copyright 1993, by Alex Mickschl
"Dawn. The most beautiful sight I've ever laid my eyes upon! The sounds of the world are humbly silenced at her resplendence, rising gracefully over the treetops in the distance. As she elegantly unfolds into the morning air I feel a warmth flow through my body, a warmth I have felt countless times, it seems. A feeling of safety, of reinforcing elation following an arduous experience. A Guardian Angel that shall forever reside in my soul."
"You always were too romantic to be in this kind of work, Perry!" shouts Lieutenant Ariel Sutton over the whine of approaching plasma engines supporting the armored physique of the Guardian Angel affectionately christened, "Dawn" by the members of weapons squad, 1st platoon, Bravo Company, 3rd battalion (Hareborne), 54th Rabbit Recon Regiment.
A smile is Perry's only reply.
Dawn pillows down on the troop loading pad in formation with seventeen other AH-21 Guardian Angel assault craft. "Let's pack it in tight, people! We got a whole 'nother squad to fit inside her with us!" The loading platform descends from the Dawn's belly and instantly crowds with troops as they scramble aboard her sanctuary.
Guardian Angels are designed to travel low and fast, deliver a blow with a heavy arsenal and deliver troops. Though traveling at any speed they are slow to maneuver. An 'Angel is vertical takeoff and landing capable, so precision insertion is a quality it is famous for. Pods amid-wing teem with air to air and air to surface missiles and twin six-barreled auto cannons project in front of the cockpit and two more face to the rear to discourage would-be tailgaters.
"Hi ya there, girl, you're looking proud as ever!" Corporal Perry gently pats the hull of the 'Angel and finds his assigned seat and begins to strap in. He scans the compartment absorbing the atmosphere watching the rest of his comrades stow equipment and settle in.
"This is it, I guess," Perry ponders aloud, then stifles, "This is the biggest move against the Empire we've attempted since the Revolt twenty years ago, I've been on many dangerous missions before, but for some reason this one scares me. It's so......large scale, so seemingly awkward. Not like all the small unit hit and run missions we've used until now. Somebunny somewhere must have the courage and confidence in us to do this......Attack the Imperial Palace on Earth!
"Or maybe we're just daft."
"Hey, Corporal comatose! You gonna join us here in our little role call?" Quips the Lt.. who fails to mask her grin behind the feigned scolding, "If you're too busy I understand....."
Perry snaps from his introspectivity, glancing towards his three fire team members to check their status, "Alpha team secure, Ma'am. We're ready to kick posterior and take names."
The loading ramp seals shut and muffles the uproar of eighteen 'Angels as they alight and venture forth to link up with a squadron of tactical fighters and be escorted to the fields of battle.
"Hazel flight this is Hazel Leader, form up and assume cruise velocity and altitude. The 'Little Helpers' e.t.a. is five mikes. Keep a close eye out for anything suspicious. Maintain comm. silence unless imperative, over."
Apart from the low grumble of Dawns power plant, nobunny made a sound. A heavy fog of intense emotion flows through the compartment like a lightning bolt ready to strike. Building up power, waiting for the final moment to release its energy in a tremendous fury, scorching the land. Some intently double and triple check equipment, some whisper a prayer, some stare through the bulkhead with a look of passionate ferocity. All concentrate on the mission, Seeing in their minds individual tasks performed with precision.
"Each and every one of you have made the mental and physical sacrifices to be here with us," Lieutenant Sutton's voice rings clear in each troopers helmetcomm. Her voice is not an interruption but a catalyst, raising the spirit feeding the raw power that seethes throughout the tight space. "This is a most crucial battle. One that will go down in history no matter what the outcome. Your will to win must be pure and unwavering if you wish to fight to reclaim that which we hold so dear. Freedom."
Tonight the new moon could not lend light to the darkness blanketing the earth. The clear sky displays its collected works of sparkling impressionistic art. Hazel squadron's tight formation glide through the chill air, their wailing engines indistinguishable from the screams of a banshee.
"Hazel Leader this is Scarlet Leader, confirm rendezvous for operation Succotash."
"Glad you could make it Scarlet Leader, we are in flight pattern and ready for phase two of operation. Hazel Squadron get ready to hop & weave on my mark."
"You hotshots just keep your tails low and let us take you into the heart of the fox's den!"
"Roger, Scarlet Leader, see you in the fire!"
The sleek outlines of the small fighter escorts dart and swarm around the 'Angels who descend to treetop level and begin the 3 hour flight of strenuous maneuvers that keep them hidden from long range sensors. Avoiding short range sensors, conversely, is a bit more complex. A rollercoaster of a ride ensues, as the 'Angels hug the surface of the planet, taking a toll on the stomachs of even the most veteran Hareborne troops. To the entire squadrons relief, their evasion succeeds.
"Ten minutes to touchdown, people!" cries the Lt.. over the comm. "Wake up and lose those sickbags! It was a hell of a ride, eh?! Woo!"
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"Scarlet Leader this is Hazel Leader, all 'Angels are green. Standby to en......."
"Scarlet Leader, this is Scarlet 5, we've been tagged on short range scanners! I've got a confirmed 40 'Coyotes' scrambling into the air from sector 47, starboard side of the formation!"
Dawn. The faithful champion of goodness and light clears the mountain tops behind Hazel and Scarlet squadrons. Unleashing it's rays of brilliance in a salvo of thermonuclear radiation, blinding the Imperial Palace. But the Imperial fighter pilots know this tactic and continue to close from the flanks.
"Those fighters will be in range in 3 mikes!"
"Steady, Hazel Squadron! Arm all weapons systems, engage electronic countermeasures and prepare to defend."
From above the formation two Imperial patrollers scream down loosing all their missiles into the mass of 'Angels
"Frack! Two of them 12 o'clock high! Firing missiles!"
"Evasive, Hazel!" barks Hazel Leader as his 'Angel banks sharply, wingtips flicking the tops of pine trees. "Get those bastards, Little Helpers!"
"Wahoo! He didn't even see me comin'!!" A direct hit from Scarlet 3 tears the first Imperial fighter in half and detonates in a ball of plasma before Hazel Leader can finish dodging the missiles.
The incoming spray of warheads from the two Imperials shower through the scattering 'Angels and blossom flashes of orange and yellow within the mighty redwood forests below, unable to pull up in time to reacquire target locks.
"Scarlet 10 and 11 take out that last excuse for a pilot. The rest of you break off and engage the incoming 'Coyotes' attack pattern Theta!" Scarlet Leader issues and leads his flock peeling away from the 'Angels and closes the gap with the enemy in seconds. A horde of missiles leap forth from each opposing group of fighters, followed by the forming of an insane tapestry weaved by the exhaust and smoke trails from two formations torn asunder by evading missile fire. Bursting black clouds of smoke suspend in the sky dropping flaming wreckage upon the earth.
Hazel Leader turns his attention back to his targeting computer, the Imperial Palace looms on the screen as forbidding as in reality. Perched atop a mountain with sheer cliffs dropping from three of its sides, the only way in bristles with defenses. Elite Imperial Guard fortify gun emplacements, anti-aircraft batteries, armored hovertanks and personnel carriers.
"Cripes, how can they call that a palace when it looks more like a cross between Ancient Troy, the Alamo, and Normandy beach on d-day!?" Hazel 7's voice crackles over the radios.
"Right, knock it off. One strafe on the palace, then Alpha group lands the assault while Bravo group strafes again, then Alpha whoops on the Imperials while Bravo offloads. So knock out everything you can and drop your brethren. Then hustle back into the sky and support the troops." Hazel Leader, enraptured by the superfortress, notices an unsettling inactivity amongst the forces on the mountainside. They are just waiting for Hazel Squadron to fly into their sights. Fear and anxiety wash away with ebbing resolve. "Not today," he promises the photo of a family wedged into his console. "Okay, Hazel Squadron, let's make history again! Hit 'em hard......!"
"Hit 'em low!!" the uproarious response of the 'Angel Creed trumpets from each cockpit.
"Hazel Leader, this is Teal Leader, confirm rendezvous for operation Succotash."
"Teal Leader, this is Hazel Leader, we are in attack position and executing phase three..........Now!" Teal Squadron's reinforcements of 'Angels fall into ranks with Hazel Squadron and kick in the afterburners as they speed towards their target, which unbridles a brilliant fusillade of flak guns and tracer lasers.
