"Tempest, this is AWACS, callsign Blackwater, I have you on my scopes vector 290 range 80 miles, two bogeys on the scope heading 110 range, 190. We will be monitoring your activities from here. You are not weapons free at this current time."
"Tempest copies all,"
A few seconds later a buzzer begins to chirp periodically in my ear, a radar had locked on to my aircraft.
A red light flashes in the roosterpit as a buzzer sounds in my ear, a radar missile had been launched!
I roll and turn hard right and dump chaff in my wake, and reverse the turn and dump more. The light ceases to flash and the buzzer falls silent, my hands are shaking.
"Blackwater I've been fired upon, permission to engage?!"
"Negative,"
"The IFF is negative though, and they're fi-"
"Tempest, you are weapons free,"
"Copy,"
The radar lines up a target, the locking tone is in my ear, I keep nervously looking back and forth between the sky in front of me and the liquid crystal screens of the roosterpit, waiting. Then the tone changes and the HUD reports the missile is locked, I press the button to fire.
The missile speeds away into the sky, nervously I watch and wait, seconds feel much longer. The tone in my ear reports the missile is still tracking. In a few seconds it falls silent.
"Blackwater, Tempest here, missile impact, splash one,"
There is a few second pause.
"Confirm, splash one,-"
The missile alert blares in my ear, I roll left and pull hard, dumping chaff, the missile is still tracking, I roll and reverse the turn, deploying chaff again, it fails. An idea strikes me, I deploy more chaff and pull hard upwards, sending the aircraft vertical. My G-suit inflates, and my vision narrows. The missile however, stops tracking. I notice the glare of a flash of light in the reflection of my canopy. I pull through the Immelmann turn and wait.
"Blackwater, I didn't copy your last,"
"Splash one, second hostile is disengaging, anchor and stay in the area until you receive further orders,"
"Tempest copies all,"
