After the Euphoria of their first proper mission had settled down, the next day, Echo and Grimm, sober, but suffering from hangovers, reported to the briefing room for the next mission. On their way in, Echo noticed that Aquila wasn't there.
"Hey, Blossomforth?" Embriella asked.
"Yes?" Blossomforth replied.
"Where's Aquila Squadron?"
"Don't worry about them. They're not going to be in your airspace for this mission." Blossomforth said, taking her place at the centre of the briefing room.
"After yesterday's attempted bombing run, Aurelian High Command has figured out where they came from. It appears they crossed the Antlertic ocean from here-" She pointed a hoof at a small dot near Seaddle. "Mirskai Air Base. It's lightly defended, with small amounts of AA guns and SAMs, but we believe the remainders of the Escorts, and their entire squadrons, are stationed here. The route of attack is straightforward. You must attack and destroy the Substation nearby, cutting off power to the base. Then you will proceed to the base itself, destroying the hangars, Control Tower, and any plane stationed at this base."
"I get the mission, but why now? Why right after yesterday?" echo asked.
"They're going to attempt another bombing strike on us. The High Command has requested several squadrons from our Air Regiment to attack Mirskai Airbase, including you. Aquila Squadron will be taking out Radar stations to the south of your Airspace."
Blossomforth indicated an airbase on the other side of Seaddle. "Rigley Airbase. While not a part of today's mission, expect reinforcements from this base. That is all. Dismissed!"
"Awacs Sentry to Stingray Squadron. The Viper, Delta, and Falcon Squadrons are waiting for you to arrive. Expect contact in several minutes."
Several minutes later, They could see The three supporting squadrons. the 10-plane Delta squadron, the 7-plane Viper Squadron, and the 8-plane Falcon Squadron. Delta Squadron flew F-5s, Viper Squadron flew Mirage 2000s, and Falcon Squadron flew Su-25 Frogfoots. The sky was slightly cloudy, with a few puffy Cumulus clouds.
"Stingray 1, this is Falcon 1. Observations show that an Imperial B-52 squadron is about to take off from Mirskai Airbase. We are about to attack."
"Stingray 1 to Falcon 1, how do we know where the base is?" Embriella asked.
"See those Electricity pylons?" Stingray Squadron looked down and saw a line of Electricity pylons heading off into the distance.
"Yes." Embriella said.
"Those pylons go right to the base. They go through a substation 7 miles north of here. after that, it's 2 more miles to the base."
"All planes, Commence attack!" Mist ordered.
The 4 squadrons flew at top speed towards the base.
"5 miles to Mirskai Airbase. Attack Formation please." Mist said.
"Huh...what the...? I got something on radar! It's the N.L.R! It's an attack!" an Imperial Radar technician yelled.
"What kind of an attack? Air? Ground? Everyone, calm down! What's going on?" An Officer yelled.
"It's....4 squadrons of enemy fighters!" the Technician replied.
"How? Our long range radar sites were supposed to pick them up!" The officer said. "Raise Rigley Airbase! Tell them to send their best pilots now!"
"But sir, Akula Squadron is under Celestia's personal-"
"So are we! Tell them to get here NOW!"
"Stingray squadron listened to this as they each fired a missile at the substation, blowing it up. The technician had just sent the message to Rigley when all the lights in the building went out.
"A blackout...?" The officer murmured.
"They got the substation!" A soldier yelled. "All AA and SAM Sites are down!
"Launch all fighters!" The officer yelled.
Several Su-27s and Mig-29s were moving for the runway. They were just about to take off when Falcon Squadron screamed over the runway, dropping Fragmentation bombs on top of the Imperial Squadrons.
The officer looked out the control room, his face etched with horror. "This can't be happening!" The Officer and the rest of the soldiers in the control centre started running for the exit when they saw an F-1 rocket right past them.
Echo looped around a nearby cloud and fired two missiles at the control tower. The entire building was soon consumed in flames. What was left of the base's personnel were abandoning the base and trying to get as far away as possible.
"Awacs Sentry to All Squadrons over Mirskai Airbase. Target has been destroyed. Return to base...Alert! Alert! High Speed Aircraft Incoming!"
"AWACS Lupis to Akula Squadron They've bombed Mirskai Airbase. This stain on Celestia's Honor must be removed. Destroy all N.L.R Planes. Leave none alive." A squadron of 8 X-02 Wyverns streaked across the skies over Seaddle. Delta Squadron, turning to engage the squadron, were shot down in seconds, all 10 planes brought down by a volley of Long Range Missiles.
"Dammit...All planes get out of there! Retreat immediately! Do NOT engage the Enemy Wyverns!
"How many are there!?"
"Delta Squadron was shot down!"
"Who's attacking?"
"All planes, get the hell outta there! Return to Shorebird City ASAP!" Mist's voice yelled over the radio, though only a handful could actually hear her.
"You heard her, men!" Embriella said. "Shorebird City! Go!"
The Akula squadron, tailing the retreating planes, kept firing missile salvos and picking off unfortunate planes.
"They got us locked! I'm--" Falcon 3's voice was drowned out by the sound of an explosion. Stingray and Viper Squadrons turned to see the Akula Squadron gunning right for them, several burning planes left in their wake.
"5 miles to Combat Zone Border." Mist said. The Akula Squadron was 2 miles behind them and they were locked on.
"Mist. I'm turning around." Embriella said. A chorus of "What?" rising from every plane. "I'm going to distract them. Everyone else, top speed!" She said as she turned around and flew at top speed towards the Akula Squadron.
"Bogey coming in head on! Evade!" Akula 1 swerved to the right and Akula's formation fell apart as the Wyverns took evasive maneuvres. Akula 1 maneuvred her plane behind Embriella and fired several rounds of bullets into the F-1's engines. Embriella baled out as her F-1 turned into a ball of fire. Before she could unfurl her wings and try to return to base, she was caught in a spell and was pulled towards a squad of Imperial soldiers. She was now a P.O.W.
Akula 1 turned her plane around to see that the two enemy squadrons were nowhere to be seen. "...DAMMIT!"