[center][h1][color=#4682B4]Scott Valentine[/color][/h1][/center]

One by one, the rest of Scott's flight checked in, reporting their hits. In synch with their words, the volume of fire from the island dropped away, the streams of tracers stabbing up through the night skies falling silent. 
As Scott's Harrier circled the island, one wing dipped, he could see the laser-like lines of fire reaching out toward them had died out and replaced with the glowing orange points of fires where their attacks had been driven home. Likewise, on the surface of the sea, the hulk of the corvette burned fiercely, sinking slowly and a stream of smoke stretching up into the night skies. The smoke choked out the moonlight, scattering reflections on the waves. The rest of First Flight slid into position on his wings, their missions completed.
[color=#4682B4]"Cobalt One to Flight One; outstanding work. Move to holding position to meet up with Flight Two and hold above Lampedusa, over. Skywatch, this is Cobalt Leader; all targets destroyed, or no factor. Moving to rendezvous with Flight Two. Are we ready for phase two, over?"[/color]

Aboard the E-2D Hawkeye miles distant from the combat zone, radar operators checked and rechecked the positions of everything within the range of the powerful AN/APY-9 radar in the steadily rotating disc above the fuselage. Confirming the positions and location of the other aircraft that were part of the operation, the operators came back to Scott on the common channel for the squadron.
"Skywatch to Cobalt Squadron, confirmed. No hostiles in your area, phase two commencing now. Cobalt Hotel element, you have a go, over"

The squadron's Eurocopter Panther sped in, rotors thundering as the air slapped beneath them. Brigitte was at the controls and flying, night-vision goggles down over her face. The dimmed cockpit instruments cast an eerie glow over her fine features, while in the seat beside her Miles manned the weapon systems. The helicopter had been standing ready, and - along with the three AW-139M Helicopters from the Maltese forces - had lifted off on a timed schedule, as soon as that counter had reached a certain time. Crossing the distance from Malta to Lampedusa and holding in a pattern until the word was given, or until their fuel had run too low. Now the go had been given, they swept in. The more heavily armed Panther zoomed in, crossing the perimeter of the airport in moments and circling, looking for any lingering resistance. Behind it, the trio of Maltese Armed Forces AW-159 helicopters settled into a hover. Ropes unfurled from their sides, and the armed troops rappelled down, quickly moving out and raising their weapons to cover all the approaches. Small arms fire licked out at them, but punishing fire from the Panther lashed back from the miniguns attached to pylons on either side of the fuselage, and from the helicopters dropping the troops in. They spread out quickly, and the lackluster resistance quickly dropped away as the defenders surrendered or were taken down. 
"Skywatch, this is Cobalt Hotel; the airport is secure. Ready for Phase Three, over"
"Cobalt Hotel, Skywatch, Confirmed. Cobalt Heavy, move in, over"
Holding in an orbiting pattern, the trio of C-130 Hercules transports moved in, staggered in a line to space their landings. Snowman and Lily were at the front in the Cobalt Squadron herc, and the approach was as smooth as butter as he guided the big four-engine prop-plane into a landing, reversing thrust as soon as the wheels touched down, and slowing enough to turn off the runway by the first taxiway. The second and third followed perfectly, and the helicopters had already settled down on the apron, personnel moving in and taking control of the air traffic control tower. A few moments later, the light across the airport came on and outlined the runway and all the other taxiways and areas perfectly. 
"Cobalt Lead, this is Lampedusa Control; we're open for business. Feel free to make your way down, over"
[color=#4682B4]"Roger, Lampedusa Control. Get the crews ready to change the oil, wipe the windshield, and rotate the tyres. We're coming in, over. Cobalt Squadron, follow me in to land, by the numbers, and rendezvous on the apron for a briefing. See you on the ground, over"[/color]

The Harrier's gear came down as Scott slid the jet onto a steady approach to the runway, talking back and forth to the control tower as the two-tone grey jet came down. He set the engine nozzles for a short landing, partially pivoting them and the flaps coming down. The touchdown was easy, and the rollout short as the STOVL jets unique flight system showed its' stuff. He taxied to the apron, landing lights flashing as he slid the canopy back, and shut down the engine, Wolf's detachment of maintenance personnel standing by to refuel the plane and load armaments. 
Kat's A-10 touched down in the pattern, the wide-winged jet bouncing lightly on its' main wheels, before the nose came down gently and she slowed steadily, before turning off as well. 
Scott climbed down as soon as he was shut down, stretching and accepting a bottle of water from one of the maintenance techs, drinking half of it in a few heavy gulps, and drenching his face in the rest, unzipping his survival vest and flight suit as he waited for the others to join him.