War party
They quickly left the city outskirts behind and flew over
the low lying coastal areas then headed out to sea, keeping low. The Ground
Proximity Warning System monitored their height and Chen flew by hand.
Autopilot was good but Chen was better. And a Japanese F-15 or Chinese J-10
even better. He'd better be smart before arrogance took over. This was a moment
he would be judged on forever.
The white Cessna jet was faintly visible against the dark
blue sky and black sea. Maybe I should of
asked for a black jet? Chen wondered.
He kept them at an economical cruising speed. They had
hundreds of miles to fly. At low level they used up more fuel in the thick air.
He looked over and saw Jelma was deeply sleeping. She'd been antsy before.
Considering what they'd done, she'd coped well.
Suddenly a dark shape swept by them. Like a great big
bat. It has red lights on it and was an F-15 Eagle. Oh fuck! Japanese fighter plane!
Japanese and Chinese jet fighters probed and tested each
other, looking for a weakness. Often they found it and fights occurred. Shoot
downs were becoming more regular. Things began to escalate. Civilian passenger
flights were cancelled and No Fly Zones set up. Entering them would be suicide.
Now they'd find out.
"Jelma!" Chen screamed as he increased power to
full throttle and reefed their jet into a tight turn. G-force held onto them
like a serial killer.
"What? Mama!" Jelma screamed. It was good she
was awake. The high g-turn could snap her neck while she was relaxed. The GPWS alarm
sounded.
Chen reversed his turn, rolled wings level and climbed a
hundred feet. It was dark and they were too low for this type of flying. The
Eagle was out of sight, for now. Chen did two more steep turns to be sure and
changed course.
"An enemy, I mean Japanese fighter jet. He ghosted
up on us. I had to avoid him," Chen said. He looked pale, like death.
"I know. Thanks for the warning. You think he will
find us again?" Jelma tried to be strong. What are we doing here? It's madness!
Chen looked at Jelma, outside and at their radar. "I
don't know. Yes, if he tries hard to find us."
"Shit," Jelma swore.
As if on que, the Eagle appeared majestically overhead.
His afterburners were twin tails of fire, his red lights now off. He was ready
for battle.
"Here we go," Chen shouted. He nodded at Jelma,
rolled into another gut churning turn and did something remarkable; he switched
on a heavy metal/alternative radio station! Rob Zombie's Dragula filled their
small jet with noise. It was perfect. A dog fight against an F-15 Eagle air
superiority fighter on a dark moonless night and great music.
"Fucking hell! Turn it up," Jelma commented.
"Yes," Chen maxed the volume to lucky 13.
He three quarter rolled their Citation CJ4 and turned
again then climbed in a steep spiral. Then knifed downwards to the forbidding
ocean. The Eagle matched his move but almost crashed into the water due to his
superior speed. He was still in full 'burner. He'd be mad now!
Jelma groaned as over 4g's pressed her into her seat. She
was along for the ride and kept quiet. On the radio Metallica's Enter Sandman
came on. Rock n roll!
They were heading away from Japan. On one of the computer
displays, their course was a red line. It was very wavy now. Chen saw this and
rolled back on course. And flew on unmolested for five minutes. Suddenly orange
tracer fire shot past them, feet away. The Eagle had found them again!
"Oh no! Fucking hell!" Jelma shouted.
"Something like that," Chen cursed, turning
again. He did a series of S turns then kept on jinking their plane. Jelma began
to feel queasy but kept quiet.
More tracer fire zoomed past, a bit further away. The
jinking worked! The record changed to the Bangles Bitchin' Summer. On their
flight went. Would they make it?
Suddenly another tail of fire appeared high up in the
night, like a climbing meteor. Was it another Eagle? Their time would soon run
out. Chen watched it and his computers, swiftly rolling till they were
inverted. Then he jiggled their jet through more turns at dizzying flight attitudes.
More gunfire shot past. Suddenly there was a bang behind them.
They slowed dramatically. "He's hit us. The bastard.
He's actually hit my plane!"
"I know that Chen! Do something," Jelma
shouted, tears in her eyes. Was this it?
"He's hit us," Chen kept saying.
Jelma took over. Literally. She looked her computer
screen. It said Shut down starboard
engine yes/no? "I'm taking over
ok Chen?"
She leant forward and touched yes. More instructions followed: Shutdown fuel to starboard engine yes/no? Jelma clicked yes.
The radio changed to Voodoo Child by the Rogue Traders. And
the other tail of fire flew past their damaged jet. Jelma's eyed followed it.
It was a black dart, a Chinese J-10 fighter. He was chasing the Eagle. This was
their chance!
Jelma turned their jet onto the way the green flight course
arrow was facing, to Japan. They were back on track. A sudden flash and orange
glow, followed by a loud explosion, heard even over the single remaining engine
and song, was heard. Who had killed who?
Chen was quiet. He was in shock. Jelma flew his Citation
the rest of the journey. She let Chen rest. The Chinese Air Force J-10 fighter
had saved their lives, that was obvious, turning up when it did. The rest of
their low level flight was uneventful. Alternative music guided their way.
