Air wars

“Guns prepare the main guns. Helm, changes heading to 145 by 237, every else wait for further orders.” Captain Brent Scotts’ voice carried easily across the bridge of the Alaska. The helmsman slowly turned the ship to get the smaller cruiser to deal first blood against a bigger foe.

The boxy 750 foot long warship turned about to face a fearsome a German interdictor class warship. Alaska’s twin engines were powered by three internal nuclear reactors. Each engine could provide enough thrust to propel the 340 metric ton warship to 70 Mph.

From his position at the rear of the bridge he watched the two, three barreled 110 millimeter cannon level themselves at the enemy ship. The sleek lines of the German warship were broken up by turrets. His reverie was broken when guns called out.

“Sir, all guns armed and ready sir, do you wish to fire them sir?”

Brent looked at the old officer and spoke clearly. “Gunnery Sergeant Rawlings, fire both cannons. Then prep the missile banks for rapid firing. Flight Control, tell the pilots to fuel up, but hold the bombers back until absolutely necessary.” Both officers answered with curt yes sirs.

Suddenly the cannons fired. Deep rumbling shook the ship as the cannons fired. Bright yellow flashes filled the bridge. As soon as the smoke cleared a cluster of four explosions tore open the sleek German machine. Soon the gun crews were loading the missile packs.

Commander John Harkins ran through the door leading to the fighter bay. Catwalks crisscrossed the bay but slanted ladders allowed technicians and pilots to the jets that parked here. The young pilot reached a ladder and clambered down it and soon he found his single seat Boeing JK-1 air superiority fighter. The single 1500 horsepower engine allowed the fighter to reach mach 2. Securing his helmet he waited began preflight checks.

Flicking on primary power he brought all his systems online. The techs unhooked the fuel pumps giving him the thumbs for an engine start. His radio cackled as pilots started preflight checks. Suddenly the launch klaxons made the technicians run for the upper catwalks.

John shut his cockpit and secured his air supply. Then the powerful hydraulic pumps forced open the slanted hanger doors. The seal were the doors meant cracked open to reveal a lush evergreen forest racing past the cruisers belly.

Flicking up his master arm switch cover he depressed the button. The rocket pods on the swept wings armed and the two wing cannons loaded up their rounds. Clanking sounds reverberated throughout the bay as the winch system attached itself to the underbellies of the fighters that winched them into the air.

The commander watched his fellow pilots zip away on full afterburners. Then he felt his plane being moved into position. His hand gripped his throttle waiting for the inevitable free fall. Then his was plummeting toward the ground. Ramming his throttle forward he yanked back on the yoke.

The underbelly of the Alaska zipped past his glass cockpit and soon he was in the clear. Bright red tracer rounds sailed into the air as the Germans attempted to knock the American fighters out of the sky.

The Alaskas’ Command Information Center or CIC officer watched the enemy radar contact change in profile. He realized what it was doing and called it out. Brent heard his report nodding to the man he began a new round of orders.

“Flight, tell the pilots to target the hanger. Than Gunnery Sergeant Rawlings said, “Rockets are away, flight might want to warn the pilots.”

White exhaust plumes erupted from the launchers. Guns smiled as he watched high explosive rockets leap free. Than the old sergeant turned back to console and started yelling again

14 bright red blossoms appeared on all over the other ship, the explosions bit deep. Men inside the German capitol ship were torn to bloody shreds as the shrapnel filled compartments. John glanced away then heard new orders.

“All pilots are ordered to commence an attack on the hanger bay, repeat take out their fighters!” Barrel rolling clear of the cruiser, the commander selected his air to air rockets. Coming clear of ship he re-angled his attack. Suddenly the hanger defense cannons opened fire. Shells pinged off John plane. Weaving he prepared to fire.

Drawing in his concentration he settled he crosshairs over the crack and pulled the trigger. The plane shuddered as the rockets raced toward self destruction. Both machine gun hanger cannons turned toward the incoming rockets. Tracers filled the air again, multiple rockets were destroyed but a few made it. Explosions tore the parked planes to pieces.

Brent leaned forward as three flares were launched skyward. He knew what they were and relaxed to in his chair. “Communications acknowledge that we accept there surrender.”