There had been a rainstorm during the night, the new dawn rose to reveal that the Allied Aircraft Carrier"White Fang" on station off the Belkan coast with her flight deck now glistening in the aftermath of the storms passing.

Cerberus 1 sat in the cockpit of his beloved Su-33, the aging aircraft was slowly fading out of the Navy's air wing, but he'd be damned if he would turn over his old friend for one of those fancy "experimental" aircraft the top brass were crowing about.

the aircraft carrier was facing into the rising sun, so he lowered his visor to block the glare the wet surface produced and was running through his preflight checks as Cerberus 2 joined him before the ski ramp.

"Beautiful day for flying, isn't it Sir?" She greeted him, her Estovocian accent more pronounced over the radio. She, like all the members of his team, flew an Su-33, and he took a moment to admire the Grey camouflage and the snarling three-headed dog painted onto both the tail-fin and the nose cone, the aircraft was identical to his own, the only minor difference was the time each pilot had spent serving their country.

"Indeed it is Cerberus two." he replied, "Indeed it is."

Movement in the mirror above his HUD caused him to glance back over his shoulder, the other members of his team were emerging from the hanger and forming up behind him on the flight deck.

There was Cerberus three, the rookie just out of the academy but learning fast and eager for his first actual combat mission, today he might get his wish.

Cerberus four lifted a hand in greeting as he climbed aboard his own aircraft, he alone had actually requested a transfer to this squadron, but his reasons for why were kept close to his chest.

Cerberus Five was just rising from the hanger bay and the flight lead could see the pilot already at work inside the cockpit with his own checks, but then again, Cerberus Five did everything by the book.

Cerberus one flexed his shoulders and rested his hand on the throttle, today was indeed a good day to fly.

He just hoped it wouldn't be his last.

can I play?

Cerberus Team skimmed over the waves like Grey hawks in the dawn light, the four younger pilots formed up behind their leader in their trademark delta formation, keeping low to avoid the radar domes of Belkan coastal defenses during their hunt for Transport aircraft trying to break the blockade.

"Cerberus Lead to all planes, keep your eyes peeled, don't rely only on your radar, your eyes can pick up far more that any computer."

"Cerberus two, roger. did you hear that three?"

"I Copy Ceberus two."

Phoenix Squad was approaching the 3rd leg of their patrol. The squadron leader, a 32 year old veteran of the last war, checked his navigation chart. He was 30 seconds behind schedule.

"Phoenix, this is Phoenix 1, increase speed to 320 knots."
"Two, increasing speed to 320 knots."
"Three."
"Four."

High command has been receiving reports of Allied Fighters harassing transports in the area, and have stepped up Counter-Air missions. But so far his scope was clean, the only thing the Warning receiver was picking up was friendly ground radar, and at 25,000 feet the only thing he could see was the sun rising over the ocean horizon.

"Phoenix, proceeding to waypoint 4."

"Cerberus 2 to lead, i have four contacts, 2 o'clock high, traveling at 2500 feet and 320 knots."

Cerberus one narrowed his eyes, picking out the shape of four F-16s cruising above them. apparently unaware of the deadly enemy lurking below.

"i see them Two."

he considered his options, he had the advantage, speed, surprise, numbers and position. his orders were to attack enemy aircraft.

"they could be moving to escort a transport that slipped though the net." Cerberus Five suggested.

Cerberus 1 nodded to himself, that settled it.

"Cerberus lead to all planes, move into attack formation and engage. send them running."

"Two, roger.
"Three."
"Four."
"Five."

The five Su-33s banked hard upwards, and quickly reached their top speed as they screamed towards their helpless prey

*beep-beep*

Number two recognized the tell-tale warning that the computer has picked up a new contact.

"Two, I got an RWR hit at 7 o'clock..."

The leader looked down at his Threat indicator, the <33> symbol confirming that he was being spiked by enemy radar. He let out an expletive under his breath. If they were hostile, they had the drop on him.

"One, copy. All planes, Jettison tanks. Three and Four, check right 90 degrees. Two, follow me."
"Two, roger."
"Three, roger, checking right. Four, go cover"
"Four, roger."

The flight lead rolled his plane to the left, throttled up, and turned 90 degrees to the left of his original heading.

Cerberus 1 felt a prang of respect for the enemy flight leader, the down time between Cerberus team breaking cover and his reaction was slight and already they were coming around to face their attackers. but it was too late.

his experienced eye spotted the minor delay from the two aircraft that had banked to the right, away from the sudden appearance of Cerberus. they would be the first. his computer tagged them Alpha and Bravo and the other two Charlie and Delta

Charlie and delta must be the flight lead and his 2IC, so more fighters there would be logical.

"Three, Four and Five, Engage Charlie and Delta, two stay on my wing. We shall engage targets Alpha and Bravo. Scare them, but don't kill them."
"Two, Roger. I'm with you."

Cerberus team split up, still at maximum speed, ten they were in the midst of the enemy formation, driving them further apart with cannon fire.

"One, Engaging."
"Two, Engaging."

"SHIT! Three, engaged defensive, we are under fire"

Phoenix Three felt his heart skip a beat as cannon fire whizzed past his craft. He rolled and tried to turn into his attackers as hard as his plane would allow.
Four inverted his craft and went into a Split-S maneuver.

"One, acknowledged. Phoenix, take evasive action."
The leader jerked his stick right and sliced his craft down, at around 30 degrees off the horizontal, his wingman staying 100 yards off of his six.

Cerberus members three four and five pounced on the slow moving Delta, their cannons blazing, while Cerberus Lead slowed to follow alpha's reckless turn, Two followed her prey down into the split s, her aircaft's frame easily handling the stress

"Be careful now," Cerberus one warned his team, "at least some of them know what they're doing."

Number two heard the whizzing of Cerebus' cannon rounds fly past his canopy.
"WOAH, that was way too close!"
"Three, I cant shake 'em."
"Phoenix One to all planes, this is no good, lose your attackers, and disengage. Head due south."

"Ceberus 2 to lead, the enemy is trying to back off, we've done it."

"Well they won't get far," Cerberus three yelled, "the chase is on!"

"Negative Three," Cerberus one snapped, "we were ordered to enforce the blockade, NOT the war. All planes regroup into delta formation. We're done here. Resume the Patrol."

"Two, wilco." her aircraft slid into line like it was on greased rails and Four and five waggled their wings at the retreating enemy before forming ups themselves.
"Four. Lead the way."
"Five. in position."

"Three, you didn't copy." Two snapped, "Comply with the order immediately."

Three sighed, then his aircraft slid into its place in the formation with obvious reluctance, "Roger two. forming up."

Cerberus one pushed his throttle fully open and head back down towards the dead-zone in the coastal radar offered by the sea, his team following like nothing interesting had occurred. only Cerberus Three looked back at the now distant specks of the enemy aircraft, the eyes beneath his visor ablaze with battle-lust.

"Four, in formation."

Phoenix one double checked his formation, making sure everyone was accounted for.
"Phoenix, this is Phoenix One, what is your status?"

Two looked down at his instrument panel.
"Two, status is...green. Fuel-state is...2500 pounds. Over."
"Three, status is green. Fuel-state is...2600 pounds. Over."
"Four, status is green. Fuel-state is...3000 pounds. Over."

"One, copy. Divert course to homeplate."

One unclipped his mask, and took a deep breath. His flight had been ambushed by a larger force of superior aircraft. It was a near miracle everyone would be coming home alive. As he looked at the mid-morning sun, it occurred to him; this day was still far from over.

"Wizard One to AWACS, why didn't you invite us to the party?
--This is Wizard Squadron Leader Wizard one broadcasting on an open channel; what's going on fellas?"

"Cerberus one, commence carrier landing checks, you are cleared to land."

"Wilco White Fang, its nice be home."

Cerberus one ran through the familiar checks as he lined up on the landing beacon the huge ship was broadcasting, smiling under his mask at his decade old habit, he had to be the first off and the last back on during all operations, something that had doubtless started out innocently enough but had morphed into habit due to serving pilot Paranoia. he feared that the day he stopped would be the day he wouldn't fly again. that terrified him.

He hit the deck directly on the second cable, the same as always, and moved his aircraft into its space on the line up.

his mind went back the the skirmish not half an hour ago, something about the enemy squadron's lead pilot had bothered him, the way he had confidently controlled his plane, making Cerberus 1 feel he had seen them before, in the last war, but he dismissed it as a waste of time as his boots hit the flight deck. he paused and patted the Cerberus Badge under the cockpit, rewarding his friend for getting him back safely once more

he had a new foe to fight, one that could reduce the strongest man to tears.

Wing Commander, "Valkyrie."

Lead Sun: The attack was green. Form up team, its gonna get nasty in there. Dagger drop formation in stealth. Over.
Sun Two: Copy.
Sun Three: Copy.
Sun Four: Gotcha.
Sun Five: Ready.

The squadron flew along side the bomber formation with their dark blue planes blending into the sky.