Anywho, who is winning so far?
If you're asking who's winning the war, it's Nerverak. Most of Cartelian is held by Nerverak, and the 86th Elite Fighter Wing is currently holed up in Darina's international airport, all the way down in Yuktobania. We're currently trying to fend off an unmarked invasion force.
I circumnavigate the furball and contact the JTAC on the channel as briefed.
"Pointer 1, this is Swordsman, one F-16, 20 nm north of Darina, altitude 10000, loaded with 4 CBU-97, 2 AGM-65, 511 Vulcan 20mm. Ready for tasking."
"Swordsman, Pointer 1, I am a qualified JTAC embedded in an IFV column located on a hilltop 23 miles NNW of Darina. Type I is in effect. An allied light armor row is moving in from the east through woodland cover 6 miles from our position. Multiple MANPADS confirmed within the area. Advise when ready for 9-line."
"Ready for 9-line."
I anxiously look out the side of my canopy as the JTAC reads the information over the radio. I quickly review my target and method of attack, look over the IP on an MFD, and read the information back to confirm. The furball looms ever closer. I feel my chest tighten as I circle around for the attack.
"Pointer 1, Swordsman, approaching from the west, 30 seconds."
"Swordsman, you are cleared hot!"
The CCIP reticle sits in the middle of the targeted armor column. Right as my thumb comes to rest over the weapons release, a flurry of warning tones fill the roosterpit and overwhelm my senses. I reflexively jerk the stick and press the button, prematurely letting the CBU-97 fall. Had it been a different munition, the probability of kill would have been slashed by a significant margin.
"Pointer 1, I'm off dry! Fox 2 inbound, aborting!"
My heart pounds. Beads of sweat form around my temples, threatening to occlude my vision as I try to locate the threat. I quickly spot the missile trail, and find the S-32 that launched it directly in front of me...