as they craft are tugged out onto the roadway. Out here, its the middle of the forest and two hundred foot old growth pines line the road in both directions. Someone has painted the symbol for Ares on each of the craft, one symbol right underneath each cockpit seat. Small stepladders allow each crew access to the cockpit. All of the arming pins have already been removed from the ordnance and the steel cap has been pulled from the 20mm on each nose. Ground crews don't have checklists ready, but they rattle off everything from memory. Powered and ready, the crews need only get in and strap on their craft and take off. There's no control tower to clear them, only the sun climbing into the sky. They should be on target just as the ceremony gets into full swing.

"Guess its a good thing we aren't guys," Kelsey grins at Ygraine. She carries the helmet with her as they walk out towards the aircraft. Not noticing the salutes at first, she takes a long breath and returns it to them. Once out, she gives the bombs and missiles a shake on each side of the craft, checking to make sure they're secure. Climbing up into the cockpit afterward, she throws another salute to the groundcrew as the cockpit closes and she secures her helmet. "Squire locked and loaded," she says into the comms for Yggy. Already powered, she whines up the engines and runs a quick system check and seemingly satisfied, she nods, tightening her straps. «Storm, Squire. We're ready.»

Too focused on the impending mission at hand, Slider barely even acknowledges the marines saluting them as they file past. He has eyes for one thing, and one thing alone: the predator he and his pilot have been assigned. Holtz, if he manages to catch the man before they're ready to saddle up, is given a fist-bump of combined comraderie and good luck, and then he scales the ladder and swings into the back seat. His helmet's pulled on as he goes through his weapons checks one by one.

Ygraine returns the salute and because she's Yggy, gives a few of them a once over. (Hey, it may be the last time she gets to leer, amirite) Then she climbs in behind Kelsey, secures her helmet and straps in, giving Squire's helmet a gentle smack to let her know that she's good to go.

As she passes, she returns the salutes.. and upon approach of her designated Predator, she looks it over. With the pre-flight already done for her, Maia looks at the Predator a long moment, lifting her chin and closing her eyes. Her lips move but not sound comes out. She's never, ever been religious, but staring possible death in the face will sorta bring it out in some people. Lifting a hand to her throat where her dog tags usually hang is a vivid reminder and her eyes open and settle on that symbol of Ares. Forcing a deep breath into her lungs, she moves towards the ladder, prepared for whatever is about to happen. Once inside, she tugs her helmet on, fastening it into place. "I believe it's time for me to fly.." she murmurs softly, quoting some of her favorite lyrics. «Storm, Centerfold, Ready.»

Phin returns the salutes from the Marines with all the sharp precision he probably still spends some evenings practicing in the mirror. There's not even an attempt at small talk with his ECO as he loads himself into the cockpit and goes through pre-flight. Sight of the Ares symbols make him intake a breath sharply. That is…not entirely welcome. For a moment he just stares at it. Then, he lets out a short chuckle. "Frakking figures…" he murmurs. Clearing his throat before getting on the com. «Flight, Dolly. Ready as we'll ever be.»

Kale was moving behind Centerfold, but while she was praying, he was making sure the missiles and bombs were secure, and doing a quick once around of the Predator before climbing in after Maia. He gets his helmet on and secured, gets himself strapped in and runs his basic systems checks, "Centerfold, we're golden. Ready to hit the skies."

Lt James 'Old Man' Collins carries his helmet under one arm as he walks on out to their Predator with Phin. Grey eyes lift to the Marines who salute them and he returns it crisply. Bunch of crazy, brave airwing officers filing out. To the ground crew at thier bird, the older man takes a moment to thank them. He skims a hand over the Preditor as he looks it over anyway, out of years of habit. Once Phin's on board, he climbs on up to settle himself in the backseat. Helmet on, James starts to go through his checks. No chitchat's fine, he doesn't really know Phin anyway. "All's good back here, Dolly."

"Comin' up roses, Squire, five by five. We gotta show people how it gets done, lady." Ygraine says, swiftly checking all of her systems.

Holtz touches the Ares symbol on the hull under his seat as he clambers aboard his Predator. He returns Slider's fistbump and the collected salutes before settling into his seat, quickly locking his seal collar and helmet into place. A low thrum runs through the fighter as he powers up the engines, giving the controls a quick once over. Finally, with a deep breath, he speaks into his com. «Flight, Storm. Squire and I will take the lead, Dolly will lead Centerfold in the trailing section.» Even now, he doesn't change his habit of taking the least experienced pilot as his wingman. A hand wraps around the throttle. «Launch.» And off they go, into the wild blue yonder.

"Its time to wake the planet, baby," Kelsey tells her ECO. If she's afraid, she's hiding it well. Its all said with a grin. She makes a face at her placement in the line, though. "You'd think with a practicla habit like ours, we'd be out front," she snickers at Shakes. And off they go.

Once in the air, the Predators assume a trail formation running up the valley ahead. On both sides, the Atlas Mountains rise more than 14,000 feet into the air and its as beautiful as it can be dangerous. The crew runs through the mountain, skimming treetops and probably tossing squirrels out of trees as they pass. Out ahead, as they approach the eastern slope of the Atlas, the crews can spot a blinking light ahead. Morse code, coming fast.

"N-O-R-A-I-D-E-R-S-D-O-W-N-L-O-W-S-A-L-U-T-E"

Its still a mile ahead when they pass over the spot, but looking over to the ridgeline they can see a couple civilians next to a truck at a campsite, though there is most definitely a Stinger SAM raised over their heads in cheer. But its evident why they are camped where they are. That ridgeline has a beautiful view down into Caprica City. There it is.

To look up towards the peaks at that very moment, it would be very hard to spot the grey-scale camouflaged aircraft as they dive towards the city and off the mountains. Maybe a quick flash of something shadowed, but easily dismissed as nothing interesting. They can see the traffic on the roads and right out in front of them is Sixth Avenue, a six lane divided highway leading right towards downtown.

<FS3> Kelsey rolls Piloting +2: Good Success.
<FS3> Phin rolls Piloting +2: Great Success.
<FS3> Alejandro rolls Ecm +2: Good Success. (NPC)
<FS3> Bennett rolls Ecm +2: Success. (NPC)
<FS3> Holtz rolls Piloting +2: Great Success.
<FS3> Ygraine rolls Ecm+2: Good Success.
<FS3> Maia rolls Piloting +2: Good Success.
<FS3> Kale rolls ECM +2: Good Success.

Kelsey, right behind Holtz, keeps pace well and welds herself just a little bit to the right of the Captain's frame. She flies like a pro, moving the stick and anticipating the turns with a very slow movement. Only a few times is she a little caught by surprise on a movement from the flight lead. As they crest the ridge, though, her eyes go wide and she takes in a gasp. "Holy shit, Shakes. Here we go. Its happening," she breathes quietly into her comms. Scared? Maybe. She's definitely feeling that adrenaline dump, though.

"Yeah, it's happening." Ygraine agrees, though her smile is tight. As soon as DRADIS lights up, Ygraine starts calling out contacts. "Flight, Milkshake. Saber is active but has not made sightings. Foxfire targetting at six four nine carom six…" she reels off the coordinates even as she starts prepping countermeasures.

Holtz's stomach leaps into his throat as he suddenly throws his bird into a dive towards the cityscape, but he shows no sign of being rattled, flying with the same reckless abandon he drives a Viper with. Though he's not as experienced in a Predator, his instincts seem more than up to the task; a good thing, since flying the lead position means everyone else is taking cues from his positioning. He settles into position above Sixth Avenue, close enough to the ground to see the lane markers and read the traffic signs. The buildings along the road are a blur as he flies through at breakneck speeds, skirting around power lines and light fixtures and easily rising over the occasional overpass. His face is a cool iron mask as the cityscape whirls past him, his eyes searching ahead for their target.

Phin maintains a steady distance from Holtz and Kelsey's section, positioned just slightly ahead and port from Maia's Predator. He's keeping more space between him and her than he would in a tighter Viper formation, but he can't entirely shake the instincts the smaller craft has hammered into him over the last year. At first, at least, it doesn't serve him badly. He zips gracefully up over a string of power lines, then back down again, riding the air currents that flying in atmosphere gives them. "How're we doing back there, Old Man?" he asks his ECO. His own attention is fixed more on the visual than the instruments. He processes Ygraine's coordinates as they come over the comms.

In the back of Holtz's fighter, Slider is watching sensors like a hawk for any sign of interference. The morse code distracts him for a moment, and he taps out the letters on his console before relaying them up to his pilot. "Looks like no joy on raiders down here, Storm—" Then his heart's in his throat as Holtz throws the bird into a sharp dive. This is.. not what he's accustomed to, from backseating in a raptor.

'Old Man' behind Phin isn't sitt'n on his ass doing nothing. Soon as they cross low over the last ridge and drop down like barn swallows to skim low over the racing ground beneath them, Collins is closely monitoring his readouts. "Panels lighting up. Lots of anti-aircraft running DRADIS. SABER's active, not targeting us yet. Clear so far, Dolly. Foxfires and Forge ahead." Grey eyes are for what's coming across his systems and not what Phin's doing.

Once in the air, Maia holds her position well. When she sees morse code light, she can't help but grin. "Looks good so far, Echo. Very good." And then there's Sixth Avenue. Flying low has its advantages and disadvantages. At least there's been no Raiders, Sabers, Forges or anything, but now for the traffic, powerlines and overpasses. "Here we go, Echo. Heads up." Hearing Milkshake, she just continues to fly, glad to know there's no targets yet.

Behind them, traffic comes to a standstill as people watch the Predators scream by. The exhaust and sound is enough to set off car alarms everywhere. But as they shoot past the overpass at Simms St, its like the whole city went batshit at once. One Foxfire gets a lock and then another and more in rapid successfion. Before anyone can even sound off, tracers are arcing into the air like firehoses. Flak begins exploding up at three or four hundred feet above them. Shards rain down on the craft, pranging off like someone throwing rocks at a car. Fights On!

DRADIS lights up and Kale starts to call out as well, "Centerfold, I've got Saber up and running, but we're in the clear for now. I've got antiaircraft all over, and foxfire and forge sites too. Directing coordinates your way." He falls silent and nods, "Eyes open, Centerfold."

"Hope your stomach is stronger than your triad face, Slider," Holtz murmurs sardonically when he hears his backseater's voice abruptly break off behind him. "I copy, lookin' good so — " And then the alarms start to wail as the ground defense systems finally get a lock. Holtz bites off a curse as he resists the temptation to break wildly. His ship wobbles slightly as flak shards spangle harmlessly off his craft, but he quickly recovers, staying straight and level as he continues to hug the ground at blazing speeds.

Kelsey falls into a flat trail behind Holtz, passing the Simms Overpass just high enough to avoid the streetlights. Like Holtz, she fights the urge to break and turn away from it. "Frak!" she blurts. Everything in her wants to shove the throttles up but she holds formation and grits her teeth, a large chunk pranging off the canopy by her head. She twitches and growls, leaning forward a bit.

"Aw, frak off, Storm," Slider grouses from behind, still scanning radio bands for interference that might signal an attempt at jamming their weapons. "Ain't like I— shit, shit, we've got foxfires goin' live here!" His voice is muffled by the sound of flak battering down on them from above in a sharp, gritty rain.

<COMBAT> Fox4 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Maia with HMG - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Maia with HMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Phin with HMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Phin with HMG - Serious wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Phin - Light wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Phin - Critical wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Phin with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Phin with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Phin with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Phin with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Phin with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Phin with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Phin with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Phin with HMG - Serious wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Phin with HMG - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Phin with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Phin with HMG - Moderate wound to Nose (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Phin with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Phin with HMG - Moderate wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> Fox1 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Kelsey with HMG - Light wound to Nose (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Kelsey with HMG - Light wound to Tail (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Kelsey with HMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Forge1 takes careful aim at Kelsey.
<COMBAT> Ygraine attacks Forge1 with Missile Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Phin passes.
<COMBAT> Maia passes.
<COMBAT> Kelsey passes.
<COMBAT> Kale suppresses Fox4 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Holtz passes.
<COMBAT> Bennett suppresses Fox3 with Ecm. <successful>
<COMBAT> Alejandro suppresses Fox2 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Kelsey has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Predator-1425u has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Kelsey has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Ygraine has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Predator-2419l has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Phin has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Alejandro has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Ygraine spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Kelsey spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Phin spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Alejandro spends a luck point to keep fighting!

'Old Man' sucks in a breath as shit hits the fan, "Dolly, Foxfires locking." Collins reads off numbers for location, then adds, "Suppressing Foxfire. Keep low and cool." Not that he probably needs to steady the younger pilot but it can't hurt to for the older man to be keeping his own voice calm. Yep, there's the flak tic-tacking against their craft's skin, and then all hell breaks loose! Shit starts pummeling their Predator and trying to take it apart! Collins grits his teeth and swears as all kinds of crap hits them, lighting up his panel with warning lights! It's like getting hit with a sledge hammer! "Dolly!" Shrapnel bursts through the cockpit, zipping past to ricochet.

"Milkshake, Dolly - sing out!" Even while she's working on countering the forge that's banging her and Squire around, Milkshake can't suppress the urge to make sure Dolly is okay after seeing his predator take such heavy fire.

Kelsey can't see the arc of the .50 cal coming up at their Predator. It bangs across the tail, blowing off a large chunk from the top and an instant later it shreds off a section from the nose. It throws the whole craft over onto its back and into a shallow dive towards the ground. "OH SHIT!" Squire belts. She slams the stick to the left and pulls back, barely missing a tractor trailer beneath them. But with the sound of the SAM launch, she grunts. «Storm, Squire, breaking! Be right back!» She hopes so anyway. Watching the missile arc up from 11 oclock, she grips the stick and prepares to juke her way out of this one. "Incoming!!"

Phin screams as his window explodes in shrapnel. Some of which hammers into the cockpit like deadly rain, and pierces his flight suit. For a sickening second, his Predator spins down, like it's preparing to go into an out-of-control faceplant dive into the ground of Caprica. He's able to pull out of that, at least. But he's in too much pain to answer over the comms. He grunts something unintelligible at the Old Man. Collins can speak for him. It's taking all his concentration to stay conscious.

It takes a little longer than he'd like, but Slider manages to get a lock on one of the foxfires' weapons signatures, and jams it successfully. Too little, too late, maybe, but he grins to himself when he hears the distinctive tone of his console acknowledging anyway. "Gonna try to suppress the forge at three o'clock," he tells Holtz. "Fangs out soon as I can lock us onto something."

"Frak…" Kale mutters as incoming fire starts to flurry all around them. The Predator rocks a bit as a shot slams into it them, but they are in tact. "We're getting way too popular, Centerfold, stop flirting with all the anti-aircraft weaponry, and get us in bombing range now!" And with that, he switches his efforts to jamming the forge missile efforts from taking them down.

Now that they are seeing live fire so Maia goes more defensive. She has to get the Predator at least to the site to drop her bomb and complete the mission. Barely do her and her ECO manage to evade the fire though the harder exterior armor of the Pred takes a hit it doesn't damage them any.

Holtz utters a frustrated growl as the AA systems' deadly payloads strike home; first a missile nearly tears into his wingman's ship, and then one of the gun turrets rakes Phin's predator. Somehow, he himself manages to duck and weave through the fusillade of fire untouched — though Betty starts squawking once more as two of the turrets swivel to lock onto him. "Dolly, Storm, stay on target — " And then his head whirls to the side as he catches motion out of the corner of his eye. "Squire, Storm, stay low, godsdamnit!"

'Old Man' is doing his best to keep his end together as their Predador takes a nose dive. "DOLLY!" He shouts at the top of his lungs but the kid manages to pull the bird's nose up. A few quick breaths, heart beating fast and he makes himself look back at his own controls, "Cockpit's hit." Duh. "Weapons are frakked, damage to our nose assembly. See what I can do from back here."

"I'm OK…I'm OK…" Phin breathes, when he can manage to articulate coherent noises again. He's pale and bleeding a lot and very much not OK, but he's regained some control of his faculties.

<COMBAT> Forge1 uses a MISSILE AA!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Predator-1425u - Critical wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-1425u - ARMOR on Right Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-1425u - ARMOR on Nose stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-1425u - ARMOR on Engine stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-1425u - ARMOR on Nose stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-1425u - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-1425u - ARMOR on Nose stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-1425u - ARMOR on Engine stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-1425u - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-1425u - ARMOR on Controls stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-1425u - ARMOR on Engine stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Fox4 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Holtz with HMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Holtz with HMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Holtz with HMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Bennett suppresses Forge1 with Ecm. <successful>
<COMBAT> Forge3 attacks Maia with KEW and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Forge2 takes careful aim at Maia.
<COMBAT> Ygraine suppresses Forge1 with Ecm. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Phin passes.
<COMBAT> Maia passes.
<COMBAT> Kelsey passes.
<COMBAT> Kale suppresses Forge3 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Holtz passes.
<COMBAT> Alejandro treats Predator-2419l:
< Cockpit (Serious): successful
< Weapon (Serious): successful
< Nose (Moderate): unsuccessful
< Cockpit (Moderate): successful
<COMBAT> Kelsey has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

The Predators, screaming up Sixth Avenue, are raising complete hell behind them. Gunfire is coming down all over the city from trying to hit them. SAMs are streaking across the sky, most of them unguided and leaving smoketrails behind the exhaust. But here it comes. They pass over the freeway and the unique intersection at 6th and Lincoln is easy to spot rushing up on them. Its time to pop up to 800 feet and roll in on the final bomb run. Damn the flak, damn the SAMs, its all or nothing. They can see the crowd gathered down at Avery Park… the place is completely empty except for what appears to be news vans and just the people swearing in. The edges start to scatter as the Predators come into view.

Go time for launch. Funny, Maia'd heard the words a hundred times, but never really associated them to anything she'd be doing. But it was about time to drop the bombs on Avery Hall… setting up, she's already taking her aim. True that, all or nothing. "Hold on tight, Echo, we're going in.." Her evasion space is now more limited, less room to play with as she takes it to eight hundred feet. Her thumb is right there, ready to drop the bomb when she feels she's got a good enough aim on the target.

The 'Old Man' has been busy, doing what he can for their Preditor. Collins manages to stabilize some things, "Dolly, cockpit controls should be stable, weapons online. Can't do anything about the nose assembly from back here." He checks his readouts and though he doesn't know his pilot's hurt or how badly, the older Lieutenant keeps to his job, "Missiles online, targeting one of the forges."

"Frakkin frakitty frak frak." Kale offers and calls out to Maia, "Centerfold, switching to guns on these Forges, we won't get lucky forever on counter measures." and then he's on the com «Echo to flight, goin hot on these Forges.»

Kelsey rakes the Predator through a break to the right, leading the missile away. She watches it… watches… She shoves up the afterburners and blasts through Mach 1, blowing out windows beneath their aircraft while the vapor cone passes right over them. But the missile keeps tracking. She shovesthe stick back left and buries it in her lap, punishing them both through a 9G turn. Fighting blackout, she nearly hits powerlines and has to adjust. The missile takes the chance but can't quite make it. It hits a small office building and explodes. Shrapnel and brick bang off the armor and she bangs the craft back towards the others. «WE'RE STILL HERE, MOTHERFRAKKERS!» she yells. Crossing the turn point, she runs the craft up like a rollercoaster and then turns over onto their back. «Bombs armed! Two is in hot!»

"Frak this shit," Slider grunts from the back of the lead predator, bracing as the foxfires swing in and go balls to the wall on his bird— and miss by a mile. "Nice frakking flying, Storm!" he calls over the radio, already initiating the switch from countermeasures to weapons with a few flicks of switches and the turn of a key. "Let's see if we can bring down some pain on this sonofabitch, get you in range of Avery Hall."

"OK…OK…" Phin mutters. Both in response to Collins, and to himself. Like he's willing himself to be 'OK' with minimal success. The stick does get easier to handle, which makes him breathe a sigh of relief. Momentary relief. The fix to their weapons systems is enough to allow him to aim with some hope of sort-of accuracy.

"Oh no you sunovabitch you ain't hittin' us again!" Ygraine hollers as she targets the Forge that has been harrassing her and Kelsey. Really, it's like a bad date who just won't leave. "Woooooooh!" because you know, that's how she deals with Kelsey's crazy ass flying. It's either that or cry like a bitch. Yggy's nobody's bitch.

Somehow, someway, Holtz's Predator ducks and weaves through the curtain of Cylon fire with the only damage being a few paint scratches from wayward flak shards. That may change in a moment, though, as Holtz's display no fewer than three Forge turrets going for a lock. Nevertheless, they're close to the target now; Holtz can see the outline of Avery Hall up ahead, its silhouette familiar from old pre-Fall newscasts. He can see the crowd of people gathered in front of it, adrenaline singing in his ears as his fighter screams towards the target. Going to his targeting computers, he prepares to execute his terminal attack maneuever as he arms his bombs. "Do it!" he roars at Slider, the adrenaline rush lending a note of exultant fury to his voice. "Keep us alive and I'll do the rest!" A look back to his DRADIS display. «Flight, Storm! Prepare to execute!»

<COMBAT> Grp1 passes.
<COMBAT> Forge2 uses a MISSILE AA!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Close To Predator-9884o - Light wound to Body.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-9884o - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-9884o - ARMOR on Left Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-9884o - ARMOR on Tail stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Predator-9884o - ARMOR on Left Wing stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Forge4 takes careful aim at Holtz.
<COMBAT> Grp2 passes.
<COMBAT> Forge3 attacks Holtz with KEW but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ygraine attacks Forge1 with Missile Ap - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Phin takes careful aim at Grp2.
<COMBAT> Maia takes careful aim at Grp2.
<COMBAT> Kelsey takes careful aim at Grp1.
<COMBAT> Kale attacks Forge2 with Missile Ap - Critical wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Holtz takes careful aim at Grp1.
<COMBAT> Forge1 takes careful aim at Holtz.
<COMBAT> Bennett attacks Forge4 with Missile Ap - Critical wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Alejandro attacks Forge2 with Missile Ap - Serious wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Kelsey has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Forge1 has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Forge2 has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Forge4 has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Predator-9884o has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Maia has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Kale has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Kale spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Maia spends a luck point to keep fighting!

'Old Man' locks on his target, "Missiles away!" Collins sets up his next attack even as the first missiles zap off to their target - and hit soundly! Several of the forges light up like a Festival party, "Hot Damn! Good Shoot'n!" As best he might, he leans around to try and see how Phin's doing, "Hang in there, Dolly. Almost there."

As they zoom in towards the target, a missile explosion rocks the Predator again and the ships systems flicker and flutter for a moment. Kale lets a missile fly at Forge2, the missile slamming into the firing turret with an explosion that lights up the area around it, "One forge down, Centerfold, locking on to the last one. Just keep us moving!" Of course it takes a few moments at the controls to get everything back in order, but once it is, he's got target lock on again, readying another missile to fire.

Kelsey watches Holtz dive in front of her and she grits her teeth, inhaling through her lips. It looks like a pretty disturbing grin but this is her Warfas. Her finger flicks the safety cap off the pickle button on her stick, watching the pipper climb across the HUD. She doesn't say anything profound, nor does she make any noises. Its just complete tunnelvision and focus. The throttles are nudged up as she steepens the attack. Its an aggressive dive, but one she seems ready for. Then, at that magic moment at 300 feet. «Squire, bombs gone!» The trio of Mark 82 Snakeyes drop free and the parachuts deploy behind them, giving them time to escape before everything explodes.

"Flight, Milkshake! ForgeOne obliterated! Nice shot, Echo!" As the bomb drops, she lets out a cheer. "Sink it, sink it, C'MON!" Her own expression is pretty aggro, too.

Holtz jerks his Predator to one side just in time to evade yet another unguided missile, which explodes harmlessly in his wake. With a deep breath, he pulls back on his stick to gain some altitude, and then shoves the craft into a dive, plunging towards the target. «Flight, Storm, go!» With a malicious scowl twisting his features, Avery Hall growing quickly in his sights, he yanks the bomb release. "I am become death…" he mumbles almost prayerfully as the bombs tumble free and he pulls out of the dive.

The explosion directly near her Predator rocks their world when it sputters mid-flight. Oh sure, they don't have far to fall but damned if she was going down! Maia hits the thrusters briefly and when the sputtering stops, she's visibly pale. Too close. "Time to let it all hang out, Echo. You're damned awesome, remind me to kiss you when this is over."

<COMBAT> Forge3 attacks Maia with KEW - Serious wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Grp2 passes.
<COMBAT> Grp1 passes.
<COMBAT> Ygraine suppresses Forge3 with Ecm. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Phin uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Grp2 - Critical wound to Head.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp2 - Critical wound to Right Leg.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp2 - Serious wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp2 - Critical wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp2 - Critical wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp2 - Serious wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Maia uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Pretty Close To Grp2 - Critical wound to Head.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp2 - Moderate wound to Head.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp2 - Light wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp2 - Moderate wound to Left Foot.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp2 - Serious wound to Right Foot.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp2 - Serious wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Kelsey uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Grp1 - Critical wound to Head.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Serious wound to Left Leg.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Serious wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Kale attacks Forge3 with Missile Ap - Critical wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Holtz uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Grp1 - Critical wound to Head.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Moderate wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Moderate wound to Right Foot.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Right Leg.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Moderate wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Moderate wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Serious wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Left Foot.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Serious wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Right Leg.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - Critical wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Grp1 - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Bennett suppresses Forge3 with Ecm. <successful>
<COMBAT> Alejandro suppresses Forge3 with Missile Ap. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Kelsey has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Forge3 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Grp1 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Grp2 has left the combat. (Kelsey)

Slider is in the zone, and as such, all thought of repercussions and questions of morality in regards to what they're about to do, go out the cockpit window. There's a soft bleep of confirmation as he lets loose a missile, and gives a growl of triumph when it plows into the forge he'd been aiming for. «Storm, Slider, looks like we're clear of missile locks. Show's all yours, man.»

Bombs gone and the Predators are already departing the area as fast as possible. But it wouldn't be hard to look over the shoulder and see the hits. With twelve 500 pound bombs hitting such a small area at once, the effect is catastrophic. The first bombs land and explode in the dead center of each group. The explosions throw shrapnel, fire, burning debris, rock, and vehicle everywhere. This, in turn, detonates the bombs still in freefall. The explosions above throw even more shrapnel down, blanketing the area in shards traveling Mach 4 and shredding everything below. The billowing explosives at altitude bring the fireball more than eight hundred feet into the sky, sucking in anything close enough to get caught in the gale force winds that wasn't already destroyed. Avery Hall, though, appears to have escaped damage but for that of every other building. Windows just shattered in every direction for half a mile.

Phin will revisit the moral questions about all this later. Providing he makes it out alive. But in a haze of pain, adrenaline, and the commitment of their orders to his brain to the point where he can reduce it to rote motions, he gets the bombs dropped. He doesn't linger over the field of fire after they're gone, so it's unclear if he even knows if he hit anything as he laboriously turned his wounded plane to follow Holtz's section. Away.

'Old Man' hears Phin's coughing, wet coughing. "FRAK. You're hit, Dolly? How bad?" Not mind you that he can do a damn thing about it from the back seat. Collins rechecks his instruments, monitoring, "One forge still opporational. Bombs look GOOD! Hot damn, good run!" Not his call to tell'm to head home, that's for Holtz. Phin's ECO has stayed off of the coms to the rest of the Predators until now, «Flight, Old Man. Good shots boys 'n girls! Now watch your butts - Foxfires ahead.»

Kelsey pulls off the run and hazards a look back, straining on her straps. When she see's the explosions, "EAT SHIT!!!" she hoots, slamming a hand against the canopy glass. "BURN IN HELL!" Little violent streak in Squire, ain't there? Falling back into her seat, she looks back straight ahead and banks the Predator onto 270. «Squire outbound, turning for home at the speed of heat!»

"Shit," mutters Slider with a roll of his eyes when he's reminded of the fact that their fat's not out of the fryer yet. "Still got one more big boy here, Storm, in case we hit anything ugly on our way out." For the time being, his hand rests on the countermeasures controls however, eyes flicking between the windscreen and DRADIS.

Holtz's Predator heaves to the side as he settles onto an escape trajectory. «Flight, Storm, break off!" he calls out urgently over the coms. A quick look over his shoulder is enough to verify the damage, the columns of black smoke boiling up from the ground in a tight cluster. "I see it, Slider," he calls out, eyes narrow as he once again hugs the ground, hand twitching on the stick as the warning alarms again sound in his ear.

Even when she's hit hard, Maia forces herself to carry on despite the damage to the Predator. Hitting the button, she drops the bombs, "Die you mother frakkers.." The words are only muttered, but she wholeheartedly means them… for now. The ensuing explosion makes the whole area glow orange and being last in formation, she can almost feel the heat from it. "Now to get the frak outta here."

"Old Man, Milkshake. FoxOne's got a lock on you, you might want to adjust." Ygraine calls out over comm. "Must go faster, must go faster, muster go faster." she mutters to Kelsey.

'Old Man' is busy, "Foxfires ahead, Dolly." He reads out coordinates, then adds, "Supressing." Here they go again, ducks in the shooting gallery on the way back out. "Hang in there, kid. Fly us the hell out and get you to medical." Collins hears Milkshake, «Milkshake, Old Man. Copied.» He can already feel Phin starting to keel the bird over to up evasive manuvers, "Come on."

"I got it…I got it…" Phin repeats. More like a mantra to himself than as any sort of answer to his ECO. He's trying to keep a handle on it. He's barely succeeding.

Hell of a lot of wind rushing through their cockpit. Phin's got his hands full.

<COMBAT> Fox2 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Maia with HMG - ARMOR on Nose stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Phin with HMG - Moderate wound to Weapon.
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Phin with HMG - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Phin with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Phin with HMG - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Phin with HMG - Moderate wound to Cockpit.
<COMBAT> CREW HIT! Phin - Serious wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Holtz with HMG - Moderate wound to Body (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ygraine suppresses Fox2 with Ecm. <successful>
<COMBAT> Phin passes.
<COMBAT> Maia uses a Bomb Racks!
<COMBAT> Kelsey passes.
<COMBAT> Kale suppresses Fox2 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Holtz passes.
<COMBAT> Alejandro suppresses Fox1 with Ecm. <successful>
<COMBAT> Kelsey has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Phin has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Phin spends a luck point to keep fighting!

Phin takes more fire from the ground and, with his cockpit already punctured, there's not much armor to eat it. He slumps over the controls in a desperate attempt to take cover. It at least keeps him from getting another gaping chest wound. But he's lost control of the plane. He doesn't unslump. He's still breathing, but he's lost enough blood that he's out cold.

More shit hits their personal fan and errupts in loud noises, a flash of heat and light. Collins feels something zing past his helmet and when their Predator rocks violently and starts to vere off and down too abruptly, he sucks in a breath, "DOLLY! Damn." 'Old Man' is suddenly taking over the controls to pilot their bird, «Flight, Old Man. Dolly's out! Taking controls - can't see shit from back here!»

Finally, Holtz's luck begins to thin a little. His Predator rattles a little as a salvo of machine gun fire, but the heavily armored craft simply shrugs it off as Holtz continues to jet away from the scene of the crime. He sees Phin's Viper get raked again by gunfire. and abruptly he hauls his craft to one side. «Centerfold, Storm,» he says coolly into the mic. «You're with Squire. Dolly, Old Man, I'm coverin' you. Pour on the speed if you've got it, yeah?»

Holtz spends 1 luck points on Saving Dolly's ass.

Kelsey dodges and weaves through the incoming fire, losing Holtz for a moment. She's pushing up the throttle. She's too busy with that to notice much else. But as Holtz banks away, «Copy, Center you're on me! Push it up!!» She strokes the burners, piling on the speed as she see's more incoming tracers. «Center! BREAK RIGHT!»

"Storm, Slider here.. bogey's got a bead on us now. 'least it's leaving Dolly alone. Prep for impact—" And the ECO braces with one hand, and flicks the switch on his second — and last — missile.

When she hears about Dolly being down, Maia really wants to do something to try and help, but she knows her own won't be able to take much more before she's down and she's not willing to wager Echo's life on it. It's not hers to chance. Instead, she goes into full evasive mode knowing there was still some heat trying to take them out. With the mission being a success already, the rest is just getting out. Staying at a steady altitude and hopefully not drawing in Raiders, she remains silent so that she can hear the talk over the comms.

When the news about Dolly comes over the comm, there's a small sound at the back of Ygraine's throat, but that's the only acknowledgement of the news as it's promptly compartmentalized and shoved to the back of her brain. She doesn't speak, it's wasted breath anyway as she feverishly works at her console to target enemy systms.

<COMBAT> Fox4 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG - Light wound to Left Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox4 attacks Holtz with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG - ARMOR on Body stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Fox2 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Kelsey with HMG - ARMOR on Engine stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox3 attacks Kelsey with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Maia with HMG - Moderate wound to Engine (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Maia with HMG - Light wound to Left Wing (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Maia with HMG - Moderate wound to Tail (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Maia with HMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Fox1 attacks Maia with HMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ygraine suppresses Fox2 with Ecm. <unsuccessful>
<COMBAT> Phin passes.
<COMBAT> Maia passes.
<COMBAT> Kelsey passes.
<COMBAT> Kale suppresses Fox1 with ECM. <successful>
<COMBAT> Holtz passes.
<COMBAT> Bennett attacks Fox3 with Missile Ap - Serious wound to Body.
<COMBAT> Alejandro passes.
<COMBAT> Kelsey has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.

<COMBAT> Fox3 has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Predator-9788h has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Holtz has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Bennett has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Bennett spends a luck point to keep fighting!

It's a good thing the 'Old Man' is experienced. The older Lieutenant strains to see and keep Dolly's Predator nose up, aiming down the street. He's got no peripheral vision, only instruments to go by. Collins quietly offers a prayer up to the gods, for Phin's sake if not his own. Mountains are right out there, so close now! But where are those Raiders? 'Old Man' can't tell what's happening. He's got his hands full to draw the nose up to climb that first ridge without impacting into it. Whatever hell is firing at them, nothing hits them thanks to Holtz.

Phin may not be dead, but he's dead to the worlds. And bleeding all over what's left of the Predator instrument panel. He'll need to be hauled bodily out of the ship, when it makes it back by the grace of gods.

Just before the Foxfire opens up on Phin's stricken Predator, Holtz's course change carries him into the line of fire. The Predator rocks again as a bullet pierces his left wing, and Holtz moves to correct… only to find with a chill that his controls no longer respond. "Slider…" he hisses in alarm. "Frak, Slider, my controls are dead!" He continues to try anyway, but to no avail.

Squire shoves the ruined Predator around the sky, flak bursting everywhere and streams of tracers trying to hit her and Shakes. At one point she drops down to street level and uses another building to stop the rounds from hitting. As she comes back up, one more round prangs against the rear of the Predator. The Master Caution, never having shut off, shows a new warning. "Shakes, losing oil pressure on engine two! Shutting it down!" She reaches up and idles the engine to let it windmill, the whine easy to hear as blue smoke trails from the motor. Once they're free of the city and climbing towards the ridge, she ooks over her shoulder. «Center, Squire. Sing out! Form on my wing and lets get the frak outta here. Storm, what's your position?» She just rattles it off on the radio, adrenaline slowly starting to drain.

Ygraine's words come through clenched teeth, "Copy that." She sounds terribly calm.

There's a sickening sensation as their predator shudders under the impact of a few stray bullets, and immediately starts losing altitude. Far, far too quickly. "On it," Slider calls back to his pilot, hands shaking as he mentally goes over the process he's probably reviewed a hundred times before this mission: pull the yoke release, engage secondary flight controls here and there, aaaand.. there's a thrum from the engines as he noses them back up again. "Flyin' blind here, Storm, but.. we're flying for now. Don't know that I can pull off what you did on our way in, though.." His voice sounds as shaky as his hands.

Taking even more hits, Maia is surprised she's still in the air. She says nothing of this though, not wishing to jinx the luck they've had so far. "How are you doing back there, Echo?" After a beat, she speaks over the com finally, breaking her self imposed silence over it. «Squire, Centerfold. We're.. still in flight, that's about all I can say about it, the Preds in bad shape. Taking your wing now.»

"I'm ALIVE!" Kale shouts over at Centerfold and he checks a few things on his controls before he opens a comm channel and sings. Yup, he sings. Some song from before war day about vicotry and awesomeness. Of course, it's only a 3 line chorus and he shuts up after that.

Holtz's own hands are shaking as well, as he finally releases the controls and slumps back in his seat with a ragged exhale. "It's all right, Slider. Just keep us straight and level, I'll sing out if anything changes." It takes a few moments to collect himself from the combination of the near-crisis with his controls and his fading adrenaline high, but finally he speaks into the com. «Squire, Storm. Five by five here, Slider's got control. Headin' home.»

GoinDowntown.png

Booyah.

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