August: 29th, 2016

Operation High Storm

Nothing happened for three days. I had trouble sleeping because I was worried the attack would come at any minute. Today, it did.

I was sleeping as peacefully as I could when I felt the ground shaking and heard faint thooms in the distance. I shot awake, opened my room’s windows, and stared out at the city in horror. In the darkness of the early morning sky, Ubisan City was burning.

Without another thought, I rushed out of my room to the hangar. Halfway there and I was still pulling on my flight suit. The rest of the squadron was lifting off the runway by the time I had started up my plane. I was in the air five minutes later. I could see the entire city from up there. I wish I didn’t.

Imperial destroyers formed a sort of blockade around the harbor, firing missiles at Allied installations. The anti-ship guns set up by the United Provinces around the area were smoking craters now. An aircraft carrier sat at the back of the formation, and Imperial aircraft were taking out anti-aircraft guns and armored convoys heading to stop the landing. It was bad.

Now it was our turn.

Crucible 1 was already all over the enemy air power, spraying bursts of bullets and firing missiles. He would probably be an ace before this mission was over. I couldn’t focus on him for too long because Stronghold started talking to me.

Stronghold: “Rookie, I’ve got an idea.”

Me: “What is it?”

Stronghold: “I’ve got a torpedo bomb loaded onto my plane. I’m going to try and torch their carrier with it. We might be able to force them to retreat if they lose it. I need you to cover while I make the attack.”

Me: “Got it. I’ll cover you.”

One thing I love about the Phantoms is how many bombs they can carry. They’re not bombers, but they can still carry bombs. The R-8 Hullbreaker was one of them. It was a torpedo that could sink a sizable vessel with just one of them. It lodges itself into a hull and explodes inside, doing even more damage.

Stronghold dove down and skimmed the water, flying less than thirty feet above the ocean, and straight towards the enemy carrier. The carrier’s AA guns were firing round after round at her. Most hit the water, but some hit Stronghold’s airframe. That didn’t even phase her. She kept going. Once she got in range, she dropped the torpedo and pulled up as hard as she could.

She narrowly missed the carrier’s command tower while doing it. She flew off away from the carrier, and moments later, the torpedo detonated, sending a spray of water and debris flying across the carrier’s starboard side.

Smoke began rising from the impact area as the carrier began listing to one side. It slowly turned around, attempting to limp away from the battle. Soon after, the other destroyers turned around and began escorting the wounded ship away from the city.

I had to squint to see it all, but the carrier wasn’t going to make it. The further it got from the city, the slower it got, and the more it tilted to one side. Aircraft tumbled off the side of the runway and sank into the ocean. Sailors jumped over the side and lifeboats began appearing around it to collect them.

After about ten minutes, it was clear the carrier couldn’t be saved. It had tilted forward, and now the only part of it visible above the water was the stern and its rudders. The remainder of their fleet was retreating. Crucible 1 mopped up the remaining Imperial aircraft, and we heard over the radio that the landing force had surrendered to the Allied Forces once they saw the fleet retreating. We had won. AWACS Highlander then started talking to us and coordinating units.

Highlander: “Enemy forces are in full retreat. Crucible Squadron, return to base for debriefing.”

He would continue ordering around our units for at least another hour after we had landed. The debriefing was short, but informational.

Highlander: “Okay. Crucible, you’ve successfully managed to turn back the enemy offensive. Allied Forces across the continent are reporting similar success. However, this isn’t the end of the Imperial offensive. Agents in Sapent are reporting that Imperial Navy forces have begun massing at the Imperial city of Norigrad. We’re planning on sending you with a massive attack force to stop them while they’re still staging.

This should hopefully stop any further attempts at future offensive. For now, get some rest. You’ve earned it well today. Dismissed.”

I’ve always wanted to visit Astea, but this is not how I imagined it would happen.