[u][b]Task Force 141 Supernovae class (Aurora) VFA-30 ( The Raven wings) Lieutenant Jasper Cane [/b][/u] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b3/f8/75/b3f8756683d8d218be2a257f13bfccc4.jpg[/img] A thick smoke hung in the operations room of the carrier as pilots and crew talked amongst themselves. All 60 seats were full and more people stood at the rear of the room, adding the symphony of voices. “Skipper on deck!” Someone yelled as the sound of over 100 people snapped to quick attention. “Sit!” the man yelled as he walked in, flipping two switches on the wall as he passed. The room was suddenly went dark as the holographic board towards the front of the room lit up, detailing todays mission. “ Alright, this is a full squadron action….” He paused surveying the room quickly “ We’ll fly two sorties today un-escorted” he finished tapping the control podium over to the side of the board. “Us, VFA-11 and 34 will launch a regroup at a predesignated point in low atmosphere, designated point alpha.” He finished before the display changed into a series of aircraft symbols and elongated arrows superimposed over a picture of Mordant prime. “We will then push, as a group, toward our bombing objectives to support the ground assault. We will be bombing the city’s edge.” He quipped again, the display changing to a crisp real time feed of the bombing area. The officer grabbed a stylus from the podium and walked in front of the board before beginning to circle points of interest. “ Your objective is to hit Machine gun, cannon and other anti-aircraft position to clear the way for VFA-34 behind you, who will be bombing the interior of the city. The areas I have circled are identified as known targets. However, if you see any other targets on your run in, you have free discretion to smack it.” He paused again, looking around the room “ The entire city is free fire zone”. The captain then pressed another button on the board before drawing a blue line along a visible trench in the live feed. “ This is a friendly trench, at approximately 30.99 North and -12.1 East. Please for the love of the sun, keep your fire clear of this grid. We don’t need another friendly fire incident.” He said in a condescending tone, walking back to the podium and turning the lights back on. “ Any Questions?” he yelled surveying the room once again. A pilot quickly raised his hand “ Why are we un-escorted” she quipped, prompting grumbling for the remainder of the room. “ Rebel air is nearly nonexistent for a few months, we have no reason to believe it will show up here” the captain answered, prompting continued grumbling from the room “ Are you sure!” another pilot yelled “ Cause we’ve seen this movie and we lost a few guys” he continued prompting laughter from the rest of the pilots. “Yes!” the captain yelled, before tapping another button the podium prompting another display change “ Order of battle is as follows! First in line in the scouting 5, providing target scans for the first bombing once carrying anti-radiation bombs and conventional high explosive”. He paused again “Following them will be bombing two, carrying plasma incendiary munitions, burning the target clean for the land assault”. He quipped before changing the display one last time, displaying the bombing group assignments “ Dismissed!” he yelled before the sound of people leaving the room filled the room. Jasper sighed, as he walked toward the hangar bay, the picture of his bomber assignment seared into his head. ‘ Lucky, bombing 1, Loadout: six anti radiation bombs’ This was nothing new to Jasper, he was a four year veteran of VFA-30 and has seen combat all across Mordant prime. Serving since the beginning of the Mordant Pime campaign, this “easy” bombing run was a welcome change from the attrition of the early campaign. “ Hey boss” he heard behind him, turning to see his weapons officer walking behind him “ what a meeting huh?” he quipped with a laugh, trailing a thin string of smoke as he talked “ Yeah” Jasper said with a laugh “ Skipper know what he’s doing though” he quipped reassuringly as they both walked into the hangar bay. The pair walked along the rows of aircraft before coming to a halt in front of an S-12 naval bomber with “Lucky” crudely painted along the side under the cockpit. “ there she is…” the weapons officer quipped before walking off to speak with the aircraft technicians, leaving Jasper to stare up at the open cockpit. “ Here we go again” he said with a sigh, before climbing the deployable ladder up into the cockpit. The crew layout of the S-12 was designed to maximize cooperation while minimizing distractions, the pilot sat facing the front towards the windows, while the weapons officer and navigator sat side by side, facing the rear of the craft. This had the intended goal of minimizing distractions but also left the other crew members completely clueless to the wellbeing of the pilot. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but if the pilot was injured or simply blown to bits it would take a little while for the other crew members to notice and save the craft before a crash. Something Japser had seen on many occasions. Jasper climbed into the chair and sat down, switching the battery of the craft on to begin his pre-flight check. He checked the fluid levels, his fuel reserves and did a quick control test of the flight surfaces before he was once again distracted by the entrance of his weapons officer and navigator, closing the cockpit canopy as they walked to the rear of the cockpit area. Letting out another sigh, and hearing the sound of other engines starting, Japser held down the engine start button as the craft shuddered below him before being replaced by a continuous dull hum. ‘Here we go again’ he thought once, letting out a long sigh before pulling his helmet over his head.