[center][h1][color=ed1c24]Rath Drazkowski[/color][/h1][/center]

Rath had been doing last-minute check-ups and adjustments inside his Su-27SM but was otherwise ready to deploy as soon as the command was given. While the Su-37M2 was a much fancier TSf, he felt more comfortable with his current model not that he would have gotten a terminator anyway. Rath made sure the three photos that accompanied him in every mission were secure in their fixtures, he had the maintenance crew put something together on the trip here so that he put them in a proper place.  He picked his head up a little at the distant sound of an explosion from the outside, so the party was already kicking off? Through his display he could see the red lights turn on and moments later the obnoxious sound of the warning klaxon "[color=ed1c24]Trzy..dwa..jeden...[/color]" he counted to himself in his thick accent, right before the message rang out across the ship "[b]General Quarters, General Quarters, all hands man your battle stations. TSF Pilots make ready for immediate launch[/b]."

The statement was hardly jarring to the veteran pilot but the anticipation was what got him, those few moments between the alarm and the order to take-off always made his heart race just a bit faster. His hands gripped the controls of his TSF moving onto the platform elevator, their time would soon come to join the fight. Normally he wasn't so quiet in the pre-op but this was all too familiar to him, the scars of Opertion Ouka were still fresh. [b][i]Who is your Father?[/i][/b] [color=ed1c24]My great motherland, the Soviet Union[/color]! [b][i]Who is your mother?[/i][/b] [color=ed1c24]My beloved motherland, the land of Eurasia[/color]! [b][i]What is your task[/i]?[/b] [color=ed1c24]To slay my hated foe, the BETA[/color]! [b][i]Who fights with you[/i]?[/b] [color=ed1c24]My trusted allies, the Grey Wolves[/color]! He could still hear the faint voice of Captain Ivanova asking each question to his comrades, though he had to respond this time for them. [color=ed1c24]We are a single sword forged in the fires of hell[/color]! His comrades even in death continued to support him and give him strength. Without it...he did not know if he would be alive right now. He finally decided to smile, at least for them. If they ever knew how sentimental he was being, they would never let him hear the end of it.

Colonel Faber's voice came through the communications link, Rath's eyes fixed on his name that had come up on the display. His smile did not falter at this new information about Heavy-Laser class BETA, it was not going to change their objective nor their orders. Rath and his TSF were ready to launch once more into hell on earth and once more he would climb back out. "[color=0054a6]You're going to be launching in the next few minutes t--[/color]" An explosion rocked the ship causing several of the maintenance personnel to stumble. That was too loud to be a TSF...Rath gritted his teeth as the realization washed over him that the explosion had to have come from a transport "[color=0054a6]Scratch that, Grey Wolves, launch immediately[/color]!" They needed to take the beach-head and neutralize those laser-class immediately or the whole operation was at jeopardy "[color=ed1c24]Roger[/color]!" He did not make any jokes at this time, smiles and laughter would be for their victory.

The platform rose and with it his vision of the battlefield. Twisted, burning metal of the Cardoba immediately got his attention, that must have been the cause of the explosion he heard just moments ago. Faber was counting on them for this mission's succes and his own survival. The dispersed wreckage of other TSFs did not lower his composure as the platform finished rising and he got his TSF ready for surface-to-air launch. A last order from their CO informed them further of the situation. [i]Luck[/i]? He didn't know that the Commander had such a great sense of humor.  He smirked for a moment "[color=ed1c24]Time to put your money where your mouth is Anders[/color]." His voice entered over the squad's comms, knowing that the green-horn has never been in a fight like this. "[color=00aeef]Just watch and learn, Red[/color]." Rath let out a little laugh, even though he hated being called 'Red' it was worth it to hear her pissed. He immediately began powering his boosters while she replied, and once his thrust was guaranteed he stated "[color=ed1c24]Wolf-5, launching[/color]!" He activated his boosters and the Su-27SM lurched forward at incredible speed from the transport vessel to engage in NOE flight, this was hardly enough room for a proper launch but they didn't have the time to complain.

Rath skimmed the surface of the water on his approach, the feet of of his TSF only a few meters above it. His muscles were tense as he performed his maneuvers to avoid getting shot down by a Laser-class, he was not about to be shot down before he even got to the beach. A TSF from a different squadron followed suit though he was riding the maximum height pretty close. [color=ed1c24][i]Idiot, Lower your altitude bef[/i][/color]...a bright flash and a eruption of flames filled his vision. He had to make it to the beach. Just a few more meters...He raised his right arm holding his assault cannon and laid fire down on the beach, taking out several tank-class before reaching the shore. Quickly reversing his boosters to slow himself down for a softer landing, his TSF touched down on the same beaches the allies landed on in 1944 "[color=ed1c24]This is Wolf-5, I have made land-fall[/color]." He wasted no time clearing a path to the cliff-side as his left arm deployed its blade motor, knowing that his squad would be soon following close behind. Years on the front-line had taught him his role very well, there was no where he felt more comfortable than at the front of the formation. Squad unity was something that was crucial to Rath but Major Kochenkov...he didn't trust her at all. He would need to wait for them to arrive however, the BETA were already moving on his position. 


[center][h1][color=00aeef]Haley Anderson[/color][/h1][/center]

Haley couldn't help but think what a patch-work set-up of a squad this was as she waited in the pilot's seat of her F-15E Strike Eagle, awaiting the order to begin deployment. What was this unit supposed to even be? She had given the time to read up her squad-mates, something that red-haired bastard made fun of her for. Was this the UN's attempt to have all the nation's play nice for once? Now that was a joke. This battalion was completely unnecessary for the purpose of this operation, the fact that she was assigned to this unit was even more frustrating. The sound of a soft explosion ripped her from her thoughts, startling her just before the red hue of the emergency lights flooded the hangar and the near-deafening sound of the warning klaxon. Could that explosion have been a TSF? Suddenly her grievances with the squad were forgotten and replaced with the jarring realization that her mission was about to start.


"[b]General Quarters, General Quarters, all hands man your battle stations. TSF Pilots make ready for immediate launch[/b]." Somehow those words made the situation all the more surreal, her eyes watching the maintenance crew scattered off the platform that would raise her onto the ship's deck. The mission couldn't possibly be starting already! She figured it would only further her goal of proving herself in combat, and being assigned a F-22 Raptor, the best US TSF in service, instead of this F-15E. Once she was piloting that, it would only serve as further testament to her abilities as a TSF pilot. Dominic would be somewhere observing her during this battle, so there was no way she could afford to fail him. She only hoped that the other members of her squad wouldn't slow her down too much.

"[color=0054a6]Grey Wolves, we're less than an hour from the Northern Coast of Spain, we've unfortunately just confirmed that there are Heavy-Laser Class BETA present in the landing area, despite what we know from satellite reconnaissance. You're going to be launching in the next few minutes t--[/color]" The second explosion cut off Colonel Fabel, the sound much sharper than the previous one. That was way too loud to be just another TSF...could that have been? Violently she shook her head free of these thoughts, she had yet to take-off and already she felt shaken. It was completely unacceptable of someone of her caliber. She could already see that smug smile on his face, she wouldn't give him any ammunition for his jokes. Adrenaline was already seeping into her bloodstream, if they waited any longer on this tin can they would all be dead!

"[color=0054a6]Scratch that, Grey Wolves, launch immediately[/color]!" The command came immediately after the explosion settled, at least the CO understood how to control a situation "[color=00aeef]Yes sir[/color]!" She stated firmly through the TSF's comms though she felt her heart beginning to race. A couple deep breath as the platform began to rise allowed for Haley to steady herself.  There were other pilots with few missions under their belt like her but they were both rather unremarkable in their reports, according to her. As her F-15E rose up to the deck, the sight of the fresh war-zone around her clenched her chest once more at the scattered remains of several TSFs. Upon hearing the Colonel's newest intel, she made a mental acknowledgment of the information. A quick scoff sounded at the idea of 'luck', she didn't need such a superstitious thing when she had skill. A quick glance over to the right confirmed her early suspicion but she just didn't want to believe it...a whole transport gone. A sick feeling arose in her stomach, everytime she thought she had gotten over her nerves something new opened them up fresh "[color=ed1c24]Time to put your money where your mouth is Anders[/color]." That pathetic soviet dog was already challenging her? The boiling of her blood took away the shock from what she just saw "[color=00aeef]Just watch and learn, Red[/color]." She barely contained her anger, even she knew this wasn't the time. It was only seconds after she said that he darted off towards the beach, she was not about to let him off that easily.

"[color=00aeef]Wolf-7, launching[/color]!" Her announcement carrying a bit of her previous anger as her booster ignited sending her towards the beach. Watching the Soviet pilot maneuver so well frustrated her, every turn and strafe was nearly flawless in execution. Was this the ability of a pilot on the front-line? She refused to admit that Red was anywhere close to being better. Her talent would need to make up for her lack of experience or she would not make it through. Her arms raised the AMWS-21 Combat Systems mounted to the F-15E, it was time to show-case her marksmanship. Every pull of the trigger resulted in a dead BETA as she approached the shore, her mind focused not only on survival but victory. A few moments after Rath touched down on the sand, Haley did so as well her heart-racing faster than it ever has "[color=00aeef]Wolf-7 here, I have landed. Proceeding to assist Wolf-5[/color]." So this was life-or-death on the front-lines?

Regrettably, she would have to rely on Red until the rest of the squad touched down on the beach and stayed close to him, providing support fire while dealing with BETA that came after her. Grappler-class and tank-class were their current targets, they were just so many of them...and yet Red seemed to be keeping his composure through it all. She was not about to let a lousy commie show her up, she would be stronger than him. [i]Put her money where her mouth was[/i]? She was going to make him regret ever saying those words to her. No other squads seemed to have made it onto the beach yet, that meant the 231st would have to pick up their slack