war party jelma no4 story extract

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.