ABS FIESTA REDUX

[Qwepir]

"No response, Crash. Checking up on it from a distance."
Rocket moves up a pace or so with the roosterpit to check on the situation inside.

The MiG-25 easily passes up the Il-62, and Rocket places himself parallel with the roosterpit. From the distance he is at though, it is impossible to actually make out what's going on inside.

[Ad Bot]

[Mr. Hurricane]

"Understood. CIC, no response to radio communications from us as you can imagine,"

[mattsos]

"stuff, not close enough... moving closer in, hopefully this doesn't become ugly."

Rocket moves up closer to the front of the Il-62 to get a better look, about 70 meters.

[Qwepir]

"stuff, not close enough... moving closer in, hopefully this doesn't become ugly."

Rocket moves up closer to the front of the Il-62 to get a better look, about 70 meters.

You see a pair of silhouettes in the roosterpit, but can't quite make out that they're anything out of the ordinary from where you are. The Il-62 begins yawing in your direction, subtly at first, then accelerating to "worryingly quick".

"Understood. CIC, no response to radio communications from us as you can imagine,"

: I figured as much.
: I've found something, sir. There's an article here that claims the plane's been hijacked, source is a passenger's social media account. Because that's credible. Says they've locked themselves in the lavatory... "Gunfire... pilots dead... where are they taking-"
: Sir! HiCom on the horn, they wish to speak with you.

Marshal Lawniczak walks past Bell to the communications officer's station to take the call.

[mattsos]

"Going evasive, plane's tipping."

Rocket moves away from the main body of the plane, going down to prevent any contact- 100 meters away.

[Operator¹]

: That can't be good. Rocket, circle around and form up on Mjolnir 1-1. Jaakko, hold behind the airliner, but keep your distance so they can't surprise you and force you to overshoot.

[mattsos]

"On it."

He lowers the thrust and pulls back flaps, falling back from the airliner.

"How are we going to do this? There is people on that plane..."

[Mr. Hurricane]

"Gods damnit. CIC, would you rather have me attempt communications? This thing's more maneuverable than -err Rocket's Foxbat,"

[Operator¹]

: I'm waiting for an update on the situation, and it's unlikely whoever is crewing that aircraft is going to be very communicative.

[Qwepir]

: I'm waiting for an update on the situation, and it's unlikely whoever is crewing that aircraft is going to be very communicative.

Whatever High Command had to say, they must have said it quickly, because the VM isn't talking with them for long. He appears gravely displeased with the results of the conversation, and shakes his head before continuing.
: Command believes the flight has been taken over by armed gunmen. They want us to shoot it down if it comes within fifty miles of the carrier.

[Operator¹]

: They think the plane has been hijacked and HiCom wants it to be shot down if it gets within 50 miles of the carrier. Jaakko, we'll go with your suggestion, see if you can't confirm what's happening.

[Mr. Hurricane]

"Rocket, fall back behind the airliner. I'm going to try this now. If they have some sense about them they'll listen,"

Jaakko approaches the airliner slowly from behind, staying a couple hundred meters to its pilot-side before slipping in a bit closer. He watches the distance carefully. He switches his radio the prescribed general communications frequency.

"Pan-Aesthia Flight 6497, this is Major Kirves of the Aesthian Coalition Air Force. Your course deviation will take you into protected strategic airspace, you must change your current heading at this time. Rock you wings if you understand," Jaakko states.

[Qwepir]

"Rocket, fall back behind the airliner. I'm going to try this now. If they have some sense about them they'll listen,"

Jaakko approaches the airliner slowly from behind, staying a couple hundred meters to its pilot-side before slipping in a bit closer. He watches the distance carefully. He switches his radio the prescribed general communications frequency.

"Pan-Aesthia Flight 6497, this is Major Kirves of the Aesthian Coalition Air Force. Your course deviation will take you into protected strategic airspace, you must change your current heading at this time. Rock you wings if you understand," Jaakko states.

The Il-62 begins to accelerate.

[Mr. Hurricane]

Jaakko Intercept Theme

Jaakko accelerates to compensate and returns to the encrypted military channel.

"They're not listening. How much time do we have until the flight comes to within 50 miles? Should I ask about or acknowledge the hijacking?"

And back to the airliner. Jaakko pulls ahead of the airliner, bringing himself to sit just within a half a mile of the aircraft. He lights and kills his afterburner a few times, attempting to get the attention of the non-compliant aircraft.

[Operator¹]

: Give them a warning shot and get into their blind spot.